Okay, now that we're done with the prologue, it's time to get to the main portion of the story. There are a lot of plot points just mentioned on the side in this episode, so this will be the biggest update yet. I'm still confused about most of the major plot points, that's why there will be a lot of questions and speculation. There also seem to be a lot of references to older SMT games, but since I finished so few of them, I probably missed most of those. Don't be mad if I don't recognize them. Also, since almost every sentence in most of the upcoming dialogues will be important, there will be large sets of screenshots.
Are you ready? Let's go!
The Soulless God was brought done in the last chapter. You can still see him in the background.
But that doesn't mean there can't be another one! Here we finally meet (possessed) Kaya again.
She acknowledges our victory....in this time period, but that doesn't mean there won't be other chances. In other time periods. I called her being a time traveler back in episode 6 (okay, it was a bit obvious then...). Glad I was right. I will get back to that specific scene of episode 6 later.
She also admits that her goal was to alter history. Not much more on why, but this at least means that she most likely comes from the future (not Kaya, the entity possessing her).
Something I didn't completely understand: Why does she have the Soulless God and what part exactly is the Soulless God? Also, why go through all the trouble reviving the Soulless God in this era, if she seemingly has another copy anyway.
Wait, I just remembered something. She actually disappeared in chapter 6 along with the EL 200 and was never mentioned again. Was this EL 200 really used for the satellite in the present or was that for some other time period?
Back to the real problem: We have to find a way to follow her!
Look closely. In the last two screenshots it's Gouto talking. He suggests using the Amatsu Kanagi we got in chapter 9. So that episode wasn't just a filler after all!
But first we need to recharge it. For that we need the power of friendship! This is so clichéd. Oh well, let's get it over with.
Found them all. Noone really has an idea what's going, but they believe in us anyway.
We need to get back to the bridge to perform the ritual. Now where will we end up?
It's the
Akarana Corridor. Let's find out what the Akarana Corridor actually is!
Basically it's a highway for time travelers. This seems to be some kind of normal travel option in the future, so we find a lot of other "people" here. And there's a lot of information in those conversations. I kinda rushed through, so I probably missed some of it. Looking back, it makes me kinda sad, most stuff here is very interesting. That's why we look at all the important conversations in detail for most of the rest of this post.
So basically there are two types of people here: Tourists and people that are lost. However you can just get here by accident.
Along the way we find these hourglass-like devices. They recall memories and in Raidou's case that means memories of the past boss fights. In other words, we have to repeat all past boss fights (except the one against Munakata) within this dungeon, Mega Man style. This was one of those moments when I wanted to punch the developers. I really hate when games do that.
Now this is important. Time travelers cannot take their bodies with them (except us, we're special, because we used the ritual). I guess this is why Mister Unknown had to possess Kaya to actually do something. This also opens speculation about who Gouto actually is, as far as I know the game never explicitly says it. But right before he gets on the rocket in episode 11, he says that he watched over every Raidou Kuzunoha since the second. So it's very probable that he's actually Raidou Kuzunoha the first. We will actually hear about Raidou I. a little bit more later on.
For non-native speakers the language in this dungeon gets a bit hard to understand. Can anyone tell me what exactly "to ice any roughage of official history" means in simpler words?
Huh? Is this about
this guy or is this some person you should know from another SMT game?
Next boss fight: It's the Red Cape from
episode 2.
Another boss fight: This time it's Rasputin from
episode 4.
It's reassuring to know that you can actually leave this dungeon if you wish. The fights here are not very easy and the encounter rate is extremly high.
This seems very important. The game plays in the time period "Taisho 20". Now I guess most people (like me) would brush that aside. Who really knows anything about Japanese history? In reality the
Taisho period only lasted 15 years, so there shouldn't be a "Taisho 20". Kaya even mentioned this in episode 6:
So basically the time period we live in, is considered an anomaly. It shouldn't even exist. I'm not sure if the game gives any hint about why this anomaly even happened. Anyone got more info on that?
This situation is also the trigger for another plot point:
Called it!
Boss fight: The two guys from
episode 5.
This is strange (and kinda hard to understand). He's obviously talking about the first Raidou. But if I understand this right, this means that all Raidous are not future relatives of the first Raidou but past relatives whose DNA he manipulated. This also means the first Raidou (and therefore Gouto) is from the future.
Ha! Now this I've seen before:
There are also puzzles in this dungeon. Basically you have to exit the screen in the given directions and you have to do it with your demon (in "Solo" mode).
Another boss: Hitokotonusi from
episode 7.
Another puzzle. Basically it's the same thing. Only this time you should only use the "Solo" mode for the very last direction.
The last hourglass. And here I noticed something actually happens when you "touch" it before you destroy it. Ahhh...all the scenes I missed *sob*. The description here sounds a lot like Nocturne. The boss fight is Mishaguji from
episode 8.
So, is this about Gouto, too? He also was a Templar? Wasn't it already complicated enough?
The final stretch. Here we meet the "dog" from episode 2(!) again. He wants to know about our dream we told him about. Phew. Good thing, I have this all posted in this thread:
If you get it right, you get teleported to a little bonus room with a lot of incenses and an ultra high encounter rate (for grinding, I guess). Also, you can heal here. Since it's right before the end anyway, there's no reason to care about the ridiculous fee anymore.
It's nice that they ask you.
Unlike Rasputin she doesn't seem to care about the time period between Taisho 15 and Taisho 20. It's only about what would happen from now on.
Wait, is this referencing something specific?
So she was banished from her own time? Maybe the Raidou that belonged to the Templars they talked about before was actually her? Wait, she's a Raidou? I guess I'm getting a little ahead of myself here. Let's fix that.
So, we're equal in regard to the Raidou title? That would suggest she's not the first Raidou. Okay, then it really has to be Gouto.
Boss fight, phase 1:
Basically, she runs around attacking everyone with her sword. But she is pretty fast, if you're not careful she can finish off your demon (and you) in a few seconds. Just use a demon that constantly heals and hit her with the sword until she gives up.
Bring it on!
Okay, now we fight a huge battleship. A sword should do the trick, right? What's up with that last scene by the way? She looks like a giant Kawashima.
Boss fight, phase 2:
This phase has two different......phases. First you have to beat normal demons while the ship fires its cannons at you. Just make sure you don't stand next to your demon. Block whenever you see or hear the cannon fire. When you kill six demons the ship will come closer and you can attack it directly (with your sword.....). You have to do all that three times.
It transforms again. Half of the battle is done now.
Boss fight, phase 3:
Okay, the most important thing first. At this point the battle theme change to
this awesome track!
You know have to attack the two hands. You can't reach the body for now.
I recommend using a Shouten for this phase. He is extremely strong and has a "Null Physical" special attack (if you leveled him up once) which is very useful because the enemy's strongest attack is a physical attack. Feels good to just ignore it. This is actually the easiest phase of the whole fight.
Haha, take that! And of course, it's not over yet, here comes
Boss fight, phase 4:
Now you can attack the body. Pound him as much as you can until he starts to use his special attack. When he does, return your demon immediately and run away. Wait until the those lava fields (or whatever) on the floor disappear and then summon your demon and start attacking again. I didn't really find an especially useful demon here, but a combination of Shouten and occasionally another demon to heal should do the trick. This is the final phase, so no reason to be shy with your items.
The god is defeated and Raidou (whatever his number is) is separated from Kaya. The ending:
...
Gouto is now a crow.
Took me 26 hours in total. But there's some time where I just left the game running (at least 1,5 hours in this chapter alone), so the actual playtime should be closer to 20 hours.
