Sailor Moon: Another Story

Sailor Moon: Another Story (often abbreviated to "SMAS") was an RPG video game released for the Super Famicom. It borrowed primarily from the storyline of the manga, but also incorporated many details from the anime and included unique elements of its own. SMAS took place directly after the end of the events of the Sailor Moon S season.

The character sprites (including Rei's Grandfather and Yuuichirou) were based on the anime designs, and the vocal samples for attacks were taken from the anime, but plot elements from the manga, such as the fact that the Shitennou were loyal to Prince Endymion without Queen Beryl's mind control, were also present. The Sailor Senshi attacks were taken from both sources. Certain attacks were also altered: Sailor Pluto's "Time Stop" and Sailor Saturn's "Death Reborn Revolution" attacks were significantly weaker in the game and also did not end the user's life.

Gameplay

The gameplay was a standard turn-based RPG battle system. A party could consist of up to five members, and when battles were fought the Senshi stood on the right side of the screen, the non-animated monsters were on the left, and a character HUD appeared at the bottom. Battles were fought at random by walking around the world map, where only one member of the party was shown. The story was fairly linear, especially in comparison to other RPGs.

In addition to rows, various formations were available and characters could be moved around to create them. The formations acted as a modifier on a character's innate abilities. Characters with high defense and stronger attacks were best placed in the front of a formation so their attacks would do more damage, while those with weaker attacks and lower defense were best placed in the back so they would take less damage. However, the abilities of certain Senshi, such as Sailor Saturn's "Death Reborn Revolution," were most effective when she was placed at the center of a formation. Formations also came with their own unique group attack.

Each Senshi had a basic physical attack as well as a selection of special moves, all earned as experience and levels rose. Rather than an MP meter, each Senshi had an EP gauge, which could be raised to a maximum of 12. Special attacks took anywhere from 1 to 6 EP each. Most EP moves were character-specific attacks from either the anime or manga, with Sailor Moon given a basic healing ability. EP was refilled after each battle and could also be refilled in battle with special items.

Combination attacks called Link Techs were also available; these were formed by pairing Senshi in the game's menu and setting up those attacks. Link Techs could involve 2, 3, or 5 Senshi. Combination attacks were only available if all members were in the same party at the same time.

Items ranged from basic healing items, EP refilling items, and special attribute boosters which worked during battle. These included items which boosted attack, defense, or other attributes. While the game did not rely on equipable weapons like many RPGs, many accessories could be equipped which would raise attack, defense, or other attributes. Some items were character-specific.

Enemies could inflict status ailments in addition to damage, such as poison, sleep, and confusion. Once a character's HP dropped to zero, they remained unconscious for the rest of the battle unless revived by a special item. Any character who was unconscious when a battle ended would not gain EXP. If the entire party was knocked out, the game ended. After a battle, any unconscious character would be revived with an HP of 1 and would need healing before the next battle. EXP distribution was determined at the end of each battle by the number of active characters in a team: one active member would gain all EXP, while a team of five would evenly distribute EXP gain. Monsters also gave up yen (the in-game currency) and the occasional item when defeated.

The world map that depicted locations from the anime was generally a condensed map that did not use the actual city layout as a basis, likely to simplify walking around. For example, Azabu-Juuban featured Usagi's house, the Hikawa Shrine, Osa-P, and Game Center Crown within short walking distance, with Mugen Gakuen accessible by a bus which arrived whenever the player stood beside a bus stop.

The game could only be saved at Luna P spheres scattered throughout the game. In addition to the main story, there was also a side quest to obtain puzzle pieces. There were 180 pieces in total, and most pieces were gained as award items in random battles, though the rest had to be found in treasure chests and such. These pieces had to be obtained when the chance arose, as they would not appear again later. Obtaining all 180 pieces not only completed the team picture, but also allowed access to the "Imperial Gift" item in Crystal Tokyo near the end of the game, though the puzzle completion was technically an optional quest.

Characters

The main villain of the story was Apsu, a mysterious shaman dying rapidly of an unknown cause, who sought to alter time so that she could save her life and create a new destiny for human kind. With four disillusioned young girls from Crystal Tokyo (Sin, Nabu, Nergal, and Marduk), as well as Nabu's friend Ishtar, who was accidentally recruited, she created the Oppositio Senshi. Together they formed Hell Destiny, along with Sin's little brother Anshar and his pet Kishar. This band of rebels are convinced that the Silver Crystal needs to be destroyed for the good of the future, so that Crystal Tokyo is never formed, and Neo Queen Serenity's banishment of Black Moon and the apocalypse caused by their vengeance never happens. Apsu's own personal goal is to become an immortal queen, using the Silver Crystal's last bit of power.

Other villains who appeared during the game were past enemies that Apsu revived by "changing their destinies." These inclued Queen Beryl, Mistress 9, Black Lady, the Black Moon Clan, the Death Busters, and various Youma, Cardians, Daimon, and Droids. The Shitennou, now allies to the Senshi, appeared as ghosts and aided them in recovering the Shin no Ishi. Prince Dimande and Saphir appeared in the game but were never fought, as the former was murdered by Sin.

Plot Summary

In the future Crystal Tokyo, a small band of discontent citizens have come together to form an brutal team of Sailor Senshi called the Oppositio Senshi, who feel that the Sailor Senshi and the Silver Crystal are the source of all of Earth's past battles. Together with a mysterious woman named Apsu, they desire to twist time and change the destiny of the Earth.

In the present day, the Sailor Senshi are enjoying peace now that the Death Busters have been defeated. However, strange things begin happening in the city. Previously defeated Daimons and Youma appear throughout the city. A visit by Ryo Urawa reveals a cryptic statement that the past and future are being replaced. The strangeness doesn't end there - Hotaru grows from a baby into a child in a matter of minutes, Rei sees strange apparations in the fire, and then the four Inner Senshi, including Chibiusa go missing.

Sailor Moon meets up with Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn to go look for the missing Senshi. They are told to go Juuban High School and rescue Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus, who were trapped in illusions. On the roof, they find Chibiusa being held captive by Sin, the leader of the Oppositio Senshi. Sin demands that Sailor Moon gives her the Silver Crystal, but Sailor Moon refuses and the Oppositio Senshi unleash a devastating attack. Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Saturn manage to block the attack, but are left injured.

After taking Mamoru to his apartment to recover, the Senshi are greeted by the spirits of the Shitennou, no longer under Beryl's control. Each gives one of the Inner Senshi their "kage" (shadow) stone, which will lead them to the matching "hi" (sun) stone. When all four of these stones are brought together, the location of Mamoru's crystal, the Rose Crystal, will be made apparent, and when all five stones are in the same place, Mamoru will be healed.

Each of the Inner Senshi go on a solo mission to locate the Hi stones: Sailor Mercury to Switzerland, Sailor Jupiter to Canada, Sailor Mars to Tibet, and Sailor Venus to Turkey. Each is followed by her counterpart of the Oppositio Senshi, who are also looking for the stones. Usagi stays in Japan to take care of Mamoru, and Chibiusa secretly heads out to look for the Rose Crystal, which the Shitennou believe is somewhere in Japan.

After Sailor Mercury arrives in Switzerland, a large crowd of Youma frighten her and she backs away and accidentally falls off a cliff. She lands in Kainess Town, located under a gigantic glacier. Hans, a local villager, finds Mercury passed out on the ground and takes her in. Together, Hans and Mercury nurse Hans' mother back to health, find Zoisite's Hi Stone, and defeat Mercury's counterpart, Nabu.

Sailor Mars arrives in the town of Lasa in Tibet where she explores a temple; however, she is attacked by group of youma who are masquerading as monks. A man, Faregg, saves her and takes her to the village of Yaga but later becomes captured. Subsequently, Sailor Mars embarks on her journey to retrieve Jadeite's Hi Stone and to rescue Faregg which culminates in an encounter with her counterpart, Nergal.

Soon after Sailor Jupiter arrives in Canada, a man, George, is enticed by the smell of her dinner and as a token of appreciation for Sailor Jupiter's food, takes her into the hidden village of Medias. Here, and in the neighboring village, Sailor Jupiter helps George and his lover, Mary to be engaged and mends the broken friendship between the two villages. Along the way, she meets her counterpart, Marduk, and retrieve Nephrite's Hi Stone.

Sailor Venus finds herself in an underground village in Turkey, Rias, where the entire population is male and completely obsessed about Sailor Venus' arrival, showering her with marriage proposals and gifts. After her counterpart, Ishtar, accidentally knocks over a sacred statue of Kunzite and thus turns the villagers into stone, Sailor Venus travels to the nearby village populated with only women. Venus eventually learns about her history in this village and finds Kunzite's Hi stone and Ishtar in a giant airship called the Ark, owned by her past self.

Back in Tokyo, Chibiusa heads to Mugen Gakuen with Momoko in hopes of finding the Rose Crystal. This results in Momoko being poisoned and Chibusa is attacked by Sin. Anshar, Sin's brother, who falls in love with Chibusa, stops Sin from killing her, and helps Chibiusa and Momoko recover. This results in Chibiusa being stranded in a forest with Anshar.

After being informed of the situation by Momoko, Usagi decides to go to Mugen Gakuen to look for Chibiusa, however she instead faces Professor Tomoe in his lab, who reveals that Hotaru's destiny has also been changed and has now reverted to the identity of Mistress 9. Sailor Moon defeats Mistress 9 and revives Hotaru as Sailor Saturn, and the two of them defeat Prof. Tomoe, though they are unable to change his destiny when he dies once again, but not without giving Prof. Tomoe some last parting words to his daughter. After locating Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, they all teleport to Chibiusa's location.

As the Sailor Senshi and Anshar explore the forest, they find a cave and are attacked by the DD Girls, who are again protecting their revived master Queen Beryl. After an initial battle, Beryl uses the ambient energies in the cave to transform into her Super Beryl form and become invincible, but Sailor Moon and Sailor Chibi-Moon combine their Silver Crystals to weaken Super Beryl and destroy her. Shortly afterwards, the Senshi find the Rose Crystal, but Anshar betrays them and takes the crystal to his sister Sin. Anshar, the unnofficial leader of the Oppositio scouts because of his ability to time travel, informs Chibusa that the thing that would make him happiest in the world would be if the Oppositio and the Sailor's could fight side-by-side, but stated that Chibusa was too proud to let go of her royal destiny to allow that to happen.

Later, all the Senshi meet in Mamoru's apartment to plan their next move. It is then decided to find Sailor Pluto. When the Senshi arrive at the Space-Time Door, they find Sailor Pluto, who tells them not to enter the door. However, she is revealed to be Nergal in disguise when she mistakenly calls Chibi-Moon "Princess" (which the real Sailor Pluto never does). The real Sailor Pluto is found trapped deep within the dimensional maze beyond the door and is rescued.

After further debate, all of the Senshi decide to go back in time to the Silver Millennium in order to find Sin and the Rose Crystal. Their trip is briefly delayed by the arrival of the Black Moon UFO and the Ayakashi Sisters, who the Senshi reluctantly defeat. Upon arrival in the Silver Millenium, the Senshi locate the Ark and activate it, allowing them to travel the world quickly in their search for Sin.

While visiting the Earth Kingdom in the north, Sailor Moon disguises herself as a servant girl and explores the palace. She meets Beryl, who is currently a Sage for the Earth Kingdom and has not yet joined Metalia. She's in an emotional state after learning that Endymion doesn't love her and the Moon Kingdom might abandon the Earth Kingdom. She sees Sailor Moon's disguise, notes she looks just like Serenity, but asks for the 'servent' to listen to her for a while. It is here that Beryl reveals a startling revelation. She knows about a comet that is now orbiting the Earth, and it has the power to resurrect the 'God of Darkness.' As a result, dark powers are starting to emerge all over the world, while the Moon Kingdom is unaffected. She states that if the 'God of Darkness' is fully resurrected, both the Earth and the Moon might as well be destroyed. She then reveals that to stop the God of Darkness from resurrecting, she will capture him within her body so that he will be defeatable. She also says she wants to harness the power of the comet itself to influence something, but Sailor Moon interrupts her before she can reveal what it says.

Later, Sailor Moon also bares witness to her past self and Prince Endymion having a conversation. Finally, up in the Moon Kingdom, Sailor Moon meets Queen Serenity herself, who recognizes her daughter through her disguise. Her mother of the past is pleased to see her reincarnated daughter, as well as her future granddaugter. Sailor Moon is briefly upsetted by knowing that her mother and everybody in the Moon Kingdom are soon going to perish, but knows that there's nothing she can do to change her destiny.

The Senshi later return to the Moon Kingdom in the aftermath of Beryl's attack and are greeted by Prince Dimande, who threatens to alter the future by tampering with Princess Serenity's corpse. Sailor Moon allows herself to be taken prisoner by Dimande in exchange for her past self's safety. The other Senshi are then met by Saffir, who begs them to stop his brother from making a deadly mistake. Deep in the basement of the palace, Sin kills Dimande as payback for murdering her parents in the Black Moon invasion, then attacks the Senshi before running away. With Sailor Moon rescued and the Rose Crystal recovered, and the Senshi return to the present.

Back in Tokyo, the Oppositio Senshi have abducted Usagi's little brother Shingo Tsukino to lure the Senshi into a trap. The Senshi and Tuxedo Mask follow them to the Space-Time Door, where Fiore stands to block access. Tuxedo Mask stays behind to fight off Fiore while the Senshi go through the door into Crystal Tokyo. Upon arrival, they find a powerful force-field blocking access to the palace, and so they split into two teams: one to rescue Shingo and one to get into the palace. The Oppositio, having mastered most of their power and urge to kill that came with it, now want to compromise, and try to show the 4 inner scouts destinies using an illusion they could achieve if they gave up the silver crystal and Usagi. None of these destinies show anything unrealistic, or shows them giving up their powers as sailor scouts. They accept that it is tempting, but they want to stand by Usagi no matter what.

The first team composed of all 5 inner scouts go to Apsu's palace. While held captive Sin talks to Shingo to try to understand their brother and sister relationship. Shingo explains that while they don't get along very well, they still love each other. As a result, Sin's sympathy for Sailor Moon overwhelms her hatred for Neo Queen Serenity, and convinces the other Oppositio to even let Sailor Moon exist in the new destiny, just without the Sailor Crystal. Therefore, as Sailor Moon and the others reach the inner most part of the palace, she is also shown an illusion of the new destiny. In this destiny, Mamoru and Usagi are married, and Chibusa Tsukino is about one year old, and Sailor Moon is not Neo Queen Serenity, but Usagi Tsukino, wife, mother, and potentially still Sailor Moon.

When shown this final destiny, Usagi is silent until she states that its wrong because not everyone wants their destiny to be changed. Although since all the citizens of Crystal Tokyo are purified of all unhappiness and the rest of the world and Black Moon are dead, it is unclear if she is making any sense at all. She even states that the Black Moon did not want their destinies changed, when in fact a few hours earlier, Dimande stated he wanted his fate to be changed so that Black Sun and the Sailor Scouts didn't have to fight. Sin sighs and finally says that she wished they could finish their conflict with this talk, especially for Shingo's sake. This is possibly because Sin realizes Shingo has no future in Sailor Tokyo or in Neo Queen Serenity's life. Once the illusion ends, the inner scouts and Oppositio Scouts finally meet where the Oppositio Senshi launch a half hearted attack on the Sailor Scouts, only fighting 2 on 5. Nabu and Ishtar, Nergal and Marduk, and finally all 5 attacking Sin at once. Once the Sailor scouts win, Marduk tries to motivate the team to continue to fight for a far better world then Crystal Tokyo. However, Sailor Mercury suggests using the Silver Crystal to remove their powers. Not only does it remove their powers, but it purifies and brainwashes them into forgetting their original reasons for disliking Crystal Tokyo before Apsu intervened. Sailor Jupiter even insults the brainwashed Marduk by saying if she's ever in a tough situation, she should just run instead of fight, since she's a powerless human now. Sin, however, resists the might of the Silver Crystal even while weakened, refuses to leave Apsu or lose her powers for the sake of protecting Anshar and escapes.

The remaining Senshi disable the force-field by defeating the Witches 5, then enter the palace to find Anshar. Anshar admits to Sailor Chibi Moon that he really doesn't wish to fight, and wishes that their fates allowed them to be close. He finally decides regardless, he will betray Apsu. Apsu's image appears, and she is distraught that he is betraying when she is so close to dying, and uses her powers to force Anshar to fight them. Even though Anshar potentially has the same powers of Sailor Pluto, he has no fighting capability, and is no match for the outer senshi. Instead of trying to capture him, the outer scouts use lethal force and kill the young boy. Chibimoon is distressed by this, but Pluto just tells Chibusa to use her Silver Crystal to resurrect him, which they do.

Finally, the Senshi return to the Space-Time Door to find a trail of rose petals leading inside. With Tuxedo Mask her prisoner, the dying Apsu meets the Senshi and tries to convince them to give into her power by promising them their dream lives. Sailor Moon refuses, and Sin states that fighting Sailor Moon is the only chance she has of living. Sailor Moon and the other Senshi fight back.

Apsu is seemingly defeated, but the sorceress is in her last breaths outside Pluto's destroyed tower, terrified and praying for a miracle that will save her life. Sin suddenly appears and states that she will merge with Apsu, only so that Apsu can still change fate for the better. Fusing together, Apsu transforms into a monstrous Deity of Destruction and tries to destroy the Crystal Palace. Apsu's face becomes distorted and ugly, and her legs are now fused to the head of Sin's new form. While fusing with Apsu, the true form of Sin's soul takes form. She turns into a enormous 100 foot black dragon, with her massive head sticking out of the Depths of Time where Pluto's tower once stood. Faced with the overwhelming odds, the Senshi prevail and destroy Apsu. Sailor Sin turns back into a human, but doesn't lose her powers or her attitude toward the girls. Sin stated that they are still enemies, and asks why they saved her life. The Sailor Scouts simply state because they don't want to hate everyone. Sin becomes depressed and admits she was defeated. Sin is then suddenly reunited with Anshar and the Oppositio Senshi, and the five of them show how happy they are that Sin is alive. Sin, overwhelmed with emotion, tells the girls that she's sorry, putting the hardships they had gone through were all on her shoulders, now that all the girls are now purified. To Sin's surprise, they reveal that, while their loyalty in Apsu is gone, the purification failed and the girls praise Sin for helping them get at least this far in there goals, as well as keeping them alive. Ishtar states that they're now all together because of Sin, and even because of Apsu. While Nabu chastices Ishtar for saying something dumb, but this actually brings a smile to Sin, saying that maybe Ishtar is right, and Apsu did help them bring them together.

 The girls bid farewell to Setsuna at the Space-Time Door. Back at the Tsukino residence, Hotaru reverts into a baby, and Haruka and Michiru leave the other Senshi, hoping they will not have to meet again to fight. Minako, Makoto, Rei, and Ami all head for home, after the latter reminds Usagi to study. With the destiny of the world resetting itself to normal, the Senshi are ready to face a new day.

Trivia

• There was a bug in the game which caused innkeeper characters from Tibet to appear in Canada.

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