Further Info: "Tales of Hearts" was released for the DS on December 18th, 2008 in Japan. Two versions of the game were released, and they are roughly the same as the other. One version is a "CG" (which stands for "Computer Graphics") version, which features more realistic-looking characters/FMV's in the game, every now and then. The other version of the game is a normal anime version. The overall gameplay, battle sequences, etc. are all in anime form, but the CG version offers some realistic portraits and such. Curing items, spells, and skills can be used outside or inside of battle. In the menu, you can set the battle strategy and formation for your party, check the status for a character, and customize menu colors, sounds, buttons, battle targeting, and voices. Saving is allowed on "Save Points" throughout dungeons, cities, and houses; and on the World Map. Saving is allowed on "Save Points" throughout dungeons, cities, and houses; and on the World Map.
Story Info: .
Characters:
Skill/Spell System: Every character has skills/spells known as "Artes". Characters learn new artes by "Soma", which is a new system that has replaced mastering a skill and leveling up, used by many other "Tales of..." games. With a character that is set on "S. Auto" or "Manual" for battle mode, one configures 4 skills to be used with buttons. The four skills can be set to be used in conjunction with a combination of a D-Pad direction button/Left Control Stick and the skill button. i.e., one skill is performed by pressing the skill button by itself, another skill can be done by pressing the up button/tilting Left Control Stick up+skill button, another with down button/tilting Left Control Stick down+skill button, and another with left or right/tilting Left Control Stick left or right+skill button.
Battle System Info: The battle system in Tales of Hearts is called the "Combination Aerial Linear Motion Battle System". This battle system has elements of Tales of Destiny PS2's ability to fight in the air and a classic single-line battle system. Other elements such as an "Emotional Gauge" and a "Combination Gauge" have replaced the classic TP system used in many "Tales of..." games. Also as stated above, a new system called "Soma" affects the way characters gain new strengths, learn new skills and abilities, etc.
- The Attack button combined with various directions allows for different regular attacks.
- The Defend button combined with various D-Pad/Left Control Stick combinations allow for various defensive maneuvers.
- The Skill button combined with various D-Pad/Left Control Stick combinations allow the player to used the desired equipped skill(s).
- Start pauses the game.
- Select toggles among "Auto", "S. Auto", and "Manual" battle modes.
- R allows the player to switch targeted enemy.
- One can use the DS Stylus for many different functions in the game, including attacking during battle and running around outside of battle.
Audio/Music: The audio quality is very nice, and sort of throws back to classic-RPG days.
Graphics: Tales of Hearts' graphics largely throw back to a classic RPG look. One element of the battle system is that it has adopted the air-battle technique as first seen in Tales of Destiny PS2 version. The other element of the battle system is that the battle graphics have totally resorted back to 2-D, and even a single line like the earlier "Tales of..." games like Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Destiny, Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon, Tales of Eternia, Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 2, Tales of Destiny 2, Tales of the World: Narikiri Dungeon 3, and Tales of Legendia. The CG graphics look all right, but are not as up to snuff as they could be, considering this is a DS. The anime art all looks nice, and as stated earlier, many of the graphics resort to old-school, 2-D graphics. Therefore, it is up to the eye of the beholder whether or not he likes this.
Difficulty: Replay:
Where to buy:
