Vib Ribbon - NTSCJ
FAQ Version 1.1 (2.22.02)
by Chris Adcock (azel@atari.net)
Contents:
I. What's New?
II. Purpose of this Guide/Disclaimer
III. What is Vib Ribbon?
IV. Time to Break out the Solder, Patching, and Where to Find this Game
V. Navigating the Menus
VI. Game Tips
VII. Miscellaneous/Credits
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I. What's New?
2.15.02
-Added some info to "What is Vib Ribbon?" section regarding fansites and
releases.
-Changed all references to Vibri to "she"--thanks to whoever pointed that out=)
-Slightly tweaked menu translations
-Bonked self in head for thinking that "devolve" was actually a word
-Added info on patching
-Added info on purchasing the game
-Added much needed info about mod-chips and disc-swapping
-Added Roman numerals to sections, for ease of use and to honor a dying
numerical system
-Added an up to date e-mail address
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II. Purpose of this Guide
This guide is intended as a reference (especially for those who can't read
japanese) for the game Vib Ribbon. All copyrights for the game are properties
of
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, and not by the writer of this guide. If you
plan on using this guide on your website, please send me an e-mail for
permission before you post. Contents of this guide are sole properties of the
author.
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III. What is Vib Ribbon?
Vib Ribbon was designed by Masaya Matsuura, also creator of Parappa the Rappa
and Umjammer Lammy, and was released in Japan on 12.9.99. Vib Ribbon is a genre
in itself, which transcends the usual dance/rhythm game; you'll just have to
play it for yourself. The main character of the game is a rabbit named Vibri,
whom you must guide down an obstacle laden ribbon which is generated from the
music on the game cd or any audio cd. Vibri may evolve or de-evolve into
different animal-like characters depending on how well you play. Although the
game is somewhat linear (no pun intended), it is not particularly level-based,
however, it contains three skill levels and high scores to beat.
As for the in-game music, it's by the group "Laugh and Beats." Personally, I
know little about this group except for the fact that vocals are by Yoko
Fujita;
it's also some of the most infectiously catchy music I've heard. If you're
intrigued by the music, take a look at the Vib Ribbon section on
http://www.thegia.com. They have lyric translations and sound files. Another
great site is Cyan's site, known as "The Ribbon":
http://cyan.askee.net/vib%20ribbon/
As of yet, SCEA has totally deprived North America of yet another wonderful
release, although the European version is readily available currently (you'll
need a PAL television to play it). Evidentally, Vib Ribbon 2 is currently in
development for Playstation 2 at the time of this writing and is going to be
online!!! As if Everquest weren't enough...
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IVa. Time to Break out the Solder
This is the most frequent question/dilemma that has been brought to my
attention and I regret not posting this earlier, as I initially had the same
problem. The hard truth is:
VIB RIBBON WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY USING THE SWAP-TRICK!!!
I'm not certain what features are disabled, but Vib Ribbon is not fully
functional when booting using a swap method on non NTSC-J Playstations. Your
system MUST be modded, or Vib Ribbon WILL NOT WORK. I'm not certain if this is
some super-region protection (like Dino Crisis or Legend of Dragoon) or if it's
inherent in the layout of the Vib Ribbon disc due to it's use of audio CD
swapping as well.
If anyone has success with a any other boot method (aside from modded and
actual NTSC-J playstations), please let me know. As far as finding a mod-chip,
a simple search on www.google.com should yield good results.
IVb. Patching
Currently there are no known patches for converting the PAL (European) version
of Vib Ribbon to NTSC (US). A patch does exist for converting the Japanese
NTSC version to PAL. If you know of any working patches for the PAL to NTSC
conversion please let me know.
IVc. Where to Buy VR
At the time of this writing, copies of the Japanese version of the game were
still available at National Console Support, www.ncsx.com. As far as a steady
availability of both European and Japanese versions, eBay is the best way to
go, www.ebay.com.
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V. Navigating the Menus
For someone with little or no knowledge of japanese (like myself) the menus may
seem somewhat cryptic and overwhelming. This section is intended to guide you
through the menus without any knowledge of Katakana.
First of all, the controls for the menu are the d-pad, which makes the menu go
clockwise or counter-clockwise, and the X and O buttons, which mean cancel and
select, respectively.
When you start the game, there is a short sequence and then a title screen. At
the title screen there are two options:
Option 1: Play Game
Option 2: Tutorial (Vibri shows you how to play)
If you choose Option 1, another menu appears, which we shall call Menu 2:
Note:
Always scroll counterclockwise for the options to appear in the order below.
Menu 2
Option 1: Play original game (with tracks on CD), takes you to Menu 3
Option 2: Play a game with an audio CD, takes you to CD Menu
Option 3: Option (sounds like Vibri says option), takes you to Option Menu
Option 4: Previous menu, takes you to title screen (this is in every menu,
and sounds like Mononit; you can also reach this option at any time in the
menu screen by pressing X)
Menu 3
Option 1: Easy difficulty, to game
Option 2: Normal difficulty, to game
Option 3: Hard diffictulty (sounds like master), to game
Option 4: High Scores (sounds like high scores), to High Scores Menu
Option 5: Previous menu (mononit), takes you to Menu 2
High Scores Menu:
This menu shows the top 3 high scores, you can exit by pressing O.
CD Menu:
Note: before you start the game, you will be prompted with a big bubble; this
means to switch to an audio cd
Option 1: Play easy game (full cd), takes you to CD Menu B
Option 2: Play harder game (full cd), takes you to CD Menu B
Option 3: Play a single track, takes you to a menu exactly like Menu 2, then
you select a track
Option 4: Demo mode, takes you to CD Menu B
Option 5: High Scores, see high scores
Option 6: Previous Menu (mononit), takes you to Menu 2
CD Menu B:
Option 1: Play CD, to game
Option 2: Previous Menu (mononit), takes you to CD Menu
Option 3: Put in a new CD, this takes you to the bubble prompt again
Option Menu:
Option 1: Sound effects on/off; the one with the cross, nahi, means off
Option 2: Vibration (dual shock) on/off; the cross means off
Option 3: Previous Menu, to Menu 2
Pause Menu and Game Over Menu:
Option 1: Re-start level
Option 2: End Level
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VI. Game Tips
The game itself is pretty simple, and the diagram included with the manual
shows
you pretty much every move, but I'll attempt to describe them:
R1 loop
L1 square
X squiggly lines
Down V
R1 + L1 loop/square combo
R1 + X star combo
R1 + Down upright chicken head
L1 + X square w/squiggly top
L1 + Down square w/V top
X + Down squiggly V in ground
The Evolution of Vibri:
Virbi starts as a rabbit, however she can evolve into a king/angel/rabbit
looking
thing after you complete 18 succesful obstacles. You may notice pink dots which
encircle Vibri as she progresses. When these form a circle, the next obstacle
will make vibri evolve. However, for each 9 mishaps Vibri has, she will
de-evolve
into lesser organisms. First, Vibri becomes a frog-like thing, and then a snake
with a box head. After 9 mishaps as a snake, Vibri dies. If you de-evolve,
Vibri
can evolve back into the next higher creature if you complete 18 more
consecutive obstacles.
Also, there is a line on the bottom which measures your progress. The line will
change from green to yellow (right to left) as you complete the level.
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VII. Miscellaneous/Credits
If you're looking for more info on this game, try http://www.thegia.com, they
have an excellent review, news, and movs/pics/mp3's from the game. I'd like to
thank them for providing me with a little background information on the history
of Vib Ribbon.
I'd like to thank Sam Sheffield for telling me about this game, and Liz Burke
for putting up with the obnoxious menu music as I figured it out, and for
helping me with some of the game features.
If you have any updates or information you feel would enhance this FAQ, feel
free to write me at azel@atari.net
The contents of this guide are property of and copyright Chris Adcock, 2002.
