Tales of Vesperia and Martin Blinder: Difference between pages

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Difference between pages)
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Undid revision 244270048 by 71.184.81.103 (talk)
 
m Stub-sorting. You can help!
 
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Martin Blinder''', M.D. is a [[forensic]] [[psychiatrist]] and the author of ''Psychiatry in the Everyday Practice of Law''. Blinder is noted for his testimony in the [[1979]] trial of [[Dan White]]. In that trial, Blinder testified that White was suffering from depression and pointed to several behavioral symptoms of that depression, including the fact that White had gone from being highly health-conscious to consuming sugary foods and drinks such as [[Twinkies]] and [[Coca-Cola]]. A remark by Blinder that the sugar might have worsened such a depression was widely reported as a claim that the sugar had contributed to the depression, giving rise to the derisive label, the [[Twinkie defense]], for defendants' claims that an unusual biological factor contributed to their motivation to commit a crime.
{{Infobox VG
|title = Tales of Vesperia
|image = [[Image:ToV Cover.jpg|Game cover|250px]]
|developer = [[Namco Tales Studio]]
|publisher = [[Namco Bandai Games]]
|designer = [[Kōsuke Fujishima]] (Character design)<br />Yoshito Higuchi (Chief director, producer)<br />[[Motoi Sakuraba]] (Composer)
|engine =
|released = {{vgrelease|JP=[[August 7]], [[2008]]<ref name="releasedategamespot">{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/talesofvesperia/similar.html?mode=versions | title=Tales of Vesperia | publisher=CNET | work=Gamespot | accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>}} {{vgrelease|NA=[[August 26]] [[2008]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Tales of Vesperia | publisher=Namco Bandai | url=http://www.namcobandaigames.com/games/talesofvesperia/ | accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>}} {{vgrelease|EU=[[Spring]] [[2009]]<ref>[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/880/880407p1.html IGN: Xbox 360 RPG Press Conference Live Blog<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>}}
|series = ''[[Tales (role-playing game series)|Tales]]''
|genre = [[Console role-playing game]]
|modes = [[Single Player]], [[multiplayer]] cooperative
|ratings = {{vgratings|CERO=Ages 12 and over (B)|ESRB=Teen (T)}}
|platforms = [[Xbox 360]]
|media = [[DVD]]
|requirements =
|input = [[Gamepad]]
}}

{{nihongo|'''''Tales of Vesperia'''''|テイルズ オブ ヴェスペリア|Teiruzu obu Vesuperia}} is the tenth mothership title in the ''[[Tales (role-playing game series)|Tales]]'' series. It was developed by [[Namco Tales Studio]] and published by [[Namco Bandai Games]] exclusively for the [[Xbox 360]]. The title was announced on [[December 22]], [[2007]] at [[Jump Festa]], and was released on [[August 7]], [[2008]] in [[Japan]] and [[Asia]], and on [[August 26]], [[2008]] in [[North America]]. It is set for release in Spring [[2009]] in [[Europe]]. ''Tales of Vesperia's'' characteristic genre name is {{nihongo|'''''To Enforce One's "Justice" RPG'''''|「正義」を貫き通すRPG|"Seigi" o tsuranukitōsu RPG}}. The game's character designer is [[Kōsuke Fujishima]], the chief director and producer is Yoshito Higuchi (who previously worked on both ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]'' and ''[[Tales of the Abyss]]''), and the animated movies were done by [[Production I.G]]. The game's [[Theme music|theme song]] is {{nihongo|"Kane o Narashite"|鐘を鳴らして}} in the Japanese release, and "Ring a Bell" in the North American release, both by [[Bonnie Pink]].<ref>[http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3167430 1UP Tales of Vesperia News: Bonnie Pink Sings Tales of Vesperia Themes]</ref>

It was confirmed on [[GameSpot]] that ''Vesperia'' will be exclusively for the [[Xbox 360]].<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/news/6186789.html Namco Bandai spinning Wii, 360 Tales - Wii News at GameSpot<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> A special limited edition was also released in North America, including a metal case with unique cover art and a 22-track soundtrack.<ref>[http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/896/896502p1.html IGN: Tales of Vesperia Gets Special<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Gameplay==
===Battle system===
''Tales of Vesperia'' uses an improved and evolved version of ''[[Tales of the Abyss]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s battle system, called the "Evolved Flex-Range Linear Motion Battle System" (EFR-LMBS). As with previous ''Tales'' games, characters can move freely around the battlefield to combat their enemies in real-time.

An added aspect to the game's world is the "Encounter Linking" system. Should a particular enemy within the current battle session spot a roaming enemy walking about the field, the roaming enemy will also join the current battle. Also returning from previous ''Tales'' games are "surprise encounters." Like in ''Tales of the Abyss'', a surprise encounter rearranges the active party when taken into battle. ''Tales of Vesperia'' also makes use of "Secret Missions," special tasks or challenges that can be completed during boss fights for certain rewards.

Returning from ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]'' and ''Tales of the Abyss'' is the "Overlimit." Similar to ''Tales of the Abyss'' it is in the form of a visible gauge, but it comes in the form of a single bar that can be spread out among the party, or "stacked" up to four different levels to give more powerful effects when used for a single character. Another new feature is Burst Artes, powerful attacks performed while in overlimit and using an arcane arte or a spell change. Depending on the Overlimit level, the amount of time increases, allowing players to add in more combos. As with previous ''Tales'' games, characters are able to pull off powerful hi-ougis. Characters also have "Fatal Strikes," attacks capable of defeating their enemies with one strike. The attacks are performed through a series of select button combinations.

===Recurring features===
As in previous entries, ''Tales of Vesperia'' features an arena where the player can battle a number of enemies for prizes. In the arena, one chosen character will have to challenge two hundred monsters. After enough monsters are defeated, the battle with the next contender is unlocked. The four contenders are: Dhaos (voiced by [[Toshiyuki Morikawa]] in Japanese and [[Patrick Seitz]] in English), the final boss of ''[[Tales of Phantasia]]''; Shizel (voiced by [[Kazue Ikura]]), from ''[[Tales of Eternia]]''; Barbatos (voiced by [[Norio Wakamoto]]), from ''[[Tales of Destiny 2]]''; and Kratos (voiced by [[Fumihiko Tachiki]] in Japanese), a playable character in ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]''.

Vesperia also includes character costumes, which are dependent on the various titles that characters have obtained throughout the game. Equipping various accessories will also grant the same effect as the costume titles. ''Tales of Vesperia'' also includes skits, short optional conversations that further character or plot development. Unlike the English release of ''[[Tales of the Abyss]]'', skits in the English release of ''Tales of Vesperia'' are fully voiced by the English voice actors.

===Skill system===
''Tales of Vesperia'' introduces a new skill system to the series. They are found and used through equipment. Through fighting battles, characters gain Learning Points, which are assigned to all currently unlearned skills. When enough Learning Points are acquired, that character learns the skills. Learned skills can be equipped on a character without having the associated weapon equipped, but then they use up a certain number of Skill Points (SP), which are gained through leveling up. Through skills, characters are also capable of "Skill Changes," artes or spells that are created when a certain skill is equipped and a certain arte is used. Through using a Skill Change enough times, the character learns that arte or spell and is capable of using it without a Skill Change.

===Online component===
The game doesn't contain online multiplayer or competitive battles, but it does contain online leaderboards for things such as highest combo and minigame scores. The game also has downloadable content for items that are difficult to acquire in-game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3167420&p=4|title=Previews: Tales of Vesperia|publisher=1UP.com|date=2008-04-16|accessdate=2008-07-30}}</ref>

==Story==
===Setting===
''Tales of Vesperia'' takes place on the planet Terca Lumireis. The people of Terca Lumireis have come to rely on "blastia", an ancient civilization's technology with a wide array of capabilities, such as providing water, powering ships, or creating barriers around major cities and towns to protect them from monsters. The Imperial Knights and Guild members also use "bodhi blastia" to enhance their abilities in combat. The blastia are created from a substance called "aer" that lends its power to the blastia's ability, but can be fatal to humans in large concentrations.

===Characters===
The main protagonist of the story is {{nihongo|'''Yuri Lowell'''|ユーリ・ローウェル|Yūri Rōweru}}, a former member of the Imperial Knights who was discontent with the way the Empire treated its citizens, and is willing to help those in need. He is always accompanied by {{nihongo|'''Repede'''|ラピード|Rapīdo}}, an intelligent dog with old battle wounds and smokes a pipe. Yuri and Repede eventually join up with {{nihongo|'''Estellise Sidos Heurassein'''|エステリーゼ・シデス・ヒュラッセイン|Esuterīze Shidesu Hyurassein}}, {{nihongo|'''Estelle'''|エステル|Esuteru}} for short, who is an heir to the Empire throne but has not set foot outside the capital, {{nihongo|'''Karol Capel'''|カロル・カペル|Karoru Kaperu}}, an eager young member of the Guilds, {{nihongo|'''Rita Mordio'''|リタ・モルディオ|Rita Morudio}}, a blastia researcher, {{nihongo|'''Raven'''|レイヴン|Reivun}}, an older and laid-back Guildmember and later revealed to be a Captain of the Imperial Knights, and {{nihongo|'''Judith'''|ジュディス|Judisu}}, a member of {{nihongo|Kritya|クリティア|Kuritia}} tribe who has knowledge of the dangers of blastia and has attempted to stop them, initially appearing as a nameless dragon rider. Along the way, the group works with Yuri's and Estelle's friend in the Imperial Knights, {{nihongo|'''Flynn Scifo'''|フレン・シーフォ|Furen Shīfo}}, to help deal with problems across the land.

The group encounters several antagonists during the game. {{nihongo|'''Zagi'''|ザギ|Zagi}}, a frenzied young man, holds an unexplained grudge against Yuri, thinking him to be Flynn, throughout the game, interfering at inappropriate times. {{nihongo|'''Alexei'''|アレクセイ|Arekusei}} is a high-ranking member of the Knights and is maneuvering events throughout the story to his own ends. Assisting him is guildmember {{nihongo|'''Yeager'''|イエガー|Iegā}}, along with his subordinates {{nihongo|'''Gauche'''|ゴーシュ|Gōshu}} and {{nihongo|'''Droite'''|ドロワット|Dorowatto}}. Though initially assisting the group, {{nihongo|'''Duke'''|デューク|Dyūku}}, a war hero, is also attempting to drive events to a certain conclusion, with his aide to the group as part of his plan.

===Plot===
When the aque blastia is stolen from the capital city's lower quarter, denying water to the lower class that lives there, Yuri attempts to chase down the thief, finding himself in the castle. There, he encounters Estelle, who is looking to escape the castle under Flynn's protection, but decides to go with Yuri instead. The two, along with Repede, follow both Flynn's and the thief's travels across the land, meeting Karol and Rita, the latter who takes great interest in Estelle's healing artes. They are able to catch up with the thief and recover the blastia, turning it over to Flynn to return to the city, while Yuri ends up meeting and working with Judith to stop the thief. As the group recovers, Rita discovers that Estelle does not actually use her blastia to cast healing artes. Estelle comes to learn that she is the Child of the Full Moon, and an omen for impending disaster to the planet.

Judith leads the group to the home of the Krytia, who explain that the Child of the Full Moon, if used as a tool, could bring forth Adephagos, a being that feeds of aer and would convert all life on the planet back into pure aer due to their use of blastia; the group is encouraged to kill Estelle as soon as possible to prevent this from happening. As the group comes to terms with the revelation, Raven steals Estelle and takes her to Alexei. Alexei is able to take control of Estelle's power, preventing the group from killing her, and is able to summon forth the Shrine of Zaude from her power. Before Yuri can slay him, Alexei damages the huge blastia at the top of the Shrine, which causes Adephagos to break through a shield surrounding the planet and send tentacle-like appendages across the planet. As the group recovers, Duke appears to state his intention to help destroy the Adephagos by using the life force of all the humans.

The group comes up with strategy for stopping the disaster but at a cost; by creating spirits of the elements, they will be able to convert all the blastia in the world to an energy weapon that can destroy Adephagos. The group decides to push forward with the plan and work their way through a large shrine that Duke has activated, meeting Duke at the top. The group is able to defeat Duke, and Yuri attempts to convince him that all humans are willing to give up blastia to stop Adephagos. Duke recognizes Yuri's honesty and assists the group; the combined power of the spirits and the converted blastia slide Adephagos in two and destroy it. The world is able to recover and rebuild, now relying on their own technology instead of that of the blastia.

==Audio==
===Music===
''Tales of Vesperia'''s [[soundtrack]] was mostly composed by [[Motoi Sakuraba]]. [[Bonnie Pink]] performed the game's opening song, Ring a Bell both in English and in Japanese.

===Voice actors===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Character
!Japanese seiyū
!English voice actor
|-
!Yuri Lowell
|[[Kosuke Toriumi]]
|[[Troy Baker]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAYFI24z4CQ|title=Announcing Troy Baker as Yuri|publisher=Youtube|date=2008-08-09|accessdate=2008-07-30}}</ref>
|-
!Estellise Sidos Heurassein
|[[Mai Nakahara]]
|[[Hynden Walch]]
|-
!Repede
|[[Makoto Ishii]]
|Unknown
|-
!Rita Mordio
|[[Rika Morinaga]]
|[[Michelle Ruff]]
|-
!Karol Capel
|[[Kumiko Watanabe]]
|[[Julie Ann Taylor]]
|-
!Judith
|[[Aya Hisakawa]]
|[[Lara Jill Miller]]
|-
!Raven
|[[Eiji Takemoto]]
|[[Joe J Thomas (actor)|Joe J Thomas]]
|-
!Clint
|[[Yuji Takada]]
|[[Travis Willingham]]
|-
!Tison
|[[Ryuuzou Hasuike]]
|[[David Vincent (actor)|David Vincent]]
|-
!Nan
|[[Saeko Chiba]]
|[[Wendee Lee]]
|-
!Flynn Scifo
|[[Mamoru Miyano]]
|[[Sam Riegel]]
|-
!Yeager
|[[Mitsuo Iwata]]
|[[Spike Spencer]]
|-
!Gauche
|[[Satomi Arai]]
|[[Stephanie Sheh]]
|-
!Droite
|[[Miki Nagasawa]]
|[[Julie Ann Taylor]]
|-
!Zagi
|[[Akio Suyama]]
|[[Vic Mignogna]]
|-
!Alexei
|[[Jūrōta Kosugi]]
|[[D.C. Douglas]]
|-
!Duke
|[[Rikiya Koyama]]
|[[Jamieson Price]]
|-
!Cumore
|[[Kenji Nojima]]
|[[Liam O'Brien]]
|-
!Don Whitehorse
|[[Osamu Hosoi]]
|[[David Lodge]]
|-
!Schwann
|[[Eiji Takemoto]]
|[[Joe J Thomas (actor)|Joe J Thomas]]
|-
!Sodia
|N/A
|[[Kate Higgins]]
|-
!Witcher
|N/A
|[[Wendee Lee]]
|-
!Time Traveler ([[Dhaos]])
|[[Toshiyuki Morikawa]]
|[[Patrick Seitz]]
|-
!Sorrowful Queen of Darkness (Shizel)
|[[Kazue Ikura]]
|N/A
|-
!Killer of Heroes ([[Barbatos Goetia]])
|[[Norio Wakamoto]]
|[[JB Blanc]]
|-
!Traitor to Heaven ([[Kratos Aurion]])
|[[Fumihiko Tachiki]]
|[[Cam Clarke]]
|-
|}

==Reception==
{{VG Reviews|title =Reviews|EGM=B+<ref>{{cite journal|author=Andrew Fitch|year=2008|month=October|title=A traditional triumph?|journal=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=233|pages=86|issn=1058-918X}}</ref>}}
''[[Famitsu]]'' awarded ''Tales of Vesperia'' a score of 9/9/9/8, totaling 35/40.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.n4g.com/News-177099.aspx|title=Latest Famitsu Review Score,Tales of Vesperia get 35/40, Fatal Frame IV get 34/40|publisher=N4G.com|accessdate=2008-07-30}}</ref> Hardcore Gamer gave the game a 4 out of 5, praising the game for its anime-style graphics.<ref>{{cite web| title=Hardcore Gamer: Tales of Vesperia Review| publisher=Hardcore Gamer | url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/index.php?option=com_magazine&id_rubrique=1&type=article&id_article=190| date=| accessdate=2008-08-19}}</ref> [[GameSpot]] gave it an 8.5/10, stating that "''Tales of Vesperia'' is the best game yet in the series."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/talesofvesperia/review.html|title=Tales of Vesperia for Xbox 360 Review|author=Kevin VanOrd|publisher=GameSpot|date=2008-08-26|accessdate=2008-08-31}}</ref> While they criticized the visuals as being a little inconsistent, [[IGN]] gave it an 8.2/10, stating "Tales of Vesperia is a strong anime-style Japanese RPG with a wide- ranging story, compelling characters and an intense real-time battle system that keeps you on your toes."<ref>{{cite web|title=Tales of Vesperia Review|url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/902/902269p2.html|publisher=IGN|author=Ryan Geddes|date=2008-08-22|accessdate=2008-08-31}}</ref> Game Informer gave the game a rating of 7.25, stating that while the game looks wonderful and had solid gameplay, the story is not very unique and can bog down an otherwise good game. <ref>http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/5EA9B0F4-3BA9-4C60-B932-089EB1FF6032.htm?CS_pid=200491</ref>

Since its release in Japan, the game has sold around 140,000 copies according to ''[[Famitsu]]'' numbers.{{Fact|date=August 2008}} The launch of ''Tales of Vesperia'' in Japan caused the Xbox 360 to sell out.<ref>http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=8909</ref>


==References==
==References==
* {{cite news | first = Carol | last = Pogash | title = Myth of the 'Twinkie defense' | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/11/23/INGRE343501.DTL | work = [[San Francisco Chronicle]] | page = D-1 | date = [[2003-11-23]] | accessdate = 2007-05-04}}
{{Reflist}}
* [http://www.snopes.com/legal/twinkie.htm Snopes: The Twinkie Defense]
* [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/05/20/MN44035.DTL&hw=final+witness&sn=001&sc=1000 Three part 2001 SF Chronicle series on Martin Blinder's personal/professional life]


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://martinblindermd.com/ Martin Blinder]
*[http://namco-ch.net/talesofvesperia/ Official Japanese Site]
*[http://www.namcobandaigames.com/games/talesofvesperia/ Official American Site]
*[http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360/53875/info.shtml ''Tales of Vesperia'' Page]
*[http://www.talesbrigade.com Official Tales Series Enthusiast Community]
{{Tales series}}

[[Category:Tales series|Vesperia, Tales of]]
[[Category:2008 video games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360 games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360-only games]]
[[Category:Kōsuke Fujishima]]


{{Med-bio-stub}}
[[fr:Tales of Vesperia]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blinder, Martin}}
[[ja:テイルズオブヴェスペリア]]
[[Category:Psychiatrists]]

Revision as of 17:16, 11 October 2008

Martin Blinder, M.D. is a forensic psychiatrist and the author of Psychiatry in the Everyday Practice of Law. Blinder is noted for his testimony in the 1979 trial of Dan White. In that trial, Blinder testified that White was suffering from depression and pointed to several behavioral symptoms of that depression, including the fact that White had gone from being highly health-conscious to consuming sugary foods and drinks such as Twinkies and Coca-Cola. A remark by Blinder that the sugar might have worsened such a depression was widely reported as a claim that the sugar had contributed to the depression, giving rise to the derisive label, the Twinkie defense, for defendants' claims that an unusual biological factor contributed to their motivation to commit a crime.

References

  • Pogash, Carol (2003-11-23). "Myth of the 'Twinkie defense'". San Francisco Chronicle. p. D-1. Retrieved 2007-05-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  • Snopes: The Twinkie Defense
  • Three part 2001 SF Chronicle series on Martin Blinder's personal/professional life

External links

Stub icon

This biographical article related to medicine is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tales_of_Vesperia&oldid=244600087"