Over the weekend, France was host to the annual Japan Expo in the country’s capital, focusing on celebrating Japanese culture & media. Among the exhibitors was Namco Bandai Europe who announced that they will be localizing Tales of Xillia 2 for European and American audiences next year. This news comes mere weeks before the recently localized original Tales of Xilla is launched in EU/NA territories next month.
The announcement of Xillia 2 was not the only surpise Namco Bandai had for Tales of fans at the Japan Expo this year. Tales of Symphonia Chronicles, the HD remake of Tales of Symphonia and its sequel, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, was confirmed to be the first title in the series to include both the English dub and the original Japanese audio.
Original Press Release Below
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NAMCO BANDAI GAMES EUROPE ANNOUNCES TALES OF XILLIA™2 FOR PLAYSTATION®3
–A Multi-Dimension Epic Adventure Awaits Role-Playing Game Fans in 2014 from the Acclaimed TALES OF Development Team –
PARIS, FRANCE – July 8th, 2013 – Leading video game developer and publisher NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S. announced this week-end, during a special event at the Japan Expo in Paris that TALES OF XILLIA™ 2 will be coming to Europe and Australasia exclusively for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system in 2014. Building on the foundation of 2013’s TALES OF XILLIA™ gameplay and world, TALES OF XILLIA 2 will bring together brand new characters in this epic multiple dimensions spanning Japanese role-playing game experience.
TALES OF XILLIA 2 focuses on the events a year after the climactic end of TALES OF XILLIA. Players assume the role of Ludger Kresnik, a young man with a zest of cooking who lives with his older brother and his cat, named Rollo. On his way to his first day at work for a local cafeteria he runs into a young girl named Elle Marta and the two soon become involved in an accident that will change both of their lives forever.
TALES OF XILLIA 2 focuses its story theme around the concept of “choice”, which is also expressed heavily in the game’s overall gameplay mechanics. Throughout Ludger’s journey the player will be able to decide how he reacts to various characters and situations. These choices can cause the story to branch out into different paths depending on the player’s decisions.
Choice also extends to the battle system for TALES OF XILLIA 2 by enhancing the TALES OF series’ trademark gameplay. Players will be able to initiate “Weapon Swap” in real-time during battles while controlling Ludger, allowing him to switch between three main weapons: dual blades, a sledgehammer and dual pistols, allowing for fast and strategic movements as he rushes across the battlefield. Building on the base from TALES OF XILLIA’s battle system, the new Cross Dual Raid Linear Motion Battle System will let players link to any selectable character in battle to serve as a support character and perform linked artes against targeted enemies. Different party members have different support characteristics and linked artes, allowing players to strategically decide which characters are linked to whom as various battle situations arise.
“We are extremely happy to bring another piece of the beloved Tales of franchise in Europe and Australasia” said Olivier Comte, Senior Vice-President at NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe. “TALES OF XILLIA players will be able to fall back into this deep storyline in 2014 with TALES OF XILLIA 2, as we will introduce brand new characters and let them experience new gameplay features but also improvements of the first opus battle system”
Players who have a save game file from both TALES OF GRACES™ f and the upcoming TALES OF XILLIA will be able to enjoy exclusive bonus items for TALES OF XILLIA 2.
TALES OF XILLIA will be available exclusively for the PlayStation®3 system on August 9th, 2013 in Europe and Australasia.
TALES OF XILLIA 2 will be available across Europe and Australasia in 2014.
For more information on the Tales of series, please visit http://www.namcobandaigames.eu
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About NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S.
NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S., part of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content for platforms including all major video game consoles and PC, with marketing and sales operations in 50 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN™, Tekken™, SOULCALIBUR™, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball®, GALAGA™, RIDGE RACER™ and ACE COMBAT™. More information about the company and its products can be found at www.namcobandaigames.eu or www.facebook.com/namcobandaigames.europe.
© MUTSUMI INOMATA
© KOSUKE FUJISHIMA
Tales of Xillia™ 2 & © 2012 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.
© MUTSUMI INOMATA
Tales of Graces ™ f & © 2010 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.
© MUTSUMI INOMATA
© KOSUKE FUJISHIMA
TALES OF XILLIATM & © 2011 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Press Release © 2013 NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S.. All rights reserved.