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Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

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Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Game cover
The cover to the Japanese release of Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World.
Developer(s)Namco Tales Studio
Publisher(s)Namco Bandai
Designer(s)Daigo Okumura[1]
Kosuke Fujishima (character designer)
SeriesTales series
Platform(s)Wii
Genre(s)Console role-playing game
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer cooperative[2]

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, known in Japan as Tales of Symphonia: Knight of Ratatosk (テイルズ オブ シンフォニア -ラタトスクの騎士-, Teiruzu obu Shinfonia-Ratatosuku no Kishi-), is a console role-playing game developed by Namco Tales Studio and published by Namco Bandai for Nintendo's Wii.[3] It was released in Japan on June 26 2008 and is set for a North American release on November 18, 2008.[4] Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World's characteristic genre name is To Believe in Resonating Hearts RPG (響き合う心を信じるRPG, Hibiki au kokoro wo shinjiru RPG). It is a spin-off[5] to Tales of Symphonia for the Nintendo GameCube and PlayStation 2. The March 2008 Issue of the Official Nintendo Magazine mentioned the possibility of releasing the game in Europe [citation needed].

Gameplay

Rather than the fully explorable Field Map traditionally used in Tales games, a point-and-click system using the Wii Remote is used to navigate the world. The layout of the map is similar to that of Tales of Phantasia. The development team has admitted that they left the Field Map out due to production schedule deadlines.[6] The pointer is also used for minigames and as a cursor for the Sorcerer's Ring.[7]

Battle system

Dawn of the New World uses the "Flex Range Element Enhanced Linear Motion Battle System" (FR:EE-LMBS), combining aspects of Tales of the Abyss' and Tales of Destiny's battle systems, to create a battle experience comparable to Tales of Innocence's Dimension Stride Linear Motion Battle System. A key feature of this enhanced system is the Elemental Grid.[6] Each battle location, skill, and monster will have an elemental attribute.[7] The battlefield's element can be altered by using three skills with the same elemental attribute in a row.[7] Changing the element of the field determines both the effectiveness of an attack, as well as the characters that can participate in Unison Attacks, which make a return from the original Symphonia. A meter on the lower part of the screen indicates when the attack can be unleashed.[7] Another returning element of the series are Hi-Ougis.[8]

A gameplay screenshot showing a fight between Emil and Decus.

Another new feature is the ability to capture, breed, and level-up over 200 monsters to fight alongside Emil in battle. Monsters can be recruited once they have been defeated in battle. In order to increase the odds of a successful recruitment, the element of the field should align with the element of the monster. An altered version of the classic Tales affection system will also help to persuade them to join the party.[7] Although there is room in the party for ten members, only four of them can take part in any given battle. It is noted that Emil and Marta cannot both be out of the party, one of them must be the first character in the party, as neither the Symphonia Cast nor a monster can be set to the first slot. The monsters are controlled in battle by artificial intelligence.[7] Monsters can be stored in a pen at the Katz Guild if they are not needed in the party.[6] There are also several sidequests available from a list to choose from at the Katz Guild.[6]

The party obtains both experience points and GRADE after each battle. Experience points are divided equally amongst all members of the party. Once a certain amount has been accumulated, each character or monster will level up, thereby improving their stats and possibly gaining new skills.[5] Another way to increase a monster's status parameters is by cooking them special recipes, some of which can even cause them to evolve. The variety of recipes in the game allows for a kind of "monster customization."[5] It is noted that the Symphonia cast do not gain levels through Experience points, (instead, they gain levels during plot events) and they also cannot be higher than level 50. The amount of GRADE received depends on how each battle is fought. From the second playthrough on, collected GRADE can be used to purchase powerful items, to obtain game bonuses, or to carry skills from one file to the next.[7]

Presentation

As the only animated segment in the game is its opening, most of the story is told through real-time cut-scenes that were filmed using motion capture.[5] Skits, which are short, optional conversations between the characters, make a return; in the Japanese version of the game, these skits are fully voiced, but it is unknown whether this will be true for the North American version. Much of the music in Dawn of the New World is remixed from the soundtrack of the original Tales of Symphonia.[5] The game also has widescreen support.[7] Furthermore, many of the assets and locations in the game have been taken directly from the original Tales of Symphonia, but the textures have been updated.[5]

Plot

File:ToS2 screen02.jpg
Lloyd and Emil.

Background

The game is set in a fictional world that once drew strength from the Giant Kharlan Tree. Long ago, a great war caused the Tree to wither and die; divine intervention then tore the planet in two to prevent its destruction, thereby creating the dual worlds of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. Thousands of years after the worlds were split, it was left to Lloyd Irving and his companions to restore the world to its true form. At their journey's end, a new Tree was planted to replace the Giant Kharlan Tree and to hold the two worlds together once more.

After the lands became one, maps were rendered useless and the climate went through many vast changes: desert towns became frozen wastelands and lakes dried up into valleys. All of this stems from an overlooked factor in the unification of the worlds: the spirit of the old Kharlan Tree, Ratatosk, still exists somewhere, and its slumber has sent the world into chaos.[2]

To complicate matters, tensions are escalating between the people of the two worlds. The citizens of Tethe'alla look down upon the people of Sylvarant due to their inferior technology, and the people of Sylvarant fear the citizens of Tethe'alla for their power. Two years have passed since the worlds were first merged, and the citizens of Sylvarant have created an army, known as the Vanguard, with which to rise against the Church of Martel and the people of Tethe'alla.

One day, the Church of Martel goes to war with the Vanguard, and Sylvarant's city of Palmacosta is caught in the crossfire. Countless innocent lives are lost and the city is consumed in flames. This event comes to be known as the "Purge of Blood", a massacre allegedly led by the same Lloyd Irving who helped unite the worlds two years before.[2]

Dawn of the New World possesses multiple endings: the game's conclusion is decided by the actions the player has made throughout the game. There are three possible endings. [citation needed]


Characters

Main article: List of characters in Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

Dawn of the New World takes place two years after the events of Tales of Symphonia.[9] The protagonist is named Emil, and nearly all of the main characters from the original Symphonia return:[9] only Kratos, who acts as the game's narrator, does not return in a playable capacity.[10]

Voice Cast

The voice actors who voiced the main characters in the original Symphonia reprise their roles for this game; some of the voice actors from the original game will return but it is still uncertain if all the voice actors are going to return in the North American version. In videos at E3, it is confirmed that there is a new voice actress for Raine Sage. Much to fan's disappointment, Lloyd Irving will not be voiced by Scott Menville, who voiced him in the original Tales of Symphonia, but it appears Brian Beacock, the voice actor who played Lloyd Irving in Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology will be returning. Due to Namco's decision to go with non-union actors, many of the original actors will not return. [citation needed]

Character Japanese seiyū English voice actor
Emil Castagnier Hiro Shimono Johnny Yong Bosch
Marta Lualdi Rie Kugimiya Melissa Fahn
Richter Abend Kenji Hamada Kyle Hebert
Tenebrae Hochu Otsuka Terrence Stone
Aqua Yoko Honda N/A
Alice Mami Kingetsu N/A
Decus Akio Suyama N/A
Brute Michiko Neya N/A
Hawk Yuuji Kishi N/A
Magner Chafurin N/A
Lloyd Irving Katsuyuki Konishi Brian Beacock
Colette Brunel Nana Mizuki N/A
Genis Sage Ai Orisaka N/A
Raine Sage Yumi Touma Tara Platt
Zelos Wilder Masaya Onosaka N/A
Regal Bryant Akio Ohtsuka N/A
Sheena Fujibayashi Akemi Okamura N/A
Presea Combatir Houko Kuwashima N/A
Seles Wilder Hiromi Konno N/A
Yuan Toshiyuki Morikawa N/A

Music

In an interview with 1UP.com, publishing producer Tsutomu Gouda stated that the game's opening music might be reworked for the US edition.[5] The Japanese version's theme song is "Nininsankyaku" (二人三脚, "Three-Legged Race" or lit. "Two People, Three Legs") by misono.[11]

The original soundtrack for Dawn of the New World spanning four CDs was released on July 9 2008.

Reception

Dawn of the New World sold 120,000 copies in Japan on its first day of release[12] and concluded the week of June 23rd to June 29th (with Dawn of the New World being released on the 26th) with over 151,000 copies sold. This made it the bestselling game of that week.[13] Reviewers of Famitsu magazine gave the game a score of 31/40[14] whereas Famitsu Wii+DS's reviewers gave the game a 35/40.[15] In a report detailing Namco Bandai's results for the first fiscal quarter 2009, the company revealed that as of 6th August 2008, Dawn of the New World has sold over 215,000 copies in Japan.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Symphonic Sweet", Nintendo Power, vol. 226, p. 42, March 2008{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link).
  2. ^ a b c Chris Winkler (2008-01-07). "Tales of Symphonia Sequel Detailed". RPGFan. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  3. ^ Matt Casamassina (2008-02-26). "Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World". IGN. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  4. ^ "IGN: Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World". Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World Preview". 1up.com. 2008-04-16. Retrieved 2008-06-10. Cite error: The named reference "1UP" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d Adam Riley (2008-04-12). "Bandai Namco Talks Tales of Symphonia on Nintendo Wii". Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Daemon Hatfield (2008-04-15). "Tales of Symphonia Update". Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  8. ^ V-Jump Scan
  9. ^ a b Anoop Gantayat (2007-07-20). "All About Tales". IGN. Retrieved 2007-07-03. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  10. ^ "Symphonic Sweet", Nintendo Power, vol. 226, p. 34, March 2008{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link).
  11. ^ "Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World's official website's theme song section". Namco. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  12. ^ Tim Higdon (2008-06-27). "First Day Sales of Knight of Ratatosk at 120,000". Zentendo. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  13. ^ "Game Software Sales Ranking for 2008/06/23 to 2008/06/29". Famitsu. 2008-07-11. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
  14. ^ Tim Higdon (2008-06-18). "Knight of Ratatosk Scores 31 in Famitsu Issue". Zentendo. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  15. ^ "GameFront News Archive for June 23rd - June 30th, 2008" (in German). GameFront. 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  16. ^ Phil Elliott (2008-08-06). "Namco Bandai report profits fall". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
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