Vagrant Story Official Strategy Guide (Bradygames Strategy Guides) [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

BradyGAMES strategy guide has maps for every mission and tips and strategies for surviving battles. A bestiary, weapons list, and character descriptions are included. Detailed walkthrough revealing secret areas and solutions to puzzles.

The game's story is incredible. Your character, Ashley Riot, is a "Riskbreaker" for the Valendia Knights of the Peace (VKP). Your mission is to infiltrate the manor of Duke Aldous Byron Bardorba, which has been overtaken by a mysterious cult named Mullenkamp. The cult's leader, Sydney Losstarot, and his henchman John Hardin, seem intent on finding some object that the Duke has stolen from them. Unable to find it, they kidnap young Joshua Bardorba, the Duke's son. Agent Riot attempts to intervene, but Sydney possesses powers beyond imagining, powers granted him by "the Dark". He summons a mythical beast, a Wyvern, to keep Agent Riot busy while he and Hardin flee with the ducal heir. Ashley overhears that they are running to the ancient and abandoned city of Lea Monde, a place shrouded in legend and evil. As Ashley Riot, it is your mission to infiltrate the ancient city of Lea Monde, to witness the horrors within, and to save the Duke's son and stop the diabolical Sydney.

Vagrant Story features a unique semi real time combat system. There are an uncountable number of weapons and armors available. The trick is to take them to any "Workshop" and combine them into greater items; Bronze and Iron make Steel, Silver and Iron make Damascus, etc. Then you must equip Ashley with these items and head into combat. In Lea Monde, you'll fight 78 types of monsters, including Undead, Dragons, and creatures of pure Evil. The combat system allows you to target by body part; arms, legs, body or even head. And throughout Lea Monde, you'll find tomes containing magic spells called "Grimoires". Once you use these books, Ashley remembers the spell forever. But can you find ALL the Grimoires?

As Ashley fights, he begins to recall killing arts he once knew from a past life, called "Battle Abilities". Each time you strike with a weapon, points toward recalling more Battle Abilities are gained. Each time you kill an opponenent, points are gained toward recalling "Break Arts", super-powerful attacks to flatten your foes with. But each time you strike, your RISK increases. If RISK gets too high, you can't fight anymore. So the point is, Ashley must remain cool and detached during battle. It is a very cool combat system indeed. Once learned, it provides the player with hours and hours of gameplay fun. The replay value is extremely good, since new areas and new monsters become available to explore and conquer ONLY in a replay.

Sounds complex though, doesn't it? Well I won't lie, IT IS! I wish that I had a guide half the time that I was playing it. Luckily for you, the Vagrant Story Official Guide is available to save you from the headaches I endured. This break through manual includes shot-by-shot puzzle solutions, tactics for every single boss and enemy, and complete items and weapons lists, with tips on weapons-making and blade-hilt combinations throughout. "If you combine these two blades, you'll get this..." or "If you attach this gem and this hilt to this sword, you'll have an awesome Human-slayer," etc.

So if you're preordering Vagrant Story, which is a darned good idea for any gamer looking for a challenge, then I recommend you get the Vagrant Story Official Strategy Guide as well. Know the secrets neccessary to unlock the truth of the City of Evil...