Sailor Moon: Another Story

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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. The group attack could only be executed by the first party member, once per turn, using the EP of all party members.

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 two or three Senshi. Combination attacks were only available if all members were in the same party at the same time, and the EP required was drawn from all the involved Senshi. Some healing or effect Link Techs affected all party members.

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 barrels 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, an evil sorceress who sought to alter time so that she alone could rule the galaxy. 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 terrorists were convinced that the Silver Crystal needed to be destroyed for the good of the future.

Other villains who appeared during the game were past enemies that Apsu revived by "changing their destinies." These included Queen Beryl, Mistress 9, Black Lady, the Black Moon Clan, the Death Busters, and various Youma, 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 evil 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, Droids 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 apparitions in the fire, and then the four Inner Senshi, along with 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 Junior 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 "Yin" stone, which will lead them to the matching "Yang" 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 Yang 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 Yang 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 Yang 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 of Mishii, 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 Yang 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 of Sariel, populated with only women. Venus eventually learns about her history in this village and finds Kunzite's Yang 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 Chibiusa being stranded in a forest with a strange boy named 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. 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.

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, and also bears 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. She 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 Saphir, 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, 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 first team go to Apsu's palace, where the Oppositio Senshi launch an all-out attack but are defeated and mostly freed from Apsu's control. Sin, however, refuses to leave Apsu 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 and capture Anshar.

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

Apsu is seemingly defeated, but the sorceress escapes and locates Sin. Absorbing Sin's power, Apsu transforms into a monstrous Deity of Destruction and tries to destroy everything. Faced with the overwhelming odds, the Senshi prevail and destroy Apsu. Finally free from Apsu's power, Sin is reunited with Anshar and the Oppositio Senshi, and the six of them show their gratitude to the Senshi for saving them. 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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