FAQ: Rasetsu (PC)  .

So after my promise to write more regularly, I finally started playing Kogado Software’s 2001 tactical action game Rasetsu. That’s pretty much all that I’ve been playing. For far too many hours, every day. I’ve seen the game described as an RTS, but it’s really not particularly strategic (although quite real-time, and it does control like an RTS). It’s more like a Japanese spin on Syndicate with really, really beautiful still artwork.

They changed all that art for the PS2 version, by the way. But in the interest of making something good out of my time spent on the game, I am posting a FAQ / walkthrough here. And I believe this is perhaps the only English language FAQ/walkthrough available. Lord knows I couldn’t find one when I went searching for tips on how to beat some of the missions… but after countless hours of experimentation, here’s what I’ve got…….

I’ll make this look nicer later, but in case I get hit by a truck today, I think it’s important to get this information out on the internet in English.

---------------------
|                   |
| Rasetsu           |
| Kogado Software   |
| PC version, 2001  |
|                   |
---------------------
The game's illustrations are by Kutsuzawa Ryuichirou.

Music is by Hiroto Saitoh, _____ Fujiwara, and _____ _____.

"Assimilate a ogre thyself, and thou will be the Rasetsu. In the year 4962,
planet X02 was striken by the Galaxy of Federal Government the Earth. A
gun-smoke lay along the ground and there were soldiers of fortune who wear
the Bio-armor. People calls them 'Rasetsu' with a feeling of awe. The legend
has been gone on."

So says the box, in fluent Engrish. You control a band of mercenaries. The
first step is to pick a leader:

**********************************************************************
*                            Okashira selection:                     *
**********************************************************************

------------------------------------------
SERA (Cellarphien Goldivine)
------------------------------------------
Race (shuzoku): Human
Gender (seibetsu): Female
Strength (chikarazuyosa): 9
Dexterity (kiyousa): 10
Hit points (seimeiku): 14
Defense (byougyoku): 8
Combat (hakuheiku): 17
Mobility (kidouku): 18
Special ability (tokushu nouryoku): ???
License: none

------------------------------------------
LATIARA (Latiara Cheerbur)
------------------------------------------
Race (shuzoku): Human?
Gender (seibetsu): Female
Strength (chikarazuyosa): 29
Dexterity (kiyousa): 39
Hit points (seimeiku): 13
Defense (byougyoku): 37
Combat (hakuheiku): 31
Mobility (kidouku): 24
Special ability (tokushu nouryoku): ???
License: Fire ???
Starts with: Latiara, Lily, Marian, Milfeena

------------------------------------------
LEONA (Leona Sophheus Algunos)
------------------------------------------
Race (shuzoku): Human
Gender (seibetsu): Female
Strength (chikarazuyosa): 18
Dexterity (kiyousa): 12
Hit points (seimeiku): 19
Defense (byougyoku): 18
Combat (hakuheiku): 23
Mobility (kidouku): 12
Special ability (tokushu nouryoku): Thousand League Swell (seirichou)
License: ???

------------------------------------------
JOYCE (Joister McGear)
------------------------------------------
Race (shuzoku): Human
Gender (seibetsu): Male
Strength (chikarazuyosa): 24
Dexterity (kiyousa): 14
Hit points (seimeiku): 19
Defense (byougyoku): 12
Combat (hakuheiku): 1
Mobility (kidouku): 13
Special ability (tokushu nouryoku): ???
License: Construction (kousaku)

------------------------------------------
STANCIA (XXX-HO22vip)
------------------------------------------
Race (shuzoku): Android
Gender (seibetsu): Female
Strength (chikarazuyosa): 40
Dexterity (kiyousa): 18
Hit points (seimeiku): 222
Defense (byougyoku): 26
Combat (hakuheiku): 24
Mobility (kidouku): 28
Special ability (tokushu nouryoku): Recovery (chiyu)
License: ???

**********************************************************************
* Rasetsu upgrade tree: *
**********************************************************************

|- Akyra (E)
|- Akpis ----|
| |- Skolon (E)
|- Escara --|
| | |- Yasha (E)
| |- Granchio -|
Blatta -| |- Agrios (E)
|
| |- Mayfly ----- Bailarin(E)
|- Cigarra -|
| |- Aktchnya (E)
|- Reifen ----- Baran ------|
|- Ydotka (E)

Blatta = slow ground suit
Escara = slow ground suit, can carry better weapons
Cigarra = limited flight suit, medium speed
Akpis = very fast ground suit
Granchio = medium speed suit, has built-in claw
Mayfly = capable of long flight, fast speed
Reifen = cycle unit, stronger than Cigarra
Akyra = slower than the Akpis, but beefier; well-rounded.
Skolon = a walking wall.
Yasha = death-dealing tank. Fastest of this branch.
Agrios = wields the frickin' GODHAND.
Bailarin = long flight and stronger, very fast
Baran = cycle unit, bulkier than Reifen
Aktchnya = sensible evolution of the Baran; well-rounded.
Ydotka = power bike. A true hell's angel with a big mortar.

------------------------------------------
Suit values:
------------------------------------------
Name STR DEX HP DEF COM MOB WPN SPC
Agrios 30 20 190 40 45 30 2 GODHAND
Akpis 25 20 105 15 15 60 2 ---
Aktchnya 60 50 120 15 15 25 3 ---
Akyra 35 50 190 35 25 25 3 ---
Bailarin 30 45 170 15 10 55 2 FLY
Baran 45 50 90 8 5 10 3 ---
Blatta 15 10 55 8 10 10 3 ---
Cigarra 25 20 65 8 5 25 2 FLY
Escara 20 20 80 15 15 10 3 ---
Granchio 20 10 145 25 30 30 1 CLW
Mayfly 25 30 85 8 5 40 2 FLY
Reifen 40 40 85 8 5 10 2 ---
Skolon 30 30 230 55 20 20 2 ---
Yasha 25 10 250 50 60 60 1 CLW
Ydotka 60 60 100 10 10 10 2 GUN

To actually make use of these numerics, you have to apply the points. In the
armor view, you see that hexagon in the lower-right? Click on a point in that
hexagon and you can apply points to increase your stats. It costs money.

**********************************************************************
* General Information: *
**********************************************************************

------------------------------------------
Condition:
------------------------------------------
Green = no problems
Yellow = that character died during a mission
Red = that character died, and they were already at yellow

To restore condition, simply leave that character lobbied during a mission.
When you win, you'll return to discover their health restored.

I don't know what happens if you let condition reach red. It's probably bad.

------------------------------------------
Items:
------------------------------------------
In the suit upgrade screen, to the lower-left of the hexagon is a symbol.
Click on this to access the item menu. From here, you can take drugs to boost
stats, although you can't boost them above their natural limits. If you want
to have some wild fun, there are chromosomes of various numerics that will
change your stats. Those can actually break the top limit if used properly.

Chromosome chart:
NUMERIC STR DEX HP DEF COM MOB
10 -7 +9 +6 +9 -3 +8
13 -- +8 +10 +8 +7 -3
22 +6 -- -3 -- -9 +3

There's also a really cool item called "Biochip N". When used, it lets you
upgrade a character's suit without needing to kill things for experience.
There's no limit on how many a character can use. With these items, you can
boost formerly weak characters and sub them into your active party -- so that
your main characters can spend their time studying licenses to improve stats.

------------------------------------------
Destroying stuff:
------------------------------------------
Use the left button to select a character, and the right button to enter
commands. If you move it over an enemy or destructible structure, then a
cross-hairs appears. If you right click, then that character will use all of
their weapons in an effort to destroy the thing. To limit the weapons that
are used, left click on a weapon (just to the left of the mini-map) first.
Then right-click on the object. That way, you won't use valuable missile
charges on something that can be taken out with a mere machinegun.

You can also destroy other things -- walls, bushes, etc. Follow the method
above (pick a weapon, then right-click). This is a little tricky, so just
mess around until it works. You'll know that your character is destroying
an object when he fires a second time without requiring a command. What I
mean is, let's say you click to destroy a bush. He'll fire at the bush. Wait
6 or 7 seconds. If he doesn't fire again, then you didn't really click on the
bush (or rather, you didn't click on what the game registers to be "the bush").
So target again, fire, and wait 6 or 7 seconds. If your character fires a
second shot, then you just need to wait a bit and the object will be gone
shortly.

**********************************************************************
* Walkthrough: *
**********************************************************************

Latiara path
start with Lily, Marion, and Milfeena

Stancia path
start with Meg, Dibalo, Lily, Naria, Sephy, Rondi, Zopon, Folkis, and Wren

------------------------------------------
Mission 1:
------------------------------------------
Simply follow the road to the drop point, destroying as many things as you
can. At the end, don't stand too close to the gas tanks. They explode and kill
your people.

Latiara: Run for the goal, don't detour. Take any buildings on your way, but
be careful.
Stanshia: Don't just detour -- split your party and send them rampaging across
the map. Mess everything up real good.

------------------------------------------
Mission 2:
------------------------------------------
You've got to protect the carrier trucks. First, take the hospital in the
Northeast, then clear a path straight south to some gun emplacements. Head
west a bit and kill the guns at the perimeter, and from there go southwest
picking off any remaining troops. If you clear things out quickly, then you
can go back and dig out the rest of the western base. As long as you clear a
line between yourself and the hospital, you can always send wounded characters
walking back. There's actually a second hospital at the base's west end.

------------------------------------------
Mission 3:
------------------------------------------
First, get everyone -- including the truck -- to the northeast base. Claim the
huge command center on the way. Over to the west is another big base, and west
of that is a hidden truck. Liberate the base and get the truck over with the
rest. Then transport everyone back to the assault ship (starting point). If
it worked, then you've won. Otherwise, just move people in groups from assault
ship to northeast base, and back again.

Note that there are two ??? locations, one in the southwest corner and the
other in the southeast corner, to be claimed. There's also an observation
tower in the northwest that can be destroyed.

------------------------------------------
Mission 4:
------------------------------------------
You can only take one person on this mission. Find all the renegades and get
them to the drop point. You don't even need to touch the base in the upper
right corner.

I would suggest using someone who can fly. If you've already upgraded a
Cigarra to a Mayfly, that's best... and equip it with some great weapons.
Afterwards, you should have enough experience to make the final update to that
chain of Rasetsu.

------------------------------------------
Mission 5:
------------------------------------------
You've got to destroy all the warp transporters, while making sure there is an
open road for carrier trucks to safely cross.

------------------------------------------
Mission 6:
------------------------------------------
Weird building on center-east border of map. Warp transporter at top of map,

between center and northeast.

Destroy all the cannons, then return to drop point. Watch out! Drop point
will have become heavily guarded by soldiers. If you have Sephy in a Mayfly or
better, then she'll be a godsend.

------------------------------------------
Mission 7:
------------------------------------------
Northwest corner has two of those weird buildings as well as other structure.
Control center in northwest, below two weird buildings.

Barracks at top center. Go southwest from those barracks to find a lot - more

barracks, hospital, control center, power plant, etc.

At the very top of the screen, just a bit right of center, is another weird
building. It's half-obscured and easy to miss.

Drop point in southeast corner, along with a control center and a whole
fricking army of goons.

Massive gas tank collection just left of the middle.

Anyway, take over everything. After occupying all the detention centers,
you'll then receive a message to go visit the hazard point (it's in Japanese).
The hazard point to go to is towards the west -- if you didn't destroy all the
observation towers, then you'll see a big monstrous dude. Get him to the exit
point.

------------------------------------------
Mission 8:
------------------------------------------
Defend the city. First there are attacks from the southeast and southwest.
Then you'll need to worry about the center-east. There are several small
attacks in between, before a large swarm from the northeast and southwest.
There's a spot in the center where you can hang out between attacks. Be sure
to take over all the buildings you can, while you can.

After protecting the city, this is where my game glitched up and gave me 67
million gigas (money), so I bought out the shop. Not that money was a big
issue before, but...

------------------------------------------
Mission 9:
------------------------------------------
Watch out for mine-laden zones on this map; they're housed inside dashed yellow
lines, so just walk around those areas. There are a few barracks that you need
to take out. One is at the top left, then another right of that. There's a
third at the bottom center. It's the very bottom -- only the top half is
visible on the map, so it's easy to miss.

There are two main pockets of enemies, at the northwest and southeast corners.
Otherwise, just a few guns here and there. Should be pretty easy to clean out
if you destroy the barracks quickly.

While you occupy the detention centers, be sure to also blow a hole in the
wall. This will allow the trailer to get inside and grab prisoners. You need
to get all the prisoners. As you do this, waves of enemies appear. If you
want to make things easier on yourself, get the far southeast prisoner (the one
behind gates) first. The game assumes you'll grab him last and plants a fresh
wave of enemies down there.

I suggest hitting the southeast center first, and the northwest center last.
Some enemies do appear from the northwest at one point, so that way you never
have to put your trailers in harm's way.

Now get everyone back to the drop point!

------------------------------------------
Mission 10:
------------------------------------------
The control center is a bit northeast of center. That's a quick way to take
over the four satellite systems that branch from it (north, south, east, west).

Protect all of those satellites for extra earnings.

So basically, once you take the control center, you have to defend it for a
while. There's a timer in the corner. When it reaches zero, you win.

------------------------------------------
Mission 11:
------------------------------------------
Take the control center, protect the satellite dishes best you can, and kill
everything. Pretty straightforward, but be prepared for some tough new
enemies.

------------------------------------------
Mission 12:
------------------------------------------
See that big force in the northwest corner? You've got to get them back to the
entrance point. And you've got to keep 2/3 of them (10) alive.

There's a force in the northeast that will chew them up if you just try to walk
them down, so that's where your mercs come in -- move over, kill, weaken, maim,
etc. And be sure to keep the special general unit alive, or you lose
instantly.

When returning them to the drop point, there's no drop point marker. You see
where the road appears to end on the west side where your mercs originated?
You need to walk the friendly troops off the screen at that point.

------------------------------------------
Mission 13:
------------------------------------------
Take all the control centers (four of them) and search out the female soldiers
(four of them).

A group of enemies will then descend from the north. They're not too tough.
Defeat them for victory.

------------------------------------------
Mission 14:
------------------------------------------
You can only take five people on this mission. This is a good time to make
sure everyone else is fully upgraded in suits and study some licenses.

Take over the city, destroy the power plant, and get the hell outta there
before time runs out. There's a timer in the upper-right corner.

------------------------------------------
Mission 15:
------------------------------------------
Take everything over within the time limit. Be sure to destroy the special
statue (it's the only one that can't be captured). If you park the special
units in the northeast corner and posit a large force in the southwest, this
should be pretty easy.

------------------------------------------
Mission 16:
------------------------------------------
Protect your general, and defeat the enemy general within the time limit. When
you find him, he will be easy to identify, even though he looks like a normal
unit. He's standing still in an enclosed area.

------------------------------------------
CONGRATULATIONS, YOU WIN
------------------------------------------
Enjoy watching the credits, which are interspersed with sexy pictures of the
entire female cast.

Pick "rasyo" from the main menu to blaze through the game again, with power.