Tales of Destiny
| Tales of Destiny | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Wolfteam |
| Publisher(s) | Namco |
| Designer(s) | Mutsumi Inomata (character) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation, PlayStation 2 |
| Release |  December 23, 1997 (PS1) September 30, 1998 (PS1) November 22, 2006 (PS2) |
| Genre(s) | Role playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Tales of Destiny (テイルズ オブ デスティニー, Teiruzu obu Desutinī) is a video game in the RPG genre published for the PlayStation console by Namco on 23 December, 1997 in Japan. Both the Japanese and North American versions of the game have an introductory video animated by the renowned studio Production I.G., and the Japanese version has a song accompanying the video called Yume de Aruyouni by DEEN. It is similar to its predecessor, Tales of Phantasia, in terms of gameplay, graphics, and content. Tales of Destiny is the second game in the Tales series.
History
Template:Spoilers In the past, a comet crashed into the world, throwing dust clouds into the sky and shrouding the world in cold and darkness. At about the same time, the inhabitants, the Erthers, discovered a new form of energy from the meteorite's core, which they named Lens. Combining this with further research, the people were able to create cities in the sky and live in them. Unfortunately, only a select few were chosen, leaving the rest of the people to remain on the bleak surface of the planet.
Over time, the sky's inhabitants became known as the Aetherians and their Aeropolis cities. They created a horrific weapon called the Belcrant that shot down any who dared oppose them. This caused full scale war to erupt between the two civilizations, now known as the Aeth'er Wars. However, regardless of their will and persistence, the Aetherians continued to have the power to dominate every engagement though the use of their superweapon.
In their disgust of their civilization's elitist behavior, a group of Aetherian scientists went to the surface. There, with aid from the people, they were able to create special swords, called Swordians, that were sentient. Unlike other weapons, these swords chose their masters and were able to call upon the elements of nature to do their will. Using these weapons, the people of the surface finally had an edge against the Aetherians.
Thanks in part to the Swordians and their masters, scores of Aeropolis were sunk to the depths of the ocean. In the end, the Erthers claimed victory over the Aetherians. Thousands of years later, this story has been mostly forgotten. In the meantime, the purposeless Swordians fell into a deep stasis sleep, only to awaken when grave threats rose once again.
Storyline
The story of the game begins when country-boy-turned-adventurer Stahn Aileron, who seeks fame and adventure, sneaks aboard the flying ship Draconis as a stowaway. He is found out by the crew and forced to work as a deckhand, but when a large hostile force attacks the ship, the crew is overwhelmed and Stahn breaks free during the ensuing chaos. Looking for a usable weapon to fend off the attackers, he gains access to a storeroom and discovers a "junk" sword. However, the sword starts talking to him, calling itself Dymlos and claiming to be a sentient Swordian from the Aeth'er Wars. Armed with Dymlos, Stahn fights his way to an escape pod, which he uses to escape the rapidly descending ship before it crashes into the ground.
Dymlos becomes the key to the fame, fortune, and adventure Stahn seeks as the young man meets other Swordians, quickly becoming embroiled in a battle for a relic of the Aeth'er Wars: a huge, extremely powerful Lens called the Eye of Atamoni. Template:Endspoilers
Battle System
Tales of Destiny continues the trademark Linear Motion Battle System (LMBS) of the Tales series, with some graphical enhancements to the system as it was first implemented in Tales of Phantasia. Nevertheless, the combat is still very similar to the first game in the series, taking place on a 2-D plane where characters and enemies act in real time. Typical RPG conventions of HP, TP, experience, and leveling apply. Mêlée and ranged attacks are executed in real time, with spell casting requiring a chanting time that increases directly with the complexity of the spell being cast. When the chanting of a spell is complete, game-time temporarily stops as the spell animation is carried out and damage is assigned, so spells essentially act as interrupts. Special melee and ranged attacks do more damage or have more hits than normal attacks, but require technical points, or TP, to be consumed for use. Also, the battle system rewards the player with extra experience for stringing together multi-hit combos. The end result of this break from traditional turn-based RPG battle systems is a more fast-paced and reaction oriented system that behaves more like a fighting game and less like a typical Final Fantasy-esque title.
Pre-battle options include assigning spells and special attacks to buttons and button-directional combinations, changing the party's battle formation or order, and assigning AI behavioral patterns for your computer-controlled allies. Certain spells can also be taken off the active casting list for computer-controlled allies. At any one time, the AI is controlling the other characters in the party that the player is not directly commanding, taking general strategic orders into consideration when acting. The player controls one character directly at a time, but can switch to other characters and issue special attack or spell orders for any character on command using an in-battle menu system. This menu system enables the player to use items, spells, or special attacks on the fly in battle. Also, the menu system allows the use of general commands given to the entire party during battle, along with instant adjustment of previous strategy or formation orders. All of these control options were innovative at the time, even when considering that Tales of Phantasia was released in 1995 with nearly identical tactical options.
Characters
Playable characters
- Stahn Aileron
- Japnese: スタン・エルロン Stan Aileron
- Age: 19
A young adventurer who grows into a powerful sword-based physical fighter, Stahn is the protagonist of Tales of Destiny. Not known for his intelligence or his cultured background, his fire-elemental Swordian is Dymlos. Learning the most special attacks of any character, including extremely effective combination Sacred Skills, Stahn has the potential to become the most powerful character. His wide array of powerful attack options makes up for his limited fire-based magical arsenal. Voice actor: Tomokazu Seki.
- Garr Kelvin
- Japanese: ウッドロウ・ケルヴィン Woodrow Kelvin
- Age: 23
The Prince of Phandaria, Garr is a skilled archer as well as a swordsman; Igtenos is his wind-elemental Swordian. Wise and mature, Garr is known for his cool-headed battle tactics. In battle, Garr can engage targets from long or short range with his two weapon types. Voice actor: Sho Hayami.
- Rutee Katrea
- Japanese: ルーティ・カトレット Rutee Kartret
- Age: 18
Armed with Atwight, the Swordian of water, Rutee is a headstrong Lens hunter who travels the world looking to make a profit with her partner, Mary. She has a bad reputation in the Kingdom of Seinegald because of her money-hungry ways, but she doesn't let it bother her. Rutee has a balanced selection of technical physical and magical attacks. Rutee eventually develops a romantic relationship with Stahn. She is revealed to be Leon's sister late in the game. Voice actress: Yuka Imai.
- Philia Felice
- Japanese: フィリア・フィリス Philia Philis
- Age: 19
A priestess at Straylize Temple studying the A'ether Wars period, Philia is isolated from the outside world until the events of the game. She has a sweet, charming personality and is very dependable, but she can also be overly fastidious. Her powerful spell casting ability is augmented by her Swordian, Clemente, but her physical attacks are weak. Voice actress: Kikuko Inoue.
- Leon Magnus
- Japanese: リオン・マグナス Lion Magnus
- Age: 16
Leon is a master swordsman of Seinegald - the youngest in history to serve the kingdom, and a close associate of Hugo Gilchrist, the president of the powerful Oberon Company. A complex and slightly brooding character, Leon's agile Swordian is Chaltier. Using fast attacks that can devastate, Leon does not waste time or effort in battle. Voice actor: Hikaru Midorikawa.
- Mary Argent
- Japanese: マリー・エーゲント Mary Agent
- Age: 24
Suffering from amnesia, Mary is not aware of her last name due to an unknown event in her past. Mary has no Swordian, but can use swords and axes as a strong physical attacker. She is generally easy-going, but sometimes flies into berserker rages in battle. Her partner, Rutee, uses Mary for her own financial gain. Voice actress: Yuri Amano.
- Chelsea Torn
- Japanese: チェルシー・トーン Chelsea Tone
- Age: 14
The granddaughter of Garr's archery master, Alba. Even though she appears cute and innocent, Chelsea is an archer skilled beyond her mere 14 years of age. While weak in direct physical combat due to low defense, she is a good long-range attacker with her bow. Not a Swordian user. Voice actress: Naoko Watanabe.
- Bruiser Khang
- Japanese: マイティ・コングマン Mighty Kongman
- Age: 39
A powerful fighter recruitable from the battle arena, Bruiser is an optional character. Using his fists as a weapon, he is the undefeated champion of the world when it comes to battling in the arena. No Swordian. Voice actor: Tessho Genda.
- Karyl Sheeden
- Japanese: ジョニー・シデン Johnny Shiden
- Age: 26
An estranged son of an aristocratic family, Karyl is a bard by trade. He may seem a bit fragile from outward appearances, but he can play a useful supporting role in the party through songs played on his lute. When his lute songs are learned, Karyl can become surprisingly strong, but he has no Swordian. Voice actor: Koichi Yamadera.
- Lilith Aileron
- Japanese: リリス・エルロン Lilith Aileron
Stahn's younger sister, who is very concerned about him and wishes he wouldn't go on any adventures, is a secret character available only through use of a Game Shark or similar device; however she can only be acquired through a glitch without a cheat device in the initial Japanese release (this was fixed in later pressings). Her weapons are rods and frying pans that can inflict very respectable damage, and her techniques are a mixture of Bruiser's and Mary's.
Swordians
- Dymlos
- Japanese: ディムロス Dimlos
Stahn's Swordian. Dymlos was being transported to the capital of Seinegald on the Draconis flight that Stahn snuck onto, and they met when the youth was searching for a weapon after the Draconis was attacked. Dymlos has a hot temper and tends to be impatient. He grants fire-based attack spells, but is more useful in melee combat. The combination of Dymlos' fire abilities with sword techniques is especially potent. The personality written into Dymlos is that of Lieutenant Dymlos Tinbar, Division Commander of the 1st E'rther Army from the Aeth'er Wars. Voice actor: Ryotaro Okiayu.
- Atwight
- Japanese: アトワイト Atwight
Rutee's Swordian. Atwight has been with Rutee since she was very young - Rutee can't remember when she received the Swordian. Kind and resourceful, Atwight practically raised Rutee, and acts as a calming influence on Dymlos. She is the only healing-oriented Swordian, but has a good balance of water-elemental attack spells and short-range attack power. The personality written into Atwight belonged to Medical Corps Colonel Atwight Eks.
- Chaltier
- Japanese: シャルティエ Chaltier
Leon's Swordian. Leon is unwilling to reveal how he met Chaltier, but the two are very close. Chaltier is rank-conscious, restrained, and unquestioningly loyal, even when he disagrees with his orders. He specializes in earth spells and also has some status effect abilities, but like Dymlos, he is most effective in short-range combat. The personality written into Chaltier belonged to Major Piere de Chaltier, a 2nd E'rther Army squadron leader.
- Clemente
- Japanese: クレメンテ Clemente
Philia's Swordian. Clemente was sunk to the bottom of the ocean with the former E'rther base Radisrol when the Aeth'er Wars concluded, where he remained until meeting Philia and the rest of the party. Jovial, but also fair and insightful, Clemente is the leader of the Swordians. Though large, Clemente is not very useful in melee combat. Instead, he commands a large repertoire of powerful spells of all elements, not just his own element of lightening. Clemente's personality originally came from Laville Clemente, one of the E'rther Army Chiefs of Staff.
- Igtenos
- Japanese: イグテノス Igtenos
Garr's Swordian. After the Aeth'er Wars, Igtenos became a symbol of the royal house of Phandaria, handed down from king to king. He is calm, controlled, and prides himself on logical decision-making. Igtenos controls wind-based spells but is a melee-oriented Swordian, balanced between Dymlos and Chaltier in power and speed. The personality written into Igtenos belonged to Igtenos Minarde, leader of the E'rther Army's Intelligence Unit.
- Berselius
- Japanese: ベルセリオス Belserius
The sixth Swordian. This black-bladed Swordian has a spell-casting capability that surpasses even Clemente. Berselius' original master was the E'rther Army strategist Karell Berselius, but the Swordian's personality is that of Karell's twin brother, (later revealed in Tales of Destiny 2 as Karell's older sister) Harold Berselius, a brilliant scientist.
Classic Namco References
Much like its predecessor, Tales of Destiny contains hidden references to classic Namco arcade games. This section covers the original Playstation version; it is currently unknown to what extent these references will remain in the Playstation 2 remake.
- The most significant reference comes in the form of the game's bonus dungeon, a sixty level recreation of Tower of Druaga complete with the original music and every monster from the original arcade game. The monsters present on each floor closely mirror the monsters present on the same floor in the arcade game. The requirements to receive the treasure chests on each floor are different, however, though several clues to the solutions are given in the actual game through various characters in towns. It also seems a coincidence that the abbreviation for Tales of Destiny is "ToD", which can also be translated as "Tower of Druaga".
- There are many more references to Tower of Druaga outside of the bonus dungeon itself. Items present include: Excalibur, Golden Armor, Golden Helmet, Red Line Shield, Blue Line Shield, Wing Boots (Jet Boots), Hyper Gauntlet, Pickaxe, and the Blue, Red and Green Crystal Rods. There are statues of Gil and Ki in front of the temple in Kalviola and there is a Blue Line Shield statue in front of the armor shop. Additionally, the dreamy girl in Cresta mentions the characters and story of Tower of Druaga.
- On the Draconis there are pictures in a bedroom of (though slightly obscured) a Pooka from Dig Dug and a Paccet from Baraduke.
- There is an ad (or "shameless plug" as it refers to itself) for Tekken 3 in Sheeden.
- The music and jingles for the Mach Boy race in Neuestadt are from New Rally-X.
- There is an S-Flag from Rally-X on a shelf in the Developer's Room and Lens Shop.
- The Gnome item summons several multi-colored characters from Libble Rabble.
- The Valkyrie item summons Valkyrie from Legend of Valkyrie (Valkyrie No Densetsu).
- The people who teach Stahn Aileron the "Throw Sword" special Technique are Cless Alvein and Arche Klaine from Tales of Phantasia. They give him a quiz of 50 questions asking about Namco's games. Stahn has to get at least 30 correct to receive the skill.
- Typing "OGRE" at one point in the game that asks for a password will give Stahn a clue for Tekken 3: "Seek Ogre's Blood."
PlayStation 2 Remake
On 19 June 2006, leaked scans indicated that a remake of Tales of Destiny will appear on the PlayStation 2 and be released on November 11 of 2006. On June 20, Namco's main Tales page confirmed this. The remake will feature overhauled hand-drawn graphics similar to Tales of Rebirth mixed with Tales of the Abyss style 3D graphics and features the AR-LMBS, which adds significant importance to fighting while jumping. Initial gameplay videos indicate that it may overtake Tales of Destiny 2 as the game with the fastest battle system in the Tales series. The game will also feature additional dialogue and scenarios, and has also been confirmed to have multiple endings. No US release date has been confirmed yet.
External links
- Official English Website (Playstation)
- Tales of Destiny at MobyGames
- RPGamer's page on Tales of Destiny
- GameFAQs entry
- Tales of Destiny shrine