Tales of Destiny 2


 * This article is about the PlayStation 2 game that was marketed exclusively in Japan.
 * For the game released in USA as Tales of Destiny II, see Tales of Eternia.

Tales of Destiny 2 is the fourth main game in Namco's popular Tales series, a generation sequel to Tales of Destiny that takes place in the same world. Its characteristic genre name is To Release Destiny RPG (運命を解き放つRPG). Tales of Destiny 2 is easily confused with the name of the North American release of Tales of Eternia, Tales of Destiny II, which was renamed since the name "Eternia" is trademarked by Mattel for the He-Man toys in North America.

In carrying on the traditions of the Tales series, Tales of Destiny 2 relies on such mainstays as the Linear Motion Battle System and sprite-based characters. Like most games in the series, Tales of Destiny 2 includes an introduction and insert-scenes animated by Production I.G., and a J-pop theme song - in this case, Key to My Heart by Mai Kuraki.

Released in late 2002 in Japan, Tales of Destiny 2 will probably never be released in North America due to a lack of sales for the North American releases of both Tales of Destiny and Tales of Eternia.

Gameplay
Tales of Destiny 2 employs the Tales series' characteristic style of combat, the Linear Motion Battle System, in which the player controls the characters in real-time, and the characters perform actions on a two dimensional field. This iteration of the battle system is known as Trust and Tactical Linear Motion Battle System (TT-LMBS), and is designed to encourage the player to think more about coordinating the characters to make combat more efficient. One of the ways this is achieved is by the introduction of the Spirits System. Characters have a spirits bar which depletes as they take actions and refills when they defend, or are not executing any commands. When a character has very low spirits, they cannot perform even basic attacks, requiring the player to let some characters fall back and allow other characters to take the offensive. A down-side to the Spirits System is 'Zone Penalty'; the battlefield is divided up into 2 zones the Party's (Blue) and the enemy's (Red) As either side advances, so does their zone, and if a party member got behind the enemy, entering the Red zone, their SP Bar is reduced by half.

Tales of Destiny 2 also employs an auto-zoom feature in combat, which becomes standard in future Tales series games. When there is a great distance between the characters, the camera zooms out, making it easier for the player to monitor the whole party, and when the characters are grouped together, or there is particularly intense action, the camera zooms in. Another unique twist in this game is the introduction of the GRADE system that has been employed in the other main installments (with exceptions of the Tales of Destiny Remake and Tales of the Tempest). Depending on the characters’ actions in battle, the party receives either positive or negative GRADE at the end of battle, and upon completing the game, they can exchange GRADE at the GRADE Shop for certain features to be included in their next game.

Like many Tales Series games following it, Tales of Destiny 2 retains the cooking system that was introduced in the PlayStation version of Tales of Phantasia. Basic ingredient foods, such as vegetables, meat and bread are common throughout the game, and the characters learn recipes for making those ingredients into dishes, which restore HP and TP. This system is offered as an alternative to using ordinary healing items outside of battle.

An interesting twist on Tales of Destiny 2 characters occurs in that all six party members can use magic, rather than select characters using only magic to fight, like Keele Zeibel from Tales of Eternia. Of course, the females are predominantly mages while the males are fighters, but the player can choose to do either with the party members. Artes are still divided into Tokugi and Ougi, and spells keep the tier system Kakyuu, Chuukyuu and Joukyuu, though 'Extensions' are added. Fighters can extend a Tokugi to execute a somewhat mid-level attack; Kyle's Souhajin, for example, can be extended into Souha Tsuiren, which fires a second wind blast. However, when they extend an Ougi, they perform a Hi-Ougi. Spells extend too; Kakyuu and Chuukyuu extend into other spells, but a Joukyuu's extension summons one of the six Summon Spirits (Reala and Harold's Hi-Ougi). To use an Extension, the player must equip a certain Action Enchant to said arte; Enchants are another first in this game. They are abilities that can be set to each arte to increase their effectiveness. There are two kinds Passive which do not require TP or SP to execute; their effects vary from reducing SP or TP cost, raising the attack power the attack or hit of a skill just to name a few. Then there are Action Enchants which require SP, sometimes TP, and a press of the Circle Button, Special Actions like Extending an arte or Canceling into another Tokugi can be executed with these, each arte can have only one Passive and one Action equipped at a time.

Like previous games in the series, Tales of Destiny 2 features titles for each character. However, this is the first game where they affect character growth parameters.

Characters
Kyle Dunamis (カイル・デュナミス)

The main character of the game, Kyle is very much like his father, Stahn Aileron; Kyle's straightforward, simplistic personality is similar to Stahn's as well. However, Kyle remembers little of his father, as he claims that the famous hero left on a journey when Kyle was very young. His mother, Rutee Katrea runs the Dunamis Orphanage based in the town of Cresta, so the other children there are akin to family. Kyle has absolute faith that he will become a hero someday due to the heroic bloodline of his parents.

Reala (リアラ)

A girl who suddenly appears from within a gigantic lens found in the Laguna Ruins; Reala has an ethereal quality about her, and is generally cheerful and inquisitive, but she is surrounded by mystery. She says that she is looking for a hero that her pendant will react on; as such Kyle chases after her in hope to become the hero she seeks. Reala's personality, but she also displays an overdeveloped sense of responsibility at times and tends to strike out on her own, trying take matters into her own hands. In battle, Reala is physically weak, but wields powerful magic with her rods.

Loni Dunamis (ロニ・デュナミス)

Loni was raised in the Dunamis Orphanage, but left to join the Order of Atamoni; he is like an older brother to Kyle. Thanks to his rather frivolous manner, he gives the impression of being irresponsible, but in fact Loni is resourceful and has a strong sense of justice. Loni is tough and can deal large amounts of physical of damage, but his attacks are relatively slow; he prefers to fight with polearms.

Judas (ジューダス)

A masked swordsman who helps Kyle out of difficult situations, Judas is slight in stature but has a commanding presence. The name "Judas" was assigned to him by Kyle during their first encounter in Darillshade Prison, where Judas enables their escape. Though his attitude is often jaded and nihilistic, he has an essentially practical personality. For unknown reasons, Judas wishes to protect Kyle. A quick and agile swordsman, Judas uses rapiers and, in combat, is a faster, more fragile, and magically superior version of Kyle.

Nanaly Fletch (ナナリー・フレッチ)

Takes pride in her skill with bows, which puts most men to shame; Nanaly is also adept with magic, wielding spells overshadowed only by Reala and Harold. Outwardly stout-hearted and self-assured, Nanaly often seems tomboyish, but she is also deeply empathetic and, in fact, very refined. She cares for orphaned children in her home of Hope Town.

Harold Belserius (ハロルド・ベルセリオス)

Harold is the creator of the Swordians, and because of her name and accomplishments, she is often believed to be a man, but this does not bother her in the least. The classic eccentric genius, Harold thinks of everything in terms of her research, and is all but helpless in non-academic affairs. While she often seems childish and unpredictable as a result, she is also very perceptive. Harold is an offense-oriented magic user who equips rods; due to her superior intelligence, she is the most powerful magic user in the game, while being significantly less potent in close-range combat.

Elraine (エルレイン)

The Holy Woman of the Order of Atamoni, Elraine is worshipped as a living manifestation of the goddess Fortuna. She takes joy in granting happiness to people, and she is able to create miracles at will by drawing power out of Lens in a fashion similar to Reala. For that reason, people flock to her with offerings of Lens in order to receive her blessing.

Barbatos Goetia (バルバトス・ゲーティア)

Barbatos is a warrior who fought in the War of Heaven and Earth; he was killed by Dymlos. His power was equal to the Swordian Dymlos, but due to his own selfish behavior, he was written out of history. Now, Barbatos fights in order to validate his existence.

History
Over 1000 years prior to Tales of Destiny, a comet collided with the planet on which the game occurs, ushering in a long winter. The surviving people, desperate for the light of the sun, harnessed Lens, an energy source they found in the remains of the comet, to create Dycroft, a Tenjousoujin (an aeropolis in English version of Tales of Destiny). Eventually the residents of the flying cities came to dominate those who remained on the surface using a powerful weapon called Belcrant, and the 天地戦争|Tenchisensou|”Aeth'er Wars”) began as a result. The team of scientists who created Belcrant defected to the side of the surface-dwellers, and developed powerful lens weapons called [[Swordians - sentient swords - on their behalf. The Swordian Masters who wielded them felled all of the flying cities and sunk Dycroft into the ocean, ending the War of Heaven and Earth.

The Swordians lay dormant for centuries until a conflict broke out for possession of an enormous lens known as the, ultimately orchestrated by the defeated, but never truly killed ruler of Dycroft, Kronos. Stahn Aileron, a young man on a journey for fame and fortune, happened to find the Swordian Dymlos, setting him on a course to save the world from impending disaster. Joined by fellow Swordian Masters, Rutee Katrea, Philia Felice, Garr Kelvin and Leon Magnus, Stahn prevented the resurrection of Dycroft and restored peace to the world.

Plot
Tales of Destiny 2 begins 18 years after Tales of Destiny. While the exploits of Stahn and the Swordian Masters is known far and wide, it has begun to fade from the hearts of the people. Now everyone is preoccupied with the Holy Woman Elraine, who promises immediate happiness for all.

In this setting, a boy named Kyle Dunamis takes his first steps in pursuit of adventure. As the son of the world-renowned heroes Stahn and Rutee, Kyle is certain that it is his destiny, even his duty, to become a hero, as well. While exploring the ruins of an ancient city near his home, Kyle encounters a mysterious girl named Reala who emerges from a huge lens. She announces that she is in search of a hero. In his attempts to become the hero Reala seeks, Kyle's destiny is set in motion. In a journey encompassing past, present and future, Kyle learns the true meaning of heroism from the heroes of old.

PlayStation Portable
On June 19, 2006, scans indicated that a port of Tales of Destiny 2 would appear on the PlayStation Portable. It was released in Japan on February 15, 2007. More information can be found on the Official Tales of Destiny 2 (PSP) site.

Reception
Famitsu magazine ranked the game at 79 in Famitsu’s 100 all-time favorite games.