Role-Playing Games of the 2000s, Part 2 Codexery

Tales of Vesperia

An action RPG about justice and blastia in Terca Lumireis.

Tales of Vesperia

Calvin Walton from Ottawa, ON, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0

Tales of Vesperia is an action role-playing game developed by Namco Tales Studio and the tenth mainline entry in the Tales series. It was released for the Xbox 360 in 2008 in Japan and North America by Namco Bandai Games, and in European territories in 2009. An expanded port for the PlayStation 3 followed in Japan in 2009, and an enhanced version subtitled Definitive Edition was released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in January 2019. The game is notable for its Evolved Flex-Range Linear Motion Battle System and its theme song 'Ring a Bell / Kane o Narashite' by Bonnie Pink.

Quick Facts

Title
Tales of Vesperia
Developer
Namco Tales StudioDefinitive Edition developed by QLOC.
Publisher
Namco Bandai Games
Producer
Tsutomu Gouda / Yoshito Higuchi
Director
Yoshito Higuchi
Artist
Kōsuke Fujishima / Daigo Okumura
Writer
Takashi Hasegawa / Koki Matsumoto / Takaaki Okuda
Composer
Motoi Sakuraba / Hibiki Aoyama
Series
Tales
Genre
Action role-playing game
Modes
Single-player / Multiplayer
Platforms
Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / Nintendo Switch / PlayStation 4 / Windows / Xbox One

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

Tales of Vesperia is set in the world of Terca Lumireis, which relies on an energy source called aer regulated by devices called Blastia. Blastia power much of the world's magic and create protective barriers around cities. The story follows Yuri Lowell, a former Imperial soldier who forms a guild called Brave Vesperia to aid Estelle, a noble woman he encounters on a mission. As they explore, Brave Vesperia is challenged by factions with different plans related to the abuse of blastia resources, and Yuri is forced to confront his friend and former comrade Flynn. The game's characteristic genre name is 'RPG to Enforce Justice'.

Reader's Guide

Tales of Vesperia was developed by the same team that made Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss. Preliminary work began in 2005, with full development starting the following year and lasting approximately two years. It was designed for the Xbox 360 because the PlayStation 3 had yet to be shown to the company and the Xbox 360 was achieving international popularity. The anime cutscenes were created by Production I.G, with an art style influenced by cel-shaded animation. The game received positive reviews and has sold over 2.8 million copies worldwide across all platforms. Further media related to the world of Vesperia have been released, including the prequel film Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike. The gameplay features a new version of the series' trademark action-based Linear Motion Battle System, called the Evolved Flex-Range Linear Motion Battle System, and introduces online leaderboards. Characters have stats including health, Technical Points, and Learning Points for learning skills. Battles take place in isolated arenas with up to four players locally, and players can perform combos, Fatal Strikes, and Over Limit attacks. The game's legacy includes its expanded Definitive Edition and continued recognition as a key entry in the Tales series.

Did You Know?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tales of Vesperia?

Tales of Vesperia is an action role-playing game developed by Namco Tales Studio, serving as the tenth mainline entry in the Tales series. Its story unfolds in the world of Terca Lumireis and revolves around themes of justice and the power of blastia.

Who developed and published Tales of Vesperia?

Namco Tales Studio handled development while Namco Bandai Games took on publishing duties. The title first shipped for the Xbox 360 in Japan and North America in 2008, with European players receiving it in 2009.

What is the battle system in Tales of Vesperia called?

The game uses the Evolved Flex-Range Linear Motion Battle System, which expands on the series' traditional real-time combat. It lets players freely reposition and strike within a three-dimensional arena during each encounter.

On which platforms can I play Tales of Vesperia?

The original version appeared on Xbox 360, and a PlayStation 3 port followed in Japan in 2009. A Definitive Edition later brought the game to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in January 2019.

Who designed the characters in Tales of Vesperia?

Kōsuke Fujishima, a long-time collaborator across the Tales franchise, served as the character designer for this title. His distinctive visual style shapes the look of the entire cast.

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