Guardian War
Encyclopedia
Guardian War is a console RPG or tactical role-playing game
Tactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...

 released for the 3DO
3DO Interactive Multiplayer
The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer is a video game console originally produced by Panasonic in 1993. Further renditions of the hardware were released in 1994 by Sanyo and Goldstar. The consoles were manufactured according to specifications created by The 3DO Company, and were originally designed by...

 console. It is notable for its use of 3-D animation which was uncommon for console RPGs at the time. It is also known as Powers Kingdom (パワーズキングダム - Pawazu kingudamu) in Japan and Europe.

Story

The player controls a golem who was awakened by the Goddess Erald which is fighting against Azrael, the Evil Lord.

Overview

In this strategy game you move your party around a linear map and when you are ready you can engage enemies in a "hostile" territory (called fields in the game), very much like that of Final Fantasy Tactics. When you enter a territory you move around a flat isometric grid world as single character until you come in range of an enemy. Once engaged in combat your party splits up into a default formation or a formation that you have planned out beforehand in your settings. Melee and ranged attacks have various ranges and area of effects. To continue moving along the trail you must defeat all the monsters in each territory that is blocking your path. Some side territories (called fields in the game) cannot be cleared and are used as a way to continue leveling your characters.

As you continue you collect more golems who you awaken along your travel to help you fight and join your party as a new character. This is the only way you can attain new members in your party that you can control.

Along the trails there are places where you can stop and buy items like weapons and accessories to equip. However, the most interesting equipping option are additional golem bodies which are classes or jobs. These can be applied to each one of your characters. They all have their pros and cons and effect your stats and as well as your skills.
Each character can carry 3 bodies utilizing the classes. The primary slot determines how you look and your overall stat configuration. For instance if you choose a knight as your primary slot your characters defense and hit points will be much higher than that of a character who's primary class is a wizard. Additionally experience gained from killing monsters also applies to your class in your primary slot. This will allow you later on to upgrade from a lower class body to an upper class body. For example when you have earn enough levels as a Knight you can now equip a Paladin body, giving you new skills and effecting your overall stats. Later in the upper classes there will be skills that can only be applied if you have another character with a compatible combination skill, where one character will target another one of your members in your party that has a compatible skill and the other member's turn is ready it can cast its special skill. Also while you are moving around in a territory, if your main character's primary body is a bird class it can fly and avoid certain obstacles.

There are some rare items in the game that can allow you to try to persuade an enemy NPC to join your party. If you are successful the NPC will join your party and you will be able to use the NPC throughout the game. The NPC will also gain EXP when you kill monsters. The only draw back is that the NPC will continue to fight as an NPC as in Non Player Controlled. It will remain your ally, but when it is the NPC's turn to attack it will chose which enemy and what skill to attack with.
The game finishes when you have reached the end of your journey and vanquish the end boss, Azrael.

Gameplay

Notable features include:
  • No separate screen or location for battles (atypical for most console RPGs).
  • Player controls all the golems when exploring. In battle, the player can control them individually.
  • Player can see which levels (known as fields in the game) are occupied by enemies before entering them.
  • Standard console RPG elements including statistics and character classes.

Body Types

When a golem has reached level 5 in their lower class body they will be able to equip the upper class bodies.

Levels are as follows.
  • Level 1 000 EXP
  • Level 2 015 EXP
  • Level 3 025 EXP
  • Level 4 100 EXP
  • Level 5 200 EXP

Lower Class Description Upper Class Dark Upper Class Light
Knight Powerful sword attack Dark Knight Paladin
Archer Arrow attack Death Archer Bow Knight
Priest Strong in light magic Dark Priest Messiah
Shaman Uses unknown magic Dark Shaman Master Shaman
Birdman Quick movement and flies Devil Bird Garuda
Wizard Strong in offensive magic Black Sorcerer Sage
Ninja Assassin Ninja Master
Samurai Black Swordsman Samurai Lord
Fishman Neptune

Recovery/Stat Boost

  • Power Stone: Heals 100 HP.
  • Power Ruby: Heals 200 HP.
  • Power Crystal: Heals 999 HP.
  • Manna Stone: Recovers 100 MP.
  • Manna Gem: Recovers 300 MP.
  • Reverser: Recovery from Stone.
  • Neutralizer: Removes acid effects.
  • Power Emb: Increases attack, can be found in Shrine of Fai.
  • Defense Emb: Increases defense, can be found in chest in Mushroom Forest.
  • Quick Emb: Increases Speed, can be found in Hinterand.

Tools

  • Bell of Love: Convert a monster to join your party
  • Acid Bomb: acid attack found in a chest in the second battle.
  • Lamut Medallion: Grants access to Extra Battles 1 and 2, can be found in Mueq W.
  • Sirum Medallion: Grants access to extra battles 3 and 4, can be found in Hinterand.
  • Tuphon Medallion: Grants you access to Extra, can be found in 23rd battle.

Equipment

  • Holy Ring - Strengthens the power of Light.
  • Black Orb - Strengthens the power of Darkness.
  • Robe of Wind - Strengthens the power of Wind.
  • Rabbit's Food - Fortune goes up.
  • Dragon's Fang - Magical defense Power goes up.

Introductory Weapons and Shields

Weapon Type Name Used By Location Stats
Sword Long Sword Knight Equipped from the start. +16 ATK
Sword Lunark Sword Knight 1st shop +25 ATK
Sword Gajjet Sword Knight Shrine of Fall +43 ATK
Sword Emperor Sword Knight 4th Shop +75 ATK, +2 SPD
Sword Darkness Sword Knight West Gazuto +97 ATK
Sword Dragon Slayer Knight 5th Shop +122 ATK, +4 SPD
Sword Paladin Sword Knight Shining Sea of Measa +200 ATK, +12 SPD
Sword Soul Eater Knight Mushroom Forest +270 ATK, +13 SPD
Blade Samurai Blade Ninja and Samurai Shrine of Fai +20 ATK
Blade Samurai Blade Ninja and Samurai 1st Shop +30 ATK
Blade Muramasa Blade Ninja and Samurai Shrine of Fall +50 ATK
Blade Izayoi Blade Ninja and Samurai 4th Shop +80 ATK
Blade Musashi Blade Ninja and Samurai Shisu Shrine +165 ATK, +2 SPD
Blade Mifune Blade Ninja and Samurai Shining Sea of Measa +225 ATK
Blade Kamikaze Blade Ninja and Samurai Medford Cave +310 ATK, +25 SPD
Mace Mace Priest Punching weapon but its attack power is not strong.
Mace Ark Mace Priest Magic power goes up if you use it.
Rod Rod Wizard and Shaman Attacking power is considerably weak.
Rod Devil Rod Wizard and Shaman Has strong power. Not recommendable regarding the character's ability value. (parameter)
Sickle Sickle Birdman Small weapon.
Sickle Cyclone Sickle Birdman Has Wind power. Not available at SHOP.
Arrow Bow Archer and Fishman Small arrow made of wood. Attacking power is weak.
Arrow Critical Bow Archer and Fishman Very special arrow to raise hitting rate. Not available at the SHOP.
Shield Clay Shield All Small shield made of soil. Defense power is weak. +20 DEF
Shield Battle Shield All ???? +30 DEF
Shield Herukey Shield All ???? +50 DEF
Shield Mirror Shield All ???? +80 DEF
Shield Black Shield All ???? +99 DEF
Shield Crystal Shield All Power shield made of mineral crystal. Best Defense. +130 DEF
Shield Holy Shield All ???? +200 DEF
Shield Paladin Shield All ???? +270 DEF, +14 SPD
Shield Demon Shield All ???? +300 DEF

Introductory Magic

Fire Type Range Area of effect Action
Fire Ball close one Shoot Fireballs.
Fire close one Pillar of fire burns. Gives great Damage.
Fire Burst medium all Many pillars of fire burn. Gives extraordinary damage.
Flame-birds long all ????
Meteor Strike long all Shooting stars fall on enemies.
Bomb medium one Explodes and damages
Atomic Bomb long all ????

Lightning Type Range Area of effect Action
Thunder close one Thunder strikes.
Thunderburst medium all Thunder strikes entire area.
Plasma Ball close one Thunder ball. Gives an electric shock.
Plasma Burst medium all ????

Wind Type Range Area of effect Action
Tornado close one Gives damage by spinning the enemy.
Storm medium all A big tornado rolls the entire place.

Water Type Range Area of effect Action
Whirlpool close one A whirlpool occurs and damages target.
Maelstrom medium all A huge whirlpool damages all targeted enemies.
Big Wave long all ????
Darkness Clouds ? ? Oxidize the enemy by acid clouds.

Earth Type Range Area of effect Action
Earth Rolling long all ????
Earthquake long all Give damage by huge earthquake.
Stone close one Turn enemy into stone.

Light Type Range Area of effect Action
Healing medium one Heals targeted allies.
Whole Healing close all Heals all targeted allies.
Holy Light close one Holy light damages target.
Holy Ark medium all ????
Genesis long all ????

Dark Type Range Area of effect Action
Drain Energy medium one The mysterious light deprives HP from the enemy.
Lost Energy close all The mysterious light deprives HP from all the enemies.
Black Light close one The Light of Darkness damages target.
Black Burst medium all ????
Apocalypse long all ????

Reception

The game received fairly positive reviews. The game received two awards in GameFan's 1994 "Megawards" (Vol 3, Iss. 1)
  • GamePro Magazine
    GamePro
    GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...

     Jan, 1995 4.5 out of 5
  • Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM)
    Electronic Gaming Monthly
    Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...

    Nov, 1994 7.6 out of 10
  • Amateur review in 1994
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