Ar Tonelico 3

[MadL]

Anime Vice has (possibly not work-safe) pictures (http://www.animevice.com/news/ar-tonelico-3-more-stripping-jrpg-goodness/3197/) taken by the folks at Kotaku from the latest Famitsu issue of the female characters (the Reyvateil, I presume) in their various states of (un)dress - since in AT3, characters strip to become more powerful.

Still no US release announced, AFAIK, although NISA seems a safe bet to bring it over eventually.

[tadakichi]

I've only just started the second game (without having played the first) and I already love this series. I'm kind of disappointed that they're going to 3D character models for this installment, though. At least there's no shortage of gorgeous illustrated backgrounds, judging from the screenshots that have been released.

[Fencedude]

Jesus, FOUR playable Reyvateil? They'd better not make us do a separate run through for each in order to complete their cosmospheres.

[red_hamsterx]

Jesus, FOUR playable Reyvateil? They'd better not make us do a separate run through for each in order to complete their cosmospheres.
I'm just hoping there isn't a completely new Hymmnos dialect-family. Documenting the syntax of Pastalia was time-consuming enough.

[cxt217]

I've only just started the second game (without having played the first) and I already love this series. I'm kind of disappointed that they're going to 3D character models for this installment, though. At least there's no shortage of gorgeous illustrated backgrounds, judging from the screenshots that have been released.

I played the first and part of the second, and I like the first better. I hated the 'quick, press the combo now!' routine for the combat system, and the art style of AT2 did not work for me (I especially despised the character design.). I did like the music for both. Not to mention AT1 had a heck of a cast for the English language dub. The move to 3D is something I feel neutral about - it works for me either way.

C.T.

[tadakichi]

I've only just started the second game (without having played the first) and I already love this series. I'm kind of disappointed that they're going to 3D character models for this installment, though. At least there's no shortage of gorgeous illustrated backgrounds, judging from the screenshots that have been released.

I played the first and part of the second, and I like the first better. I hated the 'quick, press the combo now!' routine for the combat system, and the art style of AT2 did not work for me (I especially despised the character design.). I did like the music for both. Not to mention AT1 had a heck of a cast for the English language dub. The move to 3D is something I feel neutral about - it works for me either way.

I don't really have a distinct preference myself--sprites and 3D each have their own merits--but we've got no shortage of 3D RPGs and SRPGs this console generation, whereas on the sprite side of things there's Disgaea 3, Cross Edge, the Agarest games... and that's it. I might like both equally, but that doesn't mean I'm fine with one supplanting the other.

[Fencedude]

I was not terribly impressed with AT2's sprites (the full size designs were nice, but the sprites? Meh), so the move to 3d doesn't bother me.

Also, if people ARE going to do sprite based games on next gen systems, then by god they should do actual HD artwork. *glares at Disgaea 3*

On the other hand, I can't even begin to see AT2's battle system as currently constituted working properly in a dynamic 3d environment.

[Fencedude]

So after finishing Ar Tonelico II, I've been looking more into this game.

It seems that all those girls are actually just the two revealed Reyvateil, Saki and Finnel. Instead of just having costume changes, you unlock entire Persona, which changes their personalities and appearance. Which is...certainly a new development.

So far three stages of..."purging" have been revealed, but it seems there will be a fourth for each Persona...though some of them don't seem to have much left to purge.

Speculation has been flying of late about who the "Third Reyvateil" will be. The general assumption is that it will be Cocona Vatel, from Ar Tonelico II, who if you remember from the ending of that game was sent to the Third Tower by Jakuri

There is a possible glimpse of the Third Reyvateil in the trailer, there is a brief sequence of closeups of the lower part of the face of three girls singing.

The first is obviously Saki (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa319/Ranadiel_Marius/Ar%20Tonelico%203/saki.jpg), while the third is obviously Finnel (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa319/Ranadiel_Marius/Ar%20Tonelico%203/finnel.jpg). The one in the middle (http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa319/Ranadiel_Marius/Ar%20Tonelico%203/third.jpg) however does not match any currently revealed characters for the game. If you will note she has purple hair, like Cocona, though seemingly in a short cut. Some have claimed that her nose is the same shape as Cocona's, though I certainly am not willing to state that definitively. But the most interesting aspect is that she seems to be wearing an orange metal collar, that that greatly resembles Cocona's hairpiece weapons.

So thats what we know right now, at least.

[Draneor]

Instead of just having costume changes, you unlock entire Persona, which changes their personalities and appearance. Which is...certainly a new development.

I don't know about that development. I'll probably just find one I like and stick to it.

[Westlo]

It seems that all those girls are actually just the two revealed Reyvateil, Saki and Finnel. Instead of just having costume changes, you unlock entire Persona, which changes their personalities and appearance. Which is...certainly a new development.

Oh good, I'm not exactly fond of their "canon" designs. I hope this gets an English release rather soon, as soon as it does I'll finish of 2 and than finally get into 1.

[Fencedude]

New PV (http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/mpd/permalink/m2BZMTKWILVITS)

[Draneor]

Transformation scene! The main character's voice kind of gets on my nerves though.

[Suwako Moriya]

New PV (http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/mpd/permalink/m2BZMTKWILVITS)

Maybe it will be different if I can understand what they're saying, but the dialog gives the impression they're griping about stuff. Especially the person who is likely the male lead.

[Ryos]

Transformation scene! The main character's voice kind of gets on my nerves though.

I was going to say I liked it at first compared to the first games because he actually showed a bit of variation that was lacking in the first two protagonists but then he got to the last emo line and even I got to the point where I found it questionable. But hey, I don't care too much about the quality of the male VA if the female VA is pretty good and it looks like that at least will be OK for the third. In the grand scheme of things the male characters have been throwaway characters in the games anyway.

I think there may be a question mark of whether the Japanese audio would even arrive intact this time around if the game's brought over here, assuming there's as much acted as I think there will be based on the first couple games.

[Draneor]

I think there may be a question mark of whether the Japanese audio would even arrive intact this time around if the game's brought over here, assuming there's as much acted as I think there will be based on the first couple games.

Isn't it a PS3 game? Space shouldn't be an issue.

[Fencedude]

I think there may be a question mark of whether the Japanese audio would even arrive intact this time around if the game's brought over here, assuming there's as much acted as I think there will be based on the first couple games.

Isn't it a PS3 game? Space shouldn't be an issue.

Yeah, there is no way they will not have the space.

[Nork22]

Mmmm.... more skin for the girls is a good thing.

[Fencedude]

Mmmm.... more skin for the girls is a good thing.

Thats putting things very mildly.

[Ryos]

Mmmm.... more skin for the girls is a good thing.

Thats putting things very mildly.

There's nothing wrong with a series or two pandering to the lowest common denominator. :P

[Draneor]

There's nothing wrong with a series or two pandering to the lowest common denominator. :P

More like, each subsequent Ar Tonelico tests how close Gust can make a RPG to an eroge without actually being one.

[Fencedude]

There's nothing wrong with a series or two pandering to the lowest common denominator. :P

More like, each subsequent Ar Tonelico tests how close Gust can make a RPG to an eroge without actually being one.

I just want to actually see a Grathnode Crystal going into an Installation Point.

Heck, actually seeing an IP would be nice. They tend to get forgotten even in official art.

[Nork22]

There's nothing wrong with a series or two pandering to the lowest common denominator. :P

More like, each subsequent Ar Tonelico tests how close Gust can make a RPG to an eroge without actually being one.

Add in the brainwashing...errr... Mind Diving... yeah, it certain is becoming an interesting "All-Ages Eroge".

[cxt217]

There's nothing wrong with a series or two pandering to the lowest common denominator. :P

More like, each subsequent Ar Tonelico tests how close Gust can make a RPG to an eroge without actually being one.

Add in the brainwashing...errr... Mind Diving... yeah, it certain is becoming an interesting "All-Ages Eroge".


Well...The only way it can be any more explicit is if someone at Gust comes out and say that they want to make an eroge (a la Star Ocean/Tri-Ace.).

C.T.

[Fencedude]

I'm going to repost something I posted over on GameFAQs. Context is discussing how many Vanguard's and Reyvateil's you can have during a battle, and the observation that at least one screenshot shows Saki with a blue "Vanguard" stat box instead of the Pink Reyvateil one, and that a number of the persona's look to be much more physically oriented than would be expected from our previous experience with Reyvateil, and that the most likely third Reyvateil has much, much more experience as a frontline fighter than singing Song Magic.

(quote starts here, spoilers for first two games, etc etc)

Anyway, We have been accustomed to thinking of our Reyvateil strictly as magical attackers who must be protected at all cost, but it strikes me that there is no reason for this to continue to hold.

The reason for this in the previous games was a result of who the Reyvateil were.

Aurica was manifestly unfit for physical combat, and didn't have the personality for it anyway.
Misha was trained almost from birth for a single, specific role, and physical exertion was not a part of it.
Shurelia similarly never had any need for physical training of that sort.

Luca was never even intended to be a combatant of any sort, she was a professional therapist who ended up learning combat spells due to the exigencies of the circumstances
Cloche carried a sword, and apparently even had a bit of training, but nowhere near enough to be a viable combatant
Jakuri spent much of her life as a disembodied electronic virus, and even after remanifesting, seemed to go out of her way to avoid having to exert herself in any way

On the other hand, we know that there are Reyvateil trained for both magical and physical combat, we ran across many of them in the second game. Not just IPDs, but some of the random encounter Reyvateil would attack you both magically and physically.

There is no reason that there must be a strict distinction between Vanguard/Reyvateil in this game. The presence of Akane and probably Cocona, indicates that things will be less clear cut.

[Fencedude]

http://fencedude.com/Images2/AT3Scan01.jpg
http://fencedude.com/Images2/AT3Scan02.jpg
http://fencedude.com/Images2/AT3Scan03.jpg
http://fencedude.com/Images2/AT3Scan04.jpg
http://fencedude.com/Images2/AT3Scan05.jpg
http://fencedude.com/Images2/AT3Scan06.jpg
http://fencedude.com/Images2/AT3Scan07.jpg

First and last are most notable.

Cocona and Sasha.

GUST obviously loves us. <3

Edit: Links changed

[Draneor]

Uh, Mute? Do not want.

[Fencedude]

Addendum (http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z158/drachenmeister/art_3_yoyaku_0106s.jpg)

[Fencedude]

Uh, Mute? Do not want.

It seems she is indeed a "she", and considering that she works for Akane, is probably a Reyvateil.

Edit: and on more pleasant looking news, it seems that there will be talk topics for more than just Reyvateil, and Cocona is confirmed to have them.

Of course, Cocona is a Reyvateil, so she is, by definition, the "third" Reyvateil, but its unknown if she'll be the "Third Reyvateil" by the definitions we are used to applying.

But I think its likely. But I also doubt they'll stick her entirely in the backlines, that would seem to be a waste of her talents.

[Senku]

Of course, Cocona is a Reyvateil, so she is, by definition, the "third" Reyvateil, but its unknown if she'll be the "Third Reyvateil" by the definitions we are used to applying.

But I think its likely. But I also doubt they'll stick her entirely in the backlines, that would seem to be a waste of her talents.

Either way, once I get her; she ain't leaving the party. DAMN! Grown-up Cocona is fine!

[Nork22]

Uh, Mute? Do not want.

Voiced by Ikue Ohtani. It's like that thing in Project A-KO.

[HitokiriShadow]

Ar Tonelico 3's ladies aren't the only one's undressing: Some of the guys will be showing some skin too. (http://kotaku.com/5446987/ar-tonelico-iii-has-male-undressing-too)

I just know everyone here was really hoping for equal opportunity stripping.

[Draneor]

Fundoshi. Do not want.

[Betenoire]

Fundoshi. Do not want.

Well, maybe... (http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/72572.php) :devil:

[Fencedude]

Fundoshi. Do not want.

Well, maybe... (http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/72572.php) :devil:

Fundoshi are never sexy.

[Draneor]

Fundoshi are never sexy.

I have to agree. They are one of the worst Japanese contributions to the world.

[Fencedude]

Fundoshi are never sexy.

I have to agree. They are one of the worst Japanese contributions to the world.

On the other hand, Sarashi are always sexy.

[Fencedude]

Setting aside opinions on traditional Japanese undergarments, its worth noting that Cocona really is ludicrously hot. (http://www.rpgland.com/content/media/2010/01/kingdom-hearts-birth-by-sleep-review16.jpg).

It seems she's got a new weapon, dual bladed tonfas (much like what Cute wields in Queen's Blade Spiral Chaos), which sadly means she no longer has her hair down in combat.

And she looks to have a hell of a kick as well.

Edit: Big image of her (http://safebooru.donmai.us/post/show/595986/). I hope that since we have the male vanguards in their swimwear, she at least can lose the coat at some point.

[Betenoire]

Setting aside opinions on traditional Japanese undergarments, its worth noting that Cocona really is ludicrously hot. (http://www.rpgland.com/content/media/2010/01/kingdom-hearts-birth-by-sleep-review16.jpg).

Boy, that far right hand collection of photos sure seems to be begging to be avatars don't they.

:nosebleed:

[Fencedude]

Setting aside opinions on traditional Japanese undergarments, its worth noting that Cocona really is ludicrously hot. (http://www.rpgland.com/content/media/2010/01/kingdom-hearts-birth-by-sleep-review16.jpg).

Boy, that far right hand collection of photos sure seems to be begging to be avatars don't they.

:nosebleed:

Yeah, those are nice. Still waiting for big versions of those images.

And still waiting for the requisite naked embrace of the two main heroines.

[Senku]

Edit: Big image of her (http://safebooru.donmai.us/post/show/595986/). I hope that since we have the male vanguards in their swimwear, she at least can lose the coat at some point.

It looks like her shoes are attached to the stockings.

[Fencedude]

Edit: Big image of her (http://safebooru.donmai.us/post/show/595986/). I hope that since we have the male vanguards in their swimwear, she at least can lose the coat at some point.

It looks like her shoes are attached to the stockings.

Hah, you're right, I hadn't noticed that.

Well, weird shoes are something of an AT tradition.

[red_hamsterx]

It looks like her shoes are attached to the stockings.
I thought they were just weird boots.

Now I'm confused. :cry:

[Randall]

Those shoes remind me of the ones Luca used but just slightly different

[Westlo]

So Tilia is confirmed to be the 3rd heroine with Kokia to provide the Hymnos and Maaya Sakamoto is her voice, awesome.

[Fencedude]

So Tilia is confirmed to be the 3rd heroine with Kokia do provide the Hymnos and Maaya Sakamoto is her voice, awesome.

Yeah, it looks like Cocona is a vanguard, not a singer. Though...there is at least one Method Hymnos...

[Fencedude]

For all your Hymnos needs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeS3eh-22Bs).

Anyway, lots of interesting sounding songs, some very, very odd titles, and...at least one METHOD song.

So even though it seems Cocona is acting primarily as a Vanguard, she'll definitely be singing something at some point.

[Draneor]

For all your Hymnos needs

I really need to pre-order it. Also, fundoshi can go to hell.

[Nork22]

Instant buy!!!

No comment on the fundoshi.

[Senku]

The opening, Songs 4 and 5, the METHOD and the song after that all sound like pre-favorites.

From the video, the battle system looks to be coming along nicely.

[Draneor]

The administrator of the third tower has been revealed: Tilia (http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/ar-tonelico-3-update-part-7-sakamoto-maaya-as-tillia/). Sakamoto Maaya will be her seiyuu.

[Fencedude]

The administrator of the third tower has been revealed: Tilia (http://www.thebanzaieffect.com/articles/ooga/ar-tonelico-3-update-part-7-sakamoto-maaya-as-tillia/). Sakamoto Maaya will be her seiyuu.

Well, we've known that she's the administrator of the third tower since AT1, technically.

But there is something screwy with the administration of Sol Cluster, according to Jakuri, Tilia may not actually be the administrator, even though she's an Origin like Shurelia and Frelia.

...assuming that that is really Tilia under that armor...

Also, WTF is up with casting Sakamoto Maaya as her Seiyuu, but hiring KOKIA to do her hymns? That makes no fucking sense.

In other news, I went ahead and ordered the Hymnos Concert CDs from Amazon, but I'm annoyed that Amazon gets the boring slipcase (http://ar-tonelico.jp/at3/at3_cd/h_case.htm). I want the Animate/Gamers version dammit.

Edit: Oh yeah, and Tilia's linkage armor is even more ridiculous than Shurelia's was. I especially love the giant CDs on her shoulders.

Edit 2: And two new Famitsu scans: Not! Ayatane and Solid Snake Jack (http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3342/artonelico3scan15.jpg), as well as Kruche in an open chested jumpsuit (http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6936/artonelico3scan16.jpg)

And the Famitsu review. Apparently GUST didn't pony up enough cash for a better score. (http://www.imagebam.com/image/82439964447543)

[Draneor]

Well, we've known that she's the administrator of the third tower since AT1, technically.

We have? When I played Ar Tonelico, I was under the impression that it was the only remaining active tower and the rest had been destroyed in the prior war or at least there was no contact with them. Obviously, that was incorrect. Either I missed something or it was in one of the five endings I didn't get.

I want the Animate/Gamers version dammit.

There's always Tenso (http://www.tenso.com/en/), if you really wanted it.

Also, WTF is up with casting Sakamoto Maaya as her Seiyuu, but hiring KOKIA to do her hymns? That makes no fucking sense.

They've been doing this since the first game though. Nogawa Sakura is a singer/seiyuu too, for example. Sakamoto is certainly a more popular singer, but GUST has consistently had different seiy and singers for the characters and hymmnos respetively. I'm not familiar with KOKIA, but I don't think Sakamoto's voice would go well with Shikata Akiko, Shimotsuki Haruka, and Mitose Noriko either. She's kind of soft.

[Fencedude]

We have? When I played Ar Tonelico, I was under the impression that it was the only remaining active tower and the rest had been destroyed in the prior war or at least there was no contact with them. Obviously, that was incorrect. Either I missed something or it was in one of the five endings I didn't get.

Well, they gave us the information way back in the first game (the three goddesses of Elemia: Eoria, Frelia and Tilia), once you figured out that Shurelia is Eoria, things start getting suspicious. Then in the second game it turns out that there are two more towers, and the Administrator of the second one is Frelia, it becomes very obvious who the administrator of the third is.

I guess I should have said "AT2", since you need information from both previous games to figure it out, but the base information was there from the first.


There's always Tenso (http://www.tenso.com/en/), if you really wanted it.

I don't think I want it quite that much.


They've been doing this since the first game though. Nogawa Sakura is a singer/seiyuu too, for example. Sakamoto is certainly a more popular singer, but GUST has consistently had different seiy and singers for the characters and hymmnos respetively. I'm not familiar with KOKIA, but I don't think Sakamoto's voice would go well with Shikata Akiko, Shimotsuki Haruka, and Mitose Noriko either. She's kind of soft.

I have some quibbles with them recycling Hymn singers for different Reyvateil, but I do see your point.

[Westlo]

Also, WTF is up with casting Sakamoto Maaya as her Seiyuu, but hiring KOKIA to do her hymns? That makes no fucking sense.

KOKIA is a way better singer than Sakamoto period, especially for the type of music we usually get from this series.

[Draneor]

Well, they gave us the information way back in the first game (the three goddesses of Elemia: Eoria, Frelia and Tilia), once you figured out that Shurelia is Eoria, things start getting suspicious.

I knew it wasn't Aurica, but I never made that connection.

I have some quibbles with them recycling Hymn singers for different Reyvateil, but I do see your point.

That's a good point and it might bother me more had I played more than one game (rather than just listen to the music for the second). Shimotsuki Haruka and Shikata Akiko also happen to be the lyricists (along with Inagaki Takashige), and Gust pretty much uses the aforementioned three singers for all their games anyway.

On a side note, is Ishibashi Yuuko coming back for the third one?

[Senku]

Edit: Oh yeah, and Tilia's linkage armor is even more ridiculous than Shurelia's was. I especially love the giant CDs on her shoulders.

I do like the continuity of the armor, it shows that the administrator is actually there, doing stuff.

And the Famitsu review. Apparently GUST didn't pony up enough cash for a better score. (http://www.imagebam.com/image/82439964447543)

It looks like the scores AT always gets (unless the first 2 were all 9's or something).

What's the game between WWE and ATIII?

[Fencedude]

What's the game between WWE and ATIII?

Last Rebellion

[Fencedude]

New Gameplay Video (http://ar-tonelico.jp/at3_countdown_fes/play_movie_0119_large.htm)

Two things. First, I think the Vanguards are controlled...like Star Ocean? Maybe? Hard to say, it looks very active, and I can't see you managing to control more than one at a time that way.

Secondly, LOL CAEK.

[Betenoire]

Secondly, LOL CAEK.

Was that "Happy end" she said just before dropping the full thing? :catgirl:

[Fencedude]

Secondly, LOL CAEK.

Was that "Happy end" she said just before dropping the full thing? :catgirl:

I'm finding myself warming towards Saki. I was kinda afraid she'd be like Aurica, but from the Hymnos trailer and now this, she looks like a total spaz, which should be awesome.

[DiGiKerot]

New Gameplay Video (http://ar-tonelico.jp/at3_countdown_fes/play_movie_0119_large.htm)

Two things. First, I think the Vanguards are controlled...like Star Ocean? Maybe? Hard to say, it looks very active, and I can't see you managing to control more than one at a time that way.


That was pretty much my impression as well. If nothing else, there's no HUD or anything on screen to suggest anything other than direct control over your characters, not to mention that the camera is always following whichever character is in the first position.

Kind of makes me worry about potentially crappy AI for the non-player controlled characters (errr, is anyone here not likely to be playing Cocona as soon as she's available?), given that even Tri-Ace's have a habit of being kind of wonky even after iterating on the same system several times.

[Fencedude]

Kind of makes me worry about potentially crappy AI for the non-player controlled characters (errr, is anyone here not likely to be playing Cocona as soon as she's available?), given that even Tri-Ace's have a habit of being kind of wonky even after iterating on the same system several times.

Well, this is Ar Tonelico, so all you are really doing is buying time until your Reyvateil can nuke the enemies.

It looks like you "guard" the Reyvateil just by running over when an enemy approaches them, so as long as you keep your controlled character near the Reyvateil, it shouldn't be an issue.

[Draneor]

As long as I can control the girl (Cocona?), I'll be happy. Being stuck with just Aoto would suck.

As for Reyvateil, Finnel will likely be my favorite, since she looks the closest to Misha. Saki seems a bit too bubbly for my tastes (but Goto Mai/Shikata Akiko...).

[Fencedude]

As long as I can control the girl (Cocona?), I'll be happy. Being stuck with just Aoto would suck.

As for Reyvateil, Finnel will likely be my favorite, since she looks the closest to Misha. Saki seems a bit too bubbly for my tastes (but Goto Mai/Shikata Akiko...).

Finnel's in the running as my favorite, but Tilia may come from behind to surpass her. We know nothing about her, though Origins have a track record of being a tad flaky, so she could be very amusing. If she splits the difference between Shurelia and Frelia, she may just be my favorite.

It'll be interesting to see how developed the Persona are, and just how different their personalities are from the "real" girl. I'm very interested in Sakia-Rumei and Soma.

And yes, 99% of my time will be spent controlling Cocona, I'm sure. Hopefully Kruche will also be playable as a Vanguard.

Edit: Oh yay! Cocona's jacket is open in the back. Fantastic <3

[HitokiriShadow]

Edit 2: And two new Famitsu scans: Not! Ayatane and Solid Snake Jack (http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3342/artonelico3scan15.jpg), as well as Kruche in an open chested jumpsuit (http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6936/artonelico3scan16.jpg)


Ah, so Kruche is in the game afterall. I thought I saw someone attacking with a chainsaw that looked far too similar to Kruche to be coincidence, but I wasn't sure.

[Fencedude]

Edit 2: And two new Famitsu scans: Not! Ayatane and Solid Snake Jack (http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3342/artonelico3scan15.jpg), as well as Kruche in an open chested jumpsuit (http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6936/artonelico3scan16.jpg)


Ah, so Kruche is in the game afterall. I thought I saw someone attacking with a chainsaw that looked far too similar to Kruche to be coincidence, but I wasn't sure.

This game has managed to gather almost all the non-crappy Vanguards from the first two games.

Only one who's missing is Amarie.

[Randall]

Edit 2: And two new Famitsu scans: Not! Ayatane and Solid Snake Jack (http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3342/artonelico3scan15.jpg), as well as Kruche in an open chested jumpsuit (http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6936/artonelico3scan16.jpg)


Ah, so Kruche is in the game afterall. I thought I saw someone attacking with a chainsaw that looked far too similar to Kruche to be coincidence, but I wasn't sure.

This game has managed to gather almost all the non-crappy Vanguards from the first two games.

Only one who's missing is Amarie.

Also Shun. Well he isn't the greatest but not exactally crappy either.

[Senku]

New Gameplay Video (http://ar-tonelico.jp/at3_countdown_fes/play_movie_0119_large.htm)

Two things. First, I think the Vanguards are controlled...like Star Ocean? Maybe? Hard to say, it looks very active, and I can't see you managing to control more than one at a time that way.

Secondly, LOL CAEK.

Definitely a Star Ocean/Tales feel to battle, which is just fine with me. The only part that may be annoying is running back to the Reyvateil to protect her, as it seemed the controllable character always ran back to defend (ie. AI won't do it).


I was kinda afraid she'd be like Aurica, but from the Hymnos trailer and now this, she looks like a total spaz, which should be awesome.

Since this is the "best" tower for Reyvateils, there shouldn't be any girls like Aurica here. She should be free to be her bubbly, spazy self without worry; but we'll see what's in the cosmospheres.

[Fencedude]

Also Shun. Well he isn't the greatest but not exactally crappy either.

Shun was pretty awesome, but he's busy keeping Frelia in line, I'm sure.

[Randall]

Darn you Play-Asia. My pre-order still hasn't shipped out yet and they say it won't till February 8th at least. So in other words I won't be getting it till after Valentine's Day *sobs*. Oh well I guess Star Ocean The Last Hope International and White Knight will just have to fuel my JRPG needs till my copy of Ar Tonelico III arrives.

[DiGiKerot]

Of course, Cocona is a Reyvateil, so she is, by definition, the "third" Reyvateil, but its unknown if she'll be the "Third Reyvateil" by the definitions we are used to applying.

But I think its likely. But I also doubt they'll stick her entirely in the backlines, that would seem to be a waste of her talents.

Either way, once I get her; she ain't leaving the party. DAMN! Grown-up Cocona is fine!

You know, I was kind of surprised to discover (not really a spoiler but I'll tag it anyway) the game lists Cocona and Sasha's ages as 13 and 12 respectively, ages which certainly aren't reflected in the 2D character art. Honestly, I thought the game was further along in the AT timeline than it actually is, but I guess it's only actually, what, a year after the end of AT2?

Also, can I just mention how much I hate playing Japanese games on a non-Japanese PS3? That US and Japanese games have the confirm/cancel buttons the other way around doesn't bother me when everything is within the control of the game, but when your console takes control of things like saving back to the consoles system menus, it's starts to get very, very annoying...

[Fencedude]

You know, I was kind of surprised to discover (not really a spoiler but I'll tag it anyway) the game lists Cocona and Sasha's ages as 13 and 12 respectively, ages which certainly aren't reflected in the 2D character art. Honestly, I thought the game was further along in the AT timeline than it actually is, but I guess it's only actually, what, a year after the end of AT2?

Seriously? Haha...wow. Sasha especially grew...in interesting ways.

[Nork22]

You know, I was kind of surprised to discover (not really a spoiler but I'll tag it anyway) the game lists Cocona and Sasha's ages as 13 and 12 respectively, ages which certainly aren't reflected in the 2D character art. Honestly, I thought the game was further along in the AT timeline than it actually is, but I guess it's only actually, what, a year after the end of AT2?

I thought that being Reyvateil means that they were "artificially" created and have some weird growth patterns? Of course, what would I know since I have both games sitting untouched yet I'm eagerly awaiting for the 3rd game.

[DiGiKerot]

You know, I was kind of surprised to discover (not really a spoiler but I'll tag it anyway) the game lists Cocona and Sasha's ages as 13 and 12 respectively, ages which certainly aren't reflected in the 2D character art. Honestly, I thought the game was further along in the AT timeline than it actually is, but I guess it's only actually, what, a year after the end of AT2?

Seriously? Haha...wow. Sasha especially grew...in interesting ways.

Actually, turns out it's two years since AT2 - I thought they'd incremented Cocona's age by one by the end of the game, but popping AT2 back in reveals she was still logged as 11 at the end of the game. They still don't look 12 or 13 in the 2D are, though, but the information screens are hard (http://yfrog.com/evcoconaj) to misread (http://yfrog.com/7hsashalj) in that regard.

[DiGiKerot]

You know, I was kind of surprised to discover (not really a spoiler but I'll tag it anyway) the game lists Cocona and Sasha's ages as 13 and 12 respectively, ages which certainly aren't reflected in the 2D character art. Honestly, I thought the game was further along in the AT timeline than it actually is, but I guess it's only actually, what, a year after the end of AT2?

I thought that being Reyvateil means that they were "artificially" created and have some weird growth patterns? Of course, what would I know since I have both games sitting untouched yet I'm eagerly awaiting for the 3rd game.

Sasha's not a Reyvateil, though. I can't remember anything in the fiction that says 3rd Gen Reyvateils like Cocona have weird growth patterns aside from their shortened life expectancies, either.

[Fencedude]

Sasha's not a Reyvateil, though. I can't remember anything in the fiction that says 3rd Gen Reyvateils like Cocona have weird growth patterns aside from their shortened life expectancies, either.

Yeah, other than the fact that without Diquility they die horrible deaths at age 20 or so, 3rd Generation Reyvateil have the same general growth pattern as humans

[Senku]

Of course, Cocona is a Reyvateil, so she is, by definition, the "third" Reyvateil, but its unknown if she'll be the "Third Reyvateil" by the definitions we are used to applying.

But I think its likely. But I also doubt they'll stick her entirely in the backlines, that would seem to be a waste of her talents.

Either way, once I get her; she ain't leaving the party. DAMN! Grown-up Cocona is fine!

You know, I was kind of surprised to discover (not really a spoiler but I'll tag it anyway) the game lists Cocona and Sasha's ages as 13 and 12 respectively, ages which certainly aren't reflected in the 2D character art. Honestly, I thought the game was further along in the AT timeline than it actually is, but I guess it's only actually, what, a year after the end of AT2?

Heh. Well, I have no qualms saying 12-13 year old 2D art is hot as fuck.

[Draneor]

Via Sankaku, Ar Tonelico 3 has already generated it's first meme (http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm9556226). It's, uh, kind of addicting on loop. Here's the link for more of them (http://www.nicovideo.jp/tag/%E3%83%96%E3%83%AA%28%EF%BE%9F%E2%88%80%EF%BE%9F%2 9%E3%83%8F%E3%83%9E%E3%83%81) (Saki and, of course, Touhou...).

[Fencedude]

I'm doing my best to avoid spoilers and the like, but I must, Tilia is absolutely adorable (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/615221/). Her outfit is also...very nice. Very, very nice.

(site NSFW)

[Suwako Moriya]

I'm doing my best to avoid spoilers and the like, but I must, Tilia is absolutely adorable (http://safebooru.donmai.us/post/show/615221/). Her outfit is also...very nice. Very, very nice.

*Checks link* Darn it, is Safebooru ever going to be back up? I'm not sure I want to start browsing the other version. Never mind the fact that I'm not even registered with it and I'm still hesitant to do so.

[Fencedude]

I'm doing my best to avoid spoilers and the like, but I must, Tilia is absolutely adorable (http://safebooru.donmai.us/post/show/615221/). Her outfit is also...very nice. Very, very nice.

*Checks link* Darn it, is Safebooru ever going to be back up? I'm not sure I want to start browsing the other version. Never mind the fact that I'm not even registered with it and I'm still hesitant to do so.

Whoops, I totally forgot Safebooru was down. I changed it to the danboo link.

[Suwako Moriya]

I'm doing my best to avoid spoilers and the like, but I must, Tilia is absolutely adorable (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/615221/). Her outfit is also...very nice. Very, very nice.

(site NSFW)

Yeah, the outfit is quite effective. The shoulder pads are a nice touch and there's lots of skin. Also, I rather like the hair she has. Also, she's quite young looking.

[Fencedude]

I'm doing my best to avoid spoilers and the like, but I must, Tilia is absolutely adorable (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/615221/). Her outfit is also...very nice. Very, very nice.

(site NSFW)

Yeah, the outfit is quite effective. The shoulder pads are a nice touch and there's lots of skin. Also, I rather like the hair she has. Also, she's quite young looking.

Yeah, she's only 7 hundred or so.

[Senku]

I'm doing my best to avoid spoilers and the like, but I must, Tilia is absolutely adorable (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/615221/). Her outfit is also...very nice. Very, very nice.

(site NSFW)

Loving her expression, but I'm not too sure about the outfit. Don't get me wrong, skin is good; but it looks a bit... off to me.

[Randall]

I'm doing my best to avoid spoilers and the like, but I must, Tilia is absolutely adorable (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/615221/). Her outfit is also...very nice. Very, very nice.

(site NSFW)

Loving her expression, but I'm not too sure about the outfit. Don't get me wrong, skin is good; but it looks a bit... off to me.

Well it's like a sexy version of Shurelia's outfit but I do agree it's a little off.

[Nork22]

I don't believe it...

Apparently Gust/Namco Bandai produce a Gravure (http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2010/05/02/ar-tonelico-3-gravure-video-exceedingly-sexy/) video of the girls (and the 2 guys) in AT3.

NISA put that DVD on your LE item that you will release in the US.

[Nork22]

It's official: NISA will announce the release date of Ar Tonelico 3 on July 15.

source (http://scrawlfx.com/2010/05/ar-tonelico-3-localization-announcement-hits-july)

Alright, now that's out of the way, there's Atelier Totori to pick up next.

[Fencedude]

It's official: NISA will announce the release date of Ar Tonelico 3 on July 15.

source (http://scrawlfx.com/2010/05/ar-tonelico-3-localization-announcement-hits-july)

Alright, now that's out of the way, there's Atelier Totori to pick up next.

FUCKING FINALLY

Now how about an actually release date for Rorona? Just so we can get that much closer to Totori.

[Draneor]

I guess I should get started on the second game then.^^;

[Fencedude]

I guess I should get started on the second game then.^^;

Now is probably a good moment

[HitokiriShadow]

It's official: NISA will announce the release date of Ar Tonelico 3 on July 15.

source (http://scrawlfx.com/2010/05/ar-tonelico-3-localization-announcement-hits-july)

Alright, now that's out of the way, there's Atelier Totori to pick up next.


Hallelujah!

Of course, that probably just means it will start the release date waiting game, like we've been playing with Rorona for god knows how long now. So it will still probably be at least a year from now before we actually get it. But this is progress!

Here's hoping Totori is one of the other titles they announce in July, so that NISA might actually get around to releasing it before 2012.

[Fencedude]

You know, looking at the silhouettes some more, I'm amused by how ludicrously long their legs are (not that I'm complaining, I like me some legs), because you only ever see characters in these games from the waist up

[Senku]

Damn, now I have to do my AT2 3rd Reyvatail playthrough.

And that's on top of completing at least ONE playthrough of P3 before P3P comes out.

It's not like I want time travel science, just a way to slow it down a bit so I can catch up!

[Advent_Nebula]

Damn, now I have to do my AT2 3rd Reyvatail playthrough.

And that's on top of completing at least ONE playthrough of P3 before P3P comes out.

It's not like I want time travel science, just a way to slow it down a bit so I can catch up!

I bet you wish that the dark hour was real, and you could use it to catch up on gamming.

[Senku]

I bet you wish that the dark hour was real, and you could use it to catch up on gaming.

Junpei: "Let's go kick ass!"
Me: "Screw that, have you SEEN my backlog!?"

Just don't send Rise to convince me... GOD I would do anything for her.

[pathos]

Well, this means I'm guaranteed some quality time in front of the big screen, at some point in the future. Just glad they are finally going to announce it.

[HitokiriShadow]

Ar Tonelico Qooga coming to Europe on March 25th. (http://www.siliconera.com/2010/11/17/ar-tonelico-qoga-rebels-in-europe-on-march-25th-2011/) No date for the U.S., but that probably gives us a rough idea when we'll get it here. Neptunia is supposed to come out here a few weeks before the European date, so there's a decent chance that means we'll be getting AT3 in early March.

[cress2000]

This game cannot come soon enough.

[red_hamsterx]

This game cannot come soon enough.
Agreed. Though this means I'll need to catch up on vocabulary updates.

[mlisette237]

This game cannot come soon enough.
Agreed. Though this means I'll need to catch up on vocabulary updates.

I still need to actually finish the first two games:sweat:.

[Senku]

This game cannot come soon enough.
Agreed. Though this means I'll need to catch up on vocabulary updates.

I still need to actually finish the first two games:sweat:.

Need to do my Jacqli playthrough.

[demonix00]

Ar Tonelico Qooga coming to Europe on March 25th. (http://www.siliconera.com/2010/11/17/ar-tonelico-qoga-rebels-in-europe-on-march-25th-2011/) No date for the U.S., but that probably gives us a rough idea when we'll get it here. Neptunia is supposed to come out here a few weeks before the European date, so there's a decent chance that means we'll be getting AT3 in early March.

That's old news since shopto.net have had it up for preorder for over a month now with that release date (and that is who I've preordered it with).

[HitokiriShadow]

Ar Tonelico Qooga coming to Europe on March 25th. (http://www.siliconera.com/2010/11/17/ar-tonelico-qoga-rebels-in-europe-on-march-25th-2011/) No date for the U.S., but that probably gives us a rough idea when we'll get it here. Neptunia is supposed to come out here a few weeks before the European date, so there's a decent chance that means we'll be getting AT3 in early March.

And now an unofficial release date for the U.S. version: March 17. (http://www.siliconera.com/2010/11/18/neptunia-in-february-ar-tonelico-qoga-in-march-says-gamefly/)

[Fencedude]

On a side note, I wonder if the decision to name it "Qoga" instead of using its numerical designation means that someone involved in the translation actually read a Hymmnos dictionary this time?

[cress2000]

On a side note, I wonder if the decision to name it "Qoga" instead of using its numerical designation means that someone involved in the translation actually read a Hymmnos dictionary this time?

They said in an interview just after it was announced that they were "studying" the Hymmnos language for ATIII to make sure they do it right. The subtitle also includes Ar Ciel, not Al Ciel as it was written in ATII...

[red_hamsterx]

On a side note, I wonder if the decision to name it "Qoga" instead of using its numerical designation means that someone involved in the translation actually read a Hymmnos dictionary this time?

They said in an interview just after it was announced that they were "studying" the Hymmnos language for ATIII to make sure they do it right. The subtitle also includes Ar Ciel, not Al Ciel as it was written in ATII...
We'll see, but I have my doubts.

I should have all the new official Hymmnos grammar content translated by next weekend.

[cress2000]

Don't forget your ID card. Rated M!

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=30514

[Senku]

Don't forget your ID card. Rated M!

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=30514

In one cutscene, male characters encourage a woman to strip (e.g., "Uh . . . do I have to take off even more clothes…?" and "Quit teasing us and do it already!"); another sequence depicts a male character "removing" a magical crystal from a female character—this scene is accompanied by suggestive moans and comments (e.g., "Aoto's putting his hand inside Soma" and "Fumble around every inch inside of her . . . you will find what you're looking for . . . !").

I LOVE this franchise.

Also, they're removing crystals from girls on this tower?

[Draneor]

Uh, is NISA even going to be able to release this then? I thought most retailers don't carry the M rating (or was that the one above it).

[red_hamsterx]

Uh, is NISA even going to be able to release this then? I thought most retailers don't carry the M rating (or was that the one above it).
It's the one above that, AO (Adults-only).

Most retailers stock lots of M-rated titles. Most larger studios (and many of their AAA titles) are also M-rated. (Resistance, Oblivion, Fallout, Bioshock, everything Rockstar touches, just to name some PS3-hosted examples)

Now, granted, that rating isn't usually carried by retailer-stocked games that earned it entirely for sexually themed content (it's normally associated with violence or mature settings), so... dunno, lawl. I order everything online, so I don't really care too much one way or the other.

[cress2000]

Now, granted, that rating isn't usually carried by retailer-stocked games that earned it entirely for sexually themed content (it's normally associated with violence or mature settings), so... dunno, lawl. I order everything online, so I don't really care too much one way or the other.

This game is probably too niche regardless of rating to reach any B&M shelves besides GameStop's.

[red_hamsterx]

This game is probably too niche regardless of rating to reach any B&M shelves besides GameStop's.
I dunno... I saw At2 at a suburban Wal-mart in Calgary and NISA usually seems to get their PSP games stocked in more mainstream places.

[Fencedude]

Uh, is NISA even going to be able to release this then? I thought most retailers don't carry the M rating (or was that the one above it).

Nah, its no big deal. M games are, if not the norm, quite common.

I can think of several very (very) mainstream games which actually have bare breasts in them, and in ways that are just as suggestive, if not more so, than anything Ar tonelico does. *cough*GodofWar*cough*

Anyway, AT3 being rated M is a good thing, all in all. Its the rating it should have, considering how the standards are written.

[Fencedude]

Also, they're removing crystals from girls on this tower?

Well, you could remove crystals in the first one, the procedure was never explicitly explained though.

[red_hamsterx]

Well, you could remove crystals in the first one, the procedure was never explicitly explained though.
I see what you did there.

And, yes, I am this immature.

[Fencedude]

Well, you could remove crystals in the first one, the procedure was never explicitly explained though.
I see what you did there.

And, yes, I am this immature.

Well, its not like these games make it hard.

Also, I love how the ESRB blurb perfectly sums up why I love Japan. Only Japan could make this sort of game.

[Senku]

Along with the NISA store offering free shipping now; the latest PB said that Qoga is coming out "early Spring 2011"; and that they're going to have a website up "reeeally soon!!".

I hope they go all out for whatever LE they're planning for this. I'd easily pay whatever extra I'd have to for a nice package.

[Ryos]

Along with the NISA store offering free shipping now;

Is this temporary or permanent? Sounds like a great time to pick up this and maybe some other stuff.

[red_hamsterx]

Along with the NISA store offering free shipping now;

Is this temporary or permanent? Sounds like a great time to pick up this and maybe some other stuff.
Looks permanent.

They didn't extend any sort of discount to their other shipping methods, though. (A small break on basic Canadian shipping would have been nice)

[cxt217]

In case no one has seen it yet, the latest NIS Prinny Bomb reveals the website (http://www.nisamerica.com/games/atq/) for Ar Tonelico 3.

It also has a picture of the premium pack for the game.

C.T.

[Fencedude]

In case no one has seen it yet, the latest NIS Prinny Bomb reveals the website (http://www.nisamerica.com/games/atq/) for Ar Tonelico 3.

It also has a picture of the premium pack for the game.

C.T.

*loads it up*

*blinks*

Well, that looks familiar.

*cough* (http://ar-tonelico.jp/at3/)

*looks at Finnel's Mind Guardian*

Well, thats...interesting.

[HitokiriShadow]

In case no one has seen it yet, the latest NIS Prinny Bomb reveals the website (http://www.nisamerica.com/games/atq/) for Ar Tonelico 3.

It also has a picture of the premium pack for the game.

C.T.

About damn time. The extras are what I would expect, now the question is just what the art book will include. Hopefully it will have something of substance like the AT1 artbook rather than just pictures like the AT2 artbook.


*looks at Finnel's Mind Guardian*

Well, thats...interesting.

.... Ah, yeah, that's...... certainly the most, uh, interesting Mind Guardian design. The commentary next to it about her bullying Finnel has some interesting implications as well. I intentionally avoided reading anything else on the character pages because I don't want to know anything about the characters ahead of time.

[Senku]

*looks at Finnel's Mind Guardian*

Well, thats...interesting.

You can say that again. Momoko's design is too "interesting" to be :nosebleed:


I intentionally avoided reading anything else on the character pages because I don't want to know anything about the characters ahead of time.

I think I should have done the same, but I was reading them before I knew what I was doing. :sweat: Either way, it's going to be tough picking a favorite (at least between the first two girls) Character design wise, I really like both of them. Add in the character description they have up, and Finnel has the slight lead. Then, there's going to be Cocona and the third Reyvateil; so who knows.

[HitokiriShadow]

Either way, it's going to be tough picking a favorite (at least between the first two girls) Character design wise, I really like both of them. Add in the character description they have up, and Finnel has the slight lead. Then, there's going to be Cocona and the third Reyvateil; so who knows.

Of the main two, I'm partial to Finnel based on character design and... what little I can glean of her personality from the design, screenshots and the promo videos I've seen, which isn't much. While I don't really have a particular hair color that gets me going, I've coincidentally found myself partial to the dark haired girls (of the main two) in each Ar Tonelico game going in (i.e. based on seeing the character designs before I started the game). This remained true after I finished AT1 (but by a faaaaaar wider margin that I imagined; Misha was awesome but I just couldn't stand Aurica by about half-way through) but while I was partial to Luca going into AT2, I ended up liking Cloche a lot more. Though the dark hair thing still holds true in a way, because I liked Cocona and the third Reyvateil in that game more than both of the mains, just not for the main two.

In any case, I'm partial to Finnel based on character design and apparent personality. I'm pretty sure I know who the third Reyvateil in this game is but the little I've seen of her character design isn't enough to factor her in. And of course, Cocona is in this game too.

[Fencedude]

I've had a distinct preference for the Reyvateil who's songs are done by Shikata Akiko (Misha, Cloche), but just going by designs, I prefer Finnel, who's Shimotsuki Haruka. But I know very little about their personalities, and thats much more important.

Of the major Reyvateils in the games, there is only one I actively dislike, Aurica.

[DiGiKerot]

Of the major Reyvateils in the games, there is only one I actively dislike, Aurica.

Somehow I'd completely forgotten she existed until you mentioned her just now :sd:

[Senku]

Of the major Reyvateils in the games, there is only one I actively dislike, Aurica.

Somehow I'd completely forgotten she existed

:(

[red_hamsterx]

Of the major Reyvateils in the games, there is only one I actively dislike, Aurica.

Somehow I'd completely forgotten she existed until you mentioned her just now :sd:

Fine with me. Just means less competition.

[Draneor]

:(
Fine with me. Just means less competition.

It's OK. I like Aurica. Although I never did her route because I couldn't be cruel to Misha. >_>

[Fencedude]

:(
Fine with me. Just means less competition.

It's OK. I like Aurica. Although I never did her route because I couldn't be cruel to Misha. >_>

Cruelty to Misha is unforgivable.

Cruelty to Aurica is like, "eh, whatever".

[UEHacker]

I've had a distinct preference for the Reyvateil who's songs are done by Shikata Akiko (Misha, Cloche), but just going by designs, I prefer Finnel, who's Shimotsuki Haruka. But I know very little about their personalities, and thats much more important.

Of the major Reyvateils in the games, there is only one I actively dislike, Aurica.

I still think the EXEC-with.METHOD-METAFALICA duette between Cloche and Luka is hands down the best song in the Ar tonelico series. Shikata's a genius.

[Fencedude]

I still think the EXEC-with.METHOD-METAFALICA duette between Cloche and Luka is hands down the best song in the Ar tonelico series. Shikata's a genius.

I find that very hard to disagree with, EXEC_with.METHOD_METAFALICA/. is truly fantastic. Though in its own way, the three movements of EXEC_over.METHOD_SUBLIMATION/. are very nearly as good.

Only songs from the other games that compare, to me at least, are EXEC_PAJA/.#Misya_extracting from AT1, and EXEC_COSMOFLIPS/. from AT3. Though not having context for the last one (or the other AT3 songs) makes it hard to compare.

[cxt217]

The day after a Prinny Bomb announced the opening of the website for Ar Tonelico, comes another Prinny Bomb announcing the opening of preorders (http://store.nisamerica.com/Ar-tonelico-Qoga-Cosmosphere-Calendar-Set) for the games. Release date is TBA though.

The NISA exclusive appears to be a 8.5"x11" calendar.

I have to say that I never had a problem with the characterizations of the Reyvateils (Which apparently makes me the only person here who does not hate Aurica - probably because of who is voicing her more than anything else.) - I just disliked the character design from AT2 and preferred AT1's, just as I like AT1's artstyle in general more than I like the sequel's.

C.T.

[Senku]

$10 dollars more for a calendar, eh why not?

*Preordered

[cress2000]

I didn't hate Aurica. But I kind of having a thing for the timid type.

If there was an RT that comes even close to me disliking, it's Luca. She lost of a lot of my respect after dropping her dark little secret. Maybe she redeems herself in her path, but I haven't done it yet.

[HitokiriShadow]

The day after a Prinny Bomb announced the opening of the website for Ar Tonelico, comes another Prinny Bomb announcing the opening of preorders (http://store.nisamerica.com/Ar-tonelico-Qoga-Cosmosphere-Calendar-Set) for the games. Release date is TBA though.

The NISA exclusive appears to be a 8.5"x11" calendar.


Ordered the calendar set. That's a pretty decent size and $10 extra for it is not bad at all.

[Fencedude]

I didn't hate Aurica. But I kind of having a thing for the timid type.

If there was an RT that comes even close to me disliking, it's Luca. She lost of a lot of my respect after dropping her dark little secret. Maybe she redeems herself in her path, but I haven't done it yet.

I really don't know how anyone could hate either Cloche or Luca after playing through AT2, though in fairness, I took Luca's route. Cloche comes off looking really good in that route as well, but maybe the same doesn't hold on Cloche's route (which I will play...sometime. Eventually. Hopefully).

The problem with Aurica is that her whining is way out of proportion to her actual problems. Yes, being a 3rd Generation Reyvateil on Sol Ciel sucks. You're going to have to bring more to the table when you are up against a girl who's sole reason for existence is to sing, for her entire 150 year life, in room. Alone.

[Fencedude]

The day after a Prinny Bomb announced the opening of the website for Ar Tonelico, comes another Prinny Bomb announcing the opening of preorders (http://store.nisamerica.com/Ar-tonelico-Qoga-Cosmosphere-Calendar-Set) for the games. Release date is TBA though.

The NISA exclusive appears to be a 8.5"x11" calendar.


Ordered the calendar set. That's a pretty decent size and $10 extra for it is not bad at all.

"Purge Party Calendar"?

Oh man, thats so going to be worth it.

*orders*

It would be nice though if NISA could get non-nerfed OSTs though.

[cress2000]

I really don't know how anyone could hate either Cloche or Luca after playing through AT2, though in fairness, I took Luca's route. Cloche comes off looking really good in that route as well, but maybe the same doesn't hold on Cloche's route (which I will play...sometime. Eventually. Hopefully).

I just don't remember much completely redeeming Luca for me on Cloche's path. Maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough. Or it's the beyond lousy localization's fault.

Anyway, what's funny is that Luca's revelation was the point that I realized AT2 wasn't fucking around and was earnestly trying to tell a much more grown up story than the original did. It was where I got totally sold. And it only got better from there.

[Fencedude]

I just don't remember much completely redeeming Luca for me on Cloche's path. Maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough. Or it's the beyond lousy localization's fault.

Anyway, what's funny is that Luca's revelation was the point that I realized AT2 wasn't fucking around and was earnestly trying to tell a much more grown up story than the original did. It was where I got totally sold. And it only got better from there.

Part of my problem with Aurica is probably that I played AT2 first, and it really is a much stronger story than AT1, with better developed characters. Misha's still really fantastic, but she's the standout. Aurica was just uninteresting, and Shurelia doesn't hold a candle to Jacqli, for any number of obvious reasons.

[HitokiriShadow]

It would be nice though if NISA could get non-nerfed OSTs though.

It would be nice, but I'm more concerned about how they're handling the artbook. The AT1 book has some interesting stuff in it in addition to the pretty pictures, but the AT2 book completely lacks any info beyond very basic "character profiles" that offer even less information than the in-game profiles. At least with the OST, I can get as much out of the original import version as I could out of a theoretical full NISA OST.

The nerfed OST is disappointing in principal, but since I'm not exactly adverse to importing AT CDs (I have 4 for AT3 alone, plus another on order, and the OST somehow isn't among them; I'll need to fix that) and I rarely use the actual discs anyway, it has very little actual effect on me. Additionally, while the AT games have some nice BGM, the music everyone really cares about is the Hymnos songs, most of which are not on the OSTs anyway. NISA's AT2 OST included EXEC_with.METHOD_METAFALICA/. on it, the only Hymnos song the actual OST had unless you count Harmonics Frelia. The actual AT1 CD doesn't have any Hymnos songs on it at all. Looking at the tracklist on Amazon.jp, the AT3 OST has three Hymnos songs because each Reyvateil has a version of EXEC_HYMM_BATTLESPHERE./#_______ extracting (and anyone who doesn't want to know the third Reyvateil's identity should avoid looking at that tracklist).

[HitokiriShadow]

Part of my problem with Aurica is probably that I played AT2 first, and it really is a much stronger story than AT1, with better developed characters. Misha's still really fantastic, but she's the standout. Aurica was just uninteresting, and Shurelia doesn't hold a candle to Jacqli, for any number of obvious reasons.

On the other hand, I played AT1 first and I still pretty much hate her, even without the vastly superior AT2 character development and story to compare her to.

[pathos]

Part of my problem with Aurica is probably that I played AT2 first, and it really is a much stronger story than AT1, with better developed characters. Misha's still really fantastic, but she's the standout. Aurica was just uninteresting, and Shurelia doesn't hold a candle to Jacqli, for any number of obvious reasons.

On the other hand, I played AT1 first and I still pretty much hate her, even without the vastly superior AT2 character development and story to compare her to.

I played 1, then 2, and I like the first one better, and it's because of the characters. I'll admit, Jacqli is my favorite character out of either game, but I think the Misha/Shurelia combination edges her just a bit, since, for me, she has to do it alone.

I really, really did not like Cloche or Luca from 2, for most of the game. They both got alot better towards the end. Mostly tolerable even. But, that did not make up for just how shitty they were for most of the game.

And, of course, Aurica is just blah.

For me, it would go something like Jacqli > Misha > Shurelia >>>>>>>>>>> Cloche/Luca > Aurica

If we hadn't gotten so much character development with Cloche and Luca, they'd be a good bit behind even Aurica

[Fencedude]

If we hadn't gotten so much character development with Cloche and Luca, they'd be a good bit behind even Aurica

Well yeah, thats the entire point of character development. Luca and Cloche were both intensely dislikable at first. That was the entire point!

[TheLaughingMan]

Funny that the better of the 3 games gets the better release for the same price. Rorona got game only (except NIS first run and Gamestop), Neptunia gets Artbook + Box, while AT3 gets Artbook, OST and Box...
Well, that's totally cool with me. Glad all copies get the LE and the OST is included in it. At least being in Canada i won't have to worry about ordering/pre-ordering online. March is close, how awesome!

[pathos]

If we hadn't gotten so much character development with Cloche and Luca, they'd be a good bit behind even Aurica

Well yeah, thats the entire point of character development. Luca and Cloche were both intensely dislikable at first. That was the entire point!

Well, I think my point in all that was, even with them getting alot better by the end, it still only managed to partly cancel out like the first 3/4's of the game. It's hard (for me, at least), to balance 1/4 of a game of decency against 3/4s of utter crapiness.

In all fairness, their crappiness was a good bit of the plot of the game. Not that it made me like them more :sweat:

[Ryos]

It would be nice though if NISA could get non-nerfed OSTs though.

It would be nice, but I'm more concerned about how they're handling the artbook. The AT1 book has some interesting stuff in it in addition to the pretty pictures, but the AT2 book completely lacks any info beyond very basic "character profiles" that offer even less information than the in-game profiles. At least with the OST, I can get as much out of the original import version as I could out of a theoretical full NISA OST.

I think you can pretty much guarantee that the OST included will only have like 20 tracks tops like with the AT II OST. Not sure why companies are so fond of including gimped OSTs, but that tends to be their thought process for games. But then since I usually don't bother to import OSTs, for me limited is better than none.

Now the artbook, that I'm also wondering about. Guess we'll see...

[UEHacker]

The first ten minutes of the game are posted on youtube and I'm pretty impressed with what I see, even voiceacting-wise, which with NISA can be pretty hit or miss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOEoIMZmoHQ

[Fencedude]

The first ten minutes of the game are posted on youtube and I'm pretty impressed with what I see, even voiceacting-wise, which with NISA can be pretty hit or miss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOEoIMZmoHQ

Thats good to hear, though I won't be watching.

[cress2000]

The first ten minutes of the game are posted on youtube and I'm pretty impressed with what I see, even voiceacting-wise, which with NISA can be pretty hit or miss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOEoIMZmoHQ

I don't think Aoto's bed is big enough.

[cxt217]

In case you have not burned your Amazon gift cards preordering Neptunia, here is the Amazon product page (http://www.amazon.com/Ar-Tonelico-Qoga-Knell-Playstation-3/dp/B004HVKABW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1296503906&sr=8-2) for Ar Tonelico 3.

C.T.

[angelx03]

English trailer is out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrgFD7ziUxg&feature=feedu

I think I heard Cristina Vee somewhere.

[UEHacker]

English trailer is out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrgFD7ziUxg&feature=feedu

I think I heard Cristina Vee somewhere.

She plays one of the two main reyvatiels

[TheLaughingMan]

Tasty trailer is super great! :bowsmiley:
Damn my anticipation for this game is through the roof!

Now i have a mere month to start and finish ATII...

[HitokiriShadow]

Now i have a mere month to start and finish ATII...

You've already played AT1, right?

[Fencedude]

English trailer is out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrgFD7ziUxg&feature=feedu

I think I heard Cristina Vee somewhere.

*starts watching*

You know, I always get a little giddy when I start a game that isn't SRW and the Banpresto logo appears.

Anyway, looks good. Dub sounds pretty good as well, but I doubt I'll be listening to it.

[Senku]

Anyway, looks good. Dub sounds pretty good as well, but I doubt I'll be listening to it.

I was really surprised on how good the dub sounds from this trailer. I might just do my first playthrough in English!

All the talk in the AT2 has made me question whether or not this game could be a let down. But with this new trailer I'm excited as ever for this game to be in my PS3. :)

[HitokiriShadow]

Anyway, looks good. Dub sounds pretty good as well, but I doubt I'll be listening to it.

I was really surprised on how good the dub sounds from this trailer. I might just do my first playthrough in English!


I haven't watched the trailer and don't intend to, so I can't comment on it directly. However, while I wasn't that impressed with most of what I heard of NISA's PS2 dubs, I felt their Atelier Rorona dub was pretty good and ended up playing that entire game dubbed. I'll play AT3 with Japanese voices for my first playthrough, but intend to check out the dubbed voices at some point.

[TheLaughingMan]

Now i have a mere month to start and finish ATII...

You've already played AT1, right?
Yes of course, i finally got around it last year (even though i've had multiple copies of the boxset since launch day!). Don't worry, i wouldn't skip a main/good entry in a series and play the next one like that...

[Fencedude]

Website (http://www.nisamerica.com/games/atq/) has updated with more...uhh..."characters" and a rather extensive description of the purging system.

Its really quite funny to have it spelled out like that. For more powerful spells, they need to take off their clothes!

Anyway, its a direct clone of the JP website, so its really nothing new visually if you've seen that, you can just read the text and get spoiled now.

Oh, and Sakia=Lumei? Interesting choice...

[Senku]

Website (http://www.nisamerica.com/games/atq/) has updated with more...uhh..."characters"

So... I don't think I quite understood some of those descriptions. Mainly the ones' associated with Saki. But I think I'm going to let the game tell me, instead of trying to figure it out.

...and a rather extensive description of the purging system.

Gotta love it when 4 sections of the battle system page are devoted to the same concept. :)

[Buster Blader 126]

Just a quick question: do I need to play the first two in order to understand the story for AT3, or is it something I can jump into?

I'm interested in the game, but this question has been nagging me a little. I do have access to the first two via a friend if need be.

[cxt217]

Just a quick question: do I need to play the first two in order to understand the story for AT3, or is it something I can jump into?

I'm interested in the game, but this question has been nagging me a little. I do have access to the first two via a friend if need be.

It makes it very helpful if you played the first two Ar Tonelico games before you played AT3, but it is not mandatory. Each of the games in the series is a stand-alone game - but playing the earlier ones in the series will fill out the backstory, as well as giving you the 'A-HA!' moment when characters from the previous games make their appearance.

C.T.

[HitokiriShadow]

Just a quick question: do I need to play the first two in order to understand the story for AT3, or is it something I can jump into?

I'm interested in the game, but this question has been nagging me a little. I do have access to the first two via a friend if need be.

It would be a really good idea to play the first two games first, if that's a viable option. I don't know much about AT3's story as I've been trying to go into it knowing as little as possible, but I know enough to know that while the story may not require knowledge of the other games, it would be a very good idea to play them first. Without mentioning anything specific, several characters from the previous games appear in AT3, and at least one character from each game is a playable party member.

You should really play both previous games, in order.

[Senku]

Just a quick question: do I need to play the first two in order to understand the story for AT3, or is it something I can jump into?

I'm interested in the game, but this question has been nagging me a little. I do have access to the first two via a friend if need be.

Well, the main characters are all new, but there are returning characters from BOTH the first and second game in this one.

This is probably one of those cases where you don't need to, but you'd get so much more out of it if you did play through the first two.

[demonix00]

Don't forget your ID card. Rated M!

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=30514

Well it seems that PEGI isn't that fussed about all that since the pack shot (http://www.tecmokoei-europe.com/news/?id=34203) for the EU release shows a 12 rating

[Senku]

Looks like I got charged for this last night.

Time to drop everything and do a fast playthrough of AT2.

[cress2000]

Looks like I got charged for this last night.

Not me. I probably got sent to the back of the queue for reordering it, though. :/

[Draneor]

Looks like I got charged for this last night.

I don't think they charged me, but they did send me a gift card. Hopefully a good sign.

Time to drop everything and do a fast playthrough of AT2.

I think I'll just skip the second one. I haven't played it yet and likely won't due to lack of time (both for playing it and to figure out how to implement the fix to the issue with the game that prevents me from doing so). On the other hand, I think I may need to readjust some things to play this one ASAP.

[Fencedude]

I think I'll just skip the second one. I haven't played it yet and likely won't due to lack of time (both for playing it and to figure out how to implement the fix to the issue with the game that prevents me from doing so). On the other hand, I think I may need to readjust some things to play this one ASAP.

Uhh...no. Don't skip the second one. Seriously.

[DiGiKerot]

I think I'll just skip the second one. I haven't played it yet and likely won't due to lack of time (both for playing it and to figure out how to implement the fix to the issue with the game that prevents me from doing so). On the other hand, I think I may need to readjust some things to play this one ASAP.

Uhh...no. Don't skip the second one. Seriously.

Yeah. Aside from AT2 being a fun game, I really wouldn't want to go (or recommend going) into AT3 without full prior knowledge of the other games...

[cress2000]

Looks like I got charged for this last night.

Not me. I probably got sent to the back of the queue for reordering it, though. :/

Okay, just got charged and was given a $10 gift card code. I guess I'll use the code on Disgaea 4 or something.

[Buster Blader 126]

Anybody want to sell me on Ar Tonelico? What makes the game entertaining and enjoyable to play? What should I expect in terms of gameplay and character design?

I may go and attempt to pre-order the game at my EB Games tomorrow (hopefully it's not too late), so I'm looking for reasons to really convince me. May not play the game for a long time though, for reasons already stated.

[Fencedude]

Anybody want to sell me on Ar Tonelico? What makes the game entertaining and enjoyable to play? What should I expect in terms of gameplay and character design?

I may go and attempt to pre-order the game at my EB Games tomorrow (hopefully it's not too late), so I'm looking for reasons to really convince me. May not play the game for a long time though, for reasons already stated.

Ahh...well, do you like insanely good music, surprisingly deep exploration of the psyches of some pretty messed up girls, and fanservice?

Though its hard to recommend jumping in on the third game in the series.

[Senku]

Anybody want to sell me on Ar Tonelico? What makes the game entertaining and enjoyable to play?

This is going to sound cliche to the max, but I really do enjoy the story and setting this franchise has presented. There's really no other RPG experience like it. Plus, Akira Tsuchiya basically created an original language for the heroines in the franchise to use. (Hymnos)

What should I expect in terms of gameplay and character design?.

Gameplay isn't too different then any other JRPG out there, and the character design is mostly Females being ungodly hot, with the males being drawn in such a way as to not distract from the females.

[red_hamsterx]

Plus, Akira Tsuchiya basically created an original language for the heroines in the franchise to use. (Hymnos)
<shameless-plug>http://hymmnoserver.uguu.ca/</shameless-plug>

[Buster Blader 126]

Ahh...well, do you like insanely good music, surprisingly deep exploration of the psyches of some pretty messed up girls, and fanservice?

Though its hard to recommend jumping in on the third game in the series.

As I said several posts ago, I do have access to the first two games through a friend. Hence the "for earlier reasons." Yeah, I guess I should've just reiterated that outright. :sweat: I did hear about that major glitch on the second game, which is a little discomforting.

The (no longer potential) pre-order is just a way for me to guarantee myself a copy of the game and not have to worry about hunting it down when/if it becomes hard to find, though it seems like the first two can still be found for a fairly cheap price. Meh.

As for your actual question:

- Hell yes on #1.
- #2 could be rewarding depending on how much emotion I invest on the girls.
- And I sure wouldn't mind #3. In fact, it's one of the reasons why I'm interested. :P I've heard that there's copious amounts of fanservice in the game. Apparently you can strip the girls? Or am I simply misinformed? And apparently the third game takes it to a new level?

Anybody want to sell me on Ar Tonelico? What makes the game entertaining and enjoyable to play?

This is going to sound cliche to the max, but I really do enjoy the story and setting this franchise has presented. There's really no other RPG experience like it. Plus, Akira Tsuchiya basically created an original language for the heroines in the franchise to use. (Hymnos)

Original language? Interesting.


What should I expect in terms of gameplay and character design?.Gameplay isn't too different then any other JRPG out there, and the character design is mostly Females being ungodly hot, with the males being drawn in such a way as to not distract from the females.

So the guys are disgustingly ugly?

Not that I mind ugly men that much, but I imagine I'd get a little tired of seeing ugly beefcake sooner or
later. Hope they're not all ugly.

~

I actually read both of your responses after I wound up pre-ordering it :sweat:, but it's still good to hear your opinions regardless.

[HitokiriShadow]

I did hear about that major glitch on the second game, which is a little discomforting.

It's really easy to beat that boss before she uses the attack that locks the game up. It only really becomes an issue if you re-fight her, as you can fight her over and over again after the one required fight and she gets stronger each time.

Apparently you can strip the girls? Or am I simply misinformed? And apparently the third game takes it to a new level?

The stripping is only in the third game. Something about exposing there skin to absorb something or another, I think. I've intentionally avoided reading up on it too much. And the guys strip too.


So the guys are disgustingly ugly?

Not that I mind ugly men that much, but I imagine I'd get a little tired of seeing ugly beefcake sooner or later.

No, they aren't ugly by any stretch. They just aren't the focus, so they are relatively bland. They aren't bad though, and a few of them actually have pretty interesting designs (Ayatane in particular).

[Senku]

So the guys are disgustingly ugly?

No, they aren't ugly by any stretch. They just aren't the focus, so they are relatively bland. They aren't bad though, and a few of them actually have pretty interesting designs (Ayatane in particular).

This, basically. The biggest offender of the "bland male" is the main guy from AT1. The other males in the franchise aren't that bad, but they never take your focus away from the girls. (which is how it should be)

[Buster Blader 126]

It's really easy to beat that boss before she uses the attack that locks the game up. It only really becomes an issue if you re-fight her, as you can fight her over and over again after the one required fight and she gets stronger each time.

Interesting.

Is there any inherent benefit from repeated fights other than leveling up?

The stripping is only in the third game. Something about exposing there skin to absorb something or another, I think. I've intentionally avoided reading up on it too much. And the guys strip too.

Ahh, it was the third game. So the first two games' service are simply in terms of CGs/animation, then.

And I'm not opposed to equal opportunity. :keroro:


No, they aren't ugly by any stretch. They just aren't the focus, so they are relatively bland. They aren't bad though, and a few of them actually have pretty interesting designs (Ayatane in particular).

This, basically. The biggest offender of the "bland male" is the main guy from AT1. The other males in the franchise aren't that bad, but they never take your focus away from the girls. (which is how it should be)

Oh, OK. The "bland male" character's never really been a problem for me - even in all those romantic comedy anime I've seen - so I don't think I'll have an issue there.

[HitokiriShadow]

It's really easy to beat that boss before she uses the attack that locks the game up. It only really becomes an issue if you re-fight her, as you can fight her over and over again after the one required fight and she gets stronger each time.

Interesting.

Is there any inherent benefit from repeated fights other than leveling up?

The 5th, 10th, and 15th time you beat her gets you the last 3 CGs for your CG collection. The glitch makes it pretty much impossible to get those last two images.

[broodwars]

I'm still not exactly sure why considering I'm not a big fan of Ar Tonelico 2, but I went in and pre-ordered AT3 a couple of days ago. Maybe I figured that I just didn't have enough JRPGs to play right now between Star Ocean 4, Neptunia, and Atelier Rorona (and Lost Odyssey and Tales of Vesperia on my 360, now that I think about it). -_-' Plus, I have a bad feeling that Homefront isn't going to do well in the reviews. Reading the RPGamer review of the game, it looks like they've fixed my major issue with the last game: the completely dull combat. I'm a little miffed about the "True Ending" apparently being hidden by a timed battle where you can't see the timer, but at least there's a feature in AT3 that lets you jump around the game's timeline once you've beaten it. That should make mopping up trophies surprisingly easy for a JRPG.

Hopefully, you'll still be able to enjoy the game just fine having only completed half of AT2 and never having played the first game.

[Buster Blader 126]

It's really easy to beat that boss before she uses the attack that locks the game up. It only really becomes an issue if you re-fight her, as you can fight her over and over again after the one required fight and she gets stronger each time.

Interesting.

Is there any inherent benefit from repeated fights other than leveling up?

The 5th, 10th, and 15th time you beat her gets you the last 3 CGs for your CG collection. The glitch makes it pretty much impossible to get those last two images.

:eek:

Oh what the fu- :beat:

I can already picture my inner completist screaming bloody murder when the time arises.

I also found out that EB Games charged an extra $5 before taxes, even though they charged MSRP for Neptunia. Damn you EB! :beat:

[Draneor]

Anybody want to sell me on Ar Tonelico? What makes the game entertaining and enjoyable to play? What should I expect in terms of gameplay and character design?

The first game has Misha. You'll love Misha (based on your past tastes). I actually like the other two reyvateils too, but they don't come close to my love for Misha.

I can already picture my inner completist screaming bloody murder when the time arises.

Hence, when combined with removing part of the Japanese track to accommodate the dub, why I'm not playing it. That said, someone did apparently create a fixed version if you know how to mod your PS2 (I don't and I don't have the time to figure out how at the moment).

[Fencedude]

Hence, when combined with removing part of the Japanese track to accommodate the dub, why I'm not playing it. That said, someone did apparently create a fixed version if you know how to mod your PS2 (I don't and I don't have the time to figure out how at the moment).

Look, while I agree its dumb, its even sillier to play AT3 without playing AT2.

I'm not kidding.

[Draneor]

Look, while I agree its dumb, its even sillier to play AT3 without playing AT2.

I'm not kidding.

Didn't you play AT2 before AT1 though? I have no doubt I'll miss out on some stuff, but I'm sure it won't be incomprehensible.

My choice is to either clean up my media room so I can set up my TV and PS3 to play AT3 (chaotic mess due to a flood last summer so everything is unorganized from the cleanup) or do nothing. Odds are, if I don't play it now, I may never.

[Fencedude]

Look, while I agree its dumb, its even sillier to play AT3 without playing AT2.

I'm not kidding.

Didn't you play AT2 before AT1 though? I have no doubt I'll miss out on some stuff, but I'm sure it won't be incomprehensible.



Yeah, but thats a different matter.

Also, AT2 is a much, much better game than AT1, even with the translation stupidity. The characters are better, the story is better, the game system is better and the music is much, much better.

The only part of AT1 that even comes close to AT2 is Misha. She's still fantastic, but the rest of the game just looks weak next to AT2

[Draneor]

Also, AT2 is a much, much better game than AT1, even with the translation stupidity. The characters are better, the story is better, the game system is better and the music is much, much better.

The only part of AT1 that even comes close to AT2 is Misha. She's still fantastic, but the rest of the game just looks weak next to AT2

Given the fact that we almost differ on particulars, I wonder if I would agree. The original Ar Tonelico is my third favorite PS2 RPG, after all (after Disgaea 1 & 2). Lyner was really the only thing I disliked about the game.

Although I agree I overall prefer the hymmnos from the second game more than the first, the first has my favorite songs hands down, including EXEC_PHANTASMAGORIA/ which is my favorite RPG ending song of all time ( also EXEC_PURGER/.#MISHA extracting, EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/, & EXEC_RE=NATION/--only EXEC_VIENA/ is in the same bracket). Granted, the first set has the advantage of being associated with certain memories of the game.

In any case, it's not a question of whether I will play AT2 some day--just whether I will play AT3 in a week.

[TnAdct1]

Just to let you guys who ordered it on the NIS Store know: the game has started shipping.

[cress2000]

By sound of things, never playing AT2 would be sort of like never watching Clannad After Story for me. It is my second favorite game of last generation (only beaten by Resident Evil 4, purely by gameplay), and also Gust's magnum opus to me; nothing else of theirs that I've played so far has come close, fun as AT1 (my second favorite of theirs) was when I played it. I will be very satisfied with AT3 even if it's only half as good.

[Isuzu Inugami]

I did hear about that major glitch on the second game, which is a little discomforting.

It's really easy to beat that boss before she uses the attack that locks the game up. It only really becomes an issue if you re-fight her, as you can fight her over and over again after the one required fight and she gets stronger each time.

I vaguely remember some talk that the glitch didn't happen if you played on the PS3, due to the higher processing power or something. Anyone know if that was confirmed, or just hearsay?

Also, this has reminded me to order the game. :sweat:

[Fencedude]

I did hear about that major glitch on the second game, which is a little discomforting.

It's really easy to beat that boss before she uses the attack that locks the game up. It only really becomes an issue if you re-fight her, as you can fight her over and over again after the one required fight and she gets stronger each time.

I vaguely remember some talk that the glitch didn't happen if you played on the PS3, due to the higher processing power or something. Anyone know if that was confirmed, or just hearsay?

Also, this has reminded me to order the game. :sweat:

Its a memory overflow error, the PS3 has way more memory than the PS2, so it doesn't happen.

[HitokiriShadow]

I vaguely remember some talk that the glitch didn't happen if you played on the PS3, due to the higher processing power or something. Anyone know if that was confirmed, or just hearsay?

Also, this has reminded me to order the game. :sweat:

Its a memory overflow error, the PS3 has way more memory than the PS2, so it doesn't happen.

However, I hear playing it on the PS3 results in frequent corrupted saves.

[Isuzu Inugami]

Its a memory overflow error, the PS3 has way more memory than the PS2, so it doesn't happen.

However, I hear playing it on the PS3 results in frequent corrupted saves.

LOL, there's no getting a break, is there. Is it the whole block of saves, or just individual saves? Persona 4 will have individual saves mess up on the PS3, but if you just save to two files each time you save it's not a problem.

[HitokiriShadow]

Its a memory overflow error, the PS3 has way more memory than the PS2, so it doesn't happen.

However, I hear playing it on the PS3 results in frequent corrupted saves.

LOL, there's no getting a break, is there. Is it the whole block of saves, or just individual saves? Persona 4 will have individual saves mess up on the PS3, but if you just save to two files each time you save it's not a problem.

I think I read something about needing to save on multiple virtual memory cards to be safe because it corrupts the whole thing, but I'm not sure on that.

[Suwako Moriya]

So earlier someone point outed to me the following, which can be seen here in this review (http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/Ar_tonelico_Qoga/index.html).

Now disregard whether the review isn't negative enough or isn't positive enough, that's not what I'm focusing on here. What I'm focusing on is...

To activate a purge, players shake the PS3 controller and hit either R1, R2, L1, or L2 to use one of the Reyvateil's special support skills that grant bonuses to your party during battle.

Wait! What? Maybe it's just me, but this comes off as kind of silly. The shaking part mainly. Never mind that I have yet to really play an PS3 games that would require.

So I have no idea if a simple shake would be enough for this game. Or if it's one of those cases where unless sacrifice blood, it will never work right.

As for the rest of the review, I paid it not much mind for a variety of reasons. Because as I read through it to find the part that a person pointed out to me, it well the review came off as err way to familiar.

[cress2000]

Its a memory overflow error, the PS3 has way more memory than the PS2, so it doesn't happen.

However, I hear playing it on the PS3 results in frequent corrupted saves.

LOL, there's no getting a break, is there. Is it the whole block of saves, or just individual saves? Persona 4 will have individual saves mess up on the PS3, but if you just save to two files each time you save it's not a problem.

I think I read something about needing to save on multiple virtual memory cards to be safe because it corrupts the whole thing, but I'm not sure on that.

Multiple virtual cards makes the most sense to me. The save slots in Gust PS2 games are crammed into one save file.

[Fencedude]

Now disregard whether the review isn't negative enough or isn't positive enough, that's not what I'm focusing on here. What I'm focusing on is...

To activate a purge, players shake the PS3 controller and hit either R1, R2, L1, or L2 to use one of the Reyvateil's special support skills that grant bonuses to your party during battle.

Wait! What? Maybe it's just me, but this comes off as kind of silly. The shaking part mainly. Never mind that I have yet to really play an PS3 games that would require.

So I have no idea if a simple shake would be enough for this game. Or if it's one of those cases where unless sacrifice blood, it will never work right.



Jacqli (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/724431/) was less than impressed with the mechanic. (Danbooru)

[HitokiriShadow]

To activate a purge, players shake the PS3 controller and hit either R1, R2, L1, or L2 to use one of the Reyvateil's special support skills that grant bonuses to your party during battle.Wait! What? Maybe it's just me, but this comes off as kind of silly. The shaking part mainly. Never mind that I have yet to really play an PS3 games that would require.


Ugh, seriously? "Shake the controller" bullshit mechanics in an RPG? I foolishly thought my genre of choice would have no use for such stupidity, but clearly I was wrong.

[Suwako Moriya]

To activate a purge, players shake the PS3 controller and hit either R1, R2, L1, or L2 to use one of the Reyvateil's special support skills that grant bonuses to your party during battle.Wait! What? Maybe it's just me, but this comes off as kind of silly. The shaking part mainly. Never mind that I have yet to really play an PS3 games that would require.


Ugh, seriously? "Shake the controller" bullshit mechanics in an RPG? I foolishly thought my genre of choice would have no use for such stupidity, but clearly I was wrong.

Sadly, I get the feeling it's less about use and more about having a gimmick for the sake of having a gimmick. Which is just wrong in my view.

Seriously, I'm of the radical mindset that unless there's actual good reason for having "motion controls" a game should let us press the button.

[HitokiriShadow]

Ugh, seriously? "Shake the controller" bullshit mechanics in an RPG? I foolishly thought my genre of choice would have no use for such stupidity, but clearly I was wrong.

Sadly, I get the feeling it's less about use and more about having a gimmick for the sake of having a gimmick. Which is just wrong in my view.


That's what I meant. I just really didn't expect RPGs to have this gimmick shoved in them.

[DiGiKerot]

That's what I meant. I just really didn't expect RPGs to have this gimmick shoved in them.

It's not as problematic as you'd think. The way the battle system works means that they didn't have a button spare to map it to, so it's really less done as a gimmick than it is as a practicality. You literally just have to apply a brief, strong movement to the controller - enough to register it as something beyond natural movement - for it to register, as opposed to making any particular movements in particular timings.

This isn't to say that they shouldn't have designed the system to fit on the buttons they actually had available, but it's not something I managed to activate by accident, or failed to activate when required, whilst I was playing around with the Japanese version.

[DiGiKerot]

I vaguely remember some talk that the glitch didn't happen if you played on the PS3, due to the higher processing power or something. Anyone know if that was confirmed, or just hearsay?


I'm pretty sure it's just hearsay - I played it on a PS3, and I still had the freezing issues. Admittedly, I played it on one of the original US 60gb models, so it's not vastly different from just playing it on a PS2 hardware wise, but I'm pretty sure that's also the model some people seemed to think it worked on (as opposed to the software-BC models).

Also, in regards to the save-corruption thing, I've heard that a lot in regards to a lot of Gust titles, though more Mana Khemia 2 than Ar Tonelico. I can't say I've had a problem with it, but then I'm also in the tendency of creating a new Virtual Memory card for every RPG I start. I gather it's a lot more common with fuller Virtual Memory cards, but that may just be coincidental (and I may just be lucky :sd:)

[DiGiKerot]

So earlier someone point outed to me the following, which can be seen here in this review (http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/Ar_tonelico_Qoga/index.html).


That review is actually entirely fair - especially the reusing dungeon things (though that only really extends to one particularly horrible, maze-like dungeon full of enemies that remain difficult up until the end that the game insists on sending you to over and over and over again).

Saying that, I don't think any of the things that review picks out as negatives will particularly bother most of the inhabitants of this particular part of the internet. Indeed, a few of them with undoubtedly count as positives. It's a fun game, regardless, though in terms of sheer content it doesn't really measure up to AT2.

[nekonene]

To activate a purge, players shake the PS3 controller and hit either R1, R2, L1, or L2 to use one of the Reyvateil's special support skills that grant bonuses to your party during battle.


Soooo.. my controller is now a Shake-weight?:catgirl:

[Draneor]

Jacqli (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/724431/) was less than impressed with the mechanic. (Danbooru)

If that girl comes with the mechanic, I'm down.

[Fencedude]

Jacqli (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/724431/) was less than impressed with the mechanic. (Danbooru)

If that girl comes with the mechanic, I'm down.

PLAY AT2

[Senku]

Jacqli (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/724431/) was less than impressed with the mechanic. (Danbooru)

If that girl comes with the mechanic, I'm down.

PLAY AT2

This exchange has made my day. :)

[Fencedude]

Just got my shipping notification.

Yay!

[UEHacker]

Just got my shipping notification.

Yay!

Aw, makes me wish I actually ordered from NISA, I didn't this time because I figured it'd arrive late.

[Ryos]

Aw, makes me wish I actually ordered from NISA, I didn't this time because I figured it'd arrive late.

As big as my backlog is, I didn't worry too much about when it'd arrive. But yeah, can't wait for this to make its way down here...

[Senku]

Just got my shipping notification.

Yay!

Yep, me too.

Now we'll get to see how much slower the free shipping is.

[Ryos]

Now we'll get to see how much slower the free shipping is.

It seems to be identical to their normal shipping (for example, goodies like plushes get sent priority mail). When I paid an arm and a leg for the cheapest amount, it used to take a week or so to arrive. I expect about the same here. So the big difference is do you want to pay ~$9 for slow shipping or $0? :P

[TnAdct1]

Now we'll get to see how much slower the free shipping is.

It seems to be identical to their normal shipping (for example, goodies like plushes get sent priority mail). When I paid an arm and a leg for the cheapest amount, it used to take a week or so to arrive. I expect about the same here. So the big difference is do you want to pay ~$9 for slow shipping or $0? :P
Actually, if I read things right after clicking the link that's connected to the tracking number on my shipping confirmation, the game may be arriving to those with free shipping either Monday or Tuesday.

[Ryos]

Now we'll get to see how much slower the free shipping is.

It seems to be identical to their normal shipping (for example, goodies like plushes get sent priority mail). When I paid an arm and a leg for the cheapest amount, it used to take a week or so to arrive. I expect about the same here. So the big difference is do you want to pay ~$9 for slow shipping or $0? :P
Actually, if I read things right after clicking the link that's connected to the tracking number on my shipping confirmation, the game may be arriving to those with free shipping either Monday or Tuesday.

USPS doesn't provide a delivery ETA for cheap shipping. Or mine sure doesn't. It'd be awesome if we got it that early, but I'm not expecting it any time soon either.

[cress2000]

My friend has already received his. Lucky bastard.

[Westlo]

Ordered this off Play-Asia... somehow going to have to start AT1 and than restart AT2 (think I put about 12 hours into this...) before getting into AT3... Just started playing RIFT and I still have to train for MvC3/SSFIV AE ranbats... fuck I've got no time... /resigns from work.

[Ryos]

Now we'll get to see how much slower the free shipping is.

It seems to be identical to their normal shipping (for example, goodies like plushes get sent priority mail). When I paid an arm and a leg for the cheapest amount, it used to take a week or so to arrive. I expect about the same here. So the big difference is do you want to pay ~$9 for slow shipping or $0? :P
Actually, if I read things right after clicking the link that's connected to the tracking number on my shipping confirmation, the game may be arriving to those with free shipping either Monday or Tuesday.

USPS doesn't provide a delivery ETA for cheap shipping. Or mine sure doesn't. It'd be awesome if we got it that early, but I'm not expecting it any time soon either.

And I'll be darned, mine was in the mail today. Fastest slow shipping ever. :P

[cress2000]

Still without so much as a shipping confirmation here. sigh

[red_hamsterx]

Still without so much as a shipping confirmation here. sigh
Ditto. I really hate how inconsistent NISA always is with pre-orders. (Pre-ordering the moment something goes live seems to make no difference, and they always seem to ship things destined for Canada after every US order, despite the fact that it takes longer for stuff to get here)

[cress2000]

Still without so much as a shipping confirmation here. sigh
Ditto. I really hate how inconsistent NISA always is with pre-orders. (Pre-ordering the moment something goes live seems to make no difference, and they always seem to ship things destined for Canada after every US order, despite the fact that it takes longer for stuff to get here)

Finally got my confirmation a few minutes ago. Hopefully they sent the thing Priority.

...and I also hope they didn't forget to include my Neptunia pre-order. Last year I pre-ordered two PS2 Sakura Wars sets and they forgot one. And a few years back they completely forgot to ship an order.

[HitokiriShadow]

Finally got my confirmation a few minutes ago. Hopefully they sent the thing Priority.

...and I also hope they didn't forget to include my Neptunia pre-order. Last year I pre-ordered two PS2 Sakura Wars sets and they forgot one. And a few years back they completely forgot to ship an order.

I used the free shipping option, and the tracking information says its shipping via Priority Mail. Hopefully I'll have it by Wednesday. I was really hoping it would arrive Tuesday, but since it just shipped out from the California center Monday evening, I can't imagine it will get from there to my local mail distro center in ~12 hours. I'll be really annoyed if it doesn't arrive until Thursday, because that would leave me with only that day to have any real time to play it this week.

[Ryos]

No spoiler breakdown overview of my reaction to the game since reviews are all over the place (mostly negative).

Pluses:

- Easily the most sophisticated engine Gust has done in a game. You wouldn't confuse it for FFXIII or anything but it's refreshing to see something that doesn't look like a low budget game.

- No Babblefish translation quality at least early on like AT 2.

- If you are an otaku, odds are good you'll enjoy the game like me because what most reviewers found disturbing is rather appealing to me. Haven't decided whether the M rating was particularly warranted at this point. But I am a pervert so YMMV.

- So far the hero is my favorite one of the series...which isn't saying much. :P

Minuses:

- Game look isn't as good as more 2D efforts like say AT2.

- Although I don't think the combat is a huge step down, it has some issues. The engine is similar to one RPG folks will be used to (my personal favorite one). The party AI is AWFUL. And the new Reyvateil mechanic is as terrible as advertised, though the game seems easy enough so far that I am hoping the latter won't be much of an issue. I can see the AI being a problem if enemies become trickier though.

- Not digging the Japanese track at all. I'm pretty close to checking the dub because most of the voices irritate me at this point. It isn't as bad as Lost Odyssey but it's up there. Definitely a huge drop from 2 but then Shinku was as awesome as always. Haven't noticed any decent seiyuu so far here.

- The soundtrack is bad, particularly compared to the first 2 games.

So far I am tentatively saying it's better than advertised. Not sure I would say it is the best PS3 RPG like I thought about AT2 with PS2 (if you overlooked glaring NISA localization issues), but then there are a few great PS3 RPGs out there. It's a shame this is the last game of the series because the series is a very unique approach in terms of games that have made it overseas.

[cress2000]

- So far the hero is my favorite one of the series...which isn't saying much. :P

Hmm... I at least thought Croix was a huge improvement over Lyner. If only because he wasn't dense as hell and didn't freak the fuck out over stupid stuff. Lyner would've had a heart attack powerful enough to kill a hundred men if he had to do the Infelsphere stuff. Christ.


- Game look isn't as good as more 2D efforts like say AT2.

I've heard the game at least manages 60 frames per second along with 4xMSAA. That should at least give it an image quality far ahead most anything else on the system.


- The soundtrack is bad, particularly compared to the first 2 games.

I bought the soundtrack out of blind faith that it'd be amazing like the first two games' were. But no, they replaced Daisuke Achiwa with some newbie composer who's nowhere near as good. There are still some good Ken Nakagawa tracks, but damn.

At the least Hymns are still great. Except maybe EXEC_EP=NOVA. And EXEC_CUTYPUMP. Fuck EXEC_CUTYPUMP.

[cress2000]

I used the free shipping option, and the tracking information says its shipping via Priority Mail. Hopefully I'll have it by Wednesday. I was really hoping it would arrive Tuesday, but since it just shipped out from the California center Monday evening, I can't imagine it will get from there to my local mail distro center in ~12 hours. I'll be really annoyed if it doesn't arrive until Thursday, because that would leave me with only that day to have any real time to play it this week.

Yeah, my delivery confirmation number is now showing info, but no progress events. I'm wondering if it actually shipped today or if it's really going out tomorrow. Thursday the earliest if it's tomorrow.

[Ryos]

- So far the hero is my favorite one of the series...which isn't saying much. :P

Hmm... I at least thought Croix was a huge improvement over Lyner. If only because he wasn't dense as hell and didn't freak the fuck out over stupid stuff. Lyner would've had a heart attack powerful enough to kill a hundred men if he had to do the Infelsphere stuff. Christ.

I concur. That's probably a lot of the reason why I liked AT2 considerably more than the first. Still though, there were some minor issues I had with Croix like his civilian look and the fact he was just a little too laid back at times. But considering Lyner? Vast improvement. So far I like Aoto as a character, though it's a shame that the seiyuu is not one of my favorites.

[Senku]

- Game look isn't as good as more 2D efforts like say AT2.

I thought the sprite work of AT2 was fugly as all get out. The environments were alright, so we'll see if there's a step down in that department.

- Although I don't think the combat is a huge step down, it has some issues. The engine is similar to one RPG folks will be used to (my personal favorite one). The party AI is AWFUL. And the new Reyvateil mechanic is as terrible as advertised, though the game seems easy enough so far that I am hoping the latter won't be much of an issue. I can see the AI being a problem if enemies become trickier though.

I'm usually not a waggle-whiner, so I wonder if this will be any worse then that.

- Not digging the Japanese track at all. I'm pretty close to checking the dub because most of the voices irritate me at this point. It isn't as bad as Lost Odyssey but it's up there. Definitely a huge drop from 2 but then Shinku was as awesome as always. Haven't noticed any decent seiyuu so far here.

???

Goto and Kitamura should be killing this game. And Sugiyama should be good at the (over)dramatic parts.

This is an interesting development.

It's a shame this is the last game of the series because the series is a very unique approach in terms of games that have made it overseas.

Hopefully they'll create a new franchise with the same concept.

[red_hamsterx]

...and I also hope they didn't forget to include my Neptunia pre-order. Last year I pre-ordered two PS2 Sakura Wars sets and they forgot one. And a few years back they completely forgot to ship an order.
I generally always order stuff together with a friend, and, yeah, they tend to be pretty bad at noticing quantities over 1: I've had three instances where they've completely failed to include the second copy of a game. Fortunately, they never seem to put up much resistance when I complain. (Since this order has both At3 and Neptunia, I'm actually hoping it'll make them read things more carefully)

[HitokiriShadow]

Yeah, my delivery confirmation number is now showing info, but no progress events. I'm wondering if it actually shipped today or if it's really going out tomorrow. Thursday the earliest if it's tomorrow.

Mine didn't show anything other than "We have shipping information (but fuck you, we aren't going to actually give you any information about where its at)" for about 24 hours. And then it was just that it had shipped out from their California center. And its currently still somewhere between there and whatever local place receives it.

[cress2000]

I generally always order stuff together with a friend, and, yeah, they tend to be pretty bad at noticing quantities over 1: I've had three instances where they've completely failed to include the second copy of a game. Fortunately, they never seem to put up much resistance when I complain. (Since this order has both At3 and Neptunia, I'm actually hoping it'll make them read things more carefully)

Heh. When I called about Sakura Wars, the lady on the phone was all like "Yeah, that happens sometimes."

Ahh, NISA. Problems with everything.

Mine didn't show anything other than "We have shipping information (but fuck you, we aren't going to actually give you any information about where its at)" for about 24 hours. And then it was just that it had shipped out from their California center. And its currently still somewhere between there and whatever local place receives it.

As of right now, mine's still at Electronic Shipping Info Received. A couple weeks back there was a period where packages weren't getting scanned at hubs, but right now, that doesn't seem to be an issue. I'm inclined to believe it's only going out with today's mail. =/

[cxt217]

- So far the hero is my favorite one of the series...which isn't saying much. :P

Hmm... I at least thought Croix was a huge improvement over Lyner. If only because he wasn't dense as hell and didn't freak the fuck out over stupid stuff. Lyner would've had a heart attack powerful enough to kill a hundred men if he had to do the Infelsphere stuff. Christ.

I concur. That's probably a lot of the reason why I liked AT2 considerably more than the first. Still though, there were some minor issues I had with Croix like his civilian look and the fact he was just a little too laid back at times. But considering Lyner? Vast improvement. So far I like Aoto as a character, though it's a shame that the seiyuu is not one of my favorites.

Sad to say, the main male PC left absolutely no impression on me for either AT1 or AT2. I can not say I either liked them or disliked them - they just were not memorable enough to make feel anything other than indifference.

C.T.

[UEHacker]

sigh, amazon is usually good to me but they still haven't shipped it today. And the "estimated delivery date" on the order page says the 17th. Ontop of that the item page for the game says "Ships in 4 to 5 weeks" ;___;

[broodwars]

I picked up my copy today from GS, and was annoyed to see that once again NISA decided to use that same fracking impenetrable outer box. Similarly, I'm a little annoyed that the soundtrack comes in one of those cheap paper sleeves with no track listing. I'll start up a new game soon, but looking at the artbook I'm amused that there seem to be two completely identical characters in the game (one a returning character from AT2, and another one of the main Revs).

[Ryos]

Ahh, NISA. Problems with everything.

That'd be funny if it weren't true. :P

[broodwars]

Hmm...I started playing the game, and after about an hour of playtime the game has deigned to finally give me the Purge command. So far, I do like the game more than the previous AT, though the game still feels a bit clunky. I haven't quite gotten the hang of the new battle system, which seems designed around the player doing basically nothing until you see a red spike on the Purge gauge. It feels like a less polished version of the Tales battle system. Maybe I'll like it better as more features are unlocked. It's nice that the game tells you when a Rev wants to talk to you, though.

I did love this sentence in the tutorial for the Purge system: "He who controls stripping, controls the battle!" There's also been some humorous dialogue like "Thanks to Saki pulling on her bra strap...err...bootstrap, we were able to survive!" It's nice to see the game isn't really taking itself all that seriously. On a sidenote, does anyone else find it a bit odd that although the Revs are supposed to be singing in these battles, you never hear it? -_-

I do like the visual style of the game, which seems to be going for something of a watercolor feel. And for a NIS/GUST game, it's fairly high-budget. The music is...well..."bleh", so far.

[broodwars]

.................................................. ......Are you kidding me? When you're browsing through shops, there's no way to know if the item you're purchasing is better than one you have equipped other than just knowing the stats of what you have? C'mon, GUST/NIS, this is amateur hour stuff...

[cress2000]

Processed through Sort Facility, March 15, 2011, 5:55 pm, ANAHEIM, CA 92899

Figures.

[HitokiriShadow]

Processed through Sort Facility, March 15, 2011, 5:55 pm, ANAHEIM, CA 92899Figures.

And that's still what mine says. Doesn't look like I'll be playing AT3 tomorrow, which leaves Thursday as the only day I'll have any time to play it this week. *sigh*

[HitokiriShadow]

There are currently 5 DLC add-ons available. I'm not entirely sure what they are, they are "extra scenarios" and they have titles like "Binary World [2nd issue] Elemia Island vol. 2". The first one is free, the other four are $1.99 each. And the file size range is.... interesting. The free one is 54 MB, the smallest paid one is 177 kb.... and the largest is 285 MB. The other two are about 1 MB and 3 MB.

[broodwars]

There are currently 5 DLC add-ons available. I'm not entirely sure what they are, they are "extra scenarios" and they have titles like "Binary World [2nd issue] Elemia Island vol. 2". The first one is free, the other four are $1.99 each. And the file size range is.... interesting. The free one is 54 MB, the smallest paid one is 177 kb.... and the largest is 285 MB. The other two are about 1 MB and 3 MB.

Yeah, I downloaded the free one and I have no idea where it went once I installed it. I still can't access the "Extras" option on the main menu, and it's not a video on the XMB like I thought it was. Maybe it appears somewhere selectable in-game?

[Fencedude]

Yeah, I downloaded the free one and I have no idea where it went once I installed it. I still can't access the "Extras" option on the main menu, and it's not a video on the XMB like I thought it was. Maybe it appears somewhere selectable in-game?

*looks at the descriptions on the PSN Store*

Hmm...they smell of Cosmosphere scenarios. Most likely they will be available at some point when this "Ar Ru" is on your team, or something.

[HitokiriShadow]

Yeah, I downloaded the free one and I have no idea where it went once I installed it. I still can't access the "Extras" option on the main menu, and it's not a video on the XMB like I thought it was. Maybe it appears somewhere selectable in-game?

*looks at the descriptions on the PSN Store*

Hmm...they smell of Cosmosphere scenarios. Most likely they will be available at some point when this "Ar Ru" is on your team, or something.

I suspect it will be some sort of non-party member "cosmosphere". The "Binary sphere" label is very telling, given what you could do at the end of AT2, though whether it will involve that kind of character or something else, I have no idea. I have no idea what the situation in this tower is like, but I could imagine the tower having the capability to use the binary sphere for entertainment purposes. The way the DLC is labeled suggests something like that to me, at least.

[Fencedude]

Out for Delivery, March 16, 2011, 8:47 am, <redacted>, FL <redacted>

ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG

[Fencedude]

I suspect it will be some sort of non-party member "cosmosphere". The "Binary sphere" label is very telling, given what you could do at the end of AT2, though whether it will involve that kind of character or something else, I have no idea. I have no idea what the situation in this tower is like, but I could imagine the tower having the capability to use the binary sphere for entertainment purposes. The way the DLC is labeled suggests something like that to me, at least.

Yeah, thats what I'm figuring.

Probably won't be available till fairly late in the game in that case.

[Westlo]

.................................................. ......Are you kidding me? When you're browsing through shops, there's no way to know if the item you're purchasing is better than one you have equipped other than just knowing the stats of what you have? C'mon, GUST/NIS, this is amateur hour stuff...

Wow seriously?

[HitokiriShadow]

Out for Delivery, March 16, 2011, 8:47 am, <redacted>, FL <redacted>ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG

*blinks* Huh, I never saw this on mine. I checked about an hour ago, and it just said it arrived in a nearby sorting facility at about 3:00 am. Since I didn't see this, I figured I wasn't going to get it today. I leave for ~45 minutes, come back, and there it is. Yaaaaaay, I get to play it today afterall. Though not for a few more hours. ;_;

[Fencedude]

ZOMG ITS HERE

*is installing now*

[DiGiKerot]

ZOMG ITS HERE


The games not out in Europe for another two weeks.

I hate you all.

[Fencedude]

Alright, started.

Mute is, as expected, horrifying.

Saki's amusing. She turned the soldiers into cake! what the hell?

Also, the character's stats are all messed up. Aoto weighs the same as Mute? Seriously? And Tatsumi's remarkably short and light for an 18 year old boy.

[Fencedude]

Why Luphan, you certainly look very Ayatane

So far I like Finnel way more than Saki, though Saki's pretty amusing.