Part 168: Alent 1

Oh, right, it's Wednesday, isn't it?

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Welcome back!

We're starting off with an FMV this time. As usual, scroll down to "cutscene ends" to skip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in6cgw7KzUE (Polsy link)





Going up!



... going pretty high up.



Yep, they baked the normal sprites into the FMV.

: Woo-hoo! Wow, this is high! Woo-hoo-hoo!

: Incredible! We keep zooming through the clouds!

: Uhh, we're not gonna be droppin' down from here, right?



: Look, Justin!





: That must be Alent!

: All the answers will be there!





And with that explosion, the cutscene ends.







Alent is big on floating platforms that move people around.

And also being a sandstorming space desert. I guess the capital didn't fare much better than the rest of the dead ancient civilization.



There's a pause between each line. Really gives a good impression that this isn't quite how Justin was imagining things.

: I... finally made it!

: FEENA! RAPP! How about THIS! We're really here!

Of course, being Justin, he quickly gets over it.

: You DID it, Justin!

: All RIGHT Juss!

: OK! Let's get going. Liete must be waiting.



Hiding out here is the final Mana Egg of the game.

Don't be fooled by the desolate ruins and music, though. This place isn't empty.



It has screaming stone heads eternally vomiting sand!



Oh, and the ghosts of various monsters we've killed along our journey.

Ignoring the bonus dungeons for now, as well as the bird golem and orc random encounters, and the fight with all three of the Wonder Triplets, the upcoming bosses are the first ones that are palette-swaps of earlier bosses.

... y'know what? Just ignore that previous sentence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLb1mQiBC9s (Polsy link)



This guy here is just a souped-up Serpent. Unfortunately for him, the trip up to Alent counted as a rest, so I'm at full strength.

There's really nothing to say that isn't already mentioned in his statblocks. The Peril Head can be dangerous if you allow it to live long enough to get a turn, and the status effect head is a little more annoying, but there's really nothing to trip you up here.



Feena takes the opportunity to cast DragonZap, just because she finally has the MP to do so.



He goes down without a hassle, providing some decent rewards.



Feena has taken a commanding lead over Rapp in vitality. Rapp still has more level 3 MP.



Creepy decor.



Oh, c'mon, we just beat this motherfucker!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhtm9gPOr1E (Polsy link)



The Great Susano-o is all-around weaker than the Ruin Guard. Sadly, he's had his confusion vulnerability patched.

The Iron Ball does the same thing as the Boomerang, Ax is Ax, and Susano-o himself has traded the ability to heal for the ability to cast Howlnado.

Which I'm sure would be more imposing if complete wind immunity were harder to come by.



Rapp is just 1 earth level away from maxing that skill out.



And he decides to try out his new toy.



Meteor Strike does exactly what you think it'd do. Due to all the screen shaking and big things moving around, the gif isn't as smooth as I would like.



This pretty much tells you all you need to know about it, though.



Feena gets a powerful whip with +2 skill power, and we also get another Chain of Gems.



Rapp attempts to at least catch up to Feena in Wit.



And through the spiky gateway, we find our final guardian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIv_unGjBM4(Polsy link)



Funnily enough, the dragon's ghost is weak to fire. Relatively.

It really is just an upgrade from the Madragon. Instead of Howlslash, it has Crackling. Instead of Healer, it has Alhealer+.

Instead of Gadwin's corpse, I have a host of powerful skills and equipment. Also, blizzard immunity.



The dragon is quickly burned to re-death. Rapp may have contributed a few meteors.



But, with that out of the way, we are free to enter Alent proper.

See you next time!