============================================================================= = ::::: Godzilla Atsumete VMS FAQ ::::::::::::::: Version 1.5 ::::: = ============================================================================= ____ _ _ _ _ __ ____ __ ____ / ___| ___ __| |___(_) | | __ _ \ \ / / \/ / ___| Godzilla | | _ / _ \ / _` |_ / | | |/ _` | \ \ / /| |\/| \___ \ Atsumete | |_| | (_) | (_| |/ /| | | | (_| | \ V / | | | |___) | VMS \____|\___/ \__,_/___|_|_|_|\__,_| \_/ |_| |_|____/ FAQ 1.5 ============================================================================== = ::::: By: Stephen Frost :::::::::::::::: s_frost@earthlink.net ::::: = ============================================================================== Note: This guide is best viewed in a monospace typeface. The font Courier New (size 8 or 9)is highly suggested and will help to keep the layout of the guide intact. Version History ----------------------------- 1.0 - General FAQ completed 1.1 - Ascii logo added 1.5 - Tips And Tricks section added General Introduction: ----------------------------- The first Dreamcast-compatible product to be released, the Godzilla VMS (Visual Memory System) is basically a Tamogotchi-style, Virtual Pet-type game. The purpose of the game is to raise monsters (based on the Toho Godzilla universe) and fight them against other people's monsters. While the premise is simple, it can get confusing quick,especially if you don't know how to read Japanese. This FAQ was created to help those of you who just bought the Godzilla VMS and are having a hard time figuring out what to do with it. Also, we're far from being masters ourselves, so this FAQ is by no means complete. We're hoping that the rest of you gamers out there can write in with what you've learned, so that we can all better understand how to play. As a favor to the authors, please do not reproduce any part of this FAQ without their written permission. This is especially directed to any videogame magazines out there. Table of Contents ----------------------------- Part 01: General Description Part 02: Getting Started Part 03: The Menu Part 04: General Tips Part 05: Monster List Part 06: DNA List Part 07: Locations List Part 08: Godzilla Generations Part 09: Misc Stuff Part 10: Tips And Tricks Part 11: Bugs And Glitches Part 12: Conclusion Part 13: Credits Part 01: General Description ----------------------------- For those who don't know, A VMS (Visual Memory System) is a memory card for Sega's upcoming Dreamcast console system. It works almost exactly like a PlayStation Memory Card, except that the VMS is much more powerful and can actually run certain programs. It also has a LCD screen, unlike the PlayStation Card, which can display graphics and text. Here are the general technical specs for the standard VMS: CPU: 8-bit Memory: 128 KByte Display (LCD): 48 by 32 dot Monochromatic Liquid Crystal Display Display Size: 1 7/16" by 1" Console Dimensions: 1 13/16" (W) X 3 1/8" (H) X 5/8" (D) Power Source: 2 Watch Batteries / Has Auto-Off Function Sound: PWM Sound Source 1 channel Weight: 1.5 oz Now, the Godzilla VMS is exactly the same as a standard VMS, with one major exception: All you can do, initially, is play the Godzilla game. The other VMS options, such as the notebook, are not accessible until you actually plug the Godzilla VMS into the Dreamcast console controller and have saved a game on it. Part 02: Getting Started ----------------------------- When you first get your Godzilla VMS, you will have to pull out the battery guard that is sticking out of the back of the unit. This allows the two batteries to touch each other, and will "turn on" the unit. After the initial intro screens and sounds, push buttons A and B together. You should then see a picture of an egg. Hit the A and B buttons again, and the egg will hatch into a baby monster. A few seconds after the hatching, you will be taken to the main menu screen. This is where you will have to choose the location to raise your monster in. Part 03: The Menu ----------------------------- The menu system is broken up into six different sections: * Menu 1: Locations * Menu 2: Missile Game * Menu 3: DNA * Menu 4: List * Menu 5: Battle * Menu 6: Sound Menu 1: Locations There are four selectable locations to raise your monster: normal (farm) kind (rural) tough (city) dodgy (pyramids) There are actually four stages of growth that your monster will go through and the locations that you raise your monster in, during these stages, will determine what its final, adult form will look like. Menu 2: Missile Game Basically the only really interactive aspect of the Godzilla VMS, the missile game is used to increase the fighting strength of your monster. The object of the game is to successfully dodge missiles launched at your monster by the Earth Defense Force. You do this by selecting the area where you think the missile will hit: high, medium or low. Using the directionl pad on the VMS,move the arrow to the area where you think the missile will hit and then hit the A button. You should then see a missile appear on the screen and move towards your monster. If you successfully selected the right area, your monster will be able to block the missile. If you didnąt select the correct area, the missile will hit your monster just like in the movies. Choose correctly two outof three times and you win the game. Choose incorrectly two or more times and you will lose. If you want to build up your monster, you should play this game as often as you can. It can make a big difference on the outcome of a fight. Note: If you lose the first two times, during a game, simply hit B and you will be taken to the main menu system. You can then start the game over and not waste any time on that third time. Menu 3: DNA This option is only selectable when your monster is fully grown. It reveals the number and name of your monster as well as its attribute points. This option is the fatest and easiest way to determine information about your new monster should you win a match (See Menu 5: Battle). Menu 4: List This menu option keeps track of all the different monsters that you have raised and fought with since the moment you łturned on" the Godzilla VMS. You can find the number, name, picture, attribute points of each monster here. There is also an extra screen that you can access here that can not be found in the Menu 3: DNA. This extra screen indicates three different things: Iksei: (This indicates if you have raised this monster) Shori: (This indicates the track record of your monster) Mita: (This indicates that you have seen this monster) Menu 5: Battle By far the coolest feature, this option allows you to link two Godzilla VMS's together and fight the monsters. To do this, remove the plastic covering on the end of your VMS and plug it into the second VMS. You then need to select Menu 5: Battle on both VMS's and push the A buttons. Both VMS units should then start loading information which is represented by the black box blinking in the upper left corner of the screen. After a couple of seconds of this loading, the screen will change telling you to pull the VMS units apart. When you do this, the battle between the two monsters will begin and each person will be able to view the fight on their own VMS. Fights are not limited to a certain length of time. Some fights last a few seconds while others can last for several minutes. It just depends on how evenly matched the two battling monsters are. Note: On rare occasions, a monster may pull off a "Critical Hit" that can completely destroy the other monster in a single attack. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to these hits, as it looks like they occur at random intervals. If you win the fight, your monster's DNA will combine with the losing monster's DNA and create a new monster that is stronger. If you lose, your monster will die and you will have to start all over again. Note: Regardless of whether you win or lose a battle, your opponent's monster will still be added to your VMS's Monster List (See Part 5: Monster List). Menu 6: Sound This menu option allows you to turn the game sounds on or off. In most cases, you will want the sound off because it tends to slow down the game especially during battles. However, if you are raising a monster you should keep the sound on. This allows you to hear the beeping sound that occurs whenever a monster changes to a new form. To get back to the main menu, simply push the B button. Part 04: General Tips ----------------------------- Considering that the game is based a lot on randomness, there are only a few useful strategies that can be used. As mentioned above, the rocket game tends to be very important when you are planning to fight against another monster with a similar skill level. Also, you should look at the locations table and try to raise the strongest monster you can from the beginning. The only other point you should remember is that monsters can only live for a certain period of time. If you leave the VMS on for too long, your monster will die and a message will appear on the VMS screen stating: "You're Dead". That is the last thing you want to see, so be sure and shut the VMS off whenever you are not going to use it for an extended period of time. To do this, simply hit the SLEEP button. To turn the VMS back on, hit the SLEEP button once more. We will be adding more tips to this section as we discover them. Part 05: Monster List ----------------------------- Here is a complete listing of all the different monsters that we have uncovered in the game. We have also included the stats for each monster, but we are unsure of what exact effect they have on the outcome of a fight. Just becasue a certain monster has a higher stat rating doesn't mean it will always win. As stated before, the Missile Game plays a more important part then anything else (See Menu 2: Missile Game). A lower rated monster can easily defeat a higher rated one if it has won more successful Missile games. Number Monster Name A: B: R: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 01 Minira ** *** * 02 Radon (Rodan) *** * ** 03 Mosura (Mothra) * ** * 04 Ganime * * ** 05 Angirasu * * * 06 Maguma ** * * 07 Gorozaurusu * * *** 08 Jettojagaa (Jet Jaguar) ** ** ** 09 Kingu Gidora (King Gidora) * *** *** 10 Gaigan ** *** ** 11 Supeesu Gojira (Space Godzilla) *** *** ** 12 Kamakirasu * *** ** 13 Gaira ** * *** 14 Biorante (Biolante) *** ** ** 15 Gezora ** ** * 16 Gabara * *** * 17 Gojira (Godzilla) *** ** *** 18 USA Gojira (USA Godzilla) *** *** *** 19 Batora *** * *** 20 Mekagojira (Mecha Godzilla) ** *** *** 21 Mogera *** ** * 22 Ebira * ** *** 23 Hedora ** ** *** 24 Megaro ** * ** 25 Baragon * ** ** 26 Desutoroia (Destroyer) *** *** * 27 Garugaru *** * * 28 Baran (Baron) *** * - 29 Manda *** - * 30 Dogora * *** - 31 Sanda - *** * 32 Kumonga * - *** 33 Kameeba - * *** 34 Desugidora (Death Gidora) *** ** - 35 Dagaara - ** *** Part 06: DNA List ----------------------------- The numbers on this chart represent the 35 possible monsters that can be obtained using the Godzilla VMS. To determine what your monster will transform into after winning a battle, simply find the number of the two fighting monsters (which are the left-most and top-most numbers) and see where they intersect on the chart. The number at the intersection is the new monster that your monster will transform into. Some of the monsters, namely 28 and above, are harder to get because they can not be obtained in a single battle. You have to fight certain monsters in a certain order to get them. As soon as we finalize that order, we will post them on this chart. 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 01 12 13 14 19 02 04 27 22 26 09 20 18 05 23 25 11 15 01 06 16 08 21 03 07 17 10 24 02 21 09 03 22 23 25 01 04 06 27 05 08 26 20 07 11 02 14 24 18 12 10 15 16 19 17 03 24 20 10 11 01 19 15 17 22 23 26 07 02 08 05 03 16 21 04 06 27 18 13 25 12 04 15 23 17 08 26 24 27 05 06 14 16 18 13 12 04 25 02 09 10 11 21 01 07 22 05 08 14 15 18 06 19 07 13 21 09 11 24 16 05 03 27 12 01 26 17 20 04 25 06 25 21 09 27 07 13 19 03 20 12 02 01 06 15 05 10 26 16 03 18 24 08 07 23 26 13 02 04 24 17 12 26 06 09 07 22 19 16 20 18 14 10 05 03 08 05 14 03 15 21 12 06 07 17 24 08 10 25 13 02 04 16 27 23 20 09 20 11 12 10 19 25 21 01 22 09 07 18 03 23 17 02 08 16 05 10 16 01 26 04 15 22 18 08 10 24 12 23 14 25 05 21 20 13 11 26 16 24 21 23 09 14 11 02 10 17 25 08 06 03 18 19 12 01 02 03 17 20 25 12 04 11 22 08 14 27 15 09 07 13 22 10 16 27 20 13 23 07 01 18 09 25 11 06 15 14 27 13 22 02 14 11 08 19 04 24 01 05 17 18 15 04 14 06 15 01 03 24 27 05 09 19 08 10 16 10 03 16 05 26 25 15 21 19 23 12 04 Part 07: Locations List ----------------------------- In order to produce a specific adult monster, you must raise it in varying environmental settings. This table shows which locations you should place your monster in during its different growth stages. If you follow the chart correctly then you will end up with the adult monster that is listed in the right column of the chart. However, there are only a few monsters that you can ever hope to raise. The others can only be obtained by winning a fight against another monster. Baby Little Junior Adult ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Farm/City Farm/House Farm Minira Farm/City Farm/House House Radon Farm/City Farm/House City Mosura Farm/City Farm/House Pyramids Edira Farm/City City/Pyramids Farm Angirasu Farm/City City/Pyarmids House Maguma Farm/City City/Pyramids City Gorozaurusu Farm/City City/Pyramids Pyramids Jettojyagaa House/Pyramids Farm/Pyramids Farm Kingogidora House/Pyramids Farm/Pyramids House Gaigin House/Pyramids Farm/Pyramids City Supeesu Gojira House/Pyramids Farm/Pyramids Pyramids Kamakirasu House/Pyramids City/House Farm Gaira House/Pyramids City/House House Biorante House/Pyramids City/House City Gezora House/Pyramids City/House Pyramids Gabora Part 08: Godzilla Generations ----------------------------- The main purpose of the Godzilla VMS is to use it in conjunction with GE's (General Entertainment) Godzilla Generations Dreamcast title. There is a mode in the game called "VMS Battle" which closely resembles the Pokemon Stadium game for the N64. However, the Godzilla game is much less interactive. Basically, players choose which monster they want to play as (you can use any monster that you have unlocked in the VMS) and then have to go up against four other monsters. The only real interaction is that you get to choose which of the four monsters you are going to attack. The rest boils down to pure chance. And the winner is the last monster left standing. Note: If you manage to unlock a majority of the 35 VMS monsters, then it looks like all the main Godzilla characters become selectable in the normal Godzilla Generations game. Meaning, you can play as U.S. Godzilla, Minira, Classic Godzilla, Godzilla and Mecha Godzilla instead of being able to play as only Godzilla and Mecha Godzilla. Dr. Serizawa, however, still remains hidden until you finsh the game with all the other characters. Part 09: Misc Stuff ----------------------------- This is the section that we devote to rumors and other things that we are not quite sure about. This is the section that will probably be added to the most. The Magic Date Hypothesis: One of the more interesting thoughts that we've had about the Godzilla VMS is that the date kept by its internal clock may somehow influence the game, itself. Some of you may remember an older Sega game called Christmas Nights. Depending on the date that the internal clock in your Saturn console was set to, the game would change in different ways. For example, if you played the game during Christmas time, the trees would be covered with ornaments. Play it on other holidays,and other elements would change. Anyway, the point is that Sega could have done the very same thing with the Godzilla VMS. The only date we can think of that is really pertinent to the VMS is the Japanese release date of the actual Dreamcast console - November 20, 1998 (11/20/98). Since there is no real way to reset the date on your VMS, aside from popping out the batteries or hitting the reset button, we have yet to try out our theory. If anyone out there is willing to test out this date, we would be most appreciative. Just remember, if you take the battery out, all of your game data may be lost. It would be best to try this when you first take it out the packaging, before you start playing. Results: After typing in a few different dates, we have discovered that none of them (so far) have any effect on the Godzilla game. We will keep trying but we now assume that there are no "magic" dates to be found. Hidden Codes Hypothesis: Considering that game developers just love to include hidden modes and other secrets in their games, it seems possible that the Godzilla VMS may contain some. Perhaps there might be hidden monsters or mini-games that we have yet to find. How to access them is a mystery but perhaps SEGA will reveal some more information when the Godzilla Generations game gets released in Japan. Results: We have yet to discover any codes or hidden secrets of the Godzilla VMS but SEGA might still have a couple of tricks up its sleeve. If you discover any cool secrets, please email us so that we can include them in this FAQ. Part 10: Tips And Tricks ----------------------------- While the overall Godzilla VMS game is pretty simplistic, there are a few tips and tricks that can be used to speed up your monster gathering. Here are the ones that we have compiled so far. Resetting The VMS The game "saves" your current stats whenever you go from the "Spade" mode to the "Clock" mode and back. These saved stats can be recovered by resetting the VMS, but only if you have not started a new egg once your monster died. There are a few uses for this trick. - If your high-level monster accidentally dies on you because you forgot to put the VMS in sleep mode, you can just reset the game with a pin, and the game should resume from when you last entered and exited the "Clock" mode. - This trick is extremely useful when you have two VMS's and want to get all of the 35 monsters on one of them. Let's say VMS1 is the main VMS and you are using VMS2 to help VMS1 get all the special monsters. After every successful battle/mutation for VMS1, enter and exit VMS1's "Clock" mode to save your progress. In the case that the VMS2 accidentally beats VMS1, simply reset VMS1 to recover the saved data. That way, you won't have to start over with a new monster. With that in mind, you can save both VMS stats, and reset the battle results that you don't like and save the ones that are favorable. Using this method, you can get both VMS's to have level 16+ monsters rather quickly. This is important because you need to fight two 16+ monsters in order to get a level 27+ monster. Changing The VMS Screen Font While in the "Clock" mode, hold the D-pad left and press the 'A' button. A Japanese message will say 'tokei saisettei' (reset the time?). On the bottom of the screen, 2 choices will also appear. The left side is 'hai' (yes), the right is 'iie' (no). Choose the right side and a row of numbers will appear. Pressing up or down on the D-pad will scroll through the 3 (maybe 4) different fonts available. Press the 'A' button when you find a font you like. The Godzilla VMS will return you to the time display at this point. Part 11: Bugs And Glitches ----------------------------- We have yet to discover any bugs or glitches in the Godzilla VMS but that doesn't mean there aren't any. If you discover any, please be sure and email us about them. Part 12: Conclusion ----------------------------- Hopefully, after reading this FAQ, you will gain a better understanding of the Godzilla VMS. There are still several aspects that we have not addressed, so if you would like to add something or have any questions about the FAQ, please email the author at s_frost@earthlink.net. We will continue to update this FAQ as we find out more information about the Godzilla VMS. Part 13: Credits ----------------------------- This FAQ was written by Stephen Frost with the assistance of Chris Slate. Minor contributors include Craig Harris and Jeff Chen. Thanks goes to Benjamin Hsu and Gaijin for their help on the Tips And Tricks section. Also, we give credit to Fernando Mosquera's Godzilla VMS faq, which provided us with the inspiration and general information to create this guide. Both the DNA and Locations tables were taken directly from the Japanese Godzilla VMS Site (www.ops.dti.ne.jp/~ykashi/game/godzilla/godzilla.html). We would like to give full credit to the staff of that website and thank them for taking the time to come up with the information that is presented in those tables. It is because of their hard work that we are able to present this information to you in this guide. If anyone else provides information that is used in this FAQ, they will be added to this section. ============================================================================= As always, the items explained in this FAQ (namely the VMS and Godzilla) are copyright by their respected owners SEGA and TOHO. This FAQ was written for the pure porpose of helping owners of the Godzilla VMS. It should not be altered in any way except by premission of the authors. The latest version of this FAQ can always be found at the Godzilla VMS Faq Site: http://home.earthlink.net/~s_frost/Dreamcast or at Dreamcast Life: http://www.dreamcastlife.com ============================================================================= Godzilla Atsumete VMS Guide Copyright 1999 Stephen Frost