Uncover those behind the evil!

Dec 27, 2005 07:37 GMT  ·  By

When young swordsman Cress Albane returns home to find his village torn asunder and his parents killed, he is forced to set out on a quest through time and space to uncover the villains behind the tragedy. This classic role-playing game from the popular "Tales" series comes to the United States for the first time.

Some game features: - Battle in real time: The Linear Motion Battle System puts the emphasis on action as players attack their enemies without the use of menus. - New game events, dialogue sequences and other features enhance the adventure on this release. - Players can crack open the Monster Dictionary to view the strengths and weaknesses of the enemies they meet in battle. Players will want to collect data on them all. - Players use the innovative Cooking System to collect ingredients and recipes to brew up meals that restore their health and magic.

Game Storyline: When young swordsman Cress Albane finds his home village destroyed and his parents killed, Cress sets off on an adventure to find those responsible. In his efforts to uncover those behind this evil deed, Cress soon finds himself on a mission that will take him back and forth through time.

Characters: - Cress Albane: Cress is the lead character of the game. He is the son of a master swordsman and has been a student of swordplay from a young age. - Chester Barklight: Cress' neighbor and best friend, Chester specializes in the bow attack. He's cool and compassionate, but when his parents are killed, he vows revenge. - Mint Adnade: Mint can cast healing and attack support spells. She's modest and gentle, but when the battle starts, she never backs down. - Supporting characters: Master Tristan, Morrison, Dhaos, the Black-Armored Man.

How to progress through the game: Tales of Phantasia is a role-playing game in which players are able to explore freely on a "world map," encountering random monster battles as they journey from location to location. Players can attack their enemies in real time, striking their opponents by using commands on the D-pad in a similar fashion to a fighting game.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: The game uses the unique "Linear Motion Battle System," which allows players to attack enemies in real time, giving the game more of an action feel than the standard role-playing game has. In addition, the game features a Monster Dictionary, where players can collect and record the information about creatures they come across. Finally, with the unique Cooking System, players must earn new recipes and find specific ingredients that allow their characters to restore hit and magic points.