Title: Tales of Graces/F
Platform: Nintendo Wii/Sony Playstation 3
Theme and Genre: To Understand the Power to Protect RPG
Developer: Namco Tales Studio - Team Destiny (Tales of Destiny 2, Tales of Rebirth)
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
Character Design: Inomata Mutsumi
Release Date: December 10th, 2009/December 2nd, 2010
Score: Famitsu - 9/9/9/9 (36/40) ), Graces F Famitsu Score: 10/9/9/9 (37/40) 2nd highest ever score for a Tales!
Theme Song: Mamoritai ~White Wishes~ by BoA
Official Site: http://tog.namco-ch.net/, http://tog-f.namco-ch.net/
Controllers Supported: Wiimote+Nunchuk, Classic Controller, Classic Controller Pro. Graces F: Sixaxis, Dualshock 3
Media
1st Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShjxR5LJ1a8
2nd Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgSKILwHb94
3rd Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb0QdfOp_Mw
CM 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Das580FyFQc
CM 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFfNxDHZ97M
CM 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iunW3-f91No
Blast Calibur Exhibition (Spoilers?): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2LIcfktnFU
In the world of Efinea, people use a substance called Arles which is composed of another substance called Cryas which has allowed civilizations on Efinea to flourish. On Efinea there are three kingdoms: Windol, Strata, and Fendel, which are competing for dominance of Efinea.
In the remote region of Windol lies the city of Lhant. The eldest son of the feudal lord Aston, Asbel, is a bright and cheerful boy who spent his childhood like any other carefree boy does: enjoy everyday together with his irreplaceable friends. After an unknown incident occurs, a strong determination awoke within him which led him to enlist himself in a knight's academy in the capital.
Seven years later after the incident. In his eighth year, Asbel has grown up and established himself as a fine knight. Thus begins our tale...
Cast
Age: 18
The eldest son of the feudal lord of the Lhant territory, located along the border of its country, the Frontier Kingdom of Windol and its neighboring country, Fendel. Born as the feudal lord's son, he has been raised to become the next lord by his father and his butler Frederick. Due to that certain incident however, he developed strong feelings to become a knight, so he admitted himself to a knights' academy in the capital. There, he spent the years dedicated to his training, and soon enough, he grew up into a diligent and polite young knight. When he was young, he was a cheerful, straightforward and honest young boy. As he grew up however, he became the type who would hide his true passion and enthusiasm within himself. He often takes care of others, and can't leave them alone when in face of a problem
Voice Actor: Takahiro Sakurai
Age: ?
Asbel happened to meet her in the middle of a battle during a dispute at the border between Lhant and Fendel, against Fendel's military. This girl who has an innocent atmosphere about her is actually quite used to combat, and was able to help Asbel in repelling Fendel's troops. She has lost her memory, though it isn't exactly a necessity to her unless it concerns interacting with other people. Asbel named her after a flower he himself is affectionate about.
Voice Actor: Kana Hanazawa
Age: 17
Asbel's brother who is younger by a year. Though he was a quiet and obedient person in his childhood, he has been disciplining his own nature to have a persevering strength. He currently holds the status of Major in Strata's military. He seems to harbour feelings of depression when around his brother.
Voice Actor: Takahiro Mizushima
Age: 18
The granddaughter of the butler working for the Lhant House. She has a good personality which lets her face difficulty with cheerfulness. Though she holds feelings for Asbel somewhat, she's the type who just won't be honest to him about it. She has strong feelings about being useful to the Lhants for she has been living with them all this time.
Voice Actor: Shiho Kawaragi
Age: 22
A genius technician Asbel meets along the course of his journey. She has problems reading the atmosphere in situations and doesn't really choose her words that come out of her mouth
Voice Actor: Kana Ueda
Age: 40
Asbel's honored and excellent instructor from the knights' school. He is an adult man who can be both somewhat frank and in composure. His weapons are boomerang-shaped blades. Asbel looks up to Malik as his "ideal self".
Voice Actor: Hiroki Touchi
Age: 19
The Prince of the Frontier Kingdom of Windol. He has a peace-loving personality and has earned the respect of all people throughout the nation. He places tremendous trust and fellowship in Asbel ever since they were just children.
Voice Actor: Daisuke Namikawa
Style Shift Linear Motion Battle System (SS-LMBS)
In this system, characters have two different fighting styles to choose from. Skill of either style can be set to both the A and B buttons, and the player is able to freely switch between the styles in battle. Normal attacks are now gone with this change. (Almost) When using A style, you'll be executing strings thru a tree that progress up in CC cost. For example, you'll start off with the normal hit @ 1CC, and go all the way up to 4CC before the attack string ends. Now what's different here is the branch you take getting there. You will have a wide variety of artes to choose from in A style, but they can only be used in certain progression. For example, let's say Sword Rain is the 3rd left handed hit in the string. You'll only be able to do it when you reach the 3rd part of your attack string. Now on the other hand, B style is executed more like traditional Tales Artes and can be intermixed however you want provided you have the CC available.
Chain Capacity
In Tales of Graces (And more recent Team Destiny titles), you execute artes by consuming Chain Capacity points. (CC, the little number shown below the battle portrait) Every movement or attack you execute will comsume a set amount of CC. CC can be replenished in a very quick manner by being idle or executing tactical manuvers.
Around Step
Around Step is the new movement system that allows you move around in a 360 angle. Use it to avoid enemy atttacks. However, when a well timed Around Step is used to dodge the opposition's attack, you'll regain a significant amount of CC.
Character Change
Real time character change! (This is not completely new but it's apparently a feature) You can change to any other party member that's currently in play by using the appropriate shortcuts (On Wiimote, its the D-pad)
Arles Gauge and Blast Calibur
The Arles Gauge shows the power of a phenomenon that occurs from battle called "Arles". The top bar shows the Arles you and your party members have accumulated, while the bottom bar shows the Arles the enemy has accumulated.
The Arles Gauge will rise from actions taken during battle, with properly timed dodges and blocks offering the largest increase; the same is true for your enemy's gauge
When your Arles Gauge becomes full, you'll enter a state called "Arles Rise" in which the full power of Arles is released. During this time, you will have unlimited CC and can perform any attack unhindered.
After you have acquired Blast Caliburs(Mystic Artes), a Blast Calibur Gauge will replace the Arles Gauge during Arles Rise. It builds up by using attacks during Arles Rise, and is needed to perform Blast Calibur.
On the other hand, when the enemy's gauge becomes full, they will enter a state called "Arles Break". During this time, enemies will not flinch from your attacks. In addition, during boss fights, the boss can use its Blast Calibur, so you'll want to be careful.
Arles Pot
The Arles Pot is the Team Destiny's cooking replacement. (Seen before as the Recovery Stone in Tales of Hearts) You get a pot filled with Arles energy that will heal you for a certain amount in battle if particular conditions are met. Such as Party HP @ 60% or 30 seconds into battle. You can set this by placing different dishes into the pot. Each dish has different conditions that trigger them. And once triggered, will use a certain amount of energy from the pot to heal you. Energy can be refilled in town by NPCs for a cost.
Alias
Titles, now known as Alias take on a different role in Graces. Alias are used to learn different abilities and A/B style artes via skill points accumulated during battle. Since there are so many different alias for each character, the game will automatically change the alias when you reach a certain rank within an alias. But you can set this however you want. Be it change @ Rank up 1 or change @ master rank.
Dualize
This is Graces crafting system. With dualize, you can combine enemy parts to make even better parts. You also use it to combine foods and make dishes that can be used in the Arles Pot. Finally, you can also use it to upgrade your equipment. This can be done @ any merchant npc.
Kamenin Merchant
You'll meet these turtle costumed merchants all over the world. You can talk to them to play the rpg minigame "Kamenin Merchant" via wireless download play on your DS. It's also available on the DSi shop for 200 points.
Carta
This card minigame is based off an old japanese poetry game. Someone reads out a saying from various different characters from the Tales universe and you need to match it up with character that says it before your opponent does. Tales fanservice!
Seed Gathering
All around the world you'll find seeds scattered about. You can collect them and plant them in Cheria's garden in Lhant. Is there any reason to complete this? Maybe there's some special item you can get!
Impressions
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For more Tales of Graces and Tales of discussion, stop by the Tales IRC channel! http://www.taleschannel.org
