Part 2: Meta

Update 2: Meta






A loud slamming noise persists through the next scene.


Can't you hear that sound? Vahn, wake up! Listen carefully to that sound. I think it's coming form beyond the Wall. Vahn, would you go take a look for me? Hurry back at the first sign of danger!





Most of the village is gathered here, although Mei is notably absent. Let's see if the Elder has anything to say.





Elder: This Wall has protected Rim Elm from the Mist for over ten years. Hopefully it will stay standing forever.

???: Ah, quite impressive. Look how many puny humans survive.

Elder What? What on earth is that?







Living in fear of the Mist, you scream at the sight of a Seru's shadow. Pathetic humans! In this desolate place, you thought this flimsy wall would protect you from the Mist? Humans! You are but insects! The time has come to abandon your foolish resistance. I am Zeto. I have come to bring the salvation of the Mist to you miserable creatures.


Tetsu the Biron monk does a jump kick at the fiend...





...which fails miserably. Why do villains get energy shields like that and we don't? It's so unfair.


Humans! Now is the time! Accept the Mist!


Okay. I know things look bad, but I doubt the Seru are smart enough to have a siege cannon or anything. The Wall should hold up just -













Villager: The...the Mist. The accursed Mist has entered Rim Elm!

It is time! Seru! Followers of the Mist! It is time for you to attack! Seru! Destroy that old eyesore of a tree!





And we're treated to the sight of a Seru monster knocking a woman over and biting at her prone body. Did I mention this game was rated E?





BATTLE!





Meet Gimard, the most basic of the Seru. The colored shape next to it's name indicates that it's a Seru and which element it is affiliated with. Gimard is Fire based...







...and can take advantage of that fact to launch a fireball at our hero.

One interesting thing about this game is that our characters also have innate elements, sort of like the Chrono games. Vahn is also fire based, meaning he both deals and takes less damage against other fire based enemies. He's also more proficient with fire magic and less proficient with it's natural opposite, water/ice. We'll get to magic in a bit.





I took advantage of the fight to key in a few Arts that I remember from previous playthroughs to get them loaded into the Arts menu. This fight (and many others) basically boils down to alternating between Spirit and attacking, with the occasional break to heal if needed.





Oh yeah, I didn't show this properly earlier. This is Vahn's attack gauge after using Spirit. As you can see, there's room to input four commands, just shy of room for five.





This is his bar before using Spirit. As you can see, it's substantially shorter, and only has enough room for three inputs.

Like other stats, the attack gauge will increase every time we level up, and we will ultimately be able to fit a whopping nine attacks in the gauge. But that's not going to happen for a LONG time.

At any rate, I managed to scrape through the fight. You may have noticed that Zeto mentioned the Genesis Tree as what the Seru are here to destroy (along with all the humans, of course). Let's see if anything interesting is happening there.





Woman: I came here to get away from the Seru monsters. Hey, have you noticed that the Mist doesn't come in here? The Genesis Tree is glowing. It's radiating some kind of amazing power. The Genesis Tree is very warm. Vahn, go ahead, touch it.


Well, I don't have any better ideas, so...





???: Vahn...Vahn...You are Vahn, are you not?


A strange figure descends into the Genesis Tree...





I am Meta, a Ra-Seru. I have been waiting inside this Genesis Tree for someone like you.


When I was a kid, I thought Meta looked kind of like a remote control. Now that I'm older, I...still think he looks like a remote. Or maybe a coffin with a gem instead of a cross on it.





Good! By combining our powers, we will rid the whole world of the Mist! Let us pursue the same destiny as human and Ra-Seru working together!


Uhh...I don't know about this, but he's not trying to murder me and seems fairly pleasant. I guess it's worth a try.


Vahn, open you mind...Feel my presence.





All right, I think a good thing just happened! Vahn and Meta have teamed up, and Vahn now can harness Meta's powers. Which are...basically nil at this point, but we'll get there.


The approaching Mist is killing the Genesis Tree. I am too weak...I need the life force of the Genesis Tree to be strong. To revive the Genesis Tree, we need the power to change destiny – the power of the human spirit! Vahn, hurry! Hurry and assemble everyone here!





The woman is understandably panicking at Vahn suddenly having a Seru buddy, but has enough presence of mind to stay in the safe area. At this point, we can either go to Mei's house or Vahn's. Mei's is the better choice, as it's closer and can get us a useful item later.





On the way to her house, I got attacked by another Gimard. The fight went much the same way, but the ending was a bit different...





Instead of melting into the ground as is normal for a defeated enemy, the Gimard got back up and faded away...





And Meta learned how to utilize Gimard's power.

This is how magic works in Legend of Legaia. When you fight Seru monsters, upon defeating them there's a chance that your Ra-Seru will learn the Seru's power, which you can then use against enemies. Gimard is a basic, single target fire spell, and all told it isn't very interesting, but it's still a pretty powerful ability that can outdo Vahn's normal attacks for a good while, so I'm glad to have it.

Oh yeah, this might just be the RNG screwing with me, but I'm almost sure Vahn has a higher chance of learning Fire magic and a lower chance of learning Water/Ice magic.





They all went to check on the Wall, but still haven't come back. Vahn, what happened?

The Mist is here!

Oh, no! That means the Seru monsters will come into Rim Elm! What should we do!

Let's go to my house!

Thank you, Vahn! Maybe that would be better. All right, take me to your house!


Mei takes a moment to look at her father's corpse again, then leaves with Vahn.





The game automatically takes us to Vahn's house, so we don't have to fight our way there.





If only there were someplace safe for us...

Vahn! What's that on your right arm? Is that...a Seru?

No, it's a Ra-Seru!

...So it's a Ra-Seru...Yes, I do sense something gentle about this Seru. Alright, tell everyone! We're all going to revive the Genesis Tree!





Music: The Genesis Tree


Elder: You and the Ra-Seru are our last hope! We entrust you with our lives. Everyone, we must pray together.

The power of prayers is strong! Now's the time, Vahn! Go to the Genesis Tree!





One by one, the villagers begin to emit a green, glowing light...


Awaken, Genesis Tree. Remember the instant the heavens and the earth were born!



Good! Harder! Pray harder! To push away the Mist! To revive the Genesis Tree! Open your mind!


Music: Reviving A Genesis Tree













I'm sure I'm going to have a lot of nostalgic moments throughout this LP, but reviving my first Genesis Tree will always be one of the strongest.


Music: The Ra-Seru Speak


Thank you. Thanks to Vahn, and the people of Rim Elm, the Genesis Tree has been revived. The Genesis Tree has the power to drive away the Mist and to make a Ra-Seru like me stronger. The Mist has left Rim Elm, but it still covers the rest of the Earth. Many Genesis Trees wait to be revived. Vahn, let us leave Rim Elm together to look for those Genesis Trees!





Elder: Don't worry. He's just in a deep sleep.

How peaceful he looks. He must be dreaming about something nice.













Music: Juno's Funeral


Elder: The hateful fangs of the Seru took their lives from them.





Elder: But Rem, our leader, our great leader! On your sacred wings, take the noble souls of our friends to the Valley of Noaru! May their souls find peace and eternal happiness in the distant Valley of Noaru.









This might be the nostalgia talking again, but this scene really gets me choked up. I feel like they did a great job with Mei as a character in general, and I think her reaction to her father's death is surprisingly emotional. I just want to give the poor girl a hug and tell her that everything will be okay.





Child: Mommy, where are Juno and the others going?

Mother: To the Valley of Noaru, dear. Far, far away – beyond the sea.

Child: Is Juno going to come back? Will he bring us good things to eat again?

Mother: The Valley of Noaru is...very, very far away, dear. I don't think he will come back.





Music: Rim Elm


Elder: Vahn, Rim Elm is saved thanks to you! You were truly courageous and I thank you again. However...It's about our precious Mei. Her mother may still be alive inside the Mist! If you have pity on Mei then rescue her mother. Now, even Mei doesn't know this, but her mother, Maya, used to work at Biron Monastery. Ten years ago the Mist came, and naturally we lost all contact with her. As for whether Biron Monastery itself still survives in the Mist...Unfortunately no one knows. But Maya is Mei's only surviving blood relative! Vahn, with the Ra-Seru, I'm sure you can make it to Biron Monastery! Vahn! I'm counting on you.


The Elder starts to walk away, then turns back.


Elder: One more thing, Vahn. Keep this a secret from Mei...She will only be heartbroken if Biron Monastery has indeed been lost to the Mist.


Well, it looks like we have a destination in mind, although I'm not precisely sure where Biron Monastery is. I hope we can find it without too much trouble.





I know not what hidden powers that Seru on your right arm has. All this is too confusing for an old man like me. But I have faith in you! You have brought hope to Rim Elm in its darkest hours. As your father, I am very proud of the brave man you have become. Whatever you decide to do from now on...this will always be your home, and you will always be my son. Never forget that!


There's no real point to this scene, I just thought it was a touching moment between father and son. Despite his role as the silent protagonist, Vahn manages to get some decent scenes.





The shop is now open, and with it come equipment upgrades! Let's see what's available real quick.





There are five types of equipment: Arms (weapon), Head, Body, Legs, and accessories. This game also has a slightly different take on offense and defense, splitting defense into two different types – upper and lower.

Arms increases attack power, particularly with the characters weapon hand (right or left, depending on the person).

Head only increases upper defense, while Body increases both defenses.

Legs increases lower defense as well as attack power, particularly with kicks (high and low).

And of course, accessories do all kinds of stuff. Characters can equip up to three accessories.


I don't know precisely how boots and arms increase universal attack power versus command-specific attack power. Regardless, all of this stuff is worth buying. Since I can't afford everything, I bought the weapon and the headgear. The boots can come later.







Here! I brought you the hunting clothes I promised you. And this is a gift for you, to thank you for rushing to check up on me yesterday.


We get the Hunters Clothes (a nice body equip) and Mei's Pendant (an accessory that increases HP max by 10% and can be used as an exploit of sorts for something cool later).





Yes, I had a good cry. And making your hunting clothes took my mind off everything. Vahn, I heard from the Village Elder that you're going on a long trip. Well, take care. And don't forget to wear the hunting outfit I made you. And be sure to come back when you finish whatever it is you need to do. I mean it! You'd better come back!

...I've never been good at saying goodbyes. So I have to go home now. I'm sorry...I'll be waiting for you to come back, Vahn!





You know...I really like this game's opening. It's a decent length, it helps set up how the world works, it gives us a villain and a semi-personal reason to hate/fear the Mist and the Seru, and it helps establish the various members of Vahn's home. It even manages to invest me in Vahn's started love interest to the point that I'm kinda rooting for her. It gives us a long term goal (save the world by resurrecting Genesis Trees) and a shorter term one (find Mei's mother). It might not be the best opening of all video gaming, but I'd say it's pretty high up there.

Anyway, join me next time as we explore the world map, fight enormous butterflies, and maybe have our first encounter with the undead! See you then!