After a pretty easy game of Aria of Sorrow in normal mode, I decided to try hard mode. I’m not quite sure what is making it harder, but I have a lot of run-to-the-save-point instances. What makes hard mode harder?
Also, what’s the point of playing the game with Julius? It seemed kinda silly, there was no story, and I got the credits within 30 minutes.
I can’t answer the first part, seeing as I haven’t tried HM yet. As for the second question, there are those of us who prefer the classic whipping style, and fear anything new or different.
Originally posted by Skankin’ Garbage
[b]After a pretty easy game of Aria of Sorrow in normal mode, I decided to try hard mode. I’m not quite sure what is making it harder, but I have a lot of run-to-the-save-point instances. What makes hard mode harder?Also, what’s the point of playing the game with Julius? It seemed kinda silly, there was no story, and I got the credits within 30 minutes. [/b]
cough hey look I’m not dead (as if anyone cares that I’m “back”)
What exactly do you mean by what makes hard mode harder? It’s harder because the monster stats are boosted higher than they were in the non…hardmode. Hardmode also has better items you can’t get in the non-hardmode. I could help you out a bit more, but I don’t really understand what you wanted to know. (I’m making the AoS shrine so I know just about everything):hahaha;
Woo, I just beat it on hard mode 
It’s pretty fun to try.
One little thing though keeps irking me…
When I beat the game, there’s that scene where Soma wakes up alone with Mina at the shrine. Well, I remember when I saw my friend beat the game, there was this short dialogue…
Mina: “I’m so glad that your experience didn’t change you.”
Soma: “But it DID change me…”
Mina: “In what way?”
Soma: “I’m a lot cooler now!”
Mina: “Yeah… you HAVE changed. The old Soma would never have said that.”
Well, each time I beat the game, that part of the ending dialogue was skipped entirely 
Does anyone know why that happens?
Completion of the map maybe? How much did you and your friend have revealed?
That’s also the corniest dialogue ever.
<img src=“http://www.rpgclassics.com/staff/tenchimaru/td.gif”> You need to have the Succubus, Giant Bat and Flame Demon souls equipped when you beat Graham. Then you go to some new fancy area thing. Then, beat the boss THERE for the best ending, or lose to get the bad, but kickass ending 
Getting souls in Hard mode is easier because you can get Death’s Robe and Death’s Scythe, which boost Luck and kick much ass.
Kagon: Probly not. I had about 98% the first time, and this time around I got 100%.
TD: Yeah duh I got that one both times
Zero: I don’t think Luck increases the rate in which you recieve souls? That’s why there’s that Soul Eater Ring that costs like 1 million dollars, right?
SG: That ring just increases Luck. 
I know. I figured that was a tag-on-the-extra-point
How do you access hard mode?
I hear it’s accessible after you beat the game. I could SWEAR it was always available for me though, but maybe not
Skankin’ Garbage, the difference between Hard mode and Normal mode is the following:
You inflict 80% of the damage you would normally do on Normal on Hard mode.
You take much more damage (I’m not sure, however, by how much).
Five items can be found in the castle on Hard Mode that cannot be found in Normal. They are:
Kaiser Knuckle: In a secret area where you found a Melon in the area where you first fought the Manticore. Not much of an attack boost, but inflicts multiple hits with each press of the button.
Silver Gun: Found in a room in the Arena where you found the Balmung. It is right next to it. It’s basically a stronger version of the handgun. (Attack + 42)
Death’s Sickle: In the room before Death in the Clock Tower. Use the Giant Bat soul to fly in and take it. It has the highest raw attack power of any weapon (Attack +130), large, and adds a hefty luck bonus. The downsides are its lack of speed and its dark element attacks.
Death’s Robe: In a vertical hallway in the Clock Tower with the vertical moving ledges and an area accessible only by using the Giant Bat soul. Basically, the robe is here in that small area. It stats are DEF +44 (+42 without the CON bonus), STR +4, CON +4, INT +13, LCK + 13.
Tear of Blood: Found in yet another cubby hole, this time in the room just before fighting Graham, in the upper-right side of the room. An accessory that gives stats boost DEF +8, STR +1, CON +1, INT +1.
As for the missing dialogue in the ending, you need to beat the final boss with 100% soul collection. In addition, you can also obtain a Chaos Ring in a dead-end room in the Chaotic Realm, which keeps your MP maxed out at all times (IOW, you have infinite MP when wearing it).
Rockin Thanks so much man Erk, now I have to get 100% soul completion, lol
