RECORD OF LODOSS WAR : THE ADVANCE OF CARDICE WALKTHROUGH BY ADK
Final version :

Welcome to my real time walkthrough of Lodoss. Real what? oh yes : You must know
that Lodoss for Dreamcast is really a difficult game, so difficult that
sometimes you can despair of life. So i found that saying to do this or that
without humanize the thing was as to taunt the reader. This walkthrough is in
fact my personnal progression and not the absolute
way to complete the game like in other walkthrough of me.
However if the advice and tips are here i don´t know how a non japanese speaker
can complete this game even with this walkthrough. I play usually japanese games
and it was a real fight for me. If you can´t read katakanas you will be stucked
near the end of the game because all the techniques i used to beat the boss came
from the skill i discovered and increased. The only possible way for a non
japanese speaker is to increase all caracteristics to the max, else i say it
again it´s impossible to win.

Homepage : http://www.dimensions-sega.fr.st
E mail : http://advanced_knight@yahoo.fr
Join my Forum for quick answer and to discuss about Sega Games.

UPDATE ( 02/23/2003) : I´m back on the scene of video games, less active than before but back.
If you wish to talk of video games with me or other fans in the future join my forum.

V 1.2 update : I obtained some tips about the battle of the golem in B6 of
Conquara. I removed the rumor about the statue of Karla because it´s two demon
statues, that Leyla asks you to destroy in B6. Also some useful tips appeared in
generalities section.

V 1.3 update : I obtained a new method for the battle against the golem in
conquara B6, also i changed the text for people that are currently using the
translated version of Lodoss War.

V 1.4 : Thanks to the new mail i received, i have infos about the maximum power
and the alternate ending and also i corrected the mistake about Beld, Wort
revives him, it´s the hero´s name. I couldn´t understand cause of the japanese...
I have opened a new section, the tips which are useful like all tips.

Final version : Since the time i wrote this, the translated game arrived and a
lot of people said it wasn´t so difficult to complete this game. I´m ok, but try
it in japanese like me...

Here is the program :

1 A complete review of Lodoss
2 Our friend the blacksmith
3 Generalities about the game ( read this before the walkthrough) ( UPDATE 1.2)
4 characters and main bosses
5 Walkthrough ( main adventure and secret quest)
6 Tips
7 Credits

1 Review :

Oh Lodoss for my Dream ! Cool ! I´m a fan of the first Lodoss which appeared on
Nec CD and then on Sega CD. This old Lodoss was ( on Sega CD) full of videos ( 45
Minutes) and was a great game. The story followed the OAV and stopped after Ghim
sacrificed his life to free Leyla from the spiritual sorceress Karla. The second
part of the game appeared only on Nec CD and on Japanese PC. In the Dreamcast
game, we can see a video of the two kings killing each other and it seems that
this game is the parallel of the second chapter on PC and Nec. The story is
different because you don´t play with Parn and Deedlit but you meet them. For
those who don´t understand the presentation, it´s simply the resurrection of
Cardice by Karla and Vagnard.
Narse was awaken and ran away from a fight with Cardice. For the rest of the
story, you will discover it by playing the game.
The presentation in Lodoss is extremely cool with impressive FMV before and
during the game. Thanks to Kadokawa Shoten for that. The FMV are in my humble
opinion the best thing in the game.
Graphically Lodoss is very poor and good at the same time. Good because the area
is enormous ( play the game and you will understand) and we can easily lost our
way. The graphics are various but not so good in fact. The color choice is poor,
there are some brightness effects but i found them normal, not especially for a
Dreamcast. I can´t admit that this game is
in 3D because most of the time it´s a classical 2D battle. However some bosses
are impressive and original, i was also happy to see how many different monsters
i can meet. But even with the good point i couldn´t stop to think to Light
Crusader on Genesis which is incredibly superior to this Lodoss for the graphics.
The animation is incredible. You can fight two or three hordes of foes at the
same time. Some battles are awful in difficulty and in fun at the same time. The
game slows, yes, but i don´t see a machine which can animate this game better.
The character´s speed depends on the boots he has and on his dexterity. It´s
original and the difference is real in the game.
I give a large credits to the sound. The musics are excellent, i don´t know if
they are linked with the OAV, but they are excellent. I regret there´s not an
" official" music for the boss. On the contrary the voice acting is ridiculous.
Once again even on a genesis it was better. The sound effects are correct and
sometimes good.
The controls are good for this game, i though to a Gauntlet in 3D view. However
during some battles you can make a game over without doing nothing to change the
situation. In addition, sometimes you can make directly a reset ( A+B+X+Y+START)
because a monster stones you and a second increases the curse. Bug or not ? well
once again it depends on the skills you have
increased and so far i play the game i haven´t found it ( rise your intelligence
point, update 1.3).
Well as you can see, the technique is not the strong point in this game. The
action is not everything here, you must think and find the good skill for the
good battle ( especially at the end). If you want a long and difficult game you
have found it, else pass your way. Lodoss is not only for the fan but for the
elite of Dreamcast players. Elite means you can overcome the situation and don´t
abandon the game due to its difficulty. Honestly i doubt that this kind of
players exist yet in majority. Only a minority will enjoy playing this game. I
think that Lodoss is a good game but not a super hit. It´s up to
you to choose to play it or not but if you begin you´ll see that it´s a good
game.

PRESENTATION : 18/20
GRAPHICS : 14/20
ANIMATION : 16/20
SOUND : 17/20
CONTROLS : 15/20
INTEREST : 18/20
FINAL NOTE : 85%

ADK.

2 OUR FRIEND THE BLACKSMITH :

At the beginning of the game, you´ll save COX the blacksmith. The entire
originality of Lodoss is in the equipment. You can keep the same weapon and
upgrade it as you wish. Also you can change its name and even transformS it.
Kadokawa had pity of us and translateD in english the menu of the blacksmith.
First you need to SELECT a weapon of an armor piece to upgrade.
Second go in the ANCIENT menu to choose the skill you wish to upgrade.
Then if you wish you can TRANSFORM your weapon and choose its form. Beware it
changes the impact and some caracteristics.
The REFINE option is here to sell unused weapon and armor pieces.
The DUPLICATE menu helps you to duplicate Lock pick and Pick mainly.
All this is possible by finding Mithril in the game. In the game, never equip a
new weapon, when you will find the book of Rune just install the Rune on the new
weapon to see if it is good or not.

The best classical skills to increase are :

HP for the life
ARMOR for the defense
STR for your fighter
DMG so can hurt violently the foe and boss
DURABILITY so can´t be knocked by a boss shop
PARING so you don´t fall each time an ogre hits you.
INT so you can master powerful magic, make combos with a firewall and other type
of group magic and avoid being stoned.
MP CHARGE SPEED and MP ( to increase the number and its regeneration)

Other skills are Regeneration or counterstrike for example. The problem is that
YOU must find them. I can´t tell you where they are because they are random.

You will find also special skills for special monsters like a Goblin Killer
which allows you to kill a goblin in one hit for example.

Skills in yellow can be installed on your weapon and armor piece to increase a
particular skill like number of HP or Durability. They are the most important so
don´t underestimate them.

Kyapiko ( yes the guy who helped me in the pair con game of 7th mansion and the
same who wrote the Super Runabout faq) played the game simultaneously and
provides some interessant advice :

1 When you have a large sword, you must wear a ferral boots so you don´t fall if
an ogre hits you.
2 With a single sword you can wear the boots you want, you will not fall if the
correct skills are increased.

Last in the game you must choose between a single sword or a double. The double
provides power and you can exterminate easily the foe. The single allows you to
use a shield, it´s a plus for armor, hp and other skills. In fact i play 80% of
the game with double sword and then change for a single sword according to the
situation.
The best advice i can give is to never TRANSFORM a weapon but always have it on
you so you can change for free.