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I’ve got a few days in with Magna Carta, and I’m so hooked, I wanted to give you all some early impressions. Aesthetically, this is a nice piece of work. I love the graphics. The characters are very Vagarnt Story and game engine is very FFX. I just don't get how a couple of these guys are supposed to be men. I mean, all the way up to the first voice acted line of Calintz, I swore it was a girl, same with Azel. The fixed camera can be a small issue on the field map where you might not be able to see an enemy ahead of you. The story is engaging. It's a war on an isolated continent between the humans and the Yason. The game is unfolding between two storylines right now, one in the present and one in the past. How are the characters in each related, and how does it all tie in to the war? Questions I'm interested in seeing answered. The battle system is different than anything I've played recently. At the same time it has a familiar mix of some other RPGs elements, just used in an original way. It's got an active battle gauge like Grandia, weapon/spell ranges on screen like Arc the Lad: TotS, free character movement of Star Ocean 3, and button press timing like Vagrant Story or Shadow Hearts. How does all this stuff (plus styles, stances, leadership, and elemental chi levels) come together in a fight? Maybe it's best to give an example.
3 good characters vs. 1 monster: Assuming the battle started on even ground (enemies appear on the field map, and you can catch or be caught by surprise leading to somene getting a first attack), then both teams have a full leadership bar and are ready to attack. Pause. The triangle button pauses the fight at anytime, which is a huge plus to someone like me that enjoys thinking out each battle, as opposed to a more chaotic engine like Star Ocean 3. The pause menu is where you can switch styles, use items, or try to run from a fight. You can also take this time to switch between your three active characters. If it's never opened, then the fight would play out completely in real-time. Air elemental Chi is abundant in this area, so it's wise to move and attack with Calintz. Once Calintz has moved to where his weapon range overlaps an enemy, a circle of three buttons appears on the screen (X, O, O). As soon as X is pressed, the other buttons move around the circle, and you must time the button presses to the top of the circle. If all three succeed, then the attack goes off. The strength of the attack is high because of the high level of Air Chi. After the attack is over, a little of the area's Air Chi is drained. If I were to attack again with a move that used Air Chi, it would be less powerful. Anyway, the attack was successful, a little Air Chi was drained, and the leadership bar was lowered by some amount (meaning I probably have to let it rise a little before I can make another move/attack). Monster attacks, damage taken, but it was lessen by Calintz's shields (more on that later). Theoretically, I could keep using Calintz to attack every time I had a turn, but if I keep using Air attacks, then the Chi will actually run out. Chi does slowly replenish and can also be replenished with items. Let's say there's a decent source of Water Chi in the area as well, so I'm going to move and attack with Reith. Reith has two styles. One provides healing magic, but the other is based on Water and Ice attack magic. When her turn is ready according to the leadership bar, pause and change her style from healing to attack magic. Style changes can only be done when a turn is available because it could have defensive impacts as well, and you have to plan ahead. Ranged attacks, like magic, have a min and max range also displayed on the screen. Once Reith has changed her style and moved to the correct range, she activates the magic using the same three button timing method. There is no MP usage. It was a Water attack so Water Chi is drained a little. The monster is dead, XP and money are gained, and it's on to the next fight. That's it for a very basic fight. Let me just touch on some other things involved. The leadership bar is deeper than it sounds. It will always fill at the same rate, but a yellow triangle marks on the bar where your turn is available. That floating marker may be further along the bar for some of your characters than others. This is based upon your (Calintz's) relationship with them, which can be increased/decreased through conversations and gifts. It will also move during a battle based on how well or poorly the fight is going for you. The enemy has a bar that works just like yours. If you kill one of the monster group members, the yellow marker will move towards the end of the gauge, making their time between attacks take longer. All that, and there’s still other nuances to the game engine. I had no expectations going into the game, and it’s been a really nice surprise so far. There’s so much more to the game than the pretty picture you’ve seen. I love a great RPG battle system, and so far this is standout in that regard. See you all back here for the full review. RPG fans, show Atlus some love and get this game pre-ordered.
A man who despises the Yason...
A woman who loves all living creatures... Migration to a New Land
600 years ago, a strange disease spread across the land, turning its victims into stone. A war ensued, raging for several hundred years and continuing to this day. Tired of the fighting, one group set sail in hopes of finding a new place to live. After countless weeks at sea, the four boats landed on the continent of Efferia. The immigrants saw that the land had been blessed by nature, and so they decided to settle there and begin a new life-a fresh start for those who had lost faith in humanity. The War with the Yason
In Efferia, there was a race-the Yason-that closely resembled humans. Though not narrow-minded, they were not prepared to welcome these new settlers with open arms. The Yason and the humans maintained a respectable distance from each other, and went on with their daily lives. Though as time passed, they began to intermingle. However, the human population expanded rapidly, and marginalized the Yason. The Yason's hatred for humans grew until war finally erupted. Initially, the humans had the advantage because of their experience with war. But, before long, the physically superior Yason had turned the tables. After 30 years of fighting, the possibility for a peaceful resolution had vanished. Calintz, the leader of a small, elite mercenary unit, the "Tears of Blood," took up arms to avenge the destruction of his home. To end the war, the humans mounted a massive attack on the Yason's base, and Calintz's team participated. But, once the fighting began, Calintz ran into Reith, who had lost her memory. Was it fate that brought them together? Could this chance encounter somehow change the future for all of Efferia? Features: - A 50+ hour fantasy that unfolds through amazing CGI cut-scenes and fully voiced dialogue.
- Unlock the secrets of the Carta System and unleash spellbinding magical fury!
- Character designs by renowned Korean Artist, Hyung Tae Kim bring the world of Efferia to life!
- Unique real-time battle system allows you to position yourself anywhere on the battlefield!
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