Tobal 2

Infobox VG| title = Tobal 2


developer = Dream Factory
publisher = Squaresoft
designer =
engine =
released = vgrelease|Japan|JPN|April 25, 1997
genre = Fighting
modes = Single player, multiplayer
ratings =
platforms = PlayStation
media = 1 CD-ROM
requirements =
input =nihongo|"Tobal 2"|トバル2|Tobaru 2 is a 3D fighting game developed by Dream Factory and released by Squaresoft in Japan in 1997. It is the sequel to "Tobal No. 1". Unlike the latter, "Tobal 2" was not released in North America or PAL territories.

It features an extensive 200 playable characters and includes a greatly exanded Quest Mode compared to its predecessor, as well as gameplay running at 60 frames per second Fact|date=February 2007.

Gameplay

The fighting system in "Tobal 2" is the same as in the previous game. The player can freely navigate 3D fighting arenas under the condition that he or she faces the opponent. High, medium, and low attacks can be executed using assigned buttons. As in "Tobal No. 1", the grappling and blocking system offers the player a variety of offensive and defensive maneuvers. A new unblockable fireball attack has been added for each character.cite web | author=Gerstmann, Jeff | date=May 8, 1997 | title=Tobal 2 Review | url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/action/tobal2/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review | work=GameSpot.com | accessdate=2007-09-08] "Tobal 2" was released on the same day as Sony's Dual Analog Controller in Japan, noted as the first game compatible with the peripheral. [cite web | author=IGN staff | date=April 3, 1997 | title=Analog Joypad To Go On Sale In Japan | url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/062/062422p1.html | work=IGN.com | accessdate=2008-07-04]

Quest Mode

"Tobal 2" contains 6 dungeons (Practice Dungeon, Pyramid, Desert Spaceship, Molmoran Mine, Castle and Final Dungeon) to conquer. Unlike the dungeon-enclosed Quest Mode of "Tobal No. 1", this incarnation also offers a fully-explorable town that allows the player to eat, sleep, and shop. In each floor of the dungeons, the player will battle against a variety of monsters. When defeated, the monsters will drop either food, stones, potions, money or weapons. As the player progresses through the game, the character gains experience for each body part or type of attack (the most important being each arm, each leg, throwing and guard). The higher the level of the characters arms and legs and throw, the more damage an attack using that part will yield. Similarly, the higher the guard level, attacks on the character will yield less damage. Both attack and defence levels can be increased/decreased by potions and stones. Guard experience can also be accumulated by eating food when the stamina bar is (nearly) full.

By defeating monsters in the Quest Mode, the player has the option of capturing the monsters for use in the versus fighting mode, making the number of playable characters a maximum of 200. Some monsters are unique, such as the chocobo, but many of them are just palette swaps with attributes raised for higher level monsters. Monsters can be captured by throwing a purple stone at them when they are nearly defeated. The progress of the Game can be saved using the church buildings in the town, and the character (comprising of additional data such as max hit points and attack/defence levels) can be used in the arcade and versus mode.

Music

The "Tobal 2 Original Sound Track" was scored by Takayuki Nakamura, who also composed for the fighting games "Virtua Fighter" and Dream Factory's "Ehrgeiz". Like the soundtrack for the game's predecessor, it includes a fusion of many different styles such as jazz, funk, and rock and roll. [cite web | author=Paredes, Alonso | title=Tobal 2 Original Soundtrack | url=http://www.altpop.com/stc/reviews/tob2ost.htm | work=Altpop.com | accessdate=2007-09-08] When asked in an interview concerning the soundtrack who he was most influenced by, Nakamura stated "...the music styles of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Jeff Beck." [cite web | title=RocketBaby's interview w/ Takayuki Nakamura | date=July 4, 2000 | url=http://www.rocketbaby.net/interviews_nakamura_1.html# | RocketBaby.com | accessdate=2007-09-08] The 20 track CD was released by DigiCube on April 21, 1997 in Japan. [cite web | title=Tobal 2 Original Sound Track | url=http://www.chudahs-corner.com/soundtracks/index.php?catalog=SSCX-10007 | work=Chudahs-Corner.com | accessdate=2007-09-08]

Release and reception

"Tobal 2" was to be released in North America but the release was cancelled. According to a Square official, the game was not localized due to the disappointing sales of "Tobal No. 1". [cite web | author=IGN staff | date=May 14, 1997 | title=Tobal 2 USA Launch Canned | url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/062/062640p1.html | work=IGN.com | accessdate=2008-07-04] Originally, it was thrown around that various third-party companies expressed interest in releasing the game but Square would not license the game to other companies. However, according to a feature in the February 2006 issue of "Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine", Square representatives claimed that the game was never released because the PlayStation's limited memory prevented the English dialogue from fitting in the game's text boxes. A fan translation was completed little more than 3 years prior to the Square's official statement [cite web |url=http://home.comcast.net/~hairraiser/Tobal2/index.html |title=Tobal 2 Translation Project |accessdate=2007-12-11]

"Tobal 2" sold over 318,000 copies in Japan in 1997, making it the 31st best selling game of the year. [cite web | title=1997 Top 30 Best Selling Japanese Console Games | url=http://the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell1997.shtml | work=The-MagicBox.com | accessdate=2008-06-06]

Despite its exclusive release in Japan, the game has received relatively high praise among importers. GameSpot gave "Tobal 2" an 8.1/10, finding that it is superior to "Tobal No. 1" in every aspect and makes for "a great diversion from the norm." However, the website admits that it has no chance of competing with more popular fighting series such as "Tekken" and "Mortal Kombat".

In 2000, "Tobal 2" was ranked number 50 on "Weekly Famitsu"'s 100 best PlayStation games of all time. [cite web | author=IGN staff | date=November 20, 2000 | title=Famitsu Weekly PlayStation Top 100 | url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/088/088060p1.html | work=IGN.com | accessdate=2007-09-08]

References

External links

* [http://www.square-enix.com/jp/archive/tobal2/ "Tobal 2"] at Square-Enix.com
* [http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/chelmsford/178/t2_index.html Tobal 2 unofficial fan site]