Post by Lýfelíëk Heroblãde on Dec 17, 2004 6:55:10 GMT -5
From IGN:
When the PSP was unveiled at E3 in May, you basically had three choices for an "interactive experience" with the system: you could move the camera around in a number of rolling demos, you could move the lights around in the tech demonstrations (although you could also make one demo character jump ... joy!), or you could play the early-but-playable Namco title, Tales of Eternia. A less recent edition in a series that's just now getting attention in America (thanks, in no small part, to a release on the GameCube to an RPG-starved audience with the stellar Tales of Symphonia), this original PlayStation remake now comes to PSP.
It has been a number of years since the PSone title, and amongst the half-dozen or so RPGs on the TGS floor for the PlayStation Portable, this title clearly showed that it's been a while since it was originally drawn -- sprites feature simpler animations than some of the newer RPGs. That said, the game still looked stellar on the screen, with 2D elements popping right out at you and the details showing in every little spot of the game map. The multi-level 3D levels boasted plenty of color and texturing. Text was crystal clear (the way images and text roll off the screen like butter, this system is in many ways an RPG-lover's dream) and dialog scenes looked great. Loadtimes were also almost non-existent on the TGS demo version (that doesn't necessarily speak for the final version -- the PSPs on the show floor were either running off the debug unit set-up or the modified prototypes held by the roaming booth babes that didn't use the UMD for game data -- but with loadings as fast as most titles were on the show floor, we're hoping that final versions rub out that screen in general wherever possible.)
As far as gameplay, we were not able to make our way out of town to engage in battle, but we did have a number of discussions with townsfolk and see the sprawling tree landscapes that mark the early portions of the game. Play is pretty much as you remember it on the PlayStation game (if you were there to remember it), and the analog nub was now functional for controlling the character after being non-functional in the E3 prototype units. There was also a prolonged animated cutscene to check out on the demo version, which looked quite nice.
Tales of Eternia (also, for some reason, known as T.O.E. -- this is the only game in the series that does this, as far as I recall, and it's really only the PSP edition that uses the awkward acronym) did not have a completion ranking on the TGS edition. We're assuming that it's well on its way, being one of the first titles officially announced for the system. It is unknown what Namco's plans are for the international release, but many Tales of... (including the many who have had their first go of the series with the Cube game) would be happy to see the game return in their neck of the wood.
Tales of Eternia was one of the few truly playable games at this years E3, where the PSP debuted along side mostly unplayable tech demos. Progress on the title is clearly being made. Namco today unveiled a teaser website for Tales of Eternia. In addition, the company revealed that it will showcase the game at the upcoming Jump Festival game/comic show.
It has been a number of years since the PSone title, and amongst the half-dozen or so RPGs on the TGS floor for the PlayStation Portable, this title clearly showed that it's been a while since it was originally drawn -- sprites feature simpler animations than some of the newer RPGs. That said, the game still looked stellar on the screen, with 2D elements popping right out at you and the details showing in every little spot of the game map. The multi-level 3D levels boasted plenty of color and texturing. Text was crystal clear (the way images and text roll off the screen like butter, this system is in many ways an RPG-lover's dream) and dialog scenes looked great. Loadtimes were also almost non-existent on the TGS demo version (that doesn't necessarily speak for the final version -- the PSPs on the show floor were either running off the debug unit set-up or the modified prototypes held by the roaming booth babes that didn't use the UMD for game data -- but with loadings as fast as most titles were on the show floor, we're hoping that final versions rub out that screen in general wherever possible.)
As far as gameplay, we were not able to make our way out of town to engage in battle, but we did have a number of discussions with townsfolk and see the sprawling tree landscapes that mark the early portions of the game. Play is pretty much as you remember it on the PlayStation game (if you were there to remember it), and the analog nub was now functional for controlling the character after being non-functional in the E3 prototype units. There was also a prolonged animated cutscene to check out on the demo version, which looked quite nice.
Tales of Eternia (also, for some reason, known as T.O.E. -- this is the only game in the series that does this, as far as I recall, and it's really only the PSP edition that uses the awkward acronym) did not have a completion ranking on the TGS edition. We're assuming that it's well on its way, being one of the first titles officially announced for the system. It is unknown what Namco's plans are for the international release, but many Tales of... (including the many who have had their first go of the series with the Cube game) would be happy to see the game return in their neck of the wood.
Tales of Eternia was one of the few truly playable games at this years E3, where the PSP debuted along side mostly unplayable tech demos. Progress on the title is clearly being made. Namco today unveiled a teaser website for Tales of Eternia. In addition, the company revealed that it will showcase the game at the upcoming Jump Festival game/comic show.
