At least, I think it was an award. Either that or my console was chastising me for having "Too Much Free Time." Still, it was time well spent on a game that deserves the effort. Tales of Vesperia is the latest mothership (main) title of Namco Bandai's Tales of series to hit the United States (Japan actually has the newest game, but that's another story). The Xbox 360 RPG quickly claimed a spot of my favorite games list, and I currently have it ranked as my second favorite Tales of game (Tales of the Abyss being the first).
As with most games in the series, Vesperia creates a new world with new technology and a new way to justify how everything works. Pretty much everything in the world of Terca Lumeris runs on blastia which are pretty much machines. Blastia run on something called aer that is just as invisible as real air, except in large concentrations at which point it becomes a pretty puddle of rainbow. Oh, and it's bad if you get to close to the colorful lakes, a warning that is repeated but often ignored due to plot circumstances.
Although you can play as pretty much any character you want too you start off as the sarcastic "do it my way" Yuri Lowell. Yuri used to be part of the Empire's Imperial Knights along with his best buddy Flynn Scifo. However, Yuri didn't like their way of doing things, promptly ditched the Knights, and returned to his home in the lower quarter of Zaphias (the Empire's capital) to help his friends in his own way. Unfortunately for Yuri, his way is often not in agreement with the law although it is more effective than the Knights. So what if he got a little jail time for laying the smackdown on some tax collectors?
The beginning for Vesperia's plot is as follows:
Yuri gets tossed in jail after breaking and entering into a house in the royal quarter (hey, he was chasing a thief who stole from the lower quarter) and then fighting with two city guards. Of course, he busts out of the dungeon and runs loose in the castle until he finds the pink haired princess Estellise Sidos Heurassein (later nicknamed Estelle). The two oddly manage to find a sort of common ground in the goal of leaving the protective barrier of the city and chasing their respective goals (chasing a thief and finding Flynn). They leave the castle, pick up Yuri's faithful dog Repede and begin their way too long adventure.
Tales of Vesperia contains real time battles. Essentially that means that everyone is doing whatever they want at the same time. For example, you could be slicing up a monster on the left side of the field, but your ally could be toasting another enemy on the right side. At the same time, another monster could be attacking your healer, prompting them to complain that they need protection. Basic attacks are used by smashing the B button and moving the control stick in different directions. Special attacks, called artes, are equipped to different combinations of the control stick and the A button. Players also have an "Overlimit" meter, and once you use it you can effectively beast your enemy. You can chain artes together in ways you normally can't, and eventually you can use your characters super special Mystic Arte to take your opponents down.
Musically, Vesperia's pretty good. When you need something hot-blooded, they've got it for you. If you're about to play the hero there's a track for that, and when drama strikes your party fear not! The background will play into that as well. Perhaps my favorite musical achievement in Vesperia is that Namco actually keep the main theme mostly intact. Previous games have provided instrumental versions of the original song in the Japanese port, or a different them altogether. Vesperia's theme is Ring a Bell by Bonnie Pink, and the theme was dubbed for English release. Finally, an English Tales of game with lyrics in the theme.
Other extras include the typical alternate costumes for characters, and fully voice acted skits. Skits in Tales of games are just side conversation the characters have that may relate to the plot, provide character backstory, or just serve as comic relief. Previously, the player had to imagine the characters saying their lines in skits. Now, your imagination can take a break, because the voices are there for you.
Much can be said about this game that typically takes around forty hours to beat the first time, but the best way to find out about it is to play it yourself. I'm only on my second playthrough but I'm trying to tackle the numerous side quests in the game leading to my lovely award that may or may not be hinting that I need more fresh air.
Next week I'll explain the lovely challenge of playing a game that I honestly can't understand what it's saying. Happy gaming.
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