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Full FAQ and walkthrough
Version 1.0
By Luke J. Martinez, a.k.a. 1stTobalMan
May not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal and private
use. May not be placed on any Web site, other than GameFAQs.com and its
partner sites, or otherwise be distributed publicly. Use of this document on
any other Web site or as part of any public display is strictly prohibited and
violation of copyright law. All trademarks and copyrights contained in this
document are owned by their respective trademark and copyright holders.
Copyright Luke J. Martinez 2010.
This FAQ/walkthrough is intended to show all
the known features of Samurai Ghost for the TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine, and
provide a straightforward method of completing the game.
Table of Contents
1. Controls
2. Gameplay basics
I. Object
II. Power ups
III. Damage, lives and continues
3. Tips
4. Walkthrough
5. Tricks
6. Author's notes
1. Controls
Run: start game/pause
Select: move cursor at continue screen.
I: jump
II: attack
D-pad: move in corresponding direction. Down is duck.
2. Gameplay basics
I. Object
Sometime after defeating the armies of 12th century feudal Japan, and
his own death, Kagekiyo is resurrected to defeat his former enemies, including
Yoritomo, in the underworld known as the Dark Side. The Dark Side is a waiting
area for spirits to return to earth; if Kagekiyo doesn't defeat all his enemies
in the underworld, they will return to our world and wreak havoc again. The
player will slash through seven zones of action, defeating bosses along the
way, and eventually Yoritomo. Each zone is divided into parts, the last being
the zone boss. The game has a score system, and points are achieved by
defeating enemies.
II. Power ups
Most enemies drop green spheres. Human-like enemies usually drop
life refills. Weapon upgrades are gained by attacking the floating blue
fireballs that appear every so often:
Yellow sphere restores half a candle.
Clear sphere protects against slime.
Blue
sphere protects against mushrooms.
We carry the clear and blue spheres until
all lives are lost.
Purple sphere comes in four versions and upgrades weapon
to:
- shoot long range projectiles. Very useful.
- increase the sword's range.
Somewhat useful.
- spin in all directions in the air. Very useful.
- swing
the sword in a windmill manner. Somewhat useful.
One may use the ability of an
upgrade only a few times, then the upgrade is gone. Unless one reads Japanese,
they all are indistinguishable from each other, therefore, the location of each
purple sphere is mentioned by version in the walkthrough.
Package: adds one
candle to life meter. Scattered along the way.
Big candle: adds four candles
to life meter. In mid-boss parts.
Green spheres give a 1-up after 100 are
collected.
III. Damage, lives and continues
The player starts with three lives. Kagekiyo's life meter is represented by
five candles. When an enemy or projectile collides with Kagekiyo, half a
candle will be lost. We can add life through power ups or by reaching the end
of a part. After all the candles are gone, we lose a life. We must restart
the part (of the zone) we were on. If we lose all three lives, we can continue
infinitely, but must restart the whole zone again.
3. Tips
Practice, practice, practice! Doing so will familiarize one with the
power up locations, obstacles and enemy patterns.
In addition to the default
attack, we can perform special moves. Most of these moves will be used
sparingly, but the defensive attack no. 1 is quite useful. The attack system
offers depth by including offensive and defensive moves. Note the default
attack is offensive attack no. 1.
Defensive attack 1: attack (hold)
Defensive
attack 2: down (hold) + attack (hold)
Offensive attack 2: up (hold) + attack.
This can be done while jumping.
Offensive attack 3: jump, down (hold) +
attack (hold)
The defensive attack no. 1 is so useful, it is recommended to
always be in this attack stance so to protect against sudden, incoming enemies.
Keeping one's guard up is the best way to breeze through Samurai Ghosts.
Additionally, defensive attacks throw human enemies off guard, and allow use to
stay within range for an offensive.
Because we are given unlimited continues
to finish the game, lives aren't a big issue (but, yes, continuing will delay
finishing). Thus, don't sweat picking up the green spheres; they're more of a
burden than a benefit.
The best way to get through Samurai Ghost is to be
patient and approach the zones defensively. Many enemies try to attack first,
therefore, being on guard will instantly defeat them or open them up to
offensive attacks. Some obstacles may take a while to pass, and since there is
no time limit, we should take our time. Some parts, like boss parts, require
more aggression though.
4. Walkthrough
Entrance to the Dark Side
Part 1
We fall from the sky into the underworld.
Head right while guarding against the flying skulls. Sword fight the samurai
and go on until we see a spike in the ground. Jump over it and the rest along
the way. Keep this up for a little bit to reach the end (the end of a part is
marked by a red opening).
Part 2
We are now on the surface of the underworld.
Proceed on, to more spikes. We can use the moving platforms to avoid the
spikes. Be careful not to walk under a platform or it will fall on our
samurai. Take out the undead dogs with the offensive attack no. 3. The end
will appear after a while of spike jumping.
Boss part
A skeleton with sword and
shield will rise up. Attack it with aggression; try jumping at it while
attacking, then ducking and attacking. The boss will back up, allowing us to
repeat the offensive. When its four candles are gone, we can proceed to the
exit.
Volcanic Zone
Part 1
Kagekiyo starts near a volcano. Take out the two
clawing enemies and then jump the lava pits. Guard against the claws that will
materialize. The rest of the part consists of basic platform hoping. If we
should fall in the lava, spring for the closest solid ground (it's not worth
trying to get back on the platform one fell off). That's about it.
Part 2
We
are now running from a lava wave. The most challenging enemy is the
spider-like one that will slow us down with webbing projectiles. Catch up to
it, then jump at it while guarding. The rest of the enemies should be avoided
or guarded against. If we keep up the pace, we'll reach the exit without
trouble.
Mid-boss part
This floating thunder spirit will throw down lightning
we can attack. It has five candles. Watch out for its long appendages; they
do lots of damage. Lead it all the way to the red opening, then pick up the
big candle. Now jump on the last platform and let this guy have it. Jump back
up every time we get knocked down, and step down when it extends its
appendages. Soon it will be a thing of the past, and a gold entrance will
appear. A gold entrance will appear after each mid-boss. It takes us to a
bonus part where we collect green and yellow spheres for a limited time. There
are also flowers there that add to our score.
Part 4
We are now on a collapsing
bridge. Standing in one place too long will cause us to fall into the lava.
Lava will do the same damage as any enemy. Keep jumping, and slashing and
guarding when necessary. There are several power ups to aide us along the way.
Shortly, an exit will appear.
Boss part
This robot's head starts shooting at
us. The first projectile will come right at us. Jump it, then continue
forward to dodge the second one. Keep this pattern up until the boss shows its
whole form. The weak spot is the chest. All we can do is jump right at it
while attacking. Then it is a matter of destroying the bosse's five candles
before it destroys ours.
Hurting Zone
Part 1
Attack or guard against the fish
that jump out of the water. Get close to the stationary land fish, then wail
on 'em. There are a lot of enemies in this part, but there is a weapon
extension 2/3 into the part. If we can survive the onslaught of enemies, we'll
move onto the next part.
Part 2
Inside the cave, we want to go right. This
part is similar to Volcanic Zone, part 1 because there is a lot of platform
hoping to do. Except, now there are frogs that jump at Kagekiyo. The best
plan here is to avoid them and just reach the end ASAP.
Mid-boss part
A wind
spirit will appear. It has five candles. Often, it will dip down to blow
mushrooms our way. Then is the time to get hits in. Avoid landing on the
mushrooms on the ground and jump over them. Repeat. If we lead it to the
other side, there will be a Big candle waiting for us.
Part 4
Here we face a
desert of quicksand. Standing in one spot too long will cause us to sink and
lose a life. Fortunately, there are many platforms to keep us afloat. Watch
out for the spiders here; handle them the same way as before. Shortly, we'll
be right at the red opening. Just be sure to get the spin upgrade near the
end.
Boss part
Even though this boss has six candles, this part will go by fast
if we charge at the enemy and keep spin jumping at it. If we are fast enough,
we can defeat the boss this way. Otherwise, we will have to finish it off with
regular, aggressive attacks.
Arctic Zone
Part 1
We start on a bridge.
Proceed, but watch out for the shards of ice that come up. Slash them enough
to jump over them. Next will be some floating samurai; it is best to attack
them head on. Near the first fire throwing stature should be a blue flame that
drops a projectile upgrade. Use it to blast away the statue and the next one.
More samurai lie ahead. If we follow this plan, we'll reach the exit.
Mid-boss
part
This spirit floats on the screen and plays music, however, the notes turn
into mushrooms on the ground that hurt us. Don't stop running, jumping and
attacking it, and the five candles will go and he'll be playing a sour
note.
Part 3
Now, we will cross the ice plains. Several samurai are scattered
throughout. Also, watch out for the ground based enemies. Jump over them and
get close to the flowers and attack them. Halfway through, a spinning upgrade
will be found. After enough slashing, the end will be in sight.
Part 4
The ice
plains continue. Near the beginning is a windmill upgrade. This time we will
face booby traps: wooden spike boards will spring out at us. We should have
enough reaction time to jump over them (or just go through them with the
windmill). There are more of the same enemies from the last part. A spinning
upgrade is close by the end.
Boss part
Butterflies will form a lady who will
first jump around. She has six candles. After the jumping, she'll stand still
and prepare to throw projectiles. That is the time to do multiple attacks.
The boss will back up and try to throw more projectiles. Don't let up on
her.
Kamikaze Zone
Part 1
Head right, through the cave. Have one's guard up
to ward off the many, blood thirsty bats. Around halfway through is another
spin upgrade. It will come in handy to reach the other side. This part has
two red openings. The first one makes us restart the part. The other is the
exit.
Part 2
This part consists entirely of floating platforms above the
ground. It is best to platform hop across this part to avoid the falling
platforms and dragon. There are very few enemies here. A projectile upgrade
is 2/3 to the end.
Part 3
We will face a sleuth of human-like enemies here. In
fact, this part is basically a line of enemies to take out, one by one. A mix
of defense and offense works here, but it is recommend to become more familiar
with the attack system to pass this part with ease. Slash the lunging tigers.
Life refills are somewhat common in this part.
Part 4
Like the previous part,
there are a sleuth of enemies, except they throw statues and lighting storms
into the fold. Again, a bit of experience is needed to pass through the sword
fights with ease.
Boss part
At last, the boss! This wild man charges at us on
a beast. Jump over the beast and engage the boss. He fights similar to the
skeleton from the first zone, except more aggressively. One should take his
cues from that fight. With enough patience and practice, this samurai will be
no more.
Ambush Zone
Part 1
We begin on a collapsing bridge. There are a lot
of projectiles to avoid this time around. Also, there will be indestructible
green objects that move around to block the way. Time their movements and jump
over them, but be quick. Use a moving platform to jump to a high big candle.
Near the exit is a spinning upgrade.
Part 2
This trek through the wilderness
can be a headache. We will be facing a potpourri of enemies. Use the same
strategies as before to defeat 'em. The storms can be particularly nasty.
Take them out ASAP. We will encounter more green moving objects: the small
and large variety now. These objects can cause lots of damage, so learning to
avoid them will be necessary. Be patient, remember there isn't a time
limit!
Part 3
Although not as bad as the last part, the small green objects
make a return here. It is similar to the platform jumping with frogs, but with
lots of green objects moving around. Getting caught between two green objects
can cause a pinball effect, taking away much life, so be accurate when landing.
A statue is perched on solid ground near the end. Also, watch out for the big
green object to come out of no where at the end. Try jumping it.
Mid-boss
part
The musician reappears. Take him out just like before and move on.
Boss
part
A huge samurai emerges from the sea. It has eight candles. Most hits
will be blocked while he has his spear, but we can try to get them in anyway.
This boss has two attacks: a stab and a move where he'll throw up his spear to
throw the green objects (from before) at Kagekiyo. Jump back right before he
stabs his spear. This samurai is most open to attacks when his spear is in the
air. However, we risk being hit by those objects if we have are too close to
him. Try to collect as many life refills in the bonus part from before to
survive this though encounter.
Hear of Dark Side
Part 1
The calm before the
storm! We will soon face many bosses from before in the next parts with only
one life meter. But now, we must run from the lava wave behind us to the exit.
There will be a ton of power ups to collect from the blue flames along the
way. Stock up on life.
Boss part
We face the robot from before. Resort to the
strategy of the corresponding boss earlier in this section in case one gets
stuck. We have to fight these bosses with one, long life meter, so we must
fight better and more accurately than before.
Boss part (cont.)
It's the lady
from the Arctic Zone.
Boss part (cont.)
Yes, it is that wild man who would
rather die by his own sword than the enemy.
Yoritomo
The final boss has three
forms, each tougher than the next. The first will float slowly around and
shoot masses of lightning onto the ground. Slash it every chance we get, until
all seven candles are gone. He's not too bad, but the next form has nine
candles and is worse. This one is fast and casts down big lightning bolts to
trap us. We need to stand still when he is about to cast the lightning to
avoid them. This boss's form will also try to slash us and throw straight
projectiles. Yoritomo is less likely to block our attacks if we duck and
slash. Be quick to lunge forward and attack a couple times, then quick to jump
back to avoid his close attacks. Get close when the big lightning dissipates.
What seems like an unreasonable task will become more possible over time. When
we manage to beat this form, he will turn into a third form, a spirit-like
enemy. All it does is shoot small lightning on the ground. If we can get
around these projectiles, we are free to open up on the defenseless spirit. Be
patient since our life meter will be low; we don't want to get sloppy. With
consistent attacks, this spirit will dissipate and fighting will be all
over.
We've done it! The Yoritomo and the spirits have been banished from the
underworld. There is no reward for Kagekiyo, except for knowing that his
actions have prevented future chaos on the unknowing world. He returns to his
peaceful slumber.
5. Tricks
Press up, left, down, right, II, I at the title screen to access the cheat
screen. There, we can change the difficulty, life meter and start at any zone.
Also, a sound test is available.
6. Author's notes
Special thanks to my family for their moral support. Thanks to HyperSilence
for the code and Toneman for sharing his videos. Submit questions, comments or
corrections to:
[email protected].
