Desert Board (Original Game)
The Desert Board (JP: 砂ばくのパーク Desert Park) of the Original Game is the original version of Tenna's Desert Board from The Legend of Tenna before it was modified. It is the first location visited during the Sword Route, and populated with unique enemies that are initially passive. This board is only playable after receiving an S-rank, T-rank, or Z-rank during Round 1 of TV Time, or purchasing a counterfeit S-rank.
Completing the board grants the Ice Key, which must be used to continue the Sword Route in the Island Board.
The Desert Board is the first location that Kris traverses alone during the Sword Route. Beginning the game at the entrance to the pyramid, HERO_SWORD makes their way to what was previously the Secret Mailroom to retrieve a sword, which they use to kill the monsters scattered throughout the board. While killing the monsters, HERO_SWORD's LV rises, and the previously docile monsters begin to attack once their LV reaches 2.
Once their LV reaches 3 by killing every accessible enemy, HERO_SWORD becomes strong enough to destroy cacti. They destroy the cacti blocking off the pathway to the east to reach a cold area with more enemies to kill. Once their LV reaches MAX by killing every enemy in the new area, they gain the ability to destroy trees, and they return to the main area to destroy the bordering trees and reach a looping out-of-bounds area. While traversing the area, they obtain the Ice Key from a treasure chest, after which the game shuts off.
HERO_SWORD begins the game at the entrance to the pyramid like they did with the rest of the party during The Legend of Tenna. However, the locks are removed, and there is no way to unlock the pyramid.
Tenna's shop in the eastern entryway is emptied out and displays text that varies depending on the player's progress. If HERO_SWORD has the sword, the text reads "BECOME STRONGER". If they have reached LV 3, the text becomes "BECAME STRONGER". If their LV is MAX, the shop displays invisible black text that they can walk under, reading "Having fun?"
South of the pyramid is an area with several ferns blocking the path to the east and two ferns blocking the path to the west. The other side of the western path contains a single purple monster. Further south is the oasis, with a blue fish monster swimming in it. Unlike in The Legend of Tenna, HERO_SWORD cannot drink from the oasis and dry it up.
East of the oasis is an area with two yellow monsters walking in a dirt patch in the bottom-right. The southern pathway is blocked off by ferns. The northern path leads to an area containing a yellow monster and three flowers lining the northern tree border.
West of the oasis is an area with a purple monster in the center and a flower on a dirt patch to the west. The northern path leads to an area with a blue fish swimming in a thin lake. A purple monster is present below the lake, and the eastern path is blocked off by ferns.
Heading south, HERO_SWORD enters an open area with a yellow monster and three purple monsters. Continuing east, they cross a bridge with a single purple monster on it. They then enter an area with a small pond in the center and two ferns blocking the way north. A purple monster is present to the left of the pond, and a flower is present in the upper-right dirt patch.
South of the western open area is a field of cacti with two purple monsters and a yellow monster. To the east is another cacti field with two purple monsters. To the south is an open area that previously contained four pyramids and now holds an entrance to a chamber containing the sword.
East of the cacti fields is an open area with a single purple monster. To the south is an area with a purple monster and a blue fish swimming in a pond, and to the east is a hallway bordered with trees. The pathway continuing forward is blocked off by cacti.
The cold area is a smaller and more linear desert-like area awash in a blue tint. There are many blue trees haphazardly scattered throughout each area. The initial area contains two flowers against a group of trees in the center along with a purple monster. There is an offshoot to the south that leads to an area with a single bird monster continuously flying and landing atop the trees, being unreachable as a result. Destroying the trees forces the bird to land on the ground, allowing HERO_SWORD to attack and kill it.
To the east of the initial area, there is a group of trees in the center and two yellow monsters on either end. The southern pathway leads to an area with a group of trees against the four corners of the room. A yellow flower sits against both the upper-left and bottom-right corners, and there is also a purple monster along the bottom-left corner.
Continuing west, HERO_SWORD enters a field of blue cacti with three purple monsters. The northern path leads to an area with three yellow monsters blocking the way further north, which contains only a single purple monster.
These rooms are situated in the northeast and northwest corners of the map. They are hidden and normally blocked off by trees, but HERO_SWORD can destroy them to reveal their locations.
Inside the rooms, one half of FRIEND's face can appear after stepping on a specific tile in the room. The northwestern room contains the eyes, which can be seen by approaching the bottom-left, and the northeastern room contains the mouth, which can be seen by approaching the top-right. After leaving the rooms, their respective entryways disappear, preventing HERO_SWORD from re-entering.
In the room containing the entryway to the sword chamber, HERO_SWORD can destroy a tree blocking a bridge to the west. After crossing the bridge, they enter a room with a total of twelve stairwells, all leading to the same room.
Inside the room, there seems to be nothing inside. However, upon approaching the center, a silhouette of the Shadow Mantle holder flies upwards. The Shadow Mantle holder leaves behind invisible black text that reads "See you soon.", which can be read by having HERO_SWORD walk under it. Exiting the room after making physical contact with the Shadow Mantle holder causes the stairwells to disappear, preventing re-entry.
If the board is reset after entering this room (due to HERO_SWORD being defeated), the stairwells appear again on the new playthrough. However, the room they lead to is now empty (not containing the text), and it is not possible to make the stairwells disappear.
Upon destroying the trees bordering the map, HERO_SWORD enters an out-of-bounds area. The area loops indefinitely and is entirely populated with trees. HERO_SWORD cannot return to the main map once they enter this area, and they must progress through the out-of-bounds area until they find a treasure chest. The chest contains the Ice Key, and the game ends after obtaining it.
The chest appears on the 5th out of bounds screen that HERO_SWORD enters (moving back and forth is valid). There are 4 possible locations the chest can spawn, but all four are in the top-left quadrant of the room.