FAQ for Black Matrix Advanced (Japanese Version 1) written by
Dave Bassett (
[email protected]). The usual rules of copyright apply
to this piece of work in that none of it can be re-produced without
my say so.
No one seems to have bothered to write a FAQ for this game, probably
because it's fairly easy to play once you get the hang of the menus.
The game follows the usual scenarios of cut scene followed by battle,
interspersed with areas where you can free battle to power up and buy
new weapons, armour and health items. In fact this is a very involved
and lengthy game. I've only completed the game on easy level, and
have no idea what is being said, as my Japanese is non-existent so
please don't ask me for translations.
So insert Disc 1 and you have the option to play Easy, Normal or
Advanced.
Now watch the opening sequence showing the High Priest preaching to a
crowd of hooded figures.
Next choose your 'Buddy' from one of five girls. You have a choice of
Dominna
Prica
Craze
Michette
Prague
I don't know if it affects the game as to which you choose.
Press Start Upper Choice to agree press A.
Next choose your own name by moving the cursor to the right-hand side
and the second choice down to change the characters to English. Press
b to backspace then use direction keys to highlight the letters you
want. On the seventh letter confirm with A.
Use A to go through the speeches, which are quite lengthy at times.
Next choose the name of your girlfriend in exactly the same manner as
before.
There now follows a sequence where you are a poor farmer and you can
wander around performing various tasks like cleaning, reading, and
cutting up fish carrots and apples to make the dinner. Sometimes you
get a reward of extra Strength, Dexterity and Hit Points as bonuses.
I cycled through all 4 seasons, and it's worth doing this for an hour
or so just to see the beautiful artwork.
At this point if you press Start you get the following options: -
1. Save
2. Load
3. Configuration
Message Slow Normal Fast
Sound Stereo Mono
Volume Off Min Mid Max
Voice On Off
SE On Off
Help One Two
Three Four
Exit
On the Help option I put the emphasis on number three and then you
get further options. I suggest you turn each of them off other wise
it gets very annoying after a while being reminded of what to do.
Having saved for the first time wander around the room looking into
barrels where you can find food which look like Pizzas. Each one you
consume, and each task you undertake costs you AP points. You can
regain these AP points at anytime by going to bed and sleeping.
You have the opportunity to go fishing, and climbing trees, as well
as digging in the field to grow various vegetables.
After a while it's time to say goodbye to your buddy and head into
town. Go North of your house to the path and enter until you come to
a gate. At this point you are given two choices; the top choice asks
if you want to leave, while the bottom choice makes you stay.
Okay lets go.
There is a short anime scene which basically shows the whole town run
down and the people poor and underfed. Wander around and talk to
everyone. There's no specific order. Once you've spoken to everyone
press the Start button and you are presented with a menu of 7
options, only two of which are available; numbers 6 (Save) and number
7 which asks if you want to go onto the next battle/scene. Choose 7
and then the top choice to confirm. This will take you to Scene 1.
You now meet the first of your fellow band of travellers.
FIGHTING BATTLES
Always choose first where you want to stand by pressing A then moving
your character to that space. Once you are happy with where everyone
is press Start to begin the battle.
Pressing Y shows you the area where the individual can move.
Pressing Y on an enemy shows where that individual can move.
Pressing A on an enemy gives his stats.
Pressing A on your own men gives the following menu: -
1. Move
2. Fight with equipped weapon.
3. Use Magic (must have enough Blood Points BP)
4. Use an item in the Inventory.
5. Equip BP from the Reservoir if you have any.
6. BP equipped for task.
7. Your stance.
A) Guard
B) Dodge/Avoid attack
C) Fight back if hit
8. Did not use.
Having got everyone to attack of defend depending on the
circumstances it will then be the enemy's turn so Press Start.
You will be presented with 5 options: -
1. Enemy Turn
2. Show all parties and their statistics
3. Weapons available
4. List of powered up weapons
5. Configuration
In this first battle you are just sparring. After a cut scene you
will be joined with other traveller's and fight your way out of
prison. This game is very similar to Final Fantasy Tactics in that
more damage is done if you hit the enemy from behind, and arrows
travel farther if you are standing on higher ground.
At certain stages new people will appear and ask to join you. Select
the top option in each case to get them to join. The first one will
be a female archer.
Once you escape the prison and get into the town area you will find
two very important people. One will be your armourer the second will
be a monk.
EQUIPPING AND BUYING ITEMS IN TOWN
Once you've found whose selling the gear go and speak to him by going
up to him and pressing A. If you press X over any character you can
sell all your weapons you don't require. You are given a list of
articles available and depending on which character you choose, it
will say whether or not that character can use it. If it is a better
weapon than he already uses the numbers will be highlighted in Blue.
Try and experiment for the best attributes before you buy.
Press B to leave at anytime.
POWERING UP WEAPONS
Before you can add an attribute to your weapon like lightning, fire,
poison etc, you need to power it up with Blood Points.
You must first disarm yourself. Walk away from the Armourer and press
the Start key and you will be presented with a menu of 7 options.
1. Highlight any character. Press X and then yes to confirm to drop
the weapon highlighted. (Open weapons can be powered up not
armour).
Press B to back out.
2. Highlight the weapon to power up, and you will be presented with 3
different power ups each with their own cost in BP. Highlight one
and press A. Come out of Option two, go into Option 1 and re-
equip.
3. List of items held.
4. What is available at the local shop?
5. Further list of things.
6. Options to Save, Load and Configuration.
7. Go on to the next Battle.
Having now equipped your weapon, when you next battle you will be
given the option to use that power (assuming you gave yourself some
BP) or not as the case may be.
Get use to experimenting with each power up so you recognise the
better ones.
FREE BATTLE AREAS
Also in the town area will be a monk, and you can only see his eyes.
Speak to him and he will send you off to a free battle area. This
gives you the opportunity to earn experience point, blood points and
money. However, you don't have to kill everyone each time. Right at
the beginning of each battle the Leader will be highlighted by a red
triangle above his head. Kill him and you will get a good weapon,
which you can sell, and the battle ends regardless of who else is
alive. In other battles another enemy will also have a good weapon
which he drops on dying. This is a quick way to earn money and
experience points to power up your characters. At the end of each
battle you will be given the opportunity to allocate the experience
points to each of your characters. I did it in a very strict
rotational basis, making sure all my people were the same level.
Sometimes on route you pick up an extra character miles behind in
levels. Make sure you power them up first.
MAKE SURE YOU ARE AT LEAST 5 LEVELS OVER YOUR ENEMY
Other than this the game is very fluid and there are a lot of
surprises in store so stay with it and try and finish it.
I've no idea if there are any secret areas or cheats. Sometimes
during the anime scenes you get a menu of three to four choices,
which takes you on different routes to fight extra battles.
If anyone comes up with any further info on the game I will be happy
to include it in this FAQ and add his or her name to it.
