User Review : White Knight Chronicles

Ups

• Flexable and enjoyable battle system{Amazing giant monster battle and Knight transformation{online mode is fun and challenging

Downs

• Intentionally cut back story mode with hasty ending{Detail during cut-scene can be better

White Knight Chronicles (WK) as the first JRPG appear on PS3, how does it fair?

As a player who finished WK(J version) story mode and spent decent time at online mode, I would like to share my insight on the first JRPG appear on PS3. After played several average/good JRPG titles for the next-gen, as a long term video game players I must say WK didn't break the any shell on next-gen JRPG field...

Graphic:
WK's graphic style is more clean and crisp, which works pretty well during game-play. Almost 90% cut-scene created by game-engine, the player can pick on detail but overall is acceptable. Characters are well designed to show their own quality and personality, and occasionally CG showed high quality work.

The map is pretty big but the art design and used of light/color make the trip acceptable. The character's look changed in part with equipment change (both in game-play and cut-scene), which made the normal equipment upgrade a little more fun.

The highlight of WK graphic is its giant monster and Knights. The design is really good and the sheer size of them amaze the player. The giant monster not only appears as boss but also normal enemy on map, so be prepared to take down several "monsters".

Music/Sound:
WK's music is decent, it delivers the right feeling for different map set and the character voice acting is good. The good part of WK's music/sound is the detailed sound effects. The clicking sound of metal armor, flow of wind and heavy movement of Knight and giant monster, are all played out in detail.

System:
WK did a great job on its system. It may look like FF12, but several part of the system is different. Action Ring(AR) replaced tradition ATB, so in battle player need to wait for AR to reach full circle in order to take action. AR charge speed depends on character's equipment. So the bigger your weapon, the thicker your armor, the longer between each action.

Player uses skill point to learn magic or weapon skill, and place them on "Action Bar" in order to execute them during battle. The highlight of WK's system is the player made Combo. Players can freely create their own Combo by combining learned weapon skill and magic, which range from normal slash to mid-air combo. It may sound simple but in actual game-play it is fun to use the self-create (and named) combo to knock your enemy silly.

A system called Action Point (AC) is used to prevent the battle become way too easy. AC is used when execute powerful weapon skill, Combo and Knight transformation, and slowly replenish during battle. So it is important for player to control their use of AC during adventure.

Teammate AI is decent, they used skill player arrange on their Action Bar and quick to heal low HP teammate. Player can push down L3 to issue four general battle commend (fight freely, focus attk, separate attk and keep distance) and R3 for instance individual commend. AI received instance commend will either heal teammate (if low HP or negative status) to its best, or execute most powerful Combo/weapon skill as long as it got enough AC to do so.

Player can enhance equipment and create item/equipment as long as the proper materials and cash is in hand. The materials can be gather through monster killing or search flashing/butterfly-surround tree/rock/box on map. Due to the random natural of material, sometime it is quite time consuming task. Good thing player can pretty much finish story mode without intentional enhance/create item, so this system is more lively at online mode.

WK's character creation can be very detailed, in a different way compare to Oblivion. Personally I spend 2hrs play around the creation system and created a character that look 85% similar to me in real life. The created character will appear in story mode (no line during cut-scene) which is quite good to get player more involve into story, and also used for online player as avatar.

Story:
WK's biggest downfall is on the story...by downfall I mean the length of story. The story itself goes by traditional style, so save the princess and prevent evil to take over the world. Still the good character design and several plot keep the player interest going.

So the story got a good pace and atmosphere for 3/4 part of the game. For the final 1/4 part, the story suddenly take a dive!! The secret behind characters connection and smaller plot are throwing onto players' face and when the ending score roll up, I am actually in shock!!!

It is very clear that WK story is intentionally cut short, and in a hasty fashion. Though the developer already give player a head up that WK will be chronicles, but still the way WK end is really unsatisfying.

Online:
WK's online play give you a feeling of FF11 and MH combination. It got hate system, giant monster and many material to collect through out play. In order to play, players fist choice "lobby" then choice from one of several "room" to join. Each room contain up to 20 players, they can freely group up to finish "quest" (purchase from NPC) to level up their GR level. With higher GR level, more quests is available and some unique equipment can be created/equipped. The connection is pretty smooth despite the server is at Japan, and it is always fun to see kick-ass Combo move or funny Combo name used during online adventure. The communication so far limited without online chat function, good thing the latest PS3 wireless keyboard helped out a lot.

Overall Comment:
WK is a good game, the battle system is a lot of fun, presentation is pretty good and online mode expend the game lifespan, but WK is still far away to be "Epic". WK got potential, especially on the story part: there are enough plots left for least another 10hrs game-play if properly expended without intentionally cut for chronicles. WK is in fact a prologue, which means the WK2 have more promise and easier development process since the foundation is establish. All is said, WK just like other next-gen JRPG. It had its high and low point, still got a lot room to grow and make you hunger for a sequel.

Score

9.0

Graphics

It is really enjoyable to create your own character, dish out self-created Combo and drag down giant size monster. The ability to transform into Knight also differ WK from other JRPG, it is simply amazing to see your Knight face off with several giant monsters at the same time.

8.3

Sound

Clean and Crisp art design and light/color use, with amazing giant monster. Though the detail can be better, but overall it's good.

8.5

Gameplay

Decent music and detail sound effect keep player in check with the story and map setting.

7.5

Fun Factor

Despite all the fun we can get from battle system and tradition yet interesting story plot. The single play section is cut way-way too short...30hrs story mode just not enough to deliver the story, even for a prologue.

8.3

Online

The online mode got similar system as in story mode. The material gathering can be time consuming but when the desire equipment is created then its pretty satisfied. Future update on quest and equipment expansion can increase the lifespan of the game.

Overall

8.4

[KozmoOchez]

Now, I would appreciate if you were to send me a PM with very in-depth details on the skill points and how they are used to get skills, especially in the mage department - if that is possible

[kavkazip]

xbot

[I_LOVE_MYSELF]

That is just LOL!

Eternal Sonata you silly person

[callahan09]

Nice review. Not written in the best of English composition, but then again neither is this comment. You got the job done and I learned some important things about the game that the lame Famitsu review completely failed to address.

I'm still quite excited for this game. I just hope the pacing is more fascinating than Tales of Vesperia. Vesperia is my favorite JRPG of this generation so far, but it doesn't hold a candle to previous generation games because of the pacing. The story and characters were good overall, but it was paced so methodically, so repetitively, as follows:

1. Explore town alone
2. Meet up with party
3. Find next dungeon
4. Save point half-way through dungeon
5. Boss fight
6. Go to next town
7. Seperate from party
8. REPEAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN

[Richdad]

What are you saying 30 hrs story mode not enough, I think most people want a game that will take rest of their life to complete.

[tako2000]

@ GametimeUK
point taken, my bad.

@ callahan09
Thx, since English isn't my first language guess I still got some practice on writing skill. Sadly, I got to say WK follow the similar method to ToV.

1. Explore town and Talk to NPC to trigger event
3. Travel to next dungeon
4. Several save point(cut-scene) through dungeon
5. Boss fight
6. Return to town to finish event and/or travel to next area
7. REPEAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN

This is how most JRPG works...which tend to cut back on player freedom to explore by focus on main story line.

[dragunrising]

Definitely made me more interested in the game. Lost Odyssey was rated similarly (if I recall) and I purchased it regardless. I feel that no matter what reviews a game gets, the only thing that matters is perspective. You seemed to capture what its like to play this game. Great job. Btw, your English isn't so bad. :-)

[GoldenAge]

you just got me excited for this game :)

[godkiller]

I have just got platinum trophy for it,i personally give it a 9.5.
And have been playing rpgs since 1981,reviewer sounds like same o same.
Now playing online and loveing it AND I CANY SPEAK A WORD OF JAPANESE!!

[TheTwelve]

But is it as short as Tako said?

12

[godkiller]

Well look at it this way,i get the most from my games,if your type geta game zoom through it?,then its short.but if your like me,instead of gulping down the wine,i sip it and get the most from it.
i am on my second play through,also multiplayer rocks,and they are releaseing updates"one due tommorow" all time.
plus ima plat trophy wore 20 so far.

ps killzone2 rocks,beta was amazing.

[stb]

though i´m one year forward to this review´s date lol, hope this game to do fine, and i guess the sir above´s english has gotten quite better now, hope so, but nice to see this game could be as good as lost odyssey , these editors are a bunch of sht reviewing game with spirit and giving sht of score to them. SCREW THEM.