Tear Ring Saga

This page details pre-release information and/or media for Tear Ring Saga.

Famitsu Vol.???#

To do: What actual issue of Famitsu is this from?

Originally known as Emblem Saga, Tear Ring Saga went through many changes late in development. Shouzou Kaga also did an interview in Famitsu where he described Emblem Saga as quite different than what actually came to release on the PlayStation, mostly that it blatantly featured Fire Emblem characters and lore.

Screenshots of the early game were provided, and they are quite different from what we got in the final release.

Character Stat Screen#

Prerelease	Final

There is one known image of a character's stat screen, featuring attributes not in the final.

There are "weapon resistance" gauges in the middle of the screen. These apparently function as a gained resistance to a weapon type over time. As the weapon resistance attribute increased for a particular weapon type, the unit would take less damage from that weapon type in battle.

The screen also features a resistance (magic defense) stat, though the final game lacks this stat entirely. In the final, a unit's magic power/strength stat is instead used in calculations for taking magical damage, like in Fire Emblem: Thracia 776.

World Map#

Prerelease	Final World Map	Final World Map Menu

The world map is very different from the final. The layout, while vaguely similar to the starting area in the final is different. It is also in full color, unlike the final's sepia-colored map.

The stat window shown on the world map reveals a few more differences. The character here has an SP bar. This would have possibly had to do with casting magic, though the exact function of it is unknown. There is no SP bar in the final release.

Also of note the character portrait used in this screen is not in the final release. Though a portrait that looks very similar to it (featuring teal hair instead of green hair) exists in the final game as one of the many (many) unused portraits.

Battle Map#

Prerelease	Final

Earlier in development the game was apparently done in an isometric angle similar to Tactics Ogre or Final Fantasy Tactics. The final game uses a top-down view much closer to traditional Fire Emblem games.

The screenshot also looks like unit direction would have been important in gameplay. In the final game, units don't face in specific directions when idle.

Dengeki Playstation Vol.170 (March 23, 2001)#

The feature in this magazine has an earlier version of the box artwork, Runan has blue hair here.

	Japanese	Translation	Possible final equivalent	Translation	Notes
	ショートソード	Shortsword	たんけん	Shortsword	Prerelease is the English word "Shortsword" written in Katakana. The final game's Shortsword has the same stats.
	ロングソード	Longsword	--	--	Final equivalent unclear.
	ブロードソード	Broadsword	--	--	Final equivalent unclear.
	ハンドスペア	Hand Spear	てやり	Hand Spear	Prerelease uses the English words "hand spear" written in Katakana.
	ボウガン	Bowgun	--	--	Same as final.
	ライフの杖	Life Staff	いやしの杖	Healing Staff	Prerelease uses the English word "life" written in Katakana.

Almost every weapon in the armory's inventory is named differently, though the icons still appear in final.

Dengeki PlayStation D41#

To do: The disc's Emblem Saga feature has an earlier version of the title screen theme. An early version of the opening narration theme is in here too, but it doesn't seem to play anywhere.

The bonus disc that came with this issue has some Emblem Saga materials. The main differences of note are Runan using his blue hair design and some different class names in the character profiles. The characters with profiles here are: Runan, Holmes, Eugen, Arkis, Kreiss, Garo, Sasha, Kate, and Codha.

Dengeki Playstation Vol.172 (March 23, 2001)#

To do: Meriah's character profile mentions a missing sister, this is possibly in reference to Sierra being her sister in cut dialogue scenes.

Dengeki Playstation volume 172 has a feature of some early game combat and story scenes. While the game looks much closer to final here, there are some interesting differences in the character profiles. Runan's assets have blue hair here, though that isn't really surprising.

Gerxel Cult blurb differences#

Magazine	Final portrait	Final battle sprite	Final unused portrait

A dark mage who deserted the Gerxel Cult. He is being hunted by the Cult.

A character named Rishel appears in the Gerxel Cult faction blurb, here he is described as a defect of the cult who is on the run. In the released game the character named Rishel has a different design and no connections to the Gerxel Cult. The portrait seen in the magazine preview still exists in the final game, but is unused.

Interestingly, Rishel's character sprite for his promoted class has almost the exact outfit shown in the unused portrait.

A monster tamer of the cult. He uses a summoning staff to endlessly summon monsters to overwhelm foes.

A monster-summoning character called Nuba also appears in the Gerxel Cult faction section. No character under this specific name appears in the final game. The character description and portrait match the boss Mahoba appearing in the final game, so he seems to have just been renamed.

Portrait differences#

Prerelease	Final

Neyfa's portrait is an earlier version. In the final game her hair is deep purple instead of silvery, and her chin is rounder.

Prerelease	Final	Final (Unused)

Enteh's portrait is also an earlier version. Her portrait in the final game is redrawn facing a different direction, though a sad expression version of the old portrait remains in the game, unused.