This update is dedicated to the loving memory of Annie Carlson. She will be remembered as one of the few women to have survived, and even enjoyed, the onslaughts of the Codex and its multi-headed dicks pets. The circumstances of her death are well-known: while in a bookstore last month, she tried to lift a huge rad heavy hard-cover mega full integral edition of
The Adventures of Tintin from a shelf and, as she slipped, the dangerous rectangular object of Belgian and equally dubious origins fell on her head, ending her life too soon, for our great sorrow. Following her will, her body was lyophilized and the remains kept in a sealed package; this way she will be able to wait for the time when technology will allow her resurection. One will only need to open the package, add a bit of water and enjoy the results.
Chapter 5 - The School of Despair! Twisted Dreams! Lots of Bad Interminable Dialogs!
It took some times but here it is! I unfortunately got some work to do, was tired and needed to rest and other bad excuses you're likely not interested to hear. But this thread won't die just now, have no worries about that, dear readers!
As we left Sailor Moon and her team last time, she received a strange message from Sin
via Wikipedia from the future. Don't look at me like this, I kid you not, this is Sailor Moon after all. Sin, between two taunts, revealed that the four Inner Senshi and Chibi-Usa had been taken prisonners and actually detained in the Juuban High School. Knowing full well it was a trap, even as the other Sailors warned her, she still stupidly decided to go right ahead. This is obviously a failure of monarchy: just because you are the king, queen, prince or princess does not mean you are intelligent, it simply means you were born from the previous king, queen, prince or princess.
My party is now outside the Shrine, a few screens away from the School and only a few random groups of weak and generic monsters stand in my way. But I just remembered to do something I haven't done yet...
That's right, kids, the Link Menu!
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story (or BSSM:AS for short) has a system similar to
Chrono Trigger where two or even three characters can combine their powers to do a more powerful attack. Or, in the case of this current game, that's the theory as we'll soon see. One of the main difference between
Chrono Trigger and
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story (or BSSM:AS for short) is the former automatically reveals the dual or triple-techs available when characters are together during a fight while in the latter you need to find them out yourself.
So it means, like in this exemple, you need to take every Sailor Senshi and pair them and see if the link works.
In some cases, it doesn't work. The whole thing feels tedious very fast, believe me.
You can later check in the links you have discovered and their effects.
The same goes for triple techs. Again it's not very clever, you only need at the start of the game to try every combinations and you're done with it.
Chrono Trigger did it better in that characters gain techniques as they grow in power and those techniques then allow them to do dual or triple techs, there is a sense of growth in power. Not in this game but then again it might be because Sailor Moon is
FUCKING AWESOME in the first place.
Another important concept that
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story (or BSSM:AS for short) uses: links are in a first time very weak. That's because each character has a Link Power attribute that determines, you guessed it, the power of the link attack. This attribute gets higher only when used, and only the character initiating a link will get "link exp", not the other Senshi who are part of it. This other element basically makes link system underpowered at the start and tedious to train. The consequences is that, for pretty much all the game, you are better off using spamming techs and ignore the dual or triple techs, except maybe for special ones, like those that resurect fallen party members.
Last bit of info about the link system: Sailor Moon and Sailor Chibi-Moon can both turn into their Super form, breaking their links with all other characters. But they can then link with each other for a very powerful "hidden" move.
With my homework done and a full link menu, I then left the Shrine to reach the School, the steamroll way. Get a few levels and enemies become a joke. At least there is no level scaling in this game, which makes it a lot better than Oblivion.
At last! This isn't much of an evil fortress for our enemies but it'll have to do. In a real display of mastery of the dramatic medium, the camera leaves my character to focus on the roof of the school:
They're wandering around inside of our illusions, as usual. Only...Lady Serenity continues to be protected by the Ginzuishou.
While "Lady" is in our hands, she can't be touched by a single finger. We just need to be patient a little longer.
I bet that in the original version, she says she can't be touched by a single tentacle.
Looks like our objectives are clear: rescue the pink-haired girl that we only saw in the intro.
Entering the Den of Evil.
It sure is dark around here, a clue that this is probably a dangerous place.
All classrooms are empty, this one has a Luna-P Ball though. So for now it's a banal quest to find the right room. Also in the infirmary we can find the traveler who heals tired people for free but weirdly enough I did not take any pictures of him. I blame this on the fact I'm tired and I did not get many pics of naked chicks in my mailbox.
We enter this room and...
Ah! Mercury!
Sailor Mercury indeed but she isn't alone... Looks like the Grim Reaper got to her first.
A generic and ominous warning.
Oh noes! It's happening again! This means we enter the world of dreams, not that my screen, or yours, is melting.
I guess that woman isn't her mother then, calling him "this child". Then again my mother designated me that way when I was a kid, she did not like me very much.
No, it was nothing at all.
Heeheehee...
Oh? It's the telephone!
I always say this out loud when the phone rings, in case I ignore I'm part of some kind of show.
Darling...what's wrong? Of course I'm coming home early today. Because it's our anniversary today, right...?
Who is this darling? Probably Mr Plot-Exposition-Device we saw before. It seems he lived past his usefulness and isn't even deemed worthy of being named anymore.
Another enemy with a weird design...
He didn't last long anyway.
Some other vague comments.
I...I'm alright. Go help everyone else first. I'll go and help them later.
One saved, four more to rescue.
Oh, looks like I took pics of that guy after all! Looks like I'm a lot better than you guys give me credit for. Still, this is no reason to slack, you know what kind of offering I await from you!
Bah, it's the same thing that he said before, in the streets. Besides, what the hell is he doing here? Did he get lost, wandered in the street and came inside a monster infested school by pure chance?
I'll run if I want! I'm the fucking Sailor Moon, goddamnit! I am above the law!
On the second floor...
Looks like we found Sailor Mars in the only non-empty room.
Well... no. She's always acts bitchy and holier-than-thou just because she got some mystic powers and two tamed raven. Big deal, Sailor Moon can conjure up huge hearts that she can throw at her enemies, now talk about impressive! I bet this choice will impact the game until the end; leaving Sailor Mars behind means we'll have to fill her void.
I chosed "No", not "Lie:"No"", stupid monster!
What kind of a retarded laugh is that?
Another fight, exact same boss as before. Defeated just as easily, beaten up to a pulp and turned into edible noodles. Time to awaken Rei.
Inside the dream, some very interesting stuff happen:
FUCK YEAH! Now this is getting very good!
You love me, don't you? You've always loved me, Chiba Mamoru. Now, don't say anything... We'll be together forever...
Mamoru-sama... I'm so happy...I'm now dreaming, am I?
"My love for you is like a loving river of love, my Love!" It's fun to know that, in secret, Sailor Mars wants to get Sailor Moon's boyfriend, maybe she is even plotting to take her place as queen of the Moon and Earth. Then again, the characters are so simplistic in this serie that she only seeks teenage girlish fantasies fulfillment.
Mamoru-sama!?!
Sailor Moon!
What...did you just say Mamoru-sama's name? What the heck were you dreaming about?
PWNED!
Sailor Mars took the easy way out.
More running in the halls. I even find this fancy office:
It's empty, not even a chest o' loot.
I'll loited if I damn want! Why? Because I'm the fucking Sailor Moon, that's why!
On the third floor:
Jupiter!
Someone is talking too much.
Haha, check the name of that boss! Jarcock! It's like a jar, and a cock! And he doesn't even look like a cock-shaped jar! Or a cock in a jar! Anyway he dies the same way as the others: after a couple of turns. This bad guy can poison my characters but it isn't of great concern.
Once dead, we can access the dreams of Sailor Jupiter:
What a wonderful way to logically put things in perspective.
Huh!? Th...Then... Then we're...?
Is this really the kind of romance a girl can dream about? Romance is usually some mushy, immature and indulgent business, but it's mostly about fulfilling fantasies, however unreasonable these are. Can you imagine someone dreaming that a guy will decide to date her simply because he's the only guy tall enough to go with her? As much as I find the common fantasy of a girl awaiting a prince cringe-worthy, it does not shock me as much as this.
:facepalm:
I hope I do not count too many feminists in my readership.
Sailor Moon... You came to help me... I'll be alright in a while, go help everyone else first.
Alright then, get on with it. Get on with it!
Fourth floor:
Ohhhh...
Another dream to peruse:
No no, this time it's true love!
This is still bad but not as bad as Jupiter's dream.
I'm gonna give him a love letter today!
I'm really going to give him a letter this time. ...I've tried before but something always stops me.
Well, it's nice, she's really going to give him a letter this time.
That's so cool... I wanna become like Sailor Moon too...
No, Venus! Don't die! Wake up!
Another fight with Jarcock, another dead Jarcock.
You sure are cool, Sailor Moon.
Venus...
Chibi-Usa's being held on the roof. Go and help her quickly, she must be waiting for you.
Sailor Moon, I'll look over everyone down here. You have to go get Chibi-Usa-chan.
And another one.
Well, that's all the Inner Senshi secured. Time to go to the roof and end this.
Yeah, her.
So Chibi-Usa is safe, for now...
Don't worry.
What else is new?
And she has realized what's happening to her. She shall have a good Destiny. And so shall you annoying brats!
If you want to save this child, hand over the Ginzuichou. This child for the Ginzuichou!!
Quid pro quo, Clarice.
Don't give the Ginzuichou to them!
Do you see where this is going?
And she'll die if she keeps dreaming. Her happiness is only in her imagination.
Sailor Moon... The enemy's trying to scare you into giving them the Ginzuichou.
Yeah, so don't let them trick you.
I know...
It's true, Sailor Moon, don't let them trick you.
I know...Sin. I'll give you the Ginzuichou.
:facepalm: :tubgirl: :meatspin:
Huh...!
WHAT!!!
Stop! Sailor Moon!
But you must give back Chibi-Usa!
She's Sailor Moon so I guess she is above concepts like the need of many being more important than the need of the few. She is also a bit clueless. This is just another way to advance the plot: the dumbest possible action.
I have to help Chibi-Usa.
Good. That's the right solution to this problem. Now, she shall wake up.
Did someone order a
deus ex machina in here?
Who...who are you!?
TUXEDO MASK! FUCK YEAH!
You have such a cold heart. Apologize!
If he's going to hang Sin up by the feet over the balcony and ask her to apologize, the same way Kevin Kline did to John Cleese in
A Fish Called Wanda, this game will start to turn into pure awesomeness.
Yeah, or like that if you prefer...
Don't give the enemy the Ginzuichou.
B...but Chibi-Usa...
She's fine, she's being protected by the Ginzuichou power. Soon, she shall awaken from her sleep on her own. Why do you want the Ginzuichou?
Changing the fate of the world is very difficult.
No kidding!
Changing the fate of the world?
Huh? Changing the fate of the world?
Did someone say "changing the fate of the world"?
We shall change the fate of the planet. Because we want to control the future!
You want to control the future...? ..Control... ....Future...
Sailor Moon! They're manipulating you! They're trying to make us imagine things! Usa......
IT'S A TRAP!
Come home early today, won't you? Today's Chibi-Usa's...
I know. Chibi-Usa's birthday, right? I can home late last time, but I won't this time. Well, I'm off!
Huh? Oh...oh...yeah... I always forget this.
Go on, man, do your duty.
Well then, I'll go now.
I can't take anymore of this, I feel itchy. It must be the gay poisoning my system...
Ohhhhhh.....
No! You tricked those two!
Everyone needs you!
Not me.
Girls...now!
That's what I call determination.
Ahhhh!
Now that's quite a big Horrible Rape Radius.
Gwaaaa!
Huh? Tuxedo Kamen!
Big mistake!
This beats the death of Aeris by a mile. Looks like Japanese people have some complex about stupid girls placing themselves in danger whenever possible.
Sailor Saturn!
Sailor Saturn! Tuxedo Kamen! Hold tight!
Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus did absolutely nothing the whole time. The Senshi are seriously weakened by Sin and her cohorts but for some reason the enemy decides that now is the time for a strategic withdrawal. These girls never heard of Hannibal before.
Well, Tuxedo Mask is mortally wounded, so is Sailor Saturn. Sin forgot to ask for the Ginzuichou one more time and decided to flee. Good times.
It was my fault...
Usagi's not to blame. It was my... It was my...
Two of our friends almost died.
But...
Don't apologize. It's not what happened then, it's what's happening now.
At least someone is realistic here! Nevermind if it goes a bit against Haruka's character who is always strong-willed.
It's hopeless to continue! We're failures at protecting the King.
So you thought so too...
The Black Light has worn off a little. She's getting better... But for the time being, she's at Juuban Hospital.
The same Juuban Hospital where it's so easy for a monster to get into? Yeah, she must be really safe there!
I find this new enemy very perplexing.
Urawa-kun's prediction is coming true.
Oh, he still get mention at this stage. Nice for him.
Sorry... Usagi-chan... I fell right into the enemy's trap.
How so? What could we have possibly done to prevent it?
What...what!? Just now, what has appeared?
Oh, something's happening!
The Ghosts of Sailor Moon Past, Present, Future and... erm...
It's a ghost!
Guardian Soldiers of King Endymion. We are now protecting King Endymion.
But aren't you guys Queen Beryl's...!?
Yes, we did serve as Generals under Queen Beryl for a while. However, we were originally followers of the Prince of Earth, Endymion. And now we have returned to serve our former master once again.
FLIP-FLOP!
Why... have you guys just appeared like this? Perhaps, Mamoru-san...
Heh heh. The reason for Master Endymion's inactivity is negative energy.
Well, what are you guys doing here?
You see, Master's condition right now is quite abnormal. Perhaps the enemy is in possession of Negative Energy. Perhaps in large quantities.
We have to force upon the opposite side, Positive Energy. And when that's out of the way...
It suspiciously starts to sound like this "The Secret" crap your mom is so fond of.
Mamoru-san will return to his senses!
How will we deliver that Positive Energy?
In this case, the Shin no Ishi's power will be necessary.
Shin no Ishi's power?
The Sin no Ishi?
You see this stone? This is a stone that is pure "Kage" (darkness).
Originally, this stone was a combination of "Hi" (lightness) and "Kage" stones.
The two elements, Kage and Hi, returned to their original stones. But this never happens by itself.
Ou Hi Power is inside other stones, which are sleeping somewhere on this Earth. These are the stones that carry our power. all of our power... My stone is in Nepal.
My stone is in Canada.
My stone's in Turkey. You must visit these places and get the Hi stones back. We'll be waiting. With Master's Rose Crystal, the Barazuichou.
The Barazuichou?
Yeah, the Barazuichou? I guess it's Japanese for McGuffin.
This stone is in Japan. The Barazuichou is similar to the Ginzuichou.
When our stones are gathered in the same place, the Barazuichou shall appear.
And when the five stones are brought together, Master shall become healthy again.
Please, find these stones!
Looks like we got some objective, need to find a way to advance the plot somehow.
Oh, useless treasure!
In any case, it seems we have to look for the Hi stones. Michiru-san... Haruka-san... The search for the stones is a job for the Inner Senshi.
Yes, please get the stones.
Yes, please, do all the work while we relax a little!
We'll look for the Barazuichou and the enemy's hideout while you guys are busy.
Well then, I'm off to Switzerland.
I'm off to Nepal.
I'm going to Canada.
For me, Turkey, right?
Good. Japanese teenager ditching school to go by themselves in foreign countries to look for some stupid stones is quite common.
Hey! What about me?
Usagi-chan, you stay here in Japan.
I can't tell if she's jumping out of joy or anger.
Huh? Why?
Both Hotaru-chan and Mamoru-san have collapsed. You need to nurse them back to good health.
Ah, the girl who not so long ago fantasized about Mamoru.
Huh?
You have to stay by Mamoru-san's side.
We have to go for the stones.
Although it will be difficult, we still have to go. You have to stay and help Mamoru.
Yeah! Usagi-chan's power of love will revive him!
Love conquers all! an important and popular fact!
Yeah... Everyone...thank you...
And now, we have to go. When we come back, we can all go have some crepes together.
For all this trouble, you'd better treat me to steak and bj instead of just crêpes...
Everyone, good luck!
Then Mamo-chan will get better.
More display of plot complexity!
Soon I shall bring back the Barazuichou.
Yeah, we got that already. Why do these people keep repeating the same stuff over and over and over and over?
Well, this ends the first chapter of the game and this current update. The writing in this game is worse than I remembered but then again it was some time ago. Don't forget to send me pr0n to encourage me to continue, the pressure can be quite intolerable at times! But I do it all because of you, Codex! Also these Japanese guys are really weird but we knew that already. Consider this for exemple:
I guess these people have their faces so close to the girl's crotch that they caught the blur. That's because in Japan, laws of physics get twisted and bent to oblivion, and who would want that?