Arc Rise Fantasia (Marvelous/Image Epooch)

[Hoa Dao]

there's also no topic AFAIK to Fragile and new screens came out yesterday.

Really?
*checks site*

o_O

*notes the arrows for the screenshots*  Why did I not notice them before? >_>;;

HP bars greatly remind me of Trusty Bell XD;;

[Kusiga]

I am shocked how long ago this game was announced and stayed under my radar till just last week.  Just upped my wanting a Wii 50x, now if I can ever get one haha.

[Rhapsody]

A bit off-topic, has anyone else noticed that the links to magazine scans on ImageVenue are completely broken? Both the links on the images and at the end of the post come out like this:

http://www."http.com//img139.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc1184&image=70243_arf1_122_1184lo.jpg"

I've seen this in pretty much every topic with magazine scans. What the hell's going on?

[pedrocasilva]

A bit off-topic, has anyone else noticed that the links to magazine scans on ImageVenue are completely broken? Both the links on the images and at the end of the post come out like this:

http://www."http.com//img139.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc1184&image=70243_arf1_122_1184lo.jpg"

I've seen this in pretty much every topic with magazine scans. What the hell's going on?

had never noticed, but fixed it, saves and had the same problem again (seems like the forum itself generates that?)

So I edited by hand, taking the "s and it worked. should be fine now, providing the images are still hosted.

[mikeyramone]

Hey Pedro, and everyone else. Prolly a domb question, but, what do you think we should make out of these paradoxal  tidbits?:

At the bottom of the first post:  "- Not real time. It uses AP and there's a turn order in battles."

Andlater :

- Battle system named Trinity Battle system, TBS for short, similar to how Tales is uses LMBS (linear motion battle system)

Thanx for all the posts btw pedro!

[mikeyramone]

Ow wait sorry, that's a different game right?

[pedrocasilva]

Hey Pedro, and everyone else. Prolly a domb question, but, what do you think we should make out of these paradoxal  tidbits?:

actually... perhaps exactly you're making out of it. Arc Rise Fantasia team has Tales Studio dissidents, and Trinity Battle System comes out as somehow a need to name their battle system, a Tales Studio tradition with LMBS. this said, I dunno how it will work.

(sorry for the delay in answering seeing the date of your post)


Anyway, more images:

Scans:

[Kevassa]

*Checks scans*
Graphics are too beutiful to be Wii... THIS IS EXTREMELY BEUTIFUL!

[pedrocasilva]

Graphics are too beautiful to be Wii... THIS IS EXTREMELY BEUTIFUL!

Nah, this game doesn't push the Wii, it is just thankfully not in the "Tales of the Abyss plus" standard that ToSDotNW set up, that could run easily on PS2 with a little extra work... What's more, they're getting their ass handed up to these guys, a team made of Team Symphonia dissidents without the same budget Namco could provide, what just makes it more ridiculous, the lack of attempt (or might I say, budget) Bandai Namco actually had the balls to do.

This isn't anywhere near the roof of the platform though.

I mean, the FMV's have some lightning reminiscent of Twilight Princess lightning, that kind of shading is possible on the Wii:

(hell, Zelda TP is a GC game, doesn't push the Wii either)

If Arc Rise Fantasia had this shading it could really go after what it's FMV's look like when in-game, instead they opted out for something a little flat. This is clearly just their first game on the platform... It has effort, but it doesn't push it in the slightest. (I do value effort and artistic direction more than technical achievements though) And we could go on and on. (but that doesn't change th fact that the game is looking mighty sweet)

I do expect this game to have spot on facial animations, so that's a big plus in attention to detail as well.


BTW, don't you guys think the guy with purple hair in the new scans looks just like sync from Tales of the Abyss, but with hair purple instead of green?

[Craymel]

I have the same complaint about this games graphics that I did with TOS2's graphics. It needs better shading. Art direction for both games are really good (minus TOS2's tumor hands) but it just looks flat to me. I really wish 3d party rpgs start to improve shading for their Wii titles like Nintendo did with Metriod Prime 3, Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess (this one was made based on GC's abilities no less) and especially Super Mario Galaxy.

[pedrocasilva]

I have the same complaint about this games graphics that I did with TOS2's graphics. It needs better shading. Art direction for both games are really good (minus TOS2's tumor hands) but it just looks flat to me.

Difference is that these guys have an excuse, Namco doesn't (and I actually don't think ToS2 has a really great artistic direction, whilst recycling so much stuff) and if anything I'd say this game puts ToS2 to shame.

But yeah, I hope for that too, it's lightning that needs work here.

More images came out since my last post, too:

[Goshi]

Yeah the lack of shading makes the graphics look almost like something out of ToS:KoR. The game does look promising though.

[Craymel]

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/42008.html

After watching this video I feel that this game in terms of graphics and art direction is much much better than TOS2. I actually really wanna get it. Although I have to say that the CG cut scenes are sub par and the game can do with out them. Once you see the game in motion it looks a lot less flat and while still could use dynamic shading it still looks good otherwise. At least thats what I think. I'm definitely getting it when it comes over here.

[pedrocasilva]

After watching this video I feel that this game in terms of graphics and art direction is much much better than TOS2. I actually really wanna get it. Although I have to say that the CG cut scenes are sub par and the game can do with out them. Once you see the game in motion it looks a lot less flat and while still could use dynamic shading it still looks good otherwise. At least thats what I think. I'm definitely getting it when it comes over here.

Did you have any doubts? The game doesn't push the Wii at all but it's still bare minimum what ToS2 should have been; and isn't, not by a blind mile.

Shading could be a lot better for one, but at least they're clearly trying; and didn't even have the obligation to, this being the first Image Epoch 3D game and made of a bunch of Team Symphonia dissidents (latest confirmation of those dissidents was Osamu Hisano, battle programmer for both Tales of Symphonia and Abyss), with this being a game under marvelous entertainment it's only obvious that they don't have the same budget a regular Tales game has under Namco, although I'll avoid to emit opinion on Tales of Symphonia 2 costs since it screams cheap all over, so it's clear they didn't have a big budget for that tramp. Thing is... they should, and it was their obligation to; and this game hasn't, so it only agravates how cheap the aforementioned case was.


Anyway, TGS videos:

-> http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41200.html (offscreen trailer)

-> http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41379.html (Intro, part 1)

-> http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41377.html (Intro, part 2)

-> http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41375.html (Intro, part 3)

-> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjHmzzv9x3c (another vid, overworld+battle)

-> http://rapidshare.com/fil...web_agpanta_tgs08_wii.wmv (same vid above, but in "ubber quality")


More Images:

Showfloor image:

IGN Preview:

TGS 2008: Hands-on Arc Rise Fantasia

Marvelous was prominently featuring Arc Rise Fantasia at its TGS booth this year. The traditional Japanese role-playing game is looking really nice, busting with giant monsters, some slick special effects, and attractive ladies. It comes by way of the team that created the strategy RPG Luminous Arc. Today we spent some time getting a feel for the battle mechanics and wandered around the overworld doing some light puzzle solving. The game "feels" a lot like Final Fantasy. The story has something to do with dragons invading the land and pushing the territories to the brink of war. It's up to the player and their band of pals to vanquish the dragons and set things right.

As Arc Rise Fantasia is a pretty traditional experience, it can be played with the traditional classic controller. Monsters roam around the overworld, as they tend to do, and if one sees you it will charge and initiate a combat sequence. Battles are turn-based, but presented in 3D, as is the entire game. The player gives commands to each of the three characters in their party and then selects "execute," causing them to perform all their tasks at once. Only three characters can battle at a time, but you will gain more allies along the way.

The game runs on an ability points system. These points are shared by the entire party and every attack or spell will cost you. Obviously, there will be a way to regenerate ability points, but it wasn't apparent during our play session. It is possible to let one character spend all points at once and let loose a super attack.

One unique feature of Fantasia's fighting system is the crystals that appear on each battlefield. These can be attacked instead of enemies to provide you with a power boost. It's a strategic call because you miss dealing damage for a turn and leave yourself open to the enemy. But crystals are embodied with different elements such as fire and water, and need to be attacked with a corresponding spell or item or else your party will be powered down.

The game looks great with interesting character designs and some good animations. One troubling thing, though, was that sometimes our characters would run off screen to attack during a battle and the camera wouldn't follow them, causing us to miss the action.

When we weren't fighting rabbits and ladybugs, we were exploring a series of cliffs, flipping switches to lower passages and gain access to new areas. Several hidden trails were discovered that held weapons, and they were usually guarded by some jerk monster. By the end of the demo we had encountered some pretty large beasts, including a winged lion-thing with horns.

Arc Rise Fantasia is currently 70 percent complete and is looking like a very nice (exclusive) addition to the Wii's library. XSeed will be publishing the game in North America, so RPG fans definitely have something to look forward to.

Source: http://wii.ign.com/articles/918/918517p1.html

Siliconera hands-on:

I tried out the battle portion yesterday and similar to Tales of Symphonia there aren’t any random battles. Enemies appear on the screen. You choose who or what you want to fight. I ended up fighting a lot of tiny birds since they were the staple enemy in the zone. Walk up to an enemy and you start the battle with a fair amount of action points (AP) used to determine actions for all three party members. If you try to flee and get caught you start out with less AP which gives the monsters an edge in the first round.

Time freezes during battle and you get to pick all of the commands for your party members. Spend all of your AP on L’arc and he does a tandem attack, a five or six hit combo in the demo. Alternatively you can split up your AP to take advantage of Ryfia’s area affecting water spell or have her heal while another party member steals. The combat system maximizes versatility and I liked that. However, there are some elements not well explained like elemental shields. Ryfia can summon a water shell that increases resistance to water, but this was useless in the Tokyo Game Show demo. Also, the turn order on the bottom right isn’t shown in advance. It appears after everyone takes there turns so it’s more like an order of what attack you’re going to see next than something you can strategically use.

Source: http://www.siliconera.com...o-north-american-release/

[Craymel]

You know what's strange? In the CG cut scene it looks like they only open their mouths about one millimeter but in the actual in game cut scenes where they talk they move their mouths normally. I found it a bit funny could be that their not really finished with the CG yet. I've actually noticed that the in game cut scene character animations kinda look better then the CG character animation. I've personally just never liked pre-rendered cut scene in games. They show me something that looks ten times better then the actual game in the same medium and just leaving me wanting to watch more of them. So then I keep playing so I can get to the next ten second CG cut scene that leaves me unsatisfied. Anime cut scenes are no better. They make me wish I was actually watch anime of the games story then actually playing the game and also leave me unsatisfied. They're just teases. That's why I like it when a game doesn't use pre-rendered cut scenes and tries to present them the best they can with what they actually have instead of what it makes me wish it had.

EDIT: I should give an example... It's hard to think of one... I don't think dragon quest 8 had any pre-rendered cut scenes of any kind.

[pedrocasilva]

I've personally just never liked pre-rendered cut scene in games. They show me something that looks ten times better then the actual game in the same medium and just leaving me wanting to watch more of them.

I don't really like them either, but for diferent reasons, for instance everytime FFXII had a cutscene of those I was like "dammit, I wanted this scene done with in-game graphics" sort of thing, even if the actual graphics are way worse, as long as they're using the hardware accordingly or something along those lines, there's no way I want FMV over that.

So yeah, it looks better (and I love anime cutscenes, for instance) but I'm an in-game freak.

EDIT: I should give an example... It's hard to think of one... I don't think dragon quest 8 had any pre-rendered cut scenes of any kind.

Zelda is the perfect example :p

-> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMB9zKgR5f0 (twilight princess spoilers)

(sorry zelda freak over here)