Chapter 2 - Let's kick some Daimon butt, Sailor Moon style!
Let's start the game proper now.
Here is the title screen. By default, it seems it wants me to load a game but I don't even have one to load. That's silly and breaks my immersion. I'm tempted to give up now, which would be a sane decision, but my desire to affirm my masculinity coax me to move the cursor on the New Game option.
The game starts in Usagi's room and we can see Luna entering from the window. Luna is a talking cat who serves as an advisor to Sailor Moon; she's actually the one who revealed to Usagi that she was the reincarnation of Princess Serenity. Most of the time she acts as the voice of reason for the foolish Japanese girl, but she has been known to display her own set of antics.
Oh and in case you were wondering, the music is still
atrocious.
Usagi-chan, wake up!!
Num num... What's wrong, Luna?
There's something peculiar about the town. I don't know what it is exactly. But there's something funny going on.
Num num... Are you sure it isn't your imagination, Luna?
No, there's something about the people as well.
I have to admit this made me chuckle.
Wa..wait a sec! Get up and go check it out!
The game just started and we are already given a choice. I have to admit that this gives me a very positive impression. We can assume that each answer will lead to a different path and will maybe have repercusions at the end of the game. In the worst case, choosing to not investigate the disturbance should end the game but at least we were given the option to do so and that's something acclaimed games like Mask of the Betrayer do not even give you. You did not even get the option to fight Kelemvor at the end. Sure he'd be able to deal with you in a nanosecond but having the choice to be that stupid and try to fight him would have preserved the immersion. So far, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story promises to be a great CRPG, certainly greater than MotB.
Now let's see what happens when we choose "No", shall we?
...
Well, we were still given the choice, something MotB did not even do!
I suppose I'd better go now.
C'mon, Usagi-chan!
You'll notice that Usagi either dresses up very fast in her bed or sleeps with her clothes on.
Ah, I just remembered. Remember to take along your diary.
Yay! I got the diary!
Use your diary to save the game. You can save everything you've done so far. But you can only save when you talk to a Luna-P Ball.
It's a bit confusing so far but I guess it'll be ok. Luna-P Balls are the rotating horrors similar to the one you can see in the bottom left corner of the room.
Again, Destiny! I bet it's important! But whose Destiny is this about? Anyway, let's exit this room and explore a bit.
Must be the parent's bedroom. Nothing interesting here.
Ah, Usagi's brother. Maybe he got something important to say.
Yeah, well, fuck you too! Bah, let's ignore the brat and keep looking around, there's bound to be something good. I mean, this is a JRPG, there must be a treasure somewhere!
Well, nothing. This a very fine house with many modern appliances but nothing to help a magical girl followed by her talking black cat. I feel the bile cooking in the cauldron of my liver.
Ah, the kitchen and someone else. Must be Usagi's mother.
I'd like to see you stay in bed with a talking cat jumping on you! It's already hard to do it when my ferret bites my feet so I imagine it's even worse with a bigger, talking, animal.
Bah, screw this! There's nothing for us here, let's make like a tree and get out.
Outside the house, maybe we'll have more luck around here. Let us explore.
The way to the left is blocked, seems fairly obvious where to go now.
Oh, some guy dressed in a weird fashion, he must be a stranger! This make him look important, though I'm afraid his mere presence is enough to bring the economy down and deprive honest hard-working Japanese of their salary.
He healed me for free. Nice but I wasn't hurt at all yet, dumbass! Still it's good to know he can give me free medicine without the need for my character to resort to prostitution. Usualy that's how drug deals go but I guess this isn't that kind of game.
A <s>fat</s> healthy lady. Despite being Japanese, she might be related to Inge Wagner.
No thanks, lady, I do not want to meet your son. Usagi is already engaged to someone who will rule the Earth with her in 10 centuries so what could your stupid offer to her, uh?
Someone tell me how to add hearts in real life at the end of my sentence. I sure wish I could do that.
Whoa, a green Beetle!
That's all for this area, Sailor Moon and her trusty furry side-kick move out to the next area!
This area is bigger and has several people wandering around.
Nice tip, I could use the help! I can understand the game center being a help center for a video game but the clock shop kinda escapes me.
Looks like we can leave this area by following the road.
Or we could leave this area if Luna allowed us to. Still it's a nice design decision that prevents players from getting lost right at the start of the game. Bethesda refined this concept by letting you go anywhere you wanted but have instant teleportation and a GPS to pinpoint the exact location of quest objectives. But Bethesda did not have any Sailor Moon in their games and that's where they failed. R00fles.
Here is the game center, with some generic looking character in front of it giving me some clues about my current quest. I make a note and enter the game center. Inside I find some guy standing in front of a machine:
I guess it means his brain is starting to drip from his ears. Better leave him in peace.
It's true, this place really contains hints for playing the game! Usagi just learned how to run from that nice salaryman. And run she will.
I suddenly realized that there aren't any weapons or armours, just accessories. And that's because all playable characters in this games are GIRLS. I'm suddenly afraid I might catch the gay but the bottle of Chimay Bleue standing next to my mouse seems to whisper me sweet encouragements in the inside of my brain box, and feeling comforted on my sexual orientation, I press on.
Look, kiddo, it's the start of the game and I haven't killed anything, collected nothing and not accomplished anything of great effort. So why do you want me to save now?
Am I the only one who finds creepy a guy complimenting a girl for looking healthy?
Oh, books! I like books!
Well, this sucks. Moving on.
I'll never understand the Japanese.
Another store whose only purpose is to be closed.
Ah, here is OSA-P, but I think I'll keep exploring a bit. It's not like we have some shitty system like the spirit meter to prevent us from exploring and talking to people, right?
NINJA TRIVIA UPDATE: OSA.P is actually Naoko Takeuchi's editor!
Some racist undertones, that game may yet redeem itself.
Oh, the clock store! I was told I could find more help there.
That link system sounds pretty important but since I only have one sailor senshi in my party right now, I can't really explore it yet.
Oh, a wall of icons! The kind of stuff I expect to see in any serious clock store that I would deem worthy of my patronage!
This lady explains to me how it works. Clever.
A sound advice that I will do my best to remember during my adventures.
Seems like fairly classic stuff, except for the links and formations that may have some potential. I just need a group to try it out. Also the definition of the "Run away" command make it sound that if you ever use it, you are a sissy.
The old mand here sells clocks, it is a clock store after all!
Fairly typical buy/sell menu. I'm not in need of clocks for now but I may come back later.
Back to the street, I explore the neighbourhood some more. I find what is either a humanoid fly or a kid with big glasses.
Get away from me, you lecherous creep! I'm a lady!
Another subtle nudge to check out the OSA-P store. But before I go there I decide I have time to check this small store, again because there is no stupid coercion from the game who respects me as a gamer.
Those gooks are crazy, crazy I tell you!
I just went there, sheesh!
Moar like you force them to get up early else they do not get food, AMIRITE?
We can buy some stuff here too if we want.
This place deals mostly with food and items that will restore health, since we are not in need of any of this for now, we'll just leave the place.
Oooh, toys!
DAMNIT!
Can you speak louder? I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am!
This is a clue that this a work of fantasy: that policeman actually gave me useful information.
Nope, we can't exit this zone from there...
I might be wrong but this looks like a school.
No school today, let's profit from this free time by experimenting the recreational effects of cought syrup!
Guess I can't go in yet but something tells me I'll need to be back later.
You must gather your party before venturing forth. I still can't exit from this side either. Having explored all options available in this zone, I guess it's time to finally enter OSA-P and see what's going on over there.
My dear Watson, I mean Luna, it looks like we arrived just in time!
Naru is Usagi's best friend but she ignores all of her secret identity. That she is threatened here and now by a Daimon is highly symbolic: when it was revealed to Usagi that she was in fact Sailor Moon, her first enemy took the appearance of Naru's mother and attacked her in this very jewel store. Though inexperienced, she managed to win the battle and affirm herself as Sailor Moon.
Now we're cooking with fire!
FUCK YEAH!
Ah! Our first battle!
Well, it's certainly a change from "orc", "goblin" or "kobold".
Here we get the combat menu. An astute reader will remember that we saw this already in some part of the game. I am not gonna spoil it for you, just think a bit. If you are really lost, scroll up.
Let's check our special techniques.
Since Sailor Moon is low level for now, she only has 2 points of magic and can't use the third tech. The second one is a healing tech, not very useful in this situation, so let's use her signature attack: the Moon Tiara Action!
The enemy is faster and can act before my turn. But luckily my defence overpowers him... her... it.
PWNED!
My first victory!
Naru and her mother are grateful I saved them but not grateful enough to give me that +1 Longsword I'm sure they hide somewhere in their house. Oh and nevermind the fact that Naru isn't able to recognize her childhood friend when she is changed into Sailor Moon. That makeup sure fools everyone!
Talking to them does not provide any further benefit, so let's explore the house and see if we can loot something as a well-deserved reward.
So far, bupkus.
Hey! Isn't that a chest over there!
BINGO! Though I have no idea what to do with an Ancient Doll, it's still better than nothing.
Nothing here except a Luna-P Ball. I could save but I won't because I'm too hardcore for that.
That was all to get in this house, so I guess it's time to leave.
Usagi will get some well-deserved rest. Maybe in the next episode will we discover why a Daimon appeared while they were supposed to be all defeated. Stay tuned and do not miss the next update or, in the name of the Moon, I will punish you!
