Tales of Destiny (PS2)

Infobox VG| title = Tales of Destiny


developer = Namco Tales Studio
publisher = Namco
designer = Mutsumi Inomata (character)
engine =
released = Original Version:
^JPNNovember 30, 2006 (PS2)
Director's Cut:
^JPNJanuary 31, 2008 (PS2)

genre = Console role-playing game
modes = Single-player, multiplayer
ratings = CERO: A (All Ages)
platforms = PlayStation 2
media = 1 × DVD-ROM ("PlayStation 2")
requirements =
input =

nihongo|"Tales of Destiny"|テイルズ オブ デスティニー|Teiruzu obu Desutinī is a video game remake in the RPG genre published for the PlayStation 2 console by Namco Bandai Games on November 30, 2006 in Japan.It is a remake of the second game in the Tales series, the original Sony PlayStation Tales of Destiny, which was released on December 23, 1997."Tales of Destiny (PS2)'s" characteristic genre name is nihongo|"The Name "Destiny"'s RPG"|運命という名のRPG|Unmei to iu na no RPG.

A Director's Cut of the game with many new features and game modes was released on January 31, 2008 in Japan.

History

On June 19, 2006, scans indicated that a remake of "Tales of Destiny" would appear on the PlayStation 2. Later on November 15, 2006, one week before the original release date of November 22, 2006, the game was delayed to an unknown date. Two days later on November 17, 2006, the official Namco Tales site announced the release date of "Tales of Destiny (PS2)" would be pushed back to November 30, 2006, in order to fix a bug they discovered in the game during testing.

Battle System

The E-LMBS has been replaced by the new AR-LMBS (Aerial Linear Motion Battle System), a battle system that was built for aerial comboing, AR-LMBS replaces TP with the new Chain Capacity points. These CC points allow for easy comboing of any skills you like, provided you have the CC necessary.Each character has a base and max CC, which can be changed using several methods. At the start of a battle, the character will start at their base CC. Every time they use up CC, it will go up 1 higher than before, until it has reached the character's max CC; from there, it will go down to the base CC again.

Some enemies can inflict you with a status effect called Downsize, this status effect will revert your character to their PS1 version sprite, you will be unable to attack while downsized, you can only walk (not run) or use items.

Changes From The Original

Though the overall plot remains the same, the entire game script has been re-written.The main story for the game is completely voiced, like all the other PS2 Tales of games.

The remake features overhauled hand-drawn sprite-on-3D-background graphics similar to those of "Tales of Rebirth".

With the exception of Lion, all ten playable characters are available at the end of the game, whereas the original only allowed two extras (non Swordian-users) in the final areas. (This included Lilith if she had been recruited via use of the Glitch or Gameshark.) Kongman and Johnny join the party as part of the story in the remake. Lilith can also be recruited through a side-quest instead of a glitch or cheat, and her move Thunder Sword has now become her only Blast Caliber.To get Lilith, talk to her in Leane after you can freely control the Sea Dragon, and then defeat her in the Colosseum at Rank 4 with Stan.

New scenes have been added, while some scenes from the original, such as the date with Ilene, were removed.

Several bosses have been removed/added, such as a certain pre-final boss fight being taken out. The boss order has been changed slightly as well. Also included is a new battle between Stan Aileron and Dimlos, in an attempt to regain the full strength of the Swordians.

The game music has been remixed, and several new songs have been added in to the soundtrack.The original's two main battle themes, "Bare its fangs" and "Surprise attack!", have been made the main battle themes for the first and second halves of the game, respectively.They are joined by a new third main battle theme toward the end called "Progress toward the end" (another "Bare its fangs" remix), which is the main battle theme at the very end of the game.

The skit system has been revamped.

The world map is now in full 3D and even has some mini-games on it. There are also more vehicles than in the original.

One of the most notorious new features is the featuring of one of Tales of Destiny 2's main antagonists Barbatos Goetia as a secret random encounter. He is usually found if the player attempts to 'auto-level' (running around in circles in the world map while setting all characters' controls to be Auto) and can be found even when the player's party is not greatly leveled, which can occasionally cause game overs. Barbatos is also an end boss in the game's secret dungeon.

Another feature present in this remake are the Narikiri dolls. When the player beats the game, he gains access to the EX Dungeon, a 10-floor bonus dungeon. The clown who lets the player into that dungeon will allow the player to exchange earned EX Points from the dungeon for items, such as the Narikiri dolls. The Narikiri dolls allow the player to change the characters into other characters by equipping them with a doll. This also allows the player to use Lion Magnus in the second half of the game, or use a party consisting of four of him, or any other character.When the player first gains access to the dungeon, only Narikiri Lion will be available (for 1,000 EX Points), but new characters will be available after every cleared floor.

Classic Namco References

*Players may acquire several items that references to Tales of Destiny 2 characters, such as a wig resembling Nanaly's hair and a mask identical to Judas'.

*Kratos Aurion replaces Cless and Arche as the Quiz Master.

*Dolls of Mieu and Tokunaga (Anise's doll) can be found in various houses.

*Pictures in Heidelberg Castle feature characters from Tales of Rebirth, Veigue Lungberg, Agarte Lindblum, and Annie Barrs.

*A character resembling Veigue Lungberg appears as a boss in the EX Dungeon, using some very similar attacks.

*One of the shopkeepers of a bakery in Liennea resembles Mimmi Bread, the 'Wonder Chef' of Tales of Legendia.

*Mieu is also seen here from Tales of the Abyss.

*During one of the cutscenes, Zapie from Tales of Rebirth can be seen sitting on top of a cabin roof.

*Kyle from Tales of Destiny 2 appears as a doll in Mary's house during a sidequest. Loni can be seen as a kid in Cresta.

*Hats from several "Tales of" characters make appearances on Gentlemen as cameo enemies in a sidequest. Gentlemen wearing the hats of Klarth, Race/Ras, Chloe, and Hilda (from Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Eternia, Tales of Legendia, and Tales of Rebirth respectively) can be fought individually, and later altogether during the same sidequest.

*A Gentlemen wearing the hat of KOS-MOS from the Xenosaga series can be fought in the EX Dungeon; this Gentlemen has several of KOS-MOS' moves.

Director's Cut

A Director's Cut of "Tales of Destiny (PS2)" was announced on July 20, 2007, and was released on January 31, 2008 in Japan for the PlayStation 2. "Tales of Destiny Director's Cut's" characteristic genre name is nihongo|"The Name "One More Destiny"'s RPG"|もうひとつの運命という名のRPG|Mou hitotsu no unmei to iu na no RPG.

This version of the game includes a new game mode called "Lion's Side". "Lion's Side" makes Lion Magnus the main character of the game instead of "Tales of Destiny's" normal main character, Stan Aileron.The original game mode from "Tales of Destiny (PS2)" is still available to play, under the new name "Stan's Side".

There is also a very small sidequest in "Stan's Side", called "Lilith's Side", where Stan's sister Lilith Aileron goes into the Tilso Forest to get herbs as a present for Stan."Lilith's Side" can be started by sleeping in the Snowfreer Inn at the end of a "Stan's Side" playthrough.If the player uses a Holy Bottle to avoid any random battles, this sidequest is beatable in under 5 minutes.

In addition to "Lilith's Side", several other sidequests have been added.

"Tales of Destiny (PS2)" save files are still loadable in "Tales of Destiny Director's Cut" from the "Load Original Data" option on the game's title screen.

The game includes the "Second" difficulty rank that was available in Tales of Destiny 2, this difficulty rank was not available in the original release of "Tales of Destiny (PS2)".Several characters have received new skills, especially Lion Magnus, who also received a third Blast Caliber called "Majinken Setsuga".

The Colosseum has a new Rank 6, that has many of the game's bosses appear in a boss rush, including the game's hardest enemy, Barbatos.A "Definite Mode" was also added, which allows the player to chose from previously encountered enemies, and attempt to get their Definite Strikes, the enemies won't die until the player preforms the Definite Strike, so doing infinite combos here is possible.

Two new end-game carry over features have been added, Succeed Skill, which transfers skills and spells over to the next playthrough, and Succeed Food Strap, which transfers the player's Food Strap to the next playthrough.

Max Stats have been increased from 999 to 1999, Max Lens have been increase from 990 to 9990, and Max HP has been increased to 9999.

There are also new Swordian Device skills, post battle voices, more skits, and the effects of some features that were abusable were lessened, such as Flash.

"Tales of Destiny Director's Cut" was released in two versions, the regular version, containing just the game, and a Premium Box version containing a special Premium Box with artwork by Mutsumi Inomata, the game, a 128 page illustration booklet with character artwork by Mutsumi Inomata, and an original soundtrack of the Director's Cut (featuring 21 songs).

External links

* [http://namco-ch.net/talesofdestiny_ps2/index.php Official "Tales of Destiny (PS2)" Website]
* [http://namco-ch.net/talesofdestiny_ps2dc/index.php Official "Tales of Destiny Director's Cut" Website]
* [http://namco-ch.net/to-destiny/index.html Official "Tales of Destiny (PS2)" Linkage Website] (Service officially stopped on May 31st, 2007, was originally supposed to run for 1 year, instead of a half year.)
* [http://todrtrans.pbwiki.com/ "Tales of Destiny (PS2)" Fan Translation Wiki]