I'm completely new to the entire AR Tonelico series. This is the first AR Tonelico type of game I have every played. I went out and purchased the "Premium Package" that came with an art book and music CD (nice extra's!) and it told me one thing about the game I brought. The developers actually care about the game. You don't see those types of packages too often but it was a nice touch.
AR Tonelico at first kind of took me by suprise. I didn't know much about it at all. I just brought it on a whim. I was looking for a new RPG for my PS2 and this looked like it would fit the bill. My first impressions of the game was that it looked well put together. Atleast the opening was as it's nice to watch and listen to. Then the game itself starts... at first I thought I time traveled back to 1993 and was playing this on a super nintendo! Because these are 16bit or worse graphics. If you picked this game up to be blown away by amazing visuals this is not Final Fantasy!
I was annoyed with the look as I knew what to expect but didn't think it be that bad... then... I started to play the game. The story slow to start actually got me interested in the game. AR Tonelico is a game heavy on dialogue and character interactions. To me the game is a mix of HarvestMoon and Atlus's Persona series. The graphics and sprites look like Harvest Moon, but the anime style and character relationships remind me a lot of Persona. Which to me is fine because they are both games I enjoy. There's just something about AR Tonelico that brings you into it...
As for the story I'm only about 20 hours or so into the game but so far I have no complaints... matter of fact I don't really have any actual complaints about the game itself. I can see where other people might dislike the game because it's not all action and it's somewhat a bit complex... but I think even though the game is rated Teen this game is really for adult players. There's a lot of adult humor in the game that I'm sure goes over the heads of young minds or turns into something beyond the joke it was meant to be.
AR Tonelico is a "charming" RPG and honestly I'm glad that I brought it. What it lacks in visuals it makes up for in the story and to me that's what really makes a great RPG. I love playing the game and seeing the character relationships develop. I enjoy RPG's that aren't always about slaying monsters and leveling up. Which is why I granted this to be an Adult game as it requires patience.
Overall... I'm 1/4 into the game and already I can't wait for the next installment to the series! This is a great game and it's unfortunate it has been overlooked by people that moved on to next gens and reviewers that didn't think to give the game a second glance. If anything this game is a 4/5 at the very least. I note it 5/5 because it has it's own magic and style that modern RPG's don't seem to follow anymore. AR Tonelico is a mix of old and new school RPG's and I think that's what makes it so great...
Also I almost forgot...
THE BATTLE SYSTEM!
This is what makes the game 5/5 for me.
This game features the best turned based battle system I have ever used.
It's all fast past so it feels more or less like real time just about as you select your moves almost like a fighting game. You just move the directional pad and hit the attack button to execute the move you'd like. No selecting the attack you want to use and then watching it. You actually pull it off in semi real time.
The bottom line is that if AR Tonelico was to advance it's graphics and bring them up to 2010 it would be a block buster hit. For now the 16bit yester year style of the game is somehting that turns most modern day gamers away sadly. This game deserves a lot more credit than it has been given.Get more detail about AR Tonelico 2: Melody Of Metafalica.
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