White Knight Chronicles

White Knight Chronicles

North American box art depicting Wisel, the White Knight
Developer(s) Level-5
SCE Japan Studio
Publisher(s) Sony Computer Entertainment
Director(s) Akihiro Hino
Producer(s) Akihiro Hino
Designer(s) Akihiro Hino
Writer(s) Akihiro Hino
Composer(s) Takeshi Inoue
Yumiko Hashizume
Noriyasu Agematsu
Series White Knight Chronicles
Platform(s) PlayStation 3
Release date(s) JP December 25, 2008
JP October 8, 2009 (EX edition)
NA February 2, 2010[1]
AUS February 25, 2010
EU March 5, 2010
Genre(s) Role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player, Co-op (Third-person view)
Distribution Blu-ray Disc

White Knight Chronicles (白騎士物語 -古の鼓動- Shirokishi Monogatari: Inishie no Kodō, lit. "White Knight Story: Ancient Heartbeat") is a fantasy role-playing video game developed by Level-5 and SCE Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is Level-5's first project for the system. As of August 8, 2009 it has sold 350,000 copies in Japan. A sequel titled White Knight Chronicles II was released in Japan in 2010.[2] A related game for the PlayStation Portable, titled White Knight Chronicles: Origins was released in Japan, Europe and, Australia in 2011.[3]

On June 18, 2013, the Geonet server was shut down by Sony Computer Entertainment America in North America and Europe .[4]

Gameplay

White Knight Chronicles is a role-playing video game presented in a third-person perspective. The player can freely choose which character to control. Like in most other RPGs the characters gain experience points and level up, becoming stronger over the course of the game. Level-5 conceived White Knight Chronicles to have 100 hours of gameplay, a length Akihiro Hino considers to be a full length RPG, going against the pressure to make White Knight Chronicles a launch title and cutting the story short.

World

One can select locations on a world map that the player has already visited to go to instantly, along with a preview of that area. Each area also has a quest list that shows quests the player has yet to complete. The player can choose a quest to do before going to the desired area.

Battle system

The battle system used in White Knight Chronicles is a real-time system where the battle mode can be initiated when enemies are present. Before a battle the player optionally goes into the "Battle Preparation" menu (accessible at any time) and chooses up to three sets of seven commands for each character in the party. This set of twenty one commands is called a "Command Setup" and several of these setups can be saved for switching between classes. Commands can also be linked in order to create combos. These can then be used in battle. The player controls one of the characters while the others are controlled by the AI. Players can freely change the character they are controlling. The main character can transform into the White Knight using action chips which are acquired by defeating enemies. "Boss battles" also take place in a similar fashion except that they may include cut-scenes (videos) for in-battle events. Some enemies are extremely large in size.

Enemies can be attacked with various kinds of elemental attack magic, while the player can heal the party by resorting to divine magic. Magic is an essential part of the White Knight Chronicles battle system, but it comes with one pitfall—Magic skills do not improve a character's physical strength. This means magic users have to avoid enemy attacks. Among the featured weapons are swords, two handed longswords, two handed axes, spears, bows and staffs.

After defeating an enemy, players will obtain materials. Materials are used for crafting and upgrading armor, weapons, accessories and item, as well build Georama parts.

Georama

The Georama system is an online mode that lets the player create their own town. It can function as a lobby and allows the player to set up shops and harvest spots. People can enter this virtual town and also take a look around. The editing mode functions as a system that can be placed from a list of objects ranging from houses and other garden accessories to anything customizable for the town. Towns can be placed in the middle of plains, deserts, or wilderness with six different field types. Other items can also help to shape the hub including elevated platforms, embankments, trees, and other items. The georama system was also in Level-5's Dark Cloud series.

Non-player characters (NPCs) can be recruited to towns from locations around the world map. This makes the player's Georama change depending on whoever is living in it. NPCs have jobs and specific skill levels which will affect the kind of materials and items available to use in Georama. Each Geonet has up to 20 rooms for players to join.

A maximum of 12 people can visit a room at one time, and up to 4 can take on a quest together.

Synopsis

Plot

The game begins in the kingdom of Balandor, where Princess Cisna is having a coming-of-age banquet. Leonard, the main protagonist; his childhood friend, Yulie; and the Avatar (a new employee at Rapacci Wines, where the three work), are tasked with delivering wine for the party. Once the delivery is completed, they decide to stay for the party, which is soon raided by an evil organization called the Magi.[5] In the ensuing commotion, King Valtos, Cisna's father, is killed by a man in dark armor, causing a shocked Cisna to regain her voice (which was "lost" when her mother, Queen Floraine, was assassinated).[6] Leonard grabs the distraught Cisna's hand and leads her to safety in the castle's lower levels.[7] There, they find a giant suit of armor, an "Incorruptus"; and a strange gauntlet called the "Ark". Using the Ark to merge with the armor, Leonard becomes the White Knight, which can the combat the Magi. After eliminating a large monster from the castle, Cisna is kidnapped by the Magi. Sarvain, the royal advisor, tasks Leonard to rescue the Princess with the White Knight;[5] Yulie, the Avatar, and a "humble traveler" named Eldore join him.[5]

The motive behind the kidnapping is Cisna's ability to unlock sealed Knights, of which she is unaware of at first. The leader of Magi is a general called Dregias, the man who killed Valtos. All that is known about him is that he is capable of transforming into the winged Black Knight, Ebonwings.[8]

Characters

Leonard (レナード Renādo)
Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa (Japanese), Daniel Taylor (English)
The main protagonist, and pactmaker of the White Knight. He was found as an infant in some ruins which had been uncovered 17 years earlier.
Yulie (ユウリ Yūri)
Voiced by: Satsuki Yukino (Japanese), Dannah Feinglass (English)
A girl who comes from the same village as Leonard and was Leonard's childhood friend. Hints in the story indicates that she could be the pactmaker of the Moon Princess.
Eldore (エルドア Erudoa)
Voiced by: Masane Tsukayama (Japanese), Charles Shaugnessy (English)
Eldore is a skilled warrior and servant to the queen of the long-perished kingdom of Athwan. During the Dogma War fought 10,000 years earlier, he served the queen and, after her death, travelled forwards through time, seeking out her reincarnation at the cost of his youth.
Kara (カーラ Kāra)
Voiced by: Rina Yamada (Japanese), Catherine Cavadini (English)
A dancer from the desert village of Albana.
Caesar (シーザー Shīzā)
Voiced by: Daisuke Hirakawa (Japanese), Vince Corazza (English)
The adopted son of the ruler of Greede, the walking city, Caesar is the pactmaker of the Dragon Knight. In addition to this power, he gained "dragonsight", which allows him to see a person's true self.
Princess Cisna (シズナ姫 Shizuna Hime)
Voiced by: Maaya Sakamoto (Japanese), Kari Wahlgren (English)
The princess that was kidnapped during her coming-of-age banquet. Rendered mute upon witnessing her mother's murder ten years prior, she regained her voice upon witnessing that of her father. She is the reincarnation of a queen from the Dogma War 10,000 years prior.
King Valtos (ヴァルトス Varutosu)
Voiced by: Michio Hazama (Japanese), Bob Joles (English)
The king of Balandor and father of Cisna, he was killed during his daughter's coming-of-age banquet.
Grazel (グラーゼル Gurāzeru)
Voiced by: Yūya Uchida (Japanese), Crispin Freeman (English)
The game's main antagonist, true leader of the Magi army, pactmaker of the Sun King and older brother of Kara. He wants to control all the Knights to become the ruler of the world.
Avatar (アバター Abatā)
A character that the player can customize and accompany Leonard and his allies with throughout the game. He or she is also the character used by the player for online multiplay. Has little role in the main game.

Incorruptus

Ten thousand years ago, in the time known as the Dogma Age, the Yshrenian and Athwani empires erupted into a vicious and brutal war. These two were the largest and the most powerful kingdoms in the land, nearly equal in prestige and resources.

Their battles raged across the world, turning verdants forests and peaceful hamlets into charred and burned fields. The casualties quickly mounted on both sides, resulting in a situation where one side or the other had to gain an advantage, give in, or risk mutual destruction.

Yshrenian scholars and scientists introduced the Knights (referred to as Incorruptuses), giant machines created solely for the purpose of war. These beings, when bonded with a human soul, could utilize immense power on the battlefield and able to lay waste to an entire army single-handedly. The Athwani military soon began to fall under the overwhelming power of the Knights. Their forces became cannon fodder, causing a severe drop in morale and efficiency.

The scholars of Athwan, desperate to turn the tide of battle, developed sealing magic intended to completely remove the knights from the field of battle and leave both armies on an even plane. They cast their spell, and though many valuable lives were lost in the process, the knights were sealed away.

The Yshrenian army courageously rushed into battle against the Athwani army, but their spirit was broken. They had lost their strongest advantage and, having become reliant on the power of the knights, had no real hope of victory. The Athwani kingdom did not escape unscathed, however. Years spent in a costly and violent war ended with the death of their best and brightest, leaving the country in a state of discontent. Unrest grew throughout the land, eventually resulting in the death of the Queen.

The Knights remain sealed away, long forgotten and unused.

Wizel the White Knight (白騎士 Shirokishi)
A 7-meter tall warrior from a time when such creatures nearly destroyed all of mankind. Wields a sword and shield. Pactmaker: Leonard.
Dinivas the Black Knight, a.k.a. "Ebonwings" (黒騎士 Kurokishi)
A warrior similar to the White Knight in both powers and abilities. Wields a sword and can fly. Pactmaker: Kara (Killed by Shapur at the end in White Knight Chronicles), Shapur (Current).
Larvayne the Dragon Knight (竜騎士 Ryūkishi)
A warrior similar to the White and Black Knights in both powers and abilities. Wields a spear and can fly. Pactmaker: Caesar.
Adolmaea the Sun King (太陽王 Taiyōō)
A warrior similar to the White, Black and Dragon Knights in both power and ability. Adolmea is much taller than the others and wields a twin sword. Pactmaker: Grazel.
Luthia the Moon Maiden (月初 Tsukihatsu)
A warrior similar to the other knights in power. Luthia is the only female incorruptus. Luthia wields a bow and use divine and elemental magic. Pactmaker: Yulie. (In White Knight Chronicles II)

Soundtrack

White Knight Chronicles Original Soundtrack ~Ancient Heartbeat~
Soundtrack album by Takeshi Inoue, Yumiko Hashizume, Noriyasu Agematsu, Hideo Inai, Akihiro Hino, and Kazco Hamano
Released
July 1, 2009 (Japan)
Genre Video game soundtrack
Length 123:98 (two CDs)
Label

The official White Knight Chronicles soundtrack was released on 2 dics on July 1, 2009 by Aniplex. The music was composed by Takeshi Inoue, Yumiko Hashizume, and Noriyasu Agematsu. Orchestration was done by Hideo Inai, lyrics by Akihiro Hino, and vocals by Kazco Hamano who sung the main theme song, Travelers and ending theme, Shards of Time.

The North America release of the game removed the original Japanese voices for Travelers and Shards of Time, replacing them with English-dubbing.

White Knight Chronicles Original Soundtrack tracklist
Disc 1
  1. White Knight Chronicles ~The Travelers~
  2. Setting Off on an Adventure
  3. Rapacci Wines Company
  4. Balandor Castle Town
  5. Balastor Plain
  6. Parma Village
  7. Prelude to Battle
  8. A Worthy Opponent Draws Near
  9. Watching the Permanence Band
  10. Ball
  11. Attack
  12. Infiltration
  13. The Pale Hero
  14. Recollection
  15. The Continent of Nadias
  16. My Town
  17. Adventure's End
  18. Reflecting
  19. Graydall Plain
  20. Investigation of Light
  21. Nordia Tunnel
  22. Jet-Black Wings
  23. Beneath the Starry Sky
  24. Lagnish Desert
  25. Albana the Desert Town
  26. Kara the Dancer
  27. Don Camarone
  28. Yvonne
  29. Flandar Range
  30. Tense Battle
 Disc 2
  1. Greede, the Capital of Freedom
  2. Downtown Greede
  3. Black Market
  4. Bunker Lode Mining Field
  5. Crimson Pterosaur
  6. Amille the Animal Trainer
  7. Catacombs of Greede
  8. Out-of-Reach Feelings
  9. Baccea
  10. Insect Valley
  11. Rocco's Thanks
  12. The Van Haven Waste
  13. Scar
  14. Sinca Village
  15. Sinca Children
  16. Grazel's Theme
  17. Final Battle
  18. King of the Sun
  19. The Devil on a Black Horse
  20. Eternal Engraving
  21. Shagna, Ship of the Heavens
  22. Ancient Heartbeat ~ Monologue ~
  23. Revived Balandor
  24. Shards of Time ~Chronicle Love~

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings66.40%[9]
Metacritic64/100[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer8/10[11]
Famitsu29/40[12]
GameSpot6/10[13]
IGN5.1/10[14]
X-Play[15]

White Knight Chronicles has received mixed reviews. It received an aggregated score of 66.40% on GameRankings[9] and 64/100 on Metacritic.[10] Famitsu gave the game a 29/40, with the reviewers highlighting the online mode as being the source of their main gripes. Despite the lukewarm reviews the game sold well; around 130,000 copies on its first day and around 207,000 in its first week in Japan.[12] Eurogamer gave the game an 8/10, criticizing the multiplayer, with the caveat that "disappointing multiplayer doesn't take away from how enjoyable the game is, or how well-thought-through and impressively integrated its gameplay systems are."[11] The game has received 3/5 stars from X-Play,[15] a 6/10 rating from GameSpot[13] and a 5.1/10 rating from IGN.[14]

Sequel

A sequel titled White Knight Chronicles II was released in 2010.

References

  1. ↑ Cardona, Cristian (December 4, 2009). "White Knight Chronicles International Edition Coming to PS3 February 2, 2010". blog.us.playstation.com. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
  2. ↑ "TGS 2009: White Knight Chronicles 2 Revealed". Kotaku.
  3. ↑ Ross Alexander (May 26, 2011). "The White Knight Returns From 8 June". PlayStation Blog Europe. Sony Computer Entertainment. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Sony To Shut Down USA/EU White Knight Chronicles Servers.". The Real Gamers. Carl Blair. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Level-5, SCE Japan Studio (February 2, 2010). "White Knight Chronicles". PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Balandor Castle. Cyrus: Sarvain, he's just a boy! / Leonard: Hey, don't ask me how I unlocked it... I just did. / Sarvain: Then the Knight has chosen you, lad, and there must be a reason. But that is a question for another time, I'm afraid. Right now, I have a far more important task to set before you: you must rescue the Princess at once, and use the Knight's power to rescue her from her captors. / Leonard: Hm?! / Cyrus: Are you mad?! / Yulie: Just a darned minute! Leonard isn't part of the royal army! Why send him? / Sarvain: The circumstances demand it. The villains who attacked use are part of a group who worship the Ancients. We call them the Magi, because it is ancient magic they use to summon forth their vicious beasts. They are powerful, but not powerful enough to stand against your Knight! / Yulie: [marching forward towards Sarvain] So what? Solve your own problems! / Sarvain: Pardon? / Leonard: Yulie, it's okay. I'll do it. / Yulie: [shocked] What?! But—! / Leonard: [getting up] She needs me. If I can help...I want to. / Sarvain: I am glad. Your kingdom will be grateful. [A middle-aged man appears.] Eldore: Then it's settled, is it? [Everyone turns to him in surprise as he walks forward.] We'd best hurry. The longer we tarry here, the further away they'll get. / Sarvain: And you are...? / Eldore: The name's Eldore. Just a humble traveler, but I can swing a sword and cast the odd spell or two. I'd wager I can be of help. Certainly you weren't going to send him alone?
  6. ↑ Level-5, SCE Japan Studio (February 2, 2010). "White Knight Chronicles". PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Level/area: Balandor Castle. [A man in dark armor blocks the staircase in front of the king and Cisna, the coming-of-age banquet interrupted by Magi.] King Valtos: How did you... [The armored figure slashes Valtos, who falls.] / Cisna: [shocked] Father... No! [She rushes to the king's body.] Father, please! Please don't die! / Valtos: Ah, Cisna... At last...I hear your voice again... How I have missed...missed the sound of it... / Cisna: [sobbing] Father! / Valtos: Go... You must...my...beautiful daughter... [Valtos's body goes slack.] / Cisna: No, I won't leave you! I don't want to be alone! Please...Father... No! [The armored figure points his sword at Cisna, just as Leonard intervenes.] / Leonard: [knocking the sword back] Princess! This way! [Leonard leads Cisna away, while the armored man turns around and walks off.] / Cisna: [still distraught] Father! [She tries to pull away.] / Leonard: [stopping her] Come on! We have to go, or they'll kill you! / Cisna: B-But, my father-!
  7. ↑ Level-5, SCE Japan Studio (February 2, 2010). "White Knight Chronicles". PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Level/area: Beneath Balandor.
  8. ↑ Level-5, SCE Japan Studio (February 2, 2010). "White Knight Chronicles". PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "White Knight Chronicles (PS3)". GameRankings. Retrieved 02-10-2010. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "White Knight Chronicles (PS3)". Metacritic. Retrieved 02-10-2010. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 MacDonald, Keza (2009-02-18). "White Knight Chronicles Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved 02-10-2010. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Gamershell.com – News: White Knight Chronicles Released in Japan".
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Mc Shea, Tom (2010-02-02). "White Knight Chronicles (International Edition) Review for PlayStation 3". Gamespot. Retrieved 02-10-2010. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Clements, Ryan (2010-02-02). "White Knight Chronicles Review". IGN. Retrieved 02-10-2010. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Mastrapa, Gus (02-04-2010). "White Knight Chronicles for PS3". X-Play. Retrieved 02-10-2010. Check date values in: |date=, |accessdate= (help)

External links