White Knight Chronicles is an epic fantasy tale of two kingdoms, in the midst of a protracted war. The King of Balandor, in hopes of ending the war, the Duke de Faria invited to his castle to celebrate their coming of age girl. But this conclusion is sabotaged by the Magi, a rogue sect trying to steal the white horse, an ancient weapon of war Balandor sealed beneath the castle to take over the world. During the ensuing chaos, a young man named Leonard accidentally opens the power of the white knight in his attempt to save the princess. With this power, Leonard managed to dodge the attacks of men, but not before escaping with the princess. With the kingdom into chaos, Leonard was given the task of finding the Magi and save the princess. With the help of his faithful companions, through Balandor and beyond a quest to save the Princess before the Magi unlock the other knights. The trip is very dangerous with mages warriors at every step, the powers of fantasy creatures and monsters in battle, and can not be revealed. As you learn more about the power of Leonard Knight, she realizes that the unsealing could trigger a disaster that could end the world .
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #797 in Video GamesBrand: SonyModel: 98146Published on: 2010-02Released on: 2010-02-02ESRB Rating: TeenPlatform: PLAYSTATION 3Number of items: 1Dimensions: .58" h x 5.20" w x 6.72" l, .25 pounds
Features
Online multiplayer communication features including voice chat, live talk allowing characters to have side conversations, camera functionality via Crystal Camera and the online GeoNet portal.Devastating transformation abilities allowing players to change into the giant White Knight, gaining the ability to challenge large enemies, as well as troops of soldiers throughout the adventure.An accessible turn-based combat system allowing the player to control and optimize the attacks and abilities of a four character quest, including a fully customizable avatar character.50+ exclusive disc based online side quests allowing you to quest cooperatively with up to 3 other players to gain extra gear and experience. Additional quests will be available in the future.Georama lobby creation functionality allowing the building of a persistent online village usable as an multiplayer game lobby, or as a location for others to visit and/or marketplace for in-game items.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description
White Knight Chronicles International Edition is a Japanese RPG (role-playing game) which allows players to explore an expansive and exciting world of turn-based combat, adventure and comradery A PlayStation 3 exclusive, it was created by noted Japanese RPG game developer Level-5 and features both single player and online multiplayer action, the awesome power to assume the shape of the White Knight, the ability to build a persistent online town/lobby, communication via online blogs, message boards and quest logs, voice chat and beautiful game environments. 
Unleash the power of the White Knight.
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Character customization options.
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An accessible turn-based battle system.
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Exciting RPG action with 4-player online support.
View larger. | Story
The story of White Knight Chronicles is set in the fictional Kingdom of Balandor and follows the adventures of a boy named Leonard who realizes his role in a drama started thousands of years in the past. Working in the proximity of the palace, Leonard stumbles on a plot to kidnap the enigmatic Princess Cisna. As he helps her escape he also becomes aware of his connection to a transformative power which allows him to take on the ancient shape, and harness the devastating power of the White Knight. Yet there are other elements at work here as well, including the forces of an evil wizard with powers that stretch back to the same ancient times which produced the White Knight. With the help of his friends and the power of the White Knight, these are the forces that Leonard will have to face in his quests. Gameplay
White Knight Chronicles is a Japanese RPG (JRPG) centered around a turn-based battle system in a local single player story-driven campaign that is supported by online multiplayer functionality. Gameplay questing occurs from a third-person perspective and follows Leonard and up to three other AI companions, which can include the customizable character that players assume in multiplayer mode. Once quest members are assembled, players utilize the strengths of the overall group as a whole, and are able to switch between characters at will. Combat being turn-based, players must be able to cue up and control the actions of each character in quick sequence for each combat scenario faced. The game facilitates this via the Function Palette, located in its Battle Preparation menu, allowing players to prepare in advance a series of commands for each character to carry out. These can involve magic or weapons use and can be merged into combos. Multiple palettes can be saved, making it possible to optimize actions for specific types of enemies, and making for quick changing of commands. As with any RPG, throughout quests players accumulate experience which allows their character to level up, purchase items and abilities and generally grow stronger with an eye towards besting the increasingly challenging creatures, bosses and situations faced. Online Multiplayer
Along with a compelling single player campaign, White Knight Chronicles also contains an exciting online multiplayer component. Within this, up to four players can engage in more than 50 multiplayer quests, with each player creating their own unique customizable character which can be leveled up in a combined group effort, and take advantage of created items and new skills. Although unique to the online game mode, which is designed for multiplayer action, these quests can also be played alone if players wish. In addition to this functionality available in the online multiplayer mode also includes a variety of ways to interact with the wider White Knight Chronicles community on the PlayStation 3 platform. Included in this is town building through the Georama functionality, which allows players to construct a town to their own specifications that can be populated offline with characters from throughout the single player campaign and then taken online where it serves as a base for quests hosted by players, as well as a persistent online location that other players can visit and buy items your town's population has for sale. The game also offers an online interface known as GeoNet that allows players to communicate with others via blogs, forums, quest logs and voice chat functionality, as well as post snapshots from their journeys using the Crystal Camera in-game tool. Key Game Features White Knight Transformation - During single player combat players can transform into the giant White Knight, gaining the ability to challenge large enemies as well as troops of soldiers throughout the adventure. The Customizable Avatar Character - Using a wide array of sliders and customization options, players are able to create a unique character that can join the adventure in single player mode as well as online. Combo Battle System - Engage in an accessible, active turn-based battle system that caters to players of all levels allowing both default attack settings and a system for for maximum damage. JRPG (Japanese RPG) Action for PS3 - Experience true JRPG action on PS3 that incorporates a variety of online gameplay elements. Beautiful Environments - Players traverse through 13 stages, as well as visit up to six towns/villages to visit and purchase items at shops or interact with NPCs. Stages include lush fields, open desert, vast wastelands, tunnels, and ruins. Multiple Playable Characters - Six playable characters are available, with up to three controllable characters on the screen at the same time. Build Special Weapons and Items - Combine different weapons and items to create a huge variety of weapons. Quests Galore - Engage in 50+ unique online side quests in which players can gain special items along with unique weapons and armor. Town Building - Build an online village for your character where you can invite friends to complete quests online and purchase unique items and gear. GeoNet - Through the online component, players have the ability to write their own blogs, communicate with other players via voice chat and more. Take Snapshots with Crystal Camera - With Crystal Camera functionality players can take pictures during their journeys which can be shared with other players via their GeoNet page.
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Customer Reviews
Pretty average solo, great online
Graphics-
It's no surprise by looking at numerous videos and screen-captures of this game that it's a far cry from cutting edge. The overall technical level of the graphics is either showing its age or they took a hit by having such expansive and large set pieces and characters. That isn't to say they're awful though. Each individual looking at this game will likely have to evaluate what they demand in terms of graphics from a game. I personally would call them passable because while they aren't astonishing the locations of the game are interesting to look at and the enemies and characters you'll meet are appropriate to their settings and fun. Character and attack animations while mostly understated still manage to be engaging and entertaining with spells being the most impressive of the bunch.
Sound-
The music thus far has been strictly average. At times I feel as though I have a pack of bards tailing me because the majority of the songs I've heard having that kind of simple village music sound to them, flutes with little boisterous drive to get the blood boiling. The voice overs aren't too bad, none of the characters are particularly irritating in cut scenes or battles but the timing does suffer from the typical Japanese to English dub syncing issues. Overall I'd say everything works on a functional level but it does little inspire the player like a very good score sometimes can.
Combat-
Battles play out with a bit of a blend between turn based RPG standards with a touch of MMORPG. Before battles you can set up action bars by placing acquired skills in to slots. During a fight you will have a circular timer count up and when full you can select an action from your preselected set to use. At the very start of the game it seems painfully slow due to few options for skills and the likelihood that you don't fully understand how the system works. As you get more attacks, build combos, and balance your load-out to your liking though it becomes much more enjoyable. One could for example play a mage with little to no armor wielding a dagger and they'd get turns much faster than a heavily armored melee fighter but the obvious trade off is that they become a bit of a glass cannon by trading defense for speed. I think there's a lot of not so obvious depth to the combat which makes it rather enjoyable for me. Granted it isn't a system everybody will enjoy and criticisms against it I feel have been fair from reading other reviews.
Enemies-
The enemies themselves seem to come in two flavors, big and small. Small enemies are pretty much what you would expect, find what hurts them and hurt them with it. Collect your spoils, wash, rinse, repeat. The bigger enemies however are much more fun to fight and offer more nuanced ways of defeating them. Early on you'll be fighting trolls for example. Trolls have 4 targetable zones, their 2 legs, the belly, and their head. You can defeat the enemy just by hitting it anywhere, it doesn't really matter, but you can grant you and your party opportunities by exploiting the enemy's weakness. In the case of a troll for example you can shoot out their legs to prevent them from attacking briefly all the while granting your party an increased chance to hit by way of lowering the troll's evasion. Another option in the single player mode is using the namesake White Knight to put the fight a little more in to proportion but still fundamentally the same. There's a lot of variety in this sense though. You'll encounter a limited number of archetypes for the bigger enemies but exploring these alternative and tactical ways of defeating them is both fun and rewarding as I believe attacking certain body parts can yield certain drops a la Monster Hunter (speculation).
Skills and Character Progression-
Leveling is pretty typical for the most part, kill a bunch of stuff and complete quests to accrue enough experience to advance a level. Upon leveling up in addition to a base increase to various stats you are awarded 4 skill points. These points can be used in several different specialties to grant abilities and stat bonuses to your character. Each individual specialty has 50 things to buy so with 8 trees you're looking at 400 possible purchases, of which I'd say about 80% are skills the remaining 20% being stat bonuses (guestimates). Needless to say that's a pretty adequate repertoire to choose from. Individual characters may more or less select from any set but certain story characters are locked out of certain sets. Your self created "avatar" is open to choose from them all though. From what I've read, but I can neither confirm or deny at this juncture, is that your created character is also given a chance for a re-specialization (or respec as we nerds call it) at level 50 and following the completion of the story mode. This respec supposedly bumps you back to level 35, refunds all of your skill points, and rewards you with 40 additional bonus points. This can be done upwards of 4 times. All things considered it's a very flexible system with a lot of possible appeal to min/maxers by having the ability to dip in to multiple trees. By about level 22 I had "maxed" a single set so those simply going through story mode I imagine will be looking at going fully in to 2 trees or maybe touching base in 2-4.
Combos-
I just wanted to briefly address the combo system. After gaining some skills you can freely make your own combos using those skills. The advantage to a combo is that it allows you to unload several powerful attacks given a single turn counter but they also are costly in terms of battle resources. In battle you have typical MP which various abilities use, not just magic, and then you also have "Action Chips" which for lack of a better way of putting it is effectively a super bar. So a combo will typically have a pretty steep MP/AC cost but again this is pretty flexible depending on how many and which skills you build the combo with. Having a good spammable combo is just as viable as having a devastating nuke.
The White Knight-
The White Knight is a mechanic of the story and doesn't exist in the online mode. The main character may transform in to the White Knight at will (space permitting) and may stay in the form for as long as he has MP. Each attack the Knight uses depletes Leonard's MP and once drained he reverts to his normal form. Your other party members are allowed to fight alongside the White Knight and as you progress through the game, and Leonard develops, you will acquire equipment for the Knight which boosts the combat abilities of your party members in the presence of the Knight. The Knight also gets a baseline increase in fighting power as Leonard progresses ranging from skills to stats.
Story-
Save the princess, save the kingdom, save the world. Nothing to write home about but it's a serviceable and time honored plot. It won't be moving any story junkies in any particular way but it is peppered with its charming, humorous, and exciting moments.
Online-
Here we go, this in my opinion is the meat and potatoes of the game and it's single most redeeming factor. The format is simple, select a quest, recruit some other players, and head out. This is all organized in common areas called hometowns. Initially there is only the one generic town which anybody can access but individual players have the ability to create their own town via the game's Georama system. The town isn't just a place to plop building and look pretty though. Depending on which buildings you have and who you put in them can alter various factors of your town such as shop inventories. Upgrading your Georama hometown is a constant endeavor. Each individual set piece needs to be crafted which requires having various collected materials from the environment and the world's denizens as well as often large sums of cash. The residents of your home are also drawn from the single-player world where NPCs with green speech bubbles can be openly recruited. You're only allowed to have so many NPCs in your roster at a given time so you'll often have to revisit your recruitment efforts to select people of specific professions or finding more able individuals to replace poor performers as your town advances (most recruits have requirements to recruit and aren't immediately available). There's a lot of subtlety to the system though. Each NPC has a job and having multiple NPCs with the same job, and furthermore selecting a leader amongst them, grants bonuses to their respective categories (farmers, warriors, mages...) when placed in the same building. On the flip side penalties can also be issued by mixing your NPCs.
So you've got your town and you've got your quests, now what? As you enter in to a quest you will be met with a staging area where people can prep and meet before the quest starts. Once all the players are organized the leader may manually start the quest or a pre-determined time limit will automatically initiate the quest. There isn't necessarily anything fundamentally exciting about the online missions but the difficult is ramped up considerably and the rewards are typically quite good for completing them. Completing a mission in a timely fashion with varying level of completion also grants a rank for the particular mission and a corresponding scaling in the reward. Being able to coordinate as a team keeps the battles exciting and rewarding and really ties together the various skill sets. Magic for example does heaps more damage than bow skills but the bow skill set features many abilities to open up weaknesses for the rest of your party. All things considered it's very fun and does away with what is sometimes a mundane single player experience to get down to the nuts and bolts of what makes the game enjoyable.
The online and offline mode are more or less tied together though. You must advance through the single player to be granted more access to new areas and online quests so unfortunately those completely appalled by the single player would have to soldier through it to fully access the online mode. On that same note, those who don't care for the solo-player may find it easier to swallow by doing a little here and there as you push your online efforts forward.
And that is basically that. In conclusion I've found that most of the complaints I've read about the game to be fair, or at the very least not wildly off base, but on that same note the bulk majority of them address only the single player campaign. From this we can gather that this game offers much more value to those willing and able to access the online mode. That isn't to say that the single player is a chore, it simply isn't overly impressive in any particular way and it's even harder to get excited about coming off of Mass Effect 2 and leading in to Final Fantasy 13 and several other RPGs. If sold by itself with no online mode I could only recommend this game in good faith at a bargain price or a rental.
Pros-
Good character customization, looks and abilities.
Extremely fun online play.
Big and enjoyable enemies.
Cons-
Forgettable story
Somewhat dated graphics
Rather average single player
Honest Review
I am going to make this review short and concise, and will not waste your time with a wall of text.
Key Points:
- This game was released 2 years ago, so do not complain about the graphics. Overall the graphics are not the best, but I would say the background and the settings of the game is beautifully done.
- International Version? No you do not get the Japanese Vocals in this nor the Japanese Intro music you are stuck with the horrible dubbing. But you do get all the update revisions and the bonus quest for Online play.
- How long is the game? Single player mode can be beaten within 40-50 hours of game play. But what makes this game attractive is the Online portion of the game, since many veterans who owned this game are still clocking hours and hours in the game. Online portion resembles Dark Cloud in some aspect, where you are given a Home Town which you can build upon; this Home Town can also serve as your Online Lobby among you and your friends. Online play is pretty much based off of questing.
- Storyline? Yet a lot of people complain how simple the storyline was, I enjoyed it. A lot of the RPGs these days have a massive storyline, but end up confusing the hell out of you.
Final Notes: There are plenty of mix reviews on this game, but if you enjoy the traditional JRPG play style then this game is for you. All in all, this game does have a lot of replay value if you intended to play the Online portion of the game. Also keep in mind that the story does not have a closure, since a direct sequel is being made at the moment.
My Experience with White Knight Chronicles
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RI1YZP3JD2GMZ My original video was 12 minutes long so there are a few awkward edits to get it down to 10, but this should give you a good idea of what to expect with this game.
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