Summon Night: Twin Age

Summon Night: Twin Age
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Developer(s)	Flight-Plan
Publisher(s)
Director(s)	Takayuki Kinoshita Hirokazu Kawase
Designer(s)	Akira Yamamoto
Writer(s)	Midori Tateyama
Series	Summon Night
Platforms	Nintendo DS
Release date(s)
Genre(s)	Action role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single-player

Summon Night: Twin Age (サモンナイト ツインエイジ 精霊たちの共鳴（こえ）, Samon Naito Tsuin'eiji Seirei-tachi no Kyōmei (koe)) is an action role-playing game in the Summon Night series for the Nintendo DS. The game is developed by Flight-Plan and published by Atlus. The game was released in Japan on August 30, 2007and was released in the North America on June 3, 2008.

Gameplay

Summon Night: Twin Age uses a fully touch-based control system. Gameplay in Summon Night is based on a top-down hack and slash RPG similar to Diablo II or Ragnarok Online. Moving the main character is done by tapping the screen where the player wishes to move. Attacking is done by tapping a target enemy onscreen with the stylus. The controlled character will attack periodically until given a different command. Skills, spells, and items are used through two popup windows along the sides of the screen where the player can preset abilities. They are used by tapping the desired ability and then a target. Summon Night uses a party based system of three characters at a time. Two will always be the main characters and one will be a third A.I. controlled party member of the player's choice. Control between the heroes can be done at anytime they are on the same screen. Summoned creatures can also be used in battle by defeating the respective monster, obtaining its creation item, and then conjuring it into a flask through a menu on the world map. These flasks can be used as items to summon monsters for the player's team. Other than the controlled main character, other party members, be they humanoid or monster, will act independently, attacking and using skills, but will follow the main character's movement. Continued use of a certain party member will increase that character's "rank" improving their performance and granting access to new skills. The two main characters both gain experience from defeating enemies gaining levels in the process while the third party member shares a level with the "chosen" main character. Leveling up increases a character's parameters and grants the two main character access to skill points they can spend on their skill tree to unlock/upgrade their skills. All skills have a maximum level of seven and have both a level requirement and a skill point requirement to unlock.

Plot

The World which Summon Night: Twin Age takes place in is called Clardona. In this world there are two main races; humans, and the Kascuza, creatures which have both human and beastlike features. The two races were constantly battling, and a short lived peace began after the humans pushed the Kascuza onto a small island named Jarazi. A third group that inhabits Clardona are spirits, entities from another world, which mainly manifest in the form of nature spirits and rarely as creatures or humanoids known as Summon Beasts. Humans could call up creatures from another world in a process known as "Summoning" and they were constantly researching ways to increase their summoning powers. In one of the facilities, a terrible accident happened caused by a young girl's named Reiha's summoning powers going out of control. The girl was assumed to have died along with her family, who lost their lives in the accident, but she survived, and was hidden with the Kascuza on the island of Jarazi, along with the result of the summoning, a young Summon Beast boy named Aldo. Seven years passed. Near their coming of age ceremony the spirits of nature suddenly began to go wild, and the two of them leave to discover the reason for the strange events, which is also an under kingdom.

Characters

Main characters

These are the main characters of the game. The story is different depending on the one the player chooses at the beginning, but they are both controlled in combat.

• Reiha: One of the main characters of the game. She is a young human girl raised among Kascuza. She is cheerful and responsible, and likes gardening and cooking. In battle Reiha uses projectile attacks and is able to cast sky/wind/earth/water/fire Spirit magic, curative magic, and buff/debuff magic. She has high magic power and SP but low attack and hit points.

• Aldo: The other main character of the game. He is a Summon Beast, brought into this world when Reiha lost control of her powers seven years ago. He loves Reiha's cooking, and listening to the wind. Aldo uses physical attacks in battle as well as sword/axe/spear/fist skills and buff magic. He has high attack power and hit points but is weak magically. He is brave person and stands up for others in need.

Ally characters

Characters who join in combat. They are not controlled directly.

• Nassau: A young Kascuza man from the Garbah Tribe. He is the grandson of Ingiell. He is friendly with Reiha, but hates the other Summoners for what they did to the Kascuza; and for the death of his parents in the war. In battle, he uses his axe and Wind Spirit magic; he is a good choice for attacking 1-5 enemies at a time.
• Ayn: The princess of the Kascuza tribe of Jarazi. She has been groomed to become the next priestess of the Kascuza village, and has trained for it from childhood. She is naive and innocent, but she will come to the aid of those who need her. In battle, she uses water Spirit magic; Ayn is a superb healer and can fend off 1-3 enemies.
• Mardin: Mardin is the man who saved Aldo and Reiha, being very good friends with Reiha's father. After the incident, his summoning powers were sealed by the Summoner Magistrate. Though Mardin can no longer access spirit magic, he is a powerful martial artist, using his body and physical skills in battle. He holds the nickname "Mardin the Undefeatable" and he slowly changes through the story, from strict and merciless to open and trusting. He can fend off 1-5 enemies and is a good balance if you prefer playing as Reiha.
• Ticah: An Apprentice Summoner Aldo and Reiha meet on their journey after they venture to the human lands of Alchein. Ticah is ordered to follow and observe Aldo and Reiha in order to both learn their motives and further the plans of her master Zarahm. Ticah is bright and cheerful but easily becomes nervous and apologetic. She uses a bow and song magic in battle. She is a good choice if you prefer playing as Aldo.
• Lila: A Second class Summoner who is investigating the escaped Summon Beasts with her partner Arlus. Lila acts cold and arrogant but actually cares deeply for her friends, at first she doesn't understand how to be friendly with the Kascuza because of her beliefs. She has great respect for Mardin, who happens to be her former Master. Lila uses a Spear and fire Spirit magic in battle.
• Millisar: A Fugitive Summon Beast freed by Phicra from the 16th Catheirn. He is befriended by Aldo and Reiha after he is separated from Phicra, and his original goal is to return to her. Millisar hates humans for their mistreatment of Summon Beasts, but he gradually accepts the humans he travels with, and becomes a citizen of the Kascuza town of Marbado. His desire was to return to his own world with Phicra, to free the Summon Beasts. Millisar uses a Dao and dark Spirit magic in battle. A good choice if you prefer playing as Reiha.

Other characters

• Ingiell: An elder in the Kascuza village and Nassau's grandfather. Ingiell was once a competent physical fighter like his grandson, but as he got older he became a leader in the Kascuza church and learned to rely on the Spirits for magic in battle. He is patient and compassionate, and although he is a strict teacher, he can still be very kind. He has a strek of stubbomness, especially when talking about Ayn or the Shrine.
• Phicra: A Summon Beast who had been held captive in a Summoner research facility. An unknown person freed her, and she has dedicated herself to free her fellow Summon Beasts from the other facilities around the world. She can control the Spirits with her will, and uses powerful offensive magic.
• Ghardib: A fierce Summon Beast for whom violence is the first, last, and preferred option to solving any problem. He had been held captive in a Summoner research facility, but was freed by Phicra. Ghardib has a passionate hatred for humans. He has some magical ability, but most of his attack come from his own immense physical strength.
• Agneah: A mischievous Summon Beast who can also be very cruel. She had been held captive in a Summoner research facility, but was freed by Phicra. She loves flashy and cool-looking things. She uses physical attacks in battle.
• Arlus: Known as "Golden Arlus", he is a summoner with a very cheerful disposition. Talij as ordered him to try to figure out the mystery behind the escaping Summon Beast. He wants to be known as a hero, but the people around him think of him as a buffoon. Arlus can be serious, but he tends to be irresponsible and takes everything lightly.
• Talij: Known as "Talij the Cold", she is the Summoner Magistrate in charge of the entire Summoner population. She is feared by many and is a very busy person, not much is known about her beside the fact that she is very kind hearted and open to change.
• Zarahm: A very arrogant Summoner from the elite of Summoner society. He was also known as "Zarahm the Wise". He comes from a family of Summoners once known for their great power, and he is Ticah's uncle and master. His great Summoning abilities have earned him a place as a lead researcher in the Summoner facilities. He tends to judge people based on their social classes, and is uptight about everything. Master over Ticah he commands Ticah to follow and observe both Aldo and Reiha.

Reception

GameSpot rated Summon Night: Twin Age 7/10 and praised the "simple, but charming gameplay and the cute presentation", but stated that "there are a few AI and targeting issues", and that "exploration can get monotonous". IGN rated it 8.2/10, praising the "beautiful art, strong effect, deep customization aspects, and a slick overall interface". IGN also stated that while "the touch control is simple, it is varied with spells, skills, and attacks", and that "the monster battle system, skill trees, item creation/upgrading, and general flow of the game are all well designed". IGN states that while "the soundtrack is simple, it is effective". Cheat Code Central rated it 3.9/5, praising the controls and play value.

External links

• Official website