Tales of the Abyss

Overview

Tales Of The Abyss is a role playing game and is a port of the original Playstation 2 game "Tales of the Abyss" developed by Namco Tales Studio and published by Namco Bandai. Tales of the Abyss was officially announced on September 10th 2011 at a Nintendo Press conference with a planned release for 2011. The game also has new artwork designed by Kousuke Fujishima. The game is set on a planet called Auldrant, made up of elementary particles called Fonons. The game uses a real time battle system, called "Flex Range Linear Motion Battle System".

The main character is Luke fon Fabre, and is seventeen years old. He lives with his aunt and his uncle in their mansion in the city of Baticul. However, Luke is not allowed to leave the mansion because he was kidnapped seven years ago. Luke's interaction towards others is often hostile at times, mostly due to his never being exposed to outside influences. Because of this, he often treats others disrespect and often replies with "Shut Up!". His biggest dream is to leave the mansion and explore the outside world.

Story

Tales of the Abyss takes place on the planet of Auldrant, a world populated by Fonons, particles that represent the different elements, including fire, water, light, shadow, earth, and wind particles. A seventh Fonon is discovered, representing the element of Sound, but it can also be used to manipulate the future, with the people who can control Fonons being called Fonists. Yulia Jue, a seventh Fonist, determines the future of the world for thousands of years to come, while also giving its prophecy the possibility of unlimited prosperity at the end. This future becomes known as the "Score" and is spread across many Fonstones across the world. Two nations fight- the Kimlasca and Malkuth Empires- for the Fonstones in order to find out the future. During all the chaos, a holy order, called the Order Of Lorelei, dedicated to reading and keeping the Score at peace crops up. The Order of Lorelei was established to use the vision of the future to lead the people of Auldrant away from destruction and saving the world. During the peacetime between the two empires, a mass slaughter of Malkuth citizens of the island of Hod occurs.

The game starts with Yulia Jue reading the Score, celebrating the birth of "the light of the sacred flame" that will bring prosperity to the Kimlasca empire. Luke Fon Fabre, the protagonist of the story, is this "light of the sacred flame". Upon learning this, the Malkute Empire kidnaps Luke and traps him inside an old mansion. The shock of the kidnapping erased Luke's first seven years of memory, so he has no knowledge of his beginnings. One day, a woman breaks into the mansion Luke is trapped in, throwing Luke into a series of events that eventually will lead him to the heat of the conflict between the people who would like to see the prophecy of the Score carried out, and the people that would like to see the Score destroyed.

Gameplay

The story revolves around Luke but there are seven playable characters that you can walk around as or fight as, if they're in your party. Explore the planet of Auldrant on foot or using the ship the Tartarus in this role-playing game to find out why Luke has no memories of his childhood and try to save the planet and the Outer Crust from falling into the Qliphoth. The game uses visible-encounter enemies and has a Flex Range Linear Motion Battle System also known as FR-LMBS and is real-time.

Battle System

The game uses a Flex Range Linear Motion Battle System and is real-time. The controls are similar to the other Tales games. The player gets to control one character’s movements during battle along with attacking, defending, and performing a skill. You can even call up a menu during battle to use items, command an ally to perform an action, or even switch to controlling a different character.

The game has many different kinds of skills and spells to use. You can turn on or off any AD skill or fonic artes that you would like a character to use or not use. You acquire these skills by using Capacity Cores which give stat bonuses when you level up. There are spells that damage, cause status effects, defend, and even change your skills element, also called an FOF. An FOF circle appears on the ground whenever you use a battle technique or skill that is aligned with an element. To use the FOF circle that appears on the ground, simply walk to the middle of the circle and use your skill. You also get an Over Limit bar that characters can fill by completing combos and making critical hits. When you use your Over Limit, your characters can use their Mystic Artes which is a skill that can only be used after certain conditions are met. Kooper is a fat fuck

Release

Originally planned to be released in Japan on April 7th, 2011, Tales Of The Abyss was delayed to the later date of June 30, 2011. The game was released in Europe on November 25th, 2011, and in North America on February 14th, 2012.

Characters

Luke fon Fabre- a Duke and the main protagonist of the game. He is Asch’s replica, has the same fonon frequency as Asch, and has no memories of a childhood. He was made in Choral Castle. He is the fake son to Duchess and Duke fon Fabre and also the nephew to King Ingobert VI. Age- 17

Tear Grants- On a mission from Mohs to locate the seventh Fonstone, she accidently bumps into Luke causing a Hyper Resonance between the two and sending them off to the Malkuth Empire. Sister to Van Grants and descendant of Yulie Jue. Her homeland was the Island of Hod that fell into the Qliphoth when her mother was pregnant with her. She had to grow up in Yulia Jue below the Outer Crust with her brother. Age-16

Jade Balfour- Also called Jade the Necromancer or Jade Curtiss, he is the Colonel in the Third Division of the Malkuth Empire. He invented fomicry at the age of 9, giving him the name Father of Fomicry. He was born in Kettersburg and likes to sit back and watch for the outcome, even though knowing something the others doesn’t. Brother to Nephry Osborne. Age-35

Guy Cecil- He is Luke’s servant and best friend even though Luke acts much different than the Luke he knew from his childhood. Guy is afraid of girls but still likes to look at them. He tends to know a lot about different places, claiming he likes to read about good vacationing spots. He lived on the Island of Hod until his fifth birthday when the war began while his score was being read, Duke Fabre murdered his entire family and servants. Age-21

Anise Tatlin- She has a love for money and is determined to marry a wealthy guy, She loves to cook because it’s the best way to get a guy. She is the daughter of Pamela and Oliver who live in Daath and fights with a doll called a Tokunaga. Age-13

Natalia Kimlasca-Lanvaldear- a Princess who puts down her role as Princess for the adventure for peace between Kimlasca and Malkuth. She is supposed to marry Luke and that makes Anise jealous. Age-18

Ion- Fon Master (Highest Rank) of the Order of Lorelei, who is pursuing peace between Kimlasca and Malkuth. He is kidnapped several times. Age-14

Mieu- A Cheagle who was exiled from Cheagle Woods by the Elder after setting fire to a Queen Liger’s forest. A Cheagle is a sacred animal to the Order of Lorelei, and are the only species besides humans who can use fonis artes. Yulia Jue gave the Cheagle Elder the Sorcerer's Ring that allows the Cheagle wearing it to talk. Cheagles live in the north forests on the Rugnica continent.

Van Grants- The Commandant of the Oracle Knights, commander of the Six God Generals, and one of the six Maestro's in the Order of Lorelei. Luke’s Battle Instructor and Tear Grants brother. His homeland was the Island of Hod, Malkuth Territory, that was destroyed when it fell into the Qliphoth. Him and his mother, who was pregnant with Tear at the time, fell into the Qliphoth but Van used one of the seven fonic hymns to save them. Who then had to grow up in Yulia City below the outer crust with his sister. Age-27

Asch the Bloody- He is the Special Ops Commander of the Oracle Knights and one of the six God-Generals. The original Luke who was kidnapped by Van Grants and taken to Choral Castle, where he was replicated. He is one of the six god generals and the real son to the fon Fabre’s. He refuses to go by the name Luke anymore saying that he is the charred remains of the sacred flame. Age-17

Legretta the Quick- One of the six God-Generals also Adjutant Commandant and Fourth Division Commander in the Oracle Knights. She was Tear Grants teacher and Van's right-hand woman, she uses guns as her weapon. Age-26

Arietta the Wild- One of the six God-Generals and Third Division Commander, She was an orphan who was raised by Ligers. Luke, Tear, and Jade kill her mother, the Queen Liger, in Cheagle Woods. Age-16

Dist the Reaper- One of the six God-Generals and Second Division Commander of the Oracle Knights, often called Dist the Runny by Jade Curtiss. Dist wants to be called Dist the Rose as he doesn’t like being called the reaper. He is often ignored by the other god generals. Age-35

Sync the Tempest- One of the six God-Generals also Chief of Staff and Fifrth Division Commander of the Oracle Knights. He is the only person who doesn’t use a weapon to fight. Age-14

Largo the Black Lion- The oldest member of the six God-Generals and First Division Commander of the Oracle Knights. Age-48

Duchess fon Fabre- Mother of Asch/Luke and Wife of Duke Fabre. She gets sick after thinking Luke was kidnapped again by the Malkuth Empire, even though it was Tear’s doing. Luke is often asking for money from her.

Duke fon Fabre- Father of Asch/Luke and Husband of Duchess fon Fabre, he was responsible for the The War of Hod and the slaughter of Guy's family.

Noir- Leader of the Dark Wings trio, She has a fan club being called the pretty lady.

York- Part of the Dark Wings trio, dresses like a pirate.

Urushi- Part of the Dark Wings trio, he is the short fat one

Yulia Jue- A seventh phonist who lived 2,000 years ago and wrote the future on the Fon Stones. She created the Order of Lorelei, wrote the Sacred Hymns, and invented a lot of the fonic machines during the Dawn Age.

Ant Lion Man- Bring this man several items throughout the game and you’ll be rewarded with better items, and is one of the Auldrant Fairy Tales.

King Ingobert VI- Ruler of Kimlasca and uncle of Luke fon Fabre. Not sure how Luke’s Mom and Dad are related to him which is his brother or sister?

Peony IX- Emperor of the Malkuth territory, He was kicked out of the capital when he was a child during a struggle for succession, his father supposedly had a lot of enemies. He has a mansion in Kettersburg that he spent his childhood at after being kicked out of the capital and is said to like any girl he sets his eyes on. He was the only one who believed Jade was still alive after the fall of Akzeriuth.

Mohs- Grand Maestro (second in command) of the Order of Lorelei and Field Marshal of the Oracle Knights, he wants to see the Score fulfilled and is willing to cause war for it.

Nephry- Jade's brother and Governor of Kettersburg who lives in a huge mansion, she is married but it never reveals who her husband is.

AD Skills

AD Skills, Additional Skills, are abilities that aid you with your battles. Anise and Asch are the only ones that can learn all of them, Jade is only missing Special Guard. Luke and Guy won't learn some of the magic skills.

|Life Up |ENH 20 |Occasionally increases Max HP after battles |- |Spirit Healer |ENH 30 |Increases amount of TP regained after battle |- |Happiness |ENH 40 |Occasionally increases battle experience |- |Life Healer |ENH 50 |Gain HP after battles |- |Mind Up |ENH 60 |Occasionally increases Max TP after battle |- |HP Recovery |ENH 70 |Increases HP recovery after battle |- |TP Recovery |ENH 80 |Increases TP recovery after battle |- |EXP Plus |ENH 90 |Increases Exp gained after battle |- |Dash |AGL 20 |Increases battle running speed |- |Run Away! |AGL 30 |Decreases the time needed to escape battles, stacks |- |Comeback |AGL 40 |During stun hit guard to shorten the stagger period |- |Item Pro |AGL 50 |Decreases the amount of time character is unable to move after using items |- |Over Limit Boost |AGL 60 |Increases Over Limit time |- |Landing |AGL 70 |Decreases delay from jumping |- |Quick Turn |AGL 80 |Turn Around quickly |- |Aerial Jump |AGL 90 |Can jump two times in a row |- |Rebound |P. ATK 20+ AGL 20+ |Enables physical attacks during recover |- |Step Away |P. ATK 20+ AGL 20+ |Can dodge an enemy attack with Backstep |- |Item Rover |P. ATK 20+ AGL 40+ |Increases chance of stealing an item |- |Jump Combo |P. ATK 30+ AGL 30+ |Enables immediate attacks after jumping |- |Neutralizer |P. ATK 30+ AGL 30+ |Occasionally nullifies magic damage |- |C. Counter |P. ATK 40+ AGL 40+ |Increases physical damage to attacking monsters |- |Super Chain |P. ATK 60+ AGL 60+ |Enables linking Arcane Artes to Base Artes |- |Ability Plus |P. ATK 80+ AGL 80+ |Enables linking of two Base Artes |- |Add Combo 2 |P. ATK 120+ AGL 20+ |Increases number of chainable basic attacks |- |Add Combo 3 |P. ATK 160+ AGL 40+ |Increases number of chainable basic attacks |- |Add Combo 4 |P. ATK 200+ AGL 60+ |increases number of chainable basic attacks |- |E. Plus |P. ATK 20+ F. ATK 20+ |Occasionally increases Elemental damage |- |Magic End |F. ATK 20+ AGL 30+ |Enables immediate acting after casting |- |Lucky Soul |P. DEF 20+ F. DEF 20+ |Occasionally recovers TP when knocked down |- |Nullify |P. DEF 30+ F. DEF 20+ |Occasionally nullifies a spell attack |- |Condition Guard |P. DEF 30+ F. DEF 30+ |Decreases time of physical ailments (Poison, Weak) |- |Reflect |P. DEF 40+ F. DEF 40+ |Occasionally reflects damage onto enemies while guarding |- |Status Guard |P. DEF 40+ F. DEF 40+ |Occasionally won't receive status effects while guarding |- |Blood Spirit |P. DEF 45+ F. DEF 45+ |Recover TP based on number of hits received |- |Resurrect |P. DEF 50+ F. DEF 50+ |Occasionally automatically revives character |- |Auto Aid |P. DEF 60+ F. DEF 60+ |Occcasionally casts First Aid when receiving damage |- |Skill Guard |F. DEF 25+ AGL 25+ |Replaces fonic arte Guardian |- |Dash Guard |F. DEF 40+ AGL 40+ |Immune to stagger by fonic artes when running |- |Long Step |P. DEF 20+ AGL 20+ |Increases backstep distance |- |Rear Guard 2 |P. DEF 60+ AGL 50+ |Decreases chance of guard break |- |Reducer |F. ATK 30+ F. DEF 30+ |Decreases TP consumption when using the same fonic arte twice in a row |- |Item Master |AGL 30+ ENH 30+ |Increases item effectiveness |- |Item Getter |AGL 40+ ENH 40+ |Increases chance of getting Items after battle, stacks |- |Counter |P. ATK 30+ P. DEF 30+ |Enables immediate attacking after blocking an attack |- |Pow Hammer |P. ATK 40+ P. DEF 40+ |Chance of using Pow Hammer when receiving physical damage |- |C. Combo |P. ATK 40+ P. DEF 40+
AGL 20+ |Enables immediate fonic arte casting after blocking an attack |- |Back Action |P. ATK 25+ P. DEF 25+
AGL 10+ |Removes Backstep delay |- |Rhythm |F. ATK 20+ F. DEF 20+
AGL 20+ |Quickly tap attack to shorten cast time while casting |- |Reprise |F. ATK 20+ F. DEF 20+
AGL 40+ |Reduces casting time when using the same fonic arte twice |- |Spell Save |P. DEF 30+ F. ATK 30+
F. DEF 30+ |Decreases casting time of the same spell if the spell is interrupted by an enemy. |- |Rebirth |P. DEF 30+ F. DEF 30+
ENH 30+ |Slowly recovers half of damage received from the last hit |- |Angel's Tear |P. DEF 60+ F. DEF 60+
ENH 50+ |Automatically revives from KO once |- |Flash |P. ATK 30+ P DEF 30+
F. DEF 30+ |Immune to stagger during combo |- |Resilience |P. DEF 60+ F. DEF 60+
AGL 40+ |Immune to stagger during casting |- |Glory |P. DEF 60+ F. DEG 60+
AGL 50+
ENH 60+ |Immune to stagger while receiving damage |}

Mystic Artes

Each playable character in the game has at least one Mystic Arte that can be used during Over Limits to help do even more damage and get more hits. Here is a list of all of the Mystic Artes, how to get, and how to use them.