White Knight Chronicles 2

[Tobi]

There's suppose to be another trailer soon showing some of the gameplay elements or w/e. I actually thought that'd be it, but guess not. Hopefully it'll be up by next week or so.

[Tobi]

Some new details have emerged about upcoming RPG title White Knight Chronicles 2 from Japanese magazine Famitsu. According to the latest details there will be big changes to how the game will handle Knight Transformations. Your avatar will now have his very own Knight. You can even customize the appearance of your knight this time around. Also hinted is that you can transform into a Knight during six player online quests. Some quests will limit the number of Knights that can be transformed in one party however. It looks is if the game’s chat interface has improved too.

http://www.justpushstart.com/2010/06...ransformation/

Link to shaky pic showing it: http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/06/02/flying_get/

Scroll down to the near bottom.

[Tobi]

Famitsu has a short two page spread on White Knight Chronicles 2 this week. But included in the update is confirmation of some things that have needed confirming for quite some time.

First up, that whole thing about the inclusion of the original White Knight Chronicles. This was leaked out by retailers weeks ago but was never fully confirmed by Sony or Level-5.

Famitsu confirms that the latest version of the original White Knight will be included in full. In White Knight 2, the original White Knight, Inishie no Kodou, is referred to as "1st part" while the sequel, Hikari to Yami no Kakusei, is referred to as "2nd part." 1st part will include the 130+ pieces of content that were distributed as online download content. Additionally, the graphics and gameplay systems have been updated to 2nd Part standard, giving you access to some of the new gameplay features.

The magazine is a bit vague on what happens when the two games, the original and the sequel, attempt to interact with one another. It seems that players of the sequel will only be able to interact with other sequel players. Same goes for players of the original. Sequel owners will have access to quests for both games, but owners of the original will only have access to quests for the original.

Famitsu also has details on another feature that was first confirmed through slightly unofficial sources (in this case, Twitter). In the first White Knight, your avatar character was unable to transform into a giant Sin Knights. In White Knight 2, your avatar will be able to transform into a knight -- although not a Sin Knight like the knights Leonard and friends transform into. Instead, you transform into an "Arc Knight," a man-made knight that was created by the fine researchers of Barandel Kingdom.

You'll be able to customize and strengthen your Arc Knight by heading out to a Sin Knight Factory and changing equipment and parts. You can also set color, material and other superficial areas, although it seems that some of these will need to be unlocked.

During the game's online "live part" mode and 2nd part's story mode, you can form parties of up to six members (1st part's story mode is limited to four member parties). So can everyone transform into an Arc Knight at the same time? The number of players that can transform simultaneously is actually dependent on the quest. Famitsu does not say if you'll able to ever get six giants on screen simultaneously -- although that would certainly be a sight!

There are a few things left unclarified in the Famitsu article regarding the inclusion of the first game. If Level-5's update schedule holds up, we'll probably get additional details later this week.

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/201..._chronicles_2/

Famitsu.com has posted an interview with White Knight Chronicles 2 director Toshiyuki Kusuda. The interview, a snippet of a larger interview that's going to be published in the magazine's July 8 issue (due for release on June 24), answers some lingering questions you might have about the game even after the update in this week's Famitsu.

According to Kusuda, the big changes the development team was aiming for with the sequel included combat and the overall feeling of volume.

Regarding battle, there were limits to what they could change in the first White Knight through updates. For White Knight 2, they've made a variety of changes in such areas as tempo and strategy.

Regarding volume, the offline story mode of the original had about 25 hours of play time, said Kusuda. There were apparently some complaints from players about the length. For the sequel, you'll find far greater play time. This includes optional elements for those who like to sink their teeth into the game. Kusuda feels that players will not have issues with volume this time.

Kusuda provided additional details on Level-5's decision to include the original White Knight in full in the game, something that was officially confirmed in Famitsu this week. This is something they decided upon when they first decided to make White Knight 2, even though they knew they would have to make some adjustments to the game.

There were two reasons for including this. First, they were worried that White Knight 2 would have the image of requiring play of the first title. Additionally, because the gameplay systems of the original have been updated to White Knight 2 spec (see the screen to the above right for a glimpse), they wanted those who played the original to replay it using the new gameplay systems.

The other big reveal from this week's Famitsu was Arc Knight, the customizable knight that your avatar can transform into. This is a new feature for the sequel, as the original did not allow your avatar to transform into knight form.

Kusuda revealed that the Arc Knight is actually something that Level-5 had wanted to include with the original. He's glad that they were able to include it for part 2, as he feels it odd to have the player incapable of transforming in an RPG about transformations.

As detailed in the Famitsu story, you'll be able to customize your Arc Knight in various ways -- creating Arc Knight items, changing color, and so-forth. Kusuda feels that players will want to show off their knight to other online players.

The screens in Famitsu hinted that some of the customizations will require unlocking. Kusuda explained that, initially, you'll have access to just four colors for your Arc Knight. These are apparently all variations of green. To unlock other colors, you'll need to get appropriate items by collecting materials as you clear quests. Outside of just color, you'll also be able to strengthen your Arc Knight with parts that you've gathered.

Arc Knight customization makes use of elements called "Core Unit" and "Jewel Points." You customize your Arc Knight by attaching gems that give the knight's equipment such upgrades as "HP+5" and "attack strength up." The Core Unit's level and Jewel Points relate to how many of these gems you can attach. To increase your available Jewel Points, you'll need to strengthen your Arc Knight's Core Unit.

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/201...led_by_kusuda/

2nd link shows SS of how to customize your Knight.

[Insanecyclone]

Oh man that's going to be a lot of fun. I can make a gundam now!

[Pirian]

Regarding volume, the offline story mode of the original had about 25 hours of play time, said Kusuda. There were apparently some complaints from players about the length. For the sequel, you'll find far greater play time. This includes optional elements for those who like to sink their teeth into the game. Kusuda feels that players will not have issues with volume this time.

Well gee, you promise 50 hours and give half, then expect players to not be upset? lol

[Arnwulf]

I thought they promised 100 hours? Either way the only thing I want to know now is...when is the NA release date? I really want this sequel soon!

[Pirian]

I thought they promised 100 hours? Either way the only thing I want to know now is...when is the NA release date? I really want this sequel soon!

I honestly don't remember anymore. If they did then it only drives the point further

[Arnwulf]

From the wiki entry of WKC:

White Knight Chronicles is presented in third-person perspective. The player can freely choose which character to control. Like most other RPGs, the characters gain experience points and level up, becoming stronger over the course of the game. Level-5 conceives White Knight Chronicles as having 100 hours of gameplay, 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.

[Tobi]

WKC2 looks promising so far, but I think alot of people thought the same about WKC and we see how that went. But it does seem they're improving all the things WKC lacked and making much much better.

From the looks of things, this will be alot harder than WKC was. 6 man pts and the use of being able to transform in some quests pretty much says shit won't be super easy like it was before. That was one thing I hated once you got GR12+, everything was burst, no endurance at all. I haven't seen any unique screens of quests bosses yet, except 2 new bigger mobs so far, but would like to see real bosses in quests and not just regular Big type mobs as bosses.

[Pirian]

Yeah. I was excited with the Ancient Dragon because it actually took some thought and not just a free-for-all, but it seems that was pretty much the only fight like that. In order to bring the same "difficulty" they've had to add 2-3+ bosses to a single fight

[Tobi]

Yea, AD was tough at first, but even that is a joke now :/ Shit dies before my Demon's Aura wear off sometimes, lol. The only quests that'll be somewhat of a challenge are the 3rd Wave quests, but once people get them down they'll probably be easy. But still, if party member dies - quest failed, and it's available to all GR, so if someone of lower rank join you're fucked from completing it. There's also one where you survive a bunch of bosses for 15min without anyone dying and you can't kill them either.

But yea, they sound more fun than hard really. And since most people are GR15 now, the GR12s got it easy getting these quests done now since they get PL'd through by GR15s.

[Pirian]

Hey The difference in our dmg now is almost purely though the fact that I can't get AC as quickly as you, lol. Only other thing you have over me is more hp on the equipment

[Tobi]

Yea, you can keep up with my Spear now, but LS is a whole different story

I can usually do a bit more damage than STR axe users, but I don't think it's a whole lot more, I don't remember, lol. I usually tend to stick with Spear 80% of the time due to the fact it's so fucking OP. VIT = Damage is pretty broken shit, and Spear can do a decent amount of damage with little AC cost, that and it charges AC faster than any other class making it more broken... and it's a 1H class to top it off....

[6souls]

If you've cleared the original White Knight Chronicles and can't wait to see what happens next in the story, you'd better make sure and hold on to your save file. Without the save file, you're going to be forced to replay the story from the beginning!

As revealed earlier in the week, White Knight Chronicles 2 includes the original White Knight Chronicles in full. In an interview with 4gamer today, series director Toshiyuki Kusuda revealed that those without clear data from the original are going to be forced to play through the original's story before starting up with the sequel.

That's "clear data" and not just "save data." Your White Knight save file must be a clear file for it to be used with White Knight 2.

If you do have a clear file, you'll be presented with a choice of starting from the very beginning, complete with character creation, or continuing from the end of the first game. If you choose to start from the beginning, you'll get to keep your items and such, but you'll start back at level 1. This unfortunately also means that your character will be level 1 even when playing the online "live" mode. If you choose to start from the sequel's starting point, your character will reset to below level 35.

Even if you did clear the original, you may want to replay it in the form that's included with White Knight Chronicles 2. The game has been updated with the gameplay systems from the sequel. Kusuda feels that players of the original will be able to play it with a new feel thanks to the updates.

Kusuda also cleared up a bit of confusion about the connection between the version of the original that's included with White Knight Chronicles 2 and the version that's currently available. The two versions of the game will not be compatible during online play. Players of different versions will not be able to enter the same lobbies.

However, the social networking components are shared between the two. You'll be able to view friend lists and journal entries and send messages to one-another.

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/201...al_clear_file/

[Tobi]

- Bounty / Resident request missions. These are also available offline for GR points.

- Some new cash DLC items will include name-change, gender-change options for avatars. These will cost more than the current makeover ticket though

- For those with not as much time to play. The devs are also considering cash DLC for guilders and/or GR points.

- New hairstyles including those from story NPCs, such as Cisna, Leonard

- Avatar's Arc Knight will be either slashing, striking, or thrusting types.

- Overall difficulty of the game (single-player?) will be increased.

- WKC2's story should be around 20~30 hours, doing all the sidequests should double that.

- There will be huge updates in the future like JP WKC1's 1st Wave (skill balance) and 2nd Wave (Georama)

- Reincarnation will still be there, just higher than character level 50. But the bonuses will still only apply to the first 4 rebirths. There will also be cash DLC item to reset skills anytime.

- More Georama parts

- The previously mentioned, possible cash DLC guilders, exp, GR points may be some sort of bonus. Like 1.5x / 2.0x money/exp/GR gained.

- New 2-handed mace/club weapon type will be added to the 2-h axe weapon class

- Weapon classes will be more diverse. 1-h will get dual-wield. 2-h's action circle will spin faster with lower HP. 2-h axe's damage will increase with lower HP. Staff casts faster with lower MP costs and so on.

- WKC1 originally launched with 40 quests. WKC2 will launch with 130


By doing all the offline bounty / resident missions, you should be around GR9/10 by the end of WKC2.

http://www.4gamer.net/games/098/G009897/20100604022/

2-h's action circle will spin faster with lower HP.

Hmmm... I wonder how fast and how low of HP we're talking... I didn't see anything about Spear :/ Maybe Spear won't be so overpowered this time >_>

[Elcura]

Buying GR points? Yea or Nay?

[Tobi]

It's being considered, but they haven't confirmed if they're gonna do it yet. Either way, I hope not. Being able to pretty much buy your rank would defeat purpose in even trying to rank up... People with less playtime can still find a way to rank up easily, and this time you can rank up by doing Bounty/Resident missions without having to step foot online.

By sidequests I wonder if they mean story related sidequests or just the GR quests... and I also wonder if 130 quest launch in WKC2 contains some of WKC quests also.

[Elcura]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind good options for offline play (for just pure GR - online for items/materials) because frankly finding a good party can be hell. But buying your way through anything I think is a copout.

[Tobi]

The fact you can get to GR9/10 just by doing all of them I assume must means there's alot that net pretty nice amount of points. I guess you'll get to use story/guest characters for them I assume. But yea, buying GR sounds pretty gay to me... 'cause then everyone will just pretty much buy till they're max rank.

[Hyan]

Might definitely consider picking this one up if it has 2 games in one, basically, as well as more active combat system to go with it.