Tales (role-playing game series)

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The Tales series is a franchise of role-playing games published by Namco. The series is among the top five most-popular RPG series in Japan.^{[citation needed]} Several entries have been localized for North America or Europe. Tales of Phantasia was developed by Wolfteam in 1994 and published in 1995. Most of the Wolfteam staff involved left Telenet Japan after the game was released and then formed tri-Ace, who now make the Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile game series, published by Enix (now Square Enix).

The Tales games continued to be developed by Telenet Japan and published by Namco until after Tales of Destiny 2, when both companies formed the dedicated joint venture Namco Tales Studio. The only remaining staff from Tales of Phantasia at that point were series director Eiji Kikuchi and music composers Motoi Sakuraba and Shinji Tamura. Namco Tales Studio has developed every subsequent game in the series other than Tales of Legendia, which was developed by Team MelFes, another Namco in-house development team.

[edit] Battle System

This screenshot is from the Tales of Destiny remake for the PS2. It displays the simultaneous real-time nature of AR-LMBS.

Main article: Linear Motion Battle System

The series possesses an unusual battle system for an RPG. It has been likened to that of a fighting game (like Street Fighter) and is called the Linear Motion Battle System, or LMBS for short. The new battle system for Tales of Destiny PS2 Remake is the Aerial Linear Motion Battle system (or AR-LMBS), and it includes Chain Capacity. Using Chain Capacity, you can chain up to as many attacks as you want until you run out of CC. More information can be found on the official site.

Usually the player has direct control over one character (often the protagonist) and can move and direct this character in any way he or she chooses. By pressing the attack button along with a directional button in different directions, the character can perform various kinds of attacks, like slashes and thrusts or ground-to-air and air-to-ground type attacks. The character's weapons usually have different attack values for a slash or a thrust. There are three modes of control for each character: Auto, Semi-Auto and Manual, with the first being controlled by the computer, the second being the classic hybrid mode and the third offering a true manual control over the character more comparable to a fighting game. At any time, the player can bring up a menu which pauses the action and allows him or her to select an item or an ability to use (and the target), to choose a spell to cast (and the target), to change a character's artificial intelligence tactics or to escape from the battle, among other things.

The later games in the series allowed for up to four players to join in a battle (requiring the MultiTap for PlayStation consoles) instead of computer control (with the exception of Tales of Legendia, which was developed by a different team). The Linear Motion Battle system has been progressively enhanced as the series progressed. Tales of Phantasia started with the Semi-Auto mode, Tales of Destiny added a true Manual mode and the ability for multiple players to control one character each, Tales of Eternia sped up battles considerably and added the now very popular Hi-Ougis which were then exploited by Tales of Destiny 2. Additionally, a hit counter is displayed, leading to impressive combo feats which, once recorded, are popular in fan circles. Newer Tales games extend this battle system through different means: Tales of Symphonia added a 3D battlefield while retaining the linear connection between controlled character and targeted enemy; Tales of the Abyss builds upon this and offers the optional Free Run similar to Star Ocean 3. Tales of Rebirth, on the other hand, kept the 2D system while offering three lines of movements instead just one. And to further Rebirth's three-lined system, Tales of the Tempest combines it with a full 3D battle engine.

[edit] Game list

The following is a list of the games, their release dates and systems. Games without mention of a North American or European release date are, or were, marketed exclusively in Japan.

[edit] Main games

[edit] Spinoffs

[edit] Upcoming games

[edit] Reoccurrence

The series has some recurring features. These are not found in every game and may function slightly differently in the games they do appear in.

• Themes of discrimination, loss, or antagonists trying to "save" or "improve" the world in a way that involves doing something bad to its inhabitants.
• Equipment, e.g. Gilgamesh/Ishtar collection, Derris Emblem, powerful swords such as Excalibur or Last Fencer, etc.
• Items, e.g. fruit-flavored gels, Rune Bottles, stat-boosting herbs such as Sage and Lavender, etc.
• Spells and Techniques, e.g. Indignation spell, Demon Fang energy wave, etc.
• Elemental Spirits, such as Gnome, Undine and Efreet. Also known as Greater Craymels, they can often be summoned in battle.
• Cooking system. Recipes are usually learned from NPCs, such as the Wonder Chef. The first recipe is commonly a sandwich.
• Titles system. In some of the games, certain titles may bestow a stat-boost or a costume change.
• A collector's book, to keep track of all the items the player has seen.
• A monster album, to keep track of all the enemies the player has seen.
• Sorcerer's Ring, an item that shoots a small beam of energy. Used for dungeon puzzles.
• A coliseum, where the player can fight increasingly difficult enemies over many rounds. There is usually a cameo battle, which may be against a special NPC from the current game or characters from previous Tales games.
• A bathing scene in a spa or hot springs.
• An old man in a room with many cats.
• Aifread, a legendary pirate.
• The arrest of the main character at one point during the game, which eventually causes your character to be thrown in jail.
• A group of 'Three Stooges' NPCs, usually called 'The Black Wings', 'Dark Wings', or some other variation.
• Skits, optional scenes viewed outside of normal cutscenes which may give more insight on characters' personalities or give the player a good laugh.

[edit] Summon Spirits

Several Tales games feature Summon Spirits, which represent the world's elemental magic.

• Efreet - Efreet appears as a red-skinned demon. His name originates from a type of Djinn, and he is the Summon Spirit of Fire. Efreet is found in Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Eternia, and Tales of Symphonia, in addition to having a cameo role in Tales of Legendia.
• Undine - Undine appears as a maiden with blue clothing. Her name comes from water nymphs of Germanic folklore, and she is the Summon Spirit of Water. Undine is found in Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Eternia, and Tales of Symphonia.
• Sylph - The Sylph are named after eponymous fairies from several Western mythologies and serve as the Summon Spirits of Wind. Sylph is summoned as multiple fairies in Tales of Phantasia and Tales of Symphonia and as a single fairy in Tales of Eternia. The Sylph are found in Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Eternia, and Tales of Symphonia.
• Gnome - Gnome takes its name from Gnomes of Norse mythology and is a spirit of earth. In Symphonia he appears as a giant shovel-carrying and ribbon-wearing mole-like creature, and in Phantasia, he appears as a group of submerged smaller gnomes. Gnome is found in Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Eternia, and Tales of Symphonia, in addition to having a cameo role in Tales of Legendia.
• Celsius - Celsius takes the appearance of a young girl and is named after the Celsius scale. She is the Summon Spirit of ice and is found in Tales of Eternia and Tales of Symphonia, in addition to having a cameo role in Tales of Legendia.
• Volt - Volt, the Summon Spirit of lightning, looks like an iridescent orb with eyes. It also seems to be unable to communicate with humans. Volt is found in Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Eternia, and Tales of Symphonia, in addition to having a cameo role in Tales of Legendia.

[edit] Storyline

The storylines of most games in the Tales series are not connected to one another. There are a few games with minor connections, but each game can be appreciated by itself without knowledge of the events of other games in the series, with the possible exception of Tales of Destiny 2.

[edit] Aselian timeline

The games in this timeline take place in the same world but many years apart from each other.

• Tales of Symphonia, which takes place at least four thousand years prior to Tales of Phantasia.
• Tales of Phantasia, which takes place in three different time periods, the "present" time being the year 4304 of the Aselian calendar.
• Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon, focusing on Mel and Dio 104 years after Tales of Phantasia's "present" time.
• Tales of the World: Summoner's Lineage, a sequel taking place many years after Phantasia, with Klarth's descendant Fulein K. Lester as the protagonist.

[edit] Destiny timeline

These games are more closely related than any other games in the series.

• Tales of Destiny tells the story of Stahn Aileron.
• Tales of Destiny 2, which takes place eighteen years after its predecessor, tells the story of Stahn's son, Kyle.

[edit] External links

• Official Japanese Tales Series Website
• Official English Tales Series Forum Board