As you probably have know now, Gust and Bandai Namco are bringing the latest entry in the Ar Tonelico series to PS3. Ar tonelico III: Sekai Shuuen no Hikigane wa Shoujo no Uta ga Hajiku will continues the theme of the series, which emphasize on your relationships with your party members (who happens to be all female) in the game and the use of Song Magics in its story and battle system. The game is currently more than 80% done according to the developers Gust and will be out in Japan this January. More details about the game below.

Main Character: Aoto

Two main races exist in Sol Cielm, the world of Ar tonelico, they are the Human and Reyvateil. Aoto (click here for full character art) is a human and an apprentice to a master builder, he is said to be a careless but responsible person. His hate towards Soul Cluster (see below) deepen after meeting Saki (above right).

Reyvateil: Saki

Saki is a Reyvateil, a female-only race originally created to maintain the world of Ar tonelico. She (click here for full character art) is born in a lab and has been trying to escape ever since. She met Aoto few years after escaping and has be ability to produce a special ability called Miracle when under pressure.

Reyvateil: Finnel

A β-type Reyvateil from Soul Cluster (see below) who is currently working in a restaurant. Finnel (click here for full character art) is said to be a very clumsy girl and apparently connected to a great conspiracy by Soul Cluster. In the above screen, she (left) seems to have a sad memory about the the girl holding a stick on the right.

Other Characters

World Map

The game takes place on the third tower of Ar tonelico called Soul Cluster, a highly advanced civilization. Players can either choose a city or dungeon from the list on the left or move around the 3D world map.

Soul Cluster

A country (view concept art here) controlled by β-type Reyvateils, who wish to created a world of purely Reyvateils and cleansed-human, removing anyone who stands in their ways.

Souyanosato

A human village in Soul Cluster and home of main character Aoto. Due to its location at the heart of the tower’s weather control system, the place is always under strong wind. Villagers built windmills to make use of the energy. Saki will visit this place and change the life of Aoto who stay here.

Clusternia

The admin center for Reyvateil has the most advanced facilities. Human are forced to come here as slaves to research on the technology of Reyvateil.

Tokoshie Tunnel

An underground city with complicated water tunnels, uneven lands and maze-like road system.

Arkia

Also known as a city with hanging rocket, which is called “XP Shell”. The platform that hold the rocket is also the administrative center for Arkia and home to Arkia Institute. It is the only place where human can live peacefully, thanks in part to its location at the side of the tower and it being a self-administrative region. Players will be able to see a city of mixed Asian and Western buildings, markets, high end accessory shops, entertainment areas and a skateboarding stadium called “V Board Stadium” in Arkia.

Arkia Institute

With a history that is longer than the city itself, Arkia Institute is said to be the base to which the third tower in Ar tonelico is built on.

Dive

Like previous games, players are required to “Dive” into the hearts of the Reyvateil girls in order to unleash their powerful Song Magic. By diving deeper in their mind (called Cosmosphere) in Ar tonelico III, players can unlock the other side of the Reyvateil girls (Saki and Finnel can be seen here and here).

Improving your relationships with the girl characters will increase your bond with them, which plays a big role in battles thanks to their Song Magics (Finnel’s release sequence above). The other side of these girls can also take part in battles.

R.A.H. System

Aoto can have his own Song Magics too in the game thanks to the R.A.H. System. By combining (combine screen shown above) the necessary Song Magic items when you are in Cosmosphere, you can create your own Song Magic. This can then be activated during battle based on Aoto’s actions. The screen below show a good (right) and a bad R.A.H.

Opening Anime

Source: Weekly Famitsu & DengekiOnline.

Posted in News on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 12:54 am | Tags ar tonelico bandai namco gust rpg
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