Walkthrough the Fire & Flames, with Breath of Fire II (Retranslation)!

[Fionordequester]

Sten & Trubo launch their counter-offensive, and uncover Spuke's diabolical plan! Can they her?! Find out, today!



Part 17: Breath of Fire II Walkthrough—Pincer Attack! (Highfort 2/2; Shupkay)

STEN & KANJI ART BY: 「せいはち」(The unaltered version is in his art gallery!)
せいはち's ART GALLERY: https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/3498832
Special thanks for giving me permission to use it!
[Pixiv is basically the Japanese version of Deviant Art]

BACKGROUND & OFFICIAL ART SPLICING BY: Fionordequester

PLOT POINTS (Gone forever, if done before recruiting Beretta. She upgrades her wares for every 8 you get, up to a max of 24):
1. Breaking Nimufu's curse on Jean.
2. Recruiting Seso.
3. Acquire the dragon powers from the old man behind the waterfall.
4. Recruiting three residents and expanding Township.
5. Defeating Jailer.
6. Finishing the cooking contest in SimaFort.
7. Defeating Kuwadora.
8. Finding out about the Gate incident at the Rangers' Guild.
9. Defeating Munmar.
10. Defeat M.C.Tusk.
11. Acquiring the Famous Flute.

ENEMY AI:
Basilisks:
75% chance to Attack twice
Otherwise, 1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack Once (75%) or cast Def.Down/Weaken (25%)

Goo Champions (Weak to fire):
Run away with probability 3/8 (turn 1-4) or 100% (turn 5-7)
Otherwise, 1/64 defend, 63/64 attack

Death Bringers (Weak to fire & holy):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (93%) or cast Death (7%)

Pharaoh Mages (Weak to fire & holy):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, with probability 100% (turn 1), 5/8 (turn 2), 1/4 (turn 3), or 0 (turn 4+), cast spell
Otherwise Attack
Spell list: Frost (50%), Zombie Breath (25%), Iceblast (25%)

Raloobas/Larvae Crawlers (Weak to fire & holy):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Poison Breath with probability 17/256 (if over 50% HP), 33/256 (if over 25% and at most 50%), 65/256 (if over 12.5% and at most 25%), or 129/256 (if 12.5% HP or under)
Otherwise attack

Soulflickers (Weak to holy):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (25%) or cast a spell (75%)
Spell list: Steal HP (Sap/Drain) or steal AP (Drain/Leech Power)

MAGIC GATE AI (Absorbs elemental Damage... Except from dragon spells):
1/64 defend
Otherwise, Attack (75%) or cast a spell (25%)
Spell list: Cyclone (50%), Fire Breath (25%), or Typhoon (25%)

SPUKE AI (50% Counter-Attacks... But only if Katt or Rand Attacks. Weak to Holy, Resists All Else):

Phase 1 (Over 50% HP):
Turns 4n+1: Attack if Silenced, otherwise Silence the character with the highest current AP (can be affected by Dare)
Turns 4n+2: Attack if Silenced, otherwise Silence the character with the highest current AP (can be affected by Dare)
Turns 4n+3: Jolt (50%), Death (25%), Lightning (12.5%), or Curse (12.5%)
Turns 4n+4: Cure all ailments, if applicable. Otherwise, Silence the character with the highest current AP (can be affected by Dare)

Phase 2 (50% HP or less):
Turns 4n+1: Attack if Silenced, otherwise Leech Power from the character with the highest current AP (can be affected by Dare)
Turns 4n+2: Jolt (50%), Death (25%), Lightning (12.5%), or Curse (12.5%)
Turns 4n+3: Attack if Silenced, otherwise Leech Power from the character with the highest current AP (can be affected by Dare)
Turns 4n+4: Cure all ailments, if applicable. Otherwise, Leech Power from the character with the highest current AP (can be affected by Dare)

WHY DOES SPUKE ONLY COUNTER KATT & RAND?:
The game designers probably wanted her to gain a 50% Counter-Attack rate, once she dropped to half HP or lower. But, the programmer accidentally typed $001F, instead of $0F1F—so instead, she checks the Animation Data of whoever attacks her.

THE ROUTE:
Highland:
Bridge Room: Re-equip the party and use Auto
—Goo Champion: Jolt
—Pharaoh Mages: x1 Fire Spice + Melee
—x2 Deathbringers or Larva Crawlers: x2 Fireblasts while Ryu & Rand Defend
—Cockatrices: x2 Fireblasts + Ryu & Rand melee
—CHANGE FORMATION: Ryu/Lin/Rand/Sten
Equip your party like so before Magic Gate:

--------------------------------
Ryu: Buster Sword, Buckler, Clothing, Bandana, x2 Courage Belts
Lin: Copper Baton, Wristband, Breath Armor, Bandana, x2 Courage Belts
Rand: Hack Claw, Iron Shield, Tanned Armor, Bronze Helm, x1 Courage Belt
Sten: Assassin, Iron Shield, Speed Suit, Bronze Helm, Speed Shoes + Holy Scarf
--------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------
VS. Magic Gate (1530 HP): Normal
Smack it upside the head while keeping everyone at full HP (Sten acts as healer). Use a Vitalizer or Hardtack if Typhoon is used
---------------------------------------------------------

Equip Solblade & Silver Knife right before...

---------------------------------------------------------
VS. Spuke (980 HP): Normal, 50% Counter-Attack rate on Rand & Lin
Turns 1-2: Ryu & Sten attack (Shupukay accidentally looks at the wrong byte)
Turn 3 (over 50% HP): Defend, then watch and see if Shupukay kills anyone with
Death. Rand revives them before finishing the fight, if so
Turn 3 (50% or under): Finish her; You just leapfrogged her only chance to attack!
---------------------------------------------------------

TRANSLATION MISHAPS:



Sten is completely unimpressed by the "drop you into a giant pit" trick.



She's "Shupkay" in the text boxes, but "Shupukay" in the actual fight.



The dashes are supposed to signify her elongating a word, but I don't think the English language uses them that way? Ryusui changed it to "Reeeeeeefresh" or something like that, in any case.

TRANSLATION BRILLIANCE:



Ok, THAT'S actually pretty funny! I actually prefer that to Ryusui's rendition, tbh :mmmhmm: .



Alright, so it's not exactly the same between the Official & Retranslation... But the imagery is there.