Luminous Arc
Encyclopedia
is a tactical role-playing game
from Marvelous for the Nintendo DS
. Luminous Arc was released in Japan on February 8, 2007 and August 14, 2007 in North America by Atlus
. The game was released in Europe on October 12, 2007 by Rising Star Games
.
The game features voiced scenes, character designs by Kaito Shibano and music by Akari Kaida
, Yasunori Mitsuda
, and Mitsuda's studio, Procyon. Along with the main gameplay, there is an online multiplayer battle option.
The game has a sequel, Luminous Arc 2, that was released in 2008. Luminous Arc 3: Eyes was released on December 10, 2009 in Japan.
and uses a battlefield grid viewed from an isometric perspective. The top screen is used to display unit information while movement and attacks are determined on the lower screen. Left- and right-handed touch-screen controls and D-pad control schemes are available. One of the special traits is the Flash Drive Gauge, which, when filled, allows a character to use a special attack. Between battles, players can view short sequences featuring the game's mascot, Kopin, and intermission sequences that will allow the player to get to know the characters in the party better. The game also includes a multiplayer battle mode.
It is important to note that, while normal attack skills can damage allies and healing skills can restore enemy HP, the effects of Flash Drives committed to their intended targets; for instance, it is impossible for a recovery Flash Drives to heal opponents. Flash Drives can be learned via leveling up, but several are learned as the story progresses.
Synergy attacks are a combination attack that can be used when all characters involved have their Flash Points filled up and are close to each other. However, not all characters can perform Synergy attacks, as they are unlocked via story arcs that revolve around certain characters bonding.
There are also short cutscenes after every story battle featuring the game's mascot, Kopin. Though he claims that he will try to keep an eye on the characters and tell the story from his point of view, the player actually learns more about Kopin's personality, philosophy, and possible love interests.
The next big development is the arrival of Lucia, a supposed maid who enjoys sweeping but hates actual cleaning. Later that night Alph is asleep and hears Lucia's voice, they have a conversation then (while asleep) and Lucia says Alph's a Rym and he goes "What the hell?" and wakes up. Earlier Lucia said she was sleeping in the forest so he gets up and goes there. While talking with Lucia, they are attacked by monsters because Alph forgot to cleanse the monster blood from his sword, as it attracts more monsters. Lucia uses light magic, causing Alph finds out she's a witch but promises not to tell anyone because she reasons him with being the one who saved his life.
Soon afterwards, Alph's group travel to Carwee, a small town located south of the Ever Garden. It is here that they meet Andre, who belittles them for being younger and smaller, and Cardinal Kingston, who causes Lucia to leave the party in disgust due to his pompous nature and hatred of Witches. While attempting to reconvene with her, the group runs into Vanessa, an impulsive Witch who wields fire magic and generally has heated responses to many situations, as shown when she sets her behemoths on the party, which they defeat. Shortly after the battle, Vanessa recognizes Lucia, and later attacks her after she tries to stop her. Alph intercepts the blow, and showing an unusual amount of power (his brother Theo says "Alph is... glowing?" when he sees it) turns it aside, saving Lucia and settling their debt. Afterwards, Lucia tells the party that she is a Witch and disappears with Mel, another Witch, but one who uses Water magic and has a hopelessly cheerful disposition.
inspired chararacter designs are by Kaito Shibano, an illustrator for PC games and trading cards. Shibano said that he made the designs bright and with a light feel to brush off the stereotype of witches being gloomy.
The Garden Children are a special group of warriors trained by the Arc Knight Heath to fight monsters and condemn the Witches that have reappeared in the world after being sealed for a thousand years. The Garden Children get their name from the Ever Garden, where a majority of them have been living for most of their lives. The Ever Garden was founded 14 years before the game's story begins, in the same year that the Grand Cardinal Johannes was born. It was the last wish of the former Grand Cardinal that a group of humans be established to fight against the Witches, whose rebirth he foresaw. Each member of the group has special abilities that make him or her useful in combat, ranging from swordfighting and archery skills to the use of Church-approved magic.
According to the scriptures of the Luminous Church, the Witches and the Dragons fought an unending war until God descended from heaven and sealed them away. The Witches have a mysterious and innate power known only as Rune, and they use this power to cast unholy magic and cause chaos in the world. As they are always in competition with one another, the Witches want nothing more than to develop their abilities, and travel around the world looking for Lapistier, magic stones that feed on God's power and can amplify a Witch's power to terrifying levels. As such, it is up to special agents of the Luminous Church to travel around the world and condemn Witches and transport the Lapistier to the Church in order to have them cleansed of their evil energy.
The Witches themselves have a completely different philosophy. Born from a rainbow-colored stone called the Mother Lapis, Witches are born whenever the planet is in danger, and are then reabsorbed into the crystal when the threat has been extinguished. However, it also appears that the Earth has the ability to call back Witches who do not take their function seriously, as long as the different Runes are kept in balance. Indeed, Witches "represent the natural elements of the planet," and gather together to pool their powers in the war against what has become the God of the Luminous Church. Witches use the Lapistier not to boost their destructive power, but to fill themselves up with the energy of the earth itself when the time comes to fight. This group of Witches seems to have developed differently from those of the past, as they have all developed their own philosophies and battle styles.
. Collaborating with them was composer Yasunori Mitsuda, of Chrono Trigger
and Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
fame.
However, 1UP.com
rated the game as "average", giving it a C. The editors called it a "Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
clone" because of its similar gameplay and overall feel. While not impressed with the DS's touch screen capabilities used in the game, the editor wrote that "the game's biggest attraction, in theory, is wireless multiplayer, either locally or online". GamePro
's 6/10 review noted, "It's a decent enough game but it isn't the grand strategy RPG experience that we've all been waiting for."
Japanese publication Famitsu
gave the game a 28 out of 40. Luminous Arc managed to sell 25,676 copies during its debut week in Japan.
Tactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
from Marvelous for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
. Luminous Arc was released in Japan on February 8, 2007 and August 14, 2007 in North America by Atlus
Atlus
is a Japanese computer and video game developer, publisher, and distributor based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for developing the console role-playing game franchise Megami Tensei. The first Megami Tensei was a Nintendo Entertainment System video game published by Namco based on a trilogy of...
. The game was released in Europe on October 12, 2007 by Rising Star Games
Rising Star Games
Rising Star Games is a video games publisher formed as a joint business venture between Scandinavian distributor Bergsala and Japanese video game publisher and content developer Intergrow....
.
The game features voiced scenes, character designs by Kaito Shibano and music by Akari Kaida
Akari Kaida
is a video game music composer. She has composed musical scores for Capcom games including Resident Evil, Dino Crisis and Ōkami...
, Yasunori Mitsuda
Yasunori Mitsuda
is a Japanese video game composer, sound programmer, and musician. He has composed music for or worked on over 35 games, and has contributed to over 15 other albums...
, and Mitsuda's studio, Procyon. Along with the main gameplay, there is an online multiplayer battle option.
The game has a sequel, Luminous Arc 2, that was released in 2008. Luminous Arc 3: Eyes was released on December 10, 2009 in Japan.
Gameplay
Luminous Arc is a tactical role-playing gameTactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
and uses a battlefield grid viewed from an isometric perspective. The top screen is used to display unit information while movement and attacks are determined on the lower screen. Left- and right-handed touch-screen controls and D-pad control schemes are available. One of the special traits is the Flash Drive Gauge, which, when filled, allows a character to use a special attack. Between battles, players can view short sequences featuring the game's mascot, Kopin, and intermission sequences that will allow the player to get to know the characters in the party better. The game also includes a multiplayer battle mode.
Special attacks
Each time a player character makes an action, his or her Flash Meter will increase. The player can then use Flash Points to perform powerful attacks, called Flash Drives that may also cause status ailments to enemies. Some enemies in Luminous Arc can also use Flash DrivesIt is important to note that, while normal attack skills can damage allies and healing skills can restore enemy HP, the effects of Flash Drives committed to their intended targets; for instance, it is impossible for a recovery Flash Drives to heal opponents. Flash Drives can be learned via leveling up, but several are learned as the story progresses.
Synergy attacks are a combination attack that can be used when all characters involved have their Flash Points filled up and are close to each other. However, not all characters can perform Synergy attacks, as they are unlocked via story arcs that revolve around certain characters bonding.
Intermissions
After each battle, the spoils of battle will be displayed on the screen, including gold, items, and Vitae. In addition, the player will be prompted to talk with one of the characters that took part in the battle. An Intermission scene occurs after the ensuing plot dialogue, in which the player can have a short conversation with the previously selected character. On the touch screen, a list of responses will appear with the chosen character's avatar on the top screen. If the choice was favorable, the main character, Alph, will develop a stronger bond with that character, which takes the form of evasion and hit rate bonuses if the two are placed next to each other in future battles. If the character particularly likes the player's response, he or she may give Alph a useful item. However, the player is given a finite number of opportunities to talk to each character, after which it will be impossible to improve the bond. If the player has made good choices throughout the various conversations with a character, there may be a special scene between Alph and that character featuring anime-style art and an additional voice-over. If you say the right thing, you could get an item from the person. The closer the bonds get with an ally the more of a heart begins to form. when blue it makes the cutscene and after that no more talking to that ally.There are also short cutscenes after every story battle featuring the game's mascot, Kopin. Though he claims that he will try to keep an eye on the characters and tell the story from his point of view, the player actually learns more about Kopin's personality, philosophy, and possible love interests.
Vitae
Throughout the adventure, the player will obtain magical items called Vitae. According to the game's lore, Vitae obtain their magical properties from the ancient power of Rune, the same power used by the Witches to fuel their magic. In order to make use of a piece of Vitae, it must first be appraised at the workshop in the Witch Village. Once this has been accomplished, the Vitae can be used to add elemental and status effects to weapons. In addition, it is possible to ask other characters about what they know about Vitae. This will allow the player to learn the best combinations for developing items with different strengths.Multiplayer battles
Using the Wi-Fi option, players can choose to either battle against an anonymous and random opponent, or against a player whose friend code has been registered. Items are won for each game played against a random opponent, with more being earned if the player is victorious. Players can also play locally via the DS' wireless connection.Story
The story begins with a video type cutscene featuring the recently promoted 14-year old Grand Cardinal Johannes along with Cardinal Kingston and some monks. After that the next scene is of Alph, Theo, Cecille and Leon. The team are supposed to be training but Leon's slacking off and keeps trying to hit on Cecille. Heath the ArchKnight and leader of the Garden Children returns and says that the Garden Children are finally commissioned to fight Witches and monsters. Miraculously there happen to be some nearby and citizens crying and running around in terror.The next big development is the arrival of Lucia, a supposed maid who enjoys sweeping but hates actual cleaning. Later that night Alph is asleep and hears Lucia's voice, they have a conversation then (while asleep) and Lucia says Alph's a Rym and he goes "What the hell?" and wakes up. Earlier Lucia said she was sleeping in the forest so he gets up and goes there. While talking with Lucia, they are attacked by monsters because Alph forgot to cleanse the monster blood from his sword, as it attracts more monsters. Lucia uses light magic, causing Alph finds out she's a witch but promises not to tell anyone because she reasons him with being the one who saved his life.
Soon afterwards, Alph's group travel to Carwee, a small town located south of the Ever Garden. It is here that they meet Andre, who belittles them for being younger and smaller, and Cardinal Kingston, who causes Lucia to leave the party in disgust due to his pompous nature and hatred of Witches. While attempting to reconvene with her, the group runs into Vanessa, an impulsive Witch who wields fire magic and generally has heated responses to many situations, as shown when she sets her behemoths on the party, which they defeat. Shortly after the battle, Vanessa recognizes Lucia, and later attacks her after she tries to stop her. Alph intercepts the blow, and showing an unusual amount of power (his brother Theo says "Alph is... glowing?" when he sees it) turns it aside, saving Lucia and settling their debt. Afterwards, Lucia tells the party that she is a Witch and disappears with Mel, another Witch, but one who uses Water magic and has a hopelessly cheerful disposition.
Characters
The animeAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
inspired chararacter designs are by Kaito Shibano, an illustrator for PC games and trading cards. Shibano said that he made the designs bright and with a light feel to brush off the stereotype of witches being gloomy.
The Garden Children are a special group of warriors trained by the Arc Knight Heath to fight monsters and condemn the Witches that have reappeared in the world after being sealed for a thousand years. The Garden Children get their name from the Ever Garden, where a majority of them have been living for most of their lives. The Ever Garden was founded 14 years before the game's story begins, in the same year that the Grand Cardinal Johannes was born. It was the last wish of the former Grand Cardinal that a group of humans be established to fight against the Witches, whose rebirth he foresaw. Each member of the group has special abilities that make him or her useful in combat, ranging from swordfighting and archery skills to the use of Church-approved magic.
According to the scriptures of the Luminous Church, the Witches and the Dragons fought an unending war until God descended from heaven and sealed them away. The Witches have a mysterious and innate power known only as Rune, and they use this power to cast unholy magic and cause chaos in the world. As they are always in competition with one another, the Witches want nothing more than to develop their abilities, and travel around the world looking for Lapistier, magic stones that feed on God's power and can amplify a Witch's power to terrifying levels. As such, it is up to special agents of the Luminous Church to travel around the world and condemn Witches and transport the Lapistier to the Church in order to have them cleansed of their evil energy.
The Witches themselves have a completely different philosophy. Born from a rainbow-colored stone called the Mother Lapis, Witches are born whenever the planet is in danger, and are then reabsorbed into the crystal when the threat has been extinguished. However, it also appears that the Earth has the ability to call back Witches who do not take their function seriously, as long as the different Runes are kept in balance. Indeed, Witches "represent the natural elements of the planet," and gather together to pool their powers in the war against what has become the God of the Luminous Church. Witches use the Lapistier not to boost their destructive power, but to fill themselves up with the energy of the earth itself when the time comes to fight. This group of Witches seems to have developed differently from those of the past, as they have all developed their own philosophies and battle styles.
Setting
- Ever Garden: The base of the Garden Children, the Ever Garden is located on the western coast of the Eastern Continent. It consists of a dorm where the members of the group eat and sleep, and also serves as the training ground for the elite band of Witch-hunters. The Ever Garden is surrounded by woods, but is not far from the nearby village of Carwee.
- Ridget: Known as "the Emerald of the Eastern Continent," the port town of Ridget is the only gateway to the Saint Sea and to the world beyond. Though it was once a bustling village known for its strong trade industry, Ridget was attacked by Witches, and a majority of the property has been destroyed.
- Dotruvar: A mining city in the frontier of the Western Continent, Dotruvar has a strong trade economy due to the existence of Rune in the local rock. Drotruvar's artisans are in constant competition with those of other villages on the Western Continent, but recently have been enjoying success due to the existence of the Fire God, Hernas, who keeps the forges hot and the metal strong.
- Lethe Forest: An enchanted forest in the Northern reaches of the Western Continent, the Lethe Forest is the subject of rumors and legends among the local people. Though the woods are said to be the home of Witches, it has been said that it has always been an odd place, long before their return. It is impossible for normal humans to enter the Lethe Forest, but Alph and company must do so in order to reach the Village of Witches deep within the trees.
- Madrasta: Called "the Town of Scriptures" by people around the world, Madrasta is known for its close ties to the Luminous Church. The people of this city, located on the Western Continent, often have prophetic dreams about the circumstances surrounding God's second descent to the land below, and the reliabilityReliability (statistics)In statistics, reliability is the consistency of a set of measurements or of a measuring instrument, often used to describe a test. Reliability is inversely related to random error.-Types:There are several general classes of reliability estimates:...
of the dreams is high due to the striking similarity among those accounts that have been documented. Madrasta is also the home base of the Zephyroth Knights, one of the Wings of the Luminous Church.
Development
The game was developed by Marvelous Interactive and "rookie development studio" imageepochImageepoch
is a Japanese video game developer based out of Tokyo, Japan. The company, which currently employs about 120 individuals, was founded in December 2005 by Ryoei Mikage. Imageepoch's first release was the turn-based strategy RPG on Nintendo DS, Luminous Arc. Since then the company has expanded into...
. Collaborating with them was composer Yasunori Mitsuda, of Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Chrono Triggers development team included three designers that Square dubbed the "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Square's Final Fantasy series; Yuji Horii, a...
and Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
is a console role-playing game for the PlayStation 2 and the first title in the Xenosaga series. Der Wille zur Macht, "The Will to Power", is a reference to Friedrich Nietzsche's posthumous collection of notes and unused aphorisms, which was intended to become his magnum opus...
fame.
Reception
Luminous Arc was met with mixed reviews. HonestGamers gave the game a solid 8/10, saying, "I realised that it was exactly because Luminous Arc refused to take itself seriously that it was so much fun."However, 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
rated the game as "average", giving it a C. The editors called it a "Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. A spin-off of the popular Final Fantasy series, the game shares several traits with 1997's Final Fantasy Tactics, although it is not a direct sequel. The player assembles a clan of characters, and...
clone" because of its similar gameplay and overall feel. While not impressed with the DS's touch screen capabilities used in the game, the editor wrote that "the game's biggest attraction, in theory, is wireless multiplayer, either locally or online". GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
's 6/10 review noted, "It's a decent enough game but it isn't the grand strategy RPG experience that we've all been waiting for."
Japanese publication Famitsu
Famitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
gave the game a 28 out of 40. Luminous Arc managed to sell 25,676 copies during its debut week in Japan.