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This is a Mini- companion for Edwin Chiu's Mini-FAQ on the same matter.
SRW4 is a very good game which you can play on your local SNES emulator. (There was a PlayStation version, but I have never seen it.) It was never released in the occident and therefore is only available in Japanese. Obviously, playing the game therefore offers a few difficulties to the Japanese-language-challenged.
Edwin's FAQ helped me a lot understanding the game. But that was Edwin's first FAQ ever and it probably did not occur to him that diagrams would be helpful. I therefore often had a hard time figuring out what exactly he was talking about. I also felt like writing diagrams for a quicker reference. So here they are.
This FAQ contains diagrams for the game's menus and info screens. It also contains quick references on their contents, mostly learned in Edwin's FAQ. So information that was missing or erroneous in Edwin's FAQ will be the same here. This document is therefore essentially a quick reference, very handy for non-Japanese speakers.
It seems that this FAQ will not be terribly useful to those who read Japanese. However, if you do happen to read Japanese and play the game, feel free to write to me. I would love to have additional information. While I have done the best job I could, there are some areas where I could be wrong, and a few others where I admit freely I have no clue what the text means/does. A story outline would be very nice as well.
If you want to read character descriptions, hints and tips, and a walkthrough, you should definitely get Edwin Chiu's FAQ. It is available at http://www.gamefaqs.com/. In fact, you could consider this mini-mini-FAQ to be just a companion to Edwin's mini-FAQ.
Jérôme Loisel, jaloisel@yahoo.com
Conventions[edit]
General[edit]
Accept: The A button on the SNES Cancel: The B button on the SNES
In diagrams[edit]
(SOMETHING): What that value is. Read the text which follows the diagram for an explanation. SOMETHING: English text which is actually written in the window. "EN" and "HP", mostly.
Game startup[edit]
Opening screen[edit]
This screen appears after you load the game.
############################################################### # # # # # # # (Title) # # # # # # # # # # # # # # (1. Start) # # (2. Load) # # (3. Continue) # # (4. Options) # # # # # # # # # ###############################################################
- Start: This will start the game at very beginning
- Load: This will start the game between stages. There are several (or two if SFC version) spaces for you to save the games in.
- Continue: This will start the game during the stage you saved.
- Options: Go to the option screen.
Options screen[edit]
This screen appears if you selected "Options" from the menu.
############################################################### # # # # # ########### # # #(Options)# # # ##################### # # # BGM (1. Sound) # # # # (2. Sound Test) # # # # (3. Karaoke Mode) # # # # (4. Demo Mode) # # # # (5. Delete) # # # # (6. Format) # # # # (7. Deluxe Enc.) # # # # (8. Illust. Enc.) # # # ##################### # # # # # # # # # ###############################################################
- Sound: Pick from Stereo or Mono.
- Sound Test: Listen to the game's background music tracks.
- Karaoke Mode: Sing along with us! Famous songs from anime series! A great way to brush up on your Japanese!
- Demo mode: Watch the transformation/combination videos from the game. You can only view here videos which you have already seen in-game.
- Delete: Delete one of the save files.
- Format: Delete all the save files.
- Deluxe Character Encyclopedia: A brief description of every character that appears in game. Good luck.
- Illustrated Robot Encyclopedia: A brief description of almost all of the game's robots. Only robots which you have actually seen in-game are available.
Character screen[edit]
This screen appears just when you start. A small window pops up with two choices: Edit (top) or Skip (bottom).
############################################################### # # # ################ # # # # # # ################ # # ########################################################### # # #(CName)#(CGndr)#(CImg) #(C???1)#(Change Date) #(CPilT) # # # ########################################################### # # #(Pilot # (Pilot Name) # # # # Image)# # # # # # (Gender) # # # ########################################################### # # # (???1) # # # ########################################################### # # # (Birth Day) (Birth Month) (Blood Type)# # # ########################################################### # # # (Pilot Type) # # # ########################################################### # # # ###############################################################
- Pilot Image
- The face of your pilot. Faces correspond to personalities. The personalities only affect the storyline. Sadly, since you are reading this, you probably do not read Japanese anyway. That means it will have no noticeable effect whatsoever on your gaming experience.
- Pilot Name
- The name of your pilot.
- Gender
- Two kinds: olive and onion.
- ???1
- Your guess is as good as mine. Write to me if you figure it out.
- Birth Day
- Affects which magics you will learn.
- Birth Month
- Affects which magics you will learn.
- Blood Type
- Affects which magics you will learn. Apparently, O is more loving, and AB more aggressive.
- Pilot type
- There are two types of robots: Real and Super. A Real robot is an armored, motorized suit. It is smaller and faster. A Super robot is a big, hulking behemoth.
- CName
- Change your pilot's name. Point to the Kanji at the lower-right end and hit Accept to move on.
- CGndr
- Change your pilot's gender.
- CImg
- Changes the image for your hero's face. According to Edwin Chiu, the personalities are, from left to right:
- Hot-Blooded with a strong sense of justice.
- Logical-minded with an affinity for the opposite sex
- "A Little Weird"
- "Cool and nihilistic"
- C???1
- Change the value of ???1. You have four choices. Don't rush this one!
- CPilT
- Change your the birth date and blood type for your pilot. To get the "Miracle" spell, select 9/2 O.
- CPilT
- Change your pilot type. The choices are, in the proper order:
- Real robot pilot: Start with "Parry", gain "Newtype" at about 20th level. Less HP and EN, but a long-range weapon.
- Super robot pilot: Almost no Mobility, but devastating close-range weapon. Start with "Parry" and "Potential."
- I cannot help but notice that either way, the pilot has a four-Kanji special ability. Is this the "Enhanced Human" ability Edwin Chiu talks about? I think so, but I do not know.
- And before you ask... no, I do not know which pilot is best. "Newtype" ability is supposed to be the end-all-be-all for pilots, but I rather like my guns big.
Hint: When you are done, press Cancel to move on.
III. In-game Screens[edit]
Map Screen: Terrain Menu[edit]
Point to an unoccupied square and hit Cancel. This information menu appears.
The two numbers are dodging and aiming enhancements. I do not know which is which and what the other symbols mean.
Map Screen: Terrain Menu[edit]
Point to a robot, allied or enemy, and press Cancel to view this menu. The actual location of the box can vary.
############################################################### # # # ###################### # # # # (Moves)# # # #(Image)# (Level)# # # # # # # # ######### # # # #(Robot Name) # # # # HP (Current/Max HP)# # # # (HP Bar)# # # # # # # # # # # ###################### # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###############################################################
Remaining moves are shown with a W: one W per remaining move. Enemy data will indicate ???? at first. Battling the enemy or using "Detection" will reveal the information.
Map Screen: Robot Menu[edit]
This menu appears during combat when you point to a robot and hit Confirm. This menu's actual content varies with robots and situations. You have to test to know exactly what the entries are. Generally speaking, entries do not appear if the action cannot be taken. The attack entry, for example, does not appear if this robot cannot attack anyone.
- Move: Move your robot.This entries always appears first in the menu. After a move, you can only attack with short-range weapons (range = 1) and weapons which list a P after their name.
- Attack: ...
- Transform: Only a few robots can transform. If the robot can take on more than two shapes, you will be presented with a list of options. Transforming does not take up any actions.
- Launch: Battleship only. Brings up the launch screen.
- Magic: Use magic.
- Ground/Air/Underground/Underwater: Used to land/take off/dig/submerge.
- Combine: Combine several robots into one. Only a few robots can combine. For a two-robot combination, just move one over another. Otherwise, place all combining robots next to one another, then use the command.
- Separate: Only combined robots can separate. Warning: Some robots, like GP03 and Re-GZ, cannot be re-combine during combat after separation.
- Items: If you have items, use them here.
- Convince: Certain pilots can convince enemy pilots to join you. Edwin writes: "You have to know the storyline of the original show in order to guess who can convince who. Remember that not all of them will join you right there, some will join you later or even needed to be convinced twice." I know not more... My best guess is: if the command appears, use it.
- Info screen: Takes you to the info screen. This entry always appears last in the menu.
The Map Screen: Main Menu[edit]
This menu appears during combat when you point to an unoccupied square and hit Confirm. The actual location of the two boxes can vary.
############################################################### # # # ############## # # # (Turn) # # # # (Money) # # # ############## # # # # #################### # # # (1. End Turn) # # # # (2. Team List) # # # # (3. Tact. Map) # # # # (4. Magic) # # # # (5. Command) # # # # (6. Options) # # # # (7. Objective) # # # # (8. Save) # # # #################### # # # # # ###############################################################
- End turn: End your current turn and switch to the enemy's turn.
- Team List: List your robots. Hitting L will toggle the display of the HP. Hitting R will alternate between sorting for highest HP and sorting for highest level. By selecting from the list, your cursor will now point to the corresponding robot. An E next to the bar indicates that the robot has already used up all its movements point.
- Tactical Map: Display the whole map. Robots are represented by squares. Blue squares are allies, red ones are enemies.
- Magic: Brings up a list of all magic spells (see section IV). Point to the spell and hit Confirm to bring up a list of all pilots who know the spell. The spell will be colored in red if you do not have the mana to cast it. List all the magic that your pilots can use. The red ones
- Command: Assign a command to one or all robots. The robot will follow that command if it is attacked during the enemy's turn.
- Assign command to ALL robots.
- Check with player: You decide what to do every time.
- Fight: The robot fights back unless it would be killed, in which case it tries to dodge.
- Careful: If the enemy's level is higher, the robot tries to evade the attack. Otherwise, it strikes back.
- Evade: The robot always tries to block/dodge.
- Options: Brings you to the options menu.
- Objective: The mission objective for this stage. Of course, that is just a rumor. Destroying everything seems to work for me.
- Save: Save during this stage. You only get one spot. That means that even if you save on stage 2, then on stage 3, continuing will bring you back to stage 3. The save for stage 2 will be lost.
The Upgrade Screen[edit]
This screen appears between missions, as your pilots and robots rest.
############################################################### # # # ############# # # # # # # ############# # # ################### # # # (1. Save) # # # # (2. Com/Tr) # ################################# # # # (3. Up. Bots) # # (Turns Played) # # # # (4. Up. Wps) # # # # # # (5. Items) # # # # # # (6. Inspect) # # # # # # (7. Assign) # # (Money) # # # # (8. Sell) # ################################# # # # (9. Finish) # # # ################### # # # # # # # # # ###############################################################
- Save: Save current progress.
- Combine/Transform: Combine or transform robots.
- Upgrade Robots: Upgrade the robots on HP, EN, Armor, Mobility and Max. You can upgrade each stat eight times. Upgrade costs increase gradually. The robots with the highest HP total are listed first.
- Upgrade Weapons: Upgrade your robots' weapons. Each weapon can only receive 8 upgrades. Each upgrade increases damage by 200. Weapon upgrades get progressively more expensive as well.
- Special Items: Put special items on robots either to boost performance or for in-stage use. You can find items during missions (use "Search" magic to help) or automatically after certain stages.
- Inspect: View the stat sheets for either robots or pilots. A pop-up menu will appear: robots first, pilots second. If you press Accept while in the robot's Ability screen, you will go to its Weapon screen. Highest-HP robots and highest-level pilots are listed first
- Assign: Assign pilots to robots or faeries to pilots. A pop-menu will appear: pilots first, faeries second. Pilots can only use one type of robot. Note: only your character and your lover or co-star can pilot your starting robot.
- Sell: Sell unwanted robots. Not all robots can be sold.
- Finish: Go on to next stage.
Info screens[edit]
There are four info screens: Main, Robot Ability, Robot Weapon, and Pilot. The Main info screen can be accessed by selecting the last entry in the main game menu. The main info screen gives access to the other three screens. The other three info screens appear in other parts of the game as well.
Main Info Screen[edit]
############################################################### # # (Bot Ability) # (Pilot) # (Bot Weapons) # # # ####################################################### # ############################################################### # # (Robot Name) # # #################################### # # (Pilot Name)=(???) # # (Robot Image) #################################### # #(Pilot # (Exp. Level)# # # Image) # # # # # (Morale)# ############################################################### # (Terrain)# HP (Current/Max HP) # # # # EN (Current/Max EN) #(Terrain Skill)# # (Move)########################### # # (Mobility)# (Special Abilities) # (Air)# # (Armor)# # (Land)# # (Max)########################### (Water)# # # (Exp. to Level)# (Space)# ###############################################################
- Terrain Skill
- Goes from A to D, D being the worst. A dash means the robot cannot go there. In this screen, the values are a combination of the robot's capabilities of pilot and robot. Some robots list values for Air even though the cannot fly. I do not know what that means.
See below for details on the other values.
Robot Ability Screen[edit]
############################################################### # # # # # ################# # ############################################################### # # (Robot Name) # # #################################### # # (Items) # # (Robot Image) # # # # # # # # # # # ############################################################### # (Terrain)# HP (Current/Max HP) # # # # EN (Current/Max EN) #(Terrain Skill)# # (Move)########################### # # (Mobility)# (Special Abilities) # (Air)# # (Armor)# # (Land)# # (Max)########################### (Water)# # # (Shield) (Size)# (Space)# ###############################################################
- Items
- The items equipped on that robot. I do not have a list of the items. I do not know how to equip them. I have not tried. I have not gotten that far in the game yet. All I do is write diagrams of the menus. Keep that in mind and we will get along fine.
- Terrain
- The places the robot can go. Water is not shown normally. This is still unclear to me.
- Move
- The number of squares the robot can traverse when moving. Moving over certain terrains (forests, mountains, etc.) costs more than one move point.
- Mobility
- The robot's mobility. Influences dodge and aim.
- Armor
- The robot's armor. This seems very important.
- Max
- This value is the maximum bonus a robot can give its pilot for dodging and aiming values.
- Special abilities
- Transform, Separate, etc. (From Edwin's FAQ:)
- After-image: Special ability of Aura Battlers, F91 and the three Geta 2. Decrease the enemy's hit percentage by morale if the pilot's morale is 130 or higher.
- Beam barrier: Protective shielding from beam weapons. There are four variations.
- Beam Coating: Good against beam weapons of damage < 1200.
- I-Field: Good against beam weapons of damage < 2000.
- Aura Barrier: Good against beam weapons of damage < 3000.
- Beam Barrier: Unknown.
- HP recover: Recover this percentage of Max HP at the end of every turn.
- Shield
- Whether or not the robot has a shield. The last Kanji (Japanese character) seems to vary: a large one indicates no shield, I think.
- Size
- The size of a robot. Smaller robots have a dodging advantage. M for medium-sized robots, L for large robots and LL for very large robots.
- Terrain Skill
- Goes from A to D, D being the worst. A dash means the robot cannot go there. This screen lists the unmodified values for the robot.
Pilot Screen[edit]
############################################################### # # # # # ##################### # ############################################################### #(Pilot # (Pilot Name)=(???) (Exp. Level)# # Image) # # # # (Robot Type) (Morale)# ########## # # # # (Close Range) (Dodge)+(Dodge Bonus) (Sense)# # (Long Range) (Aim)+(Aim Bonus) (Skill)# # # ############################################################### # SP (Curr/Max SP) # # # # #################### (Special #(Kills) #(Terrain Skill)# # # Abilities) # # # # (Magic) # (???)# # (Air)# # # (???)# # (Land)# # # # # (Water)# # # # # (Space)# # ############################ # # # (Exp. to Level)# # ###############################################################
- Robot Type
- The robot series usable by this pilot.
- Experience Level
- Pilots increase in overall skill as they reach higher levels.
- Morale
- Influences how much damage the robot can inflict and stand. (Edwin:)
- SP
- Spell points, used for magic.
- Magic
- The magic spells available to this pilot. All pilots eventually learn six magic spells.
- Kills
- Number of enemies killed.
- Exp. to Level
- The number of experience points required for that pilot to attain a new level of experience.
- Terrain Skill
- Goes from A to D, D being the worst. This screen lists the unmodified values for the pilot.
- Close Range
- Pilot's skill at close-range attack. 100 means normal.
- Long Range
- Pilot's skill at long-range attack. 100 means normal.
- Dodge
- Pilot's skill at dodging attacks. 100 means normal.
- Dodge Bonus
- Calculated from several factors: the robot's mobility and size, as well as the pilot's skill. Dodge total cannot exceed Max.
- Aim
- Pilot's skill at hitting enemies. I do not know how this relates to Close Range and Long Range. 100 means normal.
- Aim Bonus
- Almost always the same as Dodge Bonus. Dodge total cannot exceed Max.
- Sense
- Higher numbers seem to give a higher dodge rating. If this stat is higher than 130 and Max is higher than 130, the pilot can move twice in one round. 100 means normal.
- Skill
- Pilot's skill level. Used for magic, obtaining critical strikes, and avoiding critical strikes. 100 means normal.
- Special abilities
- "Always-on" abilities that help a pilot. Not all pilots have them. They are here identified by the number of Kanji (Japanese characters) the ability takes up. (From Edwin Chiu's FAQ:)
- Newtype (space filled with Kanji): Applies to all pilots from the Gundam series. From level 33-38, they all gain the capacity to act twice within one round. Apparently the best pilots. I do not know what a "Newtype" is, but it is supposed to rock.
- Enhanced Human (4 Kanji): An artificial "Newtype."
- Shield Blocking (2 Kanji, 1 number): The number indicates the skill rating of that pilot with a shield. Shield blocking reduces damage by half.
- Parry (~3 Kanji, 1 number): The number indicates the pilot's skill at "parrying", or "cutting" solid particles weapons. Parrying such an attack means no damage is received. Edwin Chiu calls this ability "Cutting."
- Aura Senshi (3 Kanji): Ability to use the Aura and Hyper Aura cut. I do not know what that means.
- Potential (2 Kanji): Double the critical hit rate if the robot has only 1/8 of its full HP left. Almost all pilots have this.
Robot Weapon Screen[edit]
############################################################### #(Page)# # # # # ############################################################### # # #(Weapon Name) (Damage) (Range) (Precision)# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ############################################################### # (Ammo)# #(Air) #(Land) #(Water)#(Space)# ############################################################### # (Min) ((Morale))# EN (Cost) ((Energy))# ############################################################### # (Requirement) # (Critical) # ###############################################################
- Weapon Name
- The name of the weapon. The following characters can also appear:
- B: The weapon is a beam weapon.
- P: The weapon can be used after movement. Ordinarily, only close combat weapons can be used after movement.
- MAP: A weapon used from the map screen. It affects several enemies at once. According to Edwin, you will not get multiple Morale bonuses for kills.
- Damage
- The attack power of the weapon.
- Range
- A range of 1 means the weapon can only be used at short range. A range of i.e. 2-7 means the weapon can only be used at long range.
- Precision
- Affects the hit rate when using this weapon.
- Ammo
- The number of shots left in the weapon. "---" means unlimited.
- Air/Land/Water/Space
- The ability of that weapon to attack a target in that land type. The value goes from A to D, A being good. "-" means that weapon cannot attack a target in that land type. Combined with the skill of the target, that value has an *enormous* effect on damage.
- Min
- The minimum Morale value the pilot must have in order to use that weapon, if any.
- Morale
- The current Morale value for the pilot.
- Cost
- The energy cost for that weapon, if any.
- Energy
- The current EN for that robot.
- Requirement
- The special ability required to use that weapon, if any.
- Critical
- A modifier to the rate for critical hist when using that weapon. Varies between -10% and +30%
Magic list[edit]
This screen appears when you select magic from the Map main menu.
############################################################### # # # ################ # # # # # # ################ # # # # ##################################################### # # # (1.HP1 ) (7.Conc) (13.Rspl) (19.MvAg) (25.Conf) # # # # (2.HP2 ) (8.Trst) (14.Frnd) (20.Rsrt) (26.Srch) # # # # (3.Flsh) (9.Prsr) (15.Love) (21.Invs) (27.NoMv) # # # # (4.SpUp) (10.Mrcy) (16.Angr) (22.Exhs) (28.Iron) # # # # (5.HtBl) (11.Mtvt) (17.Awak) (23.SelD) (29.Sprt) # # # # (6.AlHt) (12.Lcky) (18.Rall) (24.Detc) (30.Mrcl) # # # ##################################################### # # ####################################################### # # # (Description of the magic) # # # # # # # ####################################################### # # # ###############################################################
- HP1: Recover self HP by 1/3.
- HP2: Recover self HP fully.
- Flash: 100% dodge for one enemy attack.
- Speed Up: +5 squares for current move.
- Hot Blood: 100% critical hit for one attack.
- Always Hit: 100% hit for one turn.
- Concentrate: +30% dodge and aim for one turn.
- Trust: Recover one robot HP by 1/3.
- Pressure: Stop one enemy that has a lower level from moving for one turn.
- Mercy: If your pilot's level is HIGHER than the enemy's, the attack will leave the enemy with 10 HP if that attack is enough to kill the enemy. Useful for getting weak team member to level up.
- Motivate: Increase self morale by 15.
- Lucky: The pilot gains one chance at getting double Exp and double money from a kill. This chance will be used up if the pilot misses an attack, but not if the pilot is attacked and blocks, for example. Always use it to kill off mother ships: the money is worth it.
- Resupply: Completely recover one of your team member's EN and ammo.
- Friendship: Recover all team members' HP by 1/2.
- Love: Recover all team members' HP fully.
- Anger: Cause 10-1000 damage points to all enemies on the map.
- Awaken: Make an additional move during your turn.
- Rally: Increase by 10 the morale of all robots standing next to the pilot.
- Move Again: One team member which has used up his/her movement points and which is standing next to this pilot can move again.
- Resurrection: Revive one robot. Morale goes back to 100.
- Invisible: The robot becomes invisible and cannot be attacked by enemies. The robot can still attack.
- Exhaust: The exact opposite of Rally. Decrease morale by 10.
- Self-destruct: The robot explodes and does damage to all robots standing next to it. The amount of damage is the same as the allied robot's HP before self-destruct, regardless of armor.
- Detection: Get information on the enemy.
- Confusion(?): Cuts the hit percentage of all enemies by half.
- Search: Find one hidden item on the map. Very important.
- Don't Move(?): Cuts the movement of all enemies by half.
- Iron Wall: Double the robot's armor for one turn.
- Spirit: Triple attack power for one attack.
- Miracle: The ultimate combat "magic." Recover full HP, Increase morale by 30, and cast Always Hit, Flash, Lucky, Spirit and Speed Up. To obtain "Miracle," set your birthday to 9/2 and blood type to O.