Dragon View - a Kemco joint

Originally Posted by Guild

I was thinking of making a technical thread for LPs.

Originally Posted by Kishi

We have at least two; they're stickied and everything.

Originally Posted by Solitayre

The graphics in this game are actually pretty impressive.

This is the *official* path to the temple where Katarina's captor seems to have gone.



The fire spell does indeed melt ice, but it seems we still can't go this way. The only other path...



...seems to also be impassable. Dang. I really wanted that heart container.





Back in Casdra for a free heal and MP refill, I decide to talk to the other wise man, and he says something interesting. I'm guessing that star I saw on the ground is the 'fallen star' and is, in fact, a warp point, so I'll be checking those out from now on as they are, I've suddenly noticed, marked on our maps.



Uhoh! Moral quandry! What should we say? I haven't even USED this bow yet, and the arrows do cost money, and the Hauza is pretty efficient for ranged attacks...

Isn't this his bow!?
>Yes
>No

Originally Posted by jpfriction

You are a machine by the way. Can't read fast enough.

Honesty is occasionally the best policy!



"I thought so," says the hunter. "I'd know this bow anywhere. I've decided to stay in town so I can spend more time with my daughter. You keep the bow, I don't need it any longer."



Score! Good call aturtledoesbite!

I take us to the wizard guarding the secret warp to Keire Temple.



"Yes, perhaps that will work to melt the ice. You may need this map, so please take it! And be careful!"





The wizard steps aside and I walk into the warp room, stand on the symbol on the floor and we're warped to one of those Fallen Stars, this one in a snowy area.



I immediately find a nearby cave which is obviously the other side of Landslide, snagging us the container there before leaving as there is nothing else here except this wizard who heals us for 50 jade and saves our game for free.



There are two enemy types, both a little hard to kill with the sword but easily defeated with fireballs. I spend a few minutes grinding and healing us at the expensive wizard's cave.



Snowfield Cave has only a powerup and a single Ice Golem inside. Usually sliding mechanics with ice and spikes in the walls worry me, but these sliding mechanics are blessedly subtle and even make combat a little more fun. The only hazard is if the Ice Golem slams into us with its only attack, smashing us across the ice and into the spikes.





I arrive at another cave here in the north and begin exploring, discovering it to be similar to the Fire Cave in scope and puzzleing. Several ice pillars must be knocked down, and the fireball spell is especially useful for one-shotting Ice Golems who drop 1 MP stars consistently. It's a dungeon made easy or hard depending on how intelligently we use our resources and abilities. Also, it is satisfying as heck to be able to finally kill these impish flying bastards. They laugh after swoop attacking and it's infuriating enough to make me smile when I finally kill a few and level up a bit. We also encounter some old friends wearing red armor and wielding halberds.



This room's got a floating eyeball inside. When I enter the eye opens, spots me and then the floor abruptly breaks up and we fall to a chamber below.



An ice monster appears with four spinning ice crystals surrounding it like a shield. Occasionally the ice monster stops and his face morphs and the ice crystals warp to above our head and I have to slide around on the ice dodging them as they try to slam down onto us, affording a short window to also strike the boss. The sword is almost useless, and I wind up using an MP refill item and killing it with fire.



At about 40% health, the monster's ice crystals disappear and the eyeball reappears. Now the monster is immune to damage but the eyeball is vulnerable. While I chase the eye around and try to avoid the eye's lightning spells which it telegraphs then sends directly downwards if we are ever underneath it, the monster telegraphs a charge attack which deals about 1/3 our health in damage. It's during this fight I discover that the fruit I'd collected earlier can be used to heal small amounts of health, and I wind up using 9 or so of them to stay alive throughout this pretty difficult fight. I feel we were underleveled.

Heck yes. Pretty tough fight! Took a little while!



Nice! New spell, and I also manage to snag that MP container. On the way outside again, a wizard is standing at the exit.



"Cough, cough...! You there! Wait a minute! Th... there's a... BIG problem... at the... Keire temple... !" He takes a deep breath and continues. "I am Cliff, a disciple. Demons attacked the temple's entrance, so I fled here... I fear that something terrible has happened! Please, go to the Keire Temple and help the others! The warp zone in back will take you there. And take this map to guide you."



Instead of going to the room he indicates, I finish thoroughly exploring this dungoen. I find a small cave with treasure inside.



I'm a little worried I've missed powerups for our weapons. Gotta remember to explore Argos and other areas more thoroughly before the next major dungeon. Those pots are filled with stars to refill our MP on after the battle with the ice monster.





The warp takes us to a still higher elevation and a tinier area. At least it's not snowing here.





This Ice Cavern has yet another treasure for us. Hooray!



When we finally arrive here at the Temple there are a few dozen monsters to clear out. The Ancient Ice Ring causes a rain of ice crystals that decimates the imp butts.

Eventually we reach a room with two robed men standing by a door leading down. One of them spots us and approaches.

The acolyte pleads as he runs towards you. "Unhindered, Giza will destroy us all! You must defeat him! He is near! Please, please help us!"

The second acolyte speaks. "When Giza came here we all thought he would arise to become a great and good wizard... but now he has killed the High Wizard and stolen the Prime Orb! His evil minions, under his order, search desperately for something... but what?!"

The first wizard regains his composure enough to add, "I think I know why Giza turned to evil. Giza studied here before, but his sister became ill and he left to care for her. He must have lost his faith in honor and truth for now he conspires with DEMONS!"



Giza awaits two rooms later, and what follows is a smorgasboard of torture and graphics which make me wish this were a video LP. Suffice to say, it's impressive, and I did my best to describe what happens as, incredibly, nearly every screenshot I took missed the flashy bits and wound up looking boring.

"And the Great Warrior makes his grand entrance... you came for Katarina? Well, I could use some amusement and I have some time to KILL... do you seek death? Well, have at it then, warrior, let's see what that pathetic sword of yours can do!"

We launch ourselves valiantly at the murderous wizard, but to no avail: A shield of light blocks us and we are slammed back into the wall above the door we entered.

"You think you can defeat me? Ha. You'll regret this, I assure you."

Giza glows with light and our body flies across the room, bashing over and over into the walls and floor.

"You know I wield far greater power than you ever will!"

We arise and cast a fireball at him, but again the ball of light protects him. He returns fire with a flaming pheonix which slams us again into the far wall, our flesh burning and exploding violently. Our health is down to about 1/3 at this point...

As you collapse he taunts you. "What's wrong boy? We've only just started our little game! Have a taste of my magic, Hero!"

He picks us up by the neck and his hand begins to glow about our throat.

Giza hisses softly now, "Man is mortal... weak and pitiful. Struck down with ease by magic, might and disease. When I warp the power of the Prime Orb to my side I shall attain a state beyond that of fragile mortality! I shall sit among the GODS!"

Suddenly Argos appears.

Argos was the one who kidnapped Katarina.

"Hail Giza! Hail Giza!" chants Argos.

"WHAT!" Giza snaps. "Can't you see I'm busy?!"

"Forget him!" Argos cries excitedly. "We have found the gate!"

"Giza's eyes glaze over and he whispers darkly, "At last! I have found the Mouth of the Underworld! Well then mortal, I will let you live to witness your wretched race perish! Argos! Take Katarina to the Mouth!"

"Yes, m'lord." Argos bows humbly.

"Life is tough, eh? Hee hee hee!" Giza cackles maniacally.

Giza's glowing hand abruptly explodes and we are LAUNCHED into the wall again, bouncing to a halt and covered with flames. We lie still for a few moments, unmoving, our health the barest sliver.

Argos and Giza disappear, one in a flash, the other in a puff of demonic smoke.

Running into the room, an old wizard sees you. "Wow!" he gapes as he spies your broken form. "Giza sure worked you over."

The old wizard casts a spell and our health returns to full and we stand.

"So you've awakened!" the old wizard says. "You took quite a beating from Giza. I am the High Wizard of this temple. Giza caught me by surprise by using magic normally forbidden on this world.

"What do you mean by forbidden?" you ask.

The wizard explains, "Magic is neither good nor evil in and of itself, but the mystic waves that carry magic powers can be bent to good and evil purpose. The Prime Orb was created to interfere with bending those waves to evil. Giza is quite gifted with bending mystic waves toward Darkness, and I can only assume that the power of the Prime Orb has weakened enough to let him work his magics. Professor Methraton has studied the workings of the Underworld for his entire life. He may know the secret to sealing away those evil powers again. He is locked away in his lab. Go visit him."



We find Methraton's lab easily enough; it's the very next room.



"AH HA!" chimes Professor Methraton. "Finally help arrives! So! You are CODPIECE, aren't you?" he asks. "Katarina told me all about you."

"She was HERE?!" you exclaim.

"Yes yes, she was here but Argos made off with her a while ago. She held utmost faith that you would rescue all of us from the demons." The professor pauses, noticing the despair on your face. "Don't give up! There is alway shope, even now! Look at your pendant! That is the Guardrak, a powerful artifact. Long ago a legendary warrior brought peace to the realm of Dragon Lords, and that very pendant was given to him for his deeds among the Dragons. You are of his blood, a direct descendant of that great man. The Dragons will surely help if you asked. Can I count on you?"

"Of course!" you reply. "Anything for Katarina."

"That's the spirit!" Methraton encourages. "Get out and fight! Four spirits of the Dragon Lords sleep in the Crystal Altar of Ortah Temple. The temple entrance is secret though. Journey to Miraj Village in the southeastern desert. The Sorceress there guards the temple and may permit you to enter. This map will help, I hope."

We get a map of Miraj. We learn from the library of the Temple that the Mouth of the Underworld was once sealed by a lone wizard who retired to a village called Neil. Several wizards thank us profusely for saving them, and it's time to leave.

Outside, I explore the rest of the snow plains and find an Ice Wizard in a cave who levels our Ice Ring up to 2, and in another cave an MP capacity increase. I also find another Armor Power, bringing that up to level 3, and a Sword Power, bringing that up to level 3 as well. Nice haul!

Originally Posted by Yimothy

What browsers are you guys using? For me the spoilers take up just as much space closed as they do open, and the pictures load before I open them.

I take us back to Casdra via the warps after making sure to explore everywhere possible in both snow areas. The people in Casdra are worried about what will happen now that Giza and Argos have found the Mouth of the Underworld which was sealed so long ago by a lone wizard who retired to a city called Neil to the east. After putting some clues together, I decide to check out that gravestone inscription again...







Sure enough! Previously this scene would end before the ghost arrives, but since confronting Giza, his sister's ghost now appears and begs us to stop him. Her death was the event that lead Giza down his dark path, according to people who knew him as a talented wizard prior to his Fall.

Outside of Casdra the weak-sauce scorpions, blue beetles and lizardmen have disappeared, replaced by tougher but familiar mages and rock golems. There were also areas off-limits to us before due to being filled with impossible enemies, but since returning from the frozen north we're suddenly strong enough to handle them, and the world expands exponentially.

Here are screenshots of just a few random things that happen in the following hour and a half of gameplay (bearing in mind that I hit fast forward often while traveling or fighting easy enemies, of which we encounter refreshingly few).









The letter reads,

"Dear Ogma,

"How long has it been? Katarina has grown to become as beautiful as blossoms in the spring. It's hard to believe she's growing up. She seems to be quite taken with a young warrior named CODPIECE who trains here. CODPIECE's destiny is fearsome, but perhaps the prophecy will not come to pass. Someday he may wish to marry Katarina. Would you consent? CODPIECE is a fine young man, and would gladly die for Katarina. Hopefully that will not be necessary despite their fates. Please consider these things.

"Yours, Qunos of Argos."









I don't know what some of these things are, and the town of Orusort is deep in territory we shouldn't venture into as the enemies are deadly and impossible to kill. Mostly I collect things we'd missed before and clear areas of possible treasures and activate warp points. Eventually I find a desert cave...

Inside the cave, a woman tells us to seek a horn which a sorceress once guarded by carrying it into the desert and allowing herself to be swallowed by a red worm. The red worm appears in a random encounter and dies easily enough, dropping a chest containing said horn. We can now use the horn to do several things. First of all, using the horn near the visage of any lion typically causes the statue to melt away or roar, opening an area or changing the environment or allowing access to somewhere. Using this, the formidably huge desert becomes teeming with treasures and interesting items. I gather most of them and now we're quite a bit tougher and more versatile than we were. Using the horn, I take us to Miraj where the holy Sorceress allows us to enter the temple and be tested by its spirits. A short dungeon ensues and we get a musical score as a reward. She tells us to play the music in the desert. I feel confident assuming that this will activate the next plot point, but it's also being made apparent to us via NPC chatter that this is a part of the game where exploration and secrets open up more fully.

We hear from a wizard of a temple in the snow that holds great power for CODPIECE.

We also hear of great secrets in the forests.

We further hear of Power Spots like the blue triforce-looking area screen-capped above. Touching all 5 of them will do something.

Finally, we now have a map of an area called Ortah.

So! Five choices of what to do next (or perhaps an overarching goal of also hitting up these areas of power while doing other things, and perhaps a few of these are tied together - I DON'T KNOW!). What order shall we do these in?

Rank these 1 to 5, with 1 being next and 5 being last...
>Song in the desert.
>Snow temple.
>Forest secrets.
>Power Spots.
>Find Ortah.

Originally Posted by Mogri

Oh, oh! Do Lord of the Rings for SNES.

Sektra is in the northern swamps where hard enemies await. On the way there I check the Forest again...



...but not only are the enemies still tough, we still can't do anything there yet.





In the swamps, we're finally strong enough to tackle the monsters, and I find a jade mine. Inside are some miners whom I free from a sliding floor trap held open by a statue by pushing it off the ledge, allowing them to escape. They've been here for days hearing demonic voices.

I return us to Orusort to seek clues about how to reach Sektra Temple, which is inaccessibly just beyond a river.











This man knows Professor Methraton and works with magical artifacts and devices. He's a jerk about it though.



A woman in town asks us to go back to Jade Mine and tell her husband to come home. It's not far away so I go back.

Originally Posted by Sarge

Dragon View is one of my favorite games on the SNES. Pity it didn't get more love.

Keep it up!