Tales Of Phantasia
In 1995, a RPG (Role Playing Game) was created for the Super Famicon (the original Japanese version of the Super Nintendo video game console). Not surprising; RPGs are one of the bread and butter products in the Japanese videogame industry. But this RPG was different. It changed the battle mechanics. It gave their characters voices, hearts and souls. Its popularity spawned thirty stand-alone games, each one more daring than the last. The name of the game? Tales of Phantasia.
The RPG world would never be the same.
The battle mechanics is where Phantasia truly shines. Instead of stationary characters whose actions are selected via a menu (the characters take turns executing said commands depending on their Speed stat) Phantasia characters move back and forth on a two-dimensional plane. Commands are mapped to pushes of the directional pad (resembling a cross on the controllers) combined with button presses. The characters respond in real time. The player presses buttons, and the character executes the command automatically.
This battle system adds the schematics of the fighting game genre. Like most RPGs, playable characters gain unique attacks as they acquire experience points from battle and level up (permanent upgrading of character attributes like Strength and Defense). In fighting games, characters also have special techniques; executed by a combination of fluid presses on the directional pad and the attack button. A common projectile attack requires the following series of presses (down, down-right, attack button).
Phantasia combines the two systems. The game’s special techniques (hereon called Artes) can be activated in two ways. The first involves the motion of the directional pad and the attack button: main protagonist Cless’ Dual Kick is activated by a counter-clockwise motion from Down to Left, for example. Alternatively (in modernized re-releases of the game), the Art can be mapped to directional pushes and button presses. Pressing Right + the attack button activates one Arte, while pressing Left + the attack button executes another Arte, and so on.
Cless is the game’s sole physical attacker – the other characters are mages and thus have low Defense – so his move-set is more robust. Cless has three groups of Artes: Deadly Skills, Secret Skills, and the Hidden Secret Skill. The Deadly Skills are gained through level-gaining via collection of Experience Points; these Artes are simple blows that don’t inflict much damage. The Secret Skills combine two Deadly Skills into one attack; available once the two techniques are “mastered”; i.e. used a certain number of times. The Hidden Secret Skill – the Dark Blade – is Cless’ ultimate attack, activated only in dire circumstances (low health, etc.). This skill system forms the backbone of every succeeding Tales game.
Tales Of Phantasia turned the RPG world on its head. Like everything else in the series, Phantasia was born through the fusion of two completely different genres, creating something new and exciting. Unfortunately this article only scratches the surface of what makes this game great. In order to fully appreciate the game, you’ll just have to play it yourself. Have fun.
Worldwalker 