------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PlayStation 2
Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria - Puzzle Solutions

Written by Fernando Garcia (aka the Last Cetra, aka Roslolian Garr),
who owns exclusive copyrights.
Any question/advice regarding this guide may be sent to me
For information on how to contact me, refer to my contributor page on GameFAQs
(Just click back on your browser and follow the link on my user name)

Created on December 28th, 2008
Current version: 0.93 (Feb 16th, 2010)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISCLAIMER

This document is exclusive property of the author.
It is protected by International Copyright Law. Violating any of the rules
stated herein may result in severe civil and criminal penalties.

This is intended for private & personal use only. It may not be reproduced in
parts or in its entirety in any form (be it electronically or physically),
specially for commercial purposes, as it is completely free of charge.
As of this writing, GameFAQs is the only site hosting this document.

Lastly, all trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by
their respective trademark and copyright holders.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


   Table of Contents:

   1. What's this guide NOT about [VPS100]
   2. What's this guide about     [VPS200]
     2.1. Photon techniques               [VPS210]
   3. Puzzle solutions            [VPS300]
     3.1. Seraphic Gate Floor 1           [VPS310]
       3.1.1. Sliding platforms room              [VPS311]
       3.1.2. Unreachable enemy room              [VPS312]
       3.1.3. Unreachable Sealstone room          [VPS313]
     3.2. Seraphic Gate Floor 2           [VPS320]
       3.2.1. Falling platforms room              [VPS321]
       3.2.2. Pit room                            [VPS322]
       3.2.3. Moving blocks room                  [VPS323]
       3.2.4. Narrow room leading down            [VPS324]
     3.3. Seraphic Gate Floor 3           [VPS330]
       3.3.1. Portal room                         [VPS331]
       3.3.2. Unreachable Sealstone room          [VPS332]
       3.3.3. Room where enemy falls from ceiling [VPS333]
     3.4. Seraphic Gate Floor 4           [VPS340]
       3.4.1. Room with globes                    [VPS341]
       3.4.2. Room where everything's unreachable [VPS342]
     3.5. Seraphic Gate Floor 5           [VPS350]
       3.5.1. Room above portal                   [VPS351]
     3.6. Other dungeons                  [VPS360] (**TODO**)
       3.6.1. Audoula Temple - Evil Eyebrow Ring  [VPS361]
       3.6.2. Audoula Temple - Strength Bow       [VPS362]
       3.6.3. Chateau Obsession - Claymore        [VPS363]
       3.6.4. Dragon Palace - Power Bangle        [VPS364]
       3.6.5. Yggdrasil - Power Bangle            [VPS365]
       3.6.6. Yggdrasil - Unicorn's Horn          [VPS366]
   4. File history                [VPS400]
   5. Closure                     [VPS500]
   
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1. What's this guide NOT about [VPS100]

Well, putting it simply, this guide's purpose is solely to help you solving
all of the game's many puzzles. I've chosen such a specific topic because it
was the only kind of information I couldn't find on any other guide currently
around. At least not complete and sorted in a consistent way.

Since I believe every other info you would need for successfully clearing the
game has already been provided elsewhere, you shall NOT find here:

- Full dungeon maps (which wouldn't be too good in ASCII art, anyway)
- Full list of treasures. However, most, if not all hard-to-get items are those
which require solving a puzzle to be reached, so you should have no problem
acquiring 100% of the game's chests while using this guide
- Strategies for beating enemies or bosses
- Anything else you can think of that's not related to reaching seemingly
unnacessible items or Sealstones (what I here call a puzzle, by definition).

Lastly, I will excuse myself from introducing the game basics, and suppose
you're already acquainted with Photo Reflection and know how it works. At least
you should know how to switch places with enemies, and that you may perform up
to two air-jumps after doing so. If you feel any technique I describe is
actually quite hard to pull off, please tell me so and I'll try to explain it
in more detail. Check section (VPS210) for some more advanced techniques.

With that said, I recommend you read the next section for knowing exactly
what to expect here.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

2. What's this guide about [VPS200]

Dungeon puzzles in Valkyrie Profile Silmeria are rather unique, being based
mostly on the clever usage of Alicia's Photon Reflection skills. In the
Seraphic Gate mostly, many are the rooms where items and Sealstones are put at
seemingly unreachable places, which can only be accessed through proper using 
this game feature.

Despite all puzzle rooms being optional (they need not ever be entered if you 
want simply to kill the dungeons' bosses and get to the end of the game), it is
mandatory to clear every one of them if you want to get a 100% items count and
complete your list of Sealstones. For that matter I shall present here a
detailed guide on clearing each and every room which may contain something I
consider tricky to do. I shall cover the Seraphic Gate puzzles first, since
they're the hardest and abundant. Each room's guide will come in the following
format:

ROOM NAME: some name I'll come up with to help you guessing which room I'm
talking about (but maybe you're better off looking directly at the map)
LOCATION: how to get there, from the dungeon's entrance (or from the floor's
entrance, for the Seraphic Gate)
MAP: a modest attempt at ASCII art
LEGEND: legend for the map provided above
GUIDE: my directions on how to fully clear that room.

Throughout the guide I may mention several Photon Reflection techniques
which I hope you are acquainted with. In case not, here's a detailed
explanation on how to perform some of the Photon acrobacies:

                      2.1. Photon techniques [VPS210]

                      ----- Mid-air place switching -----
This requires one crystalized walking enemy. It must be used for reaching the
higher you can by using solely said enemy. It is required for reaching item 2
on (VPS331), for instance.

As you may realize, simply crystalizing the enemy and jumping on it won't give
you enough height for reaching some specially high places. When you have no
flying enemy around, you'll have to resort to switching places with the walking
enemy while it's in mid-air from a previous switch.

One way of doing this is by first positionining yourself between the enemy and
the platform you want to reach (but not below it). Crystalize the enemy, jump
the higher you can and switch places with it, shooting a Photon downwards.
Immediately perform an air-jump (though you should be on the floor after
switching places), while facing the enemy and shooting a Photon straight in
its direction. If timed correctly, you should switch places with the enemy
while it's still in mid-air, allowing you to reach a greater height by then
performing a second air-jump.

This should be good enough in most cases, but there's an even easier and more
efficient method, which however requires a wall nearby. First crystalize the
enemy, them jump on it. Now, use the nearby wall so that the Photon will bounce
on it and hit the enemy; but, before it happens, jump the higher you can and a
bit to the side, so that the enemy will be even higher when you switch places
with it. Note that for the mid-air place switching afterwards you may have to
shoot upwards instead of straight.

                        ----- Wall-climbing -----
This requires one crystalized flying enemy. It must be used for reaching the
higher you can by using solely said enemy and the wall(s). It is required for
reaching items 2 and 3 on (VPS321), for instance.

Typically, you would first crystalize the enemy from any place you currently
are, and switch places with it while you're at your jump's maximum height,
so that it stays above you when you're on the floor.

Jump near the enemy and, at the top of your jump, switch places with it once
more and immediately do an air-jump to land over it. You must then jump the
higher you can once again and shoot a Photon downwards before reaching the
jump's peak, so that it bounces on the wall nearby and makes you switch places
with the enemy once more. It should be a lot higher now.

If you have only one wall to work with, this is the higher you'll be able to
get. You may now shoot a Photon upwards so that it bounces on that wall and
makes you switch places with the enemy once more. By air-jumping after the
place-switching, you will have just performed the equivalent to a triple jump.

Now, if you have two walls to work with, like on the puzzle (VPS332), you can
go even higher. Once the enemy is that high, make a Photon bounce up to it and
jump just before it hits its mark, so that the enemy will be transported to a
height equivalent to one jump of yours. When you get up there after the
switching, perform an air-jump while shooting another photon downwards to
change places with the enemy yet once more. The enemy will now be at a height
equivalent to 3.5 or more of Alicia's jumps, and you can bounce a last Photon
upwards to perform a final jump. This is the higher you should ever need to
get to.

                          ------------------------

Now, without further ado, I present the guide itself:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3. Puzzle solutions [VPS300]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                       3.1. SERAPHIC GATE FLOOR 1 [VPS310]

3.1.1. Sliding platforms room [VPS311]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: two rooms to the right, one room inwards
MAP:
 _________________________________________
|                                         |
|                                         |
|                                         |
|                                         |
|                          _2_3_4_        |
|                                         |
|             ____M_     ___F__           |
|_5_                               ___   W|
|       ||      1           ______      |
|       ||     | |_   ___               |
|_______||_____|   |________#___________|

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
M  Miniboss
F  Flying enemy
W  Walking enemy
1  Treasure chest (Noble Elixir)
2  Treasure chest (Prime Elixir)
3  Treasure chest (Bloody Duster)
4  Treasure chest (Double Check)
5  Treasure chest (Dead End)

GUIDE:

There's nothing exceedingly tricky in this room, but it can be cleared a lot
easier if you know what you're doing.

All floating platforms on this room, excpeting that which holds item 5, will
slide to left or right, greatly improving your jumping distance in that
direction (and hindering it in the other). As you enter the room, all platforms
will slide you to the left. There are controls for switching their direction:
one's just beside item 1, and the other is beside the walking enemy.

Item 1 is readily accessible, you just need to jump on the lowest platform and
then hop to it. Typically, you could switch the platforms' sliding direction
using the control panel beside item 1, so that you could climb all the way
to the walking enemy, use the control panel over there, and finally reach the
platform with the flying enemy. However this is all not necessary, as you
can simply stand on the left tip of the lowest platform, jump the higher you
can and shoot two Photons to the right, upwards. If you time it correctly, they
should both hit the flying enemy and you'll immediately switch places with it.
Just watch out because Alicia should automatically face the other way when you
jump, since the platform pushes you away.

After you've switched places with the flying enemy, you can bring him back up
along with you by performing a jumping switch (place-switching followed by an
air-jump). When he's back up, use it to access the platform just above, with
items 2 through 4.

Now to access item 5, you could normally jump from the platform which
originally held the flying enemy onto the platform with the miniboss, and then
onto the pillar standing between that and the treasure chest itself. However it
may be quite difficult to control your jump with the platform's thrust. The
easy way around is to bring the flying enemy over to the miniboss platform
(which can be done with a jumping switch from the lower platform). Once the
flying enemy is up there, crystalize it near the left tip of the platform and
jump from it to the floating pillar. Use the on-screen map to guide your jump.
Of course, you won't be able to avoid fighting the miniboss either way.


3.1.2. Unreachable enemy room [VPS312]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: three rooms to the right
MAP:
      _________________
     |                 |
     |  _       _      |
   __| |_|     |_|     |
  |   _   _            |
  |  |_| |_|  _1_W_2_  |
 _|        __          |
|         |__|         |
|#_______________!_____|

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
W  Walking enemy
1  Treasure chest (Goddess Tincture)
2  Treasure chest (Overdrive)
!  Portal to 4th floor

GUIDE:

The puzzle here is in how to switch places with the enemy in order to reach
both items. I don't know if it is possible without holding either the Dancing
Light Blessing or the Festive Light Blessing Sealstones, which increase the
amount of bouncing your photons do. In any case, if you didn't restore the
former while on Yggdrasil, the latter Sealstone may be found in Seraphic Gate
itself, and will be necessary for other puzzles too. See (VPS323) for it.

Once you have any of the aforementioned Sealstones, it's quite easy. Position
Alicia exactly over the spot where the tile pattern on the floor changes
(which should be somewhere before the left-most floating block) and shoot two
Photons up. They should do some bouncing around and finally reach the enemy.
In case you're wondering, they should first hit the right block from that
triangular structure.


3.1.3. Unreachable Sealstone room [VPS313]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: three rooms to the right
MAP:
      _________________
     |                 |
     |                 |
   __|                 |
  |                    |
  |           ___$___  |
 _|                    |
|                      |
|#_______________!_____|

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
$  Sealstone (Soul Wringer Wrath)
!  Portal to Searaphic Gate's entrance

GUIDE:

To reach the Sealstone, you'll simply need the Powerless Pigeon Wrath
Sealstone, which can be found on Seraphic Gate's 4th floor (see VPS441) and
will allow you to jump higher.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                       3.2. SERAPHIC GATE FLOOR 2 [VPS320]

3.2.1. Falling platforms room [VPS321]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: two rooms to the left, one room inwards
MAP:
 ____________________________________________
|                   ____           __2_____3_|
|                  |    |        *|     _____
|                  |    |        *|    |     |
|                   \  /           \  /  F   |
|                    \/             \/       |
|                 1 ___F  _______        ___$|
|            __W_| |        | |            |
|   __#____      | |        | |            |
|  |    |        | |        | |            |
|  |    |        | |        | |      ||    |
|__|    |________| |________| |______||____|

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
*  Walls used for "climbing"
F  Flying enemy
W  Walking enemy
$  Sealstone (Yggdrasil Blessing)
1  Treasure chest (Goddess Tincture)
2  Treasure chest (Mithril Helm)
3  Treasure chest (Dainslef)

GUIDE:

The puzzle in this room is in that all platforms protruding from the pillars
will collapse if you or an enemy fall or jump upon them (walking is just fine,
though).

First thing you should do is switching places with the walking enemy, and then
walk towards the central flying enemy. You can not switch places with this one,
or the little fall Alicia will sustain will cause the platform to collapse.
So, crystalize it and push it exactly three steps to the right. This should
have the enemy just outside the platform, leaving you enough space to jump onto
him while avoiding to hit the ceiling above.

After you jump onto the crystalized enemy, jump the further you can to reach
the next pillar without touching its left platform. Turn around and switch
places with the flying enemy you left behind, jumping again to the right after
doing so. This time you shouldn't be able to make it to the pillar, so you
will make the platform collapse. Quickly hop onto the pillar once again, this
time with the enemy just beside you.

You can use the enemy plus the walls marked with an asterisk to climb up to
items 2 and 3. In case you're new to this, refer to the wall-climbing
explanation given on (VPS210).

Finally, go back down to the pillar you were on, and remember to bring the
flying enemy also down with you. Position him just before the right platform,
which should still be there, making only a little space for you to stand
between him and the platform itself. Now start walking over the platform but
make it collpase when you're near the right tip of it, falling on the small
pillar down there. Check your on-screen map to proper position yourself.

You could do some Photon-bouncing to get to the Sealstone, but I think there's
an easier way to it: bring the flying enemy you left behind down to the pillar
you're currently on; be sure to switch places when you're standing on one of
the platform's tips, so that there'll be enough space for both you and the
enemy at the same time. Once he's down there and you're up there, jump back to
the small pillar and use the crystalized enemy as a platform to jump and
crystalize the other flying enemy which is near the Sealstone, switching places
with it without the need for bouncing Photons. The enemy you took down there
should give you the extra height needed for doing this.


3.2.2. Pit room [VPS322]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: one room to the right
MAP:
        ________
       |        |
       | _$_1_ F|
 ______| _______|______
|                      |
|                      |
|                      |
|#_______      ________|
         |    |

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
F  Flying enemy
$  Sealstone (Transvestal Law)
1  Treasure chest (Noble Elixir)

GUIDE:

You simply need to bring the Festive Light Blessing Sealstone with you. The
Sealstone can be found on (VPS324). Once you have it, shoot a photon upwards
and it should do a lot of bouncing through the narrow space between the two
platforms above you, finally reaching the flying enemy and allowing you to
switch places with it.

Once the flying enemy is teleported down, you may also use it as a stepping
stone for going over to the right side of the room, but it is not really
necessary. You can get there with a normal jump, if it's performed at the very
edge of the pit.


3.2.3. Moving blocks room [VPS323]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: two rooms to the right, one room inwards
MAP:
 _________________________
|              |          |
|              |          |
|       ___W_2_  _        |
|      |_______|  |       |
|              |  |       |
|3   _______      |  |    |
  | |       \  |_ |__|    |
  | |       |  |       F  |
  | |       |__|     _____|
  | |                     |
  | |     _   _   _   W   |
  | |_1_ |_| |c| |d| |_|  |
  | |                     |
  | |     _   W           |
  | |    |a| |b|          |
  | |#              4    _|
  |_| |____________| |__|

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
F  Flying enemy
W  Walking enemy
1  Treasure chest (Noble Elixir)
2  Treasure chest (Armor of Aleph)
3  Treasure Chest (Extreme Guard)
4  Treasure chest (Great Spear Dinosaur)
a-d  Moving blocks. "a" and "b" move clockwise around a common axis, while "c"
goes back and forth and "d" goes up and down.

GUIDE:

Ok, this one's though. You'll have to do it fast, because the walking enemy
beside item 3, which would be used for place switching, eventually walks over
that platform's edge and falls. I recommend doing it in two steps, leaving
items 2 and 3 for later.

Let's get items 1 and 4 first. For item 1, you simply need to crystalize the
enemy over block "b" and use it to reach the platform above and to the left.
After getting that, keep the same enemy crystalized and use it to reach moving
block "c" this time. It is easier to do this if you jump just as block "c" is
moving a bit down, immediately before it starts going right.

Now, you can't simply fall for item 4 because the chest is booby-trapped
with a bomb, whose explosion will cause your fall before you can actually get
the item inside. So, from block "c" jump onto block "d", and switch places with
the walking enemy nearby. The enemy should be over block "d" now. Jump down to
the bottom-right corner of the room, where a small tile shall save you from the
pit. You must bring the enemy down here, so that you can quickly switch places
with him after opening the chest and escape the explosion. To teleport him
down, jump facing right and shoot a Photon at the top of your jump. The Photon
will bounce left and, if you do this when block "d" is at the lower part of its
trajectory, will successfully reach the enemy above.

Now that the enemy is down there, fall for item 4, and open the chest while
facing right. Keep quickly shooting Photons so that you switch places with the
enemy you left over there. Once free from the explosion, just switch places
with the enemy once more to finally get the item. Fall on the pit and come back
for items 2 and 3.

Well, you won't be able to get the other items while reading this, so try to
memorize it. First, you must start by getting onto block "c" by, once again,
using the walking enemy over block "b". You can't wait for block "b" to get up
there though, so hop onto block "a" and quickly switch places with the walking
enemy. Jump on the newly crystalized enemy and from that onto block "c". As
soon as you get to block "d", place the nearby enemy over the block and step on
it to reach the flying enemy above. Keep switching places with the flying enemy
until you get near the small opening on the wall from which item 2 can be seen.
If you were quick enough, a walking enemy will still be on the other side of
the wall, so switch places with it by shooting through that small opening and
finally get items 2 and 3.


3.2.4. Narrow room leading down [VPS324]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: one room to the right, one room down
MAP:
   _____#______
 _|            |_
|                |
|__1_            |
|           _2_W_|
|      ____      |
|____    ________|
|       |        |
|_      |    _$__|
|   ____        b|
|___  F   c      |
|___             |
|___             |
|               a|
|_    ______    C|
  |____________|

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
C  Crawling enemy
F  Flying enemy
W  Walking enemy
$  Sealstone (Festive Light Blessing)
1  Treasure chest (Sylphan Robe)
2  Treasure chest (Extreme Guard)
a-c  Guide reference

GUIDE:

Item 2 is readily accessible. To get to item 1, you could use the walking enemy
nearby, but it's easier if you just take the flying enemy up there and use it
as a platform instead. Once you've got both items, take the flying enemy near
its original place once again.

NOTE: the user 09Striker has brought to my attention that there's an
extremely easier way to reach the Sealstone on this room. I'll hereby present
both the new solution and my old one (which should now be rendered useless).

**Getting to the Sealstone: the easy way**
Start by placing the flying enemy above the platform he's flying under, leaving
some space for you to stand on the right tip of that same platform. While you
are standing on the platform's tip, shoot a Photon to the right, so that it
will bounce back and hit the enemy, moving it a bit to the right. This should
be enough for you to climb on it and reach the Sealstone platform. If not,
try a small leap to the right before the bouncing Photon hits the enemy.

**Getting to the Sealstone: the hard way**

In order to reach the Sealstone (which is very useful, since it greatly
improves your Photon's bouncing capabilities), you'll now have to place the
flying enemy on the spot marked as "c" on the map. For that, first fall to the
bottom-right corner of the room, where a crawling enemy lurks. Battle or
crystalize it, and then shoot the flying enemy up there, bringing him down to
spot "a".

Now if you would simply let it come back to normal, it would slowly fly back
to its original place; you could then crystalize it somewhere in the middle of
its way, making a platform which you can use for getting to the Sealstone. In
the place the enemy currently is, though, he won't be a sufficient distance to
the right when passing by the Sealstone for you to use it so. So you have to
take him to the spot marked as "b" (just below the Sealstone), which can be
done with some "wall-climbing", so that it will pass by spot "c" on his way
back.

You'll need to know exactly what I mean by spot "c" or you may crystalize the
enemy somewhere where the Sealstone is still unreachable. The best way to do
this is by standing on the edge of the central platform (of the three
protruding from the left wall), and shooting the enemy as soon as it's inside
the small box inside your on-screen map, which represents somewhat your own
field-of-view.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                       3.3. SERAPHIC GATE FLOOR 3 [VPS330]

3.3.1. Portal room [VPS331]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: one room to the right
MAP:
      ______________
     |              |__
     |                 |
   __|                 |
  |              ___2__|
  |                    |
 _|                    |
|                      |
|#____W_____!_______1__|

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
W  Walking enemy
!  Portal to Searaphic Gate's entrance
1  Treasure chest (Prime Elixir)
2  Treasure chest (Archer's Aptitude)

GUIDE:

Item 1 is readily accessible, but item 2 will require some mid-air place
switching with the walking enemy nearby. The easiest way to do this is by
crystalizing the enemy just beside the platform's edge, so that you can try to
jump onto it without hitting your head under it. Then simply shoot a Photon
downwards and jump after waiting a bit. The Photon should bounce on the floor,
the wall and then on the platform itself, finally hitting the enemy and putting
it in mid-air. Jump, switch places with it and air-jump onto the platform.


3.3.2. Unreachable Sealstone room [VPS332]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: one room to the left, one to the top-right, another one inwards
MAP:
 __________              _______
|          |            |      |
|          |            |_3_   |
|          |   ________     |  |
|          |  /        |__  |  |
|          | /a           | |  |
|          | |     _|1_W__| |  |
|          |_|  ______    |_|  |
|    F    ____b/      \        |
|       2| ___________/   __W__|
|_$_   |  |              |
    |  |__|              |
    |                  __|
    |    ________#____/
    |   |
    |   |

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
F  Flying enemy
W  Walking enemy
$  Sealstone (Rust Wrath)
1  Treasure chest (Horoscope Tablet)
2  Treasure chest (Overdrive)
3  Treasure chest (Infinite Admiration)
a-b  Guide reference

GUIDE:

Not as tricky as it may seem at first glance. First thing you should do is to
walk a little to the right, stand before the little ramp and shoot two Photons.
They should bounce on the ramp and make you switch places with the walking
enemy just above.

Secondly, jump onto the platform to the left and try to stand at the center of
the circular design on the floor, shooting two Photons downwards. They should
bounce on the tilted ceiling and make you switch places with the other walking
enemy. Get item 1.

Now for item 2 and the Sealstone. Before we get to that, it is necessary to
make some preparations for getting item 3. Simply place the walking enemy you
have just switched places with before spot marked as "b" (not over it). Now,
in order to switch places with the flying enemy in the left side of the room,
you'll need your Photons to bounce on the spots marked as "a" and then "b". The
best way of doing this is by standing on the top of the chest you have just
opened and then shooting left. Perform a mid-air jump afterwards so that you
won't fall into the pit.

In order to get back to the right side of the room, stand near the narrow
opening to the right of item 2 and shoot a Photon downwards. If you had
previously placed the walking enemy in the right spot, you should be able to
switch places with it. Then you'd be on the right side of the room along with
the flying enemy. Now simply take that enemy to the place below item 3 and use
it to reach the last chest. Refer to (VPS210) on how to efficiently perform
mid-air place switching.


3.3.3. Room where enemy falls from ceiling [VPS333]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: one room to the left, one to the top-right, three rooms to the right
MAP:
      ______________
     | _W__   _4__  |__
     |                 |
   __|                 |
  |              ___3__|
  |                    |
 _|                    |
|                      |
|#______W______1___2___|

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
W  Walking enemy
1  Treasure chest (Shadow Crystal)
2  Treasure chest (Union Plume)
3  Treasure chest (Sky-High Edge)
4  Treasure chest (Ether Helm)

GUIDE:

Items 1 and 2 are readily accessible. To reach item 3, perform a mid-air place
switching with the walking enemy on the floor, exactly like suggested on
(VPS331). Once you're on the platform with item 3, switch places with the other
walking enemy, which should have fallen down already, and climb onto the same
platform once again by the same methods previously employed. Then use the enemy
you had took to the platform to reach item 4.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                       3.4. SERAPHIC GATE FLOOR 4 [VPS340]

3.4.1. Room with globes [VPS341]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: one room to the right, one room inwards
MAP:
 ___________________________________________
|                                           |
|_2____                                     |
       |                                    |
 __    |                                    |
|  \__/                                     |
|          _a_         _c                   |
|       ||            |_ |                  |
|                       ||             _D_H_|
|_1_G  __               ||      d_    |
|                       ||   __|  |   |
|__________W__b_______#_||_G|     |   |
                                  | _3|

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
D  Dais (empty)
G  Globe
H  Hamster chest
W  Walking enemy
1  Treasure chest (Mithril Greaves)
2  Treasure Chest (Ether Greaves)
3  Treasure chest (Mithril Crown)
a-d  Guide reference

GUIDE:

Start by shooting the walking enemy to the left of the entrance so that you may
use it as a support to reach the first platform (also to the left). Switch
places with the nearby globe and grab item 1.

You now need to place the globe on spot "a", which will cause some stairs to
raise from point "b" up to "c". Try to place the globe near the center of the
platform it's currently on, and use it to climb up to point "a" yourself. From
"a", shoot two Photons leftwards so that they bounce on the wall and hit the
globe down there. Note you must be near the middle of platorm "a", or the globe
won't activate the switch. It's quite hard to position yourself exactly where
it's needed, so you may need to try it a few times. If you need to teleport the
globe down again, just remember you can't be jumping when your Photons hit it,
or it will fall and break.

Once you've put the globe on "a" and risen the stairs, go up to spot "c",
bringing the walking enemy up there with you (notice you'll have to cross a
small gap between the stairs and point "c"). Fall down to the floor below, and
transport the second globe up to the spot marked as "d". You may now use it
to reach the Dais and the Hamster chest. Don't get item 3 just yet though, or
you won't be able to go back up and still get item 2.

With the second globe over point "d", step on it and switch places with the
walking enemy you've left on point "c", so that you can go back up. Now shoot
two Photons down and bring the globe up to "c", causing a second set of stairs
to raise from "d" to "c".

Take the second globe across the gap between "c" and the first stairs, and
leave it on the left edge of the top-most step. Now go back right and bring
along with you the walking enemy you've left on "d", so that it stays on the
left edge of the step just below the one the globe is on. You should have a
layout such as this:

  
 _G1_        G2___       __"c"___
       y    |     |     |        |
       W____|     |     |____    |
      |           |          |   |
 _____|           |          |   |
|                 |          |   |

where "y" stands for "you". What you need to do now is to jump and shoot two
Photons to the right and downwards, so that they bounce on the wall and hit
the enemy. As soon as the enemy gets airborne, perform an air-jump (though you
will be transported to the ground) and shoot two Photons to the right (and
maybe upwards, depending on how high you've managed to transfer the enemy to).
Once you manage to pull this mid-air place switching, air-jump once again onto
platform "a", beside the first globe.

Hop onto the first globe and stand over its left edge, switching places with
the second one afterwards. You may need to jump in order for your downward-shot
Photons to hit it; in this case, just be careful so that you've already landed
when your Photons reach their destination, or the globe will sustain a fall and
break. Anyway, once you do this you should be able to use both globes as some
sort of stairs to reach item 2. To get to platform "a" once again, simply use
the same technique you just did with the walking enemy.

Lastly, to reach item 3, just go all the way back to the right, and then fall
in the pit to exit the room.


3.4.2. Room where everything's unreachable [VPS342]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: two rooms to the right, one to the bottom-left, one down, one to the
left, another one inwards
MAP:
 ________    ________________
|        |  |                |
|        |  |                |
|        |  |                |
|        |__|                |
|_#_____                     |
        |     _______  _1__2_|
        |    |    |F  |
        |    |    |   |
        |   W|    |   |
        |  | __  _|   |
 ______ |  ||  ||     |______
|  _$__||  ||  ||c           |
| |_____|  ||            W_3_|
|_4_F_                  |____
      |            a         |
      |                      |
      |            b         |
      
LEGEND:
#  Entrance
F  Flying enemy
W  Walking enemy
$  Sealstone (Powerless Pigeon Wrath)
1  Treasure chest (Bloody Murder)
2  Treasure Chest (Golden Egg)
3  Treasure chest (Rebellious Truth)
4  Treasure chest (Floral Garb)
a-b  Guide reference

GUIDE:

NOTE: the user Fspringlove has brought to my attention that there's an
extremely easier way to grab item 4 on this room. I'll hereby present both
the new solution  and my old one (which should now be rendered useless).
If for some reason you want to do it the hard way, I'll assume you have the
Elusive Air Law Sealstone, since it will make things more... feasible.

**Getting to item 4: the easy way**

Now, if you want to do it the easier way (and I'm almost tempted to say, the
_right_ way), you'll need to bring along the Powerless Cap Wrath Sealstone
(found on the Palace of the Venerated Dragon), using it for a slow fall.
When you're just past the small entrance which gives access to item 4, shoot
two Photons so that they bounce on its ceiling and make you switch places
with the flying enemy. You won't be able to get item 4 right now, though,
since both Sealstones keep you from acquiring items. Anyway, grab the
Powerless Pigeon Wrath Sealstone and leave the Deis empty. Go back to the
dungeon entrance, restore the Sealstone you just got, leaving it on the
Spring. Now go back to the same room, perform the same trick, leave the
Powerless Cap Wrath Sealstone on the empty Deis, grab item 4 and fall on the
hole to go back into the room for the other items. Simple enough, isn't it?
Thanks, Fspringlove!

**Getting to the other items**

Well, now for the other items. You start by going to the right edge and
shooting a Photon downwards, in order to crystalize the walking enemy down
there. Shoot a second Photon towards it and immediately jump to the right, so
that the enemy won't be transported to the platform you're on, but gets
airborne and falls into the pit. You don't want for this to actually happen
though, so as soon as you've teleported down there, shoot Photons to the
right. They should bounce off the right wall and hit the crystal while it's
falling. Do an air-jump to get back to the platform, and use the enemy to
reach items 1 and 2.

Item 3 is tricky, but not hard at all. To get to it, you need to fall in the
small gap you had just hoped over, before items 1 and 2, while facing left. As
soon as you fall, shoot Photons upwards so that they bounce off the bottom of
the platform and make you switch places with the nearby flying enemy. When the
Photons hit it, you should be already way past the gap and near the pit's
bottom, so you'll be transported way higher. Don't perform an air-jump, but
simply fall a bit to your right (since the enemy shouldn't be exaclty below
you). Once you're on the enemy, you'll most likely be able to switch places
with the walking enemy near item 3.

Well, if you've already used the easier method to grab item 4, you should be
done with this room. I will now present my old, awkward solution, just for
the record.

**Getting to item 4: the hard way**

Your next step should be to go back to the flying enemy you've left floating
nearby. To do so, switch places with the walking enemy once more, but try to
jump into the pit before the second Photon hits it, so that it will fall into
it after transporting. Having him around now would be just a nuisance.

If you've managed to successfully land on the flying enemy once again, prepare
for the hardest part. Here's where I highly recommend having the Elusive Air
Law Sealstone, so that you could stay on the flying enemy as long as you want
without worrying about the crystal breaking.

Your objective is to transport the flying enemy the farthest to the left that
you can, far enough for your Photons to reach the other flying enemy (the one
near item 4). In order to do this you'll have to shoot a Photon at some
distant enough spot as to allow you to perform a long jump to the left before
switching places with the flying enemy. There are plenty of walls around to
work this out, but you may need quite some time to find the right spot. That's
where the Sealstone becomes useful (almost obligatory, I would say). Unless
you can guess the right spot to shoot at at first glance, you aren't making it.

Well, it's very hard to write a guide for this part, since the "right spot" to
shoot a Photon at will greatly depend on where the flying enemy currently is,
in the first place. I've noticed two greatly recurrent bouncing patterns that
may help you though.

(NOTE: Before you try to find some place you can bounce your Photons off, be
sure to let the enemy's crystal break (unless you're not using the recommended
Sealstone and want to try and do this in one attempt). If you don't wait for it
to break, you'll successfully switch places with it while being unprepared;
that is, you won't have enough time to jump to the left and transport the enemy
there.)

If the flying enemy is anywhere near spot "a" on the map (i.e. around less than
a jump's height below the item 3 platform), your best choice will be to shoot
on the ceiling just above item 3's chest. If you're successful, the Photon
should bounce off the ceiling, off the floor, off the right wall, of the
ceiling again and finally come back to hit the enemy. Alternatively, it might
just bounce off the ceiling, bounce downwards off the platform's edge and go
straight at the enemy. If the Photon's not hitting the enemy, try shooting it
after walking a bit to the left or right, or after a low or high jump.

In the other hand, if the enemy is anywhere near spot "b" (closer to the bottom
of the pit), your best choice will likely be shooting a Photon up and to the
left. The Photon should bounce off the spot marked as "c" and go upwards, doing
some more bouncing until it finally hits the edge of item 3's platform and
comes right at the enemy. In case the Photon doesn't go towards the gap you've
fallen through, after hitting spot "c", or it doesn't come back down, you'll
likely need to shoot it while standing a bit more to the left.

When you've finally found a way to make a Photon hit the enemy you're stepping
on while giving you some good time to act, crystalize it and shoot the second
Photon in the same direction, preparing for the longest jump you can perform
to the left. This is tricky, because you'll preferably need to be a bit below
the enemy line when the Photon finally hits it, so that you can reach it again
after performing an air-jump.

This may take quite some time to master, so be patient. When the enemy is
farther to the left and you're stepping on it once again, you may try to shoot
two Photons left already into the gap where item 4 is, and see if you can reach
the flying enemy over there for the last place-switching. If you still can not
reach it, you'll probably be able to pull off the small distance you lack by
doing the following trick: walk the farthest to the left that you can while
still standing on the enemy; face right and shoot a Photon downwards, which
should hit it and move it a bit to your left and above. Perform your last
allowed air-jump and get back on it. This trick should now get you close enough
to the other flying enemy.

If you're still quite far to the right though, and with such trick you still
can't seem to shoot the other flying enemy, you may use instead any of the
walls around you to perform the same trick again. I can't really design a plan
on how to do it, though, since this greatly depends on where you managed to
teleport the flying enemy to on your second place-switching, and this may vary
greatly. Worst case scenario, fall down and try again. It's perfectly possible
to get far enough to the left in a single try, specially if you perform the
little trick described above afterwards.

When you can finally  reach the other flying enemy with your Photons, switch
places with it, grab item 4 and the Sealstone, fall into the pit and never
enter this room again.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                       3.5. SERAPHIC GATE FLOOR 5 [VPS350]

3.5.1. Room above portal [VPS351]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOCATION: one room to the right, three rooms down
MAP:
       #      
 _|          |_
|              |
|1_            |
 __|           |
|   Fa         |
|              |
|Fb            |
|              |
|   Fc         |
|              |
|              |
|           Fd |
|              |
|_            _|
  |          |
  |          |

LEGEND:
#  Entrance
F  Flying enemy
1  Treasure chest (Code Break)

GUIDE:

The Elusive Air Law Sealstone is mandatory here, so bring it along. If you
still don't have it, you may restore it in the Ravine Caverns for 2500
crystals.

You must hold left as soon as you fall into this room so that you're
able to fall on flying enemy "c". As long as you're holding the Elusive Air
Sealstone, instead of entering a combat you will just be able step on it.

NOTE: the solution below was contributed by Daniel Jantzen, since I never got
to go through this room again, and forgot how I had done it the first time
around.

While stepping on enemy "c", shoot a Photon upwards and to the left at the
wall, so that it bounces and hits enemy "a". The trick is shooting it as you
are falling from your jump, so it bounces off just at the right angle. Once
you are able to freeze enemy "a", prepare to shoot another Photon in order to
switch places with it. However, before your second Photon reaches it, be sure
to jump far to the right as soon as you land on enemy "c" once again, so that
enemy "a" is taken to the right also. When the place-switching actually
happens, be also prepared to do your first air-jump onto enemy "b".

When enemy "a" gets free, it will start floating back to its original
position. Once it's above enemy "c" and just a bit to the left of it, trap
enemy "a" again and jump onto it. Now jump and shoot a Photon downwards, so
that it bounces off the wall and makes you switch places with enemy "a" once
again, placing it even higher. Do NOT spend your allowed air-jumps, but just
fall back on enemy "c". Now while standing on enemy "c" just fly a Photon
upwards to switch places with enemy "a" once again (which is finally close to
the item platform), and use an air-jump to reach the item.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4. File history [VPS400]

V 1.00 - Someday...: guide completely done (WiP)
v 0.93 - Feb.16.2010: added solution to (VPS351)
V 0.92 - Aug.11.2009: added an easier solution to (VPS324)
V 0.91 - Jul.13.2009: added an easier solution to (VPS342)
V 0.90 - Jan.19.2009: covered the whole of Seraphic Gate but the last floor
V 0.00 - Dec.28.2008: started typing the whole thing.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

5. Closure, or just some laconic file coda [VPS500]

I'd like to once again thank GameFAQs for hosting another of my guides and, in
the old-fashioned Capcom way, THANK YOU FOR PLAYING (reading?).

Also, thanks to the following people:
* Fspringlove, for his help with puzzle (VPS342)!
* 09Striker, aka Mighty_Rathalos, for his help with puzzle (VPS324)!
* Daniel Jantzen, for his help with puzzle (VPS351)!

And, do like Megaman: fight! For everlasting peace!

[EOF]