Time and Eternity

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Time and Eternity

North American cover art
Developer(s) Imageepoch
Satelight
Publisher(s) Namco Bandai Games
NIS America
Producer(s) Kei Hirono
Composer(s) Yuzo Koshiro
Takeshi Yanagawa
Platform(s) PlayStation 3
Release date(s) JP October 11, 2012[1]
EU June 28, 2013[2]
NA 20130716July 16, 2013
Genre(s) RPG
Mode(s) Single-player
Distribution Blu-ray Disc

Time and Eternity (Japanese: Toki to Eien ~Toki Towa~ (時と永遠〜トキトワ〜), sometimes called Toki to Towa) is an animated role-playing game for the PlayStation 3. It uses 3D models for backgrounds and hand-drawn 2D sprites for characters and enemies. The story is centered on an unnamed hero and his princess wife-to-be, Toki. The theme of "time" plays an important role, and is also utilized in the game's action-oriented battle system.[3][4][5]

Plot

The game opens with a wedding between the player character, Toki, and her fiancee Zack, which is rudely interrupted by an assassin attack. Zack is killed, and this brings out Toki’s meaner alter ego, Towa. After an undisclosed series of events, Toki finds herself flitting back and forth through the passage of time.

Gameplay

Battle is based on use of different skills, which the player character learns as she progresses through the game. Enemies use skills to fight as well. Throughout the game, the player switches between controlling Toki and her alter ego Towa. The switch happens on each level-up or upon using certain items. Toki and Towa have different skills: Toki is skilled at long-ranged attacks, while Towa is better at close-range fighting.[6] The battles take place in real-time.[7]

Characters

A princess who has inherited magical powers. 16 years old.[8]
Toki's aggressive alter ego.
Toki's fiancee. After he was assassinated, his soul entered the body of Toki's pet dragon, Drake (ドレイク).[9] 18 years old.[8]
A kind and innocent young girl who attends the same school as Toki.[10] 14 years old.[8]
  • Reijo (レージョ), voiced by Yukana
A wealthy and eccentric young lady who is a childhood friend of Toki's.[10] 16 years old.[8]
Toki's friend and wedding planner. 16 years old.[8]
  • Makimona (マキモナ), voiced by Aya Endou
A fortune teller who predicted the attack on the main character's wedding.
The head of the assassin's guild.

Soundtrack

The game’s theme song, "Rewind", is performed by Japanese R&B and pop singer May J.[1] The music score is by Yuzo Koshiro and Takeshi Yanagawa.[11][12]

Staff

The game's animation is done by Satelight and the character illustrator is Vofan.[11] Shoji Masuda is the story planner.[10]

Development and Release History

In January 2012, the game was announced in Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu. At that time, it had been in the planning stage for two years, and was 45 percent complete.[13] Toki to Eien ~Toki Towa~ differs somewhat from many JRPGs by having a female protagonist, and by only having one playable character instead of a party. Producer Kei Hirono said that "We wanted to break the mold and step away from the current trend of male hero...to have a female hero playable character who is strong." As for only having one player character, Kei said that this is both to highlight the uniqueness of the character switching mechanic, as well as to reduce animation work.[14] Another key difference from usual JRPG fare is that Toki to Eien ~Toki Towa~ eschews the epic "save the world" type storyline for the more personally relatable experience of marriage. Interestingly, Kei himself was getting married at the same time that the game was in development.[15]

In May 2012, Imageepoch's CEO, Ryoei Mikage, held a meeting to determine whether Toki to Towa would be released in English.[16]

A standard edition and a limited edition were released in Japan on October 11, 2012. The limited edition includes a 48-page artwork booklet, a soundtrack and drama CD, eleven custom PlayStation 3 themes, and a special storage box.

Speaking at the 2012 Taiwan Comic convention, Namco Bandai's Kei Hirono confirmed plans to released the game in English.[17] In late December, a trademark application confirmed the English version's title to be Time and Eternity.[18]

On February 21, 2013, NIS America revealed that they would release Time and Eternity in North America on July 16 and Europe on June 28 in regular and limited edition.[19][20] While some English versions of JRPGs alter the content, such as changing character names or plot details, Kei Hirono has said that "Aside from the language, it’s going to be the same as the Japanese version." The English version will also give players the option of either Japanese or English voices.[14]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings43.94%[21]
Metacritic42/100[22]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Famitsu32/40[23]
IGN5.6 out of 10[24]

Famitsu rated Toki to Eien 32 out of 40.[23]

Time and Eternity has been mostly panned by critics and currently maintains a 42/100 average rating on Metacritic, pooling reviews from 39 separate online sources.[25]

Elliot Gay, associate editor of Japanator, gave the game a very negative review, heavily criticizing the characters, animation, plot, and gameplay.[11] However, Richard Eisenbeis of Kotaku highly praised it, saying, "if you like JRPGs, this one is a must-play", though he did note the animation's "lack of polish".[26]

IGN gave it a 5.6, praising its unique combat system and character progression, but criticizing its dating simulator elements, technical issues, and repetition.[27]

Gamespot editor Heidi Kemps gave it a 3.5/10, calling it "an incoherent mess of ideas done badly" and "a train wreck of a roleplaying game," criticizing the game's poor story, recycled animation, bizarre use of 2D sprites in a 3D world, unlikeable characters and shallow combat, although she did cite the music as being a saving grace.[28]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Toki to Towa Japanese release date set". Gematsu. 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2012-07-19. 
  2. ↑ "Toki to Towa European Release Date". Amazon. Retrieved 2013-04-10. 
  3. ↑ "Toki to Towa detailed in Famitsu". Gematsu. 2012-01-18. Retrieved 202-3-13. 
  4. ↑ Emily Balistrieri (2012-01-18). "Control Hand-Drawn Anime Characters in "Toki to Towa" RPG". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 2012-01-25. 
  5. ↑ "Imageepoch, Satelight's Tokitowa RPG Trailer Streamed". Anime News Network. 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-01-25. 
  6. ↑ Romano, Sal (2012-05-11). "Toki to Towa: Meet Towa, Toki’s other half - Gematsu". Gematsu. Retrieved 2013-03-10. 
  7. ↑ Romano, Sal (2012-02-22). "Time and Eternity arrives overseas this summer - Gematsu". Gematsu. Retrieved 2013-03-10. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "PS3ゲームレビュー「時と永遠～トキトワ～」 - GAME Watch". Impress Watch Corporation. 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2013-03-10. 
  9. ↑ Gay, Elliot (2012-10-22). "First Impressions: Tokitowa". Japanator. Retrieved 2013-03-10. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Kielak, Jacek (2012-03-21). "Shoji Masuda is Toki to Towa's story planner - Gematsu". Gematsu. Retrieved 2013-03-10. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Gay, Elliot (2012-01-22). "Import Review: Tokitowa - JAPANATOR". Japanator. Retrieved 2013-03-06. 
  12. ↑ http://vgmdb.net/album/38521
  13. ↑ Romano, Sal (2012-01-17). "Imageepoch announces new PS3 RPG - Gematsu". Gematsu. Retrieved 2013-03-06. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Talking About Time And Eternity, Blue Dragons, And Marriage". Siliconera. 2013-03-08. Retrieved 2013-03-10. 
  15. ↑ Valdes, Giancarlo (2013-02-24). "Forget saving the world: In Time and Eternity, you have to save your marriage (preview)". GamesBeat. Retrieved 2013-03-27. 
  16. ↑ Romano, Sal (2012-03-31). "Imageepoch holding Toki to Towa localization meeting - Gematsu". Gematsu. Retrieved 2013-03-10. 
  17. ↑ Sal Romano (2012-08-12). "Toki to Towa set for English release". Gematsu. Retrieved 2012-08-12. 
  18. ↑ "Time And Eternity, Imageepoch's HD Anime RPG’s English Name Probably Is...". Siliconera. 2012-12-31. Retrieved 2013-03-06. 
  19. ↑ NIS America (2013-02-21). "TIME AND ETERNITY HITS NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE THIS SUMMER!" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-03-06. 
  20. ↑ http://www.siliconera.com/2013/05/22/time-and-eternity-limited-edition-package-includes-hardcover-art-book/
  21. ↑ "Time and Eternity". GameRankings. 2003-07-14. Retrieved 2013-07-14. 
  22. ↑ "Time and Eternity". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-07-14. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Slayton, Olivia (2012-10-03). "Famitsu's thoughts on Toki to Towa - Gematsu". Gematsu. Retrieved 2013-03-06. 
  24. ↑ "Time and Eternity Review - IGN". 3ds.ign.com. 2013-07-10. Retrieved 2013-07-14. 
  25. ↑ "Metacritic reviews of Toki to Towa". Metacritic. Retrieved 2013-06-30. 
  26. ↑ Eisenbeis, Richard (2012-10-19). "Grind? What Grind? Tokitowa's Just Fun to Play". Retrieved 2013-03-06. 
  27. ↑ http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/11/time-and-eternity-review
  28. ↑ http://www.gamespot.com/time-and-eternity/reviews/time-and-eternity-review-6411775/

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