Support NeoGAF

[RurouniZel]

Just in case people don't see it in the OP:

My explanation of the battle system. It's about 18 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQZLCVfFZfg

 

[Basileus777]

I recommend having played at least Ar Tonelico 1 and 3 as well for maximum enjoyment.

Why? What connection is there?

 

[hongcha]

I almost preordered the PS3 version but I saw the Vita port is out in Japan in about 2 weeks, so I'll just get that instead.

 

[Zambatoh]

Localizing the 2nd game without touching the first is pretty strange.

 

[kiryogi]

Why? What connection is there?

I'd say Ciel nosurge is more important, but having played Ar Tonelico 1 is also important because of this:

http://www.koeitecmoamerica.com/arnosurge/world_03.html

Can't really say more without spoiling, but the payoff for a Ar Tonelico fan running into this connection is pretty immense.

Localizing the 2nd game without touching the first is pretty strange.

Not really when the first game is something extremely niche. It's a Life Simulation, that won't really sell here without some series establishment. On the other hand, Ar nosurge is a pretty orthodox RPG

 

[Imouto]

Why? What connection is there?

The world setting. It's not something you could learn and understand just by playing Ar nosurge.

 

[Basileus777]

The world setting. It's not something you could learn and understand just by playing Ar nosurge.

You guys are making this game seem more and more impenetrable by the moment.

 

[kiryogi]

You guys are making this game seem more and more impenetrable by the moment.

You can play it without Ar Tonelico prior, but at the very least read up on Ciel.

 

[Basileus777]

You can play it without Ar Tonelico prior, but at the very least read up on Ciel.

I'm planning to do that. I read the pastebin and plan to go through the other more indepth summary.

 

[Rei no Otaku]

I loved Ar Tonelico 1 and 2. 3 seemed terrible so I never got around to playing. I'm really hoping this is good.

 

[kiryogi]

Forgot to ask, does this game still retain the usage of Hymnos throughout the game? I tried to learn it back then but Qoga made me lose motivation to practice. I want to get back to it with this game.

Unfortunately Hymnos is not used here, but something very similar. Actually in the Surge Concerto world, there's 2 languages! (Tsuchiya you crazy world building bastard)

Keihansoukaisi and REON4213

The below all taken from "A Reyvateil's Melody" forums

REON4213

QuelI-> {Cls(wei f ih) {EX[lop]-> {falar} ;} flip {Cls(ih) {EX[put]<- {fil iz f ihis} ;} } }
Cls(waln f hyma) {EXiV[wan]-> {ciol} ;}
EXiV[vail]-> {goor poow} -> {fullu} ;
QuelI-> { {ein te hyme} ;}
QuelI-> { {sonryu} ;}

- The first language unveiled, and the one which we've seen the most, is called &#22865;&#32070;&#24819;&#30028;&#35433;/Keihansoukaishi, which can be translated to "Pact of the Emotional Song World"; and it's used for interacting with the Genomes. This language is supposed to resemble Chinese and can be used for normal speech too.
- The second language, which is the one we've seen only in Quell->{ein te hyme}, is called REON-4213 and serves to interact with the CielNoTron. This language is supposed to resemble a programming language,

Basically, there are two different ways of using Song Magic in La Ciela (or officially, ra-ciel-a), and instead of only one or other being possible to each person (like it was the case for the Reyvateils having only access to Standard Hymmnos (including EOLIA-Alpha and FRELIA-Alpha or TILIA-Alpha) or New Testament of Pastalie depending on their connected server), the singers can use both if they have a pact with a Genome and access to the CielNoTron.

Does your head hurt yet? XD Here's a full forum topic and japanese wiki on this new language:
http://w11.zetaboards.com/Revatail_Hymmne/topic/8941701/1
Keihansoukaishi: http://w11.zetaboards.com/Revatail_Hymmne/single/?p=8162259&t=8941701
REON-4213: http://w11.zetaboards.com/Revatail_Hymmne/single/?p=8165614&t=8941701
http://sc.pirocot.com/wiki/契絆想界詩

I loved Ar Tonelico 1 and 2. 3 seemed terrible so I never got around to playing. I'm really hoping this is good.

You will absolutely enjoy Ar nosurge if you loved 1/2. Trust me, this is aeons better than 3.

 

[Tapejara]

Really looking forward to playing this next week. I'll be sure to read the Ciel no surge summary, but unfortunately I'll have to go into the game without experiencing the Ar Tonelico games. Well, AT3 is sitting on my shelf, but from what I can gather it's best to avoid that one lol.

 

[Imouto]

Does your head hurt yet?

Yes. The only thing I could say right now is "HOLY FUCK ARE YOU FOR REAL?". I don't know which one should I admire more. The one who thought all this shit or the fanbase who try to decypher all this and learned it.

Letters in this one is even harder to memorize than Hymnos.

 

[kiryogi]

Yes. The only thing I could say right now is "HOLY FUCK ARE YOU FOR REAL?". I don't know which one should I admire more. The one who thought all this shit or the fanbase who try to decypher all this and learned it.

Letters in this one is even harder to memorize than Hymnos.

Total Command: Akira Tsuchiya

Actually, the folks at "A Reyvateil's Melody" are fucking amazing too. Knowing all 3 languages in the EXA_PICO world. Crazy seeing in the Ciel nosurge videos with all the translated Keihan/REON o-o.

 

[Barrylocke]

It's good to see that this game apparently is more like Ar Tonelico 1 and 2 instead of 3. I enjoyed what I played of 1 (meh story, but amazing world and surprising amounts of depth for the Reyvatiels) and I really look forward to playing 2 whenever that retranslation project is complete. Speaking of which, how's the progress of that?

How does the musical style (both Hymmnos and generic music) compare to the prior games in the series?

 

[kiryogi]

It's good to see that this game apparently is more like Ar Tonelico 1 and 2 instead of 3. I enjoyed what I played of 1 (meh story, but amazing world and surprising amounts of depth for the Reyvatiels) and I really look forward to playing 2 whenever that retranslation project is complete. Speaking of which, how's the progress of that?

How does the musical style (both Hymmnos and generic music) compare to the prior games in the series?

Absolute parity:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDK7IVEKphA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k60fIkCX7zU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QULvxkXSNTA

Meanwhile regarding the Ar Tonelico 2 retranslation, I'm not too familar with it myself. But someone was saying elsewhere on here that they're just about wrapping it up?

Ah from Aquagon himself on the website:

aquagon
September 9, 2014

It&#8217;s because there hasn&#8217;t been really much worth reporting lately, as the only thing we&#8217;re doing right now is the final tests, making sure we catch all typos and grammar mistakes we can, and checking the game doesn&#8217;t break apart unexpectedly during an event scene or something.

 

[Shingro]

Yes. The only thing I could say right now is "HOLY FUCK ARE YOU FOR REAL?". I don't know which one should I admire more. The one who thought all this shit or the fanbase who try to decypher all this and learned it.

Letters in this one is even harder to memorize than Hymnos.

It's good to see that this game apparently is more like Ar Tonelico 1 and 2 instead of 3. I enjoyed what I played of 1 (meh story, but amazing world and surprising amounts of depth for the Reyvatiels) and I really look forward to playing 2 whenever that retranslation project is complete. Speaking of which, how's the progress of that?

How does the musical style (both Hymmnos and generic music) compare to the prior games in the series?

So, the first thing you hear any time you boot one of the Ar Tonelico games is one of the Singing Hill songs, check out these lyrical translations of the Hymnos and you can get a good idea of the sort of thing you're *probably* in for.


Singing Hill: Harmonics EOLIA (ar tonelico 1): Edit: links removed since apparently the youtube videos used the original translator's lyrics without permission, There doesn't appear to be any alternates

Singing Hill: Harmonics FRELIA (Ar Tonelico 2):

Singing Hill: Harmonics TILIA: (Ar Tonelico 3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCQ5c2z4hr4

In my eyes these games are best in class in world building and thoroughness, and paying off incredibly to someone willing to invest a little into the series. You don't have to know the language or anything, but watching and knowing the song translated is tremendous I feel and totally worth checking out.

Ar Tonelico is the secret best RPG trilogy ever made in my opinion.

and their music is best in class bar none FACT (okay yes, that's subjective too)

If you like, I put a lot of my favorite hymnos->english translations in my post in the neir OST topic (very similar style of music) http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=129617390&postcount=192

There's a reason such a niche RPG has spawned so many concerts and CDs. The music is absolutely worth it.

Oh, and the combat in 1 and 2 made each combat important, characters talked and recognized the events that happened in combats. and crafting GOOD GOD they're the only company that really understands the best reward from crafting is small scenes where the characters talk about what they made, why they made it, and goofs that happened along the way. You get the item, but the TRUE reward is watching the female lead sass the main character for turning an umbrella and cookie sheet into a deadly weapon capable of splitting comets.

RPG's strongest attributes are the interactions of character personalities and Ar Tonelico/GUST/Ar no Surge understand that and amplify and reward in that angle like no other company or series ever has

I am... I am straight up *hyped*

 

[Barrylocke]

Absolute parity:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDK7IVEKphA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k60fIkCX7zU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QULvxkXSNTA

Meanwhile regarding the Ar Tonelico 2 retranslation, I'm not too familar with it myself. But someone was saying elsewhere on here that they're just about wrapping it up?

Ah from Aquagon himself on the website:

Ah, good to hear that it's in the final stretch. I'll look foward to it. With the first song,

Spoiler

Is this another rendition of the Purger songs that Aurica and Misha sing for the Phase 1 final boss?

The other songs sound pretty solid too. The 2nd one of course gives me memories of hiking up and down the Elemia Tower.

Not to hijack the topic since this is more about Ar no Surge, but I have to say that even though people mostly think of the Hymmnos when they think of the songs for these games (and understandably so, stuff like both versions of EXEC_PURGER, EXEC_RIG=VEDA, and especially EXEC_SUSPEND are amazing to hear both in and out of game), the more game-y songs were also really enjoyable too.

• Conglomerate Alliance Tenba
• Valkyrja
• Vidarr
• Singing Girl

are all wonderful songs as well.

 

[Imouto]

So, the first thing you hear any time you boot one of the Ar Tonelico games is one of the Singing Hill songs, check out these lyrical translations of the Hymnos and you can get a good idea of the sort of thing you're *probably* in for.


Singing Hill: Harmonics EOLIA (ar tonelico 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7UUQdITN2U

Singing Hill: Harmonics FRELIA (Ar Tonelico 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFjSu2X8gG8

Singing Hill: Harmonics TILIA: (Ar Tonelico 3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCQ5c2z4hr4

Awesome stuffs there, brothers. Thank.

I also agree, the best parts about Ar tonelico is characters interaction, and they even have dialogue for each of the item you crafted, with the heroine of your choice to "help" you in the crafting progress. That's one of the reason I actively tried to find all the crafting recipe and craft all of them just to hear they comment about the items. Much better reward and motivation for players than the pointless trophy and achievement, imo.

 

[kiryogi]

Ah, good to hear that it's in the final stretch. I'll look foward to it. With the first song,

Spoiler

Is this another rendition of the Purger songs that Aurica and Misha sing for the Phase 1 final boss?

Maybe! ! ! Play and find out It's certainly onpar with said scene though.

The 2nd one of course gives me memories of hiking up and down the Elemia Tower.

Exactly what it's meant to invoke.

the more game-y songs were also really enjoyable too.

• Conglomerate Alliance Tenba
• Valkyrja
• Vidarr
• Singing Girl

are all wonderful songs as well.

Another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUR3eWDGrHc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFr57-Ecauo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAEZBXLHr7s

And yeah, the Gust Sound Team is absolutely amazing. Expect nothing lesser here.

 

[Space Medafighter X]

Sweet, subscribed. And thanks for the synopsis of the previous game, will definitely take a look at it before I begin playing.

 

[anderedna]

Preordered the game. Will pick this one up alongside Fairy Fencer F for this month. I actually enjoyed the last one, Ar Tonelico Qoga.

 

[Shingro]

Preordered the game. Will pick this one up alongside Fairy Fencer F for this month. I actually enjoyed the last one, Ar Tonelico Qoga.

It might not have been the best of the series, but AT Qoga was still ar tonelico and definitely had me happy and laughing a lot of the way through.

Good game, not afraid to say it.

Plus they did end the trilogy and did it effectively, that's not easy.

Plus... this is amazing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ltn7Lq5gLYs

Let us dissolve this triffling obstanancy in soup and drink it down with honey!! >

 

[Durante]

Absolute parity:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDK7IVEKphA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k60fIkCX7zU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QULvxkXSNTA

So good.

 

[K.Sabot]

So conflicted, never really bought the sequel of a game before playing the first.

 

[Eusis]

So conflicted, never really bought the sequel of a game before playing the first.

Given this seems to be a prequel I wouldn't worry too much, it's probably designed to be more friendly to newcomers.

Unless you meant that Ciel Surge or whatever, kinda just have to go with an online synopsis for that one, or hold off on this in case the offline version gets localized.

 

[kiryogi]

Given this seems to be a prequel I wouldn't worry too much, it's probably designed to be more friendly to newcomers.

Unless you meant that Ciel Surge or whatever, kinda just have to go with an online synopsis for that one, or hold off on this in case the offline version gets localized.

Well it's Prequel to Ar Tonelico but sequel to Ciel nosurge, which is the big debate here. However waiting on Ciel is sort of a problem too as KT has mentioned before possibility of a Ciel localizaton would be based off interest/sales of Ar nosurge. The summaries I've posted above are pretty descriptive and set you up proper for Ar.

It might not have been the best of the series, but AT Qoga was still ar tonelico and definitely had me happy and laughing a lot of the way through.

Good game, not afraid to say it.

Plus they did end the trilogy and did it effectively, that's not easy.

Plus... this is amazing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ltn7Lq5gLYs

Let us dissolve this triffling obstanancy in soup and drink it down with honey!! >

Well yeah, it's still an Ar Tonelico game, just the weakest link in the trilogy. And I've mentioned it before too, there's payoff for series vets that finish it off. While I don't endorse Qoga so much, and I won't deny that I enjoy most of the ride, I just wouldn't ever suggest it over say Ar Tonelico 1/2.

 

[Stuart444]

Yay the op is unlocked again.

Looking forward to this game. Also another KT EU stream is this Thursday at 4pm BST (UK time)

 

[Volcynika]

Whenever I see BST I want to think "Bullshit Time"

But hooray, thread opened again!

 

[itzknickknac]

Don't do it. It may ruin your enjoyment of the whole franchise. Better just start with the first game while waiting for the re-translating team to wrap up their project with the 2nd game and play it later. You can't play the 3rd one without playing the first two, mainly because you can't endure it if you have no love for Ar tonelico.

Haha, I've played some of AT1, I just lost my memory card and didn't want to restart from the beginning. But actually.. I think I'll do just that as I'm sure it's better than starting AT3. Time for AT1 re-playthrough

 

[Stuart444]

Lol, I started with AT3 and enjoyed it. I'm probably the only one here like that though.

Won't get started on Ar nosurge for 2 weeks though. Away from Wed 24th (2 days before it's release here) til Monday. Ah well. It's something to come home too lol.

 

[Volcynika]

Lol, I started with AT3 and enjoyed it. I'm probably the only one here like that though.

I thought AT3 was ok. Some of those heavy innuendo scenes though. Yeesh. I remember showing Aeana one of them and she was speechless.

 

[Imouto]

I thought AT3 was ok. Some of those heavy innuendo scenes though. Yeesh. I remember showing Aeana one of them and she was speechless.

My complain is mostly in the gameplay and game performance. Everything else is good to great in my book.

But then there are At1 and At2 existed, obviously I can't say At3 is "ok" after experienced those 2 games.

 

[flatearthpandas]

AT3 was my first brush with the series and I actually enjoyed the ridiculousness of the battle system. It looks like that ridiculousness has been replaced by a more typical battle system so I'm not really sure if I should pick this up. I'll have to look into it more.

The diving was pretty interesting but I could do without the crystal stuff and—despite fanservice seemingly being a huge part of the battle system of AT3—I could do without that too. Combat video seemed to show the defender guy dispatching most of the enemies (aka being a competent opponent for the enemies even without any song magic) and there was something I guess I just really liked about attacking on the beat (doing almost no damage) to just survive until song magic could clear the field.

Hmm. :/

 

[Imouto]

AT3 was my first brush with the series and I actually enjoyed the ridiculousness of the battle system. It looks like that ridiculousness has been replaced by a more typical battle system so I'm not really sure if I should pick this up. I'll have to look into it more.

This is anything but typical battle system. At3's one is just a fail copy of Star Ocean with song magic.

 

[Barrylocke]

I'm really looking foward to trying AT2's battle system. It reminds me of the Mario RPGs with hitting the button at the right time to negate damage, which can be fun.

AT1's battle system was very typical, and the cool ideas it did have were made mostly pointless due to how easy the entire game was. You almost never had any real need to add crystals to your song magic, and the Energy Ball/Boom spell was enough for almost all random encounters. The only tricks to the battle system was in getting things set up so you got the maximum amount of items from the enemy, and once you get a system for that it's pretty shallow.

At least the battle themes were cool.

 

[flatearthpandas]

This is anything but typical battle system. At3's one is just a fail copy of Star Ocean with song magic.

I watched a pretty long video going over the Ar no Surge battle system. I do see the appeal of managing resources and attacks to build song magic up as much as possible before you run out of turns. That aspect is not typical, yes.

But it's actually very typical in as far as you press buttons and your bulky dude kills things. And then for every few waves that he kills, your song person can kill one.

AT3 was interesting in that your fighter types were only really useful in as far as they could stay alive and keep enemies distracted while song magic built. Song magic was the real deal. From what I've seen of Ar no Surge, the song magic is just a supplement to save you some time, not something that is actually important to winning fights.

I haven't played Star Ocean but I highly doubt the battle system works in such a way that your PCs are just meatshields who protect the real fighters.

 

[kiryogi]

I'm really looking foward to trying AT2's battle system. It reminds me of the Mario RPGs with hitting the button at the right time to negate damage, which can be fun.

AT1's battle system was very typical, and the cool ideas it did have were made mostly pointless due to how easy the entire game was. You almost never had any real need to add crystals to your song magic, and the Energy Ball/Boom spell was enough for almost all random encounters. The only tricks to the battle system was in getting things set up so you got the maximum amount of items from the enemy, and once you get a system for that it's pretty shallow.

At least the battle themes were cool.

Heh, and Ar Tonelico was the first to start using hiphop in its themes too. Although shortly lived. Gust Sound Team has such great range of variety when given.

I watched a pretty long video going over the Ar no Surge battle system. I do see the appeal of managing resources and attacks to build song magic up as much as possible before you run out of turns. That aspect is not typical, yes.

But it's actually very typical in as far as you press buttons and your bulky dude kills things. And then for every few waves that he kills, your song person can kill one.

AT3 was interesting in that your fighter types were only really useful in as far as they could stay alive and keep enemies distracted while song magic built. Song magic was the real deal. From what I've seen of Ar no Surge, the song magic is just a supplement to save you some time, not something that is actually important to winning fights.

I haven't played Star Ocean but I highly doubt the battle system works in such a way that your PCs are just meatshields who protect the real fighters.

The AT/ANS games has always been about the Song Magic. It's the ultimate win button. In ANS' case, the video shown is above is near end game and even then, the vanguards can only take out so many enemies. While Song Magic can decimate waves instantly, but I don't even know why we're debating this. Song Magic has always been seen to make the battles super easy, as all you do really is bide your time until it's ready. And honestly, in all 4 games to date, my vanguards by endgame were able to take on normal mobs and even some bosses without triggering the Song Magic. (Yes AT3 included)

 

[Imouto]

AT3 was interesting in that your fighter types were only really useful in as far as they could stay alive and keep enemies distracted while song magic built. Song magic was the real deal. From what I've seen of Ar no Surge, the song magic is just a supplement to save you some time, not something that is actually important to winning fights.

This is false, though. At the end game where I crafted a bunch of high end weapon, I rarely activate song magic aside from boss, since it's a waste of time when I could just whack them in a minute at best, and I even avoided grinding as much as possible. You haven't seen boss battle in Ar noSurge yet.

 

[flatearthpandas]

The AT/ANS games has always been about the Song Magic. It's the ultimate win button. In ANS' case, the video shown is above is near end game and even then, the vanguards can only take out so many enemies. While Song Magic can decimate waves instantly, but I don't even know why we're debating this. Song Magic has always been seen to make the battles super easy, as all you do really is bide your time until it's ready. And honestly, in all 4 games to date, my vanguards by endgame were able to take on normal mobs and even some bosses without triggering the Song Magic. (Yes AT3 included)

I'm not sure why I'm being met with such hostility from you and the other poster... I'm not trying to pick a fight with you. What I'm saying is that in the video, the vanguard was a much more efficient killer than the song magic. In the time it took to get her ready to wipe out six waves, the vanguard had killed 17&#8212;including the tough encounter. In AT3, at higher levels, yes, your vanguards can clear some encounters before song magic is ready, but I never felt like the song magic was pointless except in NG+ when people were maxed out. Especially with the buffs it gave and all the status effects.

 

[kiryogi]

I'm not sure why I'm being met with such hostility from you and the other poster... I'm not trying to pick a fight with you. What I'm saying is that in the video, the vanguard was a much more efficient killer than the song magic. In the time it took to get her ready to wipe out six waves, the vanguard had killed 17&#8212;including the tough encounter. In AT3, at higher levels, yes, your vanguards can clear some encounters before song magic is ready, but I never felt like the song magic was pointless except in NG+ when people were maxed out. Especially with the buffs it gave and all the status effects.

I suppose its because its Ar Tonelico 3, and there's very few out there that actually see merit in it's battle system, which is seen as it's weakest link. It's great that you actually do like Ar Tonelico 3, the more Ar Tonelico love the better! But all the defensiveness is from how you're discounting Ar nosurge's battle system.

This is Casty annihilating an encounter with a 40 wave chain that's probably originally a 70 encounter? Song Magic is not pointless, and you want to be able to clear out the encounter chain before your turns are up ideally. It's actually a decent balance between singer and vanguard's ability. As awesome as the vanguard can be at clearing enemies in a shot or two, they can't clear an entire encounter chain within 9 turns, that's where Song Magic comes into play.

 

[Imouto]

I'm not sure why I'm being met with such hostility from you and the other poster... I'm not trying to pick a fight with you. What I'm saying is that in the video, the vanguard was a much more efficient killer than the song magic. In the time it took to get her ready to wipe out six waves, the vanguard had killed 17—including the tough encounter. In AT3, at higher levels, yes, your vanguards can clear some encounters before song magic is ready, but I never felt like the song magic was pointless except in NG+ when people were maxed out. Especially with the buffs it gave and all the status effects.

Point out why you're wrong is not hostility, just so you know. The video is there to show you the core mechanic of the game. If you want to know how efficient Song Magic is, watch the gameplay vid from people who plays from beginning. What are you going to do when you engage around 50 waves of enemy? Whacking them with your vanguard until they are all dead?

The game system was build around Song Magic, as in previous Ar tonelico.

 

[matmanx1]

AT series is one of my favorite. I absolutely adored 1 and 2 (finished them both) and then was massively let down with 3. I never finished it.

Once the series was rebooted with the Ciel and Ar nosurge i was happy but didn't really think I would have the chance to play them in English. I'm currently reading the in depth walk through of Ciel nosurge (and it's great!) and very much looking forward to Ar nosurge.

 

[kiryogi]

AT series is one of my favorite. I absolutely adored 1 and 2 (finished them both) and then was massively let down with 3. I never finished it.

Once the series was rebooted with the Ciel and Ar nosurge i was happy but didn't really think I would have the chance to play them in English. I'm currently reading the in depth walk through of Ciel nosurge (and it's great!) and very much looking forward to Ar nosurge.

Yeah, it's absolutely blowing my mind after playing Ar nosurge just how much there is in terms of connecting the dots too. I'm currently on chapter 6 myself. Even tho the gameplay and format is different, the writing and events are still onpar to what you'd expect from a EXA_PICO game. The story is simply fantastic, and it's simply amazing how they've been building it up from Ciel to Ar in a span of the last 2 years. I really can't say enough how much of a disservice folks that go into this are doing themselves not knowing about Ciel before hand.

I know I constantly gush about Akira Tsuchiya, but I don't think anyone out there in the industry can world build as this man can. The worlds he creates are immense, detailed, charming, and very fascinating. There's so much mythos and lore for EXA_PICO to date.

 

[Shingro]

Yeah, it's absolutely blowing my mind after playing Ar nosurge just how much there is in terms of connecting the dots too. I'm currently on chapter 6 myself. Even tho the gameplay and format is different, the writing and events are still onpar to what you'd expect from a EXA_PICO game. The story is simply fantastic, and it's simply amazing how they've been building it up from Ciel to Ar in a span of the last 2 years. I really can't say enough how much of a disservice folks that go into this are doing themselves not knowing about Ciel before hand.

I know I constantly gush about Akira Tsuchiya, but I don't think anyone out there in the industry can world build as this man can. The worlds he creates are immense, detailed, charming, and very fascinating. There's so much mythos and lore for EXA_PICO to date.

So, did you read the tokousphere stuff at all? I always meant to but the way only certain issues were translated put me off. I'd like to know if it was useful at all.

 

[Spirit Icana]

Just in case people don't see it in the OP:

My explanation of the battle system. It's about 18 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQZLCVfFZfg

OHMYGOSH it's RurouniZel in the flesh!

Thx. Looking forward to the game.

 

[kiryogi]

So, did you read the tokousphere stuff at all? I always meant to but the way only certain issues were translated put me off. I'd like to know if it was useful at all.

I've read at least half of it, and what's even more interesting to date, They're still translating them! I'll get back to it eventually, I really enjoyed what I read though.

Toukousphere stuff was hilarious and entertaining all the same time. It provided an extension of the characters after the games were over, but also highlighted more of the worldview in the Ar Tonelico world. It was in the Toukousphere that they explained Hymnos and even taught lessons on it. I'm a bit sad we don't have something like Toukousphere for Surge Concerto.

 

[Imouto]

I know I constantly gush about Akira Tsuchiya, but I don't think anyone out there in the industry can world build as this man can. The worlds he creates are immense, detailed, charming, and very fascinating. There's so much mythos and lore for EXA_PICO to date.

I would say there are, but you will have to take a step outside of gaming ;p. Once I learned about Owari no Chronicle light novel, the world setting is what I would call on par with Ar tonelico, and then there is Log Horizon, once you dig deep enough, you will realize how detail everything, including MMO culture of different countries were built there.

I'm just glad that we have Ar tonelico, seeing the other 2 world setting I adore have pretty much non-existence chance to appear in gaming scene. I'd say while everyone is going nut over FFXV news, Ar noSurge holds all of my attention. Hopefully after working in this they will consider moving onto the PS4 with this franchise.

 

[chrominance]

So wait, is it really inadvisable to play Ar Nosurge before Ciel Nosurge? Then what's the point? NIS can't possibly expect more than a fraction of the potential audience to actually seek out a plot summary in preparation for this game, can they?

 

[distantmantra]

So wait, is it really inadvisable to play Ar Nosurge before Ciel Nosurge? Then what's the point? NIS can't possibly expect more than a fraction of the potential audience to actually seek out a plot summary in preparation for this game, can they?

It's probably fine. I played through Sen no Kiseki without playing the previous games and didn't feel lost in the plot, even though everyone said it was the dumbest idea ever.