You've all probably seen the report on Tales of Innocence R's ending hinting at even more Tales remakes coming soon. A few unexpected CGs from the game's hidden dungeon hints that the next upcoming remake, or rather, "re-imagination", will be that of Tales of Hearts.
According to reports, these images showing The Great Winged Whale and the Somas/Weapons from Tales of Hearts can be found in the game's hidden dungeon.
Though this can just be considered as a normal cameo of sorts, a lot of fans are on edge ever since the "next re-imagination" message from Innocence R's ending.
Tales of Hearts was originally released for the Nintendo DS. Though it never reached US or EU shores, it really was one of the better games in the series. It makes me wonder a bit why Namco Bandai would attempt to remake something that's already good.
Anyway, this is a rumor for now until we can get more information.
We have a number of new screenshots and concept artwork for Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave today, as well as a couple of videos featuring Emil and Marta from Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World.
Videos:
Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave will be out for the PSP in Japan on February 23, 2012. Play-Asia now has pre-orders open for both the regular version and the premium box. The demo is also now available either from the PlayStation Network or the game's official site.
The Tales of Innocence R official site has released a special gameplay video featuring arena battles, in-game anime cutscenes and casual gameplay. A new set of school costumes will also be available starting February 2nd.
Here's the special gameplay video. You'll get to see one of the game's in-game animated cutscenes here, the usage of the Sorcerer's Ring, Milla's Mystic Arte and a funny little prank by Hermana:
The next set of DLC costumes features a school theme to be released this February 2, 2012. Just like the Tales and IdolMaster 2 costumes, the costumes will be available for a discounted price at 250 Yen until March 31st. After that, the costumes will be sold for their standard price at 300 Yen.
There will also be a new hair attachment set to be sold starting February 2nd for 100 Yen, where the characters will have strands of their hair standing up.
Also, to those who want the cheaper Asian Version of Tales of Innocence R, it's back up again in Play-Asia, but this time with a January 31st release.
Today marks the release of Tales of Innocence R for the PlayStation Vita, a remake, or more specifically, a "re-imagination" of the previous title originally for the Nintendo DS.
And as you know, the Japanese move fast. Some players have already finished their game. At the very ending of the game, this message shows up:
Basically, it seems Namco Bandai is hinting at another "Re-Imagination" of a previously released Tales game. The currently plausible ones include Tales of the Tempest and Tales of Hearts, whose heroes both show up in the Tales of Innocence R Adventure Drama (pre-order bonus) demanding an adventure in the PSVita as well. How about you guys? What Tales of game would you like to see a "re-imagination" of?
Also, to those who want the cheaper Asian Version of Tales of Innocence R, it's back up again in Play-Asia, but this time with a January 31st release. And if I'm recalling correctly... it also got a price increase. Typical.
It has just been by Mika Murakita (one of the Tales producers) via Twitter that the Tales of Innocence R demo is indeed coming out... tomorrow. And what is tomorrow? The game's release date.
Murakita-san explains a bit in her Tweet that the demo is for people who are having second thoughts about buying the game or those who won't be able to get it on day one. In other words, try the demo first to see if you'll like the game.
So yes, Tales of Innocence R will be released tomorrow, along with its demo. Some people in Japan even have the game already. Either the game actually has high demand, or Namco Bandai only printed few copies of the Asian version of the game because places like Play-Asia have run out of pre-order slots for them. The Japanese version is still available though.
Only a day away from Tales of Innocence R's release and the info still keeps on coming. This new scan reveals a lot of stuff today: The Mystic Arte cut-ins of two of the game's antagonists, Toro and Kuro (Sony Cat and his neighbor) cameos in the form of attachments, even more cameos from Tales of Hearts and some special goodies in the game's second playthrough.
The Hi-Ougi/Mystic Arte cut-ins shown in the scans are of Thitose Cxarma and Albert Grandeioza, two of the game's many antagonists. Their past lives, Sakuya and Himmel respectively, are also shown in their cut-ins.
Attachments of Toro and Kuro (a.k.a. the Sony Cat and his neighbor) have also been confirmed in the scan. These will also be announced in this week's Weekly Toro Station on January 27th. No date or price yet for these DLC.
Fans of Tales of Hearts will also love this bit of news. It was announced last month that Milla Maxwell from Tales of Xillia will be appearing in the game as a cameo battle in the arena. Milla is actually the cameo for just the singles battles. If players go through the party battles, they will come face to face with Kohak Hearts and Hisui Hearts.
And lastly, a few features shown once you reach your second playthrough of the game include some sort of unique and funny event Ruca and party will experience, as well as some costumes obtainable only during the second playthrough. What's shown in the scan is just a pajama set for Ruca, so I'm unsure if everyone gets pajamas or it would depend on the character.
And to those who missed them, you can download the full version of Innocence R's opening, New Day, New Life here. The karaoke/off-vocal version is also available here.
Vesperia's Genius Mage in figure form is just amazing! the details on her outfit and her accessories are captured quite well. Her pose looks like she just finished casting a spell. The base also looks like it's from one of Vesperia's dungeons. Like the previously released Yuri and Flynn, Rita also comes with an Overdrive Form of herself, an adorable Mini-Rita! More detailed pics can be seen in our gallery
She will be released sometime late June of this year and will be up for pre-order beginning January 25, 2012. She can be pre-ordered at Play-Asia by then.
In related news, ALTAiR (ALTER's line specializing in male figures) will be having a 3rd re-release for Yuri Lowell, pre-orders to again open also on January 25. For those who missed his first two releases, now is your chance! The re-release will also be on June 2012.
To those interested, ALTAiR's Luke fon Fabre is also up for pre-order. Luke will be released on April 2012.
The Tales of Innocence R Launch Event in Kotobukiya has just ended. Here's a rundown of what happened. Though it was mainly just cushions, cushions and more cushions.
UPDATE- A demo for the game has been confirmed, but no date yet on when, exactly. I kind of don't see the point of a demo 4 days before game release, though:
Ryuji Oodate-san came out wearing a Katamari Damacy hat. After talking a bit, he got off the platform to take it off anyway. Afterwards, the latest available trailer was shown again, followed by a little talk about the pre-order bonuses and the new characters: QQ and Kongwai.
Akiko Kimura and Saki Fujita, Ruca Milda's and QQ Selezneva's voice actors respectively, went up to talk about the game. Kimura-san mentions that the new opening theme song, New Day, New Life, really gives a great interpretation of how Ruca Milda feels throughout the game. A video of KOKIA talking about her new song and the game was shown after.
Kimura-san and Fujita-san held a live mini skit as Ruca and QQ. They talked about the game's beginning story, basically. QQ introduces herself and about how Ruca and party first meet her (when they were fighting a huge monster). QQ has this habit of hugging people (she hugs Ruca in the skit), but Ruca tells her to stop. She complains why Ruca (and Ricardo and Spada) always tells her to stop hugging people, because for her "hugging is a way of showing happiness", but Ruca says it's just too embarrasing.
They proceed to talk about Kongwai (and about how he's the only one QQ refuses to hug at all costs) and about his mysterious character and the whole thing about saving souls that Kongwai talks about. QQ complains he always talks with hard-to-understand words, but Ruca says he's been helpful anyway since he gave the party the Sorcerer's Ring.
Skit ends and Oodate-san and the rest are just talking about the new characters and the game. Kimura comments that since it's on the PSVita, it would be interesting to use its function to take screenshots whenever you meet a new character or something.
Starting today, Ruca and QQ cushion covers (the same ones shown before that was sold first during Tokyo Game Show 2011 but are now for sale in Lalabit Market, those that have a character's lines behind it) will be out on sale. Hasta was also popular enough to get a cushion cover. I checked Lalabit Market's Twitter though, and apparently they have cushions for all the main characters (plus Hasta, as mentioned). They also had a raffle for some of the Ruca and QQ cushion covers for the audience after the announcement (WHY CAN'T I BE THERE).
That was pretty much the bulk of the event. The closing remarks started with Oodate talking about the Tales social Mobage, Tales of Kizna, as well as Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave. Akiko Kimura thanks everyone for coming to the event, and mentions that it would be beautiful if Innocence R got its own anime and hopes for one. HOPES for, anyway. Saki Fujita mentions that she's really happy to be a part of a Tales game. The two voice actors exit after giving their goodbyes.
Lastly, Lalabit will be selling a sort of replica of Kongwai's book weapon, as well as what I think to be those books that contains the game info or game script? I'm not quite sure on that one.
Before actually ending, Oodate mentions the Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave demo again, which will be out on January 26th and will be featuring Ruca and Spada's story.
That is pretty much it. I guess the "small announcement" they talked about was either the cushions or the replica of Kongwai's book. "Small" announcements, indeed.
Tales of Innocence R will be released in Japan on January 26, 2012. Pre-orders for Tales of Innocence R are now open on Play-Asia: Japan Version | Asia Version
Pay a little visit to your local GameStop and you just might see some Tales of Graces F posters around. Tales of the Abyss 3DS gets something special, too. Thanks to Tales of Saku for sharing this.
UPDATE (01/23/2011): After a little researching and a small chat with some GameStop employees online, it seems this advertising for Tales of Graces F is paid for by Namco Bandai. However, there have been some reports about some GameStop/EB Games branches not putting up the posters either due to lack of space or, sadly, the store manager doesn't want to put it up.
Now, this might not exactly work the way we expect it, but it is worth a shot. As suggested by MizuJoshua, it would be great if those of you who live near GameStop stores would ask for the posters to actually be put up, in the case that they're not up. This would help spreading the word about Tales of Graces F and the Tales of Series in general. We're not forcing you or anything, though, but just give it a try.
This poster has been seen around some GameStop branches in North America. When asked, GameStop said that they would have more (and different) posters up by this Monday.
Tales of Graces F won't be the only Tales game getting some advertising. According to Tales of Saku, Tales of the Abyss 3DS will be getting a display box in the stores.
The original post on Tumblr by Tales of Saku is here. We'll post up more pictures people will share. For the heck of it XD. Others also said that not all GameStop's will put up the posters, as it still depends on the store manager. It would help to ask your local GameStop first, though.
A list of Tales of Series characters' voice actors that will be present in the upcoming Tales of Festival 2012 has been released.
Tales of Festival 2012 will be held on June 2 and 3, 2012 at the significantly huge Yokohama Arena, Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama City, Japan.
For Day 1 (June 2), the voice actors that will be present are:
Onosaka Masaya (Zelos Wilder - Tales of Symphonia) Katsuyuki Konishi (Lloyd Irving - Tales of Symphonia) Mai Nakahara (Estelle - Tales of Vesperia) Hikaru Midorikawa (Leon Magnus - Tales of Destiny) Soichiro Hoshi (Keele Zeibel - Tales of Eternia) Chihiro Suzuki (Luke fon Fabre - Tales of the Abyss) Takehito Koyasu (Jade Curtiss - Tales of the Abyss) Kaori Nazuka (Ange Serena - Tales of Innocence) Hiro Shimono (Emil Castagnier - Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World) Mamoru Miyano (Flynn Scifo - Tales of Vesperia) Yuki Horinaka (Elise - Tales of Xillia)
As for Day 2 (June 3):
Onosaka Masaya (Zelos Wilder - Tales of Symphonia) Takahiro Sakurai (Asbel Lhant - Tales of Graces) Kana Ueda (Pascal - Tales of Graces) Hikaru Midorikawa (Leon Magnus - Tales of Destiny) Katsuyuki Konishi (Lloyd Irving - Tales of Symphonia) Chihiro Suzuki (Luke fon Fabre - Tales of the Abyss) Yasunori Matsumoto (Guy Cecil - Tales of the Abyss) Kosuke Toriumi (Yuri Lowell - Tales of Vesperia) Tsubasa Yonaga (Jude Mathis - Tales of Xillia) Miyuki Sawashiro (Milla Maxwell - Tales of Xillia) Tomokazu Sugita (Alvin - Tales of Xillia)
It's kind of surprising that there is only one Tales of Innocence (R) voice actor in the list, but I guess they can still add more people. The site said the list is still subject to change.
Tickets for the event are being sold for 8,800 Yen (S Seats) and 6,800 Yen (A Seats). Premium Seats will also be available starting February. Check here for the arena's layout. However, those who will pre-order either Tales of Innocence R or Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave will obtain a product code of sorts that will be used for a raffle where you can win tickets to the event. As mentioned before during Jump Festa 2012, Namco Bandai will be giving away 500 pairs of tickets in that raffle.
In this week's Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave videos, the official site has put up the character introduction videos for Team Destiny, as well as three new Game System videos on basic gameplay, Hi-Ougis/Mystic Artes and Special Actions.
Team Destiny (Stahn Aileron and Leon Magnus):
Basic Gameplay:
Hi-Ougis/Mytic Artes:
Special Actions:
Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave will be out for the PSP in Japan on February 23, 2012. Play-Asia now has pre-orders open for both the regular version and the premium box.
Abyssal Chronicles is a Tales of Series fansite owned by a745 and sukotsuto. This site is online for entertainment and informative purposes only and is not, in any way, associated with the game company. The Tales of Series belongs to Namco Bandai Games Incorporated.
Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave will be out for the PSP in Japan on February 23, 2012. Play-Asia now has pre-orders open for both 
