Ar Tonelico 3

Bandai Namco Games is working on Ar Tonelico 3: Sekai Shuuen no Intetsu ha Shounen no Uta ga hiku for PlayStation 3. The third game features a setting that should be familiar to series veterans. Ar Tonelico 3's story unfolds on another tower located in the same world as Ar Tonelico and Metafalss, the towers that provided the settings of the two prequels. On the third tower Sol Cluster, humans and Reyvateils co-exist. The protagonist is a young man by the name of Aoto. He is quite reckless, but at the same time possesses a sense of responsibility. He has never liked the Reyvateil nation of Clastania, but upon meeting Saki (one of the game's heroines) this animosity turns into outright hostility. The second heroine revealed in today's update is Finnel, a pure Reyvateil from Clastania.

The Dive system of the earlier games returns in Ar Tonelico 3. However, the developers have added a new twist to the system. While diving into a Reyvateil's (sub)consciousness, the player will encounter more than one personality. Different personalities come dressed in different clothes. Which outfit a Reyvateil should wear in battle is determined by the player. Speaking of outfits, it will be possible to “liberate” the girls from theirs in Ar Tonelico 3. This effect as well as a considerably higher attack power is the reward for a strong bond between the protagonist and a Reyvateil.

Another new feature is the R.A.H. system. In the spiritual world, song parts can be merged into a new song by the player. By letting a Reyvateil sing a quality song in battle, it will be possible to strengthen a party member's attack power. Last but not least, the BGM will change in real-time, depending on the player's actions.

Those who pre-order Ar Tonelico 3 in Japan will be treated to a 44-page hardcover artbook. The game's development is already 80% complete.

Ar Tonelico 3 will be available in Japan on January 28th for 7,329 yen ($81.45 US).