I'm going to write a new guide for this game

[Lunar]

There's only 1 guide for the SFC version of Mask of the Sun that I know of, and it's of very poor quality and hasn't been updated in over a decade. It's okay for the first half but the second half is mostly either "I forget where to go in this dungeon so figure it out" or "This item is in here but it's more fun if you find it yourself"

If I wanted to find the item myself I would not be on GameFAQs looking for where to find it.

That's why I've taken the initiative to write one of my own; one that's more thorough and hopefully more helpful as well. It's also my first full-blown walkthrough, so any general tips would be appreciated!

[SkyeWelse]

Good luck to you. That last dungeon is going to be brutal to write a guide for I think! I got so lost in that place. : )

I've got a Ys IV Dawn of Ys guidebook with maps and such if you think you may need it. I can scan copies of the maps and such in there sometime.

-Thomas

[Lunar]

The maps would be helpful! Thank you so much

And yeah the Silver Temple/Illis Tower is why I'm writing my own guide in the first place. That was the biggest offender of 'Oh I forget where to go so figure it out!'

I'm moving back down to school in 2 days so I'm busy packing right now but once I'm all settled in I'll be working on it alot more. Your help is appreciated

[Red Hairdo]

lol xD

You know, the person who wrote that guide is a member here. xD A regular, even. And someone dear to everyone here.

Anyway, I didn't read that guide, but I know this: MotS doesn't hold any obscure secrets like both DoY and PS2's - a new theory - do.
About the whole Ancient City in MotS, you can always ask around the forums for help. I know that place from the palm of my hand, in a way.

I can already tell you that no matter how much you explore the Bronze Citadel/District or whatever it was called, you won't find anything.
In the Silver Citadel/District, you also won't find anything, except a Treasure Chest with a Herb in it, kind of in the beginning of that section, southeast.
The rest of the items you find in the Ancient City kind of will come to you. The Hero equipment and the last set of equipment, that is. As for regular items, they are "quest items" anyway, so you needn't worry as well.


*MASK OF THE SUN SPOILERS BELOW. STOP READING IF YOU DIDN'T PLAY IT. *





I think there are only two tricky parts in that City, and they don't concern items or anything collectable.
The first one is when you have to resurrect Lilia. After receiving that necklace from Leeza, you have to take Lilia to the Revival Chamber. It is located in either part B or C (I think it was C) of the Silver District (I can take a screenshot if you want): there are two "little houses" one beside the other, with their own entrances. Before you received the necklace, the one to the left was blocked with a door, but now it just won't be there. You just have to enter there and simply... go straight. xD There is only one path, and eventually you will get to the room.

The other tricky part is when you get to Iris Tower and have to use its mirrors: to activate them, you have to return to that place you resurrected Lilia, and press a switch in there.


I'm not sure if yet another FAQ/Walkthrough is necessary, but... there sure is no harm in making yet another one. I don't want to discourage, but I think I would try making one for another Ys game... Like Ys II Special.
Or maybe i.e. Ys I NES, which is also quite peculiar (if there isn't an english FAQ for it, that is.).
Etc..

[Lunar]

Aah, I meant no offense to the guide writer at all. I appreciate the effort that they put into the guide. Rather, I remember being lost in those areas for a decent while, and I don't think the section of the original guide was as thorough as it needed to be for me to navigate through those areas successfully, which is why I decided to head up this project.

Maybe instead of writing a full guide I could just rewrite some of those individual sections that I had trouble with? I haven't decided yet, but seeing as, like you said, a good part of the game is relatlvely straightforward, it might be best to do that instead of saturating the help section with something I didn't much need to write to begin with.

[Red Hairdo]

Yeah, that's an option.

You could also i.e. take a few screenshots to indicate the important stuff that isn't as linear, like that Resurrection Chamber part. It'll probably do the trick.

[Red Hairdo]

(Right Picture)
Heh, see that thing with a "28" ball on it? That's the "house to the left" I mentioned before, which takes you to the Resurrection Room.

(Left Picture)
Also, I didn't know that the "Iris Tower" was actually pronounced like "yrys Tower", if you know what I mean. I thought it was pronounced just like Luta Gemma's wife, who is called "Iris", whose name is pronounced as "Airis" or "Ah-yrys".

Heh.

That reminds me of "Eidol". xD lol

EDIT: Oh, also thanks for those, MP. Really neat.

EDIT2: Hm, that map isn't showing where to get the herb! XD
You have to go to the place indicated with "3". From there, just go down until you see those three doors down the screen. The chest is inside of one of those. (And I think two of them are connected to the same room, even.)

[Lunar]

Aah, those maps will work beautifully, thanks MP83! The other ones offered were from Dawn of Ys so this will work out better (Thank you so much though SkyeWelse )

Today's my move-in day so hopefully once I'm all settled in tonight or tomorrow afternoon i can break out the SNES, Notepad and these maps and get to work