Zeliard (DOS)

Zeliard
Developers: Game Arts, Sierra On-Line Publisher: Sierra On-Line Platform: DOS Released in US: 1990 This game has unused text. This game has revisional differences. This game has a notes page This game has a bugs page

To do: There are notable differences in zelres2.sar and zelres3.sar between versions 1.208 and 2.0. What those differences are is still unknown.

Zeliard for DOS is the 3rd port of Zeliard developed by Game Arts and Sierra Online. Zeliard players and veterans consider this to be a hard game, but ended up being much easier than the other two versions.

Sub-Pages

Notes

Bugs

Unused Text

Special mode !!

This odd string appears at 8ED in zeliard.exe. It's unknown how to see it.

(Source: Kuro-chan)

Version Differences

Version 1.208 uses a .bat file for a setting up the game. Version 2.0 uses Sierra's SCI0 installer/setup .exe.

Revisional Differences

After Sierra Online got a hold of the PC-88 version of the game they made considerable changes to the engine.

General Changes

	PC-88 Version	DOS Version
Pausing a Game	Entering the inventory menu is the only way to pause the game.	There is a dedicated PAUSE button (by hitting ESC) in addition to entering the inventory menu.
Game Speed	One fixed speed.	Game speed can be changed by pressing F9 and enter a value from 0 (Slowest) to 9 (Fastest). The default game speed (5) is a little faster than the PC-88's speed.
Save Files	One save file per disk. Game boots up the save file (after the intro) and only starts at the beginning of the game if there is none. Players are unable to restore a game, save resetting the computer. The game requires a free disk to format and make into a save file disk. To perform this, a player must boot off disk 3 on drive 1 and insert a blank disk into drive 2. Updates which sage was last visited. This updates in the memory as the player plays through the game.	Multiple save files can be used and set on any disk. Game boots up the beginning of the game. To load up a save file, players can RESTORE a game (by hitting F7) and choose whichever file they wish to use. This can be done at any point in the game. Given a save file requires only 256 bytes, no special disk is required to hold onto them. They can be saved anywhere, including on the game disks or a hard drive if the game was installed on one. Never updates last sage the player visited, leaving it at the first sage during the entire playthrough.

RPG/Character Development

NOTE: All fractions are rounded down.

	PC-88 Version	DOS Version
Dying	Lose all golds and all almas. Experience is cut in half. Warps back to the last sage spoken to.	Lose all golds and half the total almas. +(127 - (current level x 2)) experience boost. Warps back to the first sage.
Level Up	HP cap is increased, but HP is not restored. Spell caps can increase (depending on level), but spell counts are not restored. EXP is reset to 0. No bonus attack damage.	HP cap is increased and fully restored. Spell caps can increase and are fully restored. Only what EXP is needed to level up is deducted from the total collected. However, EXP is adjusted if the remaining EXP exceeds what is required for the next level. In that case, EXP is lowered to whatever is required minus 1. Bonus attack damage is Level /2.
Shield:HP Damage	Player takes 50% HP damage from a frontal attack while equipped with a shield, regardless of what shield it is.	Player's HP damage matches the amount of damage a shield takes when hit. As the shield gets upgraded, it further reduces how much HP damage is taken.

Equipment

	PC-88 Version	DOS Version
SPIRIT SWORD	Sword swing is yellow.	Sword swing is green.

Accessories

	PC-88 Version	DOS Version
ASBESTOS CAPE	Costs 5000 Almas.	Costs 2500 Almas.

Inventory

	PC-88 Version	DOS Version
MAGIA STONE	Does 17 damage per hit. Each stone will hit a target twice, when possible.	Damage = (Level x4)+4. It gains attack power each time the player levels up. Each stone will only hit a target once.
HOLY WATER OF ACERO	Restores all Shield Points.	Restores the following: Clay Shield +80 SP Wise Man's Shield +90 SP Stone Shield +100 SP Honor Shield +110 SP Light Shield +115 SP Titanium Shield +120 SP
SABER RING	Adds a multiplier to sword damage.	Also includes level bonus damage when multiplying damage.
KIOKU FEATHER	Warps you to the last sage you visited. Costs 300 golds in Esco and 700 everywhere else.	Warps you to the 1st sage. Costs 150 golds in Esco and 350 everywhere else.

NOTES:

• The game does not update which sage you most recently visit, leaving you to warp to the sage in the very first town when the player dies / uses a feather. Given that the cost of the Kioku feather is halved and Almas exchange rates are higher in the ENG version, this appears to be deliberate, to discourage backtracking to earlier towns for higher rates and cheaper items.

Game Introduction

PC-88 Version

DOS Version

The game introduction goes: Game Background/Legend Game Title Intro Story Start game If the player has the user disk inserted instead of disk 2, the game will skip the introduction and boot up an existing save file.

The game introduction goes: Displays a unique title screen (most likely for Sierra to post their own credits as soon as the game opens) Game Background/Legend Game Title English and JP Credits Intro Story Start game This introduction can be bypassed by entering in a save file name when booting up the game. For instance, "zeliard save1" will take you straight to a restored game if you have a save1.usr in the root directory.

The Japanese version plays the Intro Story more quickly than the DOS version. In addition:

• 3rd scene with the princess' close-up, Jashiin's eyes appear well after her conversation, rather than during.
• All audible speech (including the princess' scream) were removed.
• The audio 'tone' for character speech is much higher.

	PC-88 Version	DOS Version
Opening scenes	Animated backgrounds were used to show the rain.	The backgrounds were merged into a single image.
Archfiend / Jashiin	The PC-88 used a palette change to hide the green.	Green shows on Jashiin's skin. This also appears in the SHARP X1 version of the game.
Final Scene	The full scene is shown, then clipped to allow text underneath.	The scene starts in colour, changes to a greyscale and the text slowly scrolls upward.

In-Town

	PC-88 Version	DOS Version
Townsfolk When speaking to them.	Townsfolk take a while to speak to, as their discussion appears one character at a time. With a few mandatory exceptions, you can cancel the discussion at anytime.	Text is instantly displayed.
Stores	The Goods box replaces the smaller one in the upper right corner. Equipment sold to a store does not appear until after you have left it.	The Goods box is added into the text box along the bottom. Equipment sold to a store will appear in their inventory immediately after you sell it.
In the Hut
Magic Shop	The shopkeeper bows to the player as they leave the store.	The shopkeeper tilts her head to her right as the player leaves the store.
Bank	Almas Exchange Rates (Almas:Gold) Muralla - 1:4 Satono - 1:4 Bosque - 1:6 Helada - 1:2 Tumba - 1:1 Dorado - 1:2 Llama - 4:1 Pureza - 1:4 Esco - 1:6	Almas Exchange Rates (Almas:Gold) Muralla - 1:6 Satono - 1:6 Bosque - 1:8 Helada - 1:4 Tumba - 1:2 Dorado - 1:4 Llama - 4:2 Pureza - 1:6 Esco - 1:8
Church	The priest makes the 'sign of the cross' with his right hand while giving a blessing. The digitized speech also says "Amen." as the player leaves.	The priest now sports a full beard (and mouth, along with changes to his hair and cloak) and holds up his hand while giving a blessing.
Sage Chanting - Calling forth the power of the Spirits.	The crystal ball cycles through several colours. The frame rate is faster and digitized speech is present.	The crystal ball remains the same colour. The frame rate is slower.
Sage Gender issue?	A male voice actor was used to provide the voice. Players can hear a male 'chant' while calling on the spirits.	The developers changed the gender concept for the Sage from male to female. Text Example: "My master, the Sage Yasmin, resides in the underground town. She is a person you can turn to if you are in need."

NOTES:

• Technically, both versions of the stoned princess are incorrect. The PC-88's version has her arms in front of her, while in the introduction, her arms are along her sides. While the arms positioning was fixed for the DOS version, they changed the character design.

Dungeons

	PC-88 Version	DOS Version
HP Regeneration	Does not happen in the dungeon, short of using dungeon potions and inventory.	About 2HP per second while standing still (in units of 2, based on a speed of 6). Regeneration can go over max HP by 1 point 'if' the HP value is odd.
Red Almas Orb	Worth 50 Almas	Worth 100 Almas
Blue Potion (In both versions, it behaves the same; it will prevent the player from dying and will recover HP until it reaches the maximum value)	Recovers up to 800 HP	Recovers up to 8000 HP

Caverns of Caliente, Correr and Reaccion

	PC-88 Version	DOS Version
Cavern damage	Player takes 10 points of 'heat damage' every few seconds. The timer used for this check plays through the entire game and is unaffected by entering a cave, unequipping the Absor Mantle, etc. This means the player will take damage at anytime before it cycles again, sometimes almost immediately after entering a hot zone while unprotected.	Player takes 15 points of 'heat damage' every few seconds. The player's HP regeneration will still take effect, but cannot recover enough HP before more damage is taken. The timer for when damage is taken starts when either a player enters a hot cave or removes the Asbestos Cape, leaving them the full amount of the time before damage is dealt.

Cavern of Faltar

PC-88 Version	DOS Version

The DOS version adds an additional rope tile, allowing a player (with Feruza shoes equipped) to bypass the final part of the platforming puzzle.

Jashiin's Room

PC-88 Version	DOS Version

The PC-88 version has Jashiin standing a little closer to Duke after he stands up.

Monsters

• Damage values refer to basic, unshielded damage.

	PC-88 Version	DOS Version
	Experience: 100	Experience: 255
	Health Points: 12	Health Points: 2
	Experience: 30 Almas: 1	Experience: 255 Almas: 10/100
	Experience: 30 Damage: 160	Experience: 255 Damage: 60
	Experience: 30 Almas drops are rare.	Experience: 255 Almas drops happen far more often.
	Health Points: 127 Experience: 30	Health Points: 100 Experience: 255

Bosses

• In the original version, Almas were never given out with bosses.
• Bosses have damage multipliers that affect how much damage a sword/spell does to the main body and weak points. At higher levels, bosses start dividing how much damage a sword does, rounding fractions down. This makes many of the lower-end swords useless without Saber Oils to prop up the damage.

	PC-88 Version	DOS Version
CANGREJO	Almas: 0 Original Name: CANGREO	Almas: 150 New Name: CANGREJO
PULPO	Almas: 0	Almas: 200
POLLO	Almas:0 Sword Bonus x1, Head x8 Spell Bonus x1, Head x8 Body Damage 20 Beak Damage 64	Almas:500 Sword Bonus x2, Head x8 Spell Bonus x2, Head x8 Body Damage: 18 Beak Damage: 56
AGAR	Almas: 0	Almas: 600
VISTA	Almas: 0	Almas: 800
TARSO	Almas: 0 Body Damage: 192	Almas: 1500 Body Damage: 800
PAGURO	Almas: 0 Sword Bonus /2 Spell Bonus /2, x2 Fuego	Almas 1600 Sword Bonus x1 Spell Bonus /2
DRAGON	Almas: 0 Sword Bonus: /8, Tail /2 Spell Bonus: /8 Weakness: Tail Horizontal Fire: 80 Tail weakness can be exploited with a regeneration potion and glitching through the dragon to attack it's tail before the potion wears off.	Almas: 2500 Sword Bonus: /2, Head x1 Spell Bonus: /4 Weakness: Head Horizontal Fire: 120 Tail weakness can no longer be exploited.
ALGUIEN	Almas: 0 Sword Bonus: /8, /4 Tail Spell Bonus: /8 Damage chart: 160 Tongue, 80 Tail, 40 Body	Almas: 3800 Sword Bonus: x1 Spell Bonus: x1 Damage chart: 80 Tongue, 40 Tail, 160 Body
JASHIIN	Sound effect plays during the meeting with ARCHFIEND, then the screen fades and goes to the final battle chamber. Original Name: ARCHFIEND Sword Bonus: /4 Spell Bonus: /16 HP Recovery 120	Silence echoes the meeting with Jashiin, then the screen instantly moves to the final battle chamber. New Name: JASHIIN Sword Bonus: /2 Spell Bonus: /4 HP Recovery: 80