One of the features that set Ar Tonelico apart from other RPGs was the battle system. In the back row players had a Reyvateil, a song magic user, passively chanting spells while three other players used your basic fight/skill commands. In Ar Tonelico 2 players can choose how Reyvateils tune their song magic by guiding them with the d-pad. If you push left on the d-pad you use Burstec, damaging spells that also fill up the burst gauge. Increasing the burst gauge lets the other three characters use more advanced techniques such as more damaging attacks. If you press down on the d-pad you can do Psychological song magic that bumps up Reyvateil synchronization and increases the speed song magic charges. Using Psychological song magic has another advantage it can lead to devastating team attacks as pictured.
Famitsu has more screen grabs of Ar Tonelico 2 to see, which comes out sometime in 2007 in Japan. NIS America who has been publishing Gust’s games in North America has not announced if they are localizing this yet.
