Seiken Psycho Calibur/Area 4

Get your bearings
The labyrinth of Area 4 is probably one of the most difficult to navigate in the entire game. It is composed of three interconnected floors. In order to follow along with the maps provided on the right, the key important staircases are marked with letters of green, yellow, and blue. Green letter are staircases that connect the first and second floors, while yellow letters indicate staircases that connect the second and third floors. The blue letters X, Y, and Z all lead out of the labyrinth. Letter X returns you to the entrance at the top of the starry-sky path. Letter Y returns you to the entrance of the desert in Area 3, which you will have need of returning to. And letter Z takes you on to Area 5, but you're going to need to complete certain objectives before a hidden staircase will appear and allow you to reach this staircase.

Defeat the Orc
The labyrinth is home to two ax-wielding bosses, both of which are protecting valuable items. You'll want to defeat both of them before moving on to the next area. From the start at blue letter X, walk counter-clockwise around the outside edge of the floor until you reach staircase A. Take it down to the second floor, and take the north path to the next staircase B.  B will lead to C.  Back on the second floor, follow the path as it leads east. After a short distance, staircase E will become visible, but ignore it for now (unless you did not buy the Sacred Robe at the start, in which case, read the note below.) Instead, follow the path all the way to the east. Along the way, you will pass by an object, known as the Pebble Foam which is a powerful bomb that attacks everything on the screen. Pick it up as you walk by. Then follow the path south, and over the outer edge where you will once again cycle around in a counter-clockwise direction to staircase D. After taking D down to the third floor, follow the path around the outer edge to the south east corner of the floor where you will encounter the Orc. (If you want to pick up 5 more Pebble Foams, go south when you descend staircase D and take the first branching path to the right, and climb the stairs.)

When you reach the Orc, descend to the bottom of the screen, and park yourself just to the south of the left boundary of where the Orc can move. Only you are small enough to fit there, the Orc cannot follow you. From here, face right, and continuously stab whenever the Orc comes close. He may occasionally throw some axes at you, but not frequently enough to threaten you. By staying right there, you will eventually beat the Orc without exposing yourself to too much danger. Collect the blue tear stone it leaves behind and then follow the left passage up and to the right until you reach a blue tile. Step on the blue tile and you will receive an enchanted item known as the Rainbow Wing which will transport you to the beginning of whichever area you currently occupy. Once you have it, return to staircase D and make your way back to staircase E.

Note: If you did not purchase the Sacred Robe at the beginning of the game, first of all, bravo to you for making it this far without it. Second of all, this is the area where you can now collect one for free. To do so, take staircase E up to the first floor. Take the first path north, and then head right, and follow that path all the way down until you reach a blue tile. Step on the tile to reveal the Sacred Robe. If you already have one, standing on this tile will do nothing.

Defeat the Cyclops
With the Orc defeated, your next target it the Cyclops. To reach the Cyclops, you must take staircase E from the second floor to the first, follow the path that leads north, and head left. Follow it all the way to the outer edge of the floor, and let it take you down to the southern portion of the labyrinth and then up the middle to staircase F. F will lead to G, and when you arrive in the third floor, you will arrive close to the Cyclops' position. Follow the path around until you enter the Cyclops room. Remember how you defeated the Orc, and position yourself above the left boundary of the Cyclops' room. Once again, face right, and continuously stab at the Cyclops when it comes close while staying out of harms way. It will take some time, but you will eventually defeat the Cyclops while taking minimal damage. Collect the blue tear stone it leaves behind, and then make your way to the path on the left. Follow it all the way around to staircase H and climb the stairs. Step on the blue tile you arrive at and an object will appear. This object is Sheryl's Bracelet and it belongs to a woman in the desert. In order to proceed to the next area, we will have to return to the desert to give the bracelet back to her.

Return to the Desert
Fortunately, staircase Y will take you to the desert entrance. Unfortunately, you'll have to back track quite a bit to get there. Take H back down to the third floor and return to staircase G. Take G to F, and from F, work all the way back to E, but don't descend down E.  While staying on the first floor, take the bottom path to the right and follow it, staying towards the top when it branches, to staircase Y.  Once you climb the steps, you will be back at the entrance to the desert. If you like, you can replenish your power at the spring of recovery to the north. When you are ready, you must make your way to the tent marked on the first Area 3 map marked E. When you enter this tent, the lady inside will thank you, and reward you by giving you the Sacred Scarf. Upon receiving this reward, you will be immediately returned to the very start of the labyrinth, so you are not forced to return all the way on your own.

Move on to Area 5
With the Sacred Scarf in your possession, it is now time to escape the labyrinth. The Sacred Scarf allows you to see and utilize hidden staircase L on the third floor. Without the scarf, this staircase will not appear. Getting to L is quite easy. Walk along the outer edge of the first floor to staircase A. Once on the second floor, head south this time, and you will arrive at staircase I.  I leads to J, and J will ultimately take you to K.  From K on the third floor, head right until you can take a path the leads south. Follow the path down, and then move to the left. Start moving up when you can, and head back to the right, and you will arrive at staircase L. L will lead to M and the path beyond M will take you right to staircase Z and on to the fifth area.