White Knight Chronicles

Infobox VG
title = White Knight Chronicles


developer = Level-5
publisher = Sony Computer Entertainment
designer =
engine =
released = vgrelease|JP= December 25th, 2008|NA=TBA vgy|2009|EU=TBA vgy|2009
genre = Console role-playing
modes = Single-player, 4 Player co-op
ratings =
platforms = PlayStation 3
media = 1 × BD-ROM
requirements =
input =nihongo title|White Knight Chronicles|白騎士物語 - 古の鼓動|Shirokishi Monogatari - Inishie no Kodou is a video game RPG developed by Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is Level-5's first project for the system. According to Sony during a press conference in Tokyo, "White Knight Chronicles" is expected to launch during the current fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2009,cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6193056.html |title=White Knight due before April '09, MGS4 sells 3M in two weeks |accessdate=2008-06-26 |accessmonthday= |accessyear= |author=Tom Magrino |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-06-26 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=GameSpot |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate=] though whether this applies to all releases of the game is still to be determined. Its been confirmed in the latest Famitsu that White Knight Chronicles will be released December 25th, 2008 in Japan.

While little is known about the title, Level-5 has revealed they are placing an emphasis on scale within the game world. As per the playable demo at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, some enemies are extremely large in size, resulting in battle situations similar in style to Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation 2 title, "Shadow of the Colossus". In one piece of concept artwork, a massive turtle-like creature is depicted carrying an entire city on its back.cite web|url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/733/733845p1.html |title=TGS 2006: Level-5 Working on PS3 |accessdate=2006-09-21 |accessmonthday= |accessyear= |author=IGN Staff |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2006-09-20 |year= |month= |format= |work=IGN PS3 |publisher=IGN |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate=]

Gameplay

"White Knight Chronicles", like most other console RPGs, is presented in third person perspective. The player can freely choose which character to control. Like any other RPG, the characters gain experience points and level up, becoming stronger over the course of the game. Level-5 plans to make "White Knight Chronicles" a 100 hours game, a length Akihiro Hino considers to be a full length RPG, going against the pressure to make "White Knight Chronicles" a launch title and cutting the story short.cite web|url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/737/737646p1.html |title=Akihiro Hino Talks White Knight |accessdate=2006-10-07 |accessmonthday= |accessyear= |author=IGN Staff |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2006-10-06 |year= |month= |format= |work=IGN PS3 |publisher=IGN |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate=]

World

The Tokyo Game Show trailer shows that, similar to "Soul Blazer", one can select locations on a world map, presumably ones the player has already visited, to instantly go to, along with a preview of that area. Each area also has a quest list that shows quests the player has yet to complete. The player can choose a quest to do before going to the desired area.

Battle system

The battle system used in "White Knight Chronicles" uses a real-time combat system, where the battle mode is initiated automatically when enemies are present. Before a battle, the player optionally goes into the "Battle Preparation" menu (accessible at any time) and chooses a set of seven commands for each character in the party. This set of seven commands is called a "Function Palette", and several of these palettes can be saved, suggesting that tactical palette preparing and switching will be essential to the game. The commands can also link in some way, presumably to create combos. These can then be used in battle, but before a player can perform these combos the character must attack when the enemy is vulnerable - otherwise the attack gets blocked or deflected. The player controls one of the characters, while the others are controlled by the AI, as seen in the Tokyo Game Show trailer. Players, though, can freely change the character they're controlling. The main character can transform into the White Knight when a gauge is filled, using normal attacks on minor enemies. Characters can also perform combo attacks with other characters, such as one character holding an enemy while another attacks it. Boss battles also take place in a similar fashion except that they may include cutscenes for in-battle events.

Characters

;nihongo|Lenard|レナード|Renādo:The main character, who can transform into the White Knight.

;nihongo|Yulie|ユウリ|Yūri:A girl who comes from the same village as Lenard.

;nihongo|Erudoa|エルドア:A middle-aged warrior.

;nihongo|White Knight|白騎士|Shirokishi:A seven meter tall warrior from a time when such creatures nearly destroyed all of mankind.

;nihongo|Black Knight|黒騎士|Kurokishi:A warrior identical to the White Knight in both powers and abilities.

;Avatar:A character that the player of the game can customize and have accompany the main cast throughout the game.

tory

Not much is known about the story, though in an interview with "Famitsu", Level-5 president Akihiro Hino revealed that the game's story will center around the relationship between the protagonist and the princess that was seen in the promotional trailer. Early in the game, the protagonist comes to the princess' rescue and from there on, they begin to develop a close relationship with one another.cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2007/1252.html |title=Level 5 Talks White Knight Story |accessdate=2007-07-31 |accessmonthday= |accessyear= |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-07-28 |author=RPGFan |publisher=RPGFan]

Audio

"White Knight Chronicles" will feature full voice-overs, as well as an orchestrated soundtrack by Level-5 composer Tomohito Nishiura.

References

External links

* [http://www.jp.playstation.com/scej/title/shirokishi/ Official Website (SCE)] ja icon
* [http://www.level5.co.jp/products/shirokishi/index.html Official Website (Level-5)] ja icon
* [http://www.level5.co.jp/ Level-5's Website] ja icon