The Graces

Author:
Teijiro
Release:
"Program Pochette" Sep. 1986 Issue
"1"~"4": Select.,   Space: Save the game.

The game:

There were three gems that govern love, charm and joy.
From the day a certain nameless rebel took them, the land was stained with blood.
However, one of the people rode into the rebel palace. He was RUUUN, who was later hailed as a hero.

Note:

This game was originally intended for tape. In order to save/load data to/from disk, the "CAS:" string must be removed. (The lines #1130, #1150 & #1440.)
Unfortunately there are various issues in the program, and most players will find them uncomfortable / strange.
This website strongly recommends the following modifications!
graces-fix-lines
The fatal issue (the line #720): Essentially, the author's intention is that you must have the strongest weapon, armor, shield, and two gems to defeat the final boss.
It is defined in the line #770, however, because the original line #720 make it jump to the line #780, the line #770 is not reflected at all.
This means that you can win the final boss unconditionally. So you should correct the line #720, but here is a new problem.
In the condition (the line #770) that prevents you from fighting the final boss properly, it says "IT<>7", which is probably a mistake.
The variable "IT" means what items you are currently carrying.
The value of "IT" is reduced when exchanged for other weapon & gem, so it shall not be the highest value "7" at the time of fighting the final boss.
To be precise, you can get the "IT" value back to "7" if you go back and get the items again after exchanging them, but it changes nothing as the story and is a pointless act.
Other minor issues:
• Immediately after loading saved data, the player's direction may differ from the program's internal one.
  This is a bug caused by the variable C, which is used to calculate the player's direction, not being saved. (The lines #1160 and #1450.)
• Immediately after moving to another floor, the player is facing the door with the stairs and it asks if you want to open that door again.
  It must be strange, have you ever seen someone do that?
  The player's direction should change 180 degrees before entering and after exiting the stairwell, of course. (The lines #310, #490 and #510.)
• When the game is over due to poison gas or the general, the door sprite remains. The above fixes will also cause this problem anew.
  (The lines #310, #1360, #1370, #1595 and #1596. The original lines #730 & #780 had the same statement as the line #1596.)
• Immediately after defeat the general (fake one), you will be asked if you want to open that door again. (The line #1060.)
• The Japanese ending message corrupted. (The lines #1500, #1510 and #1540.)
If you modify the code as described above, each checksum will change as follows. (Use version 3.1 coded by the "MSX•FAN" team.)
/graces-checksum
Sorry if there are any typos, however, I have tested my data, including the ending, and had no problems.
For modern emulator users:
You don't have to hold CTRL key when turn on your MSX even if you load the English & Joystick version described below.

My suggestions for English version:

Modify the lines as below. (Sorry I ignored REM strings.)
graces-en-suggestions-part1
Then type following lines.
graces-en-suggestions-part2
If you modify the code as described above, each checksum will change as follows. (Use version 3.1 coded by the "MSX•FAN" team.)
graces-checksum-en-version
graces-en-screens
Fully tested!

...Personally, I don't think the words "LEV" and "ESCAPE" are common, though.
I would prefer "LV." for the former and "FLEE" for the latter.
"LEV" words are in the lines #820 and #1230. "ESCAPE" word is in the line #840.
If they bother you, go ahead and correct them.


Tips:

• MAP: See what is beyond each door by yourself.
graces-4levels-map
• This game is difficult at the beginning. It is safe to buy a spear first, save after killing one villager or thief, and repeat.
• After you get a crystal, the Titan soldiers becomes weaker.
• You can talk to anyone except soldiers. If you cannot talk to them, it means you do not have the item to exchange.

Cheat:
It becomes much easier if you delete even one of ":A1=0:A2=0:A3=0" in the line #140 because you won't lose weapon/armor/shield once bought after you die.

Joystick support:

"STICK(0)" is found in the line #330.
"STRIG(0)" is found in the lines #340 and #1140. The quickest way is to simply replace each "0" with "1".
In addition, type the following!!
graces-joystick
T1: Trigger 1,   T2: Trigger 2,   U: D-pad up,   R: D-pad right,   D: D-pad down,   L: D-pad left.

For Amiga CD32+FDD users:

AmiMSX cannot enlarge sprites so that it causes several graphical issues. Modify following lines.
graces-amimsx


Zo no Kuni no Fushigi na Koto

Author:
V914AKSTN
Release:
"Program Pochette" Nov. 1986 Issue
Program length:
4 screens
Japanese title name:
"象の国の不思議なこと"
Return: Restart the game after the game is over.

For disk users:

zouno-graphical-glitch
A minor graphical glitch occurs after restarting the current level even once.
This is because Disk Basic always writes other data to F1AFH, F1B0H, F1B1H, and F1B5H.
To prevent this, modify the line #10 as below.
zouno-line10
If you modify the code as described above, each checksum will change as follows. (Use version 3.1 coded by the "MSX•FAN" team.)
zouno-checksum
Sorry if there are any typos, however, I have tested my data, including the ending, and had no problems.
This game is originally for tape. The 1st disk's work area will be destroyed after RUN the program, so do not save or load file(s) once you RUN this program.
Turn off your MSX once if you want to modify the program further.

Joystick support:

"STICK(0)" is found in the line #90.
"STRIG(0)" is found in the line #100. The quickest way is to simply replace each "0" with "1".
In addition, it would be better if you modify the code as below.
zouno-joystick
zouno-screen Now you don't have to press Return key anymore!


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