Summary

Embark on a journey of healing and heroism in Tales of Hearts: Anime Movie Edition. Join Shing and his friends as they traverse a world filled with challenges and beauty, brought to life through stunning anime cutscenes and engaging RPG gameplay.

• Release Year: 2008
• Genres: Role-playing game (RPG)
• Platforms: Nintendo DS
• Developers: Namco Tales Studio
• Publishers: Namco Bandai Games

Introduction

In the world of Tales of Hearts, players follow the story of Shing Meteoryte, a young swordsman whose destiny is intertwined with that of Kohaku, a girl with a shattered Spiria Core. The game explores themes of friendship, courage, and the power of the heart through its captivating narrative and dynamic battle system.

Synopsis

Tales of Hearts: Anime Movie Edition (2008) is a captivating role-playing game that takes players on an emotional journey. The game was originally released for the Nintendo DS and later remade for the PlayStation Vita. This article provides a detailed synopsis of the game’s plot.

The game begins when the protagonist, Shing, encounters a pair of traveling siblings, Kohaku and Hisui. In an unexpected turn of events, Shing accidentally shatters Kohaku’s Spiria Core, the source of her emotions. This sets the trio on a journey to restore Kohaku’s heart and emotions.

The game’s plot is set on the planet of Organica, which was attacked by xerom, monsters that consume individuals’ Spiria, the crystalline essence of a person’s heart and emotions. The game’s characteristic genre is “A Meeting Between Hearts RPG” (心と出会うＲＰＧ,Kokoro to deau RPG?).

The game features fully 2D in-game visuals, giving it a classic 2D RPG look. It represents the first entry in the series to use CG models for characters during cutscenes. The theme song, “Eien no Ashita” (永遠の明日?, “Eternal Tomorrow”) is performed by Deen, who previously performed the opening theme of Tales of Destiny.

The game was released in two versions, an “Anime Movie Edition” using the animation produced by Production I.G., and a “CG Movie Edition” using computer-generated 3D model cutscenes produced by Shirogumi. The PlayStation Vita remake acts as a “re-imagination” of several concepts of the original game, eliminating the CG cutscenes but converting the entire game to use 3D-rendered models while introducing other significant gameplay changes.

The overall plot for both versions of the game is nearly identical. The main difference is that in the original Tales of Hearts for Nintendo DS, Gall Gruner is not present, and Chalcedony Akerman is a non-playable character who is incapacitated after the group gains their airship. While Tales of Hearts R for PlayStation Vita heavily rewrites and sometimes even removes many cutscenes, important overarching plot points are seldom changed.

In conclusion, Tales of Hearts: Anime Movie Edition (2008) is a game that explores the depths of human emotions and the power of connections between hearts. Its engaging plot, combined with its unique gameplay mechanics, makes it a memorable entry in the “Tales of…” series. Whether you’re a fan of the series or a newcomer, this game offers a rich and emotional journey that is sure to captivate you.

Characters

The game features Shing Meteoryte, the brave and kind-hearted protagonist; Kohaku Hearts, a girl with a fractured Spiria Core; Hisui Hearts, Kohaku’s protective older brother; and a diverse cast of characters they meet along their journey, each with their unique Soma weapons and Spiria abilities.

Gameplay

Tales of Hearts: Anime Movie Edition offers the classic Tales series’ Linear Motion Battle System, enhanced with new features like Combination Arts and Spiria Drive. Players can explore a rich world, engage in fast-paced battles, and dive into a deep storyline enhanced by the anime cutscenes.

Conclusion

Tales of Hearts: Anime Movie Edition remains a memorable experience for its heartfelt story and integration of high-quality anime cutscenes. It stands as a testament to the potential of combining traditional RPG elements with the expressive power of anime.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

Fan Art

Fan Art Style: Normal

Fan Art Style: Retro

Fan Art Style: Modern