[PS2]
Official Site: http://ar-tonelico.jp/at2/
Title: Ar Tonelico 2: Sekai ni Hibiku Shoujotachi no Metafalica (アルトネリコ２　世界に響く少女たちの創造詩（メタファリカ))
Platform: Playstation 2 (JP)
Game Release Date: Available Now

Ar Tonelico 2, developed by Gust in collaboration with Banpresto continues the story from its first series. The gameplay gets more complex, exciting and is now packed with a much more richer, or rather longer story as compared to its predecessor.

The intro in the game

[Key Highlights]
One of the key unique features of Ar Tonelico is the soundtrack and the hymnos (which is also a feature of the game). The previous hymno tellers are in the sequel as well to continue their hymnos singing for the game’s reyvatails (RT). Akiko Shikata, Haruka Shimotsuki, Noriko Mitose and Yuuko Ishibashi are the ones who will be doing the hymnos for the RTs.

The seiyuu for the game’s characters pack a punch as well and if you are someone who are familiar of voices from those popular animes, you will recognize a few of them immediately in the game. Here is a general breakdown on the 3 main characters in AT2.

Luca Truelywaath (瑠珈（ルカ）・トゥルーリーワース) - Koshimizu Ami (Nina in Mai Otome, Nanaka in Myself;Yourself, Sakura Sae in sola, etc.) *

Chroche Latel Pastalie (クローシェ・レーテル・パスタリエ) - Sawashiro Miyuki (Shinku in Rozen Maiden, Aruru in Utawarerumono, Mint in Galaxy Angel series, etc)

Kuroa Bateru (クロア・バーテル) - Yusa Koji (Isley in Claymore, Ichimaru Gin in Bleach, Vincent Law in Ergo Proxy, etc)

The game uses animated cutscenes as special moves, hymnos spells and also in certain parts of the story to tell the tale of the story, making it a very interesting factor to the game.

Trailer video which consists of features like animated cut scenes, synchronized spells

[Story in brief] ** I am not that good in Japanese, it is to the best of my knowledge and also with some help from external sources

Taking place in A.D. 3772, the story revolves around a 2nd tower known as Sol Marta which is said to represent, Frelia, a goddess. In this world, an epidemic known as the I.P.D (Infel Phila Dependency) is said to infect the minds of the Reyvatails causing them to go berserk and making them as dangerous enemies when encountered. The knights of Pastalia have a mission which is to contain the spread of the epidemic by defeating them. With such a purge going on, it is no doubt that some dislike the knights.

The story merges from various aspects of the characters along with the unravellings of the mysteries behind the world they live in which eventually forms the epic tale in Ar Tonelico 2. The story spans a total of 5 chapters (known as Phases in the game) which is much more epic as compared to its predecessor which has only 3 chapters.

Gameplay battle against IPD Reyvateils

[Gameplay]

Gameplay in Ar Tonelico 2 is now more complex and exciting than its predecessor. Those who complained that AT1 is very much like Atelier Iris in terms of gameplay will most likely be surprised by the sequel. Battles are now very much reflex based and those with bad reflexes will find themselves dying pretty much easily in the game as defense against the enemy requires good reflexes (see video above)

Diving into your reyvatails is now a much more important feature in the game and in fact, affects your ending in AT2. Yes, no more blind clicking of your controller :P Dive Points are now very important and in fact the requirement appears much more than its predecessor and the wrong option chosen will boot you out of the Cosmosphere.

Hymnos attack are now more interesting, graphics are now more intensive and the dual hymnos is possible in the game which requires the player to sync the hymns during gameplay. When the mode is activated, some intensive damage can be inflicted upon the enemy.

Leveling up of your reyvateils are now not possible with battle as their method of gaining abilities and level can only be done by “bathing” them with the crystals. Higher level crystals will allow them to gain extra abilities and enhancing them.

oOgA’s personal comments

I have always been a fan of such RPG games, especially when there is anime kind of effects and cutscenes involved and since I like visual novels style of story telling, Ar Tonelico is like the best of both worlds and to add on that, such soundtracks will make me love the game even more. so, what can I say ? It is the best of all the worlds that I like :P (crap eh? )

Ar Tonelico 2 is definitely a good addition to the RPG collection for the Playstation 2. With the Playstation 3 dawning upon us, it is no doubt that AT2 outshines some RPGs where story is more important than graphics. AT2 is eye candy in an alternate sense, if you get what I mean. :P

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replika IPD activated with Kokona’s EX skill

a showcase of various EX skills by the melee fighters