From: rmv2498@statler.tamu.edu (Ryan Vurlicer)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video.arcade
Subject: Re: _______MAGIC  SWORD________
Date: 7 Apr 92 01:18:02 GMT
Organization: Texas A&M University

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... :-)


	Well, here is a relatively long list of Magic Sword stuff.  I hope
that it is fairly complete.

< SPOILERS >




	Shields = shield. Note that you can be hit twice before losing your
shield (one hit damages it (turns it red)), and not every hit
will damage a shield.  I am not sure if you are protected on ones that
don't damage it though.  Picking
up a new shield before you lose your old one is worth a minimum of 10,000.
Depending on the new shield versus the old, you can get up to 50,000 (switching
from the huge shield the knight gives you to the wimpiest one next to your 
leather shield (which you cannot drop, but doesn't seem to give much protection)
)  Shields let you take less damage when hit.  Note that picking up a new shield
gives you temporary "rapid fire".  You can toss full power blasts (flame, if you
still have some magic left) one after another for a couple of seconds. 
	Also, dropping from a better shield to a less protective one is worth
more than staging up.  Although it is still possible to get more than 10,000 
pts. for grabbing a better shield.  Suggested is to grab all shields offered.
The protection is really not worth the loss in points by not getting it.  
Instead; just avoid being hit...


=====
	Note:  Different shields have a different amount of hits they can
take.  When you switch to a new shield, you get 10,000 pts. per hit it
had left. I believe the largest shield you can get has 5 hits.  Basically,
size is an indicator here.
=====
 




	Blue flame (crystal, whatever)= 80,000 pts.

	Chalice (King's crown) = Temporary invulnerability. [Naw...]

	Faerie crystal = Call the faerie to you.  Note that hitting her
		after she has dropped her 3 items of food and is flying off
		causes her to drop an apple (another 1/2 bar worth of food).

	Mask = 40,000 points (4,000 ?)

	Blue heart = Heals partner a hit.  100 pts.

	Red heart  = Raises partner a level (max level = 8) Also, 3,000 pts.
			May heal too.

	Black, upside down heart = Causes partner to lose a level.  8,000 pts.

	Staff = 60 seconds of magic power (allows you to toss fireballs, or
		at the higher levels, shoot lightening[sp?]).  Also allows for
		temporary rapid fire.

	Golden lamp (? Can't remember what the game calls it) = Causes partner
		to heal faster.

	Blue potion = Causes you (and your partner [the mage or the priest])
		to power up magic quicker.  Watch the gauge at the bottom of
		the screen that marks your power buildup.  Note also that you
		MUST give it some time to recharge.  It is much faster than 
		normal, but it is not instantaneous.

	Necklace = Double all points you subsequently receive.  Very nice to
		have on the levels where you can pick up multiple blue flames.

	Scroll = VERY IMPORTANT!  Causes monsters to drop items (and certain
		monsters (lizard men, bubble dragons, mummies, and jellyfish
		most notably) to drop FOOD) far more often than normal.  NOT
		guranteed, but it raises the probability rather incredibly.
		A couple of others; samurai and flying dragons also tend to
		drop more food.  And on higher levels, dogs and skeletons.
	
	Gauntlet = Mainly useful for the "boss" monsters, this handy gadget 
		improves your attack.  Unlike the potion, it has no effect
		upon your magical power.  It does, however, make your rapid
		attack more powerful.  Meaning you can attack as fast as you can
		tap the button.  Makes a noticeable difference.

	Bracelet (gold necklace? amulet?) = causes shield to glow.  Makes 
		shield more effective (less damage to you, and shield is less 
		likely to be damaged or dropped when hit).

	Solar flame = Makes thunder sword even more powerful.  Noticeable effect
		on magic (lighening comes out red rather than blue).  Not sure
		if it also has a gauntlet like effect upon it.  Not necessary
		against the big guy, but it does make him die quicker, and is
		therefore (at least on stage 50), the thing to have.

	Food = health.  Exceptions; carrot (that's what it looks like to me) =
		points only.  Speckled mushroom = poison.  No damage, but makes
		you unable to attack (note that your partner can still attack,
		so your not totally defenseless).  No health either.  Still, it
		is worth 40 pts. (sigh).

	Large ring (the equipment one) = Allows you to capture either the 
		lizardman or the thief.  Whichever one you encounter next and 
		defeat (note that "defeating" the theif requires only hitting 
		him once when he drops to steal something, whereas you must
		actually fight the lizardman a little [although less than would
		normally be required to kill him]).

	Small ring = 900 pts.

	Gold cup = 1020 pts.  Possibly healing to partner as well.

	Vase = 500 pts.  Definitely healing to partner as well.

	Coins = 20 - 30,000 pts, depending on size and type.  (30,000 may not
		be the max)

	Scissors = Cut your follower away (as in kill).  Usually appears in 
		front of the lizard man.  If you want the 80,000 pts it is
							  ^^^^^^^^^^
		worth, do not pick up the lizardman, then the scissors.  
		ALWAYS grab the scissors first.  It is not necessarily a bad
		item; especially if you are due to change to a new partner.
		The lizardman is not a bad follower either.


	Bell   =  Calls the lizardman.

	Diamond = 1,000,000 pts.  In a hidden chest all the way to the left
		on stage 49.  (Yes, in the spikes).  The non-hidden chest is
		a pair of scissors.  Very bad.  Very nasty.  Be careful.

	Red and white star = Much much health.  Almost a full man.


=========

	Followers

	Big Guy =  Very tough.  Fun to have, but not particularly useful.
		His attacks are very powerful, but as the axe has to go out 
		and come back, they are also very slow.

	Amazon = Excellent for beginners.  Gets powerful quickly, and high
		rate of fire.

	Ninja = Nice looking.  Lousy follower.  His main weakness is his
		weakness.  At level 8, he has an amazing spread, but does an
		amazingly slight amount of damage.  Two blasts to kill the 
		normal grunts (orcs?).

	Priest = Also nice looking.  Lousy follower.  He too, is very weak
		at level 8.  He does kill undead easily; but so does a level
		8 anyone (except our friend, the ninja).  He also must charge 
		up.  His one redeeming factor is the fact that he gets a shield
		similar to King's crown (Chalice) when he is fully charged and
		does an attack. (I think that is the criteria for it.)  Still
		not particularly useful.

	Mage = Nice looking.  Interesting follower.  Very powerful.  At level
		8, he may be the most powerful follower.  Unfortunately, he must
		charge his attack.  He also seems to be the most fragile 
		follower.  

	Theif = Good follower.  Has a powerful attack (bombs) and a less pwerful
		attack (the knife).  Can see invisible chests and trapped 
		chests.  This, in and of itself makes him worthwhile. 
		Can be found in doors and can be attracted by valuable items 
		(from chests only, I just found out), and can be captured as
		he tries to steal them, if you have the ring.  He will only 
		attempt to steal this way once per level (and won't do appear
		on some levels).  
		Also; 1 bomb for levels 1-4.  2 bombs for levels 5 & 6, and the
		full set of three at 7 & 8.

	Knight = Very good follower.  Has a very powerful (and at level 8, very
		fast) attack.  Can usually clear everything in the direction he
		is facing.  Weakness is he can only have one set of spears (3)
		on the screen at a time.  Inconvenient if being attacked on both
		sides.  Also note if building up from level one, you receive 1
		additional spear at level 2, and one at level 3, then they start
		getting more powerful.

	Lizardman = Very good follower.  Someone recently pointed out that he
		has a big advantage over the knight in his ability to rapid fire
		his attacks.  His attacks are almost as powerful as the knight,
		and the difference may be made up quite handily by the rapid 
		attack capability.  Also gains swords as he goes up in level.
		Minimum of 3, max of 5(?).  Not sure of the levels at which they
		stage up.  
		Like the thief he can be captured if you have the ring.  He
		will be attracted if you pick up a bell.  This can happen 
		more than once per level.  There are also some points at which
		the lizardman (or lizardmen) will be encountered, and the ring
		will work here as well.

=========

	Secret doors.  

		Level 7.  Crouch against the far left wall and attack.  The
			door that appears is a warp.  To level 11, I think.
			Haven't taken it in a while.  Skips over the free man on
			level 9(?).

		Level 17.  Between the two swinging balls, on the platform with
			the gauntlet; which the wizard appears above; walk off
			on the left, crouch, and attack right.  This opens up
			a warp to level 19 (maybe 20).  Also on  this level,
			two blue flames.  The second idol; near the second
			swinging ball, can be hit.  Jump in the center of the
			idol's face and attack several times.  You should see
			a flash meaning you are hitting.  After several hits,
			two blue flames will fall out.  160,000 pts, if you
			don't have the necklace; 320,000 if you do.  Very nice.

		Level 21.  Upon reaching the exit; stop and wait.  A row of
			blue flying creature will float on from the left.
			After killing these, and picking up the food they hope-
			fully have dropped, jump over the ledge going to the 
			left.  In midair attack several times.  There is a
			door that will warp you to level 24 (the "strage 
			atmosphere" level.

		Level 27.  Crouch on the first platform over the water;
			on the far left.  Attack to the right.  A door will
			open on the ledge to the left.  This is NOT a warp.  
			This leads to an alternate path.  The next level will
			be 28, but it is a second level 28.  This path merges 
			with the old one around level 33.  It is a more 
			difficult path, but also a more rewarding one.  

		Levell 40.  On the ledge before the platform over the spikes,
			which is guarded by bubble dragons, crouch and attack
			to the right.  This will open up a door, and is also a
			nice way to attack the stupid dragons (who will probably
			hit you if you are on the platform).  However, it should
			be noted that there are four hidden chest on this level,
			two of which fall into spikes (no problem, there is also
			a King's crown on this level) and two on the right side
			of the normal exit.  One of these is always a blue
			flame.  Also a secret route, and not a warp.  Also
			difficult.

There are at least 3 more warps that I know exist, but do not take.  Not sure of
the levels they are on.  I know of no other "secret" routes.

	Disclaimer : I have tried to be as accurate as possible w/ respect to
level numbers, but the game wouldn't wait for me to jot them down.  I have
tried to include descriptions to help, but some may be off by a level.

====

	Final note :  The faery will also appear (as a kind of "extra man") at
	300000 pts, 600000 pts, 900000 pts (then the increment goes to 
	400,000),   1,300,000pts, 1,700,000 pts, then I kind of lose track.
	Not sure whether the increment increases again.  
	
	The trick of hitting her to get her to drop an extra apple works here
	too.  It will not work for faeries found behind doors.

	Also note that only the flower locks ever hide traps.  The silver and
	gold locks never do.  Of course, only flower locks ever hide the knight.
	Sigh.  You takes your chances.


Ryan Vurlicer.

Newsgroups: rec.games.video.arcade