Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel
Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel (アルトネリコ3 世界終焉の引鉄は少女の詩が弾く, Aru Toneriko Surī: Sekai Shūen no Hikigane wa Shōjo no Uta ga Hiku?, lit. "Ar tonelico III: The Girl's Song that Pulls the Trigger of World's Demise") is a role-playing video game produced by Gust and published by Namco Bandai in Japan and by NIS America in North America for the Sony PlayStation 3. It is the third and final installment, taking place in the Reyvateil-ruled country of Clusternia, located in an area known as Sol Cluster, and set around two and half years after the events of Ar Tonelico 2.[5] Clustania is situated on the third tower in the world of Ar Ciel, which floats above the uninhabitable Sea of Death. It is the third game and the first 3D game in the series. The Japanese version became available for retail on January 28, 2010[6] and it was released in North America on March 15, 2011.[1] It was released in Europe on April 1, 2011. This is the first NIS America game to be rated "M" for Mature by the ESRB in North America.[4]
Gameplay
R.A.H. system
Reyvateils (the game's equivalent of mages) sing to execute what is known as 'Song Magic'; however, depending on the actions of the player, the songs will combine and change. These changes have additional effects; for example, increasing attack power. This system goes in hand with the Purge system (explained below), as the Reyvateils have to 'purge' to increase their power. The 'song magic' will change depending on the state of the Purge.[5]
Diving
During the game, Aoto, the protagonist, can dive into the 'Cosmospheres' of certain Reyvateils to craft 'song magic'. Various personalities exist within the Cosmosphere, and the player can choose to have the Reyvateil fight in their clothing. Because the personalities who wear these costumes have differing preferences in 'song magic', the costume will influence the R.A.H. system.[5] Diving additionally deepens the bond between the Reyvateil and the protagonist.[5]
Talk Matters
The system for conversation is similar to those of the other games in the series, with the difference being only three Talk Matters are now required for entering the next Cosmosphere level. Each topic is classified by color to indicate how they are found:
- Pink colored topics are triggered by progressing through the main storyline
- Green colored topics are obtained by having specific items in the inventory or meeting certain conditions
- Blue colored topics are found as shining orbs throughout the maps
Talk Matters for the rest of the party members now exist, as opposed to the previous games. The updated Talk Matters system now includes talk topics between all members of the party, instead of topics between the party's Reyvateils and the main character. Conversations between party members are triggered after the player talks to certain non playing characters.
Battle System
The battle system is real-time based, similar to those of the Star Ocean games. Only one Reyvateil can be present in battle. The player controls one of the three Vanguard (support/attacking) members, and the AI controls the other two, though the player can change the character he/she is controlling at any time in battle. The Purge system is a key element, as it allows Reyvateils to use their high-level song magic. However, 'purging' also has importance for the Vanguard characters, as it allows them to use their best attacks.
The Revyateils are by themselves defenseless, so they must be defended by the player. Therefore, if all three Vanguard characters fall in battle (their HP reaches 0), the game is over, regardless of whether the Reyvateil is alive or not.
Characters
Aoto (蒼都?) [5]
- Voiced by: Noriaki Sugiyama and Bryce Papenbrook
- The main character of the game and a steeplejack apprentice from Blue Canyon Hamlet. He is reckless, but always finishes what he starts. He never liked Clustania, and after meeting Saki, he starts to view Clustania as an enemy.
Saki (咲?) [5]
- Voiced by: Mai Gotou and Cristina Vee
- Hymns Voiced by: Akiko Shikata
- A main heroine and Reyvateil who was created in a research institute for a project that would have a great impact on the world. She escaped before the project was executed and was on the run for several years before she met Aoto. When she's extremely emotionally strained, she can use a power known as Miracle.
- Sarapatra (サラパトゥール, Sarapatūru?)
- One of Saki's personae.
- The big sis personality, for Saki that always tries to hide her feelings. She is the one who gives Saki advice about love.
- Filament (フィラメント, Firamento?)
- One of Saki's personae.
- She is the persona that isolates all of the pain that Saki cant bear. She knows a lot of things that Saki doesn't know and helps her friends with that knowledge. She resembles a nun with a bandaged eye.
- Sakia Lumei (サキア・ルメイ, Sakia Rumei?)
- One of Saki's personae.
- She is the opposite of Saki. She is a stubborn persona and shows up when Saki is in danger to beat up her enemies.
Finnel (フィンネル, Finneru?) [5]
- Voiced by: Eri Kitamura and Stephanie Sheh
- Hymns Voiced by: Haruka Shimotsuki
- Another main heroine and a clumsy β-type Reyvateil who works in a restaurant known as Yokkora Bistro, which is situated on the Eternus Shaft. She seemingly has a significant connection to the existence of Clustania.
- Yurisica (ユリシカ, Yurishika?)
- One of Finnel's personae.
- She seems to seek some kind of help from Aoto. Her appearance is that of a nurse.
- Soma (ソーマ, Sōma?)
- One of Finnel's personae.
- She is feared by the others as the Clustania's assassin. Despite wearing a clown outfit, her movements are very fast.
- Suzunomia (スズノミア?)
- One of Finnel's personae.
- A mysterious persona that rarely appears. She seeks to achieve her only objective that she remembers. She looks a bit like a priestess.
Hikari Gojō (光五条?)
- Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa and Kyle Hebert
- A doctor specialized in Reyvateils. He opens his business in a place called Tokoshie Canopy. He used to work at Arkia but after knowing Arkia's great secret he decided to retire from it.
Tatsumi (タツミ?)
- Voiced by: Mitsuki Saiga and Johnny Yong Bosch
- A fan of V-board, a sport that enables the player to freely run in the air. He is currently training in Blue Valley Village. He respects Gengai as a teacher, and one month before the game starts he met Aoto.
Gengai (ゲンガイ?)
- Voiced by: Tesshō Genda and Richard Epcar
- The commander of Great Fang Alliance. He helps those who are being oppressed by the Cleansing (Urban destruction) caused by the Reyvateils.
Raphael (ラファエーレ, Rafaēre?)
- Voiced by: Hideyuki Tanaka and Patrick Seitz
- The head of Arkia Research Laboratory. It is his counter-measure that enables the peoples to lives in peace, he is trusted by the townspeople.
Richaryosha (リッカリョーシャ, Rikkaryōsha?)
- Voiced by: Yukana and Wendee Lee
- A Reyvateil that has the position of No. 2 in Arkia, she admires a love that surpass trials, kinda like a drama. She even encourages it to her surroundings. She calls Hikari Gojo "Doctor", indicating a possible relationship between them.
Akane (アカネ?)
- Voiced by: Aya Endou and Kate Higgins
- A Reyvateil that is also the commander of Anti Human Troops. She is born at the same time as Finnel is, she is hard to others and views those who comes into the position as irregulars.
Kukurou (ククロウ?)
- Akane's loyal pet. It takes the form of an antivirus when in battle mode.
Teppo (テポ?)
- Voiced by: Ayaka Saitou
- A plugin for the Dive Machines made by Hikari Gojo, which allows him to scan a Reyvateil's personalities.
- Name "TEPO" in the Japanese Ver. is an abbreviated form of "Cosmosphere Analyzer,Trans Encorder and Program Optimizer".
- Cocona Bartel (ココナ・バーテル, Kokona Bāteru?)
- Voiced by: Yumi Shimura and Karen Strassman
- Hymns Voiced by: Rekka Katakiri
- Now older, Cocona came to Sol Cluster by the request of Jacqli, along with Sasha. She has the mission of bringing an special crystal called the Heart of Gaea to a person called Harvestasha.
- Sasha (沙亜紗（さーしゃ）, Sāsha?)
- Voiced by: Saki Yasuda and Erin Fitzgerald
- Now older, Sasha came to Sol Cluster with Cocona. She opened a synthesis store called "Nya Nya Ya" in the Capo Waste Oil Hot Spring.
- Mute (ミュート, Myūto?)
- Voiced by: Ikue Otani and Julie Rei Goldstein
- A Third Generation Reyvateil that is constantly trying to capture Saki, as she was ordered to by Akane. Despite her monstrous appearance, she is quite feminine, and is greatly enraged when anyone tries to say the opposite to her.
- Tyria (ティリア, Tiria?)
- Voiced by: Maaya Sakamoto and Melissa Fahn
- Hymns Voiced by: Kokia
- The Third Origin Reyvateil, and the Administrator of the Third Tower, located in Sol Cluster.
- Jack Hamilton (ジャック・ハミルトン, Jakku Hamiruton?)
- Voiced by: Nobutoshi Canna and Spike Spencer
- 4 years ago, he departed from Sol Ciel with Krusche and Jakuri. He is now at Sol Cluster with Krusche, apparently, because he is in love with her, despite his flirtious nature being still the same.
- Krusche Elendia (クルシェ・エレンディア, Kurushe Erendia?)
- Voiced by: Yoshino Nanjō and Jessica Straus
- 4 years ago, Krusche decided to explore the world. She arrived at Sol Cluster with Jack. She used to work at Tenba, but she is currently in retirement.
- Luphan (ルーファン, Rūfan?)
- Voiced by: Yu Kobayashi and Vic Mignogna
- A man who seems to know Gengai. Always helps Aoto's party whenever they get into trouble. However, he seems to hide other things...
- Katene (カテナ?)
- Voiced by: Ryo Hirohashi and Julie Ann Taylor
- An old friend of Hikari Gojou. He was recognized as a brilliant researcher and inventor because of the many medical artifacts for Reyvateils that he developed.
Music
Drama CD
- 2 Drama CDs which tells a short story after the events of the game[8]
- Side Saki ~After story~ will be released on June 23, it continues Saki's story where Aoto and her setup a preschool on Ar Ciel's surface. They met a young girl Linna who is a reyvatail who lost her parents, however, she is different.
- Side Finnel will be available on August 25.
Reception
The game has received generally mixed reviews,[10] with a 65% on the aggregator GameRankings[9] and a 60/100 Metacritic score.[10] Famitsu magazine awarded the game a combined score of 28/40.[11]
The game sold over 81,000 copies in Japan in its first week[12] and has sold over 120,000 copies in total there.
References
External links
|
Ar tonelico series
|
|
| Games |
|
|
| Characters |
|
|
| Media Releases |
|
|
| Others |
|
|