Please note: This guide primarily pertains to the American Sega Master System version. While other versions of the game may be similar, they contain many differences, and not all of the information presented here may apply.
Controls[edit]
: Use the direction pad to move the cursor which represents your party's current position in the land, or within a dungeon, in any of the four cardinal directions. Also use the direction pad to navigate the cursor in menu selections.
: Press the I button to call up the travel menu, cancel a selection, go back to a previous menu, or to leave a town and return to traveling on the world map.
: Press the II button to enter a town or dungeon on the map, utilize stairs, accept a menu selection, or input a command.
Characters[edit]
Player characters[edit]
 You: At the beginning of the game, you are given the opportunity to name yourself. You then begin the game alone, and must roam the world in search of three particular companions who will make the completion of your quest possible. The fairy who accompanies you is named Ica, and has a very minimal role throughout the game. |
 Guy: Guy is the first companion who will join you, but only after you've learned the spell which can awaken this hardened warrior and restore him to his former powerful self. You will also need a particular item for the spell to be effective. He can be equipped with a sword that cancels curses. |
 Medi: The only female companion, her strength is not to be underestimated. Like Guy, she exists in a trance, unable to remember who she once was, and the power the she possesses. Guy can point you in her direction. Another item is needed for the spell of awakening to work on her. |
 Treo: The third missing companion will be the toughest to locate and recover. You'll have to carefully explore a cave to find him. But once you do, he will complete your party and enable you to read the scrolls which will reveal the method to accomplish your goal. |
Other characters[edit]
In addition to the four player characters, there are a variety of people in the world, some friends and some foes. Most of the people that you encounter are met in towns or villages, but you may meet a few while wandering about in the open.
- Kings: Kings are often in possession of powerful weapons, but they will not merely hand them over to your party without the proper recipient being in attendance, and proof of your valor in battle.
- Townspeople: Towns contain many people, some of whom are merely informative, while others ply their trade from the shops that they run. Purchase weapons, items, and even healings from the citizens of the towns you locate.
- Blacksmiths: Weapons and armor deteriorate with use, and smiths can be hired to restore strength to your equipment. However, there is one smith in the land who is looking for a new employer. You can hire him for a steep price, but it pays off in the long run.
- Merchants: Aside from the regular merchants that you encounter in towns, you may also encounter some while traveling between distant locations. Some are worth attacking, but others should be spared, or even spoken with. Your reputation is built on your judgment and ability to distinguish friend from foe.
Screen layout[edit]
When not engaged in a battle, the screen is divided up into four sections, each with a distinct purpose. A lot of information is presented to you, so it's important to understand how to interpret it all.
| Player's perspective | Bird's-eye-view map |
|---|---|
| In this window, you view the world around you in almost the same fashion that your party does. While the terrain does not necessarily change to reflect the section of the world that you are standing on, major settings such as towns and dungeons will change the appearance of this window. | You will be able to see your current location and the world around you for approximately two tile's worth of distance. Since the game comes with a large map, players are intended to use this view in conjunction with the map to have a greater idea where they are presently located. |
| Player status | Party status |
| The names and current status of all of your present party members are displayed in the lower left corner. Each character has two bars. The top bar represents that player's current progression to their next level of experience. When this bar fills, players increase in strength, and the bar resets. The lower bar represents their current health. Players will die if this bar is completely empty. Dead players can be resurrected at the Town of Resurrection for the hefty price of 30,000 Guilders. | Attributes which are common to the entire party are displayed here. These include, from top to bottom; the amount of money you have, the number of healing herbs you possess, the number of fangs you have collected, and your current number of "character points" or reputation. |
Menus[edit]
[edit]
The travel menu is only available when you are outside of a town, or wandering in a dungeon. Press 
while you are standing outside of a town to choose from the following selections:
- HEAL: Provided you have some herbs in your inventory, you can choose to heal any of your living party members. Herbs can restore some, but not all, of a damaged party member's health.
- STATUS: Choose this menu option to view the status of each party member. A member's status is broken down as follows:
- S: A character's current level of strength, influencing the amount of damage they can inflict with each hit.
- D: A character's current level of defense, influencing the amount of damage they sustain when they are hit.
- ARMS: This table shows the current weapon, armor, and shield being used by a character. The number to the right indicates the item's current level of wear. When this number reaches 0, the item will shatter and become useless. You should see a smith and have the item repaired before this happens, or better yet, hire one permanently and never worry about item wear again.
- ITEMS: Select this option to view all of the items that you currently have in your inventory. Note that this only allows you to view your items, not select or use them.
- QUIT: This menu option expands into two separate selections:
- SAVE: Save the current progress of your game into one of five distinct save slots. It is highly recommended that you do this as often as possible.
- QUIT: Truly quit the game and return to the title screen.
[edit]
When you encounter another being or monster in your travels, the battle menu opens up automatically. You can choose from among the following selections:
- ATTACK: Upon selecting this command, you are then prompted to choose which player will perform the attack. Only one character may attack per turn. That character will, in turn, be vulnerable to counter-attack.
- RETREAT: Attempt to flee from an encounter and escape the battle. Though this is easy to do against low level creatures, you may find escape difficult to accomplish if you wander too far into strong enemy territory.
- TALK: Not every creature you encounter will be unintelligent. Benevolent travelers will appreciate your discerning eye and reward you with advice. However, not every intelligent traveler is benevolent…
- MAGICAL: If you have a magic item in your possession that you wish you use in a fight, select this option to scroll through your available items and choose one to use.
- SPELL: While you only learn a few spells in the game, and none of them are good for combat, the need to cast a spell may still arise in unusual circumstances.