White Knight Story (Level 5) (Playstation 3)

[Zenien]

http://www.theimageplace.net/uploads/337d4c6fa3.jpg
http://www.theimageplace.net/uploads/301a0bc37d.jpg

- Tons and tons of HUGE monsters on an unsurpassed scale
- The field and combat engine is like a normal RPG
- Battles with huge monsters have a very great sense of scale

Someone on 2ch mentioned that it was going for the feel of SotC, except as a RPG.


We'll, know more soon.

[Timstuff]

Hawt.

[Mentok]

Seriously... People who put these photos of magazine articles need to...

1 - Buy a scanner
2- Learn how to use the digital Camera properly.

:mad:

[Zenien]

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/733/733845p1.html


The latest RPG from the experts at Level 5 has been revealed in Famitsu. The developer of Dragon Quest VIII and Rogue Galaxy is working on Shirokishi Monogatari for the PlayStation 3. The title translates roughly to White Knight Story. Level 5 president Akihiro Hino is serving as producer on the title.

In this fantasy RPG, you take control of a boy who comes into the possession of an ancient artifact. The artifact gives him the ability to transform into the White Knight of the title, a 7-meter warrior from a time when such creatures nearly destroyed all of civilization.

White Knight Story places an emphasis on scale. In addition to the giant White Knight himself, and a similarly sized rival Black Knight, you'll encounter large-scale cities and enemies that extend over 2000 meters in size. One turtle-like enemy carries a full town on its back!

Speaking with Famitsu, Hino revealed that making a game with such a large scale is not an easy task. Texture limitations on previous machines meant that showing small details on large objects was not possible.

Hino also shared some insight into the original plans for the game. Rather than having the main character transform into the White Knight, Level 5 had originally considered having him ride on top of it. However, it was determined that this would require a giant of over 20 meters in size. Such a size discrepancy would have made it difficult to have the knight fight against human characters.

The main character isn't the only standard sized character in the game. Famitsu also introduces a short-haired heroine who appears to wield a knife, and an elderly knight who knows how to use magic. You'll also encounter a small species that uses small-sized aircraft for quick transportation and makes its living by selling the energy that the giant enemy creatures emit.

White Knight Story has all the elements of a Japanese RPG, from giant, freely navigated fields of play to battles. The fields of play let you see far into the distance so that you can identify enemies from afar. Enemies will also spot you, and will combine forces to attack.

Hino revealed to Famitsu that one of the big goals of the battle system in White Knight Story was realism both on the visual and gameplay levels. The game uses some sort of complex animation blending system, which Hino feels could not be achieved on previous systems. Level 5 made its own capture studio in order to create the game.

The developer also shied away from some of the paradigms of RPGs, like turn-based battles and standard "attack/magic/item/flee" menus. Prior to battle, you go into a "Battle Preparation" menu to set up your party of up to three characters. Each character can be equipped with a "function palette," consisting of a string of skills and moves -- everything from kicks to sword slashes. Skills can be added to the palette freely as long as you follow simple rules about what can follow what.

During battle, you can freely switch between the characters in your party, but you only control one character at a time. In addition to moving your character around on the battle field, all you have to do is press circle to execute the currently equipped function palette. The character then executes the moves, which are blended together realistically using the slick animation system mentioned above.

A palette can store up to 7 skills. You can save palettes and switch between them, suggesting that preparing different palettes ahead of time will be a strategic part of the game.

So where does the White Knight fit into the gameplay? You can transform into the White Knight during battle once you've filled up a meter by attacking enemies while in human form. When transformed, you make use of a special function palette which offers up powerful attacks. When facing off against a giant enemy, you'll want to full up your transformation meter and transform as soon as possible.

The Tokyo Game Show will offer our first look at White Knight Story, which despite its recent unveiling, seems to be far along in development. Stay tuned for more details later in the week.

[CrypticOne]

Sounds and looks pretty cool.

[Mr. Credible]

SotC, only next gen, with a better (rpg) combat system and (hopefully) better story? (well, the story can't get much worse)

count me in.

[Avalanche]

Sounds like some good stuff. Looking forward to seeing more of it from TGS.

[CM Punk]

Depending on what prices look like when it's released, I might buy a PS3 for this. SotC RPG sounds nice.

[THWIP*]

Depending on what prices look like when it's released, I might buy a PS3 for this. SotC RPG sounds nice.


I COULD NEVER JUSTIFY BUYING A CONSOLE FOR 1 GAME........UNLESS 'SPIDER-MAN 3' WERE A 'PS3' EXCLUSIVE. :O

[Zenien]

Spider-Man 1 and 2 sort of sucked. :o

[CM Punk]

Well, I wouldn't be buying it by myself, there's a guy who's probably moving in with me soon and he'd split the cost (we're already trying to split a HDTV) since he wants MGS4. And there's more than one game, I'd want God of War III whenever it's announced, and Sly Cooper 4 if it hopefully get's announced. But yeah, I wouldn't pay $600 for 1 game either :o

[Zenien]

If you like God of War, you should take a look at Heavenly Sword.

[CM Punk]

Isn't that the game from the same people who brought us "Kung Fu Chaos"? I don't think I'll look again :dry:

[Zenien]

You really should, There will be a thread on it this week. Did you even look at any of the media for it? :dry:

[CM Punk]

Is there new media, or are you talking about the old E3 "play dough hair" stuff? If you are, yeah, I've pretty much seen every screenshot and video around, since you make me watch them on MSN and stuff. You know that I'm not a real newb that you can convert for sony, right? :o

[Zenien]

Way to blow your cover. :o

[CM Punk]

There is no cover, I haven't bothered to hide myself for a long time. :o

Anyways, does "We'll, know more soon." mean this is at TGS, or what?

[Zenien]

Yeah there will be a presentation or something about it at TGS. The Sony conference is tonight so there should be some info.

Edit: Ewww, you're using some wrestlers name, aren't you?

[CM Punk]

CM Punk isn't some wrestler. CM Punk is God :dry:

[Zenien]

http://www.level5.co.jp/products/shirokishi/index.html

http://www.level5.co.jp/products/shirokishi/image/ph001.jpg http://www.level5.co.jp/products/shirokishi/image/ph002.jpg
http://www.level5.co.jp/products/shirokishi/image/ph003.jpg http://www.level5.co.jp/products/shirokishi/image/ph004.jpg
http://www.level5.co.jp/products/shirokishi/image/ph005.jpg http://www.level5.co.jp/products/shirokishi/image/ph006.jpg

[Zenien]

Apparently seeing it in motion makes all the difference, so...

Take a look (http://www.jp.playstation.com/scej/title/tgs2006/mov_shi.html)

Click the left button at the bottom to open the video.

Or

Download it directly (http://anon.psjp.speedera.net/anon.psjp/tgs06/high/h_whiteknight.wmv)

138 megs.

[CM Punk]

The video is buffering very slowly, so I haven't seen it yet, but the screens don't look as good as I thought they would from the scans, but it still looks decent.

[Zenien]

Yeah the game seems to be sort of like how they'd approach graphics on the PS2, but on the PS3 obviously, it has a very Star Ocean 3 next gen look to it.

I just watched the trailer, it doesn't real show much, but the environment section looks really nice, PS2 stylized graphics and all, they definately have quality animation, it's not "omg detail" animation, but they just have a very almost natural movement to them sort of.

[swifty]

yep!! it's nothing that the 360 couldn't handle.

[CM Punk]

Nevermind, that video actually ruined the game. Where the heck did they get "like a SotC RPG" from? :dry:

[Avalanche]

yep!! it's nothing that the 360 couldn't handle.
Why? Did someone mention the 360 couldn't handle it?

No.

[WhatsHisFace]

These guys still owe MS a game.

[Zenien]

Nevermind, that video actually ruined the game. Where the heck did they get "like a SotC RPG" from? :dry:

I'd always assumed that they meant in terms of enemies being HUGE. Still though, shattered SotC RPG expectations aside, did that not look good in the forest scene?

[CM Punk]

It just looked like a run of the mill anime game, nothing special about it at all, and the graphics were kind of bland to boot. It looked much better as a scan :(

[swifty]

Why? Did someone mention the 360 couldn't handle it?

No.

what I was insinuating was that ps3's graphics are nothing special like they want you to believe.

I'm not trying to start a ps3 vs 360 its just I hate all the lies told by Sony...that's all.:yay:

[Mr. Credible]

what I was insinuating was that ps3's graphics are nothing special like they want you to believe.

I'm not trying to start a ps3 vs 360 its just I hate all the lies told by Sony...that's all.:yay:

yes, you were trying to 'start a ps3 vs 360'

[Mr. Credible]

the battle engine looks effing sweet.

[Zenien]

The only thing I disliked was the "transform" bit. Not so much because it was a transformation but because it was the whole "Power Rangers-esque" method of transformation.

Look at that, swords that actually hit eachother, next gen is here!!

[Mr. Credible]

The only thing I disliked was the "transform" bit. Not so much because it was a transformation but because it was the whole "Power Rangers-esque" method of transformation.

Look at that, swords that actually hit eachother, next gen is here!!

i both noticed and loved that, too.

[Delusive]

This is one of my most anticipated games. The battle system just plain rocks and the transformation to the White Knight is sweet (once he's the White Knight), I don't really care for the Power Ranger type transformation and, like said, the graphics are ok, animation is really nice but I mainly care for the gameplay. It's up there with my most wanted RPGs. The whole turtle with a city on its back to give you its scale just shows how awesome the potential of such a game is.

[kytrigger]

I thought it looked really good. There was no SotC gameplay, but I can also see where the enemies will get much bigger, and it may be a little bit more like SotC.

[Zenien]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2006/20060925.jpg


Stop whatever you're doing right now and watch this video - offered in HD for Windows Media or Quicktime. That's Level 5's White Knight Story, and I must stress for readers that Level 5 is in no way ****ing around. That's how you sell us a Goddamn Playstation 3. We are almost impervious to many of the brands that define Sony's hardware: for us, Metal Gear Solid and Gran Turismo emit no will crushing pheromones. Compare that to the White Knight clip, which is a fairly comprehensive tour of my private desires.

It's nice to finally get our eyes on materials that imply Sony is actually, for really reals releasing a console in a couple months. I understand that it can make my pictures look goods and let me surfs on The Web, didn't really ask for that, but alright. But the continued air of mystery regarding their supernatural free online service should really disturb people at this point, not that it will: if you follow the pastime then you can see that this conflict has already passed through the rational membrane and now occupies the same troubled zone as Religion and Professional Sport. True dialogue is now impossible. Faith in one's "team" is at the rudder. Heretics are everywhere, tainting each thread.


A rough explanation of how the battle system works:

The player equips actions into the seven slots at the bottom of the screen. Each action provokes a response and has a counter, as explained in the info screen when they are selecting each action. The ones chosen for the White Knight character were slash, shield attack and grab. Meanwhile, the mustachoied older man chose a series of attacks that when put in that order created a combo you can activate, because of the type of attack. You can see little icons at the side of the name which tells which is which.

So then in actual battle, the player positions the character and makes the targeting reticle. Inside the reticle is the action you've chosen and you can switch to any of the other actions along the bottom at any time, when you push the button, it activates and paper/rock/scissors thing goes into effect. So the shield bash should knock down an enemy as it did, but not if its met with a well-timed thrust attack and so on. This is demonstrated when the White Knight character gets his arm hurt from inputting slash attacks at the wrong time (and perhaps having little strength as well).

Just like Rogue Galaxy, you can switch the active character at any time, and they all speak about battle conditions so you can hear what's going on without seeing it. So later on, when the female character talks, she's asking for help and he switches to the White Knight goes behind the guy and activates "grab" to hold him by the arms so she can beat him up.

[블라스]

WHITE Knight? This game is racist! :mad:

Seriously, the Gametrailer trailer looks BADASS :up:

[Mentok]

You look badass Blas!

[Ice-man]

This game looks amazing, seems like a cool rpg, ill pick this up when it comes out

[Mentok]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2006/20060925.jpg


Once again Penny Arcade sum up exactly how I feel about something :(

[Avalanche]

Bah, Gran Turismo has cars and tracks.

[Axid]

When you buy them :(

[Avalanche]

No, they later explained it. All the cars and tracks can be unlocked normally through the progress of the game, but, you can buy them without unlocking them if you want.

[Mentok]

Bah, Gran Turismo has cars and tracks.

The comic was done weeks ago when SONY were saying GT didnt have cars or tracks.

[Axid]

You obviously start off with a Geo Metro and are expected to beat an Enzo :o

[Avalanche]

You obviously start off with a Geo Metro and are expected to beat an Enzo :o
Slow in to the corner, fast out. :oldrazz: Easy. :p

[Avalanche]

You obviously start off with a Geo Metro and are expected to beat an Enzo :o
Slow into the corner, fast out. :oldrazz: Easy. :p

[Axid]

So exciting you had to inform me twice :dry:

[Avalanche]

I tried to edit my spelling mid-way through it loading. Clearly it went ahead and posted both versions anyway. :p

And that was an exciting comment. I should have posted it three or more times.

[Speedball]

http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?fs=1&id=3241
These trailers probably load better than the earlier ones.

This and Final Fantasy are the only games I am remotely interested in.
Is this a launch title?

[Avalanche]

Nope.

Don't think it's even close to being a launch title.

[GoldenAgeHero]

animation looks awesome.

[Zenien]

http://i15.tinypic.com/4z91qwy.jpg
http://i16.tinypic.com/4orx841.jpg
http://i1.tinypic.com/65zu6gj.jpg
http://i5.tinypic.com/66cee69.jpg

http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/14903

[KALEL114]

Wow this thread is oooooold!
Her's a cool Q+A with US Producer Tsubasa Inaba.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/04/30/white-knight-chronicles-your-questions-answered/#comment-213020

[Electro UK]

Man this game is going to be awesome.

[SatEL]

They better bring out an english version for this, its bad enough we dont get Yakuza 3 and a bunch of other titles exclusive to the Eastern market.

[Electro UK]

An English version is coming out, and I'm sure we'll see Yakuza 3 in a few years...

[kingman]

The main question is... will it come to Europe? The answer is yet unknown but they could at least give it to the UK and Ireland.

[Electro UK]

I'm pretty sure it will. Even if it doesn't, its easy as hell to import. Heck, we could all get it now if we wanted to.

[SatEL]

I'm pretty sure it will. Even if it doesn't, its easy as hell to import. Heck, we could all get it now if we wanted to.

No we couldnt, whats the point spending $50 on a game we cant even understand. Its all in japanese, personally I wouldnt have minded if the VA was Japanese and the subs were english but that isnt even an option.

[Electro UK]

...

But we still COULD.

[SatEL]

...

But we still COULD.


Only if you speak Japanese.

[Electro UK]

...but you still COULD even if you didn't speak Japanese.

[SatEL]

...but you still COULD even if you didn't speak Japanese.


Ok.

[Havok83]

this game really hasnt been on my radar. Ill have to wait and see what people say about the final product whenever that comes out

[Electro UK]

Ok.

Win!

[Havok83]

Game finally has a US release date:

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/12/white-knight-chronicles-international-edition-coming-to-ps3-february-2-2010/

[Electro UK]

Awesome. Most anticipated PS3 game of next year fo' sho.

[Soapy]

God...it seems like I've been hearing about this game forever.

[Nathan]

I've been waiting so freaking long for this! :argh:

[Electro UK]

http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/106/1066138p1.html

ah crap. Well, saves me 40 bones I guess.

[Bathead]

Whoops! Doesn't sound good. I was semi-interested, but I will have to read a couple of more reviews to try and get a consensus before I buy this.

[Bathead]

Just checked Gamespot, they're not too happy with it either, the gave it a 6.0. Called it "forgettable", and about the only good thing they had to say was it was "pretty". Unfortunately, I'll have to pass. Fortunately, not a long wait until FF XIII, and Dragon Age : Awakening.

[Soapy]

Giant Bomb Quick Look

http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-white-knight-chronicles/17-1971/

[Isildur´s Heir]

I was expecting this game to be amazing, as it´s made by Level 5 and they are superb, but guess it´s not, as it has a ranking of 69.50% at GameRankings.com

[Electro UK]

Well, I've been tasked with the wonderful job of reviewing this for it's UK release. This is gonna sting...

[uchiha_itachi]

Your last review was a good read, look forward to the new one. I thought this game looked awesome first time i saw it. had alot of hype to. Guess that went out the window.

[Nathan]

So, who's got the game? I heard the single player isn't exactly the best, but online is supposed to be fun. Is the game worth a purchase? I'm looking for a game where I can create my own character and have some adventures, without paying online fees for another MMO.

[Fading]

I'm wondering if it's worth a buy as well. Everyone is so vague and split on the game on the net that it's hard to tell. I said this in the gaming lounge, but the sequel is supposed to come with the first game packaged in. So if true it'd be 2 for the price of one, and a great way for me to get into it. However that's only if the game is actually worth it, otherwise it'd just be two games collecting dust on my shelf.

[MoPlaYa]

I bought this game last night...gonna play it later tonight