Killzone 2

While Guerrilla Games has become well-known for the Horizon series, remastering Killzone 2 for the PS5 seems a given. It’s the game that put the company on the map and its excellent visual fidelity, attention to detail, fun gun play and solid multiplayer would make a smooth transition over to the console. If a new sequel on PS5 isn’t coming any time soon, then it makes sense to revisit Killzone 2 in some capacity.

For me, the Tales series is one of those franchises. I had a general idea of what the franchise was, thanks mostly to a long time friend who put many hours into 2008’s Tales of Vesperia, but I’d never played one myself, mostly because I didn’t have the time to tackle a huge JRPG.  For whatever reason, most developers have decided that no JRPG is allowed to have a run time that is below 50 hours, lest it place a pox on their houses. This mindset means that most games are padded out longer than their story or gameplay ideas can support. The worst thing a JRPG can do is waste your time, and unfortunately, Tales of Xillia 2 is a game that does just that.

"In the world of Xillia, people with large amount of debt are treated like criminals, and severe restrictions are placed on their ability to travel, which means you’ll need to make regular debt payments in order to “unlock” new parts of the world and advance the plot.

It starts out fairly promisingly. Protagonist Ludger Kresnik seems content to be living with his brother, Julius and Rollo, their adorable fat cat, and has just landed a new job. Things are going pretty well, until a chance meeting with Jude Mathis from the previous game and a young girl named Elle force Ludger onto a train that’s being hijacked by a terrorist organization known as Exodus. Ludger and company survive the incident but, in what is one of the worst game mechanics I have ever seen in any game, our hero finds himself 20 million gald (yes, you read that right) in debt to the doctor that saves their lives. And I thought my medical bills were ridiculous.

In the world of Xillia, people with large amount of debt are treated like criminals, and severe restrictions are placed on their ability to travel, which means you’ll need to make regular debt payments in order to “unlock” new parts of the world and advance the plot. At first, it’s not that bad. The required payments are pretty small, so you’ll do a few side missions, make the payment and move on. But after a while, the game will prompt you for another, and another, and another. You can shrug most of these off and keep going, but you’ll be forced to pay eventually, when the game won’t let you leave the debt interface.

After a couple hours, the process gets downright painful. It wouldn’t be so bad if the game wasn’t so damn obnoxious about it, but Xillia doesn’t really seem to care about how the mechanic comes across. “We have your wallet surrounded!” Nova, your debt collector, announces as the debt interface forces its way onto your screen. “Give up the gald and no one gets hurt!” So you pay, and the required payments grow larger and larger, and because 20 million is such an enormous number, nothing ever really changes.

"The entire cast of the original game returns to join Ludger, Elle, and Rollo, and each one brings something unique to the party, from Alvin’s scoundrel-like tendencies to Leia’s bumbling perseverance. And then there’s Rollo, who may be the best feline companion in all of video games.

But your ability to do things does. Most of the gear and items in the game can only be acquired by purchasing them from the shops that are scattered among the various cities and other areas, but it becomes hard to justify your purchases with a debt collector breathing down your neck. Let’s see, I could buy some new weapons, armor, and healing items, but then I’d have to grind for another hour to pay back my debt. So you put those purchases off, pay off the debt, and do the best you can against increasingly more difficult enemies with what you have. At least, until your next payment comes due.

“Don’t hate me,” Nova pleads as she walks off with more of your money. “I’m just doing my job.” But it’s kind of hard not to when you can’t buy those boots anymore. Now, I know why the game does this. The story doesn’t really lend itself to a lot of opportunities for combat in the first few hours, so this is an artificial way to force the player to fight and get used to things (and ensure the game hits that 50 hour standard) before the plot really gets moving. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s an awful excuse for forcing the player to grind for hours and then stealing their dough.

It’s a heavy load that the game has to bear, that debt, but Xillia 2 is more than adept at shouldering it. It’s the characters, really. The entire cast of the original game returns to join Ludger, Elle, and Rollo, and each one brings something unique to the party, from Alvin’s scoundrel-like tendencies to Leia’s bumbling perseverance. And then there’s Rollo, who may be the best feline companion in all of video games. Even Nova becomes somewhat endearing when she’s not picking your pocket.  Watching these characters grow and interact is a real joy, and the game balances humor with moments of emotional resonance very well. The real stars, of course, are Ludger and Elle, and their relationship is the best part of all.

"The player can choose how Ludger responds to character and other situations, which influences how other characters view you, the actions the party takes, and even the bosses you’ll fight. It doesn’t do too much to the core plot, so you can choose your responses without worrying about how it will reflect the story’s conclusion.

The player can choose how Ludger responds to character and other situations, which influences how other characters view you, the actions the party takes, and even the bosses you’ll fight. It doesn’t do too much to the core plot, so you can choose your responses without worrying about how it will reflect the story’s conclusion.  This has the odd, probably unintended result of making Ludger come off as something of a mute, as your choices are made exclusively through text, but it adds a lot to the game, and the character feels distinctly yours as a result.  The final decisions, as you’d expect, are something of a doozy, but it’s satisfying and difficult in a way that feels honest given the numerous twists and turns of the plot, which, like the characters, is engaging and fairly unique.

The battle systems fares equally well. After encountering an enemy in the environment, you’re dropped into fairly large combat arenas and given direct control to hack, strike, shoot, and cast your way out of jams. It’s a pretty satisfying system that demands awareness, precision, and smart party management (especially during boss fights), and while it may come across as a little mashy initially, a steady stream of unlocks, including Chromatus, an ability that allows Ludger to transform and get better at the hacking and the slashing, ensure that there’s always something new to learn and that the battles will do their best to keep you on their toes.

The only downside is the leveling system, which is based on something called Allium Orbs. Orbs allow you to turn ore you find into abilities and passive skills, and different orbs offer different skills based on the element they correspond to. It all sounds good in theory, but the problem is that each orb comes pre-packaged with the abilities it’s going to teach the different characters, leaving little for you to do as a player. It’s not a bad system, per se, but its equip and forget nature makes the act of obtaining abilities feel a little disassociated from combat and gaining levels.

"In the end, however, these problems, serious as they are, don’t detract from all of the things Tales of Xillia 2 does right: the characters, the story, the battle system, even the game world, repetition and all. It’s a game with genuine heart, and a lot of cool ideas. And Rollo.

The last problem that Xillia 2 deals with is repetition, which is mainly due to the game’s story. After a certain point, Ludger is tasked with using his Chromatus to enter and destroy “fractured dimensions” – think alternate universes – to protect the integrity of the “prime dimension,” which just so happens to be his. He does this by warping into the alternate reality and destroying the cause of the fracture, known as the “catalyst,” essentially wiping out that timeline and all of its occupants.

It’s a heady idea that the story deals with in fairly interesting ways, but the real issue are the repetition of the environments. Remember that zone you just walked through? Now you get to do it again, but things are different colors this time around, because that’s how alternate dimensions work. In a game already dealing with far too much repetition (thanks, Nova), it gets kind of old.

In the end, however, these problems, serious as they are, don’t detract from all of the things Tales of Xillia 2 does right: the characters, the story, the battle system, even the game world, repetition and all. It’s a game with genuine heart, and a lot of cool ideas. And Rollo. Seriously, how many video game let you dispatch your hilariously overweight kitty cat to different zones to find items for you? Xillia’s got charm, and it knows it. It’s got problems, and it’s probably not the game to start with if you’re new to the franchise, but if you can stand a little repetition, Xillia 2’s got more than enough here to win you over. Now if only Nova would stop badgering me about my bills.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation  3.

Tales of Xillia 2, the first numbered sequel to a flagship Tales game that is also treated as a mainline entry in its own right, is now out on the PlayStation 3; it is the sequel to last year’s Tales of Xillia (although, of course, both games released in Japan substantially earlier than they ever did here in the west), and as such, it should be a fun chance for fans of that game to revisit that world.

Tales of Xillia 2 is not even the last entry of the series on current generation systems- Tales of Zestiria is the next mainline entry in the franchise, and it’s due out next year on the PlayStation 3, in Japan and in the west. For fans who want more Tales action, Tales of Hearts R, the remake of the Nintendo DS Tales of game for Sony’s PlayStation Vita, will also be available later this year.

Rise of Incarnates:

Created by the team behind Soul Calibur and Tekken, Rise of the Incarnates is a free to play fighting game that focuses on 2 vs. 2 gameplay for the PC. It currently had an alpha test near the end of May and it’s likely there will be a beta in the coming days. Check out the newest trailer below.

PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures 2:

This isn’t the same PAC-Man you remember. PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures 2 is based on an animated series of the same name and is more of a 3D platformer. PAC-MAN can still consume power pellets but they’ll be used to change his form during different segments. There will also be different vehicles you can pilot in-game.

Tales of Xillia 2:

Though already available in Japan for the PlayStation 3, Tales of Xillia 2 will be releasing in August in North America and Europe. The story is fairly convoluted but will follow the first game’s story and have a new battle system.

Tales of Hearts R:

Tales of Hearts R is a remake of the original 3DS version that released in 2008 and will be out on the Vita in Q4 2014. The gameplay still mirrors the home console releases and the Vita versions will include new scenarios, two new party members, 3D graphics and fully voiced lines. Thoughts? Check it out below.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse:

What is Dragon Ball Xenoverse? Dragon Ball Xenoverse is a Dragon Ball title that will be out on Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS4 and PS3 and comes from the same team behind the Budokai games. And that’s frankly all you need to know about the game.

Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment:

Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment is based on a novel and anime and will feature RPG gameplay, combo attacks, execution speed and knowledge of the opponent will be mandatory to survive in this VR world!

Tales of Xillia 2, the first mainline ‘mothership’ numbered sequel to a Tales game, in this case last year’s Tales of Xillia on the PlayStation 3, will be hitting Europe and the United States this August, Namco Bandai have confirmed.

The game features all new characters and a story that apparently spans ‘multiple dimensions,’ which I guess is a big deal; personally, Tales games have always had average stories at best to me, but for anyone who got invested in the lore of the original Xillia, the prospect of revisiting that world is surely exciting.

In addition, Bandai Namco also revealed a $129.99 Collector’s Edition for the game, which includes a Ludger figure, a replica pocket-watch, a key charm and metal case modelled after Ludger’s cat Rollo, an art book, a music CD, and exclusive costume DLC modelled after Tales of Vesperia, Symphonia Chronicles, and Graces F characters.

Tales of Xillia 2 will be hitting the PS3 exclusively later this year. Stay tuned.

Speaking to Gaming Angels at the New York Comic Con, Baba stated that, “We are currently in the very early phases of work for next generation PlayStation titles.

“But we still have no plans to bring the series back to the Xbox, or Xbox One. We feel that our core fanbase leans toward the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, so we are focusing our efforts on bringing the best possible Tales experience there.”

Most Tales games haven’t been released for Xbox 360, with only Tales of Vesperia having released in the past (and that eventually arrived for PS3). Tales of Xillia 2 and Tales of Symphonia Chronicles will be heading to PlayStation 3 next year. Stay tuned for more details.

Tales of Symphonia Chronicles, the PlayStation 3 exclusive re-release of Namco Bandai’s most beloved Tales of game, as well as its much less lauded sequel, is getting a Collector’s Edition in Europe, that releases February 28 (which is also when the game releases there, incidentally).

The Tales of Symphonia Chronicles collection celebrates the 10th anniversary of the critically acclaimed classic, Tales of Symphonia by offering it and its follow-up story, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, on a single disc containing the entire Tales of Symphonia storyline with updated HD graphics and new content.

The Collector’s Edition comes packed with the following:

• A set of five Chibi Kyun Chara mini figures from Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World,
• A paperback novel detailing the story,
• A multi-disc soundtrack,
• Special collector’s packaging with artwork from Japanese animation studio, ufotable.

“In celebration of the Tales of Symphonia 10th Anniversary, we wanted to mark the occasion! Bringing back this epic and oneiric adventure was the first step to please fans and newcomers alike” said Mathieu Piau, EMEA Marketing Director for Namco Bandai Games Europe. “The second step was to offer to all our beloved Tales Of fans the Collector’s Edition they deserve, with some fantastic collectible content to dive further into the Tales of universe!”

Tales of Symphonia Chronicles releases next year. Next year also sees the western release of another major Tales of game, Tales of Xillia 2, the sequel to this year’s Tales of Xillia. Stay tuned to GamingBolt for more coverage on the titles.

Update: Tales of Symphonia Chronicles will be released on February 25th, 2013 in North America.

At the Japan Expo in France, Namco Bandai confirmed that Tales of Xillia 2, the sequel to the PS3 exclusive Tales entry that created so many waves in Japan when it first released there (and which finally releases in the west in a month), will be localized and coming to the west after all. The video above confirmed that the sequel is Europe bound next year.

Tales of Xillia 2 will have brand new characters, but in the same game world as Tales of Xillia. It will build on that game’s engine, including the same combat and battle systems as that game.

Tales of Xillia 2 marks the first time since Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World that a mainline Tales entry got a direct sequel. The new game, like its predecessor, will be PS3 exclusive. As of right now, it has only been confirmed for PAL territories, although a US announcement should be inbound soon.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 netted 1.35 million units for all platforms combined, while SoulCalibur V hit 870,000 units sold and Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations sold 660,000 units. Considering the life of fighting games these days without the words “WWE” or “Super Smash Bros”, this is pretty well done.

For Japan-only releases, Run for Money and Taiko Drum Master, both 3DS titles, sold 450,000 units and 410,000 units respectively. Tales of Xillia 2, released only for the PS3, had a very strong showing, as is expected from the franchise with 500,000 units sold. This should help hype up the original’s Western release nicely.

If nothing else, it should also provide enough impetus to bring the sequel to North America and Europe as well.

Quite frankly, this isn’t surprising. For one, there are tons of Tales of games available, ranging from remakes and ports to Gamecube titles and sequels. Couple that with the roaring success of the current generation’s Tales of games, like Tales of Vesperia which released exclusively for the Xbox 360 in Japan and was solely responsible for moving consoles at a time when the system was almost dead, and it’s easy to see how this target was achieved. Still, a good showing by Namco Bandai.

Check out the opening from the most recent game in the series, Tales of Xillia 2, which has released for the PS3 in Japan (with the original making its way to Europe and North America in 2013).