Magic Knight Rayearth (SNES) - (Hard Patch) - Full Playthrough

Text Description 1/3 **This and the next part of the description will include anime spoilers, so I would suggest watching the anime first if you care to (you would enjoy playing this game / watching this moreso if you did too). The spoilers are pointing out minor plot differences, but you've been warned** I streamed this in one sitting on New Years Day (and edited out deaths and any breaks obviously). The game itself is easy enough, if you focus on your best Magic attacks (either single/multi target depending on the situation) and MP restoring items you could get away with little to no grinding outside exploring the dungeons. The Hard mode patch seems to set your starting HP and stats lower, and makes your stat growth slower. I don't think it changes level growth or the enemy stats, but I could be wrong. The only time I required extra grinding outside dungeon exploration was in the penultimate dungeon - to get to level 45. The story follows the first season of the anime pretty closely, though takes some liberties to make it a more condensed story. Zagato's minions show up at different points in the stories (usually earlier) and Ferio, Ascot, Caldina and Lafarga are all temporarily recruitable as fourth party members. I miss out on Caldina though, as I lack the funds (I'll explain that later). After the introduction and the (supposed) explanation for the girls being brought to Cephiro by Clef you'll gain control at around (8:27). Fuu in the back row is a good idea, she's primarily a healer with support magic (didn't find much use for the latter, however). Hikaru is a slightly better physical attacker than Umi, who is conversely slightly better at attack magic. After reaching the chest at (17:39) you get teleported out and head back to Clef. As a reward Hikaru learns magic. Use it in the fight with Alcione to end it quickly. After exploring the nearby village head east to Presea's and after gaining your weapons - which are appropriate to their extracurricular activities (not explained here). You're sent on a quest to get Escudo to make your own weapons and Mokona joins you, who after you reach the Forest of Silence (further east) will act as a free tent and save point on the map. Gain a few levels and weapon levels before heading into the forest. Hikaru's magic is unavailable in the Forest of Silence, but it is fairly short again, thankfully. Ferio shows up and assists towards the end, and he's very strong right now. Very helpful at wrapping this section up. At the end you'll fight Alcione again and Umi learns her magic post fight. Now you have some solo sections as each member has their own trial (feels like the split section in FF6). Hikaru's trial is up first at (1:19:16). Umi's starts at (1:29:30) and Fuu's at (1:40:40) The three trials are pretty short dungeons. Look for Crystals with dots in the SE corner to smash to progress, and be aware of the save points in each. All three girls have a fairly short showdown with one of the things they treasure most. Hikari, Umi's parents and Fuu herself respectively. Fuu's is a fight of note. The enemy Fuu counters attacks with attacks, so if you take this route you'll need healing. Or... just use Magic a few times. I don't want to give too many anime spoilers, but after this section you meet up with Presea and get your weapons that are capable of evolving. Presea's fate changes in the anime, and this is one of the big changes. Head south to the nearby town and buy as many of the MP restoring items as possible for now. Fuu is the most efficient user of them for now as she regains the most MP from them, and her single target 2 MP healing is more cost efficient than healing items. You'll probably want to max out on these at a later opportunity. Head to the South Coast and Mokona will make a giant flying bowl type thing that will take you to the first shrine for the first Rune God. We arrive there at about (1:58:40). **Description continued in pinned comment.** Timestamps for chapters 0:00 - Introduction 1:37 - Game Start, Forest of Elel to Presea 38:30 - Presea to Forest of Silence 53:53 - Forest of Silence to Eterna 1:19:05 - Eterna - Hikaru's Scenario 1:29:31 - Eterna - Umi's Scenario 1:40:44 - Eterna - Fuu's Scenario to Escudo Weapons 1:50:44 - Escudo Weapons to Temple of Water 1:58:50 - Temple of Water to Ascot 2:30:51 - Ascot to Wind Temple 2:39:48 - Wind Temple to Caldina 2:58:42 - Caldina to Fire Temple 3:04:40 - Fire Temple to Lafarga 3:40:11 - Lafarga to Zagato's Castle 3:42:29 - Zagato's Castle to Inouva 4:17:18 - Inouva to Grinding 4:26:13 - Grinding to Alcione (Recommended to Skip) 5:24:10 - Alcione to Rest of Zagato's Castle 5:37:19 - Rest of Zagato's Castle to Zagato 6:03:23 - Zagato to Final Boss 6:18:04 - Final Boss to Ending 6:27:55 - Ending to Credits 6:33:45 - Credits