Review: 'Fire Emblem: Awakening' Enters New Dimension on 3DS

Wow, has it really been more than two decades since the first Fire Emblem game came out? I’m kinda-sorta starting to feel, well, old.

The latest entry in the beloved RPG franchise, Fire Emblem: Awakening for the Nintendo 3DS brings its familiar tactical chops into the third dimension while also adding some new wrinkles to help freshen things up. How well does this new flavor of Fire Emblem work out? Well, let’s give it the old taste test, shall we?

In Awakening, you start out as either a male or female tactician who ends up joining Prince Chrom and his merry band of Shepherds. No they don’t actually herd sheep but then again, you don’t see people complaining about Band of Horses not actually having any horses so I guess that’s OK. Instead these warriors are shepherds of the metaphorical kind who protect the citizens of Ylisse against all the typical threats that rear their threatening head in RPGs — you know, brigands, thieves, creepy undead-looking humanoids — that kind of stuff. And building up your stable of fighters is where a great part of the fun in Fire Emblem lies.

Unlike Tales of the Abyss, this JRPG is a game of the more tactical kind, having more in common with titles such as Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention or even XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The game serves up a wide range of classes to choose from, each with their own set of specialties. Clerics can’t attack but keep your characters in fighting shape while Knights boast a high defense and are excellent at soaking physical damage. Then you have special classes that include shape shifters and dancers. You can also switch your warriors from compatible Base classes to Advanced classes for improved abilities and an extra dose of cool.

The game also maintains a rock-paper-scissors mechanic that gives each weapon and unit both advantages and disadvantages against other weapons and units. Lances work well against swords but not as well against axes, which in turn have a disadvantage against swords. Pegasus Knights meanwhile do well against magic but struggle against arrows. Using a certain weapon a lot also allows you to increase a character’s expertise for it. Strategy-wise, fighting alongside your allies can boost your fighting prowess and improves their relationships with each other. Better relationships means better boosts when having those characters side by side in battle. They also impact your success in playing cupid with them later on so you’ll want to keep that in mind if you want to become the Barry White of nerd-vana later on.

More casual players will appreciate the addition of a less hardcore mode that gives you more generous save opportunities and prevents your characters from suffering permadeath. For traditionalists, the permadeath option is still available as well as harder difficulties if you want to humor your inner King Leonidas. Enemies also aren’t dumb as a brick and mercilessly go after your more vulnerable units — at least in Hard mode, which is what I started at.
Graphically, the game is one of the best-looking 3DS games I’ve seen to date. The battle scenes look good, especially in 3D and the production values are top notch. Although some hardcore fans of the series may decry the changes made to make Awakening more accessible to casual fans, I think the game pushes all the right buttons for tactical RPG lovers overall. The fighting system is addictingly deep while the emphasis on relationships — and even permadeath if you opt to keep it on — will make you care about the characters. If you like tactical RPGs, Fire Emblem: Awakening is a worthy addition to your collection.

Full Review: Classic Hack-and-Slash Action Returns in 'Code of Princess' for Nintendo 3DS

Like video did to radio, 3D killed the 2D star. As someone who inflicted blisters on top of blisters on my thumbs while playing games like “Gunstar Heroes” and “Double Dragon” in my youth, I lamented the passing of this beloved gaming medium. Once in a while, though, a game comes along that resurrects my love for old-school fare. The latest is “Code of Princess,” a 3DS game first released in American shores last October and now just recently became available for download on the Nintendo eShop.

In this game’s campaign, you start out as the brave and somewhat airheaded Solange, a powerful and brave warrior princess with heavily armored, uh, hands. Along the way, she’s joined by one of the biggest collections of anime-inspired misfits, including a lovestruck samurai, a musclebound animal lover and a warrior nun whose philosophy is more in line with “two eyes for an eye.” These misfits are only topped by the ensemble of enemy goofballs that populate the Distron army’s ranks -- made even more interesting by the excellent localization job for the English version. It's "deus ex magnifica," if I say so myself.

Now some folks have made the mistake of looking at this as an RPG with beat-em-up mechanics, which could potentially lead to disappointment. Instead, it’s actually the other way around -- Code of Princess is primarily a combo-heavy beat-em-up with RPG mechanics, just like Guardian Heroes. And as a beat-em-up, this game is actually quite good. In fact, I consider this a more worthy followup to Guardian Heroes than the latter’s sequel Advance Guardian Heroes, particularly in terms of the fun factor. Like Guardian Heroes, you can jump in between the foreground and background. Even Solange’s diving fire sword move looks like a straight-out tribute to Han from the original Guardian Heroes. Speaking of moves, this game heavily relies on combos as well, allowing players to chain regular moves and specials. Eventually, you’ll be able to deftly launch and juggle enemies, then launch them again. A lock on and burst mechanic also allows you to deal even more damage when stacked together, though it likely won’t compare to the damage you’ll do to your thumbs once you get your combos down pat.

Stat allocation via level up also adds another, uh, level of strategy and fun to the game. Throw in the fact that you can unlock more than 50 characters and its quite possible to get plenty of replay value from Code of Princess. Admittedly, the game can get repetitive even with all the different characters -- an issue pretty much for classic beat-em-up games in general. Like those titles of old, maintaining interest in this game is all about experimenting and pulling off tough combos as well as playing with other people either via online or co-op. This brings up another issue -- the fact that the online lobbies seem to be  dead at this point. You’ll basically have to rustle up some non-imaginary friends if you want to play co-op or versus modes.

Even with its issues, however, Code of Princess is a great representation of a classic genre that has fallen by the wayside with the advent of 3D action games and first-person shooters. I remember chuckling when I finally started feeling that long-lost yet familiar sensation of blisters forming on my thumbs as I made my way to the final boss fight after playing the game all the way through from the very first stage. All of a sudden, memories of Double Dragon, Streets of Rage and Gunstar Heroes started flooding in my head. That’s when I knew I that I was taking part in some old-school fun. This game certainly isn’t for everyone but if you like classic action games, then you’ll want to give this a look.

Level 5, Studio Ghibli Create JRPG Magic with 'Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch'

All-star collaborations aren’t always a sure thing. Case in point: Check out the unpalatable, sub-500 sausage being churned out by the “all-star” cast of my beloved Los Angeles Lakers. Yuck.

Once in a while, though, the meeting of talented forces produces something that does justice to the sum of its parts. This certainly holds true for “Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch” -- the wonderful, lovable offspring sired by Japanese RPG heavyweight Level 5 with Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli. Featuring a tale centered on young wizard Oliver, Ni No Kuni takes all the wonderful flavors from both its creators and melds them into a perfectly blended seasoning. There’s the same charming and inspired art and story style seen in memorable Studio Ghibli works such as “Spirited Away.” Then there’s Level 5’s well-designed RPG mechanics and solid game design. This game essentially melds real-time action with JRPG menus while also throwing in a Pokemon-style mechanic that allows players to capture and use monsters in the field. 

Add a presentation that feels like you’re playing a Studio Ghibli cartoon -- as well as the option to use  the original Japanese dialogue -- and the result is easily one of the best JRPGs released to date. The fact that lead hero Oliver isn’t an “emo” JRPG jerk is an added plus. If you loved Dragon Quest VIII, the Tales series or just JRPGs in general, you owe it to yourself to check this gem out.

Review: Stylish Action Returns in 'DmC: Devil May Cry'

It’s been said that it’s better to deal with the devil you know than the devil you don’t. Apparently, it’s a saying that carries a lot of weight for fans of the “Devil May Cry” series.

Following Capcom’s announcement that it was handing off the reins to U.K. developer Ninja Theory for the latest entry in its beloved franchise, many unhappy fans took to the Interwebs to prove that humans may cry, too. The fact that main character Dante in “DMC: Devil May Cry” looked more like a young Morrissey than his traditional, white-haired self made this particular half-devil even more like a stranger to the aforementioned upset fans.
Despite its different look, however, it doesn’t take long to realize that this game, spiritually, is cut from the same cloth as its predecessors. It’s a realization that becomes obvious the moment you first try racking up style points by chaining ground- and air-based combos with your sword and dual guns.

Yep, this sure feels like the same devil that I know. The game even pays homage to the series’ irreverent humor right off the bat, courtesy of an “interesting” slow-mo wardrobe equip and misplaced wig. Stylish, baby!
Ninja Theory does try its hand on a more fleshed-out story, which likely will be hit-or-miss based on one’s fan preferences. Given its nice graphic style, solid combat — including use of demonic or angelic triggers — and good challenge, however, this is one devilish game worth signing a pact with for action fans.

Original RGJ review: http://on.rgj.com/12auWA5

Review: 'Earth Defense Force 2017' is Kinda Sorta Like Vanilla Ice Yo

Experts agree that too much cheese is bad for you. If only cheese didn’t … taste … so … good. Mmmm.

Speaking of cheesy dairy goodness, that’s exactly what you’re going to get when playing “Earth Defense Force 2017” for the PlayStation Vita. A re-release of the original home console game in portable form, EDF 2017 displays all the camp and lack of polish of a typical B-movie in videogame form. Cheesy voice acting? Check. Production values that ooze classic Godzilla quality? Check. A story that’s just about as deep as a mountain peak? Checkity-check-check. And yet, while you might have to work up the urge to play this game, it’s hard to put the darn thing down once you start. Maybe it’s the fast-paced, run-and-gun gameplay and overabundance of loot. Perhaps it’s the oh-so-bad-it’s-good dialogue. Maybe it’s the hilarity of how buildings crumble like sandcastles while your character shoots rockets in a goofy, pretzel-like posture while running sideways. Regardless, explaining the appeal of this game is like explaining why you like listening to “Ice, Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice.

Granted, the game has plenty of issues. Monsters and items can get stuck in solid objects. Gameplay also can be mind-numbingly repetitive. Then, there’s the $40 price tag. Get a local or online co-op session going, though, and watch the time go by. The addition of the Pale Wing soldier also helps freshen things up. Like durian, this one’s definitely an acquired taste that pays off for its target demographic.

Spartan Reviews: 'Dishonored' Takes Off White Gloves, Slaps Your Creativity and Challenges It

Reviews in 300 words or less...

It’s been said that life is all about the choices we make. Take the time I decided to high-kick a tree branch at Great America and fell on my butt. In public. Boy, do I wish I could take that back.

Choices also happen to be at the core of Dishonored, a game about a former royal bodyguard turned assassin after being framed for murder. Although divided into chapters, each stage in Dishonored pretty much acts like open world. From the routes you take in the plague-infested city of Dunwall to your decisions on whether to kill or spare practically every character you run into, choosing your own path is baked into the game’s DNA. Want to sneak around and finish the game without killing a single soul? With a little creativity, you can actually do that even with your assassination targets. Want to unleash a Kill Bill murder spree? You can do that, too, albeit at the expense of making the rat plague worse. In fact, hand Dishonored to two people and you’re guaranteed to see different approaches to the game. In one stage, I entered my destination by climbing up to a second-floor window after sneaking around and rendering enemies unconscious. My cousin, meanwhile, mowed everyone down and entered through the front door. Don’t be surprised if you save and reload often to test all sorts of possibilities. 

The only caveat is that this game may not be action-packed enough for folks who prefer a more Michael Bay type of experience. Still, given its overwhelming sense of freedom combined with cool assassin skills and a distinct Victorian steampunk art style, Dishonored is easily one of 2012’s best games.

Recommended if you like: Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Cost: $60, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Official Dishonored website

Spartan Reviews: NBA 2K13 Dishes Out Good Basketball

Reviews in 300 words or less...

Back when wearing John Stockton shorts didn’t get you locked up in fashion jail, I fancied myself as a promising basketball player. Then my little brother had a growth spurt so I decided to drop the ball and pick up embroidery. Actually, I was only kidding about that last part — though needlework certainly sounded more appealing than being endlessly boxed out by your suddenly ogre-sized sibling.

These days, I live my hoops dream vicariously through video games. As far as virtual basketball goes, the NBA 2K series is the alpha dog. With NBA 2K11 and 2K12 easily counting among the best sports games ever, NBA 2K13 had some huge size 22 shoes to fill. The good news is that gameplay-wise, NBA 2K13 continues the tradition. The game introduces some new wrinkles including JAY Z tunes, mapping new ball handling controls to the right stick and shots requiring additional button input. There’s also a plethora of offensive moves to master, which further add to the game’s realism and polish. In fact, there’s so much to do that newcomers will likely be overwhelmed, especially with the absence of a tutorial mode. There’s also a career mode that allows you to create a player and guide him from pre-draft greenhorn to stellar baller. I decided to create “JLicious Hidalgo” a player who is 100 percent just like me -- except taller, more athletic and just a smidgen better looking.  

Admittedly, the lack of past “Jordan/NBA Greatest” challenges is a bummer. Overall, though, NBA 2K13 is on the money.

Cost: $20-$60; PSP, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PC
2K Sports NBA 2K13

Samsung SC96P0 Canister Vacuum Sucks in a Good Way

Back when I was a super-stoked college student who also happened to be super broke, I used a small hand-me-down canister vacuum to clean everything from my apartment to my car. I loved that underpowered little sucker until the day it could suck no more. Several years later, I find myself trying out another canister vacuum, Samsung’s new multichamber SC96P0 bagless vacuum.

It’s like my old vacuum’s long lost twin in the sense that Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger were twins in that late ’80s movie. Not only is the Samsung bigger, it’s more powerful and loaded with more tech. It looks the part, too, sporting a jetpack-like design that makes you want to strap it on your back.

With a power rating of 12 amps and suction rating of 200 watts, the SC96P0 sucks pretty well. Its regular motorized brush has five height settings and transitions well from carpet to hard floor. It also has a motorized assist for easier vacuuming plus a silent mode. Attachments like the Parquet and Mini Turbo brushes round out your options for hard surfaces, fabrics and upholstery. The dust bin and HEPA and anti-odor carbon filters are easy to remove and clean. The vacuum also works well with pet hair and comes with a tool for removing pesky strands from the roller brush.

Issues include a high price tag. The vacuum’s capacity is also smaller than its bagged counterparts. Overall, though, solid features and performance make this sucker a winner.

Cost: $469
Samsung SC96P0 Site

Spartan Reviews: Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Doubles the Mayhem

Reviews in 300 words or less...

The King of the Iron Fist Tournament returns with double the action once again in Tekken Tag Tournament 2.

Like the first Tag Tournament, this game tries to spice up the traditional Tekken recipe by throwing in some two-on-two tag team action. The mechanic adds an extra level of strategy to the game, including tag attacks and life bar management. Fail to tag in a partner with full health when your other fighter goes down, for example, and you will lose the match. Tag in a partner at the wrong time and you could see the poor sap eat a combo on the way in and lose chunks of health.

Folks who like eye candy will love how well this game looks. The graphics actually are beautiful and tack-sharp, even on my ridiculously large 83-inch TV (yes, I know). The fighting itself also is fluid and fast. Button mashers might get far against scrubs, but the folks who master the timing for attack chains, bounces and juggles are the ones who still rule the day. You’ll need those skills, too, as the last boss in this game can be King-of-Fighters cheap (though a bit susceptible to the Law family’s somersault kick). Otherwise, you can test your might online, though just how smoothly that goes depends on the quality of your connection (or your opponent's). 

Offline admittedly could use more extras though the Training Lab mode with Combot and the cheesily "Excellent!" Lee can be fun. Ultimately, your enjoyment of this game largely hinges on whether or not you still enjoy fighting games. If your answer is yes, then you'll be happy to know that Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is an excellent, polished 3D fighter that’s even more enjoyable with a group of friends in your living room. "Excellent!"

Recommended if you like: Virtua Fighter, Dead or Alive

Cost: $60: PS3, Xbox 360
Official Tekken site

Spartan Review: Trouble Witches Bewitchingly Old-School

 

I love “shmups.”

No, I didn’t just try sneaking in some deviant, juvenile word past my editors. “Shmup” is how gamers in the know call “shoot-em-ups,” classic games where you pilot a ship or character and shoot enemies while moving sideways or vertically.

“Shmup” is also used by gamers to demonstrate their cool inside knowledge. That or shift precious brainpower resources from speech faculties to whatever part of the brain lets them dodge the insane amount of bullets shot by enemies in shmup games.

Which brings us to the charming, little shmup, “Trouble Witches Neo.” A cross between Cotton and Deathsmiles, “Trouble Witches” puts you in control of a squad of barely competent witches (and some non-witches) tasked with saving the world from an evil menace. Yeah, it sounds cliched. But if you like wacky anime plotlines, then you’ll love this game.

Just be warned that “Trouble Witches” falls under the infamous “bullet hell” category of shmups. That means your screen will be filled with a gajillion bullets for you — or a companion — to dodge. Fortunately, you have a shield that slows time and turns bullets to coins if you dispatch their source. If you don’t, well, then you’ve got that many more bullets headed for your likely soon-to-be-dead witch once your shield runs out.

The game also has power-ups you can purchase and a Boss Mode. English voice acting is comically bad but you can switch to the Japanese track if you like.

I heartily recommend “Trouble Witches” to shmup fans.

Recommended if you like: Cotton, Deathsmiles 

Cost: $10, Xbox Live Arcade

SNK-Playmore USA   

*This review originally ran in the Reno Gazette-Journal's Sunday Tech page.

New Shooter Just On 'Brink' of Goodness

In an industry flooded by shooters, it’s always nice to see a game that tries to be different.

 
“Brink” certainly strives to break the mold and deserves praise for that. But while the concept behind it sounds quite neat, the execution has some rough edges that leave the game just on the brink of total gaming goodness.

 
At the risk of sounding like an “It’s not you, it’s me” speech, lets enumerate the positives first. 

Character customization is definitely a strong point, providing plenty of options to edit your character. People who like options besides running and gunning will like the extra classes like medic, spy and operative. There’s also heavy emphasis on group cooperation, a boon if you’re a team player like me. The ability to pick sides in a civil war also adds extra variety.

 
On the down side, campaign mode is short and lacking in story, a bummer for campaign fans especially given the interesting setup for the game’s civil war. The AI also can be maddeningly inconsistent. Imbalances in mission design can heavily favor one team over another. Class-based load outs could use more diversity a la Team Fortress. “Brink” also lacks team death match and other classic shooter modes, relying primarily on “8 vs. 8” team objective missions.

 
Overall, “Brink” is a game loaded with potential but just falls short of hitting the sweet spot. It certainly has its high points and some gamers will, undoubtedly, love this game. But I recommend “dating” it first before committing to it, just in case.

Recommended if you like: Team Fortresss

 
Cost: $59.99; PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Official Brink Site

*This review originally appeared in the Reno Gazette-Journal Sunday Tech page.

 

Tron Legacy: The Complete Story App is Quite Complete

Remember Tron for Atari?

If that comment just gave you flashbacks of an old dude yelling at you to get off his lawn, then you’re likely too young to remember.

But if you do remember, my how times have changed from those old blocky days, eh? Granted “Tron Legacy: The Complete Story” app for the iPad isn’t a game but a digital book. But I’m severely jetlagged and can’t think of any better segways so you’re stuck with that analogy, buster.

A retelling of the “Tron: Legacy” movie in storybook form, this app trumps all other previous Disney storybook apps in sheer size. You’re basically looking at 150 illustrated pages for the main story -- practically a novel for little ones. Maybe that’s why it’s for ages 9 and up. You also get a slideshow of more than 30 stills from the actual movie, which can also be accessed via interactive icons in some of the storybook pages.

A pretty neat feature is the “Episode 1” motion comic that’s included, which features animated comic panels. If your wallet just shrieked and jumped out of your pockets from the thought of paying for extra episodes, the remaining five will be available by winter this year for free.

It would be nice if mini-games were also included. The app is also a bit pricey. But with its sheer breadth of content, the Tron Legacy digital storybook is worth a read. Now, seriously, get off my lawn.

Cost: $8.99, $3.99 for limited time 

Official Tron Legacy App Site

*This review originally appeared in the Reno Gazette-Journal  Sunday Tech Page

'Lego Pirates' Connects With Families, Lego Fans

The Lego video game franchise gets another block in its ever growing Lego pile as Lego Pirates of the Carribean swings into most video game platforms.

Swashbuckling is the name of the game this time around as swordplay replaces the wizardry from the last Lego video game installment (i.e. Lego Harry Potter). Lego Pirates reaps the benefits from being the latest installment in the series, showing a nice amount of polish in the gameplay. Neat features include a treasure-finding ability via Jack Sparrow’s compass plus the ability to switch more quickly to your character of choice via a character wheel. Cut scenes should earn laughs from the kiddies. Jack also eerily sounds like Jack, despite being limited to the typical Lego grunting sounds.

Like past Lego games, though, platforming can still be frustrating at times. It’s still easy to fall off ledges and miss jumps, robbing you of some of your precious booty. While the retention of coop play is nice, the lack of online coop is a bummer, especially if you happen to be a certain cool, video-gaming uncle who happens to have a niece who just adores the Lego video game franchise but lives hundreds of miles away.

Even with the new Pirates angle, the Lego game franchise might be getting repetitive for some players. But if you still can’t get enough of Lego gaming then you’ll love Lego Pirates. Families looking for a fun game both young and old can enjoy will especially like this one.

Cost: $29.99-$49.99; PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii, DS, 3DS, PSP

Lego Pirates Site

*This review originally appeared in the Reno Gazette-Journal Sunday Tech page.

Spartan Review: Costume Quest a Wonderful Treat

I’m a sucker for cute-looking games. Add cute costumes, hilarious writing and old-school RPG-style gameplay and well, you already had me at “cute.”

Which brings us to Double Fine’s latest pimple-worthy game, Costume Quest. Why pimple-worthy you ask? Well, let’s just say I tend to get pimples when I stay up late. And up late I was recently cause I couldn't put this darn game down. Curse you, Double Fine!

Anywho, Costume Quest has you assuming the role of one of two siblings who decide to go trick or treating together during Halloween. Unfortunately, one of them gets kidnapped by IQ-challenged monsters who mistake the hapless sibling for a giant, talking piece of candy. Fortunately, your costumes grant you incredible powers against monsters, helping immensely in your quest to save your sibling and avoid getting grounded.

To make life easier, you can enlist allies in your quest while collecting new costume designs and materials to expand your monster-bashing wardrobe. You can also use the candy you’ve collected to buy helpful skill stamps from aspiring little entreprenuer Sadie to boost your strength, counter enemy attacks and stun enemies. Action is turn-based and relies heavily on timed button presses to boost your attacks and guard enemy attacks.

Dialogue scrolls a bit too fast to read in the beginning and there was also one time when my game froze while I was robot skating in my blue bot costume. But its simple and solid gameplay, along with its hilarious dialogue make Costume Quest a real yummy treat.

Cost: $15 download, PS3 and Xbox 360

http://www.costumequestgame.com

This review also appears at the Reno Gazette-Journal Sunday Tech page on Oct. 31, 2010.

It's Aliiiiive! Introducing Spartan Game Reviews

Ooh, check out my blog's new "retina display" display, ha, ha. Hey, try not to bring up the blog while you're surfing at Starbucks, OK? Lord knows I don't want you to be deluged by a swarm of females who suddenly find you irresistible even without an iPad.

So I, um, apparently haven't blogged about games for a while, which is kind of funny because I haven't played as many games as I have in the last few months since maybe college. But, hey, that's what happens when you work two jobs. After all, what is a man? Nothing but a miserable pile of lemmings in the old rat race. But enough talk, have at you!

Now, one of the things I do in my day job is review games for a certain publication, hence the reason I played a lot of games. With that in mind, I figure that I might as well post that stuff here for more mass multimedia penetration. (For those of you giggling after reading that, I'm telling your mom.)

Which brings us to my latest addition to the blog: Spartan Reviews. Basically, there are quick takes on a featured game in about 300 or so words — ya know 300, like that movie about the less-than ideally armored Spartans led by a Scottish dude? Not to brag but this kind of sharp, impressive wit is exactly the reason why  I haven't become a millionaire yet. Then again, "yet" kind of has the connotation that I might be in the future, which I wouldn't hold my breath on.

Um, what the heck was I talking about again?

Tales of Graces: Item List 1-35

Here's a list of items 1-35 based on Tales of Graces' Collectors Book. The list is based on Namco-Bandai's official guide for the game.

Note that an (S) mark means that you need to spend a certain amount of money in the store before the item becomes available. An (S*) mark essentially means the same thing as (S) except the item indicated can only be bought once. Also note that I translated this myself so the names may not jive with any potential English localization of this game.


TABLE 1: Item Names

	Item Name (JP)	Item Name (ENG)
1	アップルグミ	Apple Gummy
2	ピーチグミ	Peach Gummy
3	グレープグミ	Grape Gummy
4	メロングミ	Melon Gummy
5	パナシーアボトル	Panacea Bottle
6	リキュールボトル	Liqueur Bottle
7	ライフボトル	Life Bottle
8	エリクシール	Elixir
9	オールディバイド	All Divide
10	アワーグラス	Hourglass
11	シャークボトル	Shark Bottle
12	アルカナボトル	Arcana Bottle
13	ホーリィボトル	Holy Bottle
14	ダークボトル	Dark Bottle
15	セージ	Sage
16	ラベンダー	Lavender
17	ベルベーヌ	Verbena
18	ローズマリー	Rosemary
19	サフラン	Saffron
20	カモミール	Chamomile
21	セボリー	Savory
22	レッドセージ	Red Sage
23	レッドラベンダー	Red Lavender
24	レッドベルベーヌ	Red Verbena
25	レッドローズマリー	Red Rosemary
26	レッドサフラン	Red Saffron
27	レッドカモミール	Red Chamomile
28	レッドセボリー	Red Savory
29	マスタリーC	Mastery C
30	マスタリーEX	Mastery EX
31	マスタリーG	Mastery G
32	エナジーボトルC	Energy Bottle C
33	エナジーボトルEX	Energy Bottle EX
34	エナジーボトルG	Energy Bottle G
35	アイスキャンディー	Ice Candy

TABLE 2: Item Effect

Item Name (ENG)	Effect
Apple Gummy	Recover 30% of HP
Peach Gummy	Recover 50% of HP
Grape Gummy	Recover 70% of HP
Melon Gummy	Recover 30% of HP*
Panacea Bottle	Cure all status effects
Liqueur Bottle	Prevent status effects in battle
Life Bottle	Resurrects downed character with 20% HP
Elixir	Heals and resurrects character with full HP
All Divide	Halves damage for both allies and enemies
Hourglass	Stops enemies for 4 seconds
Shark Bottle	Ups rate for acquiring items (either double or 10%)
Arcana Bottle	Ups Eres Gauge by 75%
Holy Bottle	Decreases enemy encounters for 3 minutes
Dark Bottle	Increases enemy encounters for 3 minutes
Sage	Max HP + 20 points
Lavender	Attack Power + 2
Verbena	Defense + 2
Rosemary	Attack Skill + 2
Saffron	Defense Skill + 2
Chamomile	Accuracy + 2
Savory	Evasion + 2
Red Sage	Max HP + 30 points
Red Lavender	Attack Power + 3
Red Verbena	Defense + 3
Red Rosemary	Attack Skill + 3
Red Saffron	Defense Skill + 3
Red Chamomile	Accuracy + 3
Red Savory	Evasion + 3
Mastery C	SP + 300
Mastery EX	SP + 900
Mastery G	SP + 3000
Energy Bottle C	Recover 300 energy
Energy Bottle EX	Recover 1000 energy
Energy Bottle G	Recover 3000 energy
Ice Candy	Recover 10% HP, get winning or losing stick after

TABLE 3: Location (Shop)

Item Name (ENG)	Shop Location	Buy	Sell
Apple Gummy	Ranto	100	20
Peach Gummy	Oru Reiu	500	100
Grape Gummy	Beranikku	2500	500
Melon Gummy	None	0	2500
Panacea Bottle	Ranto	100	20
Liqueur Bottle	Oru Reiu	200	40
Life Bottle	All shops	300	60
Elixir	Anmarcha (S)	5000	1000
All Divide	Anmarcha (S)	7000	350
Hourglass	Anmarcha (S)	9000	450
Shark Bottle	Anmarcha (S)	1000	200
Arcana Bottle	Anmarcha (S)	1000	200
Holy Bottle	Ranto	250	50
Dark Bottle	Oru Reiu	250	50
Sage	Ranto, Baronia (S*)	1500	75
Lavender	Nekonin (S*)	1500	75
Verbena	Oru, Sable, Yu (S*)	1500	75
Rosemary	Teros, Shatoru (S*)	1500	75
Saffron	Grellside (S*)	1500	75
Chamomile	Anmarcha (S*)	1500	75
Savory	Beranik, Savet (S*)	1500	75
Red Sage	Ranto, Baronia (S*)	6000	300
Red Lavender	Nekonin (S*)	6000	300
Red Verbena	Oru, Sable, Yu (S*)	6000	300
Red Rosemary	Teros, Shatoru (S*)	6000	300
Red Saffron	Grellside (S*)	6000	300
Red Chamomile	Anmarcha (S*)	6000	300
Red Savory	Beranik, Savet (S*)	6000	300
Mastery C	Beranik (S*)	1000	50
Mastery EX	Beranik (S*)	7500	375
Mastery G	Beranik (S*)	30000	1500
Energy Bottle C	Bera, Ter, Sha (S*)	3000	300
Energy Bottle EX	Bera, Ter, Sha (S*)	10000	1000
Energy Bottle G	Bera, Ter, Sha (S*)	30000	3000
Ice Candy	Baronia Stall	60	12

Note: Bera = Beranik, Oru = Oru Reiu, Sable = Sable Izore, Ter = Teros Asti, Yu = Yu Ribelt


TABLE 4: Non-shop Item Acquisition

	Other Acquire (JP)	Other Acquire (ENG)
1	リンゴ + グミの実	Apple + Gummy Fruit
2	モモ + グミの実	Peach + Gummy Fruit
3	ブドウ + グミの実	Grape + Gummy Fruit
4	メロン + グミの実	Melon + Gummy Fruit
5	ウィザード	Steal from Wizard
6	パナシィーアボトル + ストラタサボテン	Panacea Bottle + Strata Cactus
7	パナシィーアボトル + 真実の塩	Panacea Bottle + True Salt
8	バロニア城	Box: Baronia Castle
9	スニーク研究所	Box: Sneek Research Lab
10	フェンデル政府塔	Box: Fendel Govt. Tower
11	ウォールブリッジ地下遺跡	Box: Wallbridge Ruins
12	ライオットピーク10階	Riot Peak: Clear 10th floor
13	免罪の水 + モリノ花	Indulgence Water + Forest Flower
14	免罪の水 + 毒海藻	Indulgence Water + Poison Seaweed
15	北バロニア道	Gather: N. Baronia Path, E. Ranto
16	66号地区, ベールパラサイト	Gather: Area 66; Drop: Bell Parasite
17	ストラタ岩石、大沙漠・東	Gather: Strata Rock, East Deserts
18	13号地区, メリクリウス	Gather: Area 13; Drop: Mercurius
19	南バロニア, グレルサイド	Gather: S. Baronia, Grellside
20	氷海への道, サヴェート山	Gather: Frozen Sea Path, Mt. Savet
21	フェンデル国境 & トンネル	Fendel Border, Fendel Tunnel
22	セージ + 怪しげナ粉	Sage + Strange Powder
23	ガルディアシャフト, ラベンダー + 怪しげナ粉	Galdia Shaft, Lavender + Strange P.
24	ベルベーネ + 怪しげな粉	Verbena + Strange Powder
25	ローズマリー + 怪しげな粉	Rosemary + Strange Powder
26	サフラン + 怪しげな粉	Saffron + Strange Powder
27	カモミール + 怪しげな粉	Chamomile + Strange Powder
28	セボリー + 怪しげな粉	Savory + Strange Powder
29	ライオットピーク30階	Riot Peak: Clear 30th floor
30	マスタリーC + 騎士の湧き水	Mastery C + Knight's Water
31	マスタリーEX + 騎士の湧き水	Mastery EX + Knight's Water
32	ライオットピーク20階	Riot Peak: Clear 20th floor
33	エナジーボトルC + 騎士の湧き水	Energy Bottle C + Knight's Water
34	エナジーボトルEX + 騎士の湧き水	Energy Bottle EX + Knight's Water
35	アスベル？	Drop: Asbel?

Note: I didn't have enough space to put item names so I used the Collectors Book numbers instead (e.g. 1 = Apple Gummy, 2 = Peach Gummy, etc.)