Dark Half（Super Famicom）
🗺️ Follow Faruko and Rukyu through seven days
The game alternates control between hero Faruko and demon lord Rukyu, whose stories run in parallel across the seven days before humanity's destruction. Control changes at each section's end, and one side's actions affect the other's world. Difficult sections increase as days pass, making each day's development and collection tasks important for finishing. This overview follows the route from opening to finale and highlights priorities for each section.
Dark Half — what should I check first in Hero/demon-lord progression routes?
The story is divided into sections, with control switching between Faruko and Rukyu at each section's end. Soul Power returns to a set value when switching, so you can plan to spend it within that section. Early on, learning movement that avoids exhausting Soul Power matters more than combat itself. Both sides visit the same towns and regions from different positions, letting geographical knowledge carry across.
| Phase | Objective | Checklist |
|---|---|---|
| Early game | Understand the 2-perspective hero/demon-lord structure |
|
| Midgame | Optimize soul consumption |
|
| Late game | Secure the desired ending conditions |
|
1. The demon lord runs out of souls
Cause: Too many detours and battles
Solution: Limit each chapter to its required actions
2. Hero-side battles overwhelm you
Cause: Equipment upgrades are late
Solution: Upgrade equipment whenever you reach a new town
3. You cannot reach the intended ending
Cause: A branching event is incomplete
Solution: Check the conditions together and return to a pre-branch save
The story is divided into sections, with control switching between Faruko and Rukyu at each section's end. Soul Power returns to a set value when switching, so you can plan to spend it within that section. Early on, learning movement that avoids exhausting Soul Power matters more than combat itself. Both sides visit the same towns and regions from different positions, letting geographical knowledge carry across.
- ▸ Control changes after each section and Soul Power resets
- ▸ The hero protects places that the demon lord visits to destroy
- ▸ Reducing wasted movement is fundamental to clearing each section
- ▸ Progress on one side affects the other's circumstances and ending
There are no experience points: without raising attributes through post-battle orbs, you will struggle from midgame onward. Dungeons around day four are comparatively good for training, letting you establish the party's strength before later challenges. As Rukyu, use Dark Gate to recruit followers for both combat and Soul Power gains. The currency Fatia funds important late-game purchases, so conserving it is useful.
- ▸ Build attributes with orbs in accessible midgame training dungeons
- ▸ Recruit Rukyu's monster followers early to strengthen the battle line
- ▸ Manage Fatia conservatively with the late game in mind
- ▸ Collect treasure in hidden rooms opened by concealed switches or magic circles
Around day six, the hero can also obtain Dark Gate, greatly reducing day seven's burden. It is easy to become complacent about remaining Soul Power near the end, but the final dungeon is draining and tests your actual strength. The story concludes with the Judgment Battle, where you choose whether to fight as Faruko or Rukyu. To reach both conclusions, prepare equipment, magic, and followers before entering the final stretch.
- ▸ Obtaining Dark Gate as the hero on day six makes day seven much easier
- ▸ The final dungeon is demanding; do not overestimate your Soul Power reserves
- ▸ Choose Faruko or Rukyu for the concluding Judgment Battle
- ▸ Prepare strengthening items and followers before the final confrontation
Dark Half: follow the listed steps in progression order.
| Stage | Objective | Checkpoints |
|---|---|---|
| Early game | Understand the 2-perspective hero/demon-lord structure | Prioritize equipment upgrades for the hero / Avoid unnecessary battles as the demon lord / Track the 2 perspectives using the same chapter numbers |
| Midgame | Optimize soul consumption | Conserve ways to restore souls / Reduce unnecessary exploration and head directly to objectives / Always keep a save before a branch |
| Late game | Secure the desired ending conditions | Check unfinished branching events / Enter the final stretch with spare soul reserves / Compare the hero's and demon lord's progression requirements |
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