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Tales of Innocence: Reviews

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Game Score: 8/10

Review for Tales of Innocence.

Gameplay:
The player triggers battles when you come into contact with an enemy on the world map, in a dungeon, etc. Tales of Innocence uses the "Dimension Stride Linear Motion Battle System" (DS-LMBS). It is basically a combination of Tales of Destiny Remake's and Tales of the Abyss's battle systems. Free run is accessible and air comboing is made much easier. The player can use the majority of the skills they learn in the air as well as on the ground. This games uses TP. TP decreases each time you use a skill, the more usage of that particular skill you have, the less TP you consume. This game includes many classic Tales Of aspects. Gald (which is the game's currency), Grade (which you can use in the Grade Shop after you have beaten the game), Hi Oughis (essentially this games "special attack"), etc. The game adds a few more aspects. There are guilds quests which reward the player with Grade and there is a new ability system. The ability system is available to all playable characters and interchangeable. These abilities level up when you choose that particular ability in battle. Abilities increase parameters, spell cast speed, etc. Abilities are automatic, meaning once you choose to equip said ability they are already in use. Abilities level up when you use them in battle. When you get three abilities to level fifteen, you acquire a new ability, called "Awakening". Once you level the awakening ability up to level 15 you can use the character's Hi Oughi, by pressing buttons A and B at the same time. The character needs to have at least 100 TP to use their Hi Oughi. All characters have a tension gauge, which fills up when you execute a combo or defend against enemy attacks. Filling the tension gauge would increase movement speed, attack, and reduce TP consumption.

Graphics:
Tales of Innocence's graphics are decent. Character models are a bit blocky but the animations are smooth. Walking/running animations are stellar. The environments in Tales of Innocence are nice, using vibrant colors. Battle animations aren't as good as their console counterparts, using blocky red balls for fireballs without even adding any animated flames. Enemy models are fantastic and smooth.

Plot:
The plot starts off as you being a war God named Asura. Asura talks to his trusty sword, Durandal. They are then warned by one of their subordinates that they are being attacked by the opposing army's leader. Asura then battles the foe and wins. The enemy swears that when he is reborn, he will get his revenge. The screen cuts off to our fifteen year old bashful protagonist, Ruca Milda awaking from his recurring dream of Asura. He smells his mother's soup and goes downstairs. His father then talks about strange powers. Ruca then goes outside to play soccer. He fails because he tripped. His friends then go tell him to buy tem hot dogs. Ruca meets Iria outside the item shop. She tells him about her strange power and that an organization is chasing her. Ruca and Iria confront the organization members. Ruce awakens and gets some of Asura's power. They win against the members and Iria tells him that she was Inana, Asura'a lover, in a past life. They flee out of Ruca's town and go out in search of other people like them.

Sound:
The music in Tales of Innocence is amazing. The random battle theme is what consider to be the best random battle theme in the Tales Of series. Town music is catchy and is a good break from the battle theme. The world map has a nice orchestrated tune with plenty of basslines to keep you absorbed in the game's scenery. Dungeon music is great to listen to when you are traversing through them.

Length:
Tales of Innocence is a short game if you don't do any guild quests or bother to level up your abilities. It took me about 20 hours to finish the game without guild quests or mastering my abilities. If you bother to do all the side quests, guild quests, and to level up your abilities, it should take you about a decent 30 to 40 hours to finish the game.

Overall:
The gameplay in Tales of Innocence is it's best attribute. The battle system is addicting and fast paced. But, the dungeon design is horrible. It is reminiscent of Tales of Legendia's dungeons. It keeps you going on and on forever with long paths with dead ends, no dungeon map, etc. The worst part is, it makes you backtrack to the entrance, with no quick jump. The graphics are nice to look at while you're in battle, in a town, a dungeon, etc. The plot is okay, but character development is around every corner. The sound is great with an orchestrated world map theme, a catchy battle theme, etc. I'd recommend for everyone with a DS to download this game. It is simply a great time killer and has plenty of replay value with it's Grade Shop.