Seiken densetsu 3 (聖剣伝説 3) is the third episode of the series Seiken densetsu , more known under the name of series " Mana" out of the Japan. It left only to the Japan on Super Famicom. This play is often called " Secrecy off Mana 2" or " Heroes off Mana 2" , although this name never was not recorded or was announced by Square. Seiken Densetsu 3 is a play considered as often remaking, because the player must choose three characters for a total of six, in order to assemble the group which it directs along the adventure, whose unfolding differs according to the first selected character. Three scenarios and six different introductions are available on the whole. With each scenario a different final boss, a first in the kind corresponds. Each character has a certain number of classes to be chosen, each class giving of the different capacities the character. The play uses a system of time, which included transitions between day and night in real-time, and manages even each day of the week.

Gameplay

Seiken Densetsu 3 uses a system of combat in real-time, involving the use of a finely ring which gives to the player an rapid access with his magic fates, objects and information on its characters. A simple variety of weapon is available for each character, and the system of " progression by the number of utilizations" present in the preceding episode of the series was removed for the weapons and the magics; maitenant the only factor which influences the damage of a fate is the magic qualification level of the character, and relating to the weapons they is necessary to buy the best in a shop. A system of inventory was introduced, where all the objects in excess can be placed, replacing the maximum capacity of 4 objects of each in Secret off Mana . The player can transfer from the objects between the inventory and the small ring, where to fill well the tank with objects already present until a maximum of nine.

A mode battles was created as an element of the gameplay, which removes certain aspects of the normal play (like the inventory) to make it possible to the player to concentrate to overcome the monsters. The player can leave the mode battles while leaving the screen or while moving away from the monsters (contrary to escape the impossible mode of Legend off Mana ). In mode battles, the characters obtain a point with their gauge of power when they touch a monster (in the place of the load making vulnerable in Secret off Mana ). When the gauge is filled enough, of the special movements - movements can be started which vary according to the characters and their class. Once all the enemies visible with the screen were eliminated, the player with the chance to be able to obtain an object in a trunk with treasure. From time to time, a " coil fortune" appears with the opening of the trunk, and the prices are traps which cause damage with the character who opens the trunk; that can be avoided while making stop the cursor on a " OK".

The progression of levels is coordinated by the player, because it must choose where to invest a point of statistics to each rise of level. A system of " classes" is present. Once a character reaches the level 18, it or it with the possibility of going to Pierre Mana and of choosing towards which class to progress - is a class aligned towards " Lumière" that is to say a class aligned towards " Ténèbres" - what provides a unit different of qualifications and various improvements to the stats. A second change of class can be carried out on level 38. The second change requires the use of a rare object in order to be carried out, and again a choice between " Lumière" and " Ténèbres" is asked, giving on the whole seven possible classes for each character, including the initial class.

Scenario and Characters

According to the introduction of Seiken Densetsu 3 , the Mana Goddess created the world by forging powerful Epée Mana and by overcoming eight God-Destructors thanks to it, sealing them in Mana Stones. It was transformed thereafter into the Mana Tree before entering a deep sleep. The play takes seat at the time of the end of peace, bus of the badly intentioneds spirits project to release the Destroying Gods of the Mana Stones, in order to obtain the ultimate capacity.

Like Secret off Mana , Seiken Densetsu 3 allows the control of three various characters during the play (nonhuman characters being controlled by IA play). However, the three characters are selected among six at the beginning of a new part. Each character has his own history, and the player must play the history of the main character chosen before entering the scenario of the play. The principal scenario, which has an about sixty different variations according to the characters chosen, has three principal under-scenarios.

The characters (and their individual stories) are grouped in the principal under-scenarios as follows:

• Angela /アンジェラ, Princess magician of the Magic Kingdom of Altena, which is located on a continent covered with ice. His/her mother, Valda, the Queen of Reason, use her magic to hold the Altenienne city in one perpetual spring. However, like its country, it is cold and insensitive with his/her daughter, who became isolated and egoistic because of her education, and of this fact refuses to learn the magic. The fates of the Queen weaken at the time when Mana starts to decline. So that its fate can perdurer and that Altena entirely does not freeze, it, with its Koren servant, decides to invade the other nations to claim their Mana Stones. Once that made, it would sacrifice his/her daughter for an ancient fate which would release the capacity of captive Mana in the Stones, thus opening the way towards the infinite capacity of the Mana Sword, so that the fate of the Queen can continue. Once Angela is with the current of all that, she flees Altena.

• Duran /デュラン, orphan epeist of the Kingdom of the Meadows of Forsena (Forcena in the amatrice translation) which serves its king proudly, the wise Richard. One night, Duran takes its turn of duty to the castle of Forsena when Koren, a wizard of the country of Altena, attacks the castle. Duran is left for died after being itself confronted with him, and after having recovered, he swears himself that he will become the best epeist in the world and that he will have his revenge on Koren.

• Hawkeye /ホークアイ ( Hawk in the amateur translation in French), member of a guild of noble robbers based in the Fortress of Sands of Navarre. Its chief, the Flamekhan Lord, declares suddenly that Navarre becomes a Kingdom. Surprised by that, Hawkeye speaks about it with his/her friends, the children of Flamekhan, Jessica (her best friend) and Eagle. Hawkeye and Eagle decide to go to see Flamekhan for that, and note that it is in the middle of a meeting with its assistance, the Isabella witch, who proves to draw the cords from Flamekhan. Isabella throws a fate on Eagle to make it attack Hawkeye, which wounds Eagle seriously in order to be defended. However, Isabella finishes Eagle with a fate and shows Hawkeye. He is imprisoned and awaits his execution when Isabella the formless one which it gave to Jessica a cursed collar; if Hawkeye tells the truth with no matter whom, she will be strangled by this collar. Fortunately, he escapes.

• Dye stick /リース ( Riesz in the amateur translation in English, for reasons of pronunciation), Princess the Amazon of the Kingdom of the Wind of Rolante. When his/her mother dies by giving rise to her brother, Elliott, Lise is dedicated to take care of him. However, two Ninja S mysterious of Navarre, Bill and Ben, deceive Elliott discreetly so that it decontaminates the protective wind of Rolante and remove it. Once the left wind, Navarre attacks Rolante with a powder cloud of sleep and keep silent its king, Joster, the father of Dye stick. Despaired, she escapes.

• Kevin /ケヴィン, the son of human and heir to the throne of King Loup, the chief of the man-wolves (of the wolf-garous). Tired treatment of its similar by human the " normaux" , the revenge on King Loup is made possible by the appearance of mysterious Deathjester and its black magic. It shows its capacities by throwing a fate on Karl, alone friendly of Kevin, an orphan wolf cub like him, while both are outside in the Forest of the Moonlight. Karl attacks Kevin which is defended although he does not want to make of evil to his friend. Unfortunately that awakes its capacities of werewolf, which costs the life of Karl. After having seen that King Loup sends a force of invasion to reverse invaluable Crowned Citée Wendel of human, Kevin surprises King Loup congratulating Deathjester for its fate. Mad, it defies King Loup and is literally dispatched out of the castle. He states King Loup not to be his father, and wishes to find his mother and a means of ressusciter Karl.

• Charlotte /シャルロット ( Carlie in the amateur translation in French), the grand-daughter of the Priest of the Light of Wendel. Having lost her parents, the Leroy priest and the Shayla elf, it has as a friend a priest who supervises it, Heath. Feeling an unhealthy influence in the neighbor quoted Jade, the Priest of the Light sends Heath to inquire; however, Charlotte surprises this conversation and flees of Wendel to help Heath, and for with final falling on a man malefic, Deathjester, which removes Heath.

Except for Charlotte, one tells the characters (or they decide themselves) to go to seek the council of the Priest of the Light in the Crowned City Wendel. They arrive at the Jade City, just after its invasion by the man-wolves. Thanks to the capacities of wolf-garous of the man-wolves, the characters can escape from the city once the fallen night.

Each character, on the way of Wendel, spends the night to Astoria, where they are awaked by a brilliant light. While following it, it proves to be a Fée of the Crowned Island of Mana, tired of its voyage. In cause of despair, the fairy chooses the main character to be his host, and explains to them how to reach Wendel. In Wendel, when the characters present their complaints to the Priest of the Light, the fairy stops and explains why the Mana Tree dies and that the Crowned Island is in danger. They are new low registers for the priest, because if the Tree dies, the God-Destructors will awake and destroy the world.

It continues its explanation, considering the fairy chose the main character, they must go to the Island Crowned to fire the Mana Sword from the foot of the Mana Tree in order to restore peace in the world, and in order to exaucer their wishes by the goddess of Mana if it arrive there before the tree dies. However, there is a disadvantage: much power is necessary to open the gate of the Crowned Island. The fairy does not have the force to do it, and an ancient fate (now supposed forgotten being) which would release the power of the Mana Stones would make lose the life with the lanceurt fate. However, the guards spirits of the Stones (elements of Secret off Mana ) are able to open the gate, once their combined powers.

The remainder of the history as from this moment is a search to obtain the assistance of the spirits, to thwart the plans of the malefic forces, and to open the gate of the Island Crowned to recover the Mana Sword and to save the Mana tree.

Elemental spirits

Lumina /ウィスプ is the first spirit obtained by the characters. It is about the Spirit of the Light. It is captive of the monster which lives in the cave of the water falls close to Wendel. Once beaten, the heroes obtain the capacity of Lumina.

Gnome /ノーム is the second spirit obtained by the characters. It is about the Spirit of the Earth. He is prisoner of the monster which lives in the caves of the Crack of the Earth, close to the Village to the Dwarves. Once beaten, the heroes obtain the capacity of Gnome.

Sylphid /ジン is the third spirit obtained by the characters. It is about the Spirit of the Wind which lives close to the Castle of Rolante. When the heroes try to find Sylphide, the Black Knight throws a fate to him, which transforms it into a monster named Tzenker, similar to the appearance of a Harpie. Once beaten, the heroes obtain the capacity of Sylphid.

Shade /ジェイド is the fourth spirit obtained by the characters. The Spirit of Darkness saw on a Bâteau-Phantom since, according to the explanations of Shade, that Pierre Mana of Darkness was destroyed (or lost in the world or another dimension). Once arrived by inadvertency in the ship, the heroes fight monsters to reach the bridge of the boat. Once beaten the Gorva phantom, the heroes obtain the capacity of Shade. After Shade, the group has the choice of which spirit to obtain. Ondine, Athanor, or Luna can be obtained in any order. To obtain the last spirit, Dryade, the player must first of all obtain Luna.

Ondine /ウンディーネ is the Spirit of the Water which saw in a cave of ice in the snow-covered plains Sub-Zero, findable once the capacity of Pierre Mana of water was slackening. After having met Ondine, the heroes obtain his capacity.

Athanor /サラマンダー is the Spirit of the Fire which saw in the Valley of the Flames, in the south of the desert of Navarre, findable once the capacity of Pierre Mana of Fire was slackening. After having met Athanor, the heroes obtain his capacity.

Luna /ルナ is the Spirit of the Moon which lives in the Forest of the Moonlight. As soon as the heroes beat Logan ( Lugar in the amateur translation), a man-wolf, Luna appears and looks after Logan by again transforming it into baby. After that, the heroes obtain his capacity.

Dryade /ドリアード is the Spirit of the Wood which lives in the Drill Elf of Floralampe. After having beaten a called malefic plant Gildervine, Dryade appears and the heroes obtain his capacity.

Development team

• Realizer: Koichi Ishii
• Engagements: Goro Ohashi, Yuko Sakamoto
• Chart: Tsukasa Fujita, Kazuomi Suzuki, Hiroyuki Kuwata
• BG : Koji Tsuda, Takaharu Matsuo, Tetsuya Takahashi, Takeo Ouin, Hiroyuki Ikeda
• Characters: Koichi Ishii, Shinichi Kameoka, Atsuhito Sakoda
• Effects: Shintaro Takai
• Monsters: Noriko Sasaki, Konomi Ishizuka
• Monsters, Boss: Hiroyuki Narushima, Kazuhiro Ookawa, Yuichi Shiota
• Programming: Satoru Yoshieda, Taku Murata, Masaaki Saito, Yoshiyuki Miyagawa, Satoshi Ogata, Hidenori Suzuki

The polemic and Secrecy off Evermore

There are strong feelings perceived among the fans of video game to know if Secret off Evermore were distributed instead of an english language version of Seiken Densetsu 3 .

It was suggested that the reason to have Secret off Evermore in the place of Seiken Densetsu 3 is due to the establishment of a new development team at the offices of Square to Redmond. It is thought that the decision did not have absolutely any effect on such translations and none the people implied in the translations retained; she was specifically established to create the play. This could be accompanied by a decision saying not to continue to translate plays, including the continuation of Secret off Mana ; a decision which, nevertheless, left a bitter taste to many the fans of Seiken Densetsu.

Amateur translation

In the year 2000, an amateur translation of the play managed by the hacker Neill Corlett was carried out and successfully made available on Internet like a nonofficial patch. This translation made it possible to make discover the play with the people practitioner not the Japanese. A translation amateur Frenchwoman, carried out by the team of Terminus Translations was available in 2001.

External bonds

Nonofficial site

• http://squarepalace.com/dossiers/seikendensetsu3/index.php
• http://www.lost-fantasy.com/sd3.php

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