Japanese Playstation Game FAQ
yamato@iscandar.com
nick@nickflor.com _ |
nisk72@cs.com <_)I ____
copyright 2000 Nick Flor _/|_ / / /
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http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Harbor/3904/geoyamato.html
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CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
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This is my attempt to write an FAQ on the Japanese Sony Playstation game
Space Battle Ship Yamato 3 -
Part 1 Fan Disc / Tracks of Heros.
I do not know Japanese.
This faq is intended to help those who have imported the game, don't
know Japanese and are stuck. This faq best viewed with a fixed width font!
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0.0 - Contents
1.0 - What's new (updates)
2.0 - About the Game
3.0 - Menus and Buttons
3.1 - Options
3.2 - Buttons on Space Map Screen
3.3 - Yamato Menu - Crew positions and names
3.4 - PURPLE - Miscellaneous
3.5 - BLUE - Mechanic/Science post
3.6 - GREEN - Navigation
3.7 - YELLOW - Communications and Radar
3.7a - Yamato communications
3.7c - Blacktiger communications
3.8 - RED - Weapons and Tactical
4.0 - Strategies
4.1 - Transferring Posts
5.0 - Fleet Ship Directory - Battle controls
5.1 - Yamato
5.1a - Movement
5.1b - Weapons
5.1c - Items
5.2 - Black Tiger Fighters
5.2a - Targeting
5.2b - Items
5.2c - Escape
17.0 - Yamato 1 Save Index
18.0 - Yamato 2 Save Index
19.0 - Misc.
19.1 - When was the game released?
19.2 - Where can I get a copy in the U.S.?
19.3 - Is there an official website?
20.0 - FAQ Credits
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1.0 - what's new (updates)
11-03-00 This page was born.
05-08-00 This faq is born! as the Yamato 2 FAQ and then most of it
was copied to begin this FAQ
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2.0 - About the Game
This is not primarily a game, it is a Fan Disc. The game is a "mini
game". There are 3 other purposes to this disc besides the game.
When you load the game, there are no new CGI movies. You go directly
to the disc menu screen and are given 4 choices.
Choice 1 allows you to select and watch scenes from the first Yamato
playstation game. Selecting this gives you a menu of selections. The
first choice will roll all the scenes in a movie format, takes more than
an hour to watch. Not only are the CGI movies shown, but the 3D rendered
parts with dialog also.
Choice 2 allows you to view the design art and posters. Controls are
in enlish and easy to use.
Choice 3 allows you to download save files to your memory card to use
with the first and the second Yamato games. All the descriptions are
in Japanese, I will attempt to try them all and list where they go.
Choice 4 is the Game.
The mini game part of this disc is an new and original story line which
takes place as a
side story during the first series, the mission to Iscandar.
Captain Avatar is back, and the main purpose for the game section of
this disc is to bring all the enemies and crew back from the first
game and show them off in this improved gaming engine, which I think
is much better than the first game. So you get to fly the Black Tiger
original fighters instead of Black Fighters, you fight Gamilon ships
instead of Comet Empire ships. A new alien character Jura is introduced.
I do not believe that any new CGI movies were created for this game.
The menus and game play are identical to the second Yamato game, from
which most of this FAQ was copied.
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3.0 - Menus and Buttons
3.1 - Options
These are in English, you can turn the vibration on or off, you can
turn the "voice over" on or off, you can turn the animation on or off,
and you can choose to restore the default settings.
3.2 - Buttons on the Space Map Screen
This is the screen that is split into hexagonal sectors.
A yellow arrow acts as your cursor. You can move it around the screen
with the "d" pad.
"O" - Open Yamato Menu when cursor is over Yamato,
If within the Yamato firing line (orange areas) Yamato will blast
the sector with shock cannons, if on out of range area it does
nothing. The energy bar will decrease with each blast and then
slowly charge again.
"triangle" - brings up mission window (describes goals I guess)
"square" - brings up ship data, description and hit point bar. Pressing
left or right on the "d" pad will cycle through multiple ships
within that sector.
"X" - Brings the cursor back over Yamato
3.3 - Yamato Menu - Crew positions and names
On this menu you have a wheel of 5 colored characters. Pressing left
or right on the "d" pad will rotate the colors and the Crew box on the
right will change according to that color's crew assignments.
I will list the names of the crew displayed on screen and will follow
them in parenthesis by their Star Blazers name and position.
GREEN - Navigation
CREW - Shima (Mark Venture, Pilot)
- Ohta (Eager, navigation and radar)
BLUE - Mechanic/Science post
CREW - Sanada (Sandor, Repairs)
PURPLE - Miscellaneous
CREW - Tokusawa (Orion, Engineering)
- Sado (Dr. Sane, Doctor)
- Analyzer (IQ-9, Load/Save/Options)
YELLOW - Communications and Radar
CREW - Aihara (Homer, Communications and Radar)
- Yuki (Nova, Communications and Radar)
RED - Weapons and Tactical
CREW - Kodai (Derek Wildstar, Main Guns and Wave Gun)
- Nanbu (Dash, Gunnery)
- Katou (Conroy, Black Tiger Squadron 1 Leader)
- Yamamoto (Hardy, Black Tiger Squadron 2 Leader)
When you rotate to a color, press "O" to activate it, and "X" to cancel
out of the selection. Here are the menu functions of each station:
3.4 - PURPLE - Miscellaneous
- Box 1 - Raise engine output to 120%, this is
necessary in order to warp.
- Box 2 - Allow a day to pass by. Purpose = ?, to allow time
for repairs? I don't know yet...
- Box 3 - A drop down box appears, move the "d" pad up or down
to highlight a character.
Tokusawa - transfer his post from bridge to engine room
and back.
Sado - transfer his post from his quarters to operating room
and back
*Knox* - locked for the time being
Analyzer - 3 options appear: the first loads a game, the
second saves a game, and the third brings up the options
screen.
3.5 - BLUE - Mechanic/Science post
- Box 1 - brings up a drop down menu
- selection 1 - repair the Yamato. This brings up a diagram
of the Yamato, damage areas will flash. Scroll down the
list and a small indicator will show the area you are looking
at and give what % it is damaged. You may repair only a five
sections at a time, press "triangle" while over the section
to select it for repair.
- selection 2 - repair the Black Tigers.
- Box 2 - this brings up the limited weapons and items.
-"triangle" can select the item to replace, you then use
the "d-pad" to enter the number you want replaced
-you can only replace 4 items at a time.
- the first 3 are missles from different launchers.
- the last 2 are the raise hp/damage in battle items.
- they can only be replaced if Sanada is at his second
position.
- Box 3 - transfer postitions.
3.6 - GREEN - Navigation
- Box 1 - activates moving the ship
- select a direction by using the d-pad
- "triangle" will move the ship one sector forward
in the direction of the arrow, your ship will
stop in the sector with the last "dot" and
face the direction that the arrow is facing
- "X" will cancel your last "triangle" input
- "square" will accept your selection and the ship
will begin its movement.
- Box 2 - This is for warping across many sectors, in a straight
line in one movement, the ships energy must be at
120% (see PURPLE)
- Box 3 - Characters transfer posts
3.7 - YELLOW - Communications and Radar
- Box 1 - communication with Black tigers and other ships in
your command. The sub-menus will depend on the
ship you select to communicate with. Select this
then choose a unit using the d-pad or the L1 or
R1 buttons to rotate through your options.
See sections 3.7a thru 3.7c for detailed, ship
specific commands.
- Box 2 - Brings up the large space map
- Box 3 - Transfer crew positions
3.7a - Yamato communications
- When you choose box one and then select Yamato you are given
3 options (some are inactive based on the situation)
-1 - (so far has been inactive)
-2 - Order ship to follow - choose this
option, then choose a fleet ship. The ship you choose
will fly to the sector behind Yamato and begin to
follow Yamato, it will also join the attack on an
enemy on the main map by firing shock cannons like
the Yamato.
-3 - SOS - apparently when your ship is down to a certain %
damage you can sound an SOS call, what this does I
don't know yet.
3.7c - Black tigers communications
- choose the yellow crew section, and the left most box, then select
a Black Tiger unit, there will be 3 levels of commands available.
-FIRST - selection is for Black Tiger patrol orders.
-1 - patrol to the right of Yamato's current
heading
-2 - patrol to the left of Yamato's current
heading
-3 - patrol directly ahead of Yamato's current
heading
-4 - patrol directly opposite of Yamato's
current heading
-5 - patrol a sector you choose, which will
be marked by a "P"
- I know a limited amount of Japanese words
so I can give you some hints in
whether your commands are accepted or
not. If you hear "Yo ki" as the first
response from Katou or Yamamoto, you
know they are going to do it.
If you hear "Chota matee" from Katou,
that means "wait a minute" roughly, and
he cannot carry out the command for some
reason. Yamamoto will say "Oi"
- SECOND selection is only active when Aihara is at his
second station.(some are inactive based on the situation)
- 1 - go directly to a sector you choose and
stay there
- 2 - ?
- 3 - attack an enemy ship in a sector you
select
- 4 - ?
- 5 - ?
- THIRD selection is return squadron to ship
3.8 - RED - Weapons and Tactical
- Box 1 - Select weapon system for sector map firing
This is a tough menu to interpret, the only difference I can
see between the choices are the sectors of their range.
The firing on enemies seems to be the same shock cannon
animation. Based on the ranges and choices I conclude that
the choices are based on the shock cannon turrets. Perhaps
the 3 large/long range turrets are more damaging and use more
energy than the 2 small ones. And perhaps you are give the
option of choice based on what damage each turret has taken
from battle, so if one is in bad shape you should choose
another. These are just guesses on my part, I am not certain.
So here follows my educated guess on the sub menu choices:
Sub options -
-1 - Front gun turret - firing range ahead 3 sector arc
-2 - 2nd gun turret - firing range ahead 3 sector arc
-3 - Rear gun turret - firing range behind 3 sector arc
-4 - Small front gun turret - firing range ahead 2
sector arc
-5 - Small rear gun turret - firing range behind 2
sector arc
-6 - blitz fire, this can only be used when the ship
is at 100% energy. When chosen the Yamato blasts
at any targets in it's range until the energy bar
is depleted. It seems to be a good blitz attack
but the enemy isn't damage enough in my opinion and
it leaves your energy bar dry.
- Box 2 - Wave Motion Gun
This fires the Yamato Wave Cannon in a straight line in any
of 6 directions for 5 sectors. Any enemies in those sectors
will be completely destroyed. You only have 3 Wave Cannon
uses per mission (or sector map, I'm not sure) marked by
dots in boxes in front of the Yamato HP bar.
- Box 3 - Transfer positions and launch Black Tigers
- Kodai has 2 options (1- switch post, 2- launch in fighter)
When you pick launch in fighter you have 2 more options
(1- launch alone in the Cosmo Zero, Kodai's personal
fighter, or 2- launch with BlackSquadron 3 in a
regular fighter)
- Nanbu can only switch stations
- Katou - Launch Black Tiger unit 1 (the engine plates are
orange on the main map)
- Yamamoto - Launch Black Tiger unit 2 (the engine plates
are yellow on the main map)
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4.0 - Strategies
4.1 - Transferring Posts
From the Yamato menu, the right most option allows you to move most
crew members to alternate positions. When an enemy ship enters the same
sector as the Yamato you are sometimes asked if you want to move crew
around.
A crew members "basic position" seems to be the safest place for
the crew member. When you move the crew members to alternate positions
the crew member seems to take a more active roll and also begins to have
his or her hit point bar depleted. When move the crew to their alternate
positions for a battle and non battle, that position becomes better.
For example:
Navigation - Yamato moves much faster.
Gunnery - Yamato fires more frequently, and does more damage.
Engine room - Yamato's energy recharges faster.
Some crew members have new options available when they move to
alternate positions.
Aihara for one, has greater control over the Cosmo
tigers and fleet ships.
Each character looses hitpoints while at the secondary post.
Crew members will regain lost hit points over time when moved back to
the "basic position". If a crew members hit points goes to zero, the
crew member is moved back to the "basic position" and his special commands
cannot be used, and he cannot be transfered until his points have been
fully regenerated.
5.1 - Yamato
When an enemy ship enters the same
sector as the Yamato you are sometimes asked if you want to move crew
around. "Yes" will allow you to move the crew. After you finish "yes"
will allow you to join the battle. From experimentation, it seems that
if you move the characters to their alternate positions for a battle the
Yamato moves faster, fires more frequently, and does more damage in
battle. I cannot garrantee that this is what happens, but from
observation it seems to be the case.
There are 2 gauges in the lower right hand corner, hit points
and energy. Energy determines the rate of fire of your weapons, and
is slowly recharged in battle. Hit points show you ships amount of
damage your ship has taken, it can only be recharged outside of battle
or by items.
5.1a - Movement
"triangle" will bring up the movement map, you can move the ship
any direction using the "d-pad" and up or down using the "R1" and "R2"
buttons. If you move the cursor to an enemy target a triangle will
apear over the enemy and spin, this means you will follow the enemy
until it is destoyed (you can still use the "R" buttons to station
your ship above or below the enemy while chasing them.
5.1b - Weapons
"O" will bring up the weapons display. You can cycle through
the weapons using the "d-pad" and select upto 4 weapons to automaticaly
fire in battle. The weapon selected will be identified by a flashing
"x" in a white circle. The box to the lower left will display 1. the
available amo for the weapon, 2. the % damage the weapon has taken, and
3. something else ?
Selections:
-1 - Main Gun Turret 1 - forward and up range
-2 - Main Gun Turret 2 - forward and up range
-3 - Main Gun Turret 3 - rear and up range
-4 - Front Small Gun Turret - forward and up range
-5 - Rear Small Gun Turret - rear and up range
-6 - Anti aircraft/Missle guns - rapid fire close range guns
for destroying incoming fighters and missles
-7 - Homing Torpedos - fire from front - range forward (amo = 20)
-8 - Homing Torpedos - fire from rear - range rear (amo = 20)
-9 - Homing Smoke Stack Missles - fire up - range up (amo = 20)
-10 - Homing Keel Missles - fire down - range down (amo = 20)
5.1c - Items
"square" will bring up items, in the begining there are only 2.
-1 - Raise HP 50%, this is like a health item, it restores damage
done to the ship
-2 - Raise Energy 50%, this will refuel your energy gauge
These items are limited in number, but can be recharged by Sanada
(outside of battle) by using Box 2 of the BLUE - Maintainence
main menu selection.
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5.2 - Black Tigers
These are the fighter planes you launch from the Yamato, they fly
in sets of 5 fighters. The fighters are controlled by the
Yellow/Communications menu selection from the main Yamato menu.
When the fighters enter battle there are new options to control the craft.
5.2a - Targeting
Pressing "trinagle" will bring up the map screen, it displays
positions of fighters and the enemy. Press "O" to bring up the list of
fighters, use the "triangle" to select one or more ships, then press "O"
to choose a target for the ships you selected. You can do this to focus
your fighters on a single enemy or to split them up. You can change your
choices anytime during the battle. This is the only way to control the
fighters, they will automaticly make passes at the enemy targeted. You
can only watch from the perspective of fighter one. Should fighter one
be destroyed battle will end and the squadron will be back at Yamato until
it can be repaired.
5.2b - Items
In the upper right hand corner of the screen there is a box showing
items that you have. In the begining of the game you will only have one,
rockets, of which you have unlimited supply as displayed directly under
the picture of the item. As you obtain more items you can select them by
using the "L1" and "R1" buttons to cycle through them.
The "square" button activates the item.
Rockets - when activated, this item brings up crosshairs which you aim
as enemies come into range bring the crosshairs over them and
use the "O" button to fire them. You can fire upto 3 at a time
in rapid succession before they need to recharge.
5.2c - Escape
Should battle be too tough you can escape, press "X" and select the
sector you wish to withdraw too. "E" will apear in any sectors occupied
by enemy forces.
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17.0 - Yamato 1 Save Game Index
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18.0 - Yamato 2 Save Game Index
I would imagine the Bandai would put save files on this disc
that, to each point in the game, have every upgrade and extra.
There are 2 endings. I haven't gotten there yet, but I would
also imagine one is based on the 2nd Yamato Movie ending, and
one based on the 2nd Yamato TV series ending. As you get further
in the list, saves are either ending one or TV ending as indicated
by "TV" at the end of their description.
These save files can be found saved, via dex drive, for download
at http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/harbor/3904/geoyamato.html
1 - Day 1/Save Count 1/Disc 1
Begin escape from Earth, through battle
satellites, 20 min time limit starts
2 - Day 1/Save Count 2/Disc 1
Second leg of escape through satellites
no time limit,
- Upgrades : missles upto 30 each type
3 - Day 2/Save Count 3/Disc 1
Katou/Conroy and Hardy/Yamamot Join the crew, more battle
satellites
4 - Day 3/Save Count 4/Disc 1
Neptune area, warp lecture given, Comet Empire fighters
arrive
5 - Day 6/Save Count 6/Disc 1
Leaving the Solar System, heading towards Haydes star system,
passing Procyon.
Message from Trelana/Theresa.
- Joined by EDF Cruiser to control also.
- Upgrades : Cosmo Zero, and Cosmo Tiger 3rd squadron available
for Wildstar/Kodai to transfer to.
Roister/Arakome activated, Knox activated(can't do anything
on ship)
6 - Day 15/Save Count 7/Disc 1
Warp to Polux
Wave Motion blasting satellite section, strategy is needed in
this section.
- EDF ship still following
- Upgrades : missles upto 40 each type
battle energy boost and repair upto 20 each
new item 30 Hyper Missles for Cosmo Tigers
7 - Day 19/Save Count 10/Disc 1
Comet Empire carriers and bombers attack,
Star in upper left, believe to be Castor
- EDF ship still following
- Upgrades : missles upto 50 each type
8 - Day 26/Save Count 12/Disc 1
Warp error, ship comes out in a space current area.
- EDF ship still following.
- Upgrades : missles upto 50 each type
9 - - Day 37/Save Count 14/Disc 1
System with Star on lower right, space currents and asteroids
present. Carriers appear and fire missles.
- EDF ship is now gone
- Upgrades : Hyper missles upto 45
5 new "Beacon" added for Cosmo Tigers
Seemless fighter available for Wildstar/Kodai to
fly.
10 - Day 45/Save Count 18/Disc 1
Comet Empire officer introduced. Warping from Castor/Polux to
twin star system with flaming fireball space currents
- Upgrades : "Beacon" upto 10
5 new "Boosters" added for Cosmo Tigers
5 new "Blue Star Chaf" added for Yamato
1 new Asteroid Ring added for Yamato
11 - Day 53/Save Count 27/Disc 1
Sector of the Space Subs, and section where crew is all
knocked out, and IQ-9 has to fend off the enemy until
they revive
- Upgrades : 5 new "3 barbed screen flash missles" for fighters
12 - Day 61/Save Count 41/Disc 2
Haydes Star Cluster - Telezart Star System
- Upgrades : 5 new "Yellow Flash" added for Yamato
13 - Day 74/Save Count 47/Disc 2
Deslock Returns, looks like the same Telezart system
- Upgrades : 5 new "Wave Energy Multipliers" for Yamato
"3 Barb Missles" upto 20
14 - Day 89/Save Count 51/Disc 2
Heading home from Telezart. Warp into a sector with an
EDF Cruiser under attack, you must rescue them.
- Upgrades : 5 new "Green Flash" for Yamato
"Yellow Flash" upto 20
15 - Day 82/Save Count 49/Disc
Same as 14 - alternate TV ending
16 - Day 90/Save Count 53/Disc 2
Knox heads to Planet Bromis/Planet 11 to say goodbye
to his fallen soldiers. Then must make it back to
Yamato avoiding an enemy attack.
- EDF Cruiser following
17 - Day 82/Save Count 50/Disc 2
Same as 16 - alternate TV ending
18 - Day 91/Save Count 54/Disc 2
Yuki/Nova picks up something on radar. You then
enter an asteroid sector with a countdown clock
counting down 24 minutes
- EDF Cruiser is now gone
19 - Day 83/Save Count 51/Disc 2
Same as 18 - alternate TV ending
20 - Day 91/Save Count 55/Disc 2
Andromeda and the fleet are at Saturn.
Yamato and an EDF Battleship enter an asteroid sector
- EDF Battleship follows
- Upgrades - Black Cosmo Zero can now be piloted by
Katou/Conroy
21 - Day 84/Save Count 52/Disc 2
Same as 20 - alternate TV ending
22 - Day 92/Save Count 58/Disc 2
Yamato and EDF Battleship pursued by Comet Empire fleet
EDF fleet waiting in lower left sector
- EDF Battleship follows
23 - Day 84/Save Count 53/Disc 2
Same as 22 - alternate TV ending
24 - Day 92/Save Count 62/Disc 2
Yamato is Damaged! Alone in a sector with one planet, enemy ships.
- EDF Battleship gone
- Upgrades : Missles upto 60
25 - Day 85/Save Count 54/Disc 2
Same as 24 - alternate TV ending
26 - Day 99/Save Count 67/Disc 3
Crew analyses "Neutrino Vortex" and "Core of White Comet"
and attacks. Same sector as a giant White Comet.
- Upgrades : Hyper missle upto 65
27 - Day 90/Save Count 56/Disc 3
Same as 26 - alternate TV ending
28 - Day 100/Save Count 69/Disc 3
THE FINAL BATTLE AND ENDING
Zordar continues to attack in his ship.
Battle screen is entered directly with one ship.
- Upgrades - "Green Flash" upto 10
29 - Day 91/Save Count 58/Disc 3
THE FINAL BATTLE AND ENDING TV
Zordar fights on. Invidia in General Gorse escape.
Deslock's ship returns!
30 - Day 6/Save Count 5/Disc 1
Away party to ruined base
31 - Day 26/Save Count 11/Disc 1
Away party to base, 5 minute time limit
32 - Day 89/Save Count 50/Disc 2
Away party to Telezart, tank battle
33 - Day 82/Save Count 48/Disc 2
Same as 32 - alternate TV ending
34 - Day 98/Save Count 64/Disc 2
Away party to board Deslock's ship
35 - Day 90/Save Count 55/Disc 2
Same as 34 - alternate TV ending
36 - Day 100/Save Count 68/Disc 3
Away party to enter Comet Empire
37 - Day 91/Save Count 57/Disc 3
Same as 36 - alternate TV ending
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19.0 - Misc.
19.1 - When was the game released?
September 28, 2000.
19.2 - Where can I get a copy in the U.S.?
I got my game at http://www.buyrite1.com.
I bought it for $40 on October 27th, and I had it by Nov. 1st.
19.3 - Is there an official website?
No one actually asked this question, but here is the site
with info on the game (in Japanese) http://yamato.channel.or.jp
and http://yamato.channel.or.jp/ps/fandisk.html
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20.0 - Credits
Thanks to "Tony J. Case, Super Genius"(tonyc@isomedia.com) for his
wonderful gratuitous information on the game's Japanese website,
keeping me up to date with the release date, and finding a place
to pre-order the game. Thank you Super Genius, you are truly
a genius!!!
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THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.
I'll try to get more info to you asap!
thanks
Nick Flor, nisk72@cs.com
The most recent version of this faq can be found at
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Harbor/3904/yam3play.txt
For great Star Blazers and Yamato info visit my site:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Harbor/3904/geoyamato.html
Please mail me anything you have discovered, or with anything I have
done wrong!
