Silver Dragon and Paradise Girl (Free SRPG) Introduction, Impressions, and Strategy Notes

This is an introductory article for the game "The Silver Dragon and the Girl of Paradise," created using SRPG Studio.
This is a boy-meets-girl simulation RPG featuring beautiful graphics and stunning background music.
The charming characters and their interactions made this a delightful work.

On hard difficulty, it took me about 6 hours to complete the game.

Game Overview

The story begins when the protagonist, Eins, meets Ray, a girl who has escaped from an organization called Angelus.
Due to various circumstances, Ray sets off on a journey to a place called Canaan, which is his destination.

The game is a traditional simulation RPG where you progress through maps featuring beautifully rendered illustrations as backgrounds.

There is no character loss, saving is possible at any time, and the random number generator also changes.
There are three difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, and Hard, with Hard being the standard difficulty.
There are companion units that only appear on Hard difficulty, so if you're familiar with SRPGs, I recommend choosing Hard.
However, those who are not good at SRPGs may find the hard difficulty setting challenging.

What's unique about this game is that there's no leveling up during battles.
You don't gain experience points by defeating enemies; you receive a fixed amount of experience points all at once upon clearing the stage.
You can level up your units by allocating the experience points they gain on the base screen.

Therefore, during gameplay, you don't need to worry about who should deliver the final blow; you can simply focus on fulfilling the clear conditions.
Furthermore, since you can freely allocate experience points, you can play by strengthening only your favorite units.
Since you can earn virtually unlimited experience points and money through free quests at your base, you shouldn't get stuck.

The text between scenarios is somewhat extensive, and there are plenty of opportunities to delve deeper into the characters' relationships through events at the base.
While it's an SRPG, it could be described as a game that leans more towards an adventure game, as it fully captures the charm of its characters.

Review (no spoilers)

I completed the game on hard mode.
However, although I heard there were two endings, I think I only saw one.

The first thing that will impress you when you start playing the game is the adorable character graphics, beautiful backgrounds, and background music.
I was particularly surprised by the vocal background music that plays during the first stage.
I was surprised when I first played Persona 3 and heard vocal music playing during battles, and this reminded me of that feeling.

The story has a long scenario section that thoroughly depicts the background and relationships of each character.
Aside from the serious scenes, there were many comedic parts, which I found quite charming.

Regarding the SRPG part (hard mode), my impression is that the beginning and the end were difficult.
In the early stages, the low levels of each unit make things difficult, but because you gain a lot of experience points, your army gradually gains the advantage.
All units have good growth rates, so it's satisfying to see their abilities increase rapidly as they level up.
However, you might run into trouble if you distribute experience points evenly to units that you don't deploy.

Other points of concern during gameplay include the fact that while the single-image maps are beautiful, it can be difficult to understand the terrain characteristics at a glance.
While you can see terrain information by hovering the cursor over an area, I sometimes got confused about whether or not it was impassable.

Also, since the enemy's behavior pattern is almost entirely defensive (they only act when you enter their range), I felt that the strategies for clearing the stages tended to be somewhat monotonous.
Since you can only deploy a limited number of units (basically four), you can enjoy experimenting with different units and exploring various battle strategies.

In the later stages of the game, when your level is maxed out, enemies start landing critical hits frequently, creating a tense and challenging combat balance where it's either kill or be killed.
While the game isn't particularly difficult, as your allies also have many powerful units and equipment, the balance might be a bit rough around the edges rather than requiring intricate tactics.
I would recommend this game to people who enjoy appreciating their favorite units while savoring the story and the world of the work.

Strategy Notes - Hard Difficulty (Spoiler Warning)

Regarding strategies, since various equipment and other items are available, I feel there are many ways to approach the game.
I'd like to share some tips I learned along the way.

Learn the relationships between advantages and disadvantages.
Since this relationship differs from the typical rock-paper-scissors dynamic, it's important to remember the compatibility between the three characters.
Keep in mind that daggers are generally effective against magic.

- Avoid unnecessary battles.
You may earn money by defeating enemies, but you shouldn't run out of it, so there's no need to go out of your way to defeat them.

- Create a Musou character
By concentrating experience points on only certain units to strengthen them, you can make them quite powerful.
The early stages of Hard Mode are often challenging, so it's a good idea to focus on strengthening a select few units to make battles easier.

Incidentally, even without playing any farming maps, you can eventually accumulate enough experience points to raise all your party members to the maximum level.

- Give them armor
As you progress through the game, you can enhance your character's stats and other abilities by equipping them with clothing.
In particular, the nurse's uniform and the sky-blue cloak, which prevent status ailments, are equipment you'll want to equip every unit you deploy.

Be careful when choosing your class change destination.
Class changes become available for purchase after clearing Chapter 11.
Many units can change classes once they reach level 15 or higher, and changing classes does not reset their level.
Depending on the class change you choose, there are (quite a few) cases where useful equipment becomes unusable, so consider the unit's parameters and think about which weapons will be most effective before changing classes.

Added on October 5, 2023: It seems that changing classes provides a positive bonus to growth rates, so if you're aiming to max out your parameters, it might be a good idea to raise your character after changing classes (quoted from the author's post).
Apparently, some parameters actually decrease in growth rate after a class change.
Regarding units that are exclusive to Hard mode and cannot be class changed, there is no problem in raising them as they are.

Below, we will describe the strategies for each stage.
This may not be necessary for everyone, but I hope it will be helpful for those who want to know the total number of chapters.

Chapter 1: The Dragon Girl

Since this is the first map, it's best to focus on getting used to the game's balance.
The standard strategy is to use Ishuel's defensive potions and magic defense potions without hesitation, and gradually lure them out and defeat them.
Let's take our time and make progress little by little.
Due to compatibility issues, you can gain an advantage against magic users by engaging them with throwing knives.

The swallowtail butterfly is a formidable opponent, but if you defeat it, it will become your ally.
The most reliable strategy would be to increase Eins's defense and then attack directly.

Chapter 2: The Mad Maid

There are many enemies, but approach the harpy little by little to avoid being attacked by multiple enemies at once.
The harpy's madness skill activates after 10 turns, increasing its combat power, but you should be able to defeat it in one hit by transforming into a dragon with Ray and attacking.
There's no real need to rush, so let's proceed carefully, making sure we don't get ambushed by the enemy.

Chapter 3: Heretics

This map's objective is to eliminate all enemies.
Since there will be many battles, I'd like to send Meilin out equipped with healing items.
Also, since there are enemies that can poison you with a poison knife, it's a good idea to have a recovery item ready for added peace of mind.
There is no turn limit, so there is no problem in waiting until you recover.

When luring in enemies with indirect attacks, I want to deploy units like Iris and Ageha that can chip away at their health with counterattacks.
There aren't any particularly strong enemies, so you shouldn't have any problems even if you don't rely on Rei's Drake transformation.

Chapter 4: The Path to Lacrima

The enemies are scattered across different areas, but let's work together to take them all out.
Since Deer will put you to sleep, be sure to take precautions such as giving your character a pocket watch to prevent sleep.
Also, be aware that each enemy has its own unique skills, and you may not always be able to inflict damage as effectively as you'd like.

Let's weaken Treasure Hunter Rose with ranged attacks, then finish her off in one go.
If left unchecked, it will heal the enemy's health, making it a troublesome threat.

Chapter 5: The Fallen Town of Lacrima

To open the treasure chest in the upper left, make sure you have purchased and equipped the treasure chest key beforehand.
Inside is an "OT password" (which, if stored in your inventory, allows you to buy doping items using BP at your base).

Eins is in a berserk state and can be dangerous if left unchecked, so quickly talk to him with Ray to calm him down.

Enemies that attack from a distance on the roof can be easily defeated by using Ageha's Ninjutsu: Teleportation Technique to quickly close the distance.
Leaving them alone will cause problems, so let's get rid of them as soon as possible.

In the upper right area, where there are enemies that use long-range lightning magic attacks, it's easiest to eliminate them by having Ray transform into a dragon and charge in.
You could go straight for the boss Yuki, but if you want to give the enemy all the money they have, you might want to consider wiping them all out.

Chapter 6 Rest

After defeating all the enemies and clearing the stage, I received a reward of 20,000G.
While it's possible to clear the stage by simply waiting for the turns to pass, it's best to aim for a complete annihilation if possible.

Sirens can sometimes confuse you, so be sure to take precautions against status ailments.
Also, to catch up with a fish that's getting away, the swallowtail butterfly's ninja technique, teleportation, is very useful.
If we have the resources, I think splitting into two groups would allow us to eliminate them more quickly.

Chapter 7: The Calling Voice

There are many enemies, but just lure them out little by little and defeat them, as you've always done.
However, since there are no units that can use lightning, which is advantageous against ice, fighting with Iris's dagger will make the battle a little easier.
Also, Noah can reduce magic attacks, so that might be a good option.

Alice/Nightmare will join your party after you defeat her.

Chapter 8: Destructive Impulses

Poltergeists have a range of 1, so defeat them with indirect attacks to avoid being counterattacked.
Dark Angels, on the other hand, are difficult to hit with ranged attacks, so it's best to fight them with close-range attacks and land your hits precisely.

Iris's stats increase after 10 turns, and she has a skill that lowers the accuracy of male targets.
Ideally, you'd want to use female units and defeat the enemy before the 10th turn.

QA9 Pandora's Box

This is a fixed sortie with only Ray, Noah, and Iris.
Noah's dark magic is a strong point against opponents wielding daggers, but we lack a healer.
You can either prepare a first-aid kit or have Noah himself use the Overheal ability to heal smoothly.
The enemy mage who uses long-range lightning magic while running away is troublesome, but let's chase after him while hoping for Iris to get another turn.

Chapter 9 What She Wished For

The goal is to defeat the harpy.
After 10 turns, the harpy's stats will increase due to its skills, so it's best to engage in combat as soon as possible.
The enemy will generally not attack unless you enter their attack range, so avoid unnecessary battles.

The treasure chest contains a lucky charm (critical hit immunity).

QA10 What happens to the sweets?

Only Eins and Rei, dressed in Halloween costumes, can attack the mischievous ghosts.
The other members should attack the poltergeist while supporting Eins and Ray.

Chapter 10: The Silver Dragon

Enemies that use long-range attacks are a nuisance, but other enemies generally won't move unless you enter their attack range.
The enemy density may seem high and it might look difficult, but as long as you proceed slowly as before, you'll be fine.

Chapter 11: The Jet-Black Dragon

The situation is almost the same as the previous map.
Eins is strong, so even if you send her charging at Yuki alone, she usually won't lose.
Using Overheal to provide support from a distance would make the situation very secure.

After clearing the game, you will be able to purchase the class change item, the Change Ring (500G).

Chapter 12: The Desert Road

The petrifying Medusa is troublesome because she attacks from a distance.
Therefore, it will be difficult to progress unless you equip each unit with an accessory that prevents petrification.

The treasure chest on the left contains the Fire Sword.
There seems to be some hidden treasure, but we didn't bother to find it.
Apparently, there are several doping items buried inside.

Chapter 13: The Truth

This map requires you to deal with a constant stream of enemies while preventing them from invading the city.
Since enemies with a range of 3 will appear on the left side, it would be a good idea to include Meilin, who is equipped with an assault rifle or longbow.
Fast enemies will appear on the right side, so units that can pursue them will be able to deal with them more easily.
Either way, since this map requires continuous combat with enemies, having an overheal that can heal the entire party at once makes things much easier.
Additionally, deploying more units with skills that allow them to act again will increase the speed at which you can eliminate enemies, making the battle easier.

QA14 Beware of suspicious cakes

Eins and Rei will sortie as Eins/Rei, but their stats are low and they are prone to being attacked again, so it's best not to have them fight the enemy.
I think we can easily defeat Meilin, the source of the trouble, by having her attack with an assault rifle that's effective against monsters.
Since most of the enemies don't move on their own, let's take our time and clear this stage.

Chapter 14: The Evil Dragon and the Divine Dragon

The enemy's attack power has increased by one level, and you'll be easily defeated if you get hit multiple times.
Units like Noah, which have speed issues, can be easily defeated by follow-up attacks from units wielding assault rifles, so be careful.
As long as you keep that point in mind, it's a perfectly fine map.

Chapter 15: The Road to Paradise

Shopping at your base before the stage begins is your last chance.
Make sure you have all your equipment ready so you don't forget anything.

As usual, there are many enemies with long-range attacks, which is troublesome.
Let's lure them out little by little and defeat them, making sure not to enter their attack range at the same time.
Using Ishuel's alchemy to temporarily boost magic defense should make things a bit easier.
For regular enemies, if Eins is nearby, critical hits can be prevented, so accidental deaths will be somewhat reduced.

Chapter 16: What awaits in the Deep Sea

The turtles' long-range magic is extremely troublesome, and if you're near your starting position, you could easily be attacked by three of them at once.
Use a unit with high magic defense as a decoy and quickly defeat the turtle.
The most difficult part is right at the start of the stage, so it might be a good idea to transform into a dragon as soon as possible.

After clearing a stage, the next stage you proceed to will depend on your choices.
- Protect Ray → Proceed to Chapter 17 (A) "What He Wished For"
- Call out Ray's name → Proceed to Chapter 17 (B) "In the Farthest Paradise"

Chapter 17 (A) What He Wished For

Since Eins cannot be used, this final map is likely to be more difficult than (B).
Enemies keep spawning, so if the battle drags on, you'll be at a disadvantage.
Once you've advanced to the very edge of Melm's attack range, quickly close in and launch your attack.
We might get defeated in a counterattack, but I think we can defeat it if everyone lands one hit each.
At worst, even one critical hit would give you a significant advantage.

Chapter 17 (B) In the Farthest Paradise

Since Eins can be used here, the difficulty level is easier compared to (A).
Once you get close to the boss, if Eins transforms into a dragon, you should be able to defeat it without too much trouble.

Unit usage impressions (spoiler alert)

*I failed to recruit Raylis as a companion.

・ Eins

I excelled as a melee attacker.
Up until the mid-game, the only means of ranged attack is the hand axe, which can be frustrating, but from the mid-game onward, you can purchase magic swords and change classes to gain the ability to attack both melee and ranged.
I was drawn to the guaranteed two actions per turn and changed my class to Calamity, but it was a bit lacking in toughness.
If your speed drops, it becomes difficult to attack again, so you'll want to strengthen it with doping items or something similar.

Ishel

Except for the very beginning, I stopped using it altogether.
His peak performance was when he healed everyone in Chapter 1. Sorry...
I regretted changing my class to Creator because I could no longer use any status-boosting items.
Since I'm not good at combat, I feel that strengthening my allies' magic defense and physical defense would be the most useful role for me.
I think this character could be particularly useful in the later stages of the game, as the enemy's attack power is very high and it can be quite challenging.

Iris

From the beginning, she excelled as a high-intensity attacker, capable of rapid attacks using magic and daggers.
While there are times when its offensive power is slightly lacking, daggers are fortunate because many of them have special effects and allow for indirect attacks.
I felt reassured knowing that I would have an advantage against opponents who could use magic.

I'm thinking it might have been better to make her an Assassin Maid to increase her movement speed and focus on daggers.

Ray

For now, you can provide support, and when the time comes, you can transform into a dragon and fight.
However, since the number of deployable units is limited, I rarely used that precious slot for Rey.

Swallowtail butterfly

This is the first unit you can acquire as a companion, and it's exclusive to the Hard difficulty mode.
In addition to a specialized weapon usable both up close and down, she possessed a teleportation spell that allowed her to warp 10 squares, making her a regular in the party until the very end.
With its high evasion capabilities and the ability to be self-sufficient through continuous attacks and bloodsucking, it was a powerful unit that could fight to a certain extent even on its own.

It's also possible to warp behind enemies with long-range magic and defeat them quickly.

・Meilin

They are the first healer to join the party, and also a gunner.
The ability to attack from a range of 3 early in the game using a longbow is a significant advantage.
Even just waving your cane can be helpful.
If you equip non-human characters with suicide shotguns or assault rifles, they can also fight as attackers.

Rose

This is a melee attacker that can use healing abilities.
Initially, the skill that prevented status ailments made it seem powerful, but once similar items became available for purchase, its relative appeal decreased.

Noah

Combined with the defensive capabilities of his skills, he's an extremely powerful magic attacker against magic.
However, its low speed was a fatal flaw, as it would be vulnerable to counterattacks from most enemies, making it impossible to engage in combat.
Even with techniques, unless you have a clear advantage against a particular opponent, the results are not very reliable unless you're using doping.

Alice/Nightmare

Since it was the latter half of the game and the regular players had already been decided, there was no opportunity to displace them.
Although its defense and magic defense are relatively high, I never used it in the later stages of the game when enemy attacks are powerful, because it would be easily defeated if its evasion wasn't high enough.

This is a special guest appearance from another work by the same author.