World in Peril

Meet Jack Russell and Ridley Silverlake as you enter the world of Radiata Stories.

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The developer of role-playing classics like Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile is working on a PlayStation 2 exclusive to be published by Square Enix. This time around, Tri-Ace has created an entirely new universe, independent of its flagship Star Ocean franchise. Radiata Stories has been out in Japan since January, but we got our hands on a US build of the game to see what exactly the world of Radiata Stories has to offer.

Radiata is a bright, colorful fantasy kingdom where humans cohabitate with fairy creatures such as elves and dwarves. The races have an entirely perfunctory relationship, interacting with each other only to trade necessary resources. However, you soon see the fragile relationship between humans and fairy creatures dissolve as the races become embroiled in a bitter war for world dominance. Of course, it's up to you to cool tensions, end the war, and ultimately save the world for man--and fairy--kind.

You'll take part in these events by controlling Jack Russell, an excitable young man who also happens to be the son of a deceased legendary knight of the kingdom of Radiata. As the story begins, Jack is about to take the exam to become a Radiata Knight himself. Jack shows up and learns that he has to fight someone named Ridley Silverlake. Confident and eager as always, Jack declares that he will rip this Ridley guy apart. Jack is then surprised to find that Ridley is a woman, and he's even more surprised (and confused) when that woman promptly kicks his butt in a duel.

By looking at it, you'd never know the world was about to end.

When the results of the test are announced, Ridley is accepted as a Radiata Knight, thanks to her extensive training and skills in combat. And, despite his lackluster performance during the test, Jack is also accepted as a knight, thanks to his father's legacy. This begins a fierce rivalry between the two young recruits that predictably develops into mutual affection as time passes and the two spend more time together. Jack and Ridley join the Rose Cochon Brigade under the command of Captain Ganz Rothschild, a well-intentioned, but too forgiving, knight who takes his duty very seriously.

Soon, the Rose Cochon Brigade receives their first assignment, which is to travel to the dwarven town of Earth Valley to escort precious cargo from the dwarven mines back to Radiata Kingdom. Before leaving, the party meets up with a priest, who comes along to provide support during the mission. The trip to Earth Valley just requires you to follow a linear path where a few small enemies get in the way, but they don't pose much of a threat. Once at Earth Valley, you are free to explore the town while the cargo is being prepared. When the cargo is ready the party heads back home. But on the way they are attacked by a trio of utterly stupid goblins. Once the goblins are defeated, the party returns to Radiata Castle and parts ways, and that's it for the first mission.

The next mission involves taking an important message to the elven City of Flowers, but first you have to persuade one of the elf lords to let you into the city. Before all this happens though, some blood orcs show up and attack an elf messenger. Jack is as feisty as ever and quick to take this opportunity to battle a more-challenging opponent. However, the orc proves to be too tough, and during battle Ridley is seriously injured and nearly dies. When they return to the castle, the Rose Cochon Brigade is disbanded for their failure, and both Jack and Ganz are discharged from the Radiata Knights. With nowhere else to go, Ganz suggests that they join Theater Vancoor, which is a warrior guild. Jack passes the test and joins up, but Ganz doesn't make the cut and the two part ways, at least for awhile.

Radiata Stories features a simple, hack-and-slash action combat system.

All of these story sequences are told through frequent and very lengthy in-game cutscenes. These sequences occur often and involve several cuts, location changes, and copious amounts of dialogue, which is all fully voiced. We only played through the first several hours of the game, but we're told that eventually the storyline splits, allowing you to follow one of two distinct paths.