Tales of the Abyss
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| Tales of the Abyss | |
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| Developer(s) | Namco Tales Studio |
| Publisher(s) | JPN Namco NA Namco Bandai |
| Designer(s) | Makoto Yoshizumi (game producer) Yoshito Higuchi (game director) Kosuke Fujishima (character designer) Motoi Sakuraba (composer) Shinji Tamura (composer) Motoo Fujiwara (composer) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Release date | JPN December 15, 2005 NA October 10, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | Console role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer (2 - 4 players) |
| Rating(s) | CERO: All Ages ESRB: T (Teen) (13+) |
| Media | 1 DVD |
Tales of the Abyss (テイルズ オブ ジ アビス Teiruzu obu ji Abisu?) is a console role-playing game developed by Namco Tales Studio and published by Namco. It was released for the PlayStation 2 on 15 December 2005 in Japan, celebrating the Tales series' 10th anniversary. Tales of the Abyss is the eighth main game in the Tales series, and is the sixth of the series to arrive in North America, having done so on October 10, 2006. It features the Flex Range Linear Motion Battle System, which most resembles Tales of Symphonia's. The character designs are by manga artist Kosuke Fujishima.
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[edit] Gameplay
[edit] Battle system
The Flex Range Linear Motion Battle System (FR-LMBS) is real-time and allows characters to move towards or away from the enemy. The game controls are very similar to other Tales games, especially Tales of Symphonia, except with increased maneuverability. The player can attack, defend, perform a skill or call up a menu with multiple functions, such as using items or command an ally to perform an action. This system, unlike Tales of Legendia's Crossover Linear Motion Battle System (X-LMBS), offers multiplayer co-op battles, and the camera for this mode is improved over the one found in Tales of Symphonia's Multi-Line Linear Motion Battle System (ML-LMBS), zooming out as characters move away from each other. Other players will still need to adjust to slightly awkward angles, but they are now always on screen. A new feature, "Free Run", allows the player character to run in any direction, unlike previous Tales games.
Characters can learn additional "AD Skills", which can be equipped and unequipped at will, to help them in battles. The game features a large number of these skills, and they are acquired through the use of "Capacity Cores" — items that give stat bonuses when a character levels up. Once a certain statistic has a large enough bonus, the AD skill is learned automatically.
The game features many skills and spells to unleash upon enemies. A new addition to the system in this department is the "Field of Fonons" (often abbreviated as FOF). Whenever a character uses a spell or battle technique that features an elemental alignment, a circle will appear on the ground, corresponding to the used element. After being reinforced with more techniques of the same element, the circle will light up in that element's color to signify that an FOF change is available. Finally, if a character stands in the circle and performs a specific skill that corresponds with the FOF circle, the skill will be upgraded into a more powerful version. Enemies can also use and create FOF fields.
Tales of the Abyss also sees the return of Mystic Artes (Hi-Ougis), powerful skills that can only be performed when certain conditions are fulfilled. Every character has one standard Mystic Arte, along with an additional hidden one unlockable only on repeat plays. Enemy boss characters have Mystic Artes as well, such as Sync's Akashic Torment, Arietta's Evil Light, and Legretta's Prism Ballet.
As with other Tales games, characters can also engage in "Over Limit" mode when their green OVL bar is full. This can be filled by completing combos and making critical hits. The player then presses the R2 button to go into Over Limit and, during this time can perform their Mystic Artes.
[edit] Features
[edit] Grade
Tales of the Abyss has a "grade" system, like most Tales games. Grade is awarded after each battle, either raising or lowering the player's total number of points depending on how the battle was played. For example, defeating the enemies within a short period or time or getting a large combo will increase the grade you get at the end of the battle; characters being killed or having negative status effects on them will lower the grade acquired. At the end of the game, players can purchase bonuses for the next playthrough, such as carrying over items and getting double the experience per battle.
[edit] Skits
A tradition in the Tales series, skits make another appearance in Tales of the Abyss. In Abyss, a skit is triggered by pressing the select button when a skit title and prompt appears in the bottom-left corner of the screen. During a skit, anime-style faces of the characters taking part in the skit appear and interact with each other. The characters in skits are animated, sometimes shaking, growing larger, or moving across the screen to accentuate what is happening in the skit. Skits can range from dramatic to comedic, and address a wide range of subjects. Some skits are related to the main plot, and some can only be obtained through optional side events. The skits in the English version are not voiced.
[edit] Sorcerer's ring
The sorcerer's ring in Tales of the Abyss is a magical item that Mieu wears around his waist, and can be upgraded by the power of concentrated Fonons in certain dungeons to perform different helpful actions. These include: Mieu Fire, where Mieu blows a ball of fire straight forward, used to activate switches and solve various puzzles; Mieu Attack, where Mieu is propelled forward to break objects and hit switches; and Mieu Wings, where Mieu flaps his ears and lifts the player into the air, useful for reaching high platforms and ladders. There is also an upgrade to Mieu Fire, dubbed Mieu Fire 2, which has longer range.
[edit] Titles and costumes
Abyss also features its own set of titles which each character gains through a series of tasks or events. These titles have various effects, some of which are stat-related. In the tradition of newer Tales games, some of these titles also change costumes. Each character has unique costumes; to acquire additional costumes, the player must accomplish certain tasks, like playing the Dragon Buster mini-game. Unlike other "Tales" games, every title in Tales of the Abyss carries a special effect, varying from discounts in shops to recovering small amounts of HP periodically.
[edit] Cooking
As with past Tales games, Abyss also features a cooking system. The player collects recipes and ingredients throughout the game, and can use them to cook. Different recipes require different items and have different effects. The player can increase characters' cooking stats for each recipe by having them cook the recipe frequently.
[edit] Sword Dancers
As in Tales of Symphonia, these optional bosses appear at certain parts of the game, and are only available to fight at that time. The Sword Dancers are usually fairly advanced enemies for their point in the game. To be able to fight each successive Sword Dancer, the player must first defeat the previous Sword Dancer. If the player misses the opportunity to fight a Sword Dancer, the succeeding Sword Dancers will not be available.
[edit] Planetary Fonic Arte Catalysts
Tales of the Abyss has an optional weapon-collecting sidequest. The player travels around the world to obtain the six Planetary Fonic Arte Catalysts, then brings them together and fights Gelda Nebilim. The quest is akin to the Devil Arms side quest in Tales of Symphonia.
[edit] Town link system
Various plot events alter the game's economy, changing prices and item availability in shops; for instance, a shortage in the farming town of Engeve (caused by pesky fauna) causes food prices to skyrocket, while the outbreak of war leads to a high variety equipment being sold at premium rates—though, conversely, higher profits when selling old gear. Furthermore, the player's actions (investigating the Engeve wildlife's unusual looting behavior) may alter the prices or even the availability of items available for sale.
[edit] North America exclusives
Most Tales games have been mere localizations, but the North American version of Tales of the Abyss received extra features that are not present in the Japanese version. Guy, Natalia, Van and others gained new Mystic Artes; in addition to receiving a new Mystic Arte herself, Nebilim also gained the use of some of the playable character's Mystic Artes. Luke and Tear also received new Mystic Arte extensions. There are many minor monster statistic changes including a reduction in Unknown Mode's stats multiplier from the Japanese version's x4.0 to x3.5.
[edit] Plot
[edit] Story and setting
The game takes place on the world of Auldrant, a planet composed of "Fonons" (known as Fonim (フォニム Fonimu?) in the Japanese version): a material energy found in all things. Long ago, a new kind of Fonon was discovered, but great chaos was brought with the finding. By using this newest Seventh Fonons, one could read the future. One such Seventh Fonist, Yulia Jue, put in place a future for the world for thousands of years to come. This prophecy of the future's set path became known as the "Score" and is documented on stone tablets which were scattered throughout the world. The nations of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear and Malkuth have fought over the fragments of these tablets for generations, each uncovering them and hoping to discover the future before the other.
As the game commences, the year is ND 2017. Luke fon Fabre, the son of Duke Fabre of the Kimlasca Kingdom, is 17 years old. He is the Light of the Sacred Flame who is destined to bring prosperity to Kimlasca. But since being kidnapped seven years ago by the Malkuth empire, he has been kept confined to the Fabre family mansion. The shock of the kidnapping erased all of Luke's memories prior to the event. But one fateful day, a mysterious woman breaks into the mansion and sets off a chain of events that will change the world forever...
[edit] Characters
The six main playable characters are Luke fon Fabre, the son of a noble from the kingdom of Kimlasca; Tear Grants, a soldier of the Order of Lorelei; Jade Curtiss, a colonel in the military of the Malkuth Empire; Anise Tatlin, a guardian of Fon Master Ion; Guy Cecil, a servant for the House of Fabre and Luke's best friend; and Natalia Luzu Kimlasca Lanvaldear, Luke's fiancée and princess of the Kimlasca Kingdom. They are accompanied by Mieu, a Cheagle who holds the Sorcerer's Ring.
The primary antagonists are the six God-Generals : Asch the Bloody, Sync the Tempest, Legretta the Quick, Dist the Reaper, Largo the Black Lion, and Arietta the Wild, in addition to their leader, Commandant Van Grants.
[edit] Audio
[edit] Music
Tales of the Abyss's soundtrack was mostly composed by Motoi Sakuraba and Shinji Tamura, though a few songs were also composed by Motoo Fujiwara, the lead vocalist of the Japanese band Bump of Chicken. The songs composed by him are on the album "Song for Tales of the Abyss". Bump of Chicken also performed the game's opening song, Karma (from their Supernova / karma single). Different versions of the song are used throughout the game. Tear's Fonic Hymns that she frequently sings, Fuka, are sung by Yukana.
Like past localizations of Tales games, the opening song was replaced by another track. Instead of a completely different song, however, the game uses a new instrumental version of Karma.
[edit] Voice actors
- Please note, for those who don't read the discussions, some voice actors may not actually be the voice. Tales of the Abyss does not credit any of the actors in the credits so some of these names without citations may be inaccurate. Some names listed are based on comparing voices to characters in other media and their voice actors.
[edit] Reception
Overall, reviews for the game have been positive, earning a 79% average on Game Rankings as of August 2007.[4]
The game has been notably praised for its diverse, interesting cast with IGN particularly placing attention on the game's protagonist and his ensuing character development.[5] Others likewise praised the game's dialogue and cut-scene direction, although some questioned both the overabundance of "skits" which popped up from time to time as well as the localization team's decision to omit the voice-acting that accompanied the skits in the Japanese version.[6][7]
Famitsu gave the title a 9 / 9 / 9 / 9 - (36/40) and ranked it at #44 in the Famitsu's 100 all-time favorite games list.
[edit] Sales
In its first year in Japan, Tales of the Abyss sold 440,225 copies.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ What's New section on Yuri Lowenthal's website (2006). Retrieved on 2006-09-09.
- ^ Kumoricon (2006). Retrieved on 2006-10-05.
- ^ Tara Platt wrote this in her Yahoo! group: "I am still voicing characters for ongoing Cartoon Network show Naruto as well as working on manga KAMICHU, and video games VALKYRIE PROFILE and TALES OF THE ABYSS and on the Disney Video TWITCHES."
- ^ Tales of the Abyss Reviews. GameRankings (2007). Retrieved on August 24, 2007.
- ^ IGN site staff (2006). Tales of the Abyss Review. IGN. Retrieved on November 23, 2006.
- ^ 1UP site staff (2006). Tales of the Abyss PS2 Review. 1UP. Retrieved on November 23, 2006.
- ^ GamesRadar site staff (2006). Another week, another epic RPG... and yep, this one's worth your time, too. GamesRadar. Retrieved on November 23, 2006.
- ^ 2005 Best Sellers Chart Japan. The Magic Box (2006). Retrieved on December 1, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Official Tales of the Abyss website
- Tales of the Abyss at PlayStation.com
- Official Japanese Tales of the Abyss website
- A Japanese Tales of the Abyss Wiki
- The Tales of Wiki - a Wikia of the The Tales of Series
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