Red Ring Rico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Red Ring Rico is an important character to the plot in the video game Phantasy Star Online Episode 1. She is also mentioned in latter episodes, but she is most important in Episode 1.
Her real name is Rico Tyrell, the daughter of Colin Tyrell, principal of the Pioneer 2 starship. As a scientist, she held several doctoral degrees in science and linguistics. As a person, she was loved by the people and affectionately nicknamed "Red Ring Rico" due to the special red armband she wore. In her youth, Rico spent time in the company of military heroes. One such hero, Heathcliff Flowen, would use his remarkable craftsmanship to create a series of red photon weapons exclusively for her.
Contents |
[edit] Roles in Histories
[edit] Episode 1 (DC, GC, Xbox, PC, BB)
At the outset of the adventure, the players teleport down to the planet Ragol to investigate a tremendous explosion that occurred on the planet, mere moments before the ship carrying refugees could land. The players soon find a capsule that projects a holographic message recorded previously by Rico.
"Ah, testing, testing... Cough! I'm Rico, Rico Tyrell. I'm a hunter. This capsule is for anyone who has come here looking for me. I hope this helps you..."
As the game progresses, the players find themselves following the trail of capsules left by Rico. Being a scientist, she offers descriptions and weaknesses of the monsters that roam the planet, and also her personal observations and feelings. Rico, however remains one step ahead of the players. And this would be her downfall. Rico, using her knowledge of ancient languages, deciphered a seal over an ancient ruin. This allowed her entrance into the ruin but also alerted the evil within to her presence.
The players realize the extent of the situation through Rico's final capsules. Her courage begins to wane as she encounters more and more brutal monsters and the terrain becomes more and more alien.
"I want to run away! But I have no place to return to... Perhaps no one will ever find this message and listen to it. Ever..."
"I miss my father. I wasn't a very good daughter... was I? Is my father OK now?"
Despite her seemingly hopeless situation, Rico enters the final area and confronts the evil entity Dark Falz single-handedly, but to no avail. He absorbs her body and transforms into a giant diminean, which the player(s) will be forced to kill. Dark Falz has 3 forms. Two of which are seen throughout the 4 difficulties. The third form is seen only in hard, very hard, and ultimate. Upon its destruction, Rico's soul is released, flying off into the ether, her trademark ring falling to the ground below.
[edit] Episode 2 (GC, Xbox, BB)
She is mentioned by Heathcliff Flowen through the messages sent to the player in the lower levels of Seabed. There he mentions that she followed him and looked for him after the government declared him dead. He knows that she was absorbed by Dark Falz.
[edit] Episode 3: C.A.R.D Revolution (GC)
Death was not the end for Rico. Upon the release of her soul she briefly pays a goodbye visit to her father on Pioneer 2, still orbiting Ragol. After this event only told in Episode 3: C.A.R.D Revolution, her whereabouts remain unknown until she resurfaces visible only to her (and Heathcliff Flowen's) son Endu. Through flashbacks, it is made known that while Rico and Flowen were still possessed by their respective entities, an energy wave passed between the two. And at that moment, at its nexus, a child was created using their individual genetic makeups. Both Rico and Flowen remained behind the scenes as spiritual mentors to their child for 21 years, until the ending sequences of Episode 3, the closing of their story arcs.
[edit] In-Game
[edit] Appearances
[edit] Episode 1 (DC, GC, Xbox, BB)
Within Episode 1 it is possible to meet Rico's ghost after defeating Dark Falz. To do so the players must follow these steps while playing online:
- Step 1: Find and equip one of Rico's "Red" weapons. (Saber, Sword, Daggers, Mechguns, Slicer, Partisan)
- Step 2: The player must then inflict damage to the final boss of Episode 2, Olga Flow, and not remove the weapon even after victory.
- Step 3: Upon returning to Pioneer 2, the player should teleport back to the Seabed and return to the room where Olga Flow stood. In its' place, the soul of Heathcliff Flowen will be waiting. There is a myth that upon approaching him there is a VERY SLIM CHANCE that he will drop an item called "Parasitic gene: Flow" which in recent times have been proven. (It has been said that the only player who got this item legitimately was a Japanese player with the Oran ID in the Gamecube version of Episode 1&2.This is not true, however. Because it was heavily duped, it is easy to get the special weapons in the official SEGA servers. In the Xbox version of the game, the item can be received by hacking the game data in the Xbox's Hard Drive)
- Step 4: If a player obtains this item, and are high enough level, they may combine it with a standard sword, gun, or cane type weapon to create a Dark Flow, Dark Meteor, or Dark Bridge respectively.
- Step 5: If a player equips one of these weapons and damages then defeats Dark Falz without unequiping it, then returns from Pioneer 2 to Dark Falz's chamber, they will meet Rico. She will be seated on the obelisk at the end of the area. An erroneous belief that she will drop her Red Ring for players to equip has been debunked by considerable testing.
(Source: www.planetdreamcast.com/psoworld forums, GameFAQs forums, ragol.co.uk forums)
[edit] Items
Some items of Rico's have been circulating the online game in its various releases. These items are only attainable to players with the Whitill Section ID:
- 'Rico's Glasses': Allows the female hunters to see traps.
- 'Rico's Earrings': Bestows the user with small bonuses to all stats.
[edit] Other appearances
Outside of the games, Rico makes several appearances in Japanese mangas and doujinshi. A gashapon figure of Rico was produced in the Yujin "Sega Gals" collection.
