Warning though if you're going to buy one: You need one of sonys propriety memory cards to even save data. The bigger ones, which you'll certainly want if you plan to download games/ have PS+ (and why wouldn't you get PS+? Best value for money in the industry) , which aren't cheap.
its not like other storages devices that are small/mobile are cheap with lots of memory as well and the memory card is the size of a pinky nail. I'm afraid if I take out the one I have I'll lose it.
Updated the last post with the official video, which is nice and HD instead of a desynced stream rip.
Some new info from Dengeki Online
Quote:The method of entering combat will be a bit different than other titles in the series. I can't say anything about the finer details, but you will be able to enter combat and exit into the field naturally.
...
Alisha will also become able to see the Divine. For more details, wait for "Tales of Festival 2014".
From what we've seen of combat so far, there is still a set background and combat area, defined by the combat circle.
It's possible that this was stock footage that wasn't using the same engagement method they have planned. It's been highly speculated, since the first PV, that combat will have a natural transition from the field view. http://www.abload.de/img/animation3ssf0n.gif
This quote may support this theory, but it may also be a more natural transition between field and combat, without the typical screen break and rescaling.
You can pre-order the game on Amazon. Rather than an official release date, there was some promise somewhere that it will come out in 2015. The actual 20th anniversary is in December, 2015, but I believe the release date is expected to be much earlier in Japan.
2014-05-15, 04:46 AM (This post was last modified: 2014-05-18, 12:11 AM by JoeTang.)
Thanks
Significantly better scan, you can see the extremely detailed combat area at a very low resolution. HYPE. The way the characters are placed together at the bottom, with some sort of icon between them... Is that possibly a partnering system?
Name: Dezel (デゼル
Weapon: Pendulum
Character Designer: Okamura Daigo
Voice Actor: Ono Daisuke
「・・・・・・言っておく。邪魔だけは許さん。たとえお前が導師であったとしてもだ」
"...I'll tell you this. I won't let you get in my way. Even if you are the Monk"
The Wind-element Divine. Wanting revenge against a Demon that's taken his friend, he searches in the shadows of the human realm.
He's one who hates communicating with other people and prefers solitude, but he hides a passionate personality underneath all that.
Battle System
Around Step
Blast Gauge - Using the gauge can provide a healing effect and knockback enemies.
Spirits Chain - Depleting the gauge allows you to freely link together attacks.
Lyla: Her specialty is in high-power close-range artes that erupt from her position. She can provide a burning effect that restrains enemies, creating an advantageous position in the battle field.
Screenshot: Her paper can be freely used to birth her flames!
Dezel: Enemies within the range of the pendulum will be sharply dealt with. His Divine Echo Artes uses long range attacks that can pierce vertically or horizontally in a straight line, rending everything in their path.
Screenshot: A pendulum like a whip!
Dungeon
Damnonia Art Gallery
-Explore a ruined art gallery.
Horizontal/Vertical linear reminds me of Malik's Artes-style, which was rather difficult to control. Hopefully, it's better than that.
Now there is a character I can appreciate.
It feels like the design team are really nailing it this time. While the Xillia cast is growing on me every time I play it, their design is mostly kind of dull. If they manage to make them as easy to relate to, this will be pure win.
Spoiler
I am still trying to get over the horror that is Graces. The fighting system was really the only redeemable factor. But oh man, the characters...
It has been long since the former Monk disappeared. Its existence has been like a fairytale, but even so, the common people worshiped its deeds while the government thought it to be a bother. Aware and cautious of the newly vested Monk, Slay and his companion Alisha, the governing body summons them to the royal palace. It is here they find the "Defilement" in the "other half" of the human world, right before their eyes; that which the Monk cannot ignore.
Dezel: He has experience from spending several years with mercenaries in the human world.
Combat System: Around Step:
When you successfully avoid an attack, the damage is reduced to 1. The enemy will falter, and your Spirits Chain will recover.
Blast Gauge (BG):
A gauge boosted from defensive maneuvers, such as guarding, evading, etc. Using this gauge can allow you to recover Spirits Chain, or blow enemies away. Looking at the screenshots, there is a "Blow Blast" effect visible.
Spirits Chain (SC):
SC can be consumed when using certain artes. The amount depends on the arte. You can use up to four basic attacks in combination, and with any remaining SC gauge, you can add more to the combo. SC will recover when not attacking. It can also recover when blocking, evading, or using movement. Its maximum value is 100.
The Weakness modifier returns from Graces and Xillia 2. The example shows a 1.25x multiplier, but this is likely based on the difficulty like in previous games.
The battle UI shows what is possibly the requirement of two humans and two Divine in the party. The UI displays the elements of the Divine on the cross between the paired characters. In one example on the website, it shows Slay and Lyla paired with no other characters in the field. The cross only shows a fire icon. In the second screenshot, Slay and Mikurio are paired, while Alisha and Edna are together on the other half of the UI. Earth and Water are displayed on the bottom.
Artes
Slay:
獅子戦吼 (Shishisenkou, lit. Lion Battle Cry, "Beast")
Lyla:
羽二重 (Habutae, lit. a fine Japanese silk)
懐紙 (Kaishi)
三番叟 (Sanbasou, lit. Third Elder)
ヒートレッド (Heat Red/Heat Lead, Pascal's Pyrogenic Ring)
ブリッツフレイム (Blitz Flame)
バーンストライク (Burn Strike)
Chief God and Attendant God (?)
Divine who have formed contracts with other Divine are known as Chief Gods. Their contractee must accompany them. The Chief God possesses a special power. They are unusual at this time.
Spirits Chain appears to be similar to Tales of Hearts 3DS's EG. Similar to CC and AC, it limits your actions and cannot be recovered by items. Its pool isn't significantly large to be constantly spamming, but its value is significantly higher than CC or AC, indicating a more varied weight to artes like Hearts' EG system. Hopefully, it will go better than Hearts 3DS which in my opinion, had a very poor resource system which facilitated infinite combos and single arte spamming. I haven't tried Hearts R so I'm not sure what they did to adjust that, but I've heard it is significantly better.
In the two combat screenshots available on the website, one shows Slay successfully Around Stepping. Lyla is his only partner. There is an additional number (9) beside the portrait, which is probably the Blast Gauge. The blue bar should be the Spirits Chain. Lyla is not in the screenshot, but her portrait and element are visible at the bottom UI.
The second screenshot shows a full party, with Slay & Mikurio, and Alisha & Edna. Edna is visible casting a spell, showing her magic circle and a casting icon with a progress ring. Mikurio and Edna's water and earth are visible in the UI. Lyla and Dezel's fire and wind are not visible, presumably because they are not in combat. This might hint to the return of Xillia 1's combat switching feature as well. If a human character is required to be paired with a Divine, this may imply a third human, as having only Slay and Alisha in the party at all times makes it rather monotonous.
There's also going to be a live broadcast on NicoNico on the 31st here: http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv178069035
This is probably going to detail the battle system and how the different characters will participate. It's fairly late at night/early in the morning for me, so I might forget to tune in, but I'll recap it if I do =/ Hopefully, they'll have accessible VODs though.
2014-05-31, 08:00 AM (This post was last modified: 2014-05-31, 02:36 PM by JoeTang.)
Official Website Updates
Information on Monk, and Divine contracting (Shushin and Baishin)
Monk stuff seems like what's describe earlier in post #67
I think this was in the Famitsu magazine, and AC translated it but:
Mikurio and Edna form a contract with Lyla; Lyla becomes the Chief God, Shushin, and the other two are Accompanying Gods, Baishin. Currently, such contracts are rare, but in the ancient past, there was a Divine who contracted hundreds of Accompanying Gods, an existence that would surely be called a "God". (FINAL BOSS?!?)
Ladylake and Damnonia Art Gallery Ladylake
Built above a lake, Ladylake is the capital of the Kingdom of Highland.
The water comes from the Lakepillow Plateaus, down a long river, with a gigantic water wheel for industrial purposes, or a beautifully sculpted fountain, among many other uses, Ladylake is also known as the [Water Capital].
The Temple of the Lady of the Lake, where its legend, and the Holy Sword rests here, along with many other things relating to the Monk and its traditions.
While its beauty is regarded and praised as first class on the continent, the past few years has shown an obvious decline in public safety and morals. An ominous atmosphere hangs over the city, eroding its borders.
Alisha feels the sense of danger from these abnormal changes and sets off to find a way to avert the path from reaching the age of disaster.
Damnonia Art Gallery
An art gallery in the Scholar Town of Marind.
While it possessed the foremost collection in the continent, much of it was lost through the confusion of the "Age of Disaster".
In the aftermath, criminal activities occurred, not just in the town but throughout the country, making not just retrieving the artwork, but even confirming its existence difficult.
The Gallery became derelict, barren of patrons. The remaining art sits silent, gazing into the darkness...
Zabida: I can't stand watching this, boys
Ahahahahaha beautiful
It's always honours students that follow the Monk around, in every age
Innit?
Slay: So you know I'm the Monk?
Zabida: There ain't many that go off and fight Demons now right?
The dragon's just yawning and going off to sleep.
Forever, that is.
Slay: ...It's only when confirming with your own eyes, that you can see the true meaning of the legend...
In this world, there are many legends that are still untold.
Not for the Monk's mission...
Our journey... Is ours alone
Lyla, this is what you meant by "Monk's fate", right?
We'll definitely have trouble finding the answer...
I'll believe too... In my friends!
Alisha: Please, Slay. I want you to make me your knight.
I want to see it! A homeland without defilement!
Lyla: I now bestow life, to the will of the monk, as a testament to fate.
Slay: Alisha, you can see the Divine now?
Alisha: Not just their voices, but their bodies now too.
Dezel: I'll help out. I am a lowly Divine after all.
Edna: I understand, Slay. Let's go together.
Mikurio: I'm going too. You can't even tell one lie, you'll never make it in the human world afterall.
Lyla: Slay, the rest of us will be following right behind you.
Now, Slay! The sword!
Slay: If we don't do it, this fight will never end!
Dezel: To make sure this doesn't turn into a disaster, there's something we should be doing. You should have already realised that by now though.
Edna: I'll say this now. I don't want any regets, so I won't let them happen.
Slay: This is... Just this... is something that I need to do...
I can clearly see what's important. What I have to do hasn't changed. This is everyone's battle field.
Are you planning to kill another?!
Dezel: Don't screw with us! He just wants someone to acknowledge him.
Zabida: If you won't budge after this push... Then I'll use -this- to settle the score! Because that's my style!
Lyla: Even if you sometimes remember your anger over being powerless
Or the sadness from losing a friend
Or are tempted astray from your path by evil
Edna: That's right. Humans don't think about your feelings. But that can't be helped. That's just how humans are.
Slay: I'm sorry. That I can't come up with -that- answer...
(The final line is difficult to word and I may not fully understand the meaning but:
Slay is apologizing because there is an expected answer and he can't choose it because of a moral dilemma is how I perceive it)
New Character (Villain):
Name: Zabida (ザビーダ
Character Design: Iwamoto Minoru
Voice Actor: Tsuda Kenjirou
「憑魔は地獄へ連れてってやるのが俺の流儀さ」
"Taking Demons all the way down to hell is my style"
Described as a sexy and wild look, he appears to be the main villain. Armed with a pistol, with which he shoots himself in the head in PV3 (TOKISAKI KURUMI STYLE?), he hates Slay and whatever it is he is trying to achieve. It is implied that he is killing dragons.
Battle System:
The PV3 showcases it a small bit, but a separate segment was shown, describing the new system. 「神依」 (Kamui, lit. Divine Reliance)
A system that allows Humans and Divine to fight as one during battle. From what was showcased, the effect can be used frequently in battle. The two characters will fuse, creating a new appearance and additional attributes.
Slay and Lyla are shown performing Kamui in the PV and demonstration. In this form, Slay's attacks show a large amount of fire. He also gains a very large sword with extremely long range.
It was stated that the system is similar to Style Shift from Tales of Graces. To me, it appears to be a mix of that and Link Artes from Xillia. While it shifts styles, it also has extremely limited duration or action, and requires two characters. I would expect Alisha to be able to perform Kamui as well, since it uses the paired character UI at the bottom of the screen, which I speculated about last week.
Artes (Will add more when someone collects more names from the video, or the official version is released next week):
Slay
虎牙破斬 (Kogahazan, lit. Tiger Rending Slash, Tiger Blade)
旋狼牙 (Senrouga, lit. Revolving Wolf Fang, Asbel's Wolfwind Fang)
爆炎剣 (Bakuenken, lit. Explosive Flame Sword)
地竜連牙斬 (Chiryuu Rengazan, lit. Earth Dragon Combo Fang Slash)
水零刺 (Suireishi?, lit. Water Zero Pierce)
氷月翔閃 (Hyougetsushousen?, lit. Ice Moon Soaring Flash)
Chat System (Skits):
The new chat system will involve more expressions and a larger depiction of their body rather than just their faces. The cut-ins will also be more detailed.
The showcased skit involved Alisha and Mikurio discussing about how to make ice cream or some other frozen treat. Alisha hnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
This game looks like it might just replace Graces as my favourite Tales game. I just hope the fusion system doesn't make the AI as brain dead as the linked characters in Xillia 1 (I read they improved it in Xillia 2 though).
Scaeva Wrote:This game looks like it might just replace Graces as my favourite Tales game. I just hope the fusion system doesn't make the AI as brain dead as the linked characters in Xillia 1 (I read they improved it in Xillia 2 though).
The slave characters in both Xillia games really depend on the master character actively basic attacking to do contribute well, otherwise whatever they're doing is likely to be interrupted by a linked status, support skill, or link arte. They're a lot smarter and useful in Xillia 2, and I think a lot of it is the higher number of useful artes and skills (i.e. Leia/Rowen/Elise having more useful physicals, and actively using High Chain Spell).
What I disliked in Xillia was the Link system meant that the game was basically 2-player. It is pretty rare to have more than two players interested in doing a JRPG like this to begin with, not that I have anyone to play with, BUT IF I DID, I CAN'T. Graces had a very good battle system and character growth. Xillia's felt more forced, and with the explicitly limited and unfarmable GP system, it promoted more guide-searching and one-true-build type garbage, whereas the Graces' Title System and, to an extent, Xillia 2's Arrowcell Orb promoted more active farming to achieve what you wanted, outside of explicit leveling. Arrowcell might have been better if it had associated stats for each element too (and more artes and skills for non-Ludger characters), though it might also have been overpowered or too biased, making choices for the non-damage stat less useful despite what skills and artes you learn from it. It was really fun maxing it out, balancing which character equipped which growth item, but once I capped the elements, which was relatively easy compared to earning all of Graces's titles, or even max level in Xillia 1, there was no more growth except for explicit levels. If for example, Fire gave Strength after maxing it, I would have focused more growth towards that for a character like Gaius after learning every arte, or I could have balanced more Stamina or Dexterity, since he has naturally high Strength.
I really enjoyed the gameplay and systems from Graces f the most, but Xillia 2's fast paced combat makes it very fun as well, even if the other systems aren't as good.
[video=youtube;mAuo2M0KlUo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAuo2M0KlUo[/video]
HQ version of PV3.
Producer Baba made a comment that "While this new character is another Divine, it's not guaranteed that the one after will be the same".
Another Zavida quote:
"Is that so? That's boring, ain't it. Having a rival makes it more exciting"
A wind Divine that hunts Demons alone. He has a bad mouth, hits on women, and picks fights with the Monk. He has the best battle sense and perception amongst the Divine.
Kamui:
Mikurio and Edna will have Kamui as well.
従士 (Shuushi, Accompanying Knight)
Just going to call it Knight for now. It's the term Alisha used during PV3, asking Slay to make her his Knight. It's a contract that she makes with Slay to become a special Knight. She gains some of the Monk's spiritual power, so while she is Human, she can perceive the Divine and Demons. She also has some ability to control Divine Echo Artes. However, since the source of this power is the Monk, it is limited.
2014-07-11, 04:35 AM (This post was last modified: 2014-07-16, 10:41 PM by JoeTang.)
It's been a while since an update.
It's basically been confirmed that the English romanization for スレイ will be [Sorey], from a Japan Expo trailer with French subtitles, and an English subbed trailer elsewhere.
Name: Martran (マルトラン
Character Designer: ?
Voice Actress: Koyama Mami
Nicknamed "Blue Valkyrie", she trained Alisha's skills with the spear and is a high ranking knight in the Kingdom of Highland. She is the one person who supports Alisha and is an elite who holds both instructing rank and tactical advisor in the army.
Baltoro (バルトロ
Kingdom of Highland's Minister of Internal Affairs. Sorey's group is wary of him.
Real Map Battle System
As suspected, battles transition seamlessly from the map as you encounter enemies, using your current position and terrain as the backdrop for the fight.
A few more details on AbyssalChronicle's site that I won't bother reposting.
New character gives off the feel of non-playable to potential adversary like Victoria in Graces T_T If Victoria were playable in Graces, I think that would have been no contest for best Tales game. Until Xillia 3 where we can play as Elle pls.
Anyways, the mention that she's such an important figure to Alisha seems sketchy and her appearance doesn't feel very protaganist.
Also, for those interested, Hearts R is confirmed to have no dub and keep its original Japanese voice track with English text and subtitles for post-battle quotes.
Martran's character quote:
「これからもアリーシャの力になってやってくれ。友人としてで構わないから」
"Please continue to be Alisha's strength from now on. I don't mind if it's even just as a friend."
Baltoro:
Voice Actor: Nakano Yutaka
Some of the quotes in the screenshots have him talking about how the Royal House is using a fake Monk to gain popularity and how he'll crush Alisha's group (I believe it means he thinks Slay is the fake Monk).
A few more quotes mixed in those screenshots.
Edna:
I hate humans, but this guy, not so much
Lyla:
This is a pledge I swore to myself, and to protect it, I'll grand power to those without it to do so (?)
Dezel:
It's coming! When that thing opens its eyes, we'll use my Kamui!
Some Zabida quotes
che... You've gotten better at this haven't ya...
Slay...That guy would wouldn't stop killin that Demon so I shot him
So it was my bad. I'm not really your enemy
The quotes seem fishy and are probably cherry picked for maximum speculation.
Didn't get to posting this earlier but the official website was updated, and amongst many things, they have official romanized names now
Sorey
Alisha
Mikleo
Edna
Lailah
Dezel
Zabeid
Maltran
Real Map Battle System
Talks about how your current surroundings will be your battle area. You'll fight straight in the water canals of Vivia or at the lakeside of Lakepillow.
Hi-ougi (Arcane Arte)
Lailah's 焔舞煉撃波 (Enbu Rengekiha, lit. Flame Dance Smelting Attack Wave)
I don't think they've ever shown each specific hi-ougi before game release. They'll probably be showing each of them as they show their Kamui as well.
Accompanying Character
I think it seems to imply that you must always use Sorey as the map character. You can select one character to be visibly following you, so it's not always Alisha. The scenes here show you can start a conversation with her. It shows a selection box of what to say to her, though here it only shows "Izuchi is a nice place, isn't it?" or "Stop" for the conversation. It probably means you complete these conversations for achievements too, and you'll get more options as you progress to different areas, and if affection still exists in this game, it'll definitely affect that. Also Alisha looks so good. Wish I could just have her on screen all the time.
My biggest problem with that video: The overworld music is extremely similar to the one in Graces F and Xillia 1 (was it remixed slightly? I couldn't tell). I do hope that's because it's in development...
My biggest problem with that video: The overworld music is extremely similar to the one in Graces F and Xillia 1 (was it remixed slightly? I couldn't tell). I do hope that's because it's in development...
I think this one might be higher quality (though the same footage). Also some character footage as well. I personally like this track, and think it's very nice as overworld adventure music. Since it's in both videos, it's likely just a placeholder track. There is a second track for Lailah's scenes there too.
The combat sequence and transition feel really smooth in the footage here. I like how the after-battle report appears. Combat pace seems like it might be a bit slower than Xillia 2's, though that was just jam-packed with Ludger being a speed beast and Link Artes every other attack.
JoeTang Wrote:I think this one might be higher quality (though the same footage). Also some character footage as well. I personally like this track, and think it's very nice as overworld adventure music. Since it's in both videos, it's likely just a placeholder track. There is a second track for Lailah's scenes there too.
I don't find it bad as music, I find it pretty horrible that they would use the same exact theme in 3-4 games in a row. It's one thing when it's like an Overture (as in like the intro/main theme) or something like that, but to make the song you hear 50-75% of the time in the game the same for 3-4 games running...that's just stupid. It's fine if it's a placeholder track, and completely understandable, though.
JoeTang Wrote:The combat sequence and transition feel really smooth in the footage here. I like how the after-battle report appears. Combat pace seems like it might be a bit slower than Xillia 2's, though that was just jam-packed with Ludger being a speed beast and Link Artes every other attack.
I really liked the battles in the video myself. My major issue gameplay wise at this point is that the camera felt way too close to the controlled character. You really need to be able to see the battle field in Tales games (at least in my opinion), and I feel like the current camera is going to cause issues.
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