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''Seiken Densetsu 3'' ('''''聖剣伝説3''''') is the third installment of the '' Seiken Densetsu '' series, released exclusively in Japan for the Super Famicom by Square Co., Ltd. (now Square Enix ). Due to the success of its Predecessor , the game is often erroneously referred to as ''Secret of Mana 2'' though that name was never announced or used by the developer. ''Seiken Densetsu 3'' is considered to be highly replayable, due to the availability of six different characters from whom the player can pick three to assemble a party; depending on the leader chosen for the party, a different plotline unfolds. Three storylines and six introduction sequences are available in total. Each character also has a wide range of classes to choose from, each class providing an exclusive set of skills and status progression. The game also makes use of a time progression system, with transitions from day to night and weekday to weekday in game time. In 2000 , a Fan Translation project led by hacker Neill Corlett was successfully completed and made available on the internet as an unofficial Patch . Due to the increasing popularity of Video Game ROM s and the quick progress of Emulator s at the time, the translated version of ''Seiken Densetsu 3'' was made available to many players from around the world. Its translation is considered a Milestone in fan translation history, as ''Seiken Densetsu 3'' makes use of a complex compression Algorithm and had proven to be a significant challenge for all who had attempted to translate it before Corlett's team. GAMEPLAY ''Seiken Densetsu 3'' employs a real-time combat system, making use of a ''ring menu'' which provides the player with quick access to Magic Spells , items and character information, amongst other options. A single variety of weapon is available for each character, and the "progression by means of use" present on the previous game of the series was removed from the weapons and magic systems; now the only factor which influences a spell's damage is how high the character's "magic" attribute is. A storage system was introduced, where excess items can be placed, replacing '' Secret Of Mana '''s "four-of-a-kind maximum rule". The player can switch items between storage and their nine-slot item ring menu, or else "top-up" items currently in it to a maximum of nine each. A battle mode was introduced as part of the gameplay, which freezes some aspects of normal gameplay (such as item storage) to allow the player to focus on defeating monsters. Players can exit battle mode by moving off-screen or far enough away from the monsters for it to be disengaged (unlike the '' Legend Of Mana '' no-escape mode). When in battle mode, the character adds one point to his or her "power gauge" by making an attack which hits a monster (in place of ''Secret of Mana'''s vulnerable charge-up). When the gauge is full enough, special moves can be unleashed - moves vary according to the character and their class. Once all enemies on-screen are defeated, the player has the chance to receive a reward item in a treasure chest. Sometimes, a "prize" wheel of traps is given when opening the chest; this can be eluded by timing the cursor to fall over an "OK" disc. Level progression is coordinated by the player, as a choice is given regarding where to invest a stat point at every level up. A "class" system is also present. Once a character reaches level 18, he or she is able to go to a Mana Stone and choose a class to progress to - either a class aligned to "Light" or a class aligned to "Dark" - which provides a different set of skills and different improvements to stats. A second class change may be performed at level 38. The second change requires the use of rare items to be performed, and once again an option between a "Light" and a "Dark" is presented, adding to a total of seven possible classes for every character, including the initial class. Passage of time ''Seiken Densetsu 3'' also employs a calendar function into its gameplay. The seven-day Week cycles much more quickly than an actual one — a day passes in a few minutes — but it still affects gameplay in interesting ways. Each day of the week is represented by a different Elemental Spirit . On that spirit's day, Magic of that element will be slightly stronger. For example:
Each day is also divided into day and night — represented by Wisp the light elemental and Shade the dark elemental, respectively. Certain events only happen during certain times of day — for example, one town has a nighttime-only black market selling paricularly rare items. Enemies also change, and some may be sleeping if characters approach them at night. It is a common misconception that magic of one element is weakened on its opposite elemental's day, and that light and dark spells are powered up by fighting during the day (for light) or night (for dark). Actually, all spells do the same amount of damage regardless of the day, unless it is the day for that element. PLOT AND CHARACTERS According to ''Seiken Densetsu 3'''s in-game lore, the Mana Goddess created the game's world by forging the powerful Sword of Mana and defeating eight God-Beasts with it, sealing them within eight Mana Stones, before turning herself into the Mana Tree and falling asleep. The game is set at a time where peace has ended, as some people plot to unleash the God-Beasts from the stones so as to gain ultimate power. Like ''Secret of Mana'', ''Seiken Densetsu 3'' allows the control of up to three different characters in an established party (with non-human controlled characters relegated to the game's AI ). However, the party of three is chosen out of a possible six characters at the very beginning of a new game. Each character has their own story, and the player must play through their chosen main character's story before entering the mainstream plot. The main plot, which is generated from a possible sixty different variations depending on the characters chosen, has three main sub-plots. Characters The characters (and their individual stories) are grouped into the main sub-plots as follows:
Main Plot With the exception of Charlotte, the characters are told (or otherwise decide) to seek the advice of the Priest of Light in the Holy City Wendel. They arrive at the city of Jad, soon after the Beastmen have invaded. Due to the Beastmen's werewolf powers, they are able to make an escape by night. All characters, on the way to Wendel, stay overnight at Astoria, where they are woken by a bright light. Following it, it reveals itself to be a Faerie from the Mana Holyland, exhausted by her journey. Out of desperation, the Faerie chooses the main character to be her host, and tells them to get to Wendel. In Wendel, while giving his or her grievances to the Priest of Light, the Faerie interrupts and explains that the Mana Tree is dying and that the Holyland is in danger. This is grave news for the Priest, for if the Tree dies, the God-Beasts will reawaken and destroy the world. He goes on to explain further that, because the Faerie has chosen the main character, they must travel to the Holyland to draw the Sword of Mana from the foot of the Mana Tree to restore peace to the world, and have their wishes granted by the Mana Goddess if it can be drawn before the Tree dies. However, there is a catch: a lot of power is needed to open the gate to the Holyland. The Faerie does not have the strength to do it, and an ancient spell (now supposedly forgotten) which would unlock the power in the Mana Stones to do so takes the caster's life. However, the Stones' guarding spirits ('' Secret Of Mana '''s Elementals ) are seen to be able, once their powers are combined. After journeying across the world to get the Spirits, thwarting the invasion attempts of Navarre and Altena, discovering the powers of the Fire and Water Mana Stones released (by agents of Navarre and Altena, respectively), and learning the disappearance of the Mana Stone of Darkness along the way, the Main Character tries to open the gate to the Mana Holyland with the Spirits' assistance. The first attempt fails, but the second succeeds; the Faerie realises that it was opened thanks to the release of power from the Mana Stones. The characters travel into the Holyland and the Main Character claims the Mana Sword; however, it is soon discovered that the Main Character's adversary (Koren and the Darkshine Knight for Angela and Duran; Jagan and Bigieu for Riesz/Lise and Hawkeye; or the Deathjester and Heath for Kevin and Carlie/Charlotte) has captured the Faerie and will only release her in exchange for the Sword of Mana. The unfortunate trade is made, and once the enemy receives the Sword, then the Mana Stones shatter and the God-Beasts are released. The characters must then defeat the God-Beasts before they can gather and destroy the world, and then defeat the true form of their adversary: the Dragon Emperor for Duran and Angela, the Dark Prince for Hawkeye and Riesz/Lise, or the Priest of Darkness for Kevin and Charlotte. MUSIC The score to ''Seiken Densetsu 3'' was composed by Hiroki Kikuta , the same man who composed the score to ''Secret of Mana''. It has become one of the more popular import Super Famicom CD soundtracks over the years, due partly to the game's intense cult following, as well as to the popularity of the composer. CONTROVERSY AND SECRET OF EVERMORE There are perceived strong feelings among video game fans as to whether or not '' Secret Of Evermore '' was released in lieu of an English Language version of ''Seiken Densetsu 3''. Ill feelings towards the lack of an official translation probably stem from titular and mechanical similarities. One suggested reason against ''Secret of Evermore'''s favouring over ''Seiken Densetsu 3'' is due to the establishment of a new development team at Squaresoft 's office in Redmond, Washington . It is believed that the decision had absolutely no effect on any such translations and did not tie up any of the people involved in translation; it was specifically hired to create it and they would not have been assembled otherwise. This may have been accompanied by a decision not to continue translating titles, including the sequel to ''Secret of Mana''; a decision which, nevertheless, has left many bitter '' Seiken Densetsu '' fans. It is the general hope among fans in the community that Square Enix , as the company is now called, will finally translate ''Seiken Densetsu 3'' in a port for the Game Boy Advance or Nintendo DS . There have also been hopes of it making an appearance on Wii 's Virtual Console. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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