Earning our JRPG black belt - Let's Play Legend of Legaia!

Table of Contents
Act One: Drake Kingdom
Chapter 1: The Walled Village of Rim Elm
Chapter 2: Drake Castle
Chapter 3: Snowdrift Cave
Chapter 4: Battle Atop Mt. Rikuroa
Chapter 5: Biron Monastery Is the Best Monastery
Chapter 6: Forests Aren't Usually This Purple
Chapter 7: East Voz Forest
Chapter 8: The Drake Kingdom Mist Generator

Act Two: Sebucus Islands
Chapter 9: The Sky Gardens of Jeremi
Chapter 10: The Resort Town of Vidna
Chapter 11: In Which the Party Goes Sightseeing
Chapter 12: The True Face(s) of Hari
Chapter 13: The Fire Path
Chapter 14: Returning to the Surface
Chapter 15: Rematch at Mt. Letona
Chapter 16: Van Saryu's Madness
Chapter 17: The Sebucus Islands Mist Generator

Act Three: Karisto Kingdom
Chapter 18: Unexpected Reunions
Chapter 19: Welcome to Sol Tower
Chapter 20: A Closer Look at the Muscle Dome
Chapter 21: Gaza's Redemption
Chapter 22: Screw the Plot, We Need a Vacation
Chapter 23: The Usha Research Center
Chapter 24: Revelations in Uru Mais
Chapter 25: Showdown at Nivora Ravine
Chapter 26: A Simple Melody
Chapter 27: The Winged Nomads
Chapter 28: The Floating Castle
Chapter 29: Conkram, Past and Present
Chapter 30: Rogue's Tower
Chapter 31: Jette's Absolute Fortress
Chapter 32: Cort, Prince of the Mist

Act Four: To Save Legaia
Chapter 33: The Seru-kai
Chapter 34: Odds and Ends, Part 1
Chapter 35: Odds and Ends, Part 2
Chapter 36: The Belly of the Beast
Chapter 37: A Second Chance

Soundtrack (in order of appearance)
Theme of Legaia
Title
Prologue
Rim Elm
Mei
Night Requiem
Mist
Brand of the Holy Knuckles
Brand of the Holy Knuckles (Ver. 2)
The Quiet Tree of Creation
The Awakening of the Tree of Creation
The Misty Capital
Barren Fields of Mist
Noa's Dreams
The Cave of Warmth
Perilous Mountain
The Ra-Seru Speak
Unpredictable Happening
Attack
A New Party Member
Peaceful Path
The Lively Imperial Palace
Buma in the Mist
We Are the Biran Priests
Biron Party
Voz Forest
Mist Covered Town
The Forest of Mystery
Songi's First Appearance
The Misty Nest
My Name is Songi
Fight the Mist Guardians
Disciples of the Mist
Earth of Joy
Quiet Destruction
Evil Seru
The Light of the Town
The Sol Jazz Club
Dream, Teague
Town Square
Melody of Memories
Calling of the Relics
The Fire Path
Van Saryu
The Misty Nest (Ver. 2)
Octam Station
Gondola
Sol Tower
Wild Declaration
Wanna Wanna
Usha Research Center
Watch Noa Dance
Dance Queen Mary
Dance Against the Queen
Dance Queen Noa
Juggernaut's Approach
Frozen Seru Battle
Melody of Memories (Piano Version)
The Soren Fly
Hurry Up
The Tower of the Seal
The Young Nobleman of the Mist
Dark World
Noel
Castle of Living Things
Unrivaled Chaos
Destruction of the Castle of Living Things
World of Humans
End Title


Seru Magic
Gimard (Fire) - absorbed on November 4, 2011
Vera (Light) - absorbed on November 16, 2011
Nighto (Dark) - absorbed on November 29, 2011
Theeder (Thunder) - absorbed on December 5, 2011
Gizam (Water) - absorbed on December 10, 2011
Zenoir (Fire) - absorbed on December 15, 2011
Swordie (Wind) - absorbed on December 23, 2011
Orb (Light) - absorbed on December 25, 2011
Nova (Wind) - absorbed on January 9, 2012
Viguro (Thunder) - absorbed on January 19, 2012
Mushura (Earth) - absorbed on January 25, 2012
Aluru (Light) - absorbed on February 10, 2012
Gola Gola (Fire) - absorbed on February 10, 2012
Spoon (Light) - absorbed on February 10, 2012
Freed (Water) - absorbed on March 8, 2012
Iota (Earth) - absorbed on April 10, 2012
Horn (Light) - obtained on April 10, 2012
Puera (Dark) - absorbed on May 7, 2012
Barra (Wind) - absorbed on May 7, 2012
Slippery (Water) - absorbed on May 7, 2012
Gilium (Thunder) - absorbed on May 19, 2012
Meta (Fire) - obtained on May 19, 2012
Terra (Wind) - obtained on May 19, 2012
Ozma (Thunder) - obtained on May 19, 2012
Jedo (Dark) - obtained on May 19, 2012
Mule (Water) - obtained on May 29, 2012
Palma (Earth) - obtained on May 29, 2012

Arts
Blue
↑ ↓ ↑ = Somersault - learned on November 4, 2011
← → ← = Hyper Elbow - taught by Arithon32 on November 4, 2011
↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ = Hurricane - taught by TheSL on November 4, 2011
← ← ↓ = Power Punch - taught by Elfir on November 4, 2011
↓ → ↑ = Charging Scorch - taught by Raven on November 4, 2011
↑ ↓ ← = Slash Kick - taught by Kahran042 on November 4, 2011
→ → ← = Tornado Flame (Hyper Art) - learned on November 8, 2011
↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ = Cross-Kick - learned on December 15, 2011
→ → ↓ ← = Fire Blow (Hyper Art) - learned on December 23, 2011
↑ ↓ → ← = Spin Combo - learned on January 1, 2012
→ ← ↑ ← = Pyro Pummel - learned on January 9, 2012
↓ ↑ ↑ ← = PK Combo - learned on January 19, 2012
↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ = Cyclone - learned on January 25, 2012
→ ↓ ← ↓ ←Burning Flare (Hyper Art) - learned on April 9, 2012
Charging Scorch + Somersault + Slash Kick = Power Slash (Super Art) - learned on January 30, 2012
Hyper Elbow + Power Punch + Charging Scorch = Fire Tackle (Super Art) - learned on February 10, 2012
Charging Scorch + Slash Kick + Power Punch = Maximum Blow (Super Art) - learned on March 8, 2012
Somersault + Cyclone + Somersault = Tri-Somersault (Super Art) - learned on April 5, 2012
Spin Combo + Power Punch + PK Combo = Rolling Combo (Super Art) - learned on April 14, 2012
→ ↓ ← ↑ ← ↑ → ↓ ← = Blue's Craze (Miracle Art) - learned on April 24, 2012

Ruby
↑ ↓ ↑ = Lizard Tail - learned on November 10, 2011
↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ = Bird Step - learned on November 10, 2011
→ ← ↓ = Blizzard Bash - learned on November 10, 2011
→ → ← → = Dolphin Attack - learned on November 10, 2011
↑ ↓ ↓ = Acrobatic Blitz - learned on November 16, 2011
← ← → → = Frost Breath (Hyper Art) - learned on November 22, 2011
↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ = Swan Driver - learned on November 22, 2011
↓ ↑ ↓ ← → = Tough Love - learned on December 15, 2011
→ ↓ → = Sonic Javelin - learned on January 1, 2012
← ← → ← → = Vulture Blade (Hyper Art) - learned on January 14, 2012
→ → ↑ ↑ = Mirage Lancer - learned on January 14, 2012
↑ ↑ ← ↓ → = Rushing Gale - learned on January 19, 2012
→ → ← ↑ ↑ ↑ = Tempest Break - learned on January 25, 2012
← ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ → = Hurricane Kick (Hyper Art) - learned on April 9, 2012
Rushing Gale + Sonic Javelin = Super Javelin (Super Art) - learned on January 30, 2012
Lizard Tail + Swan Driver + Acrobatic Blitz = Dragon Fangs (Super Art) - learned on February 16, 2012
Bird Step + Swan Driver + Lizard Tail = Triople Lizard (Super Art) - learned on March 8, 2012
Dolphin Attack + Tempest Break = Super Tempest (Super Art) - learned on April 6, 2012
Mirage Lancer + Lizard Tail + Tough Love = Love You (Super Art) - learned on April 9, 2012
← ↑ → ↓ ↑ ← ↑ ↓ → = Ruby's Ark (Miracle Art) - learned on April 14, 2012

Umber
↓ ↑ ← = Flying Knee Attack - taught by Torzelbaum on November 29, 2011
← → ← = Back Punch - taught by Jikuryuu on November 29, 2011
↑ ↓ ↓ = Ironhead - learned on November 29, 2011
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ = Side Kick - learned on November 29, 2011
← → ↓ = Battering Ram - learned on December 5, 2011
← ↑ ← = Guillotine - learned on December 10, 2011
→ → ← = Thunder Punch (Hyper Art) - learned on December 10, 2011
← ↑ ↑ = Head-Splitter - learned on December 25, 2011
↑ ← ↓ ↓ = Black Rain - learned on January 9, 2012
← ← → ↑ ← = Neo Raising - learned on January 14, 2012
↑ ← ↓ → ← = Electro Thrash - learned on January 19, 2012
← ↑ → ↓ ← = Bull Horns - learned on January 25, 2012
→ → ↑ ← = Lightning Storm (Hyper Art) - learned on January 25, 2012
→ → ← ← ← = Explosive Fist (Hyper Art) - learned on April 9, 2012
Battering Ram + Flying Knee Attack + Guillotine = Rushing Crush (Super Art) - learned on February 10, 2012
Flying Knee Attack + Head-Splitter + Ironhead = Super Ironhead (Super Art) - learned on February 16, 2012
Ironhead + Flying Knee Attack + Back Punch = Back Punch x3 (Super Art) - learned on April 5, 2012
Flying Knee Attack + Head-Splitter + Black Rain = Heaven's Drop (Super Art) - learned on April 6, 2012
Back Punch + Guillotine + Neo Raising = Neo Static Raising (Super Art) - learned on May 7, 2012
→ → ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ← ← = Biron Rage (Miracle Art) - learned on May 7, 2012

Failed Combinations (Blue)
← → ↓ ↑
← → ← →
↓ ↓ ←
→ ← ↓ ↑
→ → ↓
↑ ↑ → →
↓ ↓ ←
↓ ↓ → →
↓ ↓ ↓
↓ ↑ → →
← → → ↑ ↓
← ↓ →
→ ↓ ←
← ↓ → ↑
↓ → ↑ ←
↑ ← ↓ ↑ →
← ↑ ← ↑
↑ → ↓ ↑
→ ↓ → ↓
→ ↑ ← ↓
↑ ← ↓ →
→ ↓ ← ↑
↓ ← ↑ →
← ↑ → ↓
↑ → ↓ ←
→ → ↑ ↓ ↓
→ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ →
← → ↑ ↓ ↑
← ← ← → → →
→ → → ← ← ←
← → ← → ← →


Failed Combinations (Ruby)
→ ↑ ← ↓
↑ ← ↓ →
→ ↓ ← ↑
↓ ← ↑ →
← ↑ → ↓
↑ → ↓ ←
← ↓ ↓ →
→ ← ← ← →
← ← ↓ →
↑ ↑ ↓ →
↓ ↓ →
← ↓ →
↓ ↓ ↑ ←
← ← ↑ → ← ↑
← ↓ → ← ↓ →
→ ↓ ← → ↓ ←
← ↑ ← ↑
↑ → ↓ ↑
↑ ↑ ↓ ← ←
→ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ →
← → ↑ ↓ ↑
← ← ← → → →
→ → → ← ← ←
← → ← → ← →


Failed Combinations (Umber)
← ← ↓
↓ ↓ → ↑
← ↓ ↑ ↓ ←
← → ↑ ↓ ↑
← ← ← → → →
→ → → ← ← ←
← → ← → ← →


Bonus Videos
Opening Movie
The Monks of Biron
Crystal Grass
Instakilling Berserker
Charm is the best status effect
Pimpin' Ain't Easy
Baka Fighter
The Sol Fever Disco Dance Contest
Fishing
Dead End Crisis
Escaping the Floating Castle
Delicious Payback
Evil Seru Magic
Cheesing Lapis
Bonus Boss 1: The Killer Bee Swarm
Bonus Boss 2: Tetsu
Bonus Boss 3: Lapis

Ending and credits

----------------------

When I was a child (say, around six or seven), my dad and I moved to Tennessee, due to circumstances that I'd rather not discuss here. It was around that time that I first started playing video games, mostly on the Nintendo 64 - Gauntlet Legends, Pokemon Stadium, Star Wars Episode I: Pod Racer, things like that. I had even played a little of Pokemon Blue on the Gameboy as well, but I wasn't aware it was an RPG - hell, I didn't even know what an RPG was (and wouldn't until a few years later, but that's another story).

About a year later, my late mother's best friend and her children moved in with us (again, due to circumstances I'd rather not discuss). They just happened to have a Playstation, though only a few games - some Reboot thing, Crash Bandicoot: Warped, and what I think might have been a Tomb Raider game, along with a few others I'm forgetting.

I was at school one day, telling a friend of mine (who I haven't seen since I moved back to Alabama, sadly) that I now had a Playstation. He tells me that he has one too, along with this really cool game I should try out. He brought his copy of it the next day - the very game I'm going to LP in this thread. A game very near and dear to my heart, as dumb as that sounds. A game called...


This game was my very first console JRPG, and singlehandedly ensured that I would play them almost exclusively for most of my life (I still do, mostly, though I do enjoy the occasional platformer or action game to cleanse the palette). Even though I've never completed it (I got stuck at the final boss a few years and another copy later), it still remains as my favorite game of all time.

I love this game. I love its charming, ugly graphics. I love its better-than-most-at-the-time-but-still-kind-of-bad localization. I love its soundtrack - indeed, many of this game's tunes are some of my favorite ever. I love its battle system (dear god, the battle system).

I made this thread for a reason - not just to LP it, but to share this game with you, the audience. It is my hope that, as this thread goes along, I'll be able to show you guys what makes this game special to me - and maybe even convince a few of you to give it a try. That's all I can really hope for, in the end.

Before we can get any of that started, however, I'll need a few things on your end. First, we need a name for this guy:



Vahn here is the game's silent protagonist. You have a nine-character limit to work with, so get creative! Just... try not to get too silly.

Second, I'll need a combination of ↑, ↓, ←, and → from each of you. For now you can put three or four arrows in a sequence - like, say...

↓ ↓ ↑, or
→ ↓ ← ↑

I'll take two or three combinations from each person who wants to submit them. I know this seems weird now, but it'll make sense soon - like, "next update" soon. Edit: Just to be clear, that's two or three suggestions per update. If you have a lot of ideas, save them for later; don't want Blue to learn every Arts in the first few hours, after all.

Speaking of which, next update will be in a week or so, depending on how many combinations you guys come up with, so hopefully I'll see you then!

For those wondering about the developer of this game and things like that, there's not that much to say. I'll cover it next update.

I think this was the first RPG after FF VII that I played on the PS. Loved the combat system, but got hung up about half way through and never went back to finish it. Looking forward to the LP!

Pants

←,→,←
←,→,↓,↑

Oh god, this game. Its right up there with Legend of Dragoon on "lists of games you couldn't pay me to play."

You should name the MC "<HTML>" (gotta get some mileage out of those < and >).

↑ ↑ ↓ ↓
← → ← →

Blue

←←↓→

I hated this game. But... I'll try to see the love.

Rudy

↓ ↓ ←
→ ← ↓ ↑

↑←↓→

Yeah, I went there.

Name him Sharkey.

Sharkey had blue hair at one point.

My understanding is we're looking for just one set arrows?

Eh... sort of. Like I said, it'll make sense next update.

By the way, it sucks that you feel how you do about this game, but I appreciate your open-mindedness. Thanks for participating!

My issues were largely with gameplay so I'm okay with someone else dealing with that part. I remember the pink-haired girl being pretty charming (I will be voting to name her Pink, of course.)

Name: ENIX (in all caps)

↑↑↓↓

in honor of member upupdowndown, even though I don't know him in the slightest.

TheSL already suggested that combination further upthread. Feel free to think of more, though!

Fair enough. And yeah, pink-haired girl is pretty awesome.

How about that. ↓↑→→ seems appropriate, then. DURR.

Yay!
"Lord Vahn"
→→↓
Is that the one for Fiyaaaaah, BLOW!? It's been so long.
I burned out on some of the later dungeons, but up to that point I had lots of fun with this game.

Dangit you guys.

↑ ↑ → →
↓ ↓ ←

↑↓chu

...Is that meant to be a Xenogears joke, Googleshng?

I have no idea what this game entails beyond seeing the opening to both it and its sequel, but such a faithful poster in my own thread will receive my fullest attention with their own projects. ^^ Come on Soren, wow me.

Oh. This game...I had a mixed feeling toward it. I loved the concept of The Mist, and you're right, the battle system is awesome for its time (I think this is the only JRPG I've played where the block/defend option is actually worth something). On the other hand, this game burned me out so bad. It was so hellishly grindy, and I remember having to dedicated some extra hours to grind heavily before facing most of the bosses (kind of forget if it's for the experience or for the super-expensive equipments, probably both). Add up some annoyances like the unnecessarily long spell animation, the completely random rate of Seru drops, etc., and this really was not my finest hour in JRPG-ing.

But...maybe I was doing it wrong? In which case, I would be more than happy to be enlightened!

I kind of want you to stick with the original names, if just for nostalgia's sake. If not...well, 'Blue', 'Brown', and 'Pink', I guess. And ↓ ↓ → ↑

I don't really know anything about this game. This should be an interesting LP for me, since I disliked FF7.

I'd suggest Rhue for the name. I doubt anyone else gets the reference.

For the combination, I'll go with Loki's suggestion. Unless we all need to come up with different combinations.

I have fond memories of this game, although I wasn't able to choke down the sequel.

Vahn -> Pimp

It'll be funny in like twenty updates.

Well not really THAT funny.

↓,↓→,→

I was able to finish this one twice and beat the sequel. The sequel lets you do arts with two dudes at once! It's awesome.

This is one of my favorite PSX RPGs, but I wouldn't want to replay it nowadays. For one thing, I would become too disappointed at my younger self for not spotting that the bosses have attack patterns, and instead grinded like hell.

I prefer to keep it in fond-memory and LP form, so here's looking forward to the LP!

Oh, man. I only ever made it to like the 2nd... uhm, thing in this. You know, the plot relevant dungeon thing.

I'm actually looking foward to this one.

In honor of one of Westica's greatest leaders, I'd like to suggest ↑↓←→.

Mantonio

↓↓↓

Space Channel 5.

I have no name suggestion, I'm terrible at that kind of thing. This game was so rad but oh my god did sitting around waiting for the summon animations to finish get mind bogglingly boring. I can still remember the second healing summon (ORB ORB ORB ORB ORB) and the stupid stone dog that impaled dudes on a giant stone spike...jeez. So powerful but ffffffffff you thought Knights of the Round got old when you were Miming it during the Ruby Weapon fight? Imagine a game where that's EVERY SINGLE BOSS FIGHT.

I'll address this and any other complaints once the relevant point comes up in the LP.

Incidentally, about this...

I actually finished the update earlier today! I still have to go back and edit it, but once that's taken care of I'll post it tomorrow morning. In the meantime, would you guys mind bringing this thread to page 2? Even after I trim some of the fat, the update is going to take up a lot of posts, and I'd prefer them all to be on one page. Thanks in advance!

Most certainly, Soren! Always happy to lend a hand!

I'm looking forward to seeing just what this game is about; the only LP I've seen of it was unreadable for me, so I haven't a clue! (Bad screenshots combined with narrative format...)

I can be helpful and post meaningless content at the same time? I'm in!