Tales of Vesperia

Tales of Vesperia
Game cover
Developer(s)	Namco Tales Studio
Publisher(s)	Namco Bandai Games
Designer(s)	Kōsuke Fujishima (Character design) Yoshito Higuchi (Chief director, producer) Motoi Sakuraba (Composer)
Series	Tales
Platform(s)	Xbox 360
Genre(s)	Console role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single Player, multiplayer cooperative

Tales of Vesperia (テイルズ オブ ヴェスペリア, Teiruzu obu Vesuperia) is the tenth mothership title in the Tales series. It was announced on December 22, 2007 at Jump Festa. The game was released on August 72008 in Japan, and is set for release on August 262008 in North America, Summer 2008 in Asia, and Spring 2009 in Europe. A special, limited edition is also being released in North America. The special edition will include a metal case with unique cover art and a 25 track soundtrack. The special edition is to be released alongside the normal game release at select retailers. Tales of Vesperia's characteristic genre name is To Enforce One's "Justice" RPG (「正義」を貫き通すRPG, "Seigi" wo tsuranukitoosu RPG). The game's first trailer confirmed that the character designer is Kōsuke Fujishima, the chief director and producer is Yoshito Higuchi (who previously worked on both Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss), the game was developed by Namco Tales Studio and its animated movies were done by Production I.G. It was confirmed on GameSpot that Vesperia will be exclusively for the Xbox 360. Bonnie Pink sings the main theme song for both the Japanese and North American release of the game.

Gameplay

Tales of Vesperia uses an improved and evolved version of Tales of the Abyss's battle system, called the "Evolved Flex-Range Linear Motion Battle System" (EFR-LMBS).

Returning from Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss is the "Overlimit." Similar to Tales of the Abyss it is in the form of a visible gauge, but it comes in the form of a single bar that can be spread out among the party, or "stacked" up to four different levels to give various effects when used for a single person, such as the ability to cancel any arte at level one, and then becoming invulnerable at level four.

Tales of Vesperia also introduces a new skill system to the series. For this entry, they are found and used through equipment instead, each having a certain number of "Learning Points," or LP. Through fighting battles, you gain Learning Points, which is given to all currently unlearned skills. When enough Learning Points are acquired, that character learns the skills, and can use it without having the weapon equipped, for a certain number of Skill Points (SP). SP is gained through leveling, and if a character has a weapon with a certain skill, they are capable of using that skill without any SP cost. Through skills, characters are also capable of "Skill Changes," an arte or spell that is created when a certain skill is equipped and a certain arte is used. Though using a Skill Change enough times, the character learns that arte or spell and is capable of using it without a skill change.

Another new feature added to the battle system are Burst Artes, powerful attacks performed while in overlimit and using an arcane arte or a spell change. Depending on the Overlimit level, the amount of time increases, allowing you to add in more combos. And like with previous Tales games, players are able to pull off powerful hi-ougis.

As compared to previous Tales games, during battle, players are given "Fatal Strikes," attacks capable of defeating their enemies with one strike. The attacks are performed through a series of select button combinations.

An added aspect to the game's world is the "Encounter Linking" system. Should a particular enemy within the current battle session spot a roaming enemy walking about the field, the roaming enemy will also join the current battle. Also returning from previous Tales games are also "surprise encounters." Like in Tales of the Abyss, a surprise encounter rearranges the active party when taken into battle.

Tales of Vesperia also makes use of "Secret Missions," special tasks or challenges that can be completed during boss fights for certain rewards.

As in previous entries, Tales of Vesperia features an arena where the player can battle a number of enemies for prizes. Dhaos, the main villain of Tales of Phantasia, makes an appearance in the arena as a special battle.

In keeping with the Tales RPG tradition. Vesperia also introduces character costumes that they can obtain. These're dependant on the various titles that your characters have obtained throughout the game, also equipping various accessories will also grant the same effect as the costume titles.

Along with Abyss and Symphonia; Vesperia makes the use of the Weapons Quest mission as well. Which Yuri and gang must collect various weapons scattered throughout Lumeireis and then challenge a very diffcult boss. In this case, Yuri and gang will have to challenge Yuri's brother; Duke.

Like the English release of Tales of Legendia, skits in the English release of Tales of Vesperia are also voiced by the English voice actors.

Online component

The game doesn't contain online multiplayer or competitive battles, but it does contain online leaderboards for things such as highest combo and minigame scores. The game also uses Downloadable Content for items and other things you can find in the game, but would be difficult to acquire.

Plot

Story

The people of Terca Lumireis rely on Blastia, technology created by the Geraios civilization from Core with a wide array of properties, to carry out their daily lives in peace. Cities use Blastia to perform day-to-day processes such as drawing water, while knights and guild members use Blastia to kill monsters threatening ordinary citizens. Most importantly, Blastia is used to create barriers. Because monsters overindulge in Aer and become powerful and dangerous as a result, barriers are needed to prevent them from entering the cities. However, because Blastia protect and shelter people from the dangers of the world, they have prevented most citizens from exploring what lies beyond city walls.

Because he is confined by the protection of barriers, Yuri Lowell longs to journey the outside world like his childhood friend Flynn Scifo. Flynn is a knight working for the empire, and thus is allowed to leave the city to protect citizens from harm. Yuri was once a knight with those same ideals, but because he hated the way the government enforced things, he retired and instead started up his own guild, Brave Vesperia, to serve the poor using his own sense of "justice." When a Blastia regulating the water supply is stolen from the lower quarters of the capital, Yuri takes matters into his own hands, only to be landed in jail. There, he encounters the sheltered Estelle, who decides to help him capture the Blastia thief so that she can leave the castle that has confined her for many years and explore the world herself.

Playable characters

Yuri Lowell (ユーリ・ローウェル, Yūri Rōueru)
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Height: 180cm
English Voice Actor: Grant George
Japanese Voice Actor: Kosuke Toriumi
The main protagonist who wields swords and handaxes in battle. An empathetic young man who doesn't give a second thought about helping those in need but knows his limits. He is quite sarcastic and cynical but a nice man at heart. He also yearns for his older brother. Like Flynn, he once worked as a knight, giving him the freedom of taking brief journeys outside his hometown. However, he retired and took up work as a bodyguard because of his hatred of the nobility and the government. Envious of Flynn, he decides to leave his city and see the world himself. After events lead him to be imprisoned, he meets Estelle, and the two break out of the castle to explore the world beyond.

Estellise (エステリーゼ・シデス・ヒュラッセイン, Esuterīze Shidesu Hyurassein) Estelle (エステル, Esuteru)
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Height: 165cm
English Voice Actor: Hynden Walch
Japanese Voice Actor: Mai Nakahara
The heroine who wields swords and staves. Her real name is Estellise, but Yuri gives her the nickname Estelle, and she decides to be addressed as such by her friends. She is notable for her aptitude in healing magic and for her pink hair. In the castle, Estelle encounters Yuri while fighting off imperial knights in her search for Flynn. She separates herself from her sad world, and begins to speak out and take action. She was kept in her castle for a long time, where she took up training with the sword. She is also surprised by the many things she encounters in the outside world. She enjoys reading books and takes the knowledge she gains from them very seriously.

Flynn Scifo (フレン・シーフォ, Furen Shīfo)
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Height: 180cm
English Voice Actor: Sam Riegel
Japanese Voice Actor: Mamoru Miyano
A knight who wields a sword and shield. Flynn shared his childhood with Yuri, though they differ from one another. He has similar ideals of helping others, but chooses to work them out via politics instead. After Yuri retired from the knights, he began to gain many achievements and was promoted. He neglects those of the nobility but is more friendly to the common people of the empire. He travels regularly to fend off monsters, a fact that makes Yuri envious.

Repede (ラピード, Rapīdo)
Age: 4
Gender: Male
Height: 170cm
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Makoto Ishii
Yuri's dog, who accompanies Yuri to places and fights by him using a dagger. He holds a pipe in his mouth, which is a memento of his previous owner. He is very close and friendly with those he accepts, but hates it when those he doesn't know try to touch him. He appears to be the calmest of the group.

Rita Mordio (リタ・モルディオ, Rita Morudio)
Age: 15
Gender: Female
Height: 150cm
English Voice Actor: Michelle Ruff
Japanese Voice Actor: Rika Morinaga
A brunette-haired girl who wears goggles. She is a researcher from Aspio that studies Blastia, and hates to be interrupted during her research. She is eccentric and has a poor social disposition. In battle she wields scrolls and whips with a book as a subweapon and is capable of using various magical attacks. She is known for her expert knowledge in academia, which has earned her the title of famed genius mage.

Karol Capel (カロル・カペル, Karoru Kaperu)
Age: 12
Gender: Male
Height: 135cm
English Voice Actor: Wendee Lee
Japanese Voice Actor: Kumiko Watanabe
A little boy who wields a giant hammer and various other large weapons. He says that he is from the Hunting Blades guild (魔狩りの剣 (Magari no tsurugi)). Due to certain circumstances he accompanies Yuri on his journey.

Judith (ジュディス, Judisu)
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Height: 175cm
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Aya Hisakawa
A beautiful woman that wields a spear. She is a member of the Kuritea (クリティア, Kuritia) tribe, a minority race. She encountered Yuri while wandering the world with two companions. She is sensible and speaks of going ahead without taking measures. Because she acts without explaining her actions, she cannot get an impression of the situation. She appears gentle, but she decides without hesitation and pushes onward. She speaks strongly without delay, which makes it difficult to socialize with her. When she goes into battle, she becomes violent, which creates a feeling of mystery about her.

Raven (レイヴン, Reivun)
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Height: 170cm
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Eiji Takemoto
A frivolous and shady-looking man who wears long clothes and wields a bow and katar. He appears before Yuri while he is traveling, and annoys Yuri and his friends through his persiflage. To step back from troublesome things his voice becomes high-pitched immediately, and he becomes defiant to answer with his worried personality. Despite that, he is timid but not aloof from the world, the way someone somewhere cannot hate. As might be expected of someone his age, he strangely implies of past hardships, but the actual truth no one knows.

Antagonists

Clint (クリント, Kurinto)
Gender: Male
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Yuji Takada
Clint is the leader of the Hunting Blades, a guild that has taken up a role of hunting monsters. He is a muscular giant, capable of swinging his large sword with one hand easily. He often battles monsters with that arm, killing many large monsters with one blow. He looks at monsters as hostile beings and teaches the rest of the Guild his ideas.

Tison (ティソン, Tison)
Gender: Male
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Ryuuzou Hasuike
Tison is the number two man of the Hunting Blades. Though he appears thin, he is a ferocious fighter in battle, letting him overwhelm his enemies. He also endorses the ideas of the guild and takes pleasure in fighting. He often takes Clint's place, handling negotiations and going to the front lines numerous times.

Nan (ナン, Nan)
Gender: Female
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Saeko Chiba
Nan is a young girl in the Hunting Blades. As Tison's pupil, she is still innocent despite her age, but the other members still recognize her as one of the superior members. With a strong-willed personality, she stands her ground even to large adults. She appears with Tison before Yuri, and Karol appears to have a connection with her.

Jaeger (イエガー, Iegā)
Gender: Male
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Mitsuo Iwata
A member of the Leviathan's Claws guild. He wears a blue suit and wields a scythe that can turn into a crossbow.

Gauche (ゴーシュ, Gōshu)
Gender: Female
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: N/A
A member of the Leviathan's Claws guild. Her name is the French word gauche, meaning "left." She is distinct from Droite by her red hair. In battle, she wields a gunblade.

Droite (ドロワット, Dorowatto)
Gender: Female
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: N/A
A member of the Leviathan's Claws guild. Her name is the French word droite, meaning "right." She is distinct from Gauche by her light green hair. Like Gauche, she wields a gunblade in battle.

Zagi (ザギ, Zagi)
Gender: Male
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Akio Suyama
A man distinguished by his triple-colored hair. He holds severe enmity towards Yuri. For this reason, he constantly attacks Yuri and his friends, willing to fight to the death.

Alexay (アレクセイ, Arekusei)
Gender: Male
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Jurōta Kosugi
A high-ranking imperial knight who seems to take an interest in Estelle's power and the secrets of the ancient Geraios civilization.

Duke (デューク, Dyūku)
Gender: Male
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Rikiya Koyama
Yuri's brother. He has white hair as long as Yuri's and wields a sword. He first appears in the Forest of Keiv Moc, saving Yuri and his friends from the brink of death.

Arena Contenders

Introduction

In the arena, prior to challenging the 4 contenders. Yuri (or whoever the person chooses) will have to challenge 200 monsters. Which each few monsters defeated, unlocks the battle with that contender.

• Dhaos (Round 1)

Gender: Male
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Toshiyuki Morikawa
Hails as the final boss from Tales of Phantasia, he is the first contender that Yuri faces. His Mystic Arte is similar to that of Gelda Nebilim's Fragment End.

• Shizel (Round 2)

Gender: Female
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Kazue Ikura
Comes from the Tales of Eternia, and is Vesperia's 2nd contender. She uses dark magic to dispose of her opponents.

• Barbatos (Round 3)

Gender: Male
English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Norio Wakamoto
Comes from Tales of Destiny 2

• Kratos (Round 4)

Gender: Male English Voice Actor: N/A
Japanese Voice Actor: Fumihiko Tachiki
Comes from Tales of Symphonia. The player was given a chance to choose between Zelos or Kratos. If they chose either one. The latter would then challenge them at the Tower of Salvation. This was depending on the character's relationship values. In Vesperia, Kratos is the 4th and last contender of the Arena.

Reception

Famitsu awarded Tales of Vesperia a score of 9/9/9/8, totaling 35/40.

According to Famitsu, Tales of Vesperia sold 70,000 copies in its first day on the Japanese market. Another 10.000 copies were sold with the Tales of Vesperia Xbox 360-bundle.

External links

• Official Japanese Site
• Tales Brigade: The Official Community for Tales of Vesperia