Voice Fantasy
Encyclopedia
'Voice Fantasy' is a role-playing video game
developed and published by Square Enix
and released for the Apple iPhone
, iPad
and iPod Touch
. Players create characters using the sounds of their own voices and then engage in combat with in game enemies or each other. The game was critically panned by reviewers, criticized for its limited game play with little replay value, though praised for its novel concept.
or a mage
. As the character players have created attack, they repeat the sound or words the player used to create them, sometimes using a different pitch level. The game holds up to 50 characters, and characters can be saved or deleted after each round of combat.
registered a trademark
for Voice Fantasy. Some excitement and discussion preceded the release of the game, when a week before its release, Square Enix
posted on their Facebook
page that they were releasing a game allowing players to create characters with their voices, and some speculated it was related to a previously released game called Song Summoners. On February 18, 2011, the game was updated so that players could play as any of the three main characters from the highly acclaimed video game Secret of Mana
.
referred to the game as a tech demo
, citing its lack of extensive gameplay or story, and rated the game 5.5, or "Mediocre". Reviewers cited that other than brief laughter with friends at the strange or obscene things they got their characters to say, the length of gameplay could be measured in minutes. Touch Arcade classified it as on the border between a game and an entertainment app because of its brevity and its lack of interactivity, but recommended it for playing in the presence of friends to show the iPhone
s unique gaming capabilities. The game was praised for its novelty, and Square's attempts to create a game specifically using the strengths of the game system it was making games for, and also trying something new instead of more efforts at port
ing older games. The graphics were also praised for their retro
and colorful graphics style, and was named "App of the Day" by The Unofficial Apple Blog. It has also been noted that the spells, monsters, names and music of the game do not come from any established Final Fantasy game, making the "Fantasy" title feel "tacked on."
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
developed and published by Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
and released for the Apple iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
and iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
. Players create characters using the sounds of their own voices and then engage in combat with in game enemies or each other. The game was critically panned by reviewers, criticized for its limited game play with little replay value, though praised for its novel concept.
Gameplay
The game contains three modes of play; "Single Match", where players battle other players, "Tag Match" where they battle in groups of two, and "Demon King", where monsters are battled instead. Once battle commences, all battle actions and commands are automated. Based on the pitch of your voice, a character will be created with different levels of eight different combat attributes such as abilities, personality, and jobs such as a warriorWarrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
or a mage
Magician (fantasy)
A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
. As the character players have created attack, they repeat the sound or words the player used to create them, sometimes using a different pitch level. The game holds up to 50 characters, and characters can be saved or deleted after each round of combat.
Development
Developer studios Koto Laboratories contributed to the software development and sound implementation. On February 22, 2010, Square EnixSquare Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
registered a trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
for Voice Fantasy. Some excitement and discussion preceded the release of the game, when a week before its release, Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
posted on their Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page that they were releasing a game allowing players to create characters with their voices, and some speculated it was related to a previously released game called Song Summoners. On February 18, 2011, the game was updated so that players could play as any of the three main characters from the highly acclaimed video game Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana is an action role-playing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed and published by Square in 1993. The game was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console in 2008, and was ported to Japanese mobile phones in 2009...
.
Reception
Two major concerns of reviewers were the lack of ability by the player to participate in combat, and prevent any mistakes by the in game AI, and the inability of the characters to gain a higher level through experience points like other role playing games, making any weak skilled characters not worth playing with at all. IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
referred to the game as a tech demo
Tech demo
A tech demo is a prototype, rough example or an otherwise incomplete version of a product, put together with the primary purpose of showcasing the idea, performance, method or the features of the product...
, citing its lack of extensive gameplay or story, and rated the game 5.5, or "Mediocre". Reviewers cited that other than brief laughter with friends at the strange or obscene things they got their characters to say, the length of gameplay could be measured in minutes. Touch Arcade classified it as on the border between a game and an entertainment app because of its brevity and its lack of interactivity, but recommended it for playing in the presence of friends to show the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
s unique gaming capabilities. The game was praised for its novelty, and Square's attempts to create a game specifically using the strengths of the game system it was making games for, and also trying something new instead of more efforts at port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
ing older games. The graphics were also praised for their retro
Retro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
and colorful graphics style, and was named "App of the Day" by The Unofficial Apple Blog. It has also been noted that the spells, monsters, names and music of the game do not come from any established Final Fantasy game, making the "Fantasy" title feel "tacked on."