Battle Hunter

Infobox VG| title = Battle Hunter


developer = Agetec
publisher = Tommo
designer =
engine =
released = June 1, 2001
genre = Tactical role-playing game
modes = Multiplayer
ratings = ESRB: Everyone 10+ (E10+)
platforms = Sony PlayStation
requirements =

Battle Hunter is an anime-styled tactical role-playing game, released for the Sony PlayStation in 2001. The game revolves around a player-controlled hunter that must compete with three other hunters in order to win a relic, and makes heavy use of traditional RPG conventions such as dice and tile-based movement.

tory

In the years after a major world war, the few scientists remaining on Earth set out to develop a formula to protect humanity from extinction. To be successful they require vital information from the ruins of cities around the world, and assign the task of collecting it to an elite task force known as the Hunters. The story revolves around the player getting jobs from the shop owner to recover relics of interest from dungeons. Eventually the player will compete against a secret organization known as B PHS for the target relics.

Gameplay

Gameplay centers around hunting and retrieving relics in a dungeon represented by a randomly generated grid. Four hunters are always present in the dungeon, with the computer controlling any hunters that are not controlled by the players. Before entering a dungeon, the player(s) are given a mission to retrieve a key relic hidden in one of the treasure boxes in the dungeon. Other treasure boxes contain other relics, but only the key relic is required to win any one mission. The player has 3 options : moving, attacking and resting (which will give him 2 cards and quarter of his Hit Points back).

Character development

When creating a hunter, players are given 11 initial ability points to spend on Movement, Attack, Defense, and Hit Points. Raising stats uses the following system:

*3 points spent on Movement will raise the Movement statistic by 1
*1 point spent on Attack will raise the Attack statistic by 1
*2 points spent on Defense will raise the Defense statistic by 1
*1 point spent on Hit Points will raise the number of maximum Hit Points by 3

Cards

Each hunter begins the game with 5 cards drawn randomly out of a deck of 100. Other players are always able to see each others hands at all times. Cards can be used at different times throughout the game for different effects, but they are color-coded to the types of effects they cause. Blue and Yellow cards can be used on the map or in combat, but Red and Green cards can only be used in combat or on the map, respectively.

Blue cards affect movement ability. They range from +1 to +3 and E. There are only 2 blue E cards in the deck. When used on the dungeon grid map, blue cards increase the hunter's movement range for that round. If the an E card is used, it will warp the hunter directly to the exit. When used in combat, they increase the hunter's ability to escape from battle for one round. If an E card is used in combat, it will result in definite success in escaping.

Yellow cards affect defense and evasion. They range in value from +1 to +8, as well as A, and D. If used on the dungeon grid map, the cards increase the hunter's ability to avoid traps by a percentage of the card's value x10. For example, a yellow +3 will grant a 30% chance of evading a trap. a D card will increase the rate to 50% and an A card will grant total protection, increasing the rate to 100%. Cards only last for the round in which they are used, then they expire. If used in combat, they increase the hunter's defense by the amount on the card. a D card will double the hunter's defense, and an A card will maximize the defense.

Red cards affect attack. They can only be used in combat. Values on red cards range from +1 to +8, as well as A, and D, which maximize and double the hunter's attack score, respectively.

Green cards represent traps and can only be used on the dungeon grid map. The traps are placed before the hunter moves, and remains in the space the hunter just vacated. Traps are not visible on the grid until they are stepped on and triggered by a hunter. There are 4 types of green card, each representing a different kind of trap. The maximum amount of traps on 1 space is 3 traps

*E - Empty: All cards in the hunter's hand are removed from the game.
*S - Stun: The hunter is stunned and loses their next turn.
*D - Da

*L - Leg Da

Combat

Combat can take place between two hunters or a hunter and a monster. Combat in Battle Hunter is different from most RPGs because combat ends after one exchange of actions, as opposed to fighting to the death. The majority of combat sessions end with both combatants still standing.

When attacked, the hunter that is being attacked can choose whether to counterattack, defend, run away, or surrender. After choosing any action (other than surrender) the hunter will then choose a card to use, or use none if desired. Then, the attacking combatant will choose his/her card. The system will roll two 6-sided dice for each combatant: two for the attacker's attack strength, and two for the defender's defense strength. Each hunter's modifier's will be applied and damage will be resolved.
"Example: Hunter A attacks Hunter B. Hunter A has 3 attack and 0 defense, Hunter B has 1 attack and 2 defense. Hunter B chooses to counterattack and uses a +5 yellow Defense modifier. Hunter A chooses to use a +3 red Attack modifier. The system then rolls a 6 and a 5 for Hunter A, and a 4 and a 4 for Hunter B. Hunter A's attack is 6+5 +5 bonus +3 = 19. Hunter B's defense is 4+4 +5 bonus +2 = 15. Hunter B will take 4 damage. The system will then calculate Hunter B's counter-attack in a similar fashion."

If a hunter loses all HP in a battle, he/she is not killed. Instead, the hunter is warped to a random location in the dungeon and his/her maximum HP is reduced by 50%. The hunter will also need to surrender a relic to the attacker. If a monster manages to get the Key Relic, the mission ends and all hunters lose any relics in their possession.

Relics

After completing a dungeon, the player can ask the shop keeper to examine the relics he has found. Some of them are useless (like the empty bottle), but some others have effects, such as weapons which increase the hunter's Attack, or disks which contain wallpapers for the main menu. Some others give a handicap to the hunter who possess it, such as becoming confused at the end of your turn. Those can be used to escape a fight by giving it to the enemy which will be handicaped. Only relics which give a malus are effectives when not examined, you need to examine the others to profit from their bonuses. You can also sell the relics to the shop keeper, weather they are examined or not. The Key Relic can not be examined : it is automatically sold.

Leveling up

To level up, you have to gather enough money (credits) by selling relics or winning dungeons. Then, you can go to the clinic to buy your level up. When leveling up, your Hit Points automatically increase by 1, and you can add 1 point to the statistic of your choice. Maximum level is 15.

Deck running out of cards

If the deck runs out of cards (which usually does not occur) then the dungeon beast is sent out. He is considered a monster (as he does not attack monsters but attacks hunters) and he is very hard to beat. This wolf-like creature has an incredibly high attack and can take many hunters out in one hit. Be aware not to let the deck get down to 0 cards!

External links

*moby game|id=/battle-hunter|name="Battle Hunter"