Tales of Phantasia (SNES)

Tales of Phantasia
Developer: Wolf Team Publisher: Namco Platform: SNES Released in JP: December 15, 1995 This game has unused areas. This game has unused playable characters. This game has unused graphics. This game has a prerelease article This game has a Data Crystal page

The Super Famicom Tales of Phantasia is the first title in the long-running Tales series. In this case, the story is about a group of five adventurers (six in the PlayStation rerelease) trying to save the world from an environmentalist villain trying to save his own homeworld in a rather daftly villainous fashion.

The original game is notable for having the first music track in a Super Famicom game with actual audible in-game vocals (the intro track, The Dream Will Never Die).

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Prerelease Info

Unused Battle Graphics

Angels

Mint	Brambert	Morrison	Rhea Scarlet	Miguel?	Bush Baby?

These sprites are present around 0xC7E20, among the other battle sprites. From left to right: Mint, Brambert, Edward or Trinicus D. Morrison, Rhea Scarlet, what appears to be Cress' father Miguel, and possibly a bush baby. The presence of a bush baby is quite odd as they're used very little in-game and have no relevance to the story, suggesting this is a placeholder. Mint is also among these since there is no other character in the game who can cast "Raise Dead" on the main cast leaving her sprites unused.

Battle Arenas

There are three unused battle arenas, two of which are recolors of existing arenas.

Destroyed Castle

To see it, use Pro Action Replay code 7E03BF00. This arena appeared in an old magazine screenshot:

(Source: Unseen64)

White Forest

A white recolor of the forest battle arena. Most likely intended for the Unicorn's Forest, a white forest area that has no random encounter data. To see it, use PAR code 7E03BF0.

Pink Catacomb

A pink version of the catacomb. To see it, use PAR code 7E03BF0F.

Player Icons

PAR Code
Slot 2	7E6B9207
Slot 3	7E6C9207
Slot 4	7E6D9207
Slot 5	7E6E9207

Player icons for Brambert and Rhea, who never appear in battles due to being NPCs. Rhea's icon does not appear if added with the other heroes as the data is missing to draw her sprite.

Unused Hero Data

Brambert

Brambert is normally an NPC, but the early "Destroyed Castle" screenshot indicates that he was playable at one point. It's still possible to play as him with these PAR codes:

• 7E6B9205 (to slot 2)
• 7E6C9205 (to slot 3)
• 7E6D9205 (to slot 4)
• 7E6E9205 (to slot 5)

His class is "Unknown", he doesn't have a "best weapon", and he has no spells of his own. In-battle, he uses Claus's sprites and AI while his tactics reflect Arche's. (He uses the spells of the character he replaces due to data in RAM that dictates which spell list to load. This can be done for any playable character who uses magic, though it only works in battle.)

His class being "Unknown" and his tactics being the same as Arche's are interesting. The "Unknown" string follows suit exactly where his actual title would be, so this was probably a scrapped string for him. His tactics, though, are a copy of Arche's: They both share the exact same type set, but they are stored in completely different locations, so this means Brambert technically has his own tactic strings as well.

It's good to note as well that in the RAM that dictates what skills a character has learned, Brambert has his own area to determine which skills are learned. Rhea, however, does not.

To assign some spells to Brambert, use the below PAR codes (where "??" is 00 for no spells, 01 for Arche's, 02 for Mint's, or 03 for Claus's):

• 7E6B3C?? (to slot 1)
• 7E6C3C?? (to slot 2)
• 7E6D3C?? (to slot 3)
• 7E6E3C?? (to slot 4)

Brambert doesn't have a sprite for riding a Rhea-bird, so the game will crash when attempting to fly with him in the party.

Cress

Cress has unused AI for when you're not playing as him, which is absolutely impossible in this version. To have Cress function automatically, use PAR code 7E08A701.

The data indicates that this AI is used only in the introduction scene where Cress performs Tiger Teeth. Beyond this, he will perform basic attacks and try to keep his distance from the enemy at points. Not the best AI, but the fact it exists and is fully functional is noteworthy.

Another bit of unused data for Cress is while he's riding Pegasus. The game forcefully equips the Gungir and you're supposed to use the spear weapon throughout the entire aerial battles. However, sword data also exists while riding Pegasus as well! The sword has it's own attack effects from the spear AND it's own hit box data on top of that! Furthermore, there's also a weaponless variant of Cress that has it's own hit box data as well while riding Pegasus with a lack of attack effects.

Cress's Artes

There's a couple of unused/broken artes in Cress's list. Neither of them have a name but one of them is actually somewhat functional. The first one in the arte code for Cress shows it would've taken place after Shugouhoujin (Guardian Field) and before Akisazame (Sword Rain: Alpha). The other is in the middle of his space-time artes, after Kuukan Shouten'i (Chaos Lunge/Eternal Slasher) and before Jigenzan (Distortion Blade).

The first unused arte appears to be fully coded and functional but does not work due to a broken animation for Cress and also his weapon. It also loads the wrong arte text and voice. Altering the animation to one that is not broken will allow the attack to physically hit the enemy. It deals physical damage and is able to hit three times at max with each hit dealing 1.5x damage with the ability to critical hit. Each hit uses his "Slash/Slice" total. When the attack lands no sound is played. It doesn't appear any projectile was coded in this so it was a purely physical arte. The TP cost of this arte is listed as 4. The range from an enemy before the arte could be used is #$24 pixels (36 decimal) so it was a "short range" arte. The arte did not affect Cress's momentum or his jump height so he stayed in place when the arte was used.

The second unused arte has very little code to it. It does a basic check for Cress's status and tries to load another broken animation. After, it'll check for the animation timer being < #$0004. When the timer is > #$0004 it'll set an unknown bit that's commonly used in almost every single attack in the game. After, it'll check the animation timer to be #$0039 (57 decimal), if not, run a common end for Cress's artes. Otherwise, once it hits 39, it'll set the game to read 16-bit mode for bytes and immediately end. Absolutely no idea what this would've been used for as there was no other code to it for damaging, projectiles, range, knockback, sound or anything. Maybe a pre-cursor animation for something at best. The TP cost of this arte is listed as 18.

While not an unused arte, Kokuu Souhazan (Chaos Blade) has some unused code in it. Most of Cress's artes that are long range have code to force him to run back to his original coordinates that he ran from. Strangely enough, this same code exists in this arte and goes completely unused. This definitely hints that this arte was supposed to be a long range arte that Cress was supposed to run up to and use. Even if the arte is hacked into any range, it still will not do this action so it's 100% unused at this point.

Cress has a list of artes that must be mastered before specific artes can be used. (IE: Demon Fang and Swallow Dance to use Demonic Swallow Kick). However, there are artes that Cress has percentage values for but do not get used anywhere. These values are:

• 7E7156: (Tiger Blade)
• 7E7157: (Demon Fang)
• 7E7158: (Guardian Field - UNUSED)
• 7E7159: (BROKEN - UNUSED)
• 7E715A: (Sword Rain: Alpha)
• 7E715B: (Void Tempest - UNUSED)
• 7E715C: (Beast)
• 7E715D: (Hell Pyre - UNUSED)
• 7E715E: (Inspiration - UNUSED)
• 7E715F: (Focus - UNUSED)
• 7E7160: (Coil - UNUSED)
• 7E7161: (Rising Phoenix)
• 7E7162: (Swallow Dance)
• 7E7163: (Lightning Tiger Blade)
• 7E7164: (Light Spear)
• 7E7165: (Chaos Blade)
• 7E7166: (Eternal Slasher)
• 7E7167: (BROKEN - UNUSED)
• 7E7168: (Distortion Blade)

Introduction Characters

All of the characters viewed at the start of the game when Dhaos is being defeated all have some very basic stats set up. Most of them are the same overall, but they do have a maximum HP amount that you would normally not see unless viewed in their stats. This is set to give their HP the red appearance when it's low or when they're dead. Otherwise, most of their stats default to the same value across the board.

Character	Max HP	Current HP	Max TP	Current TP	Str.	Exp.	Wea- pon	Ar- mor	Shi- eld	Hel- met	Hand	Acce- ssory	Acce- ssory	Consti- tution	Agi- lity	Run	Accu- racy	Char. Byte	Level	Spell List	Current Status	NPC Status
Edward D. Morrison	2311	2311	435	435	50	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	A	0	0	0	8	1	0	0	0
Alan Albane	3413	1810	251	251	50	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	A	1	0	0	9	1	0	0	0
Carol Adenade	1572	765	312	312	50	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	A	0	0	0	A	1	0	0	0
Winona Pickford	3113	0	113	113	50	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	A	0	0	0	B	1	0	0	0

Unused Status Buff

By setting a value of 08 in RAM for any active party member at:

• 7E6AAA (Buffs and Debuffs #2) [PC #1]
• 7E6BAA (Buffs and Debuffs #2) [PC #2]
• 7E6CAA (Buffs and Debuffs #2) [PC #3]
• 7E6DAA (Buffs and Debuffs #2) [PC #4]

This will allow any active party member in battle to heal 5% HP about every 4.50 seconds. This effect directly mimics the "Holy Symbol" accessory which also will restore the same amount of HP. However, the difference here is that buffs and debuffs are specifically set for spells and nothing else. Accessory and item buffs are in completely separate RAM locations leaving this spell effect entirely unused.

Unused, Broken Items & Item Notes

Fly Symbol

This accessory is inaccessible and unused. This accessory is supposed to make the player immune to the "Chameleon" summon. Though, there are no enemies in the game who can use any of the summon spirits which makes this completely unnecessary. There is a value that does get set when this accessory is equipped, however, it's ineffective and does not work.

Demon Symbol

This accessory is inaccessible and unused. This accessory is supposed to make the player immune to the "Death Cloud" spell. Though, there are no enemies in the game who use this spell which makes this completely unnecessary. There is a value that does get set when this accessory is equipped, however, it's ineffective and does not work.

White Mist

This accessory can be obtained, equipped and sets a bit value of 02 at $7E:08C2. This item was supposed to make you run away from battles 30% faster. There is code associated that reads $7E:08C2 as 02 but this never happens due to the game wiping out the entire value as battle starts using it for other data, never applying the proper bit value back onto it.

Mist Rune

This accessory can be obtained, equipped and sets a bit value of 20 at $7E:08C2. This item was supposed to make you run away from battles 50% faster. There is code associated that reads $7E:08C2 as 20 but this never happens due to the game wiping out the entire value as battle starts using it for other data, never applying the proper bit value back onto it.

Verbena

While this herb item does NOT go unused, its behavior is a bit pointless in this version of Tales of Phantasia. Verbena increases the character's "Agility" stat permanently. However, Agility is specifically only used in battle but as a part of another formula for blocking. That formula being "Evasion + (Agility / 3)". Agility can only be upgraded via Verbena herbs or by leveling, which makes this item nearly pointless to have with the scarcity of it.

Agility is believed to be a main stat in which Evasion and Accuracy are based off of. While this is true for the PS1, GBA, PSP and iOS versions of Tales of Phantasia, for the Super Famicom version this is incorrect. Agility, Evasion and Accuracy each have their own base stat that gets increased only by leveling. Verbena herbs will increase Agility but they will NOT increase the Evasion or Accuracy base stat which makes those only possible to increase via leveling up. Though, Evasion and Accuracy can be at least increased more via items while Agility can't.

Silver Cape

This accessory has a 30% chance to negate fire damage. However, there is no bit setting for this when equipped and there's no code in battle to read this accessory either making this entirely broken. It's the weaker version of the "Princess Cape" which does the exact same thing, but has a 50% chance to negate fire damage instead of a 30% chance.

Unused World Map Time Period

The world map has three time periods: the past, the present, and the future. That said, there is an unused fourth world map time period, which lacks music and renders some locations inaccessible (such as Totus, Euclid, Midgard, Freezehill, etc.). Its appearance is the same as the future's, though Volt's Cave has been replaced with a lava stream.

Unused Dhaos Walking Animation

In-game, Dhaos is only seen facing forward, but the ROM contains sprites for him facing left, right, and away from the screen.

Unused Enemy Data

??? (Prologue Dhaos)

The version of Dhaos seen in the prologue can be encountered with PAR code 7E03C005. He has 10,000 HP and 1,000 MP. When struck, he attacks back and then goes into a normal stance that locks up due to the game not being able to play the required "INDIGNATION!" animation afterward.

He does not lose when his health is completely drained, and only a Chameleon can properly kill him. When beaten, he gives the player 1 Gald and 13 EXP.

Stalker

Going through the game's data, checking a few guides and such, it appears this enemy is missed quite frequently. It looks like it's spawn location on the overworld is in an incredibly odd place which might be why it's not noted. It's supposed to be up by Arlee in general but it appears the coordinates it should spawn in are completely busted.

As far as tests go, this was seemingly the only spot capable of spawning Nightstalkers. If you go further north to where the land and water are set, you won't have ANY battle encounters. It's likely a coordinate issue from the looks of it.

However, for when it does spawn, its stats listed are:

• Level: 65
• HP: 8220
• TP: 0
• EXP: 3000
• Gald: 3000

• Attack: 995
• Defense: 80
• Agility: 55
• Accuracy: 185
• Evasion: 120

• Drops: Magic Lens (Spy Lens)

• Resists: Water, Fire, Lightning and Wind by 1/2.

Interestingly enough, this enemy does exist in the GBA version of Tales of Phantasia and can be fought properly in the same area but it's called "Nightstalker" there.

Jahmir

Going through the enemy stats, something peculiar was noticed with Jahmir. Every enemy has a four spells they can have at max on their spells list unless some other AI code is specifically set inside them. Jahmir is noted on the Super Famicom version to only have Ice Wall and Tractor Beam, however, in the actual stats she has Ice Wall, Tractor Beam, Thunder Blade then Tractor Beam again! What's more interesting is when her stats are viewed in real-time in battle, Thunder Blade and the second Tractor Beam get removed from her list! The action that removes those spells from her list, ironically, is her spell casting action. The moment she starts casting anything it'll wipe those last two spells out.

Fen Beast

Fen Beast, among other humanoid wolf type creatures, have an unused action for spell casting and spell release. None of these types of enemies have any spells and when spells are put into their pool, they still will not use them. Interestingly enough, their actions ARE coded in for both of these and will function if they are forced to use the action, otherwise naturally in their AI, it doesn't ever get loaded.

Included in their actions are some unused sprites for spell casting start and spell casting as well!

Spell Cast Start	Spell Cast

Gnome

An unexpected bit to find, Gnome IS supposed to be able to use spells! The only spell he has in his list is "Tractor Beam" and he has a fancy casting animation that goes with it. Inside the code, there is RNG to determine whether he attacks or not but interestingly enough, one of the RNGs checks for the range between the player and Gnome himself. So it's likely that RNG check was supposed to have him cast spells from a distance but attack when the player got up close.

Spell Cast

Unused Spell Data

Black Hole

Black Hole is an instant death spell only learned by Arche. It only works if the target has <= 25% of their total HP. However, the spell is fully functional if an enemy uses it on the party. No enemy casts this spell, thankfully, but it's interesting nonetheless to know that it can be used against the party and function.

Unused Music Box Choices

To do: Find the ROM address for the Pro Action Replay code?

The player can only select 64 tracks from the music box, rendering these tracks unused. PAR code 7E020642 will force the song selection to 65 and let you access the tracks 65 and beyond.

The 16 songs lack in-game titles normally. They are as follows:

• 65: Rally X (past)
• 66: Rally X (end)
• 67: Rally X (begin)
• 68: I Miss You (without loop)
• 69: Goodbye, Friends
• 70: Credits
• 71: Tomorrow Is A Holiday
• 72: Recovery
• 73: Totus Attack Theme
• 74: Pegasus Run Theme
• 75: Ridge Racer
• 76: Piano Lesson 6
• 77: ??? (unused)
• 78: ??? (owls)
• 79: Silence

Attempting to enter a number over 80 causes the game to crash.

Unused Event & Map Data

Destroyed Hamel (Harmel)

There's three entry points into this town in the past when it's destroyed. From the bridge on the right, from the left side of the town and from the very top of the town. However, there is an unused entry that places the player across the water to the right by a tree that CANNOT be accessed under any normal circumstances.

Dhaos Castle (Future)

When in Dhaos's castle in the future there's a Star of David that will teleport any party member not wearing a "Derris Emblem" into a prison. This includes Cress, Mint, Arche, Chester and Claus. However, there's surprisingly some unused event coding that also effects Brambert if he is in the party! The event code goes through a loop of party members to spawn all the way until Claus, which would explain Brambert appearing here even though he's not necessarily supposed to be. The same goes for when they teleport away, it's a loop so Brambert is included. What IS interesting though is it sets Story Flags, again, as a loop but there is data in memory dictating Brambert was "taken" by the trap or "safe" from it.

Unfortunately, he does not appear in the prison with everyone else. Though, for this to be included so late into the game is of interest. Maybe this part of the game was done before he was removed from being a party member?

Inaccessible Chest

For some reason, an inaccessible chest containing a Mystical Rune is hidden in the Morrisons' house.

Game Over

If you modify RAM and remove ALL active party members on your team or if they're all dead, the game will force a "Game Over" event.

However, if you force this to happen inside a town, NPCs will try to path find the closest way possible to you and square off your body and stare eerily at it. Trying this in any town seems to actually work so it's a forcefully scripted event that essentially goes mostly unused. There's a few areas where this more than likely exists such as when you die at Demeter or in Odin's Tower but there's generally only one NPC around and not multiple. So seeing the full action of them squaring the PC body is an interesting note.

Also, there's a cut off for whom can circle the PCs or not:

• 00: Cress
• 01: Mint
• 02: Arche
• 03: Chester
• 04: Brambert
• 05: Claus
• 06+: Square off PC body

If it's any of these values, it will FORCE them to be in their "dead" pose on the overworld. Though, Claus and Brambert lack them in this event. Anything that's 06+ will have them square off the PCs instead. It's an interesting scripted event that has more detail than one would think.