TIPS FOR BRANDISH SNES FROM KOEI CORPORATION Brandish begins with Varik falling into Ruins Area 1. There are forty-five dungeons divided into fours major sections: RUINS AREA, TOWER, CAVE, and FORTRESS. Your goal is to find your way out of the intricate maze by fighting monsters, discovering hidden treasures, and solving riddles in order to return to civilization. CONTROLLER HINTS * To make the game easier to play, change the walking pattern of Varik to "Rotate" (see Configuration: L/R Key in the manual). * Rest periodically to increase your HP by pressing the LEFT and RIGHT Button on the controller, simultaneously. GENERAL TIPS * When you enter a shop, sell your gold bars to accumulate more wealth. This will allow you to buy stronger shields, weapons and magic. NOTE: Selling combined gold bars will be more profitable, because they accrue interest. * Use limitless weapons as your main weapons. Save the stronger weapons for encounters with Boss monsters. * Alter the Game Speed (see Configuration in the manual) to help you get through certain rooms or to defend yourself from difficult monsters. * When your Level, Arm Strength, Magic Endurance, or Knowledge increases throughout the game, it is a good idea to save that information (see Save under Options Menu in the manual). * Rooms that have several monsters is a clue that they are guarding precious treasures. Don't avoid them, challenge yourself, Varik! By attacking certain monsters, you will be able to find additional treasures, passageways or increase your arm strength. * Warp Zones are areas that transport you to a different part of the map. Some are tricky so it is a good idea to look for switches to control the Warp Zones, buy some Warp Magic at a Magic Shop, or refer to the map frequently to confirm where you are. * When you advance to areas with several monsters, it is a good idea to close the door behind you to protect yourself. * To defend against monsters who attack from far away, such as the Archer, Coelacanth, Black Magic and Gargoyle, it is best to corner them against a wall and render them defenseless. RUINS AREA 1 There are floor and wall switches which will open doors. Be sure to look all around you for plaques, decaying walls, doors and switches. But be careful where you step because you may fall down to the Basement! Items in treasure chests, such as sledgehammers and keys, will be very useful on this floor. RUINS AREA 4 On this floor, you will have an unexpected encounter with Alexis. To get passed the rolling rock, shield yourself from shooting arrows and walk over all the switches except for the last switch (the second to the last switch triggers the rolling rock). When the rock begins to roll towards you, run backwards and hide in the cubbyhole on the right side of wall. RUINS AREA 5 In the last room of Ruins Area 5, you must flip the switches appropriately in order to stop the bars and create an easy passageway in the next room. It may help if you slow the speed of the game when positioning these bars. If you can get through this room, you can succeed to floor 6! RUINS AREA 7 This floor is all Warp Zones. It is a good idea to refer to the map frequently and take notes. Be sure to walk all around the rooms because Warp Zones may be hidden. There are no monsters on this floor. RUINS AREA 10 This is the final and most challenging floor of the Ruins Area. There is a Warp Zone in the beginning of this floor, so good luck getting through! Talk to the Ghost of a Girl to get information. In order to receive a key and proceed to the tower, you must defeat the Wizard in the last room. It is best to keep your back against a wall, use your shield for protection, and attack with your strongest sword. NOTE: Only one wizard is real, the other two are imaginary. You must kill the real wizard in order to proceed. FOOT OF THE TOWER When you move to the Foot of the Tower, you must defeat the Giant Crab to receive a key. This key will only take you so far before you will need to return to Ruins Area 10. Talk to the Ghost of a Girl and she will give you a token of her thanks. Be sure to look at doors before you touch them on this floor. * In general, after you talk with someone on a particular floor, it is a good idea to go back and talk to them later, and you will receive more information or treasures. TOWER 2F A Goblin will give you some insightful information for 5000 gold pieces. Be careful of what may be behind certain walls... TOWER 3F Talk to the Imprisoned Woman and try to help her find her boyfriend. This will require you to go down a floor to search for him, but she will give you a treasure. TOWER 5F In the room with the four pillars, beware of the switch in the middle of the room that will release four Headless monsters. Use Invisibility Potion to fight them. If you are strong enough to challenge them, you may find some extra treasures. TOWER 9F You will have the chance to meet another warrior named Gadie in the "Southeast Room". In order to figure out the floor switches, read the plaque on the wall and remember where you met Gadie. TOP OF THE TOWER To kill the Rakshahsas, use Invisibility Potion and attack when they are not looking. CAVE B10 The Nicksy will ask you to help the people in the cave by getting the water to flow again. If you help them out, the Nicksy will give you a token of her thanks. CAVE B7 You will need to search hard for switches to allow you to cross the water. Touch stone plaques and keep some extra gold bars on hand for when you get stranded. CAVE B6 Keep some Invisibility Potion on hand to help you fight Arachness. CAVE B3 On the perimeter of this floor, there are many crumbling walls which will lead you to secret passageways. To get to other sections of the maze, you must return to Cave B4 and go to the stairway in that area. If you are strong enough to kill the Iron Knight (the monster with the highest Defense Strength), you will receive a reward. CAVE B2 Don't be afraid to fall into the large hole, it could lead you to new places. CAVE B1 Be sure to check the walls around you, it may help you get to other parts of the maze. There is a special order to opening and closing the 10 treasure chests. You must defeat the Ninja before moving onto the Dark Zone. It is best to attack from far away using Barrier Magic or the Ring of Anger, and attack up close with the Sword of Flames. You may have to slow the speed of the game. DARK ZONES 1 & 2 Follow the monsters to lead you through the maze. Use the magnifying glass or steel balls to check areas in front of you. It is best to kill the Tatsujin with Fire Magic. FORTRESS 1 Take off your shield of darkness in the Fortress. When defending yourself from the Manticore in the room with all of the treasure chests, use Heal Magic and your strongest sword. In the large room with switches around the periphery, there is a post that remains constant to the southwest of the warp zone. Face north and touch the post. FORTRESS 2 When you touch the Green-eyed Wall, beware of the Erase Eye who will confuse you by erasing parts of the map. It's a good idea to discover most of the maze before touching the wall and setting this monster free. FORTRESS 3 Read all the plaques on this floor to get extra hints. To get through the room with all the switches, you must begin in front of the right switch and then use the code which was on the plaque in the room below (L=turn left, R=turn right, J=jump and F=forward). When you flip all 5 switches in the final room and the Warp Zone maze, one path will open up and lead you to an exit. FORTRESS 4 Use Heal Magic before jumping into holes. Watch out for evil imitation treasure chests, that can kill you. Try jumping over them. FORTRESS 5, 6, 7 You will need to do a lot of traveling between these floors before succeeding to the Backbone level. BACKBONE Kill the Bezalhydra to get a hold of a powerful sword and key which will bring you victory. BERIMYA Congratulations, you've made it to the final stage! To get past the last room, use the Planet Buster sword, Star Shield and all of your power to kill the final monster, King Berebus. It may help to slow the game speed in this room. Good job, Varik!