Ben-DutkaYou know, maybe if we stop covering Japanese news, we could stop depressing the hell out of JRPG fans.
Sadly, we can't ignore the world, regardless of the fact that Namco Bandai seems hellbent on never allowing another Tales title to break Japanese borders. Thanks to the most recent weekly edition of Famitsu (and as cited by Andriasang ), we learn that the latest entry in the long-running role-playing series, Tales of Xillia , will feature some fairly drastic changes. Firstly, instead of the standard old-school overhead view, the camera will come down and hover behind the back of the main character (ala most any game these days). Secondly, the towns and buildings are full-sized this time around; they aren't all miniaturized as they have been in the past.
Thirdly, the game will feature two main characters, which is another first for the franchise. Jude is 15 and Mira is 20; the latter is a spirits master and can control the four elements, while Jude looks up to her and wishes to assist in his own way. They'll team up in battle with a co-op mechanic called "Link Mode," where one character is controlled by the other, the "master." …there's all sorts of innunedo…or maybe it's just me.
You can also find details on Liese Maxia, Spirit Power, Spirit Maxwell, and La Sugall and A Jule; these are names you'll see in the game…if, that is, you live in Japan or plan to import. It's scheduled to launch in Japan some time next year and the developers say the project is 60% complete. Will Namco ever opt for a Western release…? We could say "hopefully" but do you see Tales of Vesperia sitting on store shelves? We don't.
Related Game(s): Tales of Xillia