Further Info:
"Tales of Phantasia" for the PSX/PS1 (Playstation) was released in December 23rd, 1998 in Japan. Six party members are allowed to be in the same party. 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.
Story Info:
On one hand, Tales of Phantasia's story somewhat exhibits the non-original, cliched, "hero-saves-the-world" type of storyline. However, the game's various plot twists, time travel, and its back stories/side stories (see bottom of the page) make up for the tired-old RPG cliche of the hero savin' the world. The game begins with Cless Alvein and Chester Barklight's town of "Totus" being destroyed by a group of men looking for a pendant the Cless father Miguel gave Cless when Cless turned 15. As storyline progresses, the pendant's function becomes quite clear. Like many of the "Tales of..." games, this game deals with prejudice against groups of people (elves/magic users and half-elves), equality, existentialism, genocide, utopianism, and other philosophical/psychological/societal issues.
Characters:
Skill/Spell System:
Every character has skills/spells. Curing spells can be used outside of battle, as well as in battle. With Cless, one configures four skills to be used in conjunction with a combination of a D-Pad direction button 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+skill button, another with down button+skill button, and another with left or right+skill button. Throughout the game, you can learn combination skills in which two of Cless' regular skills are combined into one move. However, to use these combination skills, the two skills that make up the combination skill must be "Mastered". This means a skill must be used 100 times--and you can check skill usage percentage in Cless' skills menu. Mint learns her skills/spells by leveling up. Arche's skills/spells are found inside of books placed in different places, throughout the world. One must simply search around and examine different locations in order to find them. Sometimes they are located around bosses. Klarth learns his skills/spells (which are Summons), as you progress throughout the story, and then later in the game, some are optional. Chester does not have any skills in this version of the game.
Battle System Info:
This game features a battle system called "LMB", meaning "Linear Motion Battle". Four characters make up your battle party--the party you use to fight battles. The players fight on a one-line plane with enemies. In battle, the player may control any playable character. One can toggle the battle mode for one's character by pressing select button. Initially, the two battle modes are S. Auto (Semi-auto) and Auto. S. Auto means the human player controls the character (but with limited control over character's movement), and Auto means the character is AI-controlled. Later in the game, when one finds and equips the "Technical Ring" item in the game, a third battle mode may be accessed, called "Manual". This also means human control, but gives the human player more control over character's movement. By default, the player controls Cless Alvein in the S. Auto battle mode. Cless can attack normally, attack with skills, or block. The "Attack" button itself, as well as different combination of Direction Pad+Attack button are various combinations for attack. However, one can switch Cless from the first position to a
ny other position, and control any character in the 1st player slot. Also, 0-4 human players can control characters in battle, but you must have "Channeling Rings" (an item within the game). You get a channeling with, or right after, getting a new party member. Also, you will need a multi-tap (real piece of hardware for the PSX/PS1).
Example: 1st player is Cless. The 2nd player wants to be Chester. The 3rd player wants to be Arche. And the 4th player wants to be Mint. you equip the item called "Channeling Ring" on each player's accesory slot. Player 1's controller goes into the first slot on your Playstation. The Multitap goes in the second slot on your Playstation. Player 2's controller goes into slot "A" on the multitap. Player 3's in slot "B". And player 4's in slot "C". Every player presses select during battle until either "S. Auto", or "Manual" appears over the characters' head. Now each player can now move whoever is in the same position as their controller slot!
- With skills/spells for human-controlled players, one configures four skills to be used in conjunction with the "Skill/Spell" button and a combination of a D-Pad direction and the skill/spell button. i.e., one skill/spell is performed by pressing the skill/spell button by itself, another skill/spell can be done with the up button+skill/spell button, another with down button+skill/spell button, and another with left or right+skill/spell button. Blocking is done by pressing and holding the block button, and can be performed with or without a shield (Cless is the only character that can wear shields). Obviously, blocking with a shield is more effective.
- When one presses the Menu button, one can pick "Spells/Skills", "Strategy", "Order", and "Item".
- After choosing "Spells/Skills", pick either Cless, Chester, Mint, Arche, or Klarth. When choosing a character configured on S. Auto or Manual, you can re-configure his skills/spells used to correspond with whatever combination you want (See above for more details on this). Choosing a character set on "Auto" allows you to command the character to cast a spell/perform a skill. Also, you can toggle AI skill/spell useage on and off for each skill/spell. If the "Tech Ring" is equipped, one can press select during battle, or configure it in the Skills/Spells Menu, a battle mode called "Manual". It is sort of tough to get used to at first, but more fun. In this more, when you press an attack or skill, it won't autmoatically run up to the targeted enemy and perform the move, it does it in the place where you press the button, and you must dash by pressing forward twice. Also, pressing up allows you to jump in the air with everyone but Arche.
- Choosing "Strategy", then a teammate allows you to set how the AI controls that character.
- "Order" allows you to put the players in the position you want for this battle. The game's order system is centered around you, Cless. So if AI characters are in front, and Cless is in back, they will always try to run (or fly, heh) to the right of where you are standing. If Cless is in front, they'll run to the left. You have to fool around with this to get what's right for your own particular battle style. Also, when Cles
s dies and you control his spirit, the AI-controlled players will move corresponding to where Cless goes however you have it set up. Cless can be switched out of the battle party/out of the first character slot, and whatever character is in the first slot, you can control out of battle!
- Lastly, choosing "Item" allows you to tell whatever character you want to use an item. After using an item, a certain amount of time passes before you can use another item. Making Cless reach the edge of the screen makes the run away counter begin, and once it is all red, you escape from the battle. R1 lets you change targeted enemies. Start pauses the game. Select toggles through "Auto", "S. Auto", and "Manual" battle modes for that character.
