Welcome to holidaygirl1225's media theories and random stuff blog!
I was a bit reluctant to continue playing the beta build of Dragon Blazers after today... but I decided to go through with it anyway. Hopefully curiosity doesn't kill the cat! XP
Before I went on to chapter 2, though... I decided to load up my chapter 1 save again because of how abruptly the game cut out. (for those not up to speed, you should read my first post on the Dragon Blazers beta build!)
After getting past the loading screen, the game played a loud beep and crashed. (i swear i didn't fall out of my chair...)
Yeah...... so I didn't bother to check my chapter 1 save again. Instead, I just loaded up chapter 2 using my chapter 1 save.
Everything prooceded as normal, Scarf finally returned which was nice. (for those that don't remember, when I reached the max level, he had mysteriously vanished in chapter 1. but now he's back like nothing ever happened! also, yes, he had his fire magic back XP)
Big Dragon Blazers fans understand the next sequence of events. You arrive on Paradise Island, a tropical getaway that surrounds Lovers Peak, a huge volcano that you climb near the end of the chapter.
When you make it to the island, the residents usually usher you into their homes and explain that the evil Lava Qyeen is tearing down the rainforest with her army of goblins and lizards. So, yeah... none of that happens. It wasn't really a surprise since chapter 1 didn't have any cutscenes, but for this chapter in particular, it's definitely important they added in all that context, otherwise it'd be impossible for a new player to know where to go! XD
Luckily for you guys, I'm a Dragon Blazers expert, so I navigated the forest easily XP. (and yes, i was killing enemies along the way. it seemed like the only was to progress in chapter 1, so i assume this was just how the beta was?? it's also interesting to note that my level was reset to 1)
Once you make it to the other end of the rainforest, incomes the coolest part of chapter 2! There's a split path you can take... and it's actually still here in the beta! With cutscenes and all! So, obviously, I took the straight path instead of the left path, because this way you get to be the one to recruit White Cloak.
The only downside of the straight path is that you have to take this stupidly long raft ride to another island, which unfortunately was also still in the beta. I think it was at this point in the build where things were still super under developed? The north island was this weird blue hue instead of the normal sandy color. Tiles were scattered around for seemingly no rhyme or reason.
And... wow I could've never guessed what would happen next.
A huge blue door stood. It had the Delta Rune symbol on it and all... it was the exact same as in some screenshots from that expo! Dragon Blazer theorists contemplated for years what it'd be used for... and I guessed I was about to find out!
When I walked up, the game said "The Ice Key was used"
So, yeah, I assume the beta build of Dragon Blazers MADE you defeat enemies, instead of being able to spare them. (i really don't think the series would've ended up so popular had it never added sparing... so it was a really good change! XP)
Anyways... it takes a minute to load, but... it's really really worth it. It's just like an uncomplete version of the Ice Palace from Dragon Blazers II! Only without all the puzzles, and instead, a ton of enemies to defeat. After clearing out most of the first area, I headed up and to the right. Honestly, I was kind of disappointed at this point that White Cloak hadn't shown up, but almost as if on cue, she appears in the furthest room in the north east.
Unfortunately, she doesn't have any dialogue, but, unlike Scarf, she actually has combat abilities in this beta! Aiming is a little tough... it was super buggy, making you stand behind her and slash to use her ice magic. It flies out exactly as you think it would, going forward super fast. The ice magic took more hits to kill enemies, but it was worth it since you don't have to get up close to defeat them. (an interesting note is that White Cloak levels up with you!! Enemies take less hits from her to become frozen after each level.)
After a while of running around... I eventually ran into... the Mailman? Yeah, again. He even started moving! With movement sprites I don't think have been seen anywhere else... he walked into me, and then after, vanished. The game said. "You got the SpikeRing"
This item didn't exist in the full release build of Dragon Blazers, so I was pretty excited to check out what it did.
I think I accidentally took out every enemy before talking to him, though, since I couldn't find any around the palace. Luckily, though, when I headed back to the entrance, a new enemy appeared. It was a giant blue bird, which flew back and forth, blocking the exit.
I decided to try out the SpikeRing by using White Cloaks ice magic. (rings only equip to white cloak, so i assumed it would effect her attacks.)
I think I was a bit tired of playing by this point, since I couldn't seem to get the right angle to have her use her magic. Seriously! I think it took me about 6 hits for her to finally use the magic XP.
Anyways, I was finally able to exit the Ice Palace-is what I thought, but... when I walked out the exit, it wrapped around into this other weird part of the palace? There was a long bridge, until... a larger blue door stood. The doorframe of it was a deep red, with horns at the top. Nothing like we've ever seen in any beta screenshot ever!
When I walked up, the game said "Ice Key was used"
But nothing happened.
Less than a second later the game said "She was used up"
White Cloak vanished.
The door opened.
I walked into the new room. It was all black. Couldn't see anything. After enough walking up, some dialogue played out.
"Are you happy holidaygirl1225?"
It didn't actually say holidaygirl1225. It said my real name. The rest of it? I don't really want to write down here.
I'm not sure if I'm gonna keep playing this beta build anymore.