Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story

Introduction

In the mid-1990s, the Sailor Moon franchise was a global phenomenon, spawning a variety of video games ranging from side-scrolling beat-'em-ups to competitive puzzle titles. However, one title stands head and shoulders above the rest for fans of deep storytelling and character development: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story. Also known by its alternative name, Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon: Another Story, this title is a traditional Japanese RPG that takes the magical girl aesthetic and merges it with the complex mechanics of the 16-bit era's greatest adventures. It serves as a love letter to the series, bridging the gap between major story arcs while offering a completely original narrative that expands the lore of the Silver Millennium.

Story & Setting

The narrative is set in a unique pocket of the timeline, primarily taking place between the S and SuperS seasons of the anime. The peace established after the defeat of the Death Busters is shattered when a group of rebels from the future Crystal Tokyo arrives. Known as the Oppositio Senshi—Sin, Nabu, Nergal, Marduk, and Ishtar—these dissidents believe that the Silver Crystal and the Sailor Senshi are the root cause of all conflict on Earth. Led by a mysterious sorceress named Apsu, they seek to alter destiny by rewriting the past.

Strange occurrences begin to plague the present day as previously defeated villains like Daimons, Droids, and Youma reappear in the streets of Tokyo. After the Inner Senshi and Chibiusa mysteriously vanish, Usagi must join forces with the Outer Senshi—Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, and Sailor Saturn—to find her friends. The journey eventually takes the Guardians across the globe, from the mountains of Tibet to the villages of Canada, as they fight to preserve the flow of time and protect the future of Crystal Tokyo.

Gameplay

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story features classic turn-based RPG mechanics that will feel familiar to fans of Final Fantasy or Chrono Trigger. Players manage a party of up to five Senshi, utilizing a unique "Formation" system. By placing characters in specific spots on the grid, players can boost certain stats like defense or attack power.

Instead of traditional Magic Points, the game uses Energy Points (EP) to fuel the Senshi’s iconic special attacks. One of the most praised features is the "Link Attack" system, which allows two or more Senshi to combine their powers for massive damage, mimicking the team-up attacks seen in the anime. The game is structured into chapters, many of which focus on individual Senshi. This design choice allows players to explore the distinct personalities of the Guardians while collecting various "Colognes" and accessories to enhance their combat capabilities.

Platforms

This game was originally released for the Super Famicom in Japan, capturing the peak of the system's 16-bit graphical capabilities.

Legacy

Despite never receiving an official localized release outside of Japan, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story has maintained a legendary status in the gaming community. This is largely due to high-quality fan translations that appeared in the late 90s and early 2000s, making it one of the most famous "lost" RPGs for Western audiences. It is frequently cited as the best video game adaptation of the franchise because it respects the source material, features voice clips from the original anime cast, and provides a level of tactical depth rarely seen in licensed magical girl games.

Fun Facts

  • The members of the Oppositio Senshi are named after deities from Babylonian mythology.
  • The game features multiple endings depending on the player's choices and performance in the final battle against Apsu.
  • The character sprites change based on whether the Senshi are in their civilian or superhero forms, a detail that delighted fans of the show.
  • Ryo Urawa, a character from the first season of the anime who rarely appeared afterward, makes a significant cameo to warn the Senshi about the shifting timeline.

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