Phantasy Star III
=================

Generations of Doom

Today's your big day.  You're marrying Maia, the mysterious woman you
found on the shores of your father's kingdom.  But as you and Maia walk
up the aisle, a winged dragon grabs your bride and disappears...

This is the tragic start of what seems to be a never-ending journey into
a world of loathsome creatures and wicked souls.  Explore seven
danger-ridden worlds as you fend off mutated beasts with swords, knives
and bows.  Transform into an aerojet and fly over mountain peaks and
lifeless deserts.  Turn into an aquaskimmer and cross the blue seas.  Or
become a submersible and dive to a sunken palace.

Live through three generations in this epic adventure and fnd out what
lies behind the realm of terror.  Only you determine which of the four
endings you'll experience.


Take Control!

For the best game play, learn the different button maneuvers before you start.

Direction Button (D-Button)
--Press up, down, right or left to move the character in those directions.
--Press toward a door or an opening to a cavern to enter or exit.
--Press toward a set of stairs to ascend or descend.
--Press to select a Battle Command Icon.
--Press to cycle through selections.
--Press to continue a conversation.

Start Button
--Press to start the game.
--Press to pause the game;  press again to resume play.

Button A
--Press to talk to people.
--Stand in front of chests and press to open them.
--Face a certain area and press to search.
--Press to confirm a selection.
--Press to continue a conversation.

Button B
--When in a shop, press to cancel a conversation.
--Press to cancel a Battle Icon.
--Press to cancel a selection.
--Press to close the command screen.
--Press to continue a conversation.

Button C
--Press to open the command screen.
--Press to confirm a selected icon.
--Press to confirm a command.
--Press to continue a conversation.


Getting Started

When you press Start at the Title screen, the Message Scroll Speed
Selection screen appears, after the Game Data check.  Select a speed by
pressing the D-Button right or left.  Then press Button A, B, or C to
start the game.


When You Have Only One Game Saved

When you press Start at the Title screen, the Game Mode screen appears.
Press the D-Button up or down to select a command you want, then press
Button A or C.

If you have selected:
--Continue Game, the Message Scroll Speed Selection screen appears.
  Select a speed and press Button A or C to start the game from where it
  was saved.
--Start New Game, the Message Scroll Speed Selection screen appears.
  Select a speed and press Button A or C to start a new game.
--Erase Saved Game, the following screen appears.  Press the D-Button and
  select Yes, then press Button A or C to erase the saved game.  If you
select No and press Button A or C, you'll go back to the Game Mode screen.


When You Have Two Games Saved

When you press Start at the Title Screen, the Game Mode screen appears.
Press the D-Button up or down to select a command you want, then press
Button A or C.

If you have selected:
--Continue Game, press the D-Button up or down to select the game you
  want to play.  Then, on the Message Scroll Speed Selection screen,
  select a speed and press Button A or C to start the game.
--Start New Game, the followig screen appears.  Press the D-BUtton and
  select Yes, then press Button A or C to start a completely new game.  If
  you select No and press Button A or C, you'll go back to the Game Mode
  screen.
--Erase Saved Game, pause the D-Button to select the game you want to
  erase and press Button A or C.  Then the following screen appears.
  Press the D-Button and select Yes to erase a game.  If you select No and
  press Button A or C, the Game Mode screen appears.


Characters You'll Meet

You will play three generations of characters in this game.  Here are the
characters you'll encounter in the first generation.

Rhys
 You are Rhys, the prince of Landen.  You're the one who found the
 mysterious young woman who washed up on the shores of Landen and fell in
 love with her.
Maia
 She's the woman whom Rhys found on the shores of Landen.  She doesn't
 remember who she is or where she came from.
Lena
 This woman helps Rhys out at the start of his adventures.  She joins the
 party later on in the game.
Mieu
 This female cyborg remains with all three generations.
Wren
 This male cyborg also remains with all three generation.
Lyle
 Rhys meets this free-spirited warrior for the first time near the start
 of the game.  But Lyle doesn't join the party until later.


Orakio's Law and Laya's Law

Before Orakio left of the final battle, from which no one returned, he
advised his people never to kill anyone, not even Layans.  This rule is
called "Orakio's Law" by Orakians.

Unbeknownst to Orakians, Layans live by the very same rule, though they
call it "Laya's Law."  Laya gave it to them before she left, 1,000 years
ago.

Since Orakians and Layans can't kill each other, they use cyborgs and
monsters to fight their battles.


The Council of Skyhaven

When you reach Skyhaven and talk to the councilmen, you'll find that one
of them has become a bit senile and confused these last few years.
Contrary to what he seems to think, Cille, Shusoran, and Sage Isle are in
the world of Aquatica, not Draconia.


Your Journey Begins

You are Rhys when you begin your journey.  Gather information by talking
to the people in Landen, where your father rules as king.

Command Screen
When you press Button C during the game, the Command Screen appears.

Character Window:  This window shows you members of your party and their
present status.
--HP (Hit Points):  This shows the amount of stamina the character has.
  When attacked by an enemy, the character loses some HP.  When the HP is
  zero, the character loses the ability to fight.  The number on the left
  is the present HP and the number on the right is the maximum HP the
  character can have.
--TP (Technique Points):  The number on the left is the present TP and
  the number on the right is the maximum TP the character can have.  When
  the TP number is zero, the character cannot use any techniques.
--The character's present level.  Earning XP (Experience Points) raises
  his or her level.

Command Window:  Press the D-Button up or down to select the command you
want.  Then press Button A or C.  To cancel a selection, press Button B.
1.  Item:  Select this to use, discard or give an item.
     --Press the D-Button to select a character, then press Button A or C
       to see the item list.
     --Press the D-Button to select an item from the list, then press
       Button A or C.
     --Select Use, Give or Discard, then press Button A or C.
     --When you select Give, the mesage "To Whom?" appears.  Select a
       character, then press A or C.
2.  Technique: Select this to use a technique.
     --Select the character who is going to use a technique, then press
       Button A or C to see that character's list of techniques.
     --Select the technique you want, then press Button A or C.
     --When "To Whom?" appears, select the character you want and press
       Button A or C.
3.  Stats:  Select this to check up on each character's statistics.
     --Select the character you want and press Button A or C once to see
       the stats;  press it again to see what items the character has;
       press it another time to see what techniques the character can use.
     --Level:  The character's present level.
     --XP:  The character's present experience points.
     --Reqd XP:  The number of experience points a character needs to go
       up a level.
     --Speed:  The larger the number, the faster a character can move.
     --Damage:  The larger the number, the more damage a character can
       inflict on the foes.
     --Defense:  The larger the number, the less damage a character will
       sustain.
     --Intel:  The larger the number, the higher the TP Max becomes when
       the level increases.  The techniques become more powerful.
     --Stamina:  The larger the number, the higher a character's HP Max 
       becomes when the level increases.
     --Luck:  As this number increases, there is a greater chance that
       the Intel and Skill numbers increase when a character's level goes
       up.
     --Skill:  The larger the number, the better the chance that a
       character's technique will succeed.
     --Mes:  The amount of Meseta (money) a character has.
4.  Equip:  Select this to equip a character with armor and weapons.
     --Select the character you want to equip and press Button A or C to
       see the information windows.
     --Select an item you want from the item window and press Button A or
       C.
     --If the item can be held, select right hand or left hand and press
       Button A or C.
     --o remove an item, select the item you want to remove and press
       Button A or C.
5.  Switch:  Select this to change the order of the characters.  The
character in the very front suffers more damage than those behind.
Select the character who will head the party, then press Button A or C.
You can also select the order of the rest of the characters.


What Your Battle Screen Shows

Information Window:  This area shows the types and numbers of your
enemies.  When the names and numbers disappear, the characters and their
HP and TP appear.  Whenever a character is poisoned, the letter P appears
above the character's name.

Command Icon Window:  There are four different commands.
1.  Choosing the spinning icon allows you to continuously use whatever
 Battle Icon you chose.  If you haven't chosen a Battle Icon, the party
 will attack Group A first, then Group B, then Group C, and finally Group
 D.  Note:  Press Button B to leave the continuous battle mode.
2.  If you select the "1" option, the party and its enemies will attack
 for one turn, then the Command Icon Window appears again.
3.  The four-item window is the Battle Icon Window.  Select this and
 press the D-Button left or right to highlight the name of a character.
 Then press Button A or C.  Select the Battle Icon you want and press
 Button A or C.
    Weapon:  Select this to attack a specific foe.  Press the D-Button to    
     mark th enemy you want to attack, then press Button A or C.
    Technique:  Select the Technique you want to use and press Button A
     or C.  Select the character or enemy you want to use the Technique on
     and press Button A or C.
    Item:  Select the Item you want to use and press Button A or C.  Then
     select the character who is going to use the Item and press Button A
     or C.
    Defend:  Select the character to be defended and press Button A or C.
4.  Select the human figure to run away.  (You may not always succeed.)


Towns and Villages

There are various buildings in every town and every village you visit.
Some of these buildings have signs on them that tell you what services
they offer.  When you enter a building, go up to the person behind the
counter and press Button A to talk.  Press Button B to cancel.

Shops
There are three different types of shops where you can buy or sell items:
Armor Shop, Equipment Shop and Weapon Shop.

Buying an Item
--Walk up to the clerk, press Button A, then, select Buy and press Button
  A or C to see the list of items that are for sale.
--Select an item you want and press Button A or C.
--Select the character who is going to carry the item and press Button A
  or C.
--If the character cannot use the selected item, the clerk will let you
  know and ask if you still want it.  Select Yes or No and press Button A
  or C.
Note:  If a character cannot carry any more items, a message appears.
You can give the item to another member of your party, or not buy it at
all.

Selling an Item
--Walk up to the clerk, press Button A, then, select Sell and press
  Button A or C to see a list of characters.
--Select the character that wants to sell an item and press Button A or
  C.
--When the list of items appears, select an item and press Button A or C.
--If you agree to sell your item for the price that the clerk gives you,
  select Yes.  Otherwise select No and press Button A or C.

Healer
The healer is the one to visit if one of the characters' HP becomes zero.
A doctor who can cure poisoned characters can be found on the second
floor of most healing establishments.
--Go up to the Healer or Doctor and press Button A to talk.
--Press the D-Button to highlight the name of the character who needs to
  be healed.  The Healer or Doctor will tell you how much it will cost.
--Select Yes or No and press Button A or C.
Note:  You must first get treatment for poisoning before you can recover
any lost HP.

Inn
You can save your game data and recover HP and TP.  Note:  If you're
poisoned or your HP is zero, your HP and TP cannot be recovered.
--Walk up to the innkeeper and press Button A to find out how much it
  will cost to stay overnight.  If you want to spend a night at the inn,
  select Yes;  otherwise, select No.  Then press Button A or C.
--If you selected Yes, the innkeeper wil ask you if it is all right to
  save the game.  Select Yes or No and press Button A or C.
--If you selected Yes, you will now have to select position 1 or 2 and
  press Button A or C.
--If you want to save a game over a previously saved game, the innkeeper
  will ask you if it is all right to erase the old game.  Select Yes or No
  and press Button A or C.

Technique Shop
Here you can have your technique distribution altered.
--Go up to the clerk and press Button A to talk.
--Press the D-Button to highlight the name of character who needs to have
  the technique distribution altered.  Then press Button A or C.
--Select the technique group that needs to be altered and press Button A
  or C.  The Technique Power Distribution Square appears.  The square gets
  bigger as your level increases.  The four different techniques in each
  group are represented by different colored shapes.  Press the D-Button
  to move the cursor within the square to change the distribution of the
  different powers.  Then press Button A or C.

Fortuneteller
Rhys can have his fortune told for a certain fee.  Go up to the
fortuneteller and press Button A to talk.  Select Yes to hear your
fortune and press Button A or C.


Other Important Landmarks

You'll come across several different landmarks while exploring different
worlds.

Caverns
Enter caverns to find yourself in a labyrinth.  You won't be able to
enter some caverns unless you have a certain item.  Some caverns lead you
to other worlds.

Docks
Before the Layan-Orakian war, these now-deserted docks were bustling.

Laya's Palaces
No one knows why Laya built these palaces centuries ago.

Airstrips
During the Layan-Orakian war, numerous flying machines took off from
these runways.


Techniques

Only Laya's descendants and cyborgs can use Techniques.  Not everybody
can use the same Techniques.  The power of these Techniques becomes more
effective as the levels of the characters increase.  The power
distribution for ecah Technique can be altered at the Technique Shop.

Heal Techniques
These require 5 TP.
Res:    Restores HP.  Can be used on one character of the party at a time.
Gires:  Restores HP.  Can be used on all the characters of the party.
Rever:  Restores HP of one character whose HP is zero.  Can be used on
        one character of the party at a time.
Anti:   Treats poisoned characters.  Can be used on one character of the
        party at a time.

Melee Techniques
These techniques require 2 TP and can only be used during a battle.
Foi:  Creates enormous flames that inflct damage to one enemy.
Zan:  Cuts up all foes in one row.
Gra:  Crushes all enemies on screen.
Tsu:  Strong current of water pierce the enemies.  Can be used to attack
      Groups A and C or Groups B and D.

Time Techniques
These techniques require 1 TP and can only be used during a battle.
Ner:    Speeds up attacks.  Can be used on only one character of the party
        at a time.
Rimit:  Gives you a better chance of succeeding when you select the Escape icon on the Command Icon Window.  Can be used on all members at a time.
Shiza:  Prevents an enemy from using any techniques.
Deban:  Prevents an enemy from attacking.

Order Techniques
The techniques require 1 TP and can be used only during a battle.
Fandi:  Increases the attacking power of one character.
Forsa:  Your concentrated energy blows away a foe.
Nasak:  Your HP drops to zero but it restores the other characters' HP.
Shu:    Momentarily increases a character's defensive power.


Items

You will require many items during the course of your journey.  Some you
must Equip, or Use, and there are others that you help you as long as you
find them.

Precious Stones
You won't be able to enter some caverns without these.

Items You Must "Equip"
There are some items that can only be equipped by certain characters.
Some come in pairs and require both hands while others require one hand.

Weapons
These Weapons can be divided into two types:  weapons to attack foes
close by and others to attack foes farther away.
Knives:  These aren't very powerful but are easy to handle.  These are
 held with one hand and are used to attack enemies at close range.
Swords:  These are large and difficult to handle, and are used to attack
 enemies nearby.  These require both hands.
Staffs:  Thin and light, these can be carried by anybody.  However the
 more powerful versions of these can only be carried by Layan males.
 These are held with one hand.
Claws:  Cyborgs use these metal nails to pierce foes nearby.  These are
 held with one hand.
Slicers:  Layan women hurl Slicers to slash enemies.  These require one
 hand.
Shots:  Only the cyborgs can use this state-of-the-art firepower.  These
 require both hands.
Needlers:  Almost any human can use a Needler for these are light and
 easy to handle.  These are fired with one hand.
Bows:  Few remember how to use these legendary weapons.

Armor
There are various types of armor which protect the different parts of the
body.
Head Armor:  These include Helmets, Ribbons, Head Gear, Bandanas, and Crowns.
Hand Armor:  The men use Shields and the women use Emels.
Torso Armor:  The Orakian men wear Armor, Orakian women wear Chests, Mieu
 wears Vests, Wren wears Protectors, Layan men wear Capes and Layan women
 wear Robes.
Feet Armor:  Everybody can wear these except Wren.

Items You Must "Use"
Except for the Monitor, the follwoing items cannot be used repeatedly.
If you use them up, you must replace them.

Monomate, Dimate Trimate
These restore HP.

Antidote
Cures one poisoned character.

Star Mist
This restores the entire party's HP to the maximum.  If won't work if the
HP is zero.

Moon Dew
This restores one character's HP to the maximum even if the HP is zero.

Escapipe
This takes you back to the entrance of a labyrinth.

Monitor
This enables you to see where you are.  You cannot use this in a village,
town or cavern.

All quoted text, logos, screenshots, and artwork copyright and courtesy Sega of 
America.