Ar Tonelico II: Melody of MetaFalica Review for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

Ar Tonelico II: Melody of MetaFalica box art

System: PS2	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Gust	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: NIS America	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Jan. 20, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Teen	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Sadly, the stages within which these battles take place are hardly interesting. Though Ar Tonelico II charms at first glance, its curvaceous artwork is truly soulless. Its passable artistry was rendered by someone truly skilled, but this was clearly "just another job" for them, as their work lacks passion.

Ar Tonelico II: Melody of MetaFalica screenshot

Interiors are sparsely decorated, and often colored brown or gray, while - to make matters worse - every Dive Shop, major palace, and inn looks exactly the same. Textures, structures, and environmental details are shared across zones, which means that very few original sprites were actually created for Tonelico II. Thus, it all feels cold and artificial - like a shallow copy of what proud things two-dimensional RPGs once were.

At times, the music that plays along with these areas compels you to trek onward. The soundtrack includes some marvelously minimalistic and ambient pieces, complemented by stirring vocals. Plenty of it would inspire you to relax, or to simply behold your fairly artistic surroundings, which helps in overcoming the visual flaws. Unfortunately, none of these musical pieces loop seamlessly, and there are plenty of jarring, saccharine-sweet tunes that only serve to distract you. Once again, the simulation and RPG aspects don't blend, but instead clash - a very definite line is drawn between the sweeping compositions of a role-playing game, and the cheesy, uninspiring Muzak of a dating sim.

Due to the mind-searching Cosmosphere sessions, the variety of nightly dialogues you can find littered about, and separate storylines with unique endings, there's certainly a multitude of things to be done within Tonelico II. Whether you'll wish to partake in everything it offers depends upon you - whether you can appreciate simplistic, naive characters, a predictable plot of good versus evil, and hours upon hours of discussions about everything from daily wear to stuffed dolls. Truly, what a marvelous work Tonelico could have been! What if you weren't required to find additional discussions, but could instead earn them through smartly-navigated dialogue trees? What if they had more time to personalize each and every area's art, and refine the character designs into things more fantastical yet believable? Had they ditched the elevator music and instead replaced it with additional epic tracks... oh, well then, it would have been a marvelous game!

As it is, it is only middle-ground, very much a "what could have been!" Metafalss is an interesting place where you'd perhaps like to spend a weekend, but hardly anything more.

By Valerie Hilgenfeldt
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.2

Graphics
Though impressive and reasonably colorful, the sprites in Tonelico II are frequently reused and lack inspired design.

4.0

Control
The timing-based aspects of battle are fabulously responsive - as they should be - but navigating pre-rendered areas is a sluggish drag.

3.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
There's a fair amount of well-composed tracks, but their effectiveness is damaged by the entirely unimpressive Muzak. While the sound effects do their job, they're flat and simplistic, arguably leaving the voice acting as the most consistent aural component.

3.8

Play Value
Thanks to dozens of infected Reyvateils to hunt, two leading females with wholly different stories, a large amount of recipes to craft, and more, the second Tonelico offers much to do.

3.0

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

During your adventures, you'll come upon a variety of Reyvateils who can aid you in battle, and strengthening your relationship enhances their powers.

At various shops, you can follow "Recipe Cards" to craft a multitude of items, from destructive weapons to harmless, fun toys.

Ar Tonelico II's branching storyline splits at a pivotal point, and depending upon which path you choose, you'll explore unique areas and earn one of several endings.

A hybrid real-time and turn-based battle system demands quick reflexes and thoughtful planning, keeping you captivated while you fend off foes.