From: Jeff_Lake@cc.umich.edu (Jeffrey D. Lake)
Subject: Re: _______MAGIC  SWORD________
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 92 03:58:50 EDT
Organization: The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

In article <Idr3Nym00VB0MMF0VR@andrew.cmu.edu>, ss6l+@andrew.cmu.edu (Sanjay Shah) writes:
> 
> 
> 	We need a break from SFII - if even for a second......
> 
> 	Has anyone played Magic Sword ?  What a game!!!!! Wonderful graphics
> and sound.
> 
> 	Has anybody been able to finish the entire game on one quarter?  I have
> seen people get to the final stage on 1 quarter, but then have to put in
> a few more to finish the last guy.  My personal best is reaching level
> 48 on 1 quarter . 
> 
> 	Also, does anyone know where all the secret doors are located,
> throughout the levels?  I know of maybe 4-5 , but I'm sure there are
> more.
> 
> 
> 		-Sanjay
> 
> (Wondering whether this post will ever get noticed among the deluge of
> SFII posts flooding the net... :-)
> 
> 

Magic Sword is an excellent game.  I have played this game extensively and
swear I could play it blindfolded and still finish it.

There are three stages I feel one needs to take to finish the game on one
quarter.:

1.   FOOD:    The duration of your game depends on your vitality and
              your vitality depends on how much food you can get and
              there are several tricks to accomplish this.
              
              a.)  Magic Scroll.  Definitely the most important item
                   in the game you could have.  Unfortunately you can
                   have it for only 2 levels per find.  As stated before
                   it allows better probability of food being dropped
                   from monsters.  The scroll is hard to find at the
                   low levels(1-20+) so you have to depend on surviving
                   for a while.  The absolute BEST time in the game to
                   have the scroll is, I think, level 33.  The level
                   with the swarms of Jellyfish.  With average luck and
                   prayers you can get 2 or 3 lobsters, and about 4 or 5
                   smaller food values like mushrooms and tomatoes.
                   I've managed to get 3 FULL vitality levels(not bars)
                   just from those jellyfish alone!  The tough part is
                   acquiring this very lifesaver(Scroll).  The only way
                   ,besides hoping the ninja on that level has one(100-1)
                   , is to acquire one from the previous level, #32.
                   To do this you have to hope and PRAY one of the
                   Samurai gives you one when you kill them.  This will
                   not always work.  There is however, an alternative
                   way of getting a scroll.  Ryan Vurlicer spoke of an
                   alternative path that is more rewarding and more
                   difficult.  It is on level 32 of the ALTERNATIVE path
                   that one can be GUARANTEED a magic scroll.  The hard
                   part then is keeping it to when you need it for the 
                   jellyfish.  All those stupid skeletons dropping
                   crystal balls can be a pain.  

                 b.) Alternative paths.  Take those RED levels!!!  Sure
                     they're more harder, but oh, that food at the later
                     levels as well as the points are REALLY nice down
                     the stretch.  I can't remember the last game I've
                     played where I have taken the regular route.

                 c.) Earlier Levels.  Master those levels!  Find every
                     nook and cranie where food can be found.  Don't 
                     get hit!  Build you Vitality!  By level 28, I've
                     managed to get 7 FULL vitality levels(not bars).
  
2.  COMPANION CHOICE:

         Of the 8 different companions to chose from I will list them
         in the order of which I see is most valuable for survival.

         1.) Lizard Man.  Best in the game by far.  His shot speed along
                          with power makes him ESSENTIAL for certain
                          Bossmonsters.
         2.) Thief.       His bombs are great but knowing where those
                          randomly placed trapped chests are is a
                          definite boon.  Build him from the VERY start.
         3.) Knight.      Supposedly the best in the game.  His shot
                          speed is lacking and the opportunity to increase
                          his levels is awkward and not well placed
                          except at level 48 when he is guaranteed level
                          8.
         4.) The others.  Not worth taking EVER unless you want variety
                          or a challenge.  Try winning with the priest
                          from ground zero.  It's a bitch!

3.  POINT MAXIMIZATION:

         Only through learning the previous 2 steps can this one ever
         be contemplated. Whenever you find a necklace, grab it!  Milk the
         2 levels you have it of ALL it's points!  Through the use of
         this, and learning where all the Blue Gems(flames) are you can
         get scores over 5,000,000.  If you include the Diamond, 6 Mil.

         MIND-BLOWING SCORES FROM HELL:  Level 47.  That's all there is
         to it.  As long as you have a good amount of vitality(3+) you
         can grab the necklace and WRECK HAVOK on points.  The biggest
         thing to note is that a necklace is available on this level.
         Grab it and go back to the platform at the beginning of the
         level and wait for those wierd things with the floating skulls
         around them to appear.  Give a blast of Magic(hit both buttons).
         All the skulls turn into 8000 pt coins(16000 if you have the
         necklace).  Repeat until time is running out or you are almost
         dead.  The next level has SOOOO much food you can still easily
         finish the game.  Using this method I've been able to get scores
         over 8 MILLION!  With my personal high being 8,850,000 points.
         I might add that this is WITHOUT knowing about the 1 mil. diamond
         and a couple other gems Mr. Vurlicer pointed out.  I, therefore,
         feel scores of 10 million are possible.  My quest begins.

P.S.  Strategies for killing the boss-monsters:  I'm tired and don't
      feel like posting it, but I have strategies for EACH boss that
      can guarantee minimal or no vital loss.  If someone is interested,
      please email me or post a request on this item.

Jeff Lake.