New Wii RPG -- Arc Rise Fantasia

**Julian** · 2008-06-27 21:24

**Charismatic** · 2008-06-27 21:41

Turn based, eh?
It better have some awesome gameplay tweaks that no one is expecting.

I'm slowly but surely been weened off of turn-based combat systems.

**Exoduso** · 2008-06-28 03:34

I <3 turn-based games. <3

**Kiarax** · 2008-06-28 04:11

Looks interesting, maybe it'll give me a reason to dust off my Wii.

**Kyo** · 2008-06-28 06:45

Or give me a reason to buy one, was waiting to see a few more RPG's and 3rd party support games for the wii before I got one, this game looks really nice.

**Julian** · 2008-06-28 07:11

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc010.jpg

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc040.jpg

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc041.jpg

Artwork:

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc001.jpg

Raluk lagoon
Age: 17
Height: 175cm
Weight: 63kg
Weapon: Great Sword
Voice Actor: Nakamura Yuuiti

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc002.jpg

Refia
Age: 16
Height: 158cm
Weight: 44kg
Weapon: stick
Voice Actors: Yui Makino

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc003.jpg

Adeel Nevanrinna
Age: 16
Height: 161cm
Weight: 45kg
Weapon: cane
Voice Actor: Kato Emiri

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc004.jpg

Alphonse Zenna Meridia
Age: 18
Height: 176cm
Weight: 61kg
Weapon: saber
Voice Actor: Ishida Akira

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc005.jpg

Sage
Age: 33
Height: 176cm
Weight: 66kg
Weapon: dagger
Voice Actor: Konishi Katsuyuki

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc006.jpg

Leslie Flaherty
Age: 22
Height: 168cm
Weight: 51 kg
Weapons: Two pistols
Voice Actor: Asano Masumi

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc008.jpg

Cecil Garcia
Age: 12
Height: 149cm
Weight: 39kg
Voice Actor: Haruka

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc009.jpg

Nicole Benecsu
Age: 20
Height: 171cm
Weight: 61kg
Weapon: Pistols
Voice Actor: Wataru Tsubasa

http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs...128/arc007.jpg

Necromancer
Age: 15
Height: 168cm
Weight: 53kg
Weapons: unarmed
Voice Actor: Mitsuki Saiga

Interview:

It's looking like Arc Rise Fantasia is going to be the first turn-based RPG to grace the Wii. How does it feel to have that privilege? (Opoona is turnbased...)

Hideyuki Mizutani, Producer of Arc Rise Fantasia at Marvelous Entertainment Inc.: For the players to deeply immerse into the story we wanted to create a turn-based RPG that is smooth with good pacing, which led to this new style of battle which we think is always stimulating for the player. The three party member Trinity Battle System has a wide variety of move selections with various combination skills which equals to about a wide array of variations for a turn-based battle system.

How exactly does party combat within Arc Rise Fantasia work? Is it typical, player gets a turn and attack style?

Mizutani: The player will get to attack and do other moves when the character's turn comes but you are also able to do combos, activate your skills, do cooperation attacks and many other actions. Assessing the party's condition and implementing the right action at the right time can lead to an unexpected and surprising outcome.

The fantasy setting with dragons screams classic RPG, as does turn-based combat. Sometimes it is nice to have that comfort of a classic RPG. That being said, how do you feel Arc Rise Fantasia will compete in today's market?

Mizutani: In this game a noble creature like a dragon is becoming something foul which is the prologue of this world destruction. As you go though the story you will find out why dragons have became these vile creatures. It's a very unique story. Also the cast that support the story are very interesting, and getting the deep emotional bond with each character is an experience only possible in this kind of game. You'll be able to see the latest style of J-RPG in Arc Rise Fantasia.

Source: RPGamer > Feature > The State of XSEED/Marvelous Interview

Another Interview:

A Chat With Marvelous and The President Of Imageepoch

I played Arc Rise Fantasia using the Classic Controller. Do you plan to implement motion control too?

Hideyuki Mizutani, Operating Officer at Marvelous Entertainment: For the game you can use the Classic Controller, Gamecube controller, and Nunchuck/Wii remote. But, we don’t really utilize the capability of swinging it since we were thinking of a traditional RPG where you sit down and enjoy it for a long period of time.

Can you tell us about the story?

Ryoei Mikage, President of Imageepoch: There are creatures called Fallen Dragons (note: English names have not been decided yet) and they cause disasters within the world. There is also an energy called Ray, sort of like a magical energy and different countries, different places are fighting against each other over the Ray. The natural balance of the world is thrown off so all of these monsters are appearing. In the midst of that there is a boy and a girl. They both have an important part, sort of like the key of the world. Depending on the decisions they make they can change the balance of the world.

How long do you think it will take for someone to complete Arc Rise Fantasia?

HM: Only the story part alone, probably 40 hours. Include the sub-quests and extra additional parts, 10-20 hours more.

Out of all the main characters which one is your favorite?

RM: We haven’t announced those yet so… it’s hard to say. Please wait. We’ll announce a male character soon and I like that one.

The one wearing red?

RM: Not that one…

Arc Rise Fantasia is not related to Luminous Arc at all right?

HM: No.

Are you concerned about the sales of Arc Rise Fantasia?

RM: In our minds if it goes close to Tales of Symphonia we’ll be satisfied. We’re thinking about expanding Arc Rise Fantasia into second and third sequels. As for the first one we’re not thinking it’s going to be that much of a big hit.

For a sequel are you thinking of using the same characters or using completely different characters and a new world like the Final Fantasy series?

HM: [Laughs] If we are going to make a sequel, if we can make a sequel it’s closer to Final Fantasy, but I don’t want to say that because Final Fantasy completely changes the story and their characters. It will have common elements, a bit of different characters and a bit of a different story.

Are you already planning a sequel?

RM: No comment. Right now we’re working on a lot of different action games as well so we’re learning and applying action skills. The basic concept of Imageepoch is fantasy games. That doesn’t really mean RPG or action. Our games are within the fantasy genre.

What kind of action game would you make? Would you make one with lots of shaking for the Wii or something very difficult like Ninja Gaiden?

RM: More like Super Mario Galaxy-ish.

So… kind of cute?

RM: We’re experimenting with a Resident Evil-type and we’re also experimenting stuff with a Super Mario Galaxy-type. At Imageepoch it’s not like ‘this is only the type of brand that we do’. It’s like would it be interesting to do this? We don’t really have a solid statement, but we play around a lot.

If you were working on an action game will use the characters from Arc Rise Fantasia or Luminous Arc?

RM: That would be great.

HM: That would be great, but we haven’t thought of that yet.

It seems like Imageepoch has grown so much. Are you hiring people every day to work on new projects?

RM: I have been working in the gaming industry since I was 16 years old, while I was still in high school. I worked at Koei, Square Enix, and Namco Bandai during my high school and college years. All of the people I worked with back then like the movie designer and scenario designer currently at Imageepoch were people that taught me what gaming was about. Since I have a long relationship with them I don’t feel like it’s becoming a different company by hiring, it’s adding my old friends.

Is Marvelous is planning on publishing many more Imageepoch games?

HM: Definitely, that would be great.

RM: We want to take it a step at a time to make something great each and every time. If one title sells you can kind of think we’re making two. If two sells than we’re working on four titles.

For these projects is Marvelous planning them or is Imageepoch pitching games to Marvelous?

HM: Right now, it’s a little bit of both.

RM: Because we have a really good relationship. Honestly, we see each other two or three times a week. It’s not really like getting together and pitching them ideas. We are constantly talking about what we can do so it’s like it would be great to this and vice versa. Sometimes Mizutani-san will come up with three keyword phrases and pitch that to me and I would say what about this kind of game design? Then Mizutani-san would say that exactly was what I was talking about! It’s a really quick process so it’s easy to work with Marvelous.

Right now we’ve seen all of the Marvelous published Imageepoch games come out in America. Are you designing games for Japan first and then seeing if they work for North America or are you making games with a worldwide audience since Marvelous has a partnership with Xseed?

HM: We’re thinking about the US from the beginning.

Source: Siliconera � An Impromptu Chat With Marvelous And The President Of Imageepoch

Nintendo Power stuff?

- "Now that publishers have had time to feel out what does and doesn't work on Wii, Mizutani (Marvelous Producer) and producer Ryoie Mikage of ImageEpoch expects to see the dearth of Wii RPGs come to an end."
- Part of the Tales of Symphonia team (game designer, CG director, scenario writer, and main battle programmer - among others) are working on the game. They say it feels like a Tales game, as a result.
- You see the enemies on the field, so no random battles.
- "Instead of the Tales series' frantic real-time battling, Arc Rise Fantasia uses an original turn-based system with a dash of strategy-RPG flavor. In our early version of the game, the battle system is a clear highlight"
- Battles load quickly.
- "The trio has a set number of ability points to spend each turn, and you can distribute them however you like - by having your best fighter attack three times, for example, or by having each member attack once."
- The main story will be around 30 hours plus optional side quests.
- The game doesn't use IR or waggle, but some of the optional casino mini-games will.
- They say it's nice to hear Mitsuda working on a disk-based platform again.
- "As proud as the developers are of Arc Rise Fantasia's battle system, soundtrack, and character designs, both men go straight for the storyline when asked to name the team's primary focus. ... The game features a huge supporting cast, dozens of plot threads, and a worldview built around numerous intersections between divinity and technology."
- "the stage is set for a perfect storm of political upheavals, spiritual awakenings, and ecological catastrophe. What more could you ask for from Wii's first original RPG epic?

More:

- Team making game composed of TOS' game designer, cg director, scenario writer, main battle programmer and other people from TOS.

- The game will have Tales-like optional Skits, opened by pressing 2 button

- Weapons used in battle get level ups
- Their abilities pop off in form of geometric pieces-think tetris. Trade pieces among party or put em tetris style into frames of future weapons.

- Magical abilities are based on each character's 'cage' ,they can be leveled in special shops and fit with gems allowing casting of various elemental spells.

- Game has a brisk pacing-30 house long.
- Sidequests-guild, casino. Casino has minigames that'll use ir/motion sensing capabilities of the Wii.
- Characters- only saw the first four characters that were revealed a long time ago.
- L'arc Bright Lagoon: main character, merc supports sick mom, and lecherous uncle.
- Ryfia: mystery girl
- Alphonse 'Arth' Zena Meridia: meridia prince, older bro is the king, L'arc's friend
- Adelle Nevanlina: childhood friend/neighbor of L'arc, magic teacher

moar images:

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...mmagine3-2.png

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b.../Immagine6.png

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b.../Immagine5.png

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b.../Immagine7.png

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...mmagine4-2.png

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...Immagine-3.png

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...mmagine1-1.png

**MisterBob** · 2008-06-28 16:26

Originally Posted by Julian

Originally Posted by Charismatic

Turn based, eh?
It better have some awesome gameplay tweaks that no one is expecting.

I'm slowly but surely been weened off of turn-based combat systems.

On the bright side:

There's no AI for other characters doing retarded stuff you gotta worry about. Isn't it better being able to control everyone?

Yeah, the AI in the Tales series is especially bad.

**Maguspk** · 2008-06-29 00:43

Is the site broken for anyone else? I dunno why I can't see the pictures or anything

**Zanz L. Barre The 3rd** · 2008-06-29 10:50

Looks amazing...

**Ryushii** · 2008-06-29 11:51

Originally Posted by Maguspk

Is the site broken for anyone else? I dunno why I can't see the pictures or anything

**Julian** · 2008-06-29 14:12

I'll rehost the images on my photobucket later, here's some copypasta of info:

New Wii RPG, announced today on Famitsu, made by Image Epoch (World Destruction, Luminous Arc) and published by Marvelous.

Staff:

[quote:6f08gtkk]
Producer (MMV): Hideyuki Mizutani (Luminous Arc Producer)

Development Producer (Image Epoch): Ryoei Mikage (credited in Disgaea 2, Luminous Arc)

Director (Image Epoch): Hiroyuki Kanemaru (Tales of Symphonia PS2, Tales of Rebirth)

Scenario: Takumi Miyajima (script writer on both Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss)

Composition/Music Director: Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger/Cross)

Main Character Original Design: Kenichi Yoshida (Mononoke Hime, Eureka 7, Planetes, Cowboy Bebop movie)

Roguresu Design: Shin Nagasawa (Bahamut Lagoon)

*so this is why Namco said 90% of Team Symphonia was on Vesperia it's not that the other 10% where on ToS2 they left, for shame, for shame* [/quote:6f08gtkk]

Tidbits:

- 3 character party
- The entire party shares an AP gauge, it depletes as actions are performed
- It is possible for a character to attack more than once, or for a character to use a strong single attack that will leave the other charactes with less AP to use
- If multiple characters use the same skill on the same enemies, the effectiveness of the skill will be increased
- There are summon beasts in the game called Roguresu. They serve as the speakers on all worldly matters in the game
- Image Epoch x Marvelous
- Traditional fantasy RPG
- Several Luminous Arc staffers on board
- Official Site will be open on 27th June
- Graphics style is similar to tri-Ace games
- All screenshots are widescreen
- Game in Full 3D
- Direct Feed images on the 27th
- Basically looks like Trusty Bell. The art direction and graphics are very similar.
Quote
"I think a lot of people are going to be very surprised. Image Epoch seems to be able to get something extra out of the limited hardware of the Wii and the DS that many other studios can't. Or maybe other studios just aren't bothered. This looks like Trusty Bell in SD widescreen."
- Not real time. It uses AP and there's a turn order in battles.
- Preview calls it a "deep and highly strategic RPG".

A co-op production between Marvelous and Image Epoch (the outfit behind Nintendo DS cult hit Luminous Arc, pictured), Arc Rise Fantasia is set in the empire of Meridian, which has a bit of a lingering dragon problem. These so-called "contaminant dragons" are nothing but trouble, passing through the nation in great flocks; even if you kill one, the resulting explosion poisons the local area and causes it to look a bit like a Superfund site. When the empire receives word that a massive horde has its sights on the capital of Diamant, it immediately sends out an army to counteract them, including licensed mercenary Bright and his friend Alse, royal prince and second in line for the throne. Bright is severely hurt in the ensuing battle, but is saved at the last minute by a girl named Ryphia who possesses the power to control "ley squalls," naturally-occurring storms of magic that usually take the form of luminous rain. (Is all of this "fantasy" enough for you, then?)

Not much has been revealed about Arc Rise Fantasia's gameplay yet, other than the battles will employ an action point-based system that appears to be turn-based. This initial announcement focuses primarily on the game's characters -- Bright, cool and collected novice mercenary; Alse, bright and beloved prince of the kingdom; Ryphia, a naive and reserved girl who obviously has some secrets in her past; and Adele, a Diamant magic instructor who seems to care about frilly fashion just as much as her light-based offensive spells.

Source: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168411 @last quote above^

- Mikage happy to finally announce the game.
- Visuals are 70% done and are not final
- Right now cutscenes have no facial animations, that's gonna change until the game launches
- The team is still working on making the graphics better as well as the liveliness of the event scenes.
- Next month they'll announce the voice cast for the game. (voice acting confirmed)
- Image Epoch has 4 production teams, Luminous Arc team, World Destruction team, Arc Rise Fantasia team and one with a unannounced game (Project DF), they have also subteams, those being, a sprite team and a subteam of 3D that focus on helping and advancing the projects (sprite team helps on all their DS games for example)
- confirmed that the Arc Rise team is not the same from Luminous Arc, by saying it has members who worked on Luminous arc, before Famitsu seemed to be reffering to Mikage, Marvelous as a producer/publisher and Mitsuda. (who participated on Luminous Arc too)
- Dragon Hunting is a focus in the game
- Battle system named Trinity Battle system, TBS for short, similar to how Tales is uses LMBS (linear motion battle system)
- Trinity stands for group of three; triad, and in this game party's consist of 3 characters.
- Action commands include: Excel Acts, Tandem Connect and Party Connect

Taken from my friends over at tales-cless (*'-') thanks guys!

**Doombard** · 2008-06-29 18:48

I loved Luminous Arc. Is this gonna hit stateside?

**Julian** · 2008-06-29 19:02

Originally Posted by Doombard

I loved Luminous Arc. Is this gonna hit stateside?

It would be stupid for it not to, but game devs these days...

**MisterBob** · 2008-06-29 19:29

Bah, seeing it's from the Luminous Arc people is disappointing, that game was nothing more than mediocre.

**Elcura** · 2008-06-30 06:05

Chrono Trigger/Cross music guy? Fuck yeah, CT/CC had great OSTs.

**Julian** · 2008-06-30 12:57

moar pics

http://www.gpara.com/files/contents/...4678465_11.jpg

http://www.gpara.com/files/contents/c_l1214678465_6.jpg

http://www.gpara.com/files/contents/c_l1214678465_0.jpg

http://www.gpara.com/files/contents/c_l1214678465_1.jpg

**Yuri-G** · 2008-06-30 14:16

Mitsuda is god.

**Maguspk** · 2008-06-30 14:33

Can you fix OP SS Jul? Looks really good from what you posted.

**Julian** · 2008-06-30 15:09

Will photobucket them once i get a break

**Julian** · 2008-06-30 15:58

OP now rehosted on my photobucket

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