Ruins Exploration Puzzle Platformer Game

Introducing the fascinating world of LA-MULANA!

Also includes tips for navigating the start of the game.
Let's solve the mystery of the ruins!

Don't Worry!
This is NIGORO's strategy guide.
 LA-MULANA is a game created with the philosophy,
Ready for Adventure? "What would happen if the 2D action genre evolved?"
In the game, you'll discover lots of complex puzzles
with even more complex solutions.

We hope that reading this manual will make your

experience in La-Mulana a smoother one.

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 ~A Legend from Ancient Times~
Descending unto this place... CONTENTS
★★★［
［ LA-MULANA Official Guide］
］★★★
She came from the sky...
One unto this world.
Trapped alone, she cries.
Let me return home to heaven.
It is where I belong.
Ready for Adventure? ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・1
Children, please help me.
Children, send me back home. ● This is LA-MULANA! ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 5
Children, for this reason you were born.
● About LA-MULANA ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 7

Folk song translated to "Generation Watching the Departure"

~Shawn Kosugi Before You Start・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・10
● Purpose of the Game ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 11
My name is Lemeza Kosugi, and I'm an assistant professor teaching archaeology at the university.
● Game Screen ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 12
Besides giving lectures, I travel the world searching for ancient ruins I haven't yet discovered.
● Master the Controls! ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 13
One day, after I finished giving a lecture and returned home, there was a small dirty envelope on
● Master the Menu! ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 15
my desk. The sender was unknown, and there was no postmark, either. I scoffed; I had no idea how
this envelope ended up on my desk, but it's obvious where it came from. There's only one place that ● Item Menu ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 17

has those envelopes, and that's here in my house. ● Soft Menu ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 19

"I finally found it! I've emerged victorious!" Characters ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・22

It looked like a torn page of a familiar journal, scribbled with familiar handwriting that seemed
to laugh at me. A poem titled "A Legend from Ancient Times" was etched on the back. Inside the
Basic Information ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・32
envelope was a gold coin with some engraving on it. I'd never seen the coin before, but I recognized ● Understanding Items! ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 33
the engraved letters. ● Introducing Items ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 35
It seems that my father had finally found it. He's the reason why I got into this field...and also why I ● Adventure Basics ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 37
have a bad habit of diving head-first into ruins with a whip in hand. Despite his age, he challenges
● How to Progress ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 38
me in finding ruins, like we're schoolboys or something. He's great.
● Where Can I Find Hints? ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 39
This unknown ancient civilization is the origin of ALL civilizations. Looks like my father's research
(his life work, really) finally paid off.
The letter he wrote is the usual invitation to embark on an adventure. He's basically telling me to Field Strategy ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 42
come with him. I wonder if I have any vacation days left...
● Field Structure ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・43
Anyway, he'll probably make me help him and steal the treasure all for himself, but I refuse to let
● The Mysterious La-Mulana Ruins ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 56
that happen again. He needs to finally understand that I'm my own man. Besides, if you put an
amazing historical object in front of me that no one's seen in 500 years, then it's no longer a petty
father-son rivalry. After all, I too am an archaeological junkie. References ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・58
Oh, well. What can I say? I'm too passionate about archaeology to pass this opportunity up. So I
● Pixel Art ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 59
packed my research laptop and my handy whip, along with some other things, then headed to
● Sheet Music ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 60
the airport.
My destination? The legendary ruins said to be the origin of all civilizations and life, La-Mulana!

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This is LA-MULANA !
Ruins exploration puzzle platformer game
Professor Lem
This is the best
eza, here to so
lve puzzles!
part of uncove
ring mysteries!
Welcome to the world of LA-MULANA!
LA-MULANA is a 2D side-scrolling
action game, with Metroidvania
elements of interconnecting maps
and item collection.
Over 400 rooms await you!

p gets,
w gigantic the ma
lly sta rtin g ou t. But no matter ho
t upon initia st don't rush,
You might be los ss more easily. Ju
are as firs t, yo u'l l be able to progre
y
if you clear nearb
ing the game.
re to tak e your time enjoy
and be su

Sol
tab ve
lets the m
sca y
t te r s te r i e s
ed is room?
abo from heck is th
ut t the th e appen!
he W h a t
b a tt le's about to h
r uin n intens e
5 s! I feel like a 6
About LA-MULANA
What kind of game is LA-MULANA? Again, don't rush and be patient!
There are tons of puzzles, as well as
On this page, we'll go into more detail about this retro-styled game.
ancient stone tablets. The puzzles
LA-MULANA is an action-adventure will get harder the further you delve
game; to be more genre-specific, into La-Mulana, but you'll always
it's a Metroidvania game that allows find hints and tips in the ruins to
for lots of action via multiple rooms help you on your expedition.
of brain-tingling puzzles. Of course, If you take notes of the tablets
the main aim of the game is to enjoy you find and draw maps, there's a
solving these puzzles aided by a wide chance you'll be able to easily clear
array of hints and tips, and of course rooms. If you're really not sure, you
whipping enemies into oblivion. could always ask a friend.

Nowadays, we've got the internet, so you can look up an online walkthrough or ask other
players how to clear La-Mulana's mind-bending puzzles. It might actually be more fun
playing the game with a whole bunch of people, rather than figuring out the
puzzles yourself.
The action-adventure genre has produced masterpieces such as The Legend of Zelda
and Metroid series. LA-MULANA inherits this genre, combined with Metroidvania
elements with the intent of evolving the Metroidvania genre in 2D.
To put it simply, this game is HUGE, so it might take you a while to clear all the maps.
This game lies somewhere on the
spectrum between fast-paced action
and solving riddles. But the elation of
overcoming challenges is what defines
this genre. It's a game you'll want to take
your time on to find and get
through everything.

7 8
 ARTICLE Get Ready for
NO.1 Ancient Ruins Exploration

We mentioned earlier how there are always hints in solving

La-Mulana's puzzles. However, these hints don't really
tell you directly how to solve these puzzles. The start of
your adventure isn't going to be terribly difficult, but as
you venture further inside the ruins, the puzzles and hints
become more sparse, and there are a few puzzles you'll be
able to understand only after compiling a few hints together.
We're guessing that's why LA-MULANA's gained notoriety
as a difficult game.
To find hints, you'll want to read ancient writings using a
Hand Scanner, as well as talk to Elder Xelpud, who acts as
Before You Start
La-Mulana's storyteller. By interacting with these writings
and with the elder, you'll be able to infer what the
hints mean. We'll introduce you to the different types of
hints you can find.
The protagonist of LA-MULANA is Professor Lemeza
Kosugi, an archaeologist who explores ancient ruins. If you
play through this game through the lens of an archaeologist,
you'll be able to tell that these hints don't just come from
ancient writings. Hints can also be hidden in a room's
background! ▲ If similar murals are grouped together, their
Unknown murals and stone statues may be lined puzzles may be connected to each other...
up together. Have you noticed that some of these murals
may be similar to each other? You won't be able to solve puzzles from one mural or
landscape alone, but what if you tried using similar murals or landscapes? That's one way to solve
these brainteasers.
The in-game map also contains hints about the ruins. Viewing the map shows you the name of each [Beginning]
room, but the hints from ancient writings may contain the name of the room as well. There's also a
A character signifying the beginning. it expresses the origin of life.
possibility that, by using the Hand Scanner, the names of some deities will be written on the murals
and stone statues you'll discover. All of these are somehow related to each other, so look out for
these when you're out and about adventuring.
Unbeknownst to many, Professor Lemeza Kosugi is actually a descendant of a long line of ninja,
so his jumping skills are quite astonishing. He does have a tendency to
rely on jumping to progress between rooms, but there are a lot of traps
that prey on those who would depend too much on it. If you decide
to carelessly jump or fall into a chasm, you may find a lovely bed of
spikes waiting for you, so exercise caution when entering
brand-new rooms. You'll be able to avoid several of these traps
(and a handful of Game Over screens to boot) just by minding
your surroundings.
Keep a sharp eye out for anything suspicious!
Just like an archaeologist would!

▲ The map's also a very important tool!

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Purpose of the Game
If you don't know it, it won't be fun!
Game Screen
The purpose of this game is to explore the ③ ② ④ ⑤ ⑥ First, let's learn how to read
ruins of La-Mulana, said to be the origin of the screen so you can enjoy
the game to its fullest!
all civilizations. Even if you figure out the mystery ⑥ Equipment
③ Soul Meter The game screen is the
of the ruins, however, you still won't know exactly ⑤ Weights most important, but you'll
② Health
what it is. also need to check the
④ Coins HUD at the top that displays
In this case, you probably won't know where
information such as health
to start. But if you keep the following four things
① and equipment. Here are
in mind, the path should open for you! ① Player some important parts of the
game screen.

AIM FOR THE GOAL!

① Player ④ Coins
SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF THE RUINS! DEFEAT THE GUARDIANS!
The protagonist of the game, Lemeza Kosugi. Money you obtain from enemies or pots.
You'll have to clear most of the puzzles in order Powerful bosses called Guardians are hiding Essential for purchasing items in shops.
You'll play as him during your adventure.
to progress and reach your goal. in each major area of the ruins. Defeating the
Guardians can open the way to new areas.
② Health ⑤ Weights
FIND ITEMS! CLEAR PUZZLES! Indicates Lemeza's total health. If it drops too Heavy items you obtain from enemies
There are tons of mysterious items hidden The ruins are divided into multiple areas low, you'll hear a warning sound. The yellow or pots. You'll need these to open doors
in La-Mulana. Some items will improve called fields. Once you clear the puzzles in vertical bar to the right is its current limit. and reveal other secrets.
Lemeza's strength, while others will unlock one field, you'll be able to move on to the
devices. Collect lots of items to venture next field. ③ Soul Meter ⑥ Equipment
deeper into the ruins!
Collecting green Soul Stones will fill the meter. Includes the main weapon, sub weapon,
When the meter is filled, all your health will be and tool currently equipped. The number
HOW TO ADVANCE IN THIS GAME restored. Some enemies drop a large amount displayed above the sub weapon is the
Last time we heard from our intrepid explorer, Lemeza was on his way to explore the ruins, of Soul Stones. amount of projectiles or bullets remaining.
buuuuuut...sadly, most of his equipment was confiscated by airport security. So obviously,
he's feeling a little unsure about himself at the moment, but everything's going to turn out
just fine. And if you can stick to the following tips, you'll make it through La-Mulana,
no problem!
MENU
• Save money and purchase essential items at the village shop, especially the Hand
Scanner and the Glyph Reader. Fortunately, Lemeza's laptop was not one of the items
• If you're not feeling too confident, try solving all the puzzles in the Gate of Guidance. confiscated at the airport. Good thing too, because the laptop
Once you've built up some confidence, try exploring more fields. It's a good idea to screen serves as the menu screen of LA-MULANA. Here, you
explore different fields in the beginning, but don't overdo it! can view and select item and weapon descriptions, install and
• Collect green Soul Stones in fields with fewer enemies if your health starts dipping. uninstall acquired software, and adjust various settings.
There are also hot springs in the village outskirts and inside the ruins that'll fully
There's even a software application that increases the number
replenish your health.
of tabs in the menu screen. It'll be difficult to clear the game
• Don't forget that you're an archaeologist! Again, keep a sharp eye and examine
without accessing the menu screen, so make good use of it.
anything that looks suspicious!

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 Master the Controls!
【JUM 【PUSH】
P】
LK】
【WA
He comes from a line

▲
Lemeza usually does a lot of field of ninja, so he’s got

▲
work anyway, so he won’t get tired. excellent jumping skills.
It’ll be a piece of cake for
him to get over ordinary walls.
▲ There are blocks and doors in the ruins you
can push. You can’t pull them, though.

【MAIN ATTACK】 【S A secondary means of attacking.

▲
UB A
TTAC Includes shooting and throwing things.
Lemeza’s basic means of attacking. He’s a K】
Use the appropriate attack method based on your
little too skilled with that whip...but let’s not
current situation. Watch your remaining inventory!
IM】
read into it too much. ▶
【SW 【LA
TCH
ONTO
WALL 】
Lemeza’s mastered an S】 CE W EIGHT

▲
ancient swimming method 【PLA
【USE ITEM】 that allows him to hold his
Puzzles can be activated by
breath for a while.
dropping these onto
You can hold an item aloft.
a pedestal. Carry
Sometimes it may trigger
plenty of Weights with
certain events! ▶
you. ▶

A certain item will give you the

【ENTER】 ability to latch onto walls while

You can enter 【CLIM jumping. ▶

B】
▲

shops and tents.

No need to knock!
Lemeza’s field work really
▲

DOES come in handy. He’s a

fast climber, so you won’t have
problems there.

13 14
Master the Menu!
An extremely useful menu that'll help our intrepid archaeologist
THE MOBILE SUPER X HAS EVEN MORE FUNCTIONS!
LA-MULANA is a game that includes many
puzzle-solving elements, so it can be a In the Config menu, you can adjust controller settings,
bit overwhelming. But if you make good use screen size, brightness, BGM volume, and sound effects
of the laptop's menu screen, your adventure volume. Adjusting the
will go a lot more smoothly. settings to your liking is
Let's go over the menu screen in more detail. also the key to making
your adventure go as
smoothly as possible!

DECIPHER ANCIENT WRITINGS WITH THE HAND SCANNER!

THIS IS LEMEZA'S FAVORITE LAPTOP, THE MOBILE SUPER X!
One of the laptop's
It's the laptop Lemeza uses
functions is to read and
for his research, as well as the
decode characters. If you
preferred laptop for adventurers.
equip the Hand Scanner,
It was made in Japan, so naturally
you can read and
it scored high in reliability
decode writings left on
and performance. The laptop
tablets and corpses.
serves as the menu screen during
However, you can't just
the game. It can manage ▲ Read this tablet using the ▲ ...then, it'll appear as this.
▲ Make good use of it! straight-up read them as is,
Lemeza's inventory, ▲ Navigate the menu by switching tabs. Hand Scanner...
so activate the Glyph Reader
launch installed software,
from the menu screen. One of the only ways to get hints is to read ancient writings,
open emails, and save messages and conversations. There are multiple tabs within the
and you can scan background murals, so use the Hand Scanner if you get stuck.
menu that you can navigate to. Move over to the item or software you wish to use,
then select it. The numbers in the top right corner display your play time.
ADDITIONAL MENU FUNCTIONS WITH SOFTWARE!
THE PAUSE SCREEN IS ALSO IMPORTANT!
The Pause screen isn't just for taking breaks. If you have a Once you start your adventure and talk to Elder Xelpud, you'll acquire software called the
map reader, as well as the map that corresponds to xelpud mailer. You can access it from the envelope tab in the menu screen.
each field, the Pause There, you'll be able to read mail you'll periodically receive from the elder.
screen will display There's other software
the entire map layout you can find that'll add
and the name of your additional tabs to the
current location. If you menu, such as the Glyph
have the Holy Grail, Reader (decodes tablets),
upon opening the Pause screen, you can warp to any Yagoo Map Reader
previously-visited field. However, you'll have to first (displays maps),
decode the Holy Grail Tablet of the field you want to and TextTrax (saves
messages and ▲ Select this icon and confirm... ▲ ...and you'll receive an email
warp to. Once decoded, you'll be able to easily warp ▲ Warp to your destination!
to your destination. conversations). from the elder.

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 Item Menu
Use the items you collect! The weapons and items you currently have equipped
in the Item Menu will glow a
The Item Menu is probably the menu you'll use the most during your adventure. You can reddish-blue. When you select
switch weapons you've acquired, as well as equip items. Select and confirm the weapon or and confirm equipment,
item you want to use. the cursor will rotate between
Main Weapon, Sub Weapon, and
④ Other Items Usable Items.
Move the cursor to your desired item
and confirm your selection. Once
① Main Weapon ①
confirmed, the cursor will move to
the next column. After you've
selected your items, the
② Sub Weapon ② cursor will return to the
⑥ Lemeza
Kosugi Main Weapon list.

③ Usable Item ③
④ ⑥ You may acquire lots of items, but you may
not be sure about how to use them,
⑤ so make sure to check the Information
section of the menu--there might be hints
hiding there! There are also some items
that may change appearance depending
⑤ Information
on certain events, so be on the lookout for
those as well.

① Main Weapon ④ Other Items

These vary in power and attack range. You won't need to equip these for their effects
Depending on the situation, you may need to take place.
to switch your main weapon on the fly.

⑤ Information
② Sub Weapon
This is where information about the currently-
Secondary weapons that also vary in power selected item is displayed. If you're not sure
and attack range. You can also equip a shield. whether to equip a certain item, check its
description.

③ Usable Item ⑥ Lemeza Kosugi

Special items needed for certain situations. Lemeza's portrait will change depending
Includes the Hand Scanner and artifacts that on which weapons and items are currently As you acquire more equipment and items, Lemeza's appearance is sure to change...
can fit into walls. equipped. and become strange. Switching weapons is understandable, but layering clothes and
placing helmets under hats...? There are sure to be odd combinations Lemeza can wear
while spelunking about the ruins.
17 18
 Soft Menu
Improve laptop performance! The memory space required is fixed for each
Both the Soft Menu and the Item Menu are integral to fully exploring the ruins. You can individual software, and you'll need to have
manage activated software from the Soft Menu; try fiddling around with various software sufficient free space available in order to use
applications to enhance your exploring capabilities. the selected software. Basic software such
as the Glyph Reader and Yagoo Map Reader
use less memory, but others like game software require more. You might max out of memory
early on, but as the story progresses, you'll be able to acquire a machine that'll give you
more memory, allowing you to use more software.
SOFT COMBINATION EFFECT

Depending on the combination of software you've activated, helpful functions may appear.
① Software
Some are useful when you're exploring, some are essential for puzzle solving, some
can strengthen you, and yet some can cause the unexpected. We'll introduce several
① combinations here; figure out the rest of them by finding software and trying new things!

RECOMMENDED COMBINATION EFFECT

② Memory Space ② ③ ③ Model Name
YAGOO MAP READER + YAGOO MAP STREET

④ With Yagoo Map Reader, the player

can view a color-coded map.
Different combinations yield
various icons.
④ Information

Current Location Gate Holy Grail Tablet ▲ It'll be easy to see, and useful, too!

Cross of Light Fairy Shop

① Software ② Memory Space Narrator Philosopher To Another Field

There are 20 software applications, Displays the total amount of memory
each with their own unique function. available. If the limit is exceeded, you can't TEXTTRAX + ADDITIONAL TEXT MEMORY
activate additional software.
TextTrax is a piece of handy
● App Launcher software that allows the player
These add more tabs to the menu once activated. ③ Model Name to store ancient writings and
▲ If this isn't enough, take some notes
Super important! This is the model name of the laptop you're conversations. The storage limit
on paper!
currently using. Lemeza brought this along, increases when combined with
● Software for supplemental functions
but unfortunately the laptop's quality may Additional Text Memory.
These display maps on the Pause screen and
start dipping at some point...
enhance other menu functions.
?+?
● Additional Applications
④ Information If Lemeza is low on health,
These enhance certain App Launcher functions.
Displays the name and information of the this combination will help
● Game Software
currently-selected software. If you're not sure you survive!
You can't play with these, but if they're activated,
how to use it, use this as a reference. ▲ Wait... Does that mean if Lemeza dies,
something might happen?
he'll somehow survive!?

19 20
 ARTICLE
NO.2 Knowledge of the Ancient Ruins

The legendary ruins of La-Mulana are said to be the origin of all civilizations and life.
These ancient civilizations that flourished aboveground have their roots in La-Mulana.
Essentially, the more you know about these renowned ancient civilizations, the more you'll be
able to enjoy the world of La-Mulana.
Speaking of which... Did you know about the four great river valley civilizations of the world?
They are the Ancient Egyptian Civilization, the Mesopotamian Civilization, the Indus Valley
Civilization, and the Chinese Civilization.
The Ancient Egyptian Civilization is famous for its
pyramids, sphinxes, and murals;
most people think of humans depicted in profile
when picturing the latter. This civilization is also
famous for its concept of life, death,
Characters
and the afterlife. Additionally, Egyptian mythology
is believed to be the root of European mythology,
including that of Greece.
The Mesopotamian Civilization is centered around
the Sumerian Civilization--said to be the world's
oldest ancient civilization--and contained ziggurats
that are still standing in the Middle East.
The Indus Valley Civilization was based in India;
the civilization also served as the birthplace of Buddhism. The Hindu gods derived from Indus
Valley mythology are very unique, and Ramayana is the world's oldest ancient document,
famous for its description about a nuclear war.
Regarding China, several civilizations existed there, such as the Yangtze and Yellow River
Civilizations. Though few archaeological sites have been excavated in China, the first Qin
emperor's mausoleum is located there.
Besides the aforementioned four, there are other
famous civilizations, such as the Incan and Mayan
Civilizations that flourished in Mexico and South
America. There's a theory that Japanese civilizations [Birth]
that existed 10,000 years ago (known as the Jomon
A character that represents the beginning of life.
period) were actually quite advanced. The United
States has a history with Native Americans and
Mesoamerican Civilization, though there aren't many
archaeological sites left.
The Angkorian Civilization in Cambodia
contains an archaeological
civilization that hasn't
yet been fully demystified.
We live in modern times now, so if you're
interested in these ancient civilizations,
you can learn more about them by searching
online. There are a lot of interesting patterns and
structures still in place within La-Mulana;
maybe it'd be quite the adventure to find out what
remains of the legendary ruins...

21 22
 Lemeza Kosugi Elder Xelpud
A 31-year-old archaeologist and third-generation Age unknown.
Japanese-American. He's a ninja descendant, The elder of the clan guarding La-Mulana.
courtesy of his Japanese grandfather. He's a While he protects the ruins according to his
hands-on archaeologist who researches local ruins clan's decree, he's surprisingly open-minded and
while lecturing at the university. likes technology more than anyone else.
He's also quite competitive in his archaeological He's been able to generate electricity from a
quests and the results of his research, large waterfall in the village outskirts for
especially with his father, who's also personal use; because of the waterfall, the village
an archaeologist. However, Lemeza tends to has been able to prosper despite its location
get frustrated, as his father always plots to take deep in the jungle.
advantage of Lemeza and steal his treasure and
findings because of their differing experience.
Lemeza never leaves behind his laptop,
Mobile Super X. He's also particularly fond of curry. Supposedly, he's of high ranking, but

▲
he usually just spends his time flooding
Lemeza's inbox with emails.

When Lemeza pays an unexpected visit to

his tent, the elder's usually absorbed in his
favorite video game.

▲
Lemeza comes from a line of ninja, so he can
Shawn Kosugi
▲

access places others normally couldn't. A 62-year-old historian, second-generation Japanese-American,

and father of Lemeza Kosugi. Known as an authority on anthropology
and history, he's also well-versed in biology and astronomy,
pursuing the origin of humans. A few years ago, he made a
Our plucky researcher will
▲

bold statement, declaring "There's a civilization

always keep pushing forward,
that is the origin of ALL civilizations!"
regardless of whether he's
He's been missing since then. Despite being
on fire or being shocked
a sexagenerian, he has an iron body and
into oblivion.
tremendous survival odds.

▲ He's a pretty old man, but he possesses incredible

physical strength and abundant energy, which has
surprised Lemeza on more than one occasion.
When you've got this much experience in the field,
▲

Lemeza's father, who vanished after

▲
you can eat curry pretty much anywhere. entering La-Mulana.

23 24
 Mulbruk The Four Philosophers
A young woman (if you can call being 3,019 years old "young") Legendary philosophers who
that sleeps in the ruins. eternally sleep within the ruins.
She's a member of the Four Philosophers' clan, and despite According to legend,
her "youth," she possesses high intelligence. these philosophers know
Awaken Mulbruk from her slumber, and she'll help you with her everything about the ruins
vast knowledge about the ruins. and are sleeping in order to
eventually pass on that knowledge.
However, no one has seen a trace
She was given eternal life and rests of them.
somewhere within the ruins.

▲ Could this be related to the Four Philosophers?

Fairy Queen Other Dwellers of the Ruins

The leader of the surviving fairies that used There are others Lemeza can interact with in the ruins. Some are villagers Lemeza can chat
to inhabit the land. with on the Surface, while others reside within La-Mulana itself. Regarding the latter,
She's willing to help you out, but not before these entities can be humans, ghosts, or even skeletons! Despite this, they're one of your
testing your skills. She also seems to be only sources of conversation inside the ruins.
burdened with another important task...

Is it true that if you

▲

pass her test, the fairies

will help Lemeza?
▲ Harsh Salesgirl ▲ Dignified Skeleton ▲ Gotta keep working,
even in the afterlife!

25 26
 Enemies HEDGE
AT
MA R
Introducing the monsters ready to attack Lemeza! KODA

▲
A rode
nt that
There are over 120 types of monsters roaming about the ruins! intrude startles
rs by e
when a xplodin
Here are the ones you'll encounter at the beginning of your adventure. ehog. pproac g
mellow hedg h e d.
A normally T h e ex

▲
th ei r en em ies, plosion
MYRMECOLEON spot is mea
Once they d at tack attack
a nyo n e nt to
Monsters into a ball an nearby
they roll up m ilia r .
A monster that's half-lion a fa

▲
Smaller and weaker enemies in the ruins that shouldn't (not unlike
in the front and half-ant in the og).
pose much of a challenge. However, there are tougher blue hedgeh
and more powerful monsters waiting for you as back. It's harmless so long as
you progress, so don't expect to just blaze through Lemeza doesn't approach it.
so easily.

SITH GHOST
CAIT
A soul of the departed that wanders
A cat balanc around the ruins. It appears and
SKELETON inflated ball.
ing on an
disappears at random.

▲
Think the
cat's cute an
An undead monster with its d want to
▲

approach it?
soul dwelling in its bones. The cat will
throw the ba
When attacked, it'll just collapse BAT ll at you!

▲
and rise again.

An aerial monster that flies around

everywhere. Because there are so many
swarming about, Lemeza will have a
K
tough time dealing with them all.
R ROC
▲

KILLE at prote
cts
anism th
A me ch e d ,

▲
g roa c h
blin s. If app
s e m m e s. the ruin sing
s te r re f la d e s tr u cts, cau
on d in ying it self-
A m ngulfe nno da mag e
to

▲
de re a to massive
AND z a r m o e earby.
ROCK H a li s fir
e n
of t h p ew anyo n e
TOG One ies, it s
m r s.
e n e of f ot h e
r d
A frog-like monster of amorphous shape, wa
similar to slime. They continuously
emerge from holes in the wall.
▲

ARGUS
DM AN
MASKE blue
on its
e s s e ye s ir ts;
n tl k
h cou e outs
nt wit e villag m to
A gia es in
th ta in ite e
▲ The arm of a giant . It liv a cer ch th
body need p p ro a
r will d to a

▲
statue that roams around la y e v is e a r e d .
the p ad r p re p
's not unde
the ruins. It's extremely t it. It eza is
A survivor of the natives who once defea L e m
fast and will slam into any lived in the ruins a when
long time ago. They're armed with giant
intruders upon detection. a large
golden shield, which protects them
from attacks.
▲

KAK
OUJ
UU
27 28
 Room Guardian Guardian
ana. It's possible that
ster s that gua rd important rooms in La-Mul
Ave rag e-s ize mon ns are equal in strength Gigantic monsters that also
secrets... Some Room Guardia
these rooms contain valuable Make sure you have the prop er equipment and full protect La-Mulana. They have a powerful
lar Gua rdia ns, so wat ch out! presence and equally powerful attacks.
to regu
!
health before engaging with them Players will need lots of advance preparation
and mastery of techniques to take on these
d the legs of
challenging adversaries. Once a Guardian is
of a lion an
with the face g (and killin
g) felled, you'll be able to advance further in the
A monster , ki ck in

▲
ound
e. It fre el y bounces ar e to th e ruins. If a Guardian proves to be too difficult,
a hors os
oach. Get cl
dares appr train up and try again!
anyone who , an d yo u'll be kicked
t thinki ng
Buer withou eek!
into next w

BUER

AMPHISBAENA
▲ A two-headed serpentine Guardian.
Both heads attack at the same time, so it's not
A demon monster with the head of a possible to escape.
dog and the body of a human,
with two sets of wings on either side.
It's a powerful monster that can
control heat and chuck flaming ELLMAC
rocks at you.
▲

A giant chlamydosaurus said to be the avatar of the

▲
sun god Aten. Despite its size, it has high speed and
PAZUZU breathes fire.

Said to be the leader of Hell, this monster

takes the form of a colossal fly and
watches over all of La-Mulana.
▲

BEELZ
EBUB
BAHAMUT
A large fish Guardian said to command the sea. It endlessly
roams in water, spews a powerful breath, and attempts to
ram into its enemies with its monstrous body. Bahamut is
▲ A giant warrior with four eyes, six arms, and the one of the more difficult enemies to defeat.

▲
head of a bull. Its skills in battle are unmatched, being an
CHI YOU
expert at wielding weapons with all six arms. It's also very
intelligent and said to have obtained an immortal body...
29 30
 ARTICLE
NO.3 How To Rest When Exhausted

Lemeza has a health meter, so he won't die unless the meter drains to 0. As you progress through the ruins and
increase Lemeza's health, you'll be able to overcome tricky platforming as long as you're prepared to take a bit of
damage here and there. If you're going for that strategy, you'll need to master exactly how to recover health.
This game is different from others in that saving and continuing doesn't automatically restore your health.
Want to die on purpose and get your health back? Sorry, that won't work here! If you're in a pinch and
intentionally die, you'll still be in a pinch upon reloading your save.
There are several ways to recover your health, detailed below; it'll be cumbersome for you if you don't choose the
correct way to heal depending on the situation. Remember this information, as it could save your life--literally!

SOUL METER This is the most common recovery method.

Sometimes, upon defeating an enemy, a little green ball called
a Soul Stone appears. When it's picked up, the Soul Meter underneath the health
meter will increase. If you max out the Soul Meter--which is always the same length
Basic Information
as your health meter--your health will be fully restored. Of course, when initially
starting out, it'll be easy to fill up the meter, as it'll be pretty small to begin with.
However, it'll get harder to build up the meter as Lemeza's health increases.
The main advantage to recovering via the Soul Meter is that you can time when you
want to fully heal. The trick is to accumulate as many Soul Stones as possible without maxing out the meter,
then travel to a location that doesn't have any alternate methods of recovering. That way, if there's an emergency,
you can defeat an enemy and pick up a Soul Stone to fully recover your health.

FAIRIES After completing a major event, white lights will appear in several spots
around the ruins. When you touch these lights, some fairies will appear.
The red ones will recover your health, and the fairies will follow Lemeza for a period
of time, so taking them into a battle with a Room Guardian will make the battle
much easier.
However, there won't always be fairies around to recover your health when you run
into an issue. Also, after its first appearance, the white lights won't appear again for
a long time.

HOT SPRING Head west from the village, and you'll find a hot spring.
It's the easiest way to recover; you'll be fully healed just by
taking a nice bath. You can pay a visit to the hot spring after beginning your [Life]
adventure on the Surface and speaking to the elder. The only disadvantage This character means life. It represents a person carrying a cup.
is that you'll have to return to the Surface every time you want to use it.
If you're exploring an area that doesn't have a Holy Grail Tablet, and you
decide to return to the Surface, you may have to work your way back to
where you were, including retraversal of difficult rooms.

SACRED ORB DEFEAT GUARDIANS

An item that increases Defeating Guardians yields rewards, including
your maximum health health restoration...but you’ll also need quite a bit
by 32. While a player will of health to take
instinctively want to take them down,
one as soon as they find so using this
one, they also serve as method may
an important means of not be the best
recovery, as taking one will also fully restore your health. course of action.
It's recommended to not take it immediately,
instead retrieving it when you need an emergency heal.

31 32
 Understanding Items!
We'll explain the different kinds of items and how to obtain them.
ITEM LIST
From here on, we'll be going over more in-depth strategies.
Tons of items appear in La-Mulana, but they're scattered around the ruins. Some are in ★ WEAPONS ★
treasure chests, others are hidden behind walls, and others are sold in shops. Once you've mastered how to obtain items, you'll next want to
There are items that are difficult to obtain, but they're all essential to completing the memorize the types of items. You'll notice
game. There are specific methods on how to get them and what they do, so keeping this in the Item Menu that items are separated
information at the forefront will help you on your adventure. into categories: weapons, tools,
and equipment. The latter two are found
First, let's figure out how to get these items! in large, blue treasure chests.
Occasionally, for extremely important and
▲ This is a Weapon Door!
useful items, the treasure chest itself will be well hidden.
You'll need weapons for fighting and solving puzzles, but these will be hidden within
stone doors known as Weapon Doors. Strike it, and you'll receive a divine punishment,
so be careful!

★ USABLE + EQUIPMENT ITEMS ★ ★ DROP ITEMS ★

▲ Treasure Chest ▲ Breakable Pot ▲ Roaming Monster Equipment items
have an effect just
by equipping them;
TREASURE CHEST
usable items can
Treasure chests are scattered throughout the ruins and be held. There are
contain lots of useful items. You can't open these right some usable items ▲ Collecting coins is the first step to becoming rich!
away, however; you'll have to solve a mystery linked to the that have a special
Small items you can obtain from pots and
chest in order to unlock it. Once it's unlocked, hit the chest function, but for the most
items. These mainly consist of coins, ammo
with a weapon, and the spoils are yours. part, you can use items by
for sub-weapons, Weights, and Soul Stones.
pressing the Item button.
You can get a lot of Drop Items from Room
Figure out which item you
▲ When the chest is Guardians; make sure you keep track of which
POTS AND MONSTERS unlocked, hit it with a need to use from ancient
enemies drop what.
weapon to open it! writings and wall patterns!
The player can obtain coins,
★ SOFTWARE ★ ★ THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS, TOO... ★
sub weapon ammo, and Weights from SHOPS
breaking pots and killing monsters. These applications Besides the aforementioned, there are also
Soul Stones for the Soul Meter are can be installed on Sacred Orbs that increase your maximum
only dropped by monsters, however. the laptop. health. Obtaining a Key Seal will also allow you
Since software is to break their corresponding Wall Seal.
▲ There are several types of
more modern,
pots! Smash 'em all!
you won't find these
in treasure chests; they're usually sold
TREASURES ▲ Come on in!
in shops. Maybe past explorers that are
These might look inconspicuous long-gone dropped these in the ruins?
Shops are located in most areas
at first, but don't underestimate
in La-Mulana. Most all of them sell
them. The small ones are chock-
Weights and sub weapons, ▲ Sacred Orb ▲ This is a Wall Seal!
full with coins. Treasures are
but some sell expensive items
different from pots, however;
and software. The shops located
they're hard to open!
on the Surface have especially
33 useful items available for sale! 34
Introducing Items
It's pointless if you don't know how to use them!
■ WATERPROOF CASE ■ HELMET
Enables you to use your It's oddly shaped, but wearing
Hovering over the Item Menu will display information; it's a good idea to master how to laptop underwater. it will allow you to pass through
use items. All items will help you, but here are the ones you'll need in the beginning of waterfalls without being dragged
down by the rushing currents.
your adventure.
■ HERMES' BOOTS
WEAPONS ■ SCALESPHERE
Boots said to have been worn
There are six types of main weapons and 14 types of sub weapons. The trick is to use the by a legendary hero. A phantom fish inside a crystal.
Increases walking speed. Eliminates poison damage
weapon based on your current situation. while underwater.
■ WHIP ■ KNIFE
■ CRUCIFIX
■ ANCHOR
Lemeza's personal whip. You A handy and convenient knife.
This item renders you immune
might feel a little shaky using this It's stronger than the whip, Looks like a piece of junk.
to Soul enemies. If you touch
in the beginning, but it makes for and you can use it in rapid Holding it allows you to sink
one of these enemies, it'll be
a solid offense and defense. succession. underwater.
defeated upon contact.

■ CHAIN WHIP ■ AXE

SOFTWARE
It's twice as powerful than the It's heavy, but makes up for its
weight with its power. It also has These applications can be activated on the laptop. They can usually be purchased in shops,
standard whip. Use with caution!
a wide attack range. so save your money!
■ XELPUD MAILER ■ GLYPH READER
■ SHURIKEN ■ ROLLING SHURIKEN
Allows you to receive emails from Software that translates
A basic sub weapon. Use these These arc forward onto the elder. Don't forget to activate ancient writings. Buy this one
against tougher enemies! the ground, then travel along this from the menu! as soon as possible!
the floor. They can plow through
enemies and also traverse up
steep hills. ■ TextTrax ■ YAGOO MAP READER
Allows you to save ancient If you have a map, this software
ITEMS writings and messages
you've read.
will enable to you view the current
area via the Pause screen.

There are so many items to discover, and even more hidden well inside the ruins.
■ SNAPSHOT ■ GUILD
■ HOLY GRAIL ■ LAMP OF TIME Allows you to scan pictures of Alerts you if there's a hidden
the ruins and decipher shop in your current location.
Reading it will record your A legendary item that hidden writings.
current location and enable you momentarily stops time when
to warp around La-Mulana. the fire is put out. It's extremely
difficult to obtain!
OTHERS
■ HAND SCANNER
■ SHELL HORN Consumable items not displayed on the Item Menu screen.
Available for purchase on the
Surface, this item allows you
Upon solving a puzzle, this ■ SACRED ORB ■ WEIGHT
item will play a mysterious tune
to decipher ancient writings on
informing you of your success. Increases Lemeza's maximum Easily the most essential item
tablets, corpses, and murals.
health and fully heals him. for solving puzzles in the ruins.
Purchase them in shops, or pick
them up around the ruins.

35 36
Adventure Basics
New to exploring? You need to read this first!
How to Progress
For those who have no idea what to do
The ruins of La-Mulana are extremely complex. Venture inside without a plan, and you'll be
So far, we've covered how to play LA-MULANA. However, if you're not used to playing this
lost in no time! Set goals while you're exploring and figure out your next steps, or else you'll
game, you'll be lost as to how to proceed. Here's a handy beginner's guide, so if you're new
be trapped inside!
to the adventure, follow this guide!
PUZZLE PIECING Your adventure begins in a village. The elder's tent is the only one available from the start,
You'll be mainly solving puzzles to progress through the ruins. so let's pop in there first.
There are several ways to accomplish this, such as pressing There are pots and treasure chests scattered on the Surface and throughout the ruins.
a switch, placing Weights on a pedestal, and defeating There are also coins that'll come in handy during your adventure, so start collecting them by
progressively tougher enemies. smashing some pots open.

When you talk to the elder, you'll receive a software app called the xelpud mailer; open the main
menu and activate the app. You'll start getting emails from him pretty often; it's best to follow
WEIGHT FOR IT... the instructions in his messages.

Weights are essential for progression and have a similar There's a few shops in the village on the Surface. You won't have enough money to begin with
to purchase items, so save up some dough first, then go shopping. We suggest picking up the
function to keys. They activate mechanisms needed to solve Hand Scanner and the Glyph Reader first; the former lets you read tablets in the ruins, and the
puzzles, and some doors require a Weight to be opened. latter allows you to decipher what's written on them. With these two items, you'll be good
Don't be wasteful with your Weights, though! to go!

Once you've entered La-Mulana, you'll find many treasures and puzzles waiting for you.
SCAN THE AREA! There's several ways to go about solving puzzles; Elder Xelpud will be able to help you out in
the beginning. Try to remember the different types of puzzles as you come across them.
You'll need a Hand Scanner on your adventure. As there
aren't too many, shall we say, living beings in the ruins that'll Beware the many monsters of the ruins! If your health dips too low, don't overexert yourself
and try to push through; instead, return to the Surface. There's a hot spring to the west of the
provide you with hints, you'll have to find them on your own. village that'll fully replenish your health.
If something looks suspicious (old tablets, corpses, etc.),
take a closer look! You might just discover something helpful. If you find a Holy Grail Tablet, read it ASAP! If you access a Holy Grail Tablet and
perish afterward, you'll be able to restart from that tablet, so it's highly recommended to revisit
a Holy Grail Tablet after solving a major puzzle.
TRAVERSAL TECHNIQUES There are always hints relating to puzzles and traps in the ruins. If you just aimlessly
poke around, you're not going to have a great experience. Instead, take notes from the
Using your brain isn't the only way to solve puzzles.
hints you come across and try to infer what these hints mean before attempting puzzles.
You'll need excellent platforming skills to explore every nook
and cranny in the ruins. You can expect to find a trap waiting for you upon entering a room. If you don't observe your
surroundings first and just head on in, you'll be sorry!
Stuck somewhere? Try climbing over a wall!
The basics of LA-MULANA consist of collecting hints, deducing them, and solving the
relevant puzzles. It may seem like a difficult action title, but it's also a difficult adventure game.

WARNING: INTRUDERS NOT WELCOME Continue progressing in the above manner, and you'll be able to remember the characteristics
of many puzzles. Lemeza's items will also become more enhanced, and you'll be able to
La-Mulana is protected by divine powers, which explains advance further in the game.
why it's difficult to take up the dual role of graverobber and The last thing to remember about LA-MULANA is that there's no right or wrong way to progress
intruder here. A word of advice: Don't get trigger-happy and in the game. You can mostly go wherever you want; if you do encounter a powerful enemy,
needlessly break everything you see! If you do, the powers it's okay to retreat and come back when you're stronger.
that be will deliver unto you a harsh punishment, so think First things first, though: get accustomed to the game! Once you do, you'll hit the
wisely before deciding to get your hands all over something. ground running!

37 38
 Where Can I Find Hints?
Be adept at collecting hints!
RECOGNIZE DANGEROUS TRAPS!
During the adventure, you'll be able to collect hints in several places.
For example, you might get a verbal hint from a The ruins are filled not only with helpful items, but also deadly traps ready to stop Lemeza
villager, or you might see a written hint on a tablet in his tracks. You'll have to look out for these and monsters during the course of
inside the ruins. By gathering these hints, your adventure. We'll detail said traps below, but also list out some mechanisms that will
you'll be able to progress deeper help you out.
inside La-Mulana. Be on the lookout for hints; ★ TRAPDOOR ★
they'll save you many a headache later on. At first glance, this tile on the floor looks normal,
but walking over it activates a trap that causes
you to fall through.
TALK TO EVERYONE!
★ SPIKES ★
Elder Xelpud will help you out besides doling out hints, so it's Sharp objects that'll cause immense damage
recommended to drop by his place every time you access a if you touch them. They won't hurt you as
new area. long as you don't touch the pointed parts.
Could there be other people besides the elder around the village
★ BREAKABLE WALL ★
and inside the ruins...? Search for them and pay them a visit.
They might give you a hint or own a shop with important items! Some of these walls
▲ Some stories are useless!
★ EYE OF DIVINE RETRIBUTION ★ can be broken with
Be careful with these eyeball murals! If you strike a wall weapons. Others
ARCHAEOLOGY IS ALL ABOUT RESEARCH! that's hiding an object before unsealing it, you'll be struck break down just by
with heavy lightning, taking off a huge chunk of health! getting on top of them.
You can obtain most hints by reading what's inscribed on tablets.
Most of said tablets contain clues on how to progress or solve This is one of the traps you'll want to watch out for.
a puzzle. Even the names of certain rooms and statues are hints!
Use the Hand Scanner to sniff out anything ★ MOVING PLATFORM ★ ★ BLOCK ★
suspicious other than stone tablets. A part of the floor that You can push this.
If you come across a room with a statue functions like an elevator. What happens when
and writing on a wall, and your first thought ▲ Looks like it's referring
Get on at the right time! you push it onto
is "Hmmm... Is this writing referring to the to a location... a pedestal?
statue in the room?" then bingo! You're thinking like
▲ Hmmm? Is it indicating this place? an archaeologist! Do what you need to do to proceed!
KEY ITEMS FOR USE!
SAVE BEFORE A DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER! Players will need to use certain items like the Hand Scanner at the
It's best to save your game at a Holy Grail Tablet before taking on right location; otherwise, it won't have any effect. For example,
a powerful enemy or when your health is low. Access the tablet to items like keys will need to be used
enter the save menu. Once you pass a Holy Grail Tablet, in front of keyholes. To see what
you'll be able to continue from that point moving forward. So even item you'll need to use, refer to item
if Lemeza's health drops to 0, you can rest easy as long as you've descriptions and hints that you've
taken these steps. amassed thus far.
However, your health will not automatically be fully restored, ▲ Choose your Holy Grail Tip: If you equip an item and pay a
Tablet wisely!
so it'll be dangerous if you save while you're in a bind! visit to Elder Xelpud, he'll explain that item's function!
39 40
 ARTICLE
NO.4 Software Combination Table

The software applications on Lemeza's laptop also have special effects when activated
from the menu. They can add certain features, like displaying maps or hidden shops;
combine two software applications, and they become even more useful! They may look
ineffective at first, but you'll be surprised at what they can do.
Each software application requires a certain amount of free memory space, so you'll have
to get creative with your combinations.
We'll show you some of these software combos, along with their effects. Every combo will
be useful to you; we'll leave some blanks so you can figure them out on your own.
When you've activated a correct combination, you'll hear a chime. Try to fill in these blanks
on your journey; if you manage to do so, you'll definitely be qualified to call yourself a
Field Strategy
professional explorer!

Yagoo Map Reader + Yagoo Map Street Displays the complete map with colored icons.

TextTrax + Additional Text Memory Increases the amount of TextTrax storage space.

Enga Musica + ？ Provides access to the game's soundtrack.

Death Village + ？ Extends invincibility after taking damage.

Rose and Camellia + ？ Strengthens main weapons except the Whip.

Miracle Witch + ？ Guarantees that a treasure fairy always appears.

Miracle Witch + ？ Guarantees that a key fairy always appears. [Death]

A character meaning destruction and representing dying humans.
Miracle Witch + ？ Guarantees that a weapon fairy always appears.

Lonely House Moving + ？ Grants a one-time auto-revive if you lose all your health.

？ ＋ ？ Reduces fairy recharge time.

？ ＋ ？ Boosts damage of the Whip, Chain Whip, and Flail Whip.

？ ＋ ？ Provides access to hidden developers' messages.

Enables you to access backside fields via the

？ Holy Grail.

41 42
 Field Structure The adventure begins from the Village of Departure, located on the Surface.
If you don't familiarize yourself with the structure of the fields, you WILL get lost...and die. Surface You can immediately start monster hunting and gathering items from pots, but it
might be a good idea to visit certain points of interest first to be better prepared
A field in the ruins is separated into several rooms. By consulting the map, you'll be able for your delve into the ruins.
to see each room's name. There's also a screen area called the grid. Additionally, enemies
defeated and pedestals activated will be reset upon exiting and reentering a room.
Map - Surface

Map - Gate of Guidance

POINT OF INTEREST 1: TENTS

Your first stop should be to say hello to Elder Xelpud.
He'll be able to help you out during your adventure.
Once you talk to the elder, the shop will open; this would be a great time to
purchase essential items with the money you've acquired so far.

POINT OF INTEREST 2: WATERFALL

Each field in the ruins consists of multiple rooms; there are 20 views total per field. The top, bottom, left, This waterfall is a tourist hot spot in the village, but it's too
and right parts of the view are connected at each end so that they fit into 4x5 squares, as displayed below. cold and too powerful. Lemeza will easily drown with his
Keeping this in mind will help you understand a field's structure. starter equipment.

POINT OF INTEREST 3: RUINS ENTRANCE

The villagers sealed the entrance to the ruins, but if you talk to Elder Xelpud,
he'll open it for you. You'll need at least one Weight to enter the ruins; to get
your hands on one, you can defeat enemies or smash some pots.

For example, in the Gate of Guidance, LEMEZA'S JOURNAL 1

This is organized into a 4x5 view. there's a wall behind skeleton remains in Snake's I'm not sure how long I was in the car... I know I walked for hours and hours afterward, but my
Make sure you understand this! Sanctuary leading to the field's Holy Grail. memory's hazy and I can't exactly remember. Either way, I finally ended up in this tribal village
that's protected the La-Mulana ruins, or so they say.
THE NAMES OF THE FIELDS AND THE ROOMS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT! I first greeted the elder, who unsealed the entrance to the ruins. He was also kind enough to
install software on my favorite laptop, the Mobile Super X. I decided to explore a little bit and
Each field and room have their own name. You'll find notes and discovered a blue giant just outside the village! There's no way I can defeat that big ol' thing,
documents from corpses and tablets scattered throughout at least not right now. I also discovered a huge waterfall east of the village, but it looks like the
the ruins; some of these writings contain room names, which can be entrance the elder opened is the only way to actually access the ruins. There's also a statue of
an invaluable hint. If you find yourself in a new field, it's best to find the elder; I don't know why, but it just rubs me the wrong way.
that field's map and consult it frequently.
43 44
 As the name suggests, it's a field that teaches you the basics of POINT OF INTEREST 1: ROOM OF COURAGE
Gate of Guidance ruins exploration. Start by clearing this field; you'll get the hang of
how to explore La-Mulana. Here, you can see a spot covered by a stone lid; it looks like you'll have to put
a Weight on the pedestal to open the lid.
However, there's a bed of spikes, so you can't see it. There's a hint nearby
that's telling you to show a little courage. What does that mean...?

POINT OF INTEREST 2: FACE MURAL WITH

STONE IN MOUTH
Map - Gate of Guidance There's a face mural with a silver stone in its mouth,
as well as a pipe protruding from the mouth and
snaking along the wall.
Looks like the pipe continues to the next room.
Whip that stone so you don't fall!

POINT OF INTEREST 3: FOUR TABLETS

Lined up are four stone tablets with large hieroglyphs. Touch it carelessly,
and you'll get quite a divine punishment.
Now that's suspicious... Maybe there's a hint to solving this puzzle?
Let's seek it out!

POINT OF INTEREST 4: CLIFF OF RADIANCE

This is a giant rock called the Cliff of Radiance. You might find out more about
it if you do your research thoroughly.
But if you're lazy and just wander around without a plan, you won't be able to
solve some pretty important puzzles the cliff contains.

OBJECTIVE

The puzzles in this field are straightforward and easy to solve, and most of them are located
either in the same view or adjacent ones.
Once you've entered this field, try to find key items like the Sacred Orb, Map, and Holy Grail
Tablet. You should find these with relative ease; finding the Ankh and Ankh Jewel necessary in
confronting the field's Guardian will be a bit trickier, so be observant.

LEMEZA'S JOURNAL 2
eared!
Well, I was able to pick up the Sacred Orb and the Map pretty easily, but I ended up getting The Ankh is emitting a mysterious light n Amphis baena app
myself into a bit of a pickle. I was fighting monsters just a few minutes ago, and when I lashed ! The Guardia
my whip, it hit a wall with some patterns. What happened next was shocking...literally! I felt like
I'd been struck by lightning! It was pretty painful, to say the least. Then I read a nearby tablet:
"Do not damage without reason." Man, I wish I'd known that beforehand!
Anyway, never mind that. The real issue is what was on the tablet: "If you want power, Anyway, I showed a little courage, and eventually a part of the wall opened up. Can't spoil
show courage." Oh, come on! Aren't I showing courage just by being here? I wonder if whoever what's behind the wall, but whatever's behind it is necessary in the future. Seems like I'll have
made this just wasn't happy... to hunt monsters down to collect enough of "this." Doesn't really make sense to have to fight
for "this," but you know what they say: an easy life doesn't come easy.

45 46
 Different from the Gate of Guidance, it's a field where you can solve
Mausoleum of a few puzzles, using a few ancient writings as hints. Read the stories POINT OF INTEREST 1: ROLLING SHURIKEN ROOM
the Giants written on the tablets; you might regret things later if you just try Nothing's going to change if you just stand there,
solving puzzles on your own. so let's do something. It seems there's a being called
the Ghost Lord, but there's no need to be scared.
If you can make him angry, though, maybe he'll
show himself?
Map - Mausoleum of the Giants

POINT OF INTEREST 2: STONE TABLET YOU

SHOULDN'T READ TWICE
A stone tablet that you shouldn't read a second time.
If you do, the number of monsters dwelling in the
ruins will multiply! Plus, there's no way to undo the
damage, especially if you save after reading it!

POINT OF INTEREST 3: STAR PALACE

OF THE GIANTS
There's a ladder above, but since half of it is gone, you can't climb it.
If you can find something like a stepping stool, that might help, but it
doesn't seem like there's anything resembling a stool nearby.
There must be some way to reach that ladder...

POINT OF INTEREST 4: NEBRA SKY DISK

An astronomical disk with steps on both sides. If you jump onto it from a
high location, it'll rotate. It's said that when it moves, the heavens
also move...

OBJECTIVE
Most of the puzzles aren't that complicated, but many of
the hints you'll find are related to the names of the giants
that are enshrined, so you'll have to take some time to fully
understand each statue's name.
You'll also want to be on the lookout for traps scattered throughout this field. You never know
what's waiting for you around the corner, and just because you solved a puzzle doesn't mean
you can rest easy. Some puzzles come armed with traps!
There's also plenty of strong monsters, so keep that in mind as well.
A powerf
LEMEZA'S JOURNAL 3 !? ul enemy
I'm trapped ! The Gua
rdian Sak
I got an email from Elder Xelpud while I was analyzing a stone tablet from the Giants. it!
Looks like I won't be able to solve a puzzle if I don't decipher it... Argh. Well, I'm already
working on it, but the elder's acting like he knows everything about La-Mulana.
He probably does, though... Maybe he's the one who placed the stone tablet here? I feel like I've seen a note somewhere about a giant's feet, and there's a trap, meaning a treasure
Let's see... This is Zebu, and over there is Ledo... Wait, which one is Futo? Ugh, I'm not good at must be here somewhere. Though it's a tedious task, I was thinking about putting Weights at
these things. Anyway, while I was taking notes and exploring, a Weight fell from my backpack its feet, but then that would just create holes. So I did the even more tedious task of analyzing
and rolled over to a giant. the notes from tablets and corpses. Man, I really am no good at this kind of work. Wish I had
Then I heard a shrill noise and saw some spikes! Yikes! I mean, I love acupuncture, but getting an assistant...
my feet stabbed is a little too much.

47 48
 From this point on, you'll start seeing treasures and rooms that will
Temple of the Sun be hard to access, but if you do your best, you shouldn't have a POINT OF INTEREST 1: ROOM OF LIGHTING
problem. The puzzles aren't that tricky, so you'll just need to There's something here resembling a light fixture,
be careful! but it's an odd thing to find in a field inspired
by Egypt. One has to wonder what's with the
flashing lights... Guess you won't know until you
actually operate the device!

POINT OF INTEREST 2: MULBRUK

Mulbruk is a young woman who served the
Four Philosophers. The door leading to her room is
closed from the start, but once you unlock
the door, she'll wake up and give you similar hints
like Elder Xelpud.
She's well-versed in La-Mulana's history.

POINT OF INTEREST 3: PYRAMID

A stunning pyramid stands here, with an equally
stunning relief depicted. At second glance, however,
it's clear that it's not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill pyramid.
It might be easy to enter, but what do the words
"jump into the sun" mean?

POINT OF INTEREST 4: WEDJET

It's said that the eye of Wedjet can see all. What will you
Map - Temple of the Sun do while it's watching? What will you think? No matter
the result, know that all of your actions have been
watched and judged by Wedjet. Think carefully and
proceed with caution.

OBJECTIVE

Coming after the previous field, the puzzle itself isn't that complicated, but there's a possibility
you'll frequently get stuck here. In the event that you do get stuck, don't panic and try to find a
way out.
If you rely on an easy way out, though, you might not be able to return, so be mindful of that.
You should also pay attention to your current location, especially which room and view you're in.
There might be a hint!

LEMEZA'S JOURNAL 4
ter.
There was an empty room completely devoid of treasure and items after poking around the
t I can't en
Temple of the Sun for a bit. The second I jumped off the ladder, though, I got trapped in
tant, bu
the room! If there's anyone who thinks that happened because I was careless, I DARE you to Battle with a Room impor
come here and explore the ruins with me. Of course, you'll go first and I follow. Guardian! Looks
Anyway, after exploring around the room that I got stuck in, I found a puzzle that was hidden
pretty cleverly; I managed to solve it and escape from the room. Now, I'm not exactly sure why
or how, but there's a chance that me getting stuck in that room caused a nearby treasure chest ...Actually, the pyramid I'd explored earlier had the exit blocked off in the same way. This place
to open. So I ran to the treasure chest to open it, and...I got trapped AGAIN! Surprise, surprise. really is the legendary ruins... I mean, it makes sense to find traps here, but even so, this seems
Well, I'm not a quitter, so I explored this room too and managed to escape again. unnatural. Or maybe this place holds a lot of significance?
There's something weird here, though. Plus, I keep getting stuck; I oughta fix that.

49 50
 Sometimes, you'll have to activate multiple puzzles to solve a
larger one, but once you do, it's a walk in the park. Make sure you POINT OF INTEREST 1: PHILOSOPHER'S ROOM
Spring in the Sky search in the correct order and investigate anything suspicious so There's a prominent mural of a half-man, half-fish being that resembles
you don't get lost. a monk. Some other strange characters and a house entry way can
also be seen on the lower left side of the mural.
There are also silent statues enshrined.
Could these statues be puzzles?
Map - Spring in the Sky OBJECTIVE

In this field, action skills are POINT OF INTEREST 2: SACRED LAKE

more important than logic Its name may sound heavenly, but it's a
to solve puzzles. Half of the devilish little thing filled to the brim with poison.
Enemies swim in this lake, making it difficult
puzzles are located on an
to navigate your way across to the other side.
elevator, and there are lots
There's also a treasure chest present, but how
of enemies that will stand in
to go about opening it is a complete mystery.
your way.
You'll also need to find a way POINT OF INTEREST 3: WATERFALL APPROACH
to somehow withstand the You'll be on the elevator, with the goal of reaching the top. Enemies will attack
immense pressure of the you from the waterfall and above, but they can be avoided. It'd be nice if
waterfall and the poison in someone could help you out!
the water.
This is a place you'll revisit a
few times, but for now your
POINT OF INTEREST 4: MURAL OF OANNES
current goal is to trigger a This is the lowest part of the field, a giant chain in a large stone basin.
certain device and defeat It's filled to the brim with water; one has to wonder who made this
the Guardian. place and what purpose it serves. And what's underneath the
stone basin? Is something going to happen when the chain moves?

azing
ing am
Someth
fell from above! Another chest I can't get!

LEMEZA'S JOURNAL 5
I'm gathering iron pipes for some reason; while I was doing so, I found a fish resembling a
I'm so used to encountering unknown monsters at this point. A long time ago, I remember monkfish in lower levels. This thing has a nose... Maybe they're a related species?
reading a book that had the strangest picture: a huge fish with legs that had washed ashore. Oh, I forgot to mention that I love eating monkfish liver! I've been eating bat curry every day;
I didn't expect to actually see one, though! Anyway, as I was enduring the fishy smell honestly, I'm sick of it and don't want to eat it anymore.
while exploring, my eyes fell on a stone tablet. Are fish masters the ones that hold the red light? The actions I took afterward would've surprised most people. The following negotiations
They also seem to be an aggressive species and have an iron pipe in their netherregions. proceeded peacefully, and even though I didn't end up getting any monkfish liver, they did give
me a red jewel. Now all that's left is to find the Ankh.

51 52
 Upon visiting this field for the first time, solving puzzles will be
effortless, and the stuff you can do here is limited. The real problem POINT OF INTEREST 1: LAVA AND SINKING BLOCKS
Inferno Cavern is having enough stamina to navigate this place. You'll have to jump from block to block to navigate
across the boiling lava. And if you're not
quick on your feet, the blocks will sink into
the lava, taking you with it!

Map - Inferno Cavern

POINT OF INTEREST 2: GIANT STATUE?
There's a statue of a serpentine woman, but it doesn't
react to scans or attacks. Make sure you jump as you're
walking on the floor; if you walk slowly, the floor will
break away.

POINT OF INTEREST 3: PIT OF FLAMES

A doorway will appear on the left upon solving
a puzzle, but there are flames blocking it. You might
be able to enter if you hang onto the wall and time
it right?

POINT OF INTEREST 4: DANGEROUS LAVA

Upon entering the next room, you'll be greeted with enemy
attacks and spitting lava. It's going to be difficult getting the
timing right to cross the broken bridge.

OBJECTIVE
Like Spring in the Sky, your techniques are invaluable here, and you'll need to be alert more
often. There's lots of traps here, including falling off ledges and statues that attack. There are
also some enemies that have quite an explosive personality and have wide attack ranges.
Trying to take them all out will deplete your health very quickly, but if you do want to get rid of
them, you may want to rely on your sub weapon. The important thing is to keep your health up
until you get to the other side of the field!
stball!
A blazing fa
LEMEZA'S JOURNAL 6
When will I be able to enter
here?
So...hot... I never imagined a place like this actually existed. I thought there'd only be changes in
temperature and humidity. Didn't think I'd actually be this close to real magma.
I took a closer look, but I couldn't come up with anything, so I had no choice but to go back the
I finally got to the lowest level--drenched in hot and cold sweat--but then I got stuck.
way I came. But then the treasure chest I'd been struggling with finally unlocked! After opening
According to the stone tablet I found earlier, I know that there's something I need to do here...
it, I found a Bronze Mirror inside; when I held it in my hands, the mirror began to emit a light in
but I feel like I'm missing something. Can't do anything if there's nothing else here, though.
a straight line. I walked around the ruins following the light, and I arrived at a wall with a relief of
There's other areas I haven't explored, so I should tackle those first.
an eyeball. The mirror's light began to shine even stronger, and the relief transformed into a gate
...Ah, dangit. Now I'm in a completely dark area. I can't see a thing... Actually, I can see a
that leads somewhere!
little bit, so I carefully stumbled around in the dark and eventually found something interesting.
I excitedly walked through the gate, but what was waiting for me felt like certain death. This place
feels different from others I've explored. And then I heard a voice similar to my own, whispering...

53 54
 Other Fields
Lemeza's journal ends here, but there's
more adventure to be had!
The Mysterious La-Mulana Ruins
This is just the opening act!
What we've shown you so far is just a glimpse into the mysteries of the ruins. At this point
in your journey, you should have come across some murals unrelated to puzzles, such as
POINT OF INTEREST 1: CHAMBER OF EXTINCTION an eye that's enshrined like it's protecting something, or a statue of a goddess whose lower
A field covered in darkness. You'll be attacked while the lights are out, half is a snake. When will you be able to solve these?
so you'll need something that will allow you to see what's here. There aren't
that many rooms here... Where's the Guardian? And how does one go about
finding the other rooms? ★ EYE BLOCKING A GATE ★
A mysterious mural with a large eye. This pattern can be found
in a lot of places...
POINT OF INTEREST 2: TWIN LABYRINTHS
You can get here from several other fields, but there's something important
that's sealed by a mysterious power. There's also a room being filled with
poison gas that practically has the word "suspicious" written all over it.
But how to break the seal...?
★ CROSS OF LIGHT ★
A strange mural that's located in every field.
Is it indicating something?
POINT OF INTEREST 3: ENDLESS CORRIDOR
It's exactly what it says on the tin--a corridor that never ends.
But is this truly the end?
Or is there something hidden beyond this infinite expanse? ★ INACCESSIBLE ROOM ★
There's a small room behind this big statue, but unless you deal
with the statue, you can't enter it.

POINT OF INTEREST 4: SHRINE OF THE MOTHER

A mysterious field located in the deepest part of La-Mulana.
Doesn't seem like there's anything important here, like an Ankh.
★ PHILOSOPHER ★
But solving the puzzle here might get you to the heart of the ruins...
A statue located in a shrine-like room. There must be something
more to it, but it's hard to imagine that a statue would do
something like actually speak.

★ THE WORD "MOTHER" ★

A character meaning "Mother" appears often
in ancient writings. What is it for?

La-Mulana Ruins
Is this just the beginnin
g?
r? ★ ELEPHANT STATUE ★
cove
n f ie ld s to dis Something catch your eye? You should check it out with the
e
er hidd
t h e re are oth Hand Scanner. You might find an unexpected hint!
Maybe
55　　　 56
 ARTICLE
NO.5 About NIGORO

This game was released by ASTERIZM CO., LTD and developed

by NIGORO. Aside from LA-MULANA , they've also released
several Flash games.

NIGORO website: http://nigoro.jp/en/

Among the various software applications you can acquire

during your adventure, there's also game software available. You can't
play these applications on Lemeza's laptop, but they're based on Flash games References
from NIGORO's website.
"Death Village" is a puzzle game where you guide the main character. You can edit
stages and play others that users have posted.
One of NIGORO's most popular Flash games is called "Rose and Camellia," a fighting
game(?) where you use a mouse to make women slap each other.
In "Space Capstar II," the player guides a spaceship to clear a variety of stages.
"Lonely House Moving" is an action game where you jump to dodge items that are
falling off of a moving truck.
"Bounce Shot" is a shooting game that combines Space Invaders and
Breakout-style games.
Their second most popular game is called "Mekuri Master," where you use the mouse
to continuously flip up girls' skirts.
"Miracle Witch" is a mouse-controlled action RPG.
Finally, there's "Future Development Company," but you cannot play it currently.
However, since it made an appearance within LA-MULANA as game software, maybe
you'll be able to play it soon.
Game software applications don't have any standalone special effects (like the xelpud [Rebirth]
mailer, for example), but if you combine and launch them, there might be some benefits! A character meaning being born again. It expresses the land's distortion.
You might even be able to deduce how to combine them if you're familiar with the Flash
games the applications are based on.
If you're interested in any of the aforementioned titles, you can head over to NIGORO's
website and try out these free-to-play games. Plus, any announcements about new
NIGORO titles will be posted on the website, so LA-MULANA fans should check it out!

57 58
PIXEL ART SHEET MUSIC
This is the sheet music for some of the game's most popular tracks.
LEMEZA KOSUGI It was created from the actual BGM data; effects are superimposed for each instrument during gameplay.

Drum Notation

Earth Wind

FAIRY BAT

SKELETON

ELDER XELPUD FAIRY QUEEN SHOPKEEPER NEBUR

MULBRUK

59 60
LA-MULANA Mr. Explorer

Fearless Challenger

61 62
 © 2019-2020 ASTERIZM CO., LTD. Game Production Division NIGORO All Rights Reserved.
Licensed to and published by Active Gaming Media Inc., Sub-Licensed to and published by NIS America, Inc.

June 14, 2011 1st edition, 1st printing issued

Author: Funshi Kakutei

Takumi Naramura

Publisher: Hisashi Nakamura

Publisher: ASTERIZM CO., LTD.
http://asterizm.jp/
Editor: NIGORO
http://nigoro.jp

Localization: NIS America, Inc.

Company names, product names, product names, etc. described in this document are generally
registered trademarks or trademarks of the respective companies. The ® mark is not specified
in this document.

The contents of this document are subject to copyright protection. Unauthorized copying,
replication, or reprinting of this document, in part or in its entirety, without the written permission
of the copyright holder or publisher is prohibited.

Grand History

63