Tales of Destiny (PS2)
 

No thread for this?!

Official Website (Japanese)
Release Date: 2006.11.30

Videos
1

How does everyone feel about this? I'm really looking forward to it, I've really enjoyed the battle systems of the 2D Tales team and this one looks to be the craziest one yet. I think Destiny always had a colorful cast of characters so I'm anticipating their return. I've never finished the original, but I'm thinking about attempting to before next week. I'll be playing the import of this but I really can't read anything, so if I could beat the original for story purposes that would be cool.

Im glad that namco still understands why most of us still prefer that crazy 2d rpg style that we enjoy. I've never played ToD1 or 2 (the real part 2) So this gives me a chance to look into it whenever it hits the US. Hopefully not too long..

Is the Strike Chain a new feature?

Is this just a port of the PS1 version? It looks that way to me... Or is there extra stuff in this version? And... will it be released n NA?

Either way, I'd give it a try. I really liked the original ToD, but never got to finish it.

It's not a port, it's a complete remake. Graphics, music, gameplay, everything.

It will most likely never be released in North America. Sorry.

Did they push up the release date? I thought it was December.

Says on the website... 発売日：2006年11月22日発売予定

I do hope it's released in America. I always loved how beautiful Namco made the scenery in Tales games, even in 2D ones.

Namco just announced this game is postponed.

http://namco-ch.net/taleschannel/index.html

Uhm, why? They've released almost every other Tales game in the US, I don't see why this would be any different. Especially considering the popularity the series got after Symphonia.

Because Tales is unpopular in the states, especially since the PS2 has been flooded with RPGs in the past years... The series will be overlooked because of titles like FFXII. It's been this way in the PSX era as well.
ToS is only popular because the GCN is a RPG-starved console, unlike the PS2.

Oh, and the current sales figures for TotA are at 25k sold units, which isn't even half of Legendias'.

Totally irrelevant since the game's barely been out for a month.

And releasing it in the shadow of FFXII isn't really an issue, especially considering that the japanese version isn't even out yet.

Legendia sold less than 35,000 in the first month.

If you are going to compare first month sales figures you might as well do it right.

The only reason Abyss has even sold poorly was because Namco refuses to advertise for their games, because they expect them to sell poorly. The games "sell poorly" because Namco doesn't cough up the money to advertise.

Not surprising.

I wouldn't cast judgment on Abyss just yet.

Not almost every other... and the big deciding factor for me is that both Destiny2 and Rebirth did not get a release in the US, and the Destiny remake is being done by the same team in almost the same style. They didn't have enough faith in sales for the other 2d Tales games to release them here, so why this one? And then add in the fact that the PS2 lifespan is coming to an end in the US... yeah. Very unlikely.

Indeed, every 2D installment for the PS2 has not come over; I don't see this being any different at all. I really wish it would, cause I'd snap it up in a second, but oh well. I'm not ignorant. Playing it in Japanese is better than not playing it at all.

Wow, I guess this is one of the things I missed hearing about while offshore. Anyway, I hope this comes over here to America. I personally thought the original was great (although it needed more boss battles) but I would grab this game in a heart beat if it were to come over here.

This ain't a true 2D game though, the background is still 3D <.<...

Do you really think there is a difference to Sony?

And to repeat Vkamicht, both Destiny 2 and Rebirth had didn't make it out here. They had three-dimensional overworlds.

But, to add in a counterpoint, with the Playstation 2 now beginning its slow decline into retirement, Sony should be easing off of its standards to keep a strong flow of games coming for the console.

Meh I'll be excited when a US release is confirmed. It seems pretty random which tales game gets released and which one doesn't. I'm still pissed we didn't get Destiny 2 and Rebirth.

Been playing this. Everything about it is great so far, everything seems really polished. A lot of the script seems redone too, some of the story scenes even play out a bit different from the original. Battle system totally rocks, graphics are great and the music is very well re-arranged (mostly the same compositions, but I heard a few new ones.) Load times stay true to the 2d series (Destiny 2 & Rebirth) in being near-instant. Lots of voice and fun skits.

So far I have zero complaints.

Holy shit, I'll love this game to death. I'd rather sacrifice my FF7 and Xenogears (okay, maybe not Gears) for this back on the PSX era. My first RPG ever, and I played the original almost 20 times. Speaking of the actual ToD2, I hope they could maybe merge it into this ToD's NA release, IF there is one.

Really unfortunate that there won't be a NA release though.

Vkamicht, how is the plot? Same? Where did you get your copy? And, do you think you can make a rip of the soundtrack?

I can't read much Japanese so I'm just using what I know from playing the original. I'm sure they've altered a couple things to make it match up with ToD2 more. I "acquired" my copy here. I'll make a rip of the soundtrack if nobody else does it by the time I finish the game, and if an official release is still far off. I only get to play the songs I've heard and I'm only a couple hours in...

Aw crap. I can't even figure out what to click on that site. I'll be looking forward to your rip though, if nobody can get their hands on the official release. "Leon -Victim of Fate-" would be the track I'll die for.

I also made a request thread in Audio Request. Drop by there if you'd like. =]

I really want to play this game ;_____;

You know, I think half the fun of new Tales releases are the ensuing videos from those psychotic, Tales-obssessors running through and pummeling a lot of the bosses. Nice cinematic stuff.

You've got Stahn versus a new boss. I haven't gotten there yet, but considering the person, I imagine that it's not very story-centric. Then there's the battle against Leon. Bruiser's still a tank, it seems.

It's fun to compare all of changes made to Leon to have him better tie in to Judas' design. The Hi-Ougi similarities/differences are sort of interesting.

Leon
Judas

Leon's Lv. 2 Blast Caliber is just a less fancy Majin Rengoku Satsu, but I'm pretty sure it's intended to be inferior.

wow this game look so awesome!!! they must release it in NA ; ;

and the first video is stahn vs dymlos apparently, I'm not sure if it's new or this was in the original.

I know who he's fighting. I didn't say his name because I didn't want to spoil it.

Wasnt in the original, either. Since he said he wasnt sure. =P

Yeah, which is why I had called him a new boss. But not to start ripping on Inhert or something. In other news:

lol

I pray for this to be released in NA.

I remember when I was browsing games in Hollywood video a long time ago. I found Tales of Destiny for the PSX and rented it. I instantly fell in love with the old school graphics and gameplay, and it's now one of my all time favorite games of all time.

I really, really hope that there is somehow a chance for this amazing game to come out.

Same, I'm about 10 hours in and have no complaints. It's complete rockage.

I'm about 35 hours in and nearing the endgame... Some bosses on hard are obnoxiously difficult to kill, especially
with her nasty barrier and ability to call annoying mini units onto the battlefield... Anyway, got about 42k EXP, so it was pretty worth it.

For those of you who were looking forward to the music from this remake, please refer to the appropriate thread in Audio Requests. :)

She's very easy if you spam Philia's holy spells...

I played this game entirely too much.

It's the best Tales i've ever played and i've played them all(excluding the portable ones)

Despite not understanding the story, having to fumble with the accessories and leveling up my weapons/armor and having to translate a ToD Wiki to figure out what skills are which and what spells are what, It's the most fun on the PS2 i've had since Okami. And i consider Okami to be the best PS2 game ever. I have never had such a love for the dark bottle and random battles before now. Even Star Ocean 3's excellent fighting system can't compare to this. It's just 1000% awesome. I am in love.

Witness it people. This is why Symphonia, Abyss, and Legendia suck. They suck because they are no fun to fight in at all when you've played a real fighting system like this one. The last one of this calibur was, depending on opinion, Rebirth or Destiny 2. The 3d games were lacking the BURNING PASSION that Destiny 2, Eternia, etc had.

But they brought it back and oh god is it good. I am sad to see the Tales series fall into a horrible 3d spiral of death when they can show you just how perfect the 2d system can be. I only hope someone can bring the dream of a 3d tales that dosen't lack BURNING PASSION to life.

Woah, totally agree with this point here. The game was an incredible amount of fun. Just finished it yesterday morning and will be going through a 2nd playthrough very soon, which is rare these days.

Don't worry about the story. If you've played the original Destiny, it's roughly 40% the same. In terms of script and character relations though, it's very different, but improved imo.

This deserves to come here, though knowing Sony and 2D games. =/

After watching some videos on youtube I think I really want to get this game. I have Rebirth and ToD2 sitting on my shelf so I might as well buy this too. Once again Namco Hometek has let us all down. What harm is there in bringing this here? It isn't like they're busy localizing another Xenosaga or anything. >_>

If only XSEED or NIS could pick this up for US release.

Well, don't give Hometek too much shit-- at least Abyss came over.

But yeah, the rumors that Namco refuses to sell the North American publishing right to any Tales game still seem pretty strong. I think we're going to have to hope Hometek gives it a shot.

But didn't they allow Nintendo to publish ToP here in the states? I wonder what Nintendo had to go through to get those publishing rights. xD

I've been hoping for news of this getting localized for months now. Symphonia and Abyss are the only Tales games that I've played (with the exception of a little bit of the GBA ToP port), and I adore them both. Legendia is on my shelf, but it doesn't look quite as interesting as the others. It'd be nice to see how much different the earlier games were.

Between this and all the delays/bumbling that Namco-Bandai has been doing with the .Hack//GU series, I'm really starting to get irritated.

I really have to agree. I wanted to play Tales of Destiny 2 so damn bad. I loved the first game and I'm usually happy when a good game has a sequel. I find it extremely disappointing how Namco won't bother to bring most of the Tales games over here.