Kartia: The Word of Fate

by Atlus

Product Features

• Two different storylines complete with FMV, spread over 30 hours of gameplay.
• Character designs by Yoshitaka Amano.
• Create your own weapons, armor, magic, and monsters using Kartia!
• Trade special items with your friends via the memory card or fight to the death in Versus Mode.
• Control up to 20 characters in battle!

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000009QCX
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,337 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Product Description

From some of the visionaries behind the Final Fantasy series, Persona, and Soul Hackers comes this strategy/role-playing game where players use magic to control their environment. Kartia is named after a card game that the game's characters use to conjure all sorts of magic. You'll freeze rivers, raise or lower ground, and clear fields to give your army a tactical advantage. And you'll also be able to create your own weapons, armor, and phantoms to go with you into turn-based battles--some of which comprise over 20 characters.

In Kartia, you'll choose between two characters whose unique, intermingling stories come to different endings. As a bonus, players can trade special items from the game with friends via a standard memory card.

GameSpot Review

Atlus is getting better at this. After finally bringing over the most recent PlayStation installment of its unique Megami Tensei series, Persona, it has become encouraged by the wide-open RPG market and begun porting over its best titles: Ogre Battle, Tactics Ogre, and now Kartia.

Originally titled Rebus (in Japan), the newly renamed Kartia refers to the card-based magic the game centers on. Similar in style to Tactics Ogre, Kartia is mainly a strategy game with a unique twist. Instead of concentrating so heavily on the tactical aspects of the game, Kartia focuses on creating phantoms, which are creatures that enter into battle with you. You can also use all sorts of elemental magic based on Kartia as well. During the game you will have the chance to create weapons and new kinds of phantoms. The variety found in Kartia is refreshing and the innovations abound.

You begin by choosing one of two characters, Toxe or Lacryma, and follow the story, which is different for each character. Like any decent RPG, the plot is lengthy and involved, and the game time invested in either quest will require significant commitment. Considering you can choose between two different characters adds considerable value.

With character designs by Yoshitaka Amano (of Final Fantasy fame) and game design by the producer of the Megami Tensei series, RPG fans will find much to enjoy here. Graphically, the game resembles a simpler Final Fantasy Tactics. However, the game is sharper, clearer, and more colorful than FF Tactics and much easier to navigate with an easy-to-see overhead perspective. Backgrounds are 3D and can be rotated 360 degrees, 90 degrees at a time. Characters are sprite-based and animated well for this sort of game, while spell effects give a good bang for the buck.

The sound effects are particularly sharp and add a tangible authenticity to the battle scenes. Gamers who enjoy well-done soundtracks will enjoy the orchestral compositions that lace the Kartia experience. An interesting feature that many gamers will enjoy is the versus mode, where you can take on a friend's army. You can also swap items with other players using your memory cards.

Perhaps the only downside (which is not unique to most RPGs, strategy or otherwise) is that the game is quite linear. Aside from that, battles tend to get a bit monotonous; however, the sheer number of options at your disposal goes some way to lightening that burden - small details to be sure and nothing that detracts from the game. Once past the first couple of battles, the subtleties sink in, and it's then that the game becomes a blast.

Considering the drought of good RPGs recently, Kartia's presence on the market is perfect timing. The fact that it's a good RPG makes it even better. Kartia's a game with substance and style, one that wins you over without resorting to flashy pyrotechnics or cheap gimmicks. Hopefully gamers won't overlook this game as they salivate in anticipation of games like Final Fantasy VIII. Kartia is a first-rate RPG that we're lucky to have on these shores. Atlus' daring move has resulted in one of the finest RPGs this year. --James Mielke
--Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. GameSpot and the GameSpot logo are trademarks of GameSpot Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars RPGs, you gotta love em', September 9, 2000

By 

Sixto Limiac (I Don't Know!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kartia: The Word of Fate (Video Game)

Kartia: "The Word Of Fate" (recognized as Rebus in Japan), crams fabulous innovation in one decent Strategy/RPG. Although Atlus has released a few worthy games on the PlayStation console, Atlus begins to grow as a company who'll soon promote their selves into a house-hold name. Like the arising empire of Enix. Despite the humiliation from their most embarrassing game, Eggs of Steel, Atlus is gaining momentum with their not-notch RPGs. Taking corresponding steps alike with Ogre Tactics and my all time precious- Final Fantasy Tactics-, Kartia packs charming innovations. Sure, Kartia may not have the excellent job systems like FFT, or any archers for the matter, yet it brings temples of innovations to bury the burden. It has Phantoms. Once the player ons his PlayStation, the player selects his decision to accept the role of Toxe or Lacryma. Each character has a totally different story process. The niddy-griddy fun in Kartia is concentrating on your arsenal of Phantoms. They are paper-rock-scissors monsters. All phantoms can be defeated by a specific one and vise versa. Phantoms play the most basic role. During the game, the player uses them to create elemental magic or specialize weapons. Assembling the player's own infantry takes a critical job for victory or instant death. The objectives in Kartia are alike with FFT's system. From claiming the lives of your adversaries to escorting a vital character, Kartia has the same fundamentals of any Strategy/RPG game. What really amazes, is the addition to disturb the environment. Players have the opportunity to cut down trees down for a bridge and order a magician to freeze a pool of water for walking. Battling enemies on the vast terrain is exciting, but the game loses some valuable points from being completely linear. Gladly, there is another innovation that covers that burden as well, the 2P Mode. Final Fantasy Tactics could have been truly flawless if Square decided to include the 2P Mode. Kartia takes Strategy/RPGs deeper. The 2P Mode allows two players to battle their armies on saved data. Players can also trade items. The ONLY downslope going for Kartia is the abrupt end. Kartia is an engrossing story. With a tale like this, why not bring an anime in the movie industry? Both characters have dissimilar story progressions. Loxe is a young boy who enjoys the elegance of swordplay a bit too much. Lacryma is an incredibly robust Shrine Knight. It's up to these two heroes to protect the land from barbaric rebels. Heroes fighting the bad rebels may sound dull and boring, but once the backstabs roll in, there's no way the player can let the controller free again. Someone, anyone, make Kartia an anime! Graphically Kartia is a 3D splendor. The vibrant colors hold an artistic environment. When a person speaks, a dialogue box is set above the screen and the character's faces appear. At the FMV department, the videos are dark, and morbid that triumphantly stimulates your daily dose of eye-candy. Music thrives to hand the player spectacular soundings. The beats can really adjure you in an edge of your seat thrill. Atlus has succeeded to create a game that goes beyond the redundant RPGs today. Don't be fooled by Kartia's age or lack of popularity. This is a solid buy. FFT fans, run- kill only if necessary- to grab a hold of this monster. 2P mode shines and awaits for your arrival. In return for your forty bucks you'll get the chance to trade items with a friend, and get sucked into a extremely addictive play!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters, great gameplay, and sadly, overlooked, November 25, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Kartia: The Word of Fate (Video Game)

Despite having somewhat dull graphics and being super-linear, Kartia has to be one of my favorite games for the PSX. The characters, especially in Lacryma's scenario, are interesting and contain real depth. The music is also wonderful, and fits each scene perfectly.

The actual gameplay is fun and relies on an interesting system, but in the end Kartia's more like an interactive book. If you don't like to sit back and read, steer clear.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Thought I Was the Only Person Who Liked this Game, February 13, 2004

By 

V. Cuadrado "Kaliska of Ysera" (Allentown, Pa (a misplaced Californian)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kartia: The Word of Fate (Video Game)

Alot of people dislike this game, it's graphics aren't the best, and the battle system isn't the best, but I really enjoyed it. I loved the storyline. I thought it was interesting. I had alot of fun playing this game and felt that the reviewers in the gaming magazines weren't exactly fair. Every once and awhile I still read sarcastic comments about Kartia in gaming magazines, although one has to wonder about the opinions of those guys. o.O. If you want to get this game, don't get it with any expectations. Also if you don't like to read, forget it. But if you like good storylines and fun, different gameplay, it's a good choice. But... don't judge it on the first hour of gameplay. ^_^