In Reply To #4
No, Richter can't get outside the castle at the beginning of the game, in the PSP version. Both he and Maria are unable to move until the gate fully closes.
As for keeping your equipment--it's not very well known, but you can use the luck code on your first game--you don't need to beat the game first. Enter the code X-X!V''Q then let the 2nd warg before Death's room hit you; while your defense is 12 or lower.
It doesn't matter what you have equipped as long as your defense is low enough. Also, you won't be able to pause the game after doing this glitch until you save...BUT if you are very quick, you can pause after you get hit AND before flying through Death's room; to re-equip whatever you want.