Fullmetal Alchemist: Sonata of Memories

Fullmetal Alchemist: Sonata of Memories is a role-playing game for the Gameboy Advance published by Bandai. It is one of two FMA games for the GBA that were only released in Japan. It's a direct sequel to Stray Rondo.

Playable Characters

 * Edward Elric: The youngest person who obtained the qualifications to become a State Alchemist at 12 years old. A talented alchemist . Possessing a tragic past, he shows a firm face but, he is actually cheerful and kind as an older brother who thinks of his younger brother. Having a great determination, he continues on a journey to find the Philosopher's Stone with his brother. His second name is "Full Metal Alchemist" or "Hagane-no" . He is a 15 year old who is concerned about his own short height and does not like milk.
 * Alphonse Elric: 4 years ago, he lost everything due to the price he had to pay for human alchemy. Thanks to his brother, his soul now dwells inside a suit of armour and lives. Compared to Ed, his speed is inferior but he has skill. In addition to that he has good defense, reflecting bullets due to his armored body and he is never tired. He is the one who understands Ed the most and sometimes, he takes the role of calming his older brother. He is 14 years old.
 * Winry Rockbell: A childhood friend of the Elric Brothers and lives in Resembool. Winry is an enthusiast with machinary and helps her grandmother Pinako with her work. She is the one responsible for Ed's mechanical arm (AKA Auto-Mail). Winry is a cheerful and energetic girl who never grows tired of arguing with Ed.
 * Roy Mustang: The "Flame Alchemist" who can control fire at will. With his exceptional success in his career, he was aiming for the Central. While he is young, he is a sharp and able person. He is someone who handles his duties easily and in his heart, he has the ambition to become the greatest authority in the military. His rank is Lt. colonel.
 * Alex Louis Armstrong: Both his hairstyle and appearance portrays him as a powerful alchemist. He has a name that suits the sort of alchemy he uses well but, on his other side he is someone who is deeply emotional and tearful. He was born in a family with a great history. His rank is major.
 * Riza Hawkeye: Colonel Mustang's trusted retainer. She has a calm composture and there are those around her who trust her along with those who fear her. Skilled in guns, she has the duty as the colonel's bodyguard. She was willing to join the military due to her firm believe in protecting a certain man. Her rank is First Lieutenant.
 * Viola Amore: An automail-engineer living in a village called Nelvo. Viola hasn't worked recently because she is desperately looking for her missing sister who is rumoured to have been taken by an organisation called Liberare. Her parents were caught in an accident with a State Alchemist for which she hates all the State Alchemists.
 * Lute Zaxophone: A talented alchemist who is working like a detective. He is currently carrying an investigation on Liberare and can suspect almost anyone. He is Cravis Fagott's assisstant and respects him deeply. He uses cards in alchemy battles.

Nonplayable Characters

 * Cravis Fagott: An ex-State Alchemist. He is rumoured to have known much about Liberare but he constantly refuses to disclose any information regarding the subject.
 * Maes Hughes: A military man whose family is the most important to him. Due to his average appearance, it can't be imagined what a clear mind Lt. Colonel Hughes has.
 * Jean Havoc: With his light hearted conduct, he gains trust from his subordinates. Smoking tobacco is is trade mark. His rank is second lieutenant.
 * Lust: A member of the mysterious organisation who has the tattoo of the Uroboros. To her, the priority in the things she should do first is to execute her "plan". Prepared to use ruthlessness as her power, she has a near immortal body, claws that transform at her will, she continues to create history.
 * Gluttony: A member of the mysterious organisation who has the tattoo of the Uroboros. All his actions are caused by his apettite. The things he can eat are humans, beasts and any similar living things. Due to that, his power is second to none.

Locations
A few locations from the anime series and Stray Rondo are added. The others are exclusive to the game.

Locations from the Anime: Locations from Stray Rondo: New Locations:
 * Central City
 * East City
 * Resembool
 * Ruins of Cruz
 * Nelvo
 * Koko
 * Reglotaria
 * Mount Tedesco
 * Fagott's mansion
 * Deserted Laboratory

Plot
The game begins with Winry tending one of her costumers when she hears a bomb blast. The scene shifts to Edward and Alphonse Elric making their way to Resembool for Ed's automail 's maintenance. While she is repairing, Winry asks the brothers to be more careful as the State Military is more likely to be a target for such commotions. A pair of children comes in to inform the group about a wounded stranger in the village. Ed decides to check it out and Winry insists on going along to provide first aid. The trio reaches the barn ,where the stranger is taking refuge, and sees a strange group surrounding it. When Ed's attempt to converse peacefully fails, the Elrics ward off the lot by a fight. Once inside the barn, the trio learns from the stranger that he's a rogue from an organisation named "Liberare" who targets military edifice for bambarding. He tells them about the next target being East City Military HQ and dies. The Elrics decide to travel there to alert the HQ. Winry decides to come along as she was the one who made the promise to the stranger.

During their ride on train, a Bald 's group routinely hi-jacks the train again but the Elrics throw him in the prison once again. After reaching the East City, Ed decides to go immediately to Colonel Mustang to warn him about the imminent. But while they are exchanging information with Colonel Mustang about Liberare organisation, a bomb blasts and the trio along with Mustang and Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye gets engaged in dealing with the situation. While repairing a broken wall with his alchemy, Ed notices a familiar girl present who he saw before at the barn where he fought the hostile group. Suspicious, he tries to call her but she responds by running away. Edward informs Mustang about it and they decide to go after her with Riza while Al and Winry are forced to stay behind to help the civilians involved in the incident.

The trio heads into the sewers but finds the culprits responsible for the bombing instead of the girl. Determined that girl isn't there, the trio heads back to the HQ. Back at HQ, Mustang exchanges the information found from the culprits to Edward and charges him with the bombing case. Edward refuses at first but is forced to comply. Mustang also charges him with Mount Tedesco bandits case. Winry again insists on tagging along to help but Edward bluntly refuses for her assisstance saying that she is not 'ready' for it. Riza hands over her gun to Winry and tells Ed that the girl is prepared. Mustang along with Riza plans to tag as well and the party heads towards the Mount Tedesco.

The party sucessfully solves the Mount Tedesco's caseand returns to the headquraters. Mustang commends on Winry's improved skills ad ask her to stay. Winry says she wouldn't follow military orders but will stay to help her childhood friends anyway. With no leads to the bombing incidents, Mustang sends the trio (Ed, Al, and Winry) for an investigation. While investigating the trio crosses path with Randy and Cate whom the Elrics met while investigating on Chimera extermiation some time ago. Cate information about a man named Fagott who know about the current bombing incidents and the trio makes it way to Fagott's house.

The Trio meets Cravis Fagott but he refuses to talk unless the party brings an alchemic gun. The party heads out and travels various places to collect materials for the gun. Once the party forges the alchemic gun, it heads back to Fagott. Fagott asks Edward to use the gun to test his determination. He also asks Winry her reason for fighting. Winry tells the group that she wants to protect people and doesn't want to go through the loss of losing someone again. Fagotts admires the party's determination and feelings and asks them to go to a man name Lute Zaxophone who is an alchemist-detective investigating the bombing incidents. With hope of acquiring some info, the party leaves for Reglotaria to meet Lute.

Arriving at Reglotaria the party witnesses another bomb blast with the mysteriuos girl in the vicinity again. Edward chases the girl while the rest of the party stays behind to help the citizens. While the group is helping the citizens they get attacked by the Liberare members but are saved by a mysterious man using alchemy. After the group fights off the terrorist, Edward returns with a failure and the mysterious man offers the group to rest at his house. The man later reveals himself to be Lute Zaxophone at his house and the group explains that they were actually looking for him. Lute insists on reporting to Fagott which party agrees to do. At Fagott's mansion the group conjectures that the mysterious girl belongs to the Liberare which Winry continuosly denies saying that she saw something. Before Winry can explain further what she saw, Lute interrupts her saying that East City might be in danger as there were no fatalities last time, Liberare would strike again. The party rushes toward the East City where they see the mysterious girl again. The party follows her and comes at a small Liberare hideout. There the party witnesses the girl arguing with some Liberare members who eventually attack her. Sensing that the girl is in danger Winry insists th party to help her. The girl runs away and the party sucessfully defeats the men. Lute makes a detective hunch that there may be more Liberare members hiding in the sewers. The party is unsure but follows his hunch anyway. The party indeed finds some men hiding there and gets rid of them and then heads back to HQ to report it to Colonel Mustang.

At the HQ the party reports the consecutive events to Mustang. Winry again defends the mysterious girl and explains that when she saw her near the bombing incident, the girl was really trying hard to save the civilians. Lute discharges this idea by saying it was merely an act for deception. After listening to the party's point of views, Mustang reveals some basic info about the mysterious girl to the party. The party learns some basic info about Viola Amore and heads towards a town named Nelvo.

The party arrives at Nelvo and finally confronts Viola openly. Viola tells the party about herself. The party learns that she is an auto-mail engineer whose parents were killed by a State Alchemist. She also tells them about having no affliation with Liberare and she was merely looking for her missing youger sister who was rumored to be taken by them. At first the whole party excluding Winry mistrusts Viola's words but after watching Viola fighting the Liberare members along with Chimeras attacking Nelvo, the party decides that she is innocent. The party decides that a Chimera making alchemist is involved with Liberare and heads towards the East City to report that. Viola also joins the party to ammend for her trouble she caused the party and to search for her sister.

When the party reaches back at HQ, Mustang informs the party that Fagott has been missing and it has been reported that he performed Chimera alchemy before, for which he was deprived of his State Alchemist certification, and could be responsible for it even now. Sensing his master's dignity at stake, Lute abandons the party to search for his master alone. Meanwhile there is an uproar in the East City prison. Mustang and the party make an excursion to the prison to suppress it. They learn that the Chimera are behind the emancipation of criminals. The party meets a huge women Chimera who states that they won't allow any more prisoners to be victims of human alchemy and that would they clarify Faggot's name. However, the Chimera gets defeated and retreats with its group. Still dubious about the whole scenario, Ed, Al, Winry, and Viola decide to track down Fagott.

The youth visits Fagott's mansion and finds Viola's sister's dairy. Viola's crave for revenge begins anew and she is about to set out to satiate until Winry calms her down and tells her that her flame for vengeance will oly bring further sadness. Upon reporting their fing to the Colonel th youth now finds that Reglotaria, Nelvo, and Koko are under Chimeras' assault. The party leaves on Chimeras' extermination with Armstrong joining the party. During the extermination the party finds out that Fagott is residing in Cruz Ruins. The party now determined to find Fagott's plans leaves for the ruins.

Reaching the ruins the party uncovers the true story. Fagott is actually taking shelter from false accusation. He is neither planning bombing incidents nor practicing human alchemy. The Chimeras protecting Fagott reveal that they are avenging Fagott on Lute's insistence. Lute shows up and reveals that he is actually the one resposible for the both crimes. He also reveals that he and Lila Amore were lovers. But since his alchemy was incosistent and couldn't save the dying girl, he used human alchemy to morph her into a Chimera. Lute runs away after attempting to kill Viola which istead kills Fagott and unleashing Lila's Chimera which party reluctantly destroys. Before dying, Lila's Chimera makes an earnest request to the party to safe Lute from his madness. Aftrer all the commmotion Viola is admitted to the hospital and the party heads out to a secret deserted laboratory at the outskirts of the Central City.

At the Laboratory, the party confronts Lute again and discovers more about his motives. Lute claims to have known the party long before they discovered him as he is Daimler's son. He wanted use Lincors' bioalchemy and Ed's talent to revive Lila but failed as the party defeated him. It was actually he who designed the Chimera's in Lincors' incident instead of his father who was merely a zealous alchemist. He also reveals that he was real State Alchemist and Cravis Fagott wasn't whereas the official records state otherwise. After revealing his past activities Lute reveals his present motives of resurrecting Lila by using the Philosopher's Stone he procured by the bombing incidents. Viola arrives recovering from her injuries which she claims to be the work of a strange healing alchemist. Lute uses the power of the Philosopher's Stone and becomes a gigantic creature. The party tries to persuade Lute to follow Lila's true feelings but in vain. The party finally has to defeat obstinate Lute. While Lute is dying, Viola conveys Lila's final words which soothe him and enable him to die peacefully.

The party returns to the HQ. Mustang thanks the civilians (Winry and Viola) involved to resolve the case and offers a handsome reward. But they blandly refuse stating that they were merely helping themselves. Viola makes her way to Nelvo while Ed, Al, and Winry decide to relax at Resembool.

Side Quests (Collecting 25 proofs)

 * 1) Ed gets enlisted in a Martial Art Tournament again and faces Machoman, Cate, Armstrong, Randy, Winry, Al, and Mustang
 * 2) Sheska asks Ed, Al, and Winry to get special books for her to read from Koko.
 * 3) Cate and Randy decide to take State Alchemy Exam and Ed, Al, and Winry help them.
 * 4) Armstong gets an anonymous letter for a muscle display challenge.
 * 5) Winry wants to purchase an expensive auto-mail magazine. The shopkeeper agrees to trade it for a diamond card which Ed can make with his alchemy.
 * 6) Hughes visits the East City with his family and his daughter decides to play hide-and-seek with everyone.
 * 7) A chain of robberies break out in the East City. Ed, Al, and Winry join Riza Hawkeye to solve the case.
 * 8) Mustang asks Ed's team to help in controlling an uprising in the Central prison.
 * 9) Bald calls Ed to settle the score between them.
 * 10) Scar tries to hunt down Ed again.
 * 11) Envy faces Ed's party in the form of Bald.
 * 12) Scar makes one more appearance to hunt Ed and tells him that he would meet his demise the day the military faces subversion.
 * 13) Sheska tells the party that she has a cat that she can't take care of and she'll hand it over to Al if he passes her quiz.
 * 14) Sheska tests party's wits again with another quiz.
 * 15) Ed gets late for his annual recertification exam, but he makes a deal with the Fuhrer Bradley to exterminate Chimeras as a recompense.
 * 16) The party hunts down Scar for his recent skirmishes.
 * 17) The party faces Scar's tremendous strength for the final time.
 * 18) Colonel Mustang gets humiliated.
 * 19) While Ed is getting his auto-mail maintenance, Den steals one of Winry tools she is working with and Al has to go to search for the dog.
 * 20) The party encounters the Cat-God.
 * 21) Ed gets to visit a special lab where he faces may of his past ghosts i.e (Scar, Homunculi, Lute and Chimeras).
 * 22) Ed and Al meet Cony again at Central City.
 * 23) The party encounters Homunculi in the deserted lab. But after a short chase the party finds they were just Cate's dolls with astoundingly realistic memories.
 * 24) The party faces Envy who is in form of Al.
 * 25) Mustang decides to perform a final check at the laboratory and invites the whole party. There the party faces Lust and Gluttony.

Trivia

 * Alphonse spellings have been mispronounced as Alfonse instead of Alphonse.
 * Winry changes her clothes between the map and battle mode. She is wearing a typical pink outfit during the cutscenes and in the map mode. She immediately changes it into her mechaic's garb outfit at the begginning of each battle.
 * Lute Zaxophone bears a striking resemblamce to Lujon.