Developer: Level-5
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Role-Playing
Rating: N/A
Platform: Sony PlayStation 3
Release Date: N/A
Players: 1

Level-5 has already developed great RPG titles for PlayStation 2, like Dark Cloud and Dragon Quest VIII, but now they wish to carry over their success onto PlayStation 3 with White Knight Story. White Knight Story (Translated from Shirokishi Monogatari, a working title) looks to be one of the first great RPGs of PS3. While White Knight Story was originally scheduled to be a launch title, Level-5 decided to push the release back so they could make a more developed game.

Akihiro Hino, President of Level-5 and Producer of White Knight Story said

While the release of the game may be more than a year away, it certainly seems that the wait will be worth it.

The story of White Knight Story at this point is unknown, but there are a few key things that we can take from the Tokyo Game Show trailer. Our main character is a young man named Lenard, who is accompanied by an older tough-looking knight, and a young woman named Yulie. We cannot conclude what the situations of these three characters are, but we do know that their village has been attacked by men wearing black armor; similar to the armor of the enemies encountered in the trailer.

As the trailer starts, we see a detailed map with a chess-like figure that moves from one territory to another. This is where our players begin their quest. The environments seen in this trailer are amazing; top of the line and very real looking. The same can be said for the character models and animations. White Knight Story looks to be a next-gen title in all aspects of the term. I can only hope the completed project looks as good as it did at TGS.

During the tantalizing trailer at the TGS, we get a glimpse at the amazing battle scenes that White Knight Story has to offer. Followed by some battle preparations made in a menu, we get to see the party engage in their first battle. Unlike a vast majority of other RPGs, the combat of White Knight Story is extremely realistic, while still maintaining a fantasy element. This is demonstrated when the older party member performs some type of magical combination of moves. Like Final Fantasy XII, battles are fought in real time. Most attacks are dodged or parried, but when you do land a hit, it doesn’t slice through them like other games. If you manage to strike your enemies, it will realistically make contact with their flesh and cut them. As seen in the trailer, after Lenard is cut you can see him holding his arm. Another unique aspect of the game is that you can interact with nearby enemies to perform deadly combos. The TGS trailer showed the main character Lenard, grabbing an enemy from behind and restraining him, while his companion Yulie easily takes him out.

After the enemies in black armor are defeated, the party moves further down the road until a giant fire golem emerges from the ground before them. After futile attempts from the older party member to attack the beast, Lenard decides he has seen enough. Lenard unsheathes a dagger and places it in his enchanted-looking glove. After a short ritual and animation, Lenard is transformed into a seven-meter tall White Knight. The trailer ends after the White Knight charges the fire golem and swings his first attack.

While no release date has been set, White Knight Story is coming along quite well, all of the maps and menus are complete, along with some professional voice acting. White Knight Story looks to be a very impressive introduction into the next-generation of RPGs on PlayStation 3. Stay on the look out for more information on this mysterious title from Level-5.

TGS trailer
Source