Tales of Vesperia confirmed for X360, North American release

[Dimentionalist]

Confirmed for Xbox 360,  North American release:

http://tales.namco.com/fo...hp?t=65240&start=1335

[Cless]

I knew it was coming, but I find it incredibly interesting that it was revealed in a US magazine before any Japanese ones!

Another thread on it:
http://www.neogaf.com/for...m/showthread.php?t=242288

Very interesting, informative interview:
http://www.neogaf.com/for...p=9856474&postcount=3

Team Symphonia confirmed. I also really love how they're trying to make the target player age higher than previous installments. Something I've been hoping for, and it seemed to me that they were already headed in that direction with Abyss.

[Yetika]

Mmh, I'm still disappointed Tales of Innocence won't be getting a localization (probably for the best in the end, from what I've read about the plot) and Tales of Destiny remake is getting ignored again, but Vesperia is at least starting to sound interesting. It's funny how in the interview they mention that canine character is the first playable non-humanoid character in a Tales game, I'm guessing Quickie doesn't qualify because he's more of a "sic 'em, boy!" weapon than a full-on Playable Character (same goes for certain Narikiri Dungeon costumes >_> <_< ).

[Cless Aileron]

It's about time they finally stated that Tales of Vesperia is for Xbox 360.  It was teasing me!  Before I continue...

*hugs his Xbox 360*  I knew I made the right choice in getting an Xbox 360.  Not only am I experiencing the joy of Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, Dead Rising, and Rock Band, I'm also getting a Tales game on the system!

It's pretty weird that I hear this news about a day after I finished my second playthrough of Tales of the Abyss.  I just didn't say anything on here because I'm actually revising my verdict (despite still being out in the open).  I'm actually hoping it's better than Abyss (and looking like it) and considering what I thought there, that shouldn't be too hard.

By the way, I'm actually hoping the preorder bonus is a Tales of Vesperia face plate because I seriously want one to put as my Xbox 360 front.

[Cyllya]

Cue another chorus from people who will whine about how it'll sell bad on 360 and should be on PS3 instead, even though all the other JRPGs are selling better on 360 than PS3.

Tales games are usually stories about the main character's growth, but you could say our main character for Vesperia, Yuri, already has a fully-formed personality.

The first part of this sentence perplexes me.

Oh, well. Sounds awesome anyway. I think I'll be able to relate to Yuri a lot.

[Cless]

The first part of this sentence perplexes me.

Cless, Reid(?), Kyle, Lloyd, Senel and Luke seem to fit that bill, I think. Which would be the majority as far as main installments...

[Kajitani-Eizan]

i think we're forgetting stahn, who went from country boy bumpkin to uber-sword-wielding, world-saving country boy bumpkin.

and veigue, who went from somewhat sketchy guy obsessing over claire to... ah, never mind.

[Cyllya]

Cless, Reid(?), Kyle, Lloyd, Senel and Luke seem to fit that bill, I think. Which would be the majority as far as main installments...

Oh, I forgot about Kyle. Luke definately counts, so that makes two. Lloyd and Senel did a lot of growing, but they were done growing halfway through and the game kept going, so it's weird to say that's what the game was about. o_o Likewise, Cless just did some growing during some elapsed time in the ending, and that doesn't even seem as noteworthy until you play the sequel, and the sequel wasn't about him growing either. (Well, I guess you could think of ToP's entire plot as being set up just to give Cless that "Oh, shit...!" moment at the end there.)

Eh, maybe it was just an odd word choice, what with this being a conversation and not something where they carefully craft what they say.

[Cless Aileron]

I managed to read the interview now (didn't at the time of previous post since I was doing other things).  I'm actually cool with it, not to mention one thing that I was thinking of...in regards to downloadable content (answer...they're not commited to it.  I would have thought it would be interesting to see what they would do with that).

Not to mention what I was thinking about why Tales of Vesperia is (at least debuting) for the Xbox 360.

Well, coming from someone who didn't like Tales of the Abyss that much (something I'm now feeling better about), I'm actually thinking this game is going to be great.

Oh yeah:

Cue another chorus from people who will whine about how it'll sell bad on 360 and should be on PS3 instead, even though all the other JRPGs are selling better on 360 than PS3.

Eh, they're being backseat business analysts to the extreme.  I wouldn't mind them.

[Cless]

The last part of the interview:

http://www.neogaf.com/for...9866344&postcount=193

All I can say is wow. Sounds like they're really putting in an unprecedented amount of effort in the North American version! Even a near simultaneous release. A good possibility of fully voice skits. My mind = blown.

I can't wait for this game.

[spaceworlder]

It seems they took the criticism of Abyss's load times to heart, too.

[pedrocasilva]

Well, you guys know my opinion and position about this one; and all these interviews IMO just proven me right; regarding our previous discussion and my reasons to be pissed (but I won't derail this thread)

This one didn't even need confirmation for US.

[Dimentionalist]

A nigh-simultaneous release? That's... unexpected.

If I was the interviewer, I'd also ask "what's your opinion on the voice actor switches going on in American Tales games?"

[gyozilla]

Mmh, I'm still disappointed Tales of Innocence won't be getting a localization (probably for the best in the end, from what I've read about the plot)

To paraphrase Higuchi, the DS was so 2007. We took the right stance last year, but we're back-pedalling a bit now.

Eh, maybe it was just an odd word choice, what with this being a conversation and not something where they carefully craft what they say.

It was a sweeping generalization kinda thing, like saying Tales games have cannons and are about saving the world.

(Well, I guess you could think of ToP's entire plot as being set up just to give Cless that "Oh, shit...!" moment at the end there.)

I think it was "Oh, shit...! But he still deserved it."

Namco is promising for the first time ever to put real muscle behind its English release.

This statement makes me chuckle a bit, actually.

Vesperia will have the most anime FMV of any Tales yet, in full 720p HD.

More than ToR's cutscene fest?

If I was the interviewer, I'd also ask "what's your opinion on the voice actor switches going on in American Tales games?"

Think it's just the nature of the VA scene and who's backing the localizations with how much money here.

But huh, 4 OVL gauges. Makes me wonder if even Team Symphonia were pressured more to do and branch out on hi-ougi stuff. Is that incorporating Japanese or stateside feedback? But man, Yuri wanting to be the light in the darkness? Dare I venture on guessing a little hero complex?

[Cless Aileron]

Wow, they're really serious about this game and its localization.  My anticipation is rising so much!

Also, their comment on Yuri placed into Soul Calibur IV...heh.

If I was the interviewer, I'd also ask "what's your opinion on the voice actor switches going on in American Tales games?"

Well, gogs put it out nicely.  I just want to add something myself.  As much as I want to hear them as their respective character again, it's just the reality of it all.  I mean, I've seen this with Pokémon and, well, most of them accept it and the reality while a small few didn't and...well, I won't go there.

But huh, 4 OVL gauges. Makes me wonder if even Team Symphonia were pressured more to do and branch out on hi-ougi stuff. Is that incorporating Japanese or stateside feedback? But man, Yuri wanting to be the light in the darkness? Dare I venture on guessing a little hero complex?

Me too.  I seem to notice that so many put so much emphasis on hi-ougi.

Now, the way you're describing Yuri, I'm now very tempted to act like I'm performing "The Touch" despite the fact that this isn't Transformers.  Or at least, Yuri singing it.

[Kajitani-Eizan]

I think it was "Oh, shit...! But he still deserved it."

indeed.

as for hi-ougis, i think they're a little TOO easy to do in abyss. by the end of the game, you're probably getting a hi-ougi every battle if you're playing as luke or guy, at least on hard mode, while the rest of your party (especially tear and natalia, as the former is often healing and the latter has no attack spells) builds at a more normal rate. more variation would be nice, instead of just whipping out this one supermove (or maybe a second, if you've beaten the game) every time. setting up big combos is probably a good way to change it up.