Game Evaluation ProjectBasic InformationSlide 3Game SummarySlide 5Slide 6Slide 7Slide 8Slide 9Slide 10Slide 11ExplorationSlide 13BattlesSlide 15Slide 16Slide 17Slide 18Mini-GamesSlide 20ScoringSlide 22Slide 23Slide 24Slide 25Slide 26Slide 27Slide 28Slide 29Slide 30Slide 31Slide 32Slide 33Game ReviewSlide 35Slide 36Slide 37Slide 38ComparisonSlide 40Slide 41Slide 42Slide 43Slide 44Slide 45Slide 46SummarySlide 48Slide 49Slide 50Score BreakdownWorks CitedSlide 53Game Evaluation ProjectLawrence ChanCIS 487Assignment 1Basic Information•Game Title: Tales of the Abyss•Company–Developer: Namco Tales Studio LTD.–Publisher: Namco Bandai Games, Inc.•Author–Producer: Makoto Yoshizumi–Chief Director: Yoshito Higuchi–Music Composers:•Motoo Fujiwara•Motoi Sakuraba•Shinji Tamura–Character Designer: Kosuke Fujishima–Localization Producer: Peter Garza•Type of game: Action RPG•Price: $49.99http://tales.namco.com/abyssBasic Information•Hardware requirements:–Playstation 2 Console–Tales of the Abyss Playstation 2 format DVD-ROM–Memory Card (100 KB required)–1-4 Playstation 2 Dual Shock 2 Controllers–Playstation 2 Multitap (only for 3+ Players)http://www.playstation.comGame Summary•InstallationScans from Playstation 2 instruction manualGame Summary•Quick Overview–Tales of the Abyss is an Action RPG for the Playstation 2–Action RPGs, unlike Turn-Based RPGs, has players fighting with enemy characters with a real-time battle system•Plays much like an intense fighting game instead of scrolling through menus•Players also level and customize their characters with experience points and equipment much like any standard RPG in addition to the action elementsGame Summary•Story Line–Summary•Hero is Luke Fon Fabre, an isolated and spoiled aristocrat–He was kidnapped when he was 10 years old and was kept locked in his manor ever since his recovery–Never seen the outside world–Son of a duke and is next in line for the throne•Heroine is Tear Grants, a soldier of the Order of Lorelei, a religion in the game's story•Story starts when Tear tries to assassinate Van Grants, Luke's master and Tear's own brother•Luke tries to interfere and both of the main characters trigger a phenomenon called a hyperresonace•They get transported to a far away country, currently at the brink of war with Luke's country of originGame Summary•Story Line (cont.)–Themes•Fantasy•Technology and science•Cloning ethics•Discrimination•Fellowship•Betrayal•War•Redemption•Religion•Political strifeGame Summary•Story Line (cont.)–Character Development•6 unique playable characters/party members–Luke Fon Fabre: Well balanced sword fighter–Tear Grants: Healer and support type character–Jade Curtiss: Mage type character with decent close range combat–Anise Tatlin: Heavy type character with slow but strong attacks and magic capabilities–Guy Cecil: Fast swordsman type character–Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear: Long range archer type character•Several opposing villains each with own back story•Face Skits–Completely optional–Allows for several opportunities for character interaction–Character discussion and further explanation for story events–Can be quite humorous (i.e. a skit about a character's dismal cooking skills)Game Summary•Main CharactersLuke Fon Fabre Tear Grants Jade Curtiss Anise TatlinGuy CecilNatalia Luzu Kimlasca-LanvaldearMieuImages from http://tales.namco.com/abyss/Game Summary•Villainshttp://dot-3.com/•The Six God Generals–Asch the Bloody–Legretta the Quick–Dist the Reaper–Sync the Tempest–Largo the Black Lion–Arietta the WildGame Summary•Player's role–Exploration Mode•Travel from place to place in a large world map to advance story•Can walk or later use vehicles to travel through certain terrain•Places include towns and dungeons•Towns:–Talk to NPCs for side quests, mini-games, story and clues–Shop for equipment and items•Dungeons:–Solve puzzles–Enter battle mode by touching enemies on the screen–Defeat boss type characters (not all dungeons have a boss)http://www.gamespot.comhttp://www.rpgfan.comExplorationWorld Map (via vehicle)Towns DungeonsWorld Map (via vehicle)Game Summary•Player's role (cont.)–Battle Mode•Players can control one of the 6 party members, each with unique abilities and type of game play•A total of 4 characters at a time in a battle, can be computer AI or human controlled with multiplayer•Goal is to defeat all enemies on the screen or run away if enemies are overwhelming•Defeating enemies skillfully reward players with grade points (form of scoring) and extra experience and gald (the currency used in the game)–Make large combos with Artes, Arcane Artes, and Mystic Artes»Explained laterhttp://www.gamespot.comBattlesMystic ArtesNormal Attack ArtesGame Summary•User InterfaceBattle ScreenHealth PointsMagic or Technique PointsOverlimitPlayer Character Character Status (Buffs or Ailments)Enemy TargetCombo HitsScreenshot from http://tales.namco.com/abyss/Game Summary•Game play–Battle System•Battlefield is 3D, hold the L2 button to move around the enemies freely–Called Free Run–Used to get around an enemy's defense or avoid an attack•Release the L2 button to target an enemy–can change target by pressing R1•Perform standard attacks with X button and TP consuming Artes with O button•Tilting the left analog stick in different directions along with the X or O button will cause the character to attack differently•Examples:–Holding up to do jump attacks (for aerial enemies)–Holding down to attack at an enemy's feet (may not be guarded and is vulnerable)•Artes and Arcane Artes can be assigned by the player to the O button–Special attacks–Can assign up to 4 Artes (O, Up+O, Down+O, Left/Right+O)–Artes consume TP»TP can be recharged with items or by attacking with a standard attack instead of ArtesGame Summary•Game play (cont.)–Battle System (cont.)•Combos:–Standard Attacks->Arte->Arcane Arte->Mystic Arte•Overlimit–When the green bar fills up from receiving damage and attacking enemies, players can trigger with the R2 button a character's overlimit–Stats are higher and the characters have greater recovery from attacks–This is the only time a Mystic Arte can be performed, a powerful attack that occurs when players hold onto the O button after performing an Arcane Arte•Field of Fonons (FOF):–Some attacks