FAQ

This page provides answers to frequently asked questions.

• English Patch
  • Patch Details
  • Providing feedback
  • Does this game run on X device?
• Version Differences
  • PSP version changes / additions
• Before Playing
  • Is this a good starting point for the series?
  • How's the difficulty?
  • More details?
  • What kind of dungeons are there?
• Main Story
  • What are the basic mechanics?
  • HP Regeneration seems slow...
  • Growth status?
  • Equipment Tags?
  • Why are leveled up night monsters so strong?
  • What's the damage received formula?
  • Do you gain skill points with Flame Shot?
  • When do wandering NPCs return my items?
  • I got a different item back from the Smith Shop?
  • What happens when a weapon or shield is sealed?
  • Do Bright Blade or Breeze Blade abilities improve with level?
  • Do runes get stronger if you synthesize higher level equipment?
  • How do you remove Sticky Pot?
  • How do you synthesize with Mixers?
  • Gyaza is too strong!
• Post-Game
  • Any missables?
  • Where should I go first?
  • What's the banana icon in some item descriptions?
  • How do I obtian a blessed Blessing Pot?
  • Where do I find X?
  • Can you reobtain clear reward items?
  • What do I do about N'mach / N'dup inside the storehouse?

English Patch

Patch Details

Download: Release Page (Click on Shiren_4_Plus_English_Patch.zip)
Patching: Either use the included drag-and-drop script, or use an online patcher.

Providing feedback

Join the Shiren the Wanderer Discord server and post in #shiren-4-english (under Patches/Projects).

Save state usage can cause issues including corrupt and unusable save data,
so don't bother reporting errors if you use save states.

Does this game run on X device?

The patch was tested on a PSP-1001, and others haven't reported issues so far on PS Vita.
If you do encounter an issue (game freezes, etc.), please feel free to report it in the Discord server.

Fix for Glitchy Sprites (PPSSPP)

Some players have reported that newer versions of PPSSPP have glitchy sprites.
The fix is apparently: Change to software rendering, then change screen scaling filter to Nearest.
(If that doesn't solve it, you could try to find PPSSPP version 1.13.1)

Version Differences

PSP version changes / additions

New dungeons

• Asura Realm
• Mystery Shopping Mall
• Grass and Scroll Cave

Twitter Integration

• Link a Twitter account to tweet screenshots, rescue requests, revival spells, etc.

Widescreen

• Widescreen makes it much easier to play the game, since you don't have to constantly Scout.
• Changes to go with the new screen size:
  • The area illuminated by Super Torch was adjusted.
  • Monsters can spawn in visible areas, provided they're outside of the DS screen size's area.

Other details

• Arrows, rocks, talismans can no longer be blessed, cursed, or sealed.
• The tsunami dungeon event was removed.
• Shopkeepers ask for payment every turn instead of only the first turn you move to a shop entrance tile.
• Music tracks from Asuka Kenzan and GB2 were replaced with different tracks.
• Can insert same name talismans, arrows, rocks into pots even if the pot is full.
  • Requires update 2.00.
• Lots of bugfixes.

Before Playing

Is this a good starting point for the series?

Shiren the Wanderer games have self-contained stories, so you'll be fine regarding the story.
The game also features a facility called Novice House, which covers gameplay basics.

How's the difficulty?

The main story of Shiren 4 is on the harder side within this series.
However, if you use Escape Scrolls or Undo Grass and take things slowly, it's not too difficult.

If you've played through earlier games, it may be tricky to adjust to new mechanics or changes, such as:

• New: Night, Equipment growth, Bananas
• Changes: Identification, Price calculation, Slower HP regeneration as max HP increases

More details?

What kind of dungeons are there?

Tutorial

• Southern Isle Beach - Learn the very basics of dungeon gameplay.
• Shrine of Challenges - Additional tips and techniques.
• Shrine of Night Adventures - Tutorial for night gameplay.

Story Dungeon

• Emerald Terrace - Single dungeon with overworld areas along the way, similar to Shiren 1.

Other

• Statue Cave - Puzzle dungeon where you push statues onto marked tiles.

Post-Game Dungeons

※ Floors in parenthesis are first clears.

PSP Version Exclusive

Main Story

Gameplay Related

What are the basic mechanics?

→ Gameplay Basics

HP Regeneration seems slow...

Unlike past games, HP doesn't regenerate when you attack.
This means you have to move or step in place (A+B) to regenerate HP.

HP regeneration is fast at first, but drastically slows down as your max HP increases.
So as you progress, the game pushes you to learn techniques to avoid damage instead of trading hits.
→ HP Regeneration

Growth status?

Equipped weapons and shields earn growth experience points when you defeat enemies using direct attacks.
Once the item gains enough points, it levels up and gains a new name + increased stats.

Growth status is a status condition which multiplies the amount of points you earn by 4.
→ Equipment Growth

Equipment Tags?

Tags can be placed on weapons or shields, and ensures the item goes to a specific village if lost.
Up to 8 tags can be placed on items, and the tag is erased when you pick the item up.
→ Equipment Tags

Why are leveled up night monsters so strong?

Night monster attack power seems to use the formula of [ Attack power x Level ],
and the amount of damage you receive is [ Enemy attack power - Defense ].

This means if a night monster has 100 attack and you have 90 defense, you'd take 10 damage.
If the 100 attack power monster levels up, it'd have 200 attack and you'd now take 110 damage.

What's the damage received formula?

Simplified to give a quick idea:

※ Shiren's defense is roughly equal to shield strength x 0.6
※ Variance is roughly 0.9 ~ 1.1

Item Related

Do you gain skill points with Flame Shot?

No, you need to defeat enemies using direct attacks to gain skill points.

When do wandering NPCs return my items?

It's random. They can appear on the next floor, or it might be a few adventures from now.
You can use a Calling Pot to force them to appear if you have one on hand.

I got a different item back from the Smith Shop?

You most likely handed the item to the Iron Upgrader NPC instead of the Smith Shop NPC.

What happens when a weapon or shield is sealed?

Unlike curses, you can equip and unequip the item freely.
However, runes and upgrade value are nullified, and the item can't gain growth experience points.

Do Bright Blade or Breeze Blade abilities improve with level?

No, Bright Blade is always 1 critical after 2 misses, and Breeze Blade is always 3 forward directions.

Do runes get stronger if you synthesize higher level equipment?

No, runes are always the Lv1 effect.
Synthesizing a Lv1 Lizard Lasher and Lv8 Dragon's Bain provides the exact same Anti-Dragon rune.

How do you remove Sticky Pot?

The Sticky Pot will be removed if you advance floors or step on a Strip Trap.
It also has a chance to shatter when you attack a monster or get hit by a monster's attack.

Monster Related

How do you synthesize with Mixers?

Simply throw the items you wish to synthesize at the Mixer.
Mixers won't eat items if they're asleep, paralyzed, or slipping on a Banana Peel.

Gyaza is too strong!

Some ideas to help:

• Use a Water Cutter as a main weapon.
• Synthesize the Anti-Aquatic rune onto your weapon. (Water Cutter or Desert Scroll)
• Synthesize status inflicting runes onto your weapon. (Paralyzing, Sedating, etc.)

What do I do about N'mach / N'dup inside the storehouse?

You can't identify disguised N'mach / N'dup using Identify Scroll or Identify Bracelet.

Lose the items:

1. Sell suspicious items.

Keep the items:

1. Withdraw suspicious items.
2. Go to Emerald Terrace and find a N'dubba type monster. (13-18F, 24-36F)
3. Throw an Extinction Scroll at the N'dubba type monster.
   • Any disguised N'mach or N'dup will be converted into real items.

Post-Game

Gameplay Related

Any missables?

Nothing is permanently missable, but there are 2 items that become tricky to reobtain if you lose them.

The 2 items are Sturdy Hammer and Jaguar's Shield.

Sturdy Hammer is a first time clear reward from a certain dungeon, and can otherwise only be obtained
from elite shops deep within that same dungeon.

Jaguar's Shield is a clear reward from a difficult 99F dungeon, and you can only have 1 at any given time.

Both items are requested by a certain character during a side quest, so if you level either item up,
you can no longer use the item for that side quest and have to reobtain a Lv1 version of the item again.

So to avoid complications with these 2 items:

1. Once obtained, place a tag on the item.
2. Keep the item in storage without using or modifying it.
3. When the character asks for the item, give it to them.
   • Since the item is tagged, you can go reclaim it at the Watchman's Lodge afterward.
4. Once you're past that point of the character's side quest, feel free to level it for the item book.

Where should I go first?

Players usually start with any of the following dungeons:

Item Related

What's the banana icon in some item descriptions?

It means the item grants an ability when thrown at Banana Prince.
→ Bana Powers

How do I obtain a blessed Blessing Pot?

Some ideas:

• Intentionally seal a Blessing Pot, then take it to a Purifier and hope it gets blessed. (Random chance)
• Use a Rescue Password.

Where do I find X?

Can you reobtain clear reward items?

※ The conditions are intentionally kept slightly vague to avoid spoilers.