White Knight 2 Update: Several New Gameplay Systems
White Knight Chronicles 2After Level 5 CEO Akihiro Hino mentioned on his Twitter page that development on White Knight Chronicles 2 was entering the final stages, Japanese publication Famitsu (and Famitsu.com) have started to provide role-playing fans with a ton of new details.
There's even a chance that it will release some time this summer in Japan, which would likely translate to an early 2011 launch for North America, or so we're hoping. The summary of all the juicy info can be found at Andriasang, where you will find new screenshots and a breakdown of all the upgrades and enhancements we can expect. Firstly, two new characters; Miu and Scardyne, the former is a 15-year-old girl who apparently loves to fight, and the latter is a Forian general. These two meet Leonard and his friends after escaping a bit of a conflict and things progress from there. WKC2 will also boast new visual effects for your attacks and perhaps most importantly, new gameplay systems. You'll once again be able to switch between human and knight form when in combat, and creating your own combination chains is another feature that will return. But it's the new stuff that sounds most encouraging, primarily because it sounds as if the designers really listened to the critics and fans. They obviously want to make the sequel better than the original.
We hear about a "greater sense of speed" due to an updated action gauge and the addition of dash and charge commands. We'll also receive weapon-specific abilities, which will add another level of distinction to each character and of course, a greater importance tied to the weapon you select. "Live Talk" is something familiar; you've heard it in other RPGs (like Final Fantasy XIII): your characters simply make comments based on the battle situation. Lastly, Famitsu talks about counter attacks, a new sensation of distance, and "free defensive timing," although we're not entirely sure what that is... Then there's a new "song" skill, a "Turn Brake" command, and a new "anger mode" for your foes. See? All sorts of new stuff and even if we don't have the details on all of it, it's awesome to hear about.
Related Game(s): White Knight Chronicles 2
3/18/2010 10:21:05 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (43 posts)
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 10:51:21 AM
It's the "technically" part I tend to dislike. ;)
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Highlander
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 10:54:11 AM
White Knight Chronicles I could see being called turn based, because it's turn based attack/action with real-time freedom of movement. Not sure that FFXIII comes that close to turn based though...
Last edited by Highlander on 3/18/2010 10:54:51 AM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 11:09:29 AM
The only way it's actually real-time is if you press a button and you execute an action, like in any action game. But even so, I know what you mean...we all do. We miss TRUE turn-based, where nothing happens at all until you make your decision.
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Highlander
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 11:18:45 AM
Where WKC breaks from the true turn based combat is that like Star Ocean you can be attacked whether you take an action on your turn or not, also you only control one character at a time and have to switch between them if you want to control everyone's action. I have to admit, I'm OK with the style of that kind of system, but I long for the traditional turn based combat where your heroes face off against the enemies and you pick each action for each character in turn.
However, until someone is brave enough to bring that back in a mainstream RPG, I will make do with the WKC style compromise.
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Nynja
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 12:04:40 PM
Off topic, sorta, I must say that I am not as disappointed about lack of towns in FFXIII as I thought I would. Just as Ben stated in the review, I do find myself looking at the bars more than anything else. When I noticed that I was doing that, I began forcing my self to watch the battles more. Its beginning to grow on me.
I can't wait to get back to WKC. I would like to see how the changes work out.
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Highlander
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 12:33:29 PM
Yeah, I know. Active time battle systems are not classic turn based, but they are turn based enough that you don't feel like you must be a twitch gamer to play. Plus you can of course change your characters and choose your actions.
I guess what I am saying is that WKC (and SO4) are turn based enough for me - just. But I still long for the return of proper turn based combat. You know what would be cool? If there was an option to turn of the active time element and make the combat flow as real turn based.
Last edited by Highlander on 3/18/2010 12:34:20 PM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 12:41:38 PM
I suppose if we wanted to get really anal about it, true "turn-based" can't even include speed, which I believe has been an element in almost every Final Fantasy.
But I don't want to over-analyze too much. All I know is I miss classic formats like FFX and Lost Odyssey. :)
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Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 1:24:49 PM
-Arvis
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Highlander
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:24:34 PM
Of course today with active time battle style systems, if you take too long to choose your action yourenemy will attack - effectively attacking out of turn.
When I say I long for the return of turn based combat I am meaning turn based without the impact of active time. Character and enemy attack turn order should still be based on agility or dexterity. WKC would be great if the enemies could not attack out of turn, and if the game would switch control to the character who's turn it it.
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Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:51:37 PM
Hmm... and those are two of my favorite video games of all time. Coincidence?
-Arvis
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:29:02 PM
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piratedrunk
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:49:28 PM
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Irievibes
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 11:28:10 PM
right on, speed stats and such DO play a factor but you have time to strategize, and YOU DO need to strategize especially in the latter battles and deep dungeon grinding/poaching *grin*
also, one thing i utterly LOVE about tactics, is the sheer amount of info the system makes available to you, wanna know whos gonna move in between now and that summon acutually landing? YOU GOT IT! wanna know how much time that guy has left to act befor that lancer lands on his head? you got that too
if i had anything to tell level 5 is make info more readily available in the game, one expample is altering the ability icons to indicate the type of attack they are E.g. slashing, piercing, etc.
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Arvis
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 2:35:15 PM
-Arvis
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mexgeo86
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 10:53:21 AM
Reply
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Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 11:22:58 AM
Reply
Actually, I was wondering if any of the regulars here would take a listen to the inaugural Gametrawler.com Podcast, featuring yours truly. It's a pet project that I've been a part of for a while now, and we kind of put up a "beta podcast" of sorts last night, and of course I just rambled about White Knight Chronicles pretty much the whole time. If anyone is bored and wants to check it out, feedback will be appreciated:
http://www.gametrawler.com/node/37
-Arvis
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Mr Bitey
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 11:44:10 AM
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BigBoss4ever
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 12:18:21 PM
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and hopefully, Square learned lesson from the gamers and release a true Square Soft style JRPG as FFv13, and yea, DO NOT listen to Wada, that is the beginning of making great JRPGs again.
Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 3/18/2010 12:24:10 PM
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convergecrew
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 12:20:40 PM
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Lotusflow3r
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 12:43:04 PM
Reply
One other thing noted that confused me was the new wether system, is that a real time thing? Night to day, multi wether conditions, all in real time, or is it that they are now just adding wether effects to certain areas?
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Lotusflow3r
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 1:12:41 PM
I'll never forget the time i invented the aquarium in Dark Cloud 2 and then raised fish in it, trained em up and put em in fish races! A whole new game was born from the invention mini game in a game....err, yeah!
Bring it back, it was the only thing missing from WKC. We just need a little more variety, more secrets too, secret areas, npc's etc.
And if i'm being greedy, a longer main campaign :)
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 3/18/2010 1:15:28 PM
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Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 1:26:14 PM
I could play Spheda for hours...
-Arvis
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Scarecrow
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 1:32:57 PM
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Wow....what a beautiful game!
Great to see a sequel in the making (so many new features!)
Weather effects/time of day sound good! I hope they add this, would make the already beautiful environments/towns that much more dynamic/engaging.
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Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:49:44 PM
-Arvis
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Highlander
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:45:33 PM
Level 5 would earn $10 from me if they sold an unlimited avatar modification pass for $10, then I would lose even more hours to the game...
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Arvis
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 4:07:51 PM
-Arvis
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kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 6:11:33 PM
I can even give tips on good quests that can be completed quickly for lots of gr points.
Best served cold, fast time 2:11 (2 min)5600p
Azure Dragon, 12:47, over 1200p
just 2 examples of some lower gr quests, there's tricks to completing most of the quests quickly, but it also makes them more challenging. it's fun.
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Irievibes
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 11:38:49 PM
the binding in this game is ridiculous!!!! sooo ...many....recipes!!!! im just getting into it, but once you start upping that rank, there are is some really really good stuff there, spent a whole lot of cash and items on a sword the other day, but well worth it!!!!!
@arvis
my georama is lcl22.ville is there a way to send pm's on this forums? anyways, im always up for some qwuesting though i havent had much spare time lately : /
Last edited by Irievibes on 3/18/2010 11:41:58 PM
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just2skillf00l
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:17:49 PM
Reply
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Highlander
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 2:25:56 PM
Last edited by Highlander on 3/18/2010 2:26:24 PM
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piratedrunk
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:31:41 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:53:46 PM
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Highlander
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 3:58:50 PM
<whiny voice>
The graphics aren't kick ass. This game sucks!
</whiny voice>
Not that the graphics are in any way poor, I just think that some of the reviewers concentrated on the visuals which are (to be fair) less flamboyant than other games. Personally I have loved the visuals in the game, but I'm not a reviewer.
Last edited by Highlander on 3/18/2010 4:00:19 PM
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Irievibes
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 11:41:12 PM
towns and enviroments..wow really impressed, dust devils in the desert and such, shadows , high res textures, i think the towns and enviroments (frass chasm anyone? ) are downright amazing!
the knight models - kik ass too, esp the ....lets just call it pinkie shall we?
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Highlander
Friday, March 19, 2010 @ 1:03:51 AM
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kraygen
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 6:17:20 PM
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I know it won't happen but I can dream can't I. Honestly the slow rate of combat as some people are complaining about never bothered me, gave me time to choose which attack I really wanted to do, to decide if I wanted to switch characters or whatever.
I'm hopeful for a more turn-based gameplay as well, but everything sounds really awesome. The 2 new characters look really awesome and so does the armor. I'm so excited for white knight 2 that I'm at a loss for words, I think I'm just babbling on and on about how I am so excited. Please forgive me for that. =) WOOO WKC!
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Lotusflow3r
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 8:32:04 PM
I was so excited for the original, it was all i spoke of for a long time here lol.
Now that the table is set (extreamly well) for the sequel by the original, im just up to my eyeballs in hype once again and its barely been a month since release.
I'll say it, it offered ALL FF is supposed to offer bar story, aswell as offering Level 5's wonderful touch.
If the qualities that i listed above are added to the sequel, it would SLAUGHTER the new Enix FFs (yes, yes, imo) so, im hoping they do that....but either way.....WKC2 is a new most wanted.
The franchise is a new Sony jewel.
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 3/18/2010 8:33:06 PM
3 up, 1 down
Irievibes
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 11:34:06 PM
like for example, the more crap you got on you like armor and shield, the slower the atb gauge fills, so the heavier the armor/weapon , the slower you atack, so therein lies the conondrum...
you want your guy to do sick dmg with that 2 hander? gotta forfeit defense and wear thinner armor that favors speed, so you do have to set up your dmg taker aka tanks and such ...
a good tank is yulie, good strngth stats, and she has spear tree wich is basically aoe tanking, sword is more tank-in-a-pinch thing...its all those little details that really upped the gameplay for me....and i learned all of those from reading ingame boards or internet guides, cuz neither game nor manual tell you any of that..
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Highlander
Reply
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 10:39:28 AM
You only use the word "turn" when talking about combat skills in a JRPG when the system is...TURN based.
::big grin::
Can't wait.