Future patches may be released in order to fix bugs and increase functionality.Please refer to the official Rectangle website for the latest news and information about the game.
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Thank you for purchasing 'Sword Girl Alice'.
Please read this manual to the end before enjoying the game.

Story

In a distant future, a berserk robot army begins enacting acts of violence against humanity. Self-replicating its members, this entity eventually comes to be known as the NRU (Noncontrollable Robot Union). In order to face this threat, humanity unites under the UHDF (United Human Defense Force). Years have passed since the war between the NRU and UHDF began.In addition to the NRU's overwhelming production capacity and firepower, their seemingly random and 'capricious' propagation patterns make them almost impossible to predict. Slowly but certainly, mankind is losing its territory.

Meanwhile, in an underground fortress belonging to the UHDF...In this land trapped in ice, top-secret research is being carried out in order to develop weapons capable of countering the NRU.
A young girl named 'Alice Frame' is their newest invention. A combat android, her special duty is to attack the NRU's control center directly.And you, as an expert of close-range combat, are invited to this base in order to teach her, a prototype model, how to fight...

Characters

Alice Frame(ALICE-Frame)

The heroine of this game.A combat android developed as a military weapon to fight against the NRU.Her concept is: a weapon that can engage in combat even in extreme conditions where human infiltration is impossible, while being mounted on a platform that facilitates the smooth rescue of prisoners of war and civilians.Instead of guns and ranged weaponry, her main tactic is to engage in ultra close-range combat with an anti-material blade. This allows her to penetrate the bulletproof armor of the NRU's armored infantry forces in situations where large-scale artillery cannot be used such as buildings or underground spaces.She was made both small and highly impact resistant in order to minimize combat damage and withstand being launched into battlefields via cruise missiles.

At this point of time, only her physical platform is complete. Her control software is still lacking.In order to set the grounds for mass production and participation in actual combat, it is necessary for her to carry out self-learning and optimization in a test environment.At normal times, she will be allowed to act completely independently. However, during combat tests, her actions will be remotely controlled by her superior (the Player). The purpose of this is for her to learn from those actions in order to achieve the ultimate goal of being able to fight based on her own independent judgment.Also, she is equipped with a complete conversational interface. The aim is to improve her conversational skills via constant exposure and learning.The ultimate goal of this is for her to be able to mimic humans perfectly.

As described above, all of her control elements possess learning functions. However, this brings with it the disadvantage of a highly unstable control system.In order to solve this problem, software resets will be carried out after fixed periods of learning. These resets will involve both the selective erasure and stabilization of the results of her learning.At first, when her proficiency is low, she will only be able to communicate mechanically like an office robot. However, depending on her learning, she will be able to evolve into an existence with both godlike power and human emotions.

It should be noted that 'Alice Frame' is only her default title. Her actual 'name' can be chosen by her caretaker after each software reset.

Alice Frame/Specifications
ClassificationAll-Weather Autonomous Combat-Type Military Weapon
Default TitleALICE-Frame
(ALICE = Advanced Learnable Intelligence and Control Engine)
Serial NumberNot applicable as this is a prototype machine (If necessary, may be referred to as AL-0000)
Height1450mm (In standby position, excluding protrusions)
Mass44.0kg
Rated Output??kW (Classified)
Instantaneous Maximum Output??kW (Classified)
Number of ManipulatorsArm-Type with 7 Degrees of Freedom x2
Payload180.0kg (Excluding own weight/Posture limitations/35kg and below without posture limitations)
Movement SystemBipedal
Drive SystemElectric pulse servo control via inorganic artificial muscle
Control SystemComplete self-learning via brain-type computing device, or remote synchronized control via projection system
Interface SystemNatural language-type
Refuel/Charging MethodElectromagnetic radiation from specialized maintenance table
Impact Resistance1470m/s^2 (150G)
WeaponryNil (But able to wield weapons with manipulators)
Year Manufactured2074

Alice Frame's Superior (Player)

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The Player.His full name is not disclosed in this game.His role in this base is to teach Alice Frame how to fight and educate her AI through daily life.

His rank is Captain.Prior to his arrival at this underground fortress, his main duty had been the training of fresh recruits.He is an expert in military style swordsmanship and was selected to be Alice Frame's teacher due to her need to master ultra-close range anti-material blade combat.

System Requirements

OS: Windows 7/8.1/10
CPU/Video Card: Intel Core iSeries Processor (3rd generation or later) with built-in Intel HD Graphics, or gaming video card of DirectX10 generation or later
Others: Gamepad recommended

How to Install

The game itself is a simple compressed file.Using the standard Windows extraction tool, right click SwordGirlAlice.zip and select [Extract All]. Please copy the game files to your preferred location.

If you are extracting the files directly from your CD Drive on Windows 8.1 or 10, certain files may not extract correctly.In such a case, please copy the entire zip file onto your computer (such as your C Drive) and extract it from there.

DirectX is necessary to execute the game's software.If you do not have the latest version of DirectX installed, please search for 'DirectX Download' on the Microsoft website and install it.

If you see the error message 'The program can't start because msvcr140.DLL (or msvcp140.dll) is missing from your computer', please search for 'Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable Package' on the Microsoft website and install it.

How to Uninstall

Please delete the entire folder.

Basic Controls

Keyboard
Gamepad
Contents
Arrow keys
Directional buttons or left joystick
Move character/Control cursor
Z key
Button 1
Attack/Select/(Emergency evasion attack when pressed simultaneously with guard button)
X key
Button 2
Jump/Cancel
A key
Button 3
Guard/(Emergency evasion attack when pressed simultaneously with guard button)
C key
Button 5
Enemy search (Holding down will move the camera behind you and fix its position)
---
Right joystick
Rotate camera
Ctrl key
Button 9
Skip finished events
Spacebar
Button 10
Pause

Depending on what gamepad you use, it is recommended to access [Config] > [Key Configuration] to change the control settings to your liking and make the game easier to play.
If you have multiple gamepads, please select which device you want to use from [Config].

Launch Settings


First, launch the application 'Spe4.exe' from the installed game folder.A window will appear on the screen.Please choose your preferred settings such as screen resolution and click [Start].
Screen ResolutionYou can change the game's screen resolution.
Play in Windowed-ModeIf you switch this ON, the game will launch in windowed-mode.
Enable Shader SettingsThis will enable shader settings. Please leave this ON at normal times.
Package ListChoose which file to use for launching the game. When packages are added to the game, you can select which package you want to play from here.
3D Peripheral OptionsThis game is compatible with various 3D image devices. Please refer to the manual of your monitor or display for the relevant settings.
Network OptionsThis is the game engine's setting for competitive online play but Sword Girl Alice does not have such a function.

Title Screen


StoryStart story mode.If you are resuming from a savepoint, please select this option and choose your save data.
FreeMissionPlay only the battle parts of the game, stage by stage.
ConfigChange game settings such as texture resolution and gamepad configuration.
ExitExit the game.

How to Play

Please select [Story].Next, the save data screen will appear for returning players but if it's your first time, please select [New Game].Next, selecting the difficulty as [Easy] is recommended.You can change the game's difficult at every reset. We will explain more about resets later.
Please select [Story]. Next, the save data screen will appear for returning players but if it's your first time, please select [New Game]. Next, selecting the difficulty as [Easy] is recommended. You can change the game's difficult at every reset. We will explain more about resets later.
(*You must enable Hiragana input. For more details click here.)
At the beginning of the game, there will be a tutorial. This tutorial will explain the game's controls. Please proceed according to the explanations.
From the next day onwards, please decide your own schedule. The game's time is divided into periods of 7 days. Within each 7 days, you have to clear a specific test. Between tests, you can conduct training and explore the facility in order to raise Alice Frame's parameters.
By selecting [Combat Test], the battle part of the game will start. By clearing the presented requirements, the gate will open and you can use it to proceed to the next room. There will be a boss in the 9th room. Defeat it to clear the test.
Regardless of what you do, there will be a maintenance operation at the end of each day. You will be able to check Alice Frame's parameters during this operation. To actually raise her combat parameters, you will need to select [Maintenance] from the action select screen. For further details, please read about 'enhancement maintenance' below.

How to Read the Screen


(1) Day CountDisplays how many days have elapsed.
(2) NameplateDisplays model, individual name and serial number.
(3) ALI BalanceA value that represents Alice's 'HP' during the novel parts. You can recover this value via [Maintenance]. When it hits zero, Alice won't be able to move.
(4) CE ParametersDisplays the values of the parameters relevant to the battle parts.
(5) ALI ParametersDisplays the values of the parameters relevant to the novel parts.
(6) Message WindowDisplay messages.


(1) StageDisplays the current room number.
(2) NameplateDisplays model, individual name and serial number.
(3) Internal ShieldA value that represents Alice's 'HP' during the battle parts. You can recover this value by picking up recovery items. When it hits zero, Alice won't be able to move and you will fail the test.
(4) CE ParametersDisplays the values of the parameters relevant to the battle parts.
(5) ALI ParametersDisplays the values of the parameters relevant to the novel parts.
(6) TimeDisplays the amount of time that has passed since you started the test as well as your best time.
(7) Environment Optimization LevelThis level increases when you obtain 'fragments'. It provides a boost to your parameters. After clearing a test and moving on to the next topic, your optimization level will reset to zero.
(8) ObjectiveThe requirements you need to meet to clear this room.

Other Rules

Recovery Items


Recovery items will appear when you destroy red drum cans like this.

They will disappear after a period of time so please pick them up immediately after finding them.They recover 10% of your total HP.

Environment Optimization Level


When defeated, enemies will drop glowing seeds of light called 'fragments'.These are virtually visualized representations of Alice Frame's self-learning and optimization.Defeating enemies with continuous attacks (combos) will cause more 'fragments' to drop.Picking up these 'fragments' will increase your Optimization Level which will in turn boost your parameters. The maximum level you can reach in Story Mode is 9. In arcade mode, there is no limit.However, when you clear a test and move on to the next topic, the map and enemy positions will change so this level will be reset.

Reset


If you fail to clear a test within the specified period of time, or after a certain amount of time has passed after starting the game, an operation called 'reset' will be forcibly activated instead of 'maintenance'. After a reset, the game will restart from Day 1 but Alice's battle part parameters will remain the same.The upper limit of Alice's novel part parameters will increase as well.The save screen will appear immediately after the reset. After saving, you can immediately resume play by selecting that save file from the Title Screen. Going through reset after reset, please gradually raise Alice in order to clear her tests and aim for her completion.

Enhancement Maintenance


By selecting [Maintenance] from the action select screen, you can restore Alice's HP and conduct enhancement maintenance.You can freely distribute the 'enhancement points' you have gained until then to Power/Speed/Arts. However, depending on the stage of Alice's personality, there are limits to how much each parameter can increase. After a certain point, you will need to develop her personality through activities such as bringing her out to meet other people.
The white bar is the current value and the faint black bar is the limit. The green bar refers to the latent value (an amount which will be unlocked if Alice undergoes a reset after this parameter is considerably enhanced).

PowerDirectly influences the amount of damage Alice inflicts on enemies.
SpeedDirectly influences Alice's movement speed, her jump height and how quickly she can deliver consecutive attacks.
ArtsIncreases your maximum combo and the accuracy of your attacks. It also reduces the amount of HP you spend when using your emergency evasion attack.
BraveYou mainly increase this value in the gun shop but there are exceptions.
LoveYou mainly increase this value in the rest hall but there are exceptions.
Int.Intelligence. You mainly increase this value in the reference room but there are exceptions.

Skills


By proceeding through the novel parts, you can obtain 'Skills'.Skills remain active until Alice is reset. If you obtain multiple skills, they will all be active simultaneously. You can check what effects your skills have via [System] > [Skills] from the action select screen.

Save Data

The game will automatically save at the end of each in-game day.You can resume play from where you stopped by accessing [Story] from the Title Screen and selecting the save data you wish to load.Within the game itself, you can access [System] from the action select screen to save to or load from a different file.

Config Screen

Item NameDescription
Texture SizeChange the size of the map's texture loading size.Please reduce this setting if you have low VRAM.
Sound SettingsChange the volumes for the game's music, sound effects and voices.
FPS SettingsChange the game's frames per second (FPS) and toggle the display of that value.
Key ConfigurationChange the gamepad's button assignment.
Shader SettingsToggle the appearance of CG rendering effects.You can choose from 5 levels depending on your video card's performance.

Hints

  1. Strengthen Alice through [Training] before attempting the [Combat Test].
  2. Your Optimization Level will increase during tests but it has a limit and it will reset to zero once you clear a test.First, save up enhancement points via training and other activities. Please use those points to increase Alice's basic parameters with [Maintenance] before trying to clear a test.In particular, you can only increase Alice's HP via enhancement maintenance.(Only in Arcade Mode will your HP increase with your Optimization Level)

  3. Balance your Parameters
  4. You might want to prioritize Power first, but Speed is important for avoiding enemy attacks as well.Instead of investing everything in Power, spread out your enhancement points to have a good balance between Power and Speed.Arts improve your potential for combos and consecutive attacks.It will be important for the aerial battles in the later half of the game but you can ignore it in the early stages.

  5. Become Stronger with Resets
  6. Resets will trigger when you fail to clear a test but this is indispensable for Alice to become stronger.Even if the enemies are too strong for you to defeat, a reset will allow you to restart from Day 1 with Alice's parameters intact.Please repeat this process to gradually increase her parameters and eventually win.

  7. Increase Parameter Limits by Going Outside
  8. At first, the limit of your parameters will be 30.By going to various places and accumulating different experiences, you will help Alice's personality grow and increase those limits.

  9. Obtain Skills
  10. Please obtain skills via training and going outside.Not only do some skills directly influence your parameters, some also possess powerful supportive effects that will give you an advantage in-game.

  11. Recovery Items
  12. You normally obtain recovery items from red can drums. But blue and hard black can drums also have a low chance of dropping them.

  13. Dealing with Bosses
  14. Bosses have thick armor and weight, as well as overwhelming firepower.You can't defeat them by rushing in and slashing them from the front.Please start by carefully observing the boss' movements.Grasp the right timing to aim for their openings and deliver consecutive attacks from their flanks or behind.

  15. Towards a Complete Alice
  16. Even after clearing all the combat tests, the game won't end.As usual, a reset will occur and Alice Frame will continue growing.By accessing [System] > [EventAnalyzer], you will find a graph which displays which scenarios you've read.Please use this as a hint to determine which actions to take.What is Alice Frame's purpose? What does she need to be considered complete? If she keeps accumulating various experiences, perhaps one day you'll hear the answers to those questions from her own mouth.

Support/FAQ

Support is provided via the official Rectangle website.
We also intend to add new functions to the game with patches.Please take a look at our official website.

Below, you will find a list of queries that we feel are especially common.
 

Question: The game won't launch.
Answer: When extracting the compressed game, if you are extracting the files directly from your CD Drive on Windows 8.1 or 10, certain files may not extract correctly.In such a case, please copy the entire zip file onto your computer (such as your C Drive) and extract it from there.
Also, please check if your video card and other hardware meet the operating requirements.And please also check if you have the latest version of 'DirectX' and 'Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable Package (x86)' installed.

Question: The game is lagging.
Answer: If this is due to your computer's performance, please set the Shader Settings on the Config screen to 'Low'.Also, please change the 'FPS' settings to match your computer's performance.
If the game is extremely slow even if you have a video card, please update your computer's video card drivers as well as 'DirectX' to their latest versions. This has been shown to improve performance.

Question: The screen suddenly went black.
Answer: If you are playing with a gamepad, your monitor or display may enter energy-saving mode and turn off after not using the keyboard for a certain amount of time.Please change your display or monitor's energy-saving settings or simply tap your keyboard's arrow keys from time to time while the game is loading.

Question: I can't use my gamepad.
Answer: Although the game was made to automatically set up a connected gamepad, there may be cases where this does not occur due to hardware configurations.In such a case, please change the settings in the Config screen to allow gamepad use.

Question: The game doesn't detect my gamepad. Or my gamepad doesn't work even though it's detected.
Answer: First, please check if your gamepad can be used for other games.If it doesn't work on other games, it means Windows does not recognize your gamepad. If so, please contact the makers of your computer or gamepad.If you have a special game device that isn't compatible with the game, please contact us directly.


  • This software is the work of the doujin circle Rectangle.
  • The copyright of this software is protected by Japanese law.
  • It is prohibited to alter, duplicate, redistribute or transmit online all or parts of this software without permission from the copyright holder.
  • Our circle assumes no responsibility for any harm caused by the use of this software.

copyright 2017 Rectangle