History VideoGame / SeikenDensetsu3

* AmazonBrigade: The kingdom of Laurent (Rolante in the fan translation) of which Riesz is the princess and the kingdom of Altena.

In a departure from the norm, ''[=SD3=]'' revolves around six characters of which any three can make up your party; your first choice determines which of the BigBadEnsemble you eventually take on. Your teammates start the adventure in a default job, but have opportunities to pursue [[BlackAndWhiteMagic Light and Dark]] classes later on. (Picture a mix between ''VideoGame/The7thSaga'' and the ''VideoGame/{{SaGa|RPG}}'' games.) Unlike in most [[EasternRPG JRPGs]], there are no takebacks, and the fruits of your labor may not become apparent for a while.

* EvilVersusEvil: The three evil factions (the Beastmen, Altena and Navarre) are all fighting for the Mana Sword, and are in fact a greater danger to each other than the PC group.

** This may be subverted after all; if you challenge any beastman during the Jadd raid, they knock the hell out of your character (except Duran, who seemingly is the only one smart enough to notice picking a fight isn't a good idea now) with a ''single attack'', and to add insult to injury, they aren't even in their wolf form. To be fair, though, for most characters this is literally right after the first trek through the overworld, and the beastmen sent to raid Jadd would logically be pretty tough. By the time you trade blows with them again, you'll have already reclaimed a kingdom from a clan of ninjas as well as fought ghosts and elemental beasts many times the size of your character, so it may be something along the lines of CantCatchUp on the part of the beastmen; they can go toe-to-toe with the forces of Altena and Navarre on equal standing, but by this point your tem is just much stronger than them.

** This may be subverted after all; if you challenge any beastman during the Jadd raid, they knock the hell out of your character (except Duran, who seemingly is the only one smart enough to notice picking a fight isn't a good idea now) with a ''single attack'', and to add insult to injury, they aren't even in their wolf form.

* MaximumHPReduction: The spell Lunatic reduces the target's maximum HP by 20%. It's very good when used at the beginning of boss fights, where it can knock off upwards of 10,000 HP.

** In regards to the three final boss monsters, the Dark Lord is widely considered the strongest, the Masked Mage the weakest, and the Dragon Emperor in the middle.
** This is only subjective. In a genocide contest, it's a toss-up who is worse: The Satanic body-snatcher who seeks to reclaim the planet for demonkind, or [[ComicBook/JudgeDredd Pope Death]] who has deemed ''all'' life unworthy of existence. Drakonis is just a warmonger, but he's prophesied by the tablet in Pedda to bring about the end of the world just like the others; presumably, he goes mad after [[DrunkWithPower absorbing too much power]].

** If you liked the party from ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'', Duran, Charlotte, and Angela make good replacements for Randi, Purim, and Popoie. (Though unlike ''[=SoM=]'', Duran can learn his own magic, and Charlotte can switch to black magic.)

* ChekhovsVolcano: And, of course, it doesn't go off until you've accomplished all you've needed to and you have a ticket off the island. Jagan is there, but he doesn't bother to attack and assumes that all three of you will perish in the eruption. Then he conveniently flees before that becomes the case.

** This also applies to the nations each one acts as TheManBehindTheMan for. With the exception of [[ThatOneBoss Lugar]] and the Beast King, Ferolia is [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain absolutely]] [[PokeThePoodle pathetic]] (despite some early-game success). Altena is much more organized and effective, and poses a bigger threat, and their villainous actions are limited to the assault on Valsena. Now Nevarl... their footsoldiers show a severe [[CombatPragmatist lack of fair play]] (putting the amazons to sleep rather than engage them directly, a ''crushing'' blow to morale), they slaughter literally ''everyone'' in Laurent castle during their takeover, and the mooks you fight in their areas are among the toughest you'll face.

In a departure from the norm, ''[=SD3=]'' revolves around six characters of which any three can make up your party, with your first choice determining which of the BigBadEnsemble you eventually take on. Your teammates start the adventure in a default job, but have opportunities to pursue [[BlackAndWhiteMagic Light or Dark]] abilities later on. (Picture a mix between ''VideoGame/The7thSaga'' and the ''VideoGame/{{SaGa|RPG}}'' games.) Unlike in most [[EasternRPG JRPGs]], there are no takebacks, and the fruits of your labor may not become apparent for a while.

* ArbitraryHeadcountLimit: Your lead character accumulates only two companions in their party. Despite each character having their own backstory and conflicts, there is still a central plot-line which ties it all together. It seems like they only join your party in order to get to Wendel more quickly.

** Interestingly, you can complete this game with ever having recruited a mage or healer. Magic isn't as devastating as it used to be, and you can scrape by with healing items, but the latter makes boss fights a lot tougher.

In a departure from the norm, ''[=SD3=]'' revolves around six characters of which any three can make up your party, with your first choice determining which of the BigBadEnsemble you eventually take on. Your teammates start the adventure in a default job, but have opportunities to pursue [[BlackAndWhiteMagic Light or Dark]] abilities later on. (Picture a mix between ''VideoGame/The7thSaga'' and the ''[[Franchise/SaGaRPG SaGa]]'' games.) Unlike in most [[EasternRPG JRPGs]], there are no takebacks, and the fruits of your labor may not become apparent for a while.

* DangerousInn: Sleeping in one room in the middle of [[spoiler:the Ghost Ship]] will make monsters spawn and attack you right away, and oh, you don't get the recover you were expecting.

** Bigieu was likely originally either Bijou ('jewel' in French) or Bijuu ('lovely beast' in Japanese). Or both, as they're phonetically identical.

** And then there are the locations -- Forcena/Forthena/Folcena/Valsena. Rolant/Rolante/Laurant. Navarre/Navall/Nevarl. Jad/Jadd. Pedan/Pedda. Althena/Altena (each one's last translation is the official translation found in Heroes of Mana. *gasp* And that's not even everything).

** Altena vs. Forcena (Angela and Duran)

* AccidentalPervert: If, as a male character, you talk to Angela while she's sleeping at the inn in Jad, she'll accuse you of being this. If you play as Lise (the only female who can get into this situation), [[DevelopersForesight Angela just expresses annoyance at being woken up.]]

* AmazonBrigade: The kingdom of Laurent (Rolante in the fan translation) of which Lise is the princess and the kingdom of Altena.

* BoringButPractical: On reflection, Lv. 1 techs. They may just be a glorified melee attack -- but they won't be countered, can be enhanced by elemental sabers, and can still hit multiple enemies if they are bunched together. Even better, Hawkeye and Kevin have double-strike capability. (Hawk wields two daggers, Kevin delivers a one-two jab and uppercut.) The one-two punch carries over into their level ones. So they deal out the same damage at a faster rate.

* CharacterDevelopment: It is highly recommended that you play the three routes with both of each route's central characters (Duran/Angela, Kevin/Charlotte, and Lise/Hawkeye) for this purpose. It doesn't hurt that each pair tends to complement each other's abilities well.

* EvilOverlord: The Dragon Emperor for Duran and Angela, the Masked Mage for Kevin and Charlotte, and the Dark Lord (called Dark Prince in the fan translation) for Lise and Hawkeye.

** Hawkeye and Lise: [[spoiler:Archdemon, AKA Dark Lord]], a Lucifer archetype and arguably the worst of the whole rotten lot. Owns a sweet castle.

* KaleidoscopeHair: The heroes can become blonde (or blonder) through class changes, too. Charlotte, Lise, and Kevin are already light-haired, but Angela and Hawkeye are both dark-haired, and their class-changes with blond hair are both dark-dark.

** Notice that Lise has blonde hair and blue eyes.

* MagicKnight: Duran's Sword Master class is the best example from this game; he can imbue his and the other party members' weapons with magic. His Paladin class only gets the [[HolyHandGrenade Saint Saber]] imbuement in addition to a healing spell, but it's quite useful against [[ThatOneBoss Zable Fahr]], the God-Beast of Darkness. The Duelist class can cast [[BlackMagic Dark Saber]], which is not quite as useful in the long run, and the Lord class is basically just a healer in plate armor. The other character that exemplifies this trope in [=SD3=] is Lise, who gets [[SummonMagic summon spells]] and status magic (her Light classes are more about buffing the other party members, while the Dark classes cast debuffs on the enemy).

** Ferolia vs. Wendel (Kevin and Carlie)
** Navarre vs. Rolante (Hawk and Lise)

* PromotionToParent: Lise to Elliot.

** Lise is badass, but she's not a OneManArmy. When raiders invade her kingdom, kill her people and kidnap her brother, she has to run in order to find help. She also never gets a chance to go on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, instead having to find ways to stop the plans of the BigBad while putting her kingdom's reconstruction on hold.

* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Half the cast. Angela is the princess of Altena, Lise princess of Laurent, and Kevin the prince heir to Ferolia.

** Practically the entire female population of Altena, ''especially'' Angela. Nobody [[ExposedToTheElements freezes to death]] because Altena is kept temperate due to magic, but [[spoiler:Angela comes close to actually freezing to death after being chased out of the castle]]. Laurent's amazons also fit this to a lesser degree except Lise, who is in full armor, though in official art she still has a very low-cut chestplate and doesn't wear pants.
** The official art of Lise's fenrir class on almost puts anything Angela has to shame, as it's just [[http://images.wikia.com/mana/images/5/57/Riesz_Fenrir_Knight.png a bikini with a wolf hide cape]], but Angela still wins the award for the most Stripperific outffit in the game. In her Magus class, she's basically wearing a [[http://images.wikia.com/mana/images/0/0e/Angela_Magus.png thong]], along with a cape, breastplate, and thigh-high boots.

** Hawkeye and Lise. Especially if they're both in your party, and either them is the leader.
** [[spoiler:During the battle to retake Laurent, if you have Lise in your party but not Hawkeye, Hawkeye will ask the party to spare Bigieu's life. Lise will agree, and Hawkeye will kiss her, causing Lise to freak out.]]

* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Half of the protagonists are exiled during their intros. Subverted with Duran, who chooses not to go home until he defeats the Wizard of the Crimson Lotus. In Lise's case, it's an exceptional, half-self-imposed case of WalkingTheEarth and specifically a GenderBender of a not-quite KnightErrant.

In a departure from the norm, ''[=SD3=]'' revolves around six characters of which any three can make up your party, with your first choice determining which of the BigBadEnsemble you eventually take on. Your teammates start the adventure in a default job, but have opportunities to pursue [[BlackAndWhiteMagic Light or Dark]] [[PrestigeClass classes]] later on. (Picture a mix between ''VideoGame/The7thSaga'' and the ''[[Franchise/SaGaRPG SaGa]]'' games.) Unlike in most [[EasternRPG JRPGs]], there are no takebacks, and the fruits of your labor may not become apparent for a while.

It plays like a souped-up version of its predecessor, ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana''. The percentage meter, which limited the frequency of melee attacks, is gone. ''[=SoM=]''[='=]s {{charged attack}}s have also been replaced by {{Limit Break}}s (or "Techs"). The Tech meter builds with each successful hit on the enemy.

In a departure from the norm, ''[=SD3=]'' revolves around six characters of which any three can make up your party, with your first choice determining which of the BigBadEnsemble you eventually take on. Your teammates start the adventure in a default job, but have opportunities to pursue Light or Dark magicks later on. (Picture a mix between ''VideoGame/The7thSaga'' and the ''[[Franchise/SaGaRPG SaGa]]'' games.) Unlike in most [[EasternRPG JRPGs]], there are no takebacks, and the fruits of your labor may not become apparent for a while.

In a departure from the norm, ''[=SD3=]'' revolves around six characters of which any three can make up your party, with your first choice determining which of the BigBadEnsemble your heroes eventually take on. Your team members start the adventure in a default job, but have opportunities to pursue Light or Dark magicks later on (picture a mix between ''VideoGame/The7thSaga'' and the ''[[Franchise/SaGaRPG SaGa]]'' games). Unlike in most [[EasternRPG JRPGs]], there are no takebacks, and the fruits of your labor may not become apparent for a while.

While it's not well known to casual gamers due to its lack of an official translation, it's something of an EnsembleDarkhorse among fans of the ''Mana'' series, and it can be found on more than a few "best action [=RPGs=]" lists, particularly those focusing on the 16-bit era.

** In addition to Shapeshifters (mostly harmless balls of wax that morph into various monsters), you may encounter their UndergroundMonkey equivalent, Shadow Zero. (You mean the ones from ''Secret of Mana''? Yes, the very same.) They'll mimic your class changes along with their special attacks. The problem is that they aren't affected by HealthDamageAsymmetry; their attacks do the same boss-killing damage as yours, to your party's still PC-level hit points. If you have Dark classes in your lineup, and the Zero decides to mimic them, just flee. You can't win.

** Many of the location names follow this format in the FanTranslation. Castle City Jad ([[SpellMyNameWithAnS officially spelled as]] Jadd), Magic Kingdom Altena, and Sand Fortress Navarre (Nevarl is the official English translation as seen in Heroes of Mana), to name a few. The topographers of this world aren't too creative.

* BigBoosHaunt: Chartmoon Tower and Mirage Palace. Vampire chicks, werewolves, and ghosts galore.

In a departure from the norm, ''[=SD3=]'' revolves around six characters of which any three can make up your party, with your first choice determining which of the {{Big Bad}}s you heroes eventually take on. Your team members start the adventure in a default job, but have opportunities to pursue Light or Dark magicks later on (picture a mix between ''VideoGame/The7thSaga'' and the ''[[Franchise/SaGaRPG SaGa]]'' games). Unlike in most [[EasternRPG JRPGs]], there are no takebacks, and the fruits of your labor may not become apparent for a while.

In a departure from the norm, ''[=SD3=]'' revolves around six characters of which any three can make up your party. (Interestingly, the party leader also determines which of the three {{Big Bad}}s the heroes eventually take on.) Your heroes start the adventure in a default job, but have opportunities to pursue Light or Dark magicks later on -- kind of a mix between ''VideoGame/The7thSaga'' and the ''[[Franchise/SaGaRPG SaGa]]'' games. Unlike in most [[EasternRPG JRPGs]], there are no takebacks, and the fruits of your labor may not become apparent for a while. 36 classes and 12 party configurations: Eat your heart out, ''Mass Effect''!

It's also one of the meanest games in the series; perfect for ''[=SoM=]'' vets, but a tough nut for newbies to crack. The gameplay, music, and graphics are all very highly regarded, with the latter two possessing some of the finest quality the Super Famicom ever produced. ''[=SD3=]'' also has high replay value, since it requires three playthroughs to see even ''most'' of its content, and due to the almost infinite number of parties and class changes (character interactions do change depending upon who's in your party, and the characters who aren't in the party will still appear from time to time as {{NPC}}s), it'll likely take vastly more to see all of it. While it's not well known to casual gamers due to its lack of an official translation, it's something of an EnsembleDarkhorse among fans of the ''Mana'' series, and it can be found on more than a few "best action [=RPGs=]" lists, particularly those focusing on the 16-bit era.

It's also one of the meanest games in the series; perfect for ''[=SoM=]'' vets, but a tough nut for newbies to crack. The gameplay, music, and graphics are all very highly regarded, with the latter two possessing some of the finest quality the Super Famicom ever produced. ''[=SD3=]'' also has high replay value, since it requires three playthroughs to see even ''most'' of its content, and due to the almost infinite number of parties and class changes (character interactions do change depending upon who's in your party, and the characters who aren't in the party will still appear from time to time as NPCs), it'll likely take vastly more to see all of it. While it's not well known to casual gamers due to its lack of an official translation, it's something of an EnsembleDarkhorse among fans of the ''Mana'' series, and it can be found on more than a few "best action RPGs" lists, particularly those focusing on the 16-bit era.

In a departure from the norm, ''[=SD3=]'' revolves around six characters of which any three can make up your party. (Interestingly, the party leader also determines which of the three {{Big Bad}}s the heroes eventually take on.) Your heroes start the adventure in a default job, but have opportunities to pursue Light or Dark magicks later on -- kind of a mix between ''VideoGame/The7thSaga'' and the ''VideoGame/{{SaGa}}'' games. Unlike in most [[EasternRPG JRPGs]], there are no takebacks, and the fruits of your labor may not become apparent for a while. 36 classes and 12 party configurations: Eat your heart out, ''Mass Effect''!

** Many doors in the game can't be unlocked without supernatural help. You need Gnome to enter the Dwarf City, Jinn to spread pollen over Laurent, Wisp to get into Lampflower Forest, and Dryad to reveal a path in the Jungle of Vision.