Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel PlayStation 3
Metascore
61 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 27
  3. Negative: 5 out of 27
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  1. GameCritics
    Oct 26, 2011
    85
    There's always more to learn of the characters in all sorts of ways, and underneath the goofiness, there was still a thick layer of strong narrative and character development that kept me invested through sixty hours. I don't know if JRPGs will ever return to their previous prominence, but if Ar Tonelico Qoga is any indication, they still have a lot to offer.
  2. ZTGD
    Mar 14, 2011
    85
    Ar tonelico Qoga is a rather surprising game. I was expecting another boring, strange Japanese RPG with very sexual elements. What I got was an entertaining Japanese RPG with very sexual elements…that is also strange.
  3. Level7.nu
    Apr 17, 2011
    80
    Except for the random encounters and a bit boring battle mechanics this is a great JRPG.
  4. Destructoid
    Apr 11, 2011
    80
    Anyone who claims to be tired of overly self-serious JRPGs that concentrate on graphics above all else has no reason not to at least give the game a look.
  5. Cheat Code Central
    Mar 26, 2011
    80
    A polished, pretty game that offers an interesting (if labyrinthine and melodramatic) storyline, a fun crafting system, and the kind of bombastic visual effects lovers of JRPGs have come to expect.
  6. Worth Playing
    Mar 15, 2011
    80
    To sum things up, Ar Tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel doesn't look so hot on the surface.
  7. PSX Extreme
    Mar 1, 2011
    73
    A decent game that many should enjoy, provided they're familiar with the distinct Japanese flair, and provided they like the drastic gameplay change.
  8. SpazioGames
    May 9, 2011
    70
    Ar Tonelico Qoga is the third and final installment in the saga. It does have what it takes to satisfy the fans, but it's not impressive enough to reach a bigger audience.
  9. GamesRadar
    Mar 28, 2011
    70
    Where the game lacks in production values it makes up for in a lengthy story that fans of Japanese visual novels will enjoy (although it's not as static as visual novels).
  10. PlayStation LifeStyle
    Mar 16, 2011
    70
    A decent game that should find a home with people wanting a solid JRPG. A couple of nagging flaws keep this game from fully reaching its potential, but even with those, there is still plenty to enjoy here. A serviceable story provides good balance between humor and drama but is killed at times by awkward dirty jokes.
  11. GamePro
    Mar 15, 2011
    70
    It's hardly a masterpiece of gameplay or character development, but it was quite successful in keeping me intrigued and entertained on a few different levels.
  12. Eurogamer Italy
    Feb 25, 2011
    70
    In this first try of the series on PS3, Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel steps on the 3D court and gives its fans a complete overhaul in terms of gameplay. Despite some graphical/technical problems and minor bugs, this third (and final?) chapter of the series has a lot to offer and will keep you entertained for a long time.
  13. RPGamer
    Feb 23, 2011
    70
    Ar tonelico Qoga is a worthy finale to the series... providing you can find the true ending, of course. Its strengths are many, and NIS America has done its best to keep a polished localization.
  14. Vandal Online
    Apr 4, 2011
    69
    This isn't a bad game, but we expected more. Possibly JRPG hardcore fans will consider it a decent entry in a genre passing through difficult times, but actually it doesn't bring anything new or noteworthy.
  15. RPG Fan
    Mar 11, 2011
    68
    Perhaps Ar tonelico Qoga will quench the thirst of many wanting to play a console JRPG, but the game is filled with debilitating flaws. Almost everything that Ar tonelico Qoga provides has been done before in a JRPG; the lack of original content and presence of overused content doesn't leave much to praise.
  16. Game Over Online
    Apr 18, 2011
    67
    Ar Tonelico Qoga is a game with much potential that is overshadowed by its sexualized themes and excessive fan service. Much of the appeal is lost with its stereotypical cast of characters, bland visuals and repetitive random battles that quickly outwears its welcome. I couldn't help but feel very underwhelmed by what could have been a promising and satisfying game. A lot of high hopes and expectations were riding on this latest Ar Tonelico installment with its best moments being marred horribly by its flaws and shortcomings.
  17. Machinima
    Apr 26, 2011
    65
    Qoga adheres to every JRPG trope you can imagine but manages to be disarmingly charming and original within that framework. Think of it as a low-budget Tales of Vesperia.
  18. Extreme Gamer
    Apr 18, 2011
    64
    This one is for the fans and if you're one of them, Qoga should provide enough psychological babble to keep you locked up for hours.
  19. IGN
    Apr 27, 2011
    60
    With all the technological bells and whistles driving this sequel, it ended up halting rather than evolving the series. Great animations set against clunky backgrounds, too much repetition in both the combat and music, and the lack of difficulty hold this JRPG back from being something truly special.
  20. Meristation
    Apr 5, 2011
    60
    Ar Tonelico Qoga is not as interesting as the previous two games. It lacks the charm, the visuals and the gameplay, but it delivers an interesting plot and a great soundtrack. It's not the best game in the series and it's a bit uninspired, but it will satisfy hardcore Ar Tonelico fans for sure.
  21. GamerNode
    Mar 28, 2011
    60
    Ignoring the distraction of sophomoric dialogue and the game's less-than-enjoyable combat, there is value in this journey for the right sort of player, thanks to an interesting, well-paced plot and strong character development.
  22. Gaming Nexus
    Mar 8, 2011
    58
    Just be aware that you're getting in to a game that's got a few rough spots that you'll have to navigate to find the good bits. You'll also have to brown bag it when you walk out of the store.
  23. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Mar 24, 2011
    40
    An incoherent mix of unattractive art styles and an absurd plot. [Apr 2011, p.114]
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  24. games(TM)
    Mar 23, 2011
    40
    More like a clinically insane uncle; you'll spend time with it because it's family, but it will confuse and embarrass you with every opportunity it gets. [Issue#107, p.114]
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  25. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    Mar 17, 2011
    40
    Either way, there's more titillation than fun in Qoga. [April 2011, p.84]
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  26. Play UK
    Mar 21, 2011
    27
    Feels like a glance into the mind of a perverted otaku, and little more. [Issue#203, p.94]
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  27. Game Revolution
    Apr 25, 2011
    25
    Even after playing the last game, Ar Tonelico Qoga is simply disappointing. If only Gust had decided to fix what was wrong with earlier incarnations - the non-intense battles, the remarkably "blah" characters, the below-average everything - they might have had something here.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.2 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 85 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. sgb
    5
    In a nutshell, this third AT game is mostly a step back from AT2. The character interactions are a little better, but the gameplay is much worse.

    Starting right with the bad, the battle system in AT3 is very bare-bones. They went with a Star Ocean style battle system, but forgot to give your characters any interesting skills to make these battles fun. You will pretty much just be spamming the same attack over and over and over. To make matters worse, there are only three non-Reyvateil party members the entire game. In previous AT games, your Reyvateil(s) had a numbers of different songs (aka spells) to choose from. Here, you get one attack spell and that's it. The final nail in the coffin is that, like the previous games, the difficultly is still laughable. Your Reyvateil's attack is so strong that all non-bosses will die in one shot, and unlike AT2 you have to charge and use this in every battle past the halfway point as your melee attackers hit for 10 damage on enemies with 20000+ HP. The controversial gimmick in AT3 is the purge system. Basically you hold a button and shake the controller every so often and your Reyvateil will...strip. Doing so increases the song damage and special effects provided to the others. There is absolutely no sense whatsoever to this beyond blatant fanservice, seeing as AT1 and 2 took place in the same world and yet have never heard of this Reyvateil 'power-up method'. It's really just a huge step down from AT2s gameplay, and you really have to wonder if the game would have been better off as straight visual novel this time around.


    The popular synthesis system is back, but unlike previous games the sole benefit to using it is for the banter while making it. As noted above, your non-Reyvateil party members are little more than distractions, so equipment upgrades have almost no impact on performance. Not that you need to get your upgrades this way, as enemies drop equipment and accessories like candy. Basically you will make everything once to see if it triggers a talk event afterwards, then never looks at the stuff again.


    The game's saving grace is the Cosmosphere and character banter. The characters in AT3 have better chemistry than in previous games, so the relationships don't feel completely forced by the writers. The secondary characters get developed a bit more than previous titles as well. As other reviewers have said, this game flies past the semi-subtle innuendo in previous titles and goes right into openly discussing sexual fetishes. On one hand, it gets a little crude at times, but on the other hand it's somewhat refreshing to dispense with the *winkwinknudgenudge* dialogue for once. Combined with the purge cutscenes, that M rating is fully justified so be warned. There sadly aren't alternate costumes like in previous AT games, instead having (without spoiling any plot) a few different 'personas'. It's not quite as good, but I guess they couldn't justify having 9 different costumes per Reyvateil with the purge cutscenes. The overall story isn't amazing, but it provides a reasonable conclusion to the AT series.


    All in all, there's not much to say here. For fans of the series the game's strengths are the same as previous titles, and the weaknesses...are sadly standard to AT as well. You won't be playing this for the gameplay. Players new to the series looking for a new jRPG should run away. This is a visual novel first, and a game second.

    FINAL BREAKDOWN:
    6/10 for AT fans
    4/10 for anyone else    … Full Review »
  2. vahn
    6
    I always liked Gust's Rpgs for many reasons: they tend to be "old-style" and their stories aren't that serious but yet are enjoyable, reminding me of fables...well this game can be a sort of half-way work. First of all the story starts off rather rushed and fast but tends to improve with time (sort of); the graphics are ok and I particularly liked the backgrounds even if they are 2d and the music is nothing to be reminded but it does it's job good enough. What are the problems then? First of all, the battle system...it feels kinda weak, thin and totally lacking: your main job is to attack the enemies by pressing just one button 3 times and then cast the spell that your Reyvateil for finishing them by using purging for powering up their spells: the end. That's it mostly, and you don't even need to parry: it's automatic (by standing still...). You can also defend your Reyvateil by pressing circle when an enemy attacks her, but that's it basically: it feels like they rushed this battle system and your main job is to just help your Reyvateil to cast better magic, as your attacks won't be as strong as hers later in the game. But to me the biggest flaw of this game is just one: the fan-service. I mentioned before you need to purge for powering up your spells...and you do that by stripping your Reyvateil: it feels very annoying and very unnecessary and even though they explain "why" they have to strip it grows tiresome with time, making you skip their "strip" in battle from the start. However I enjoyed the game and if the players can pass the "purging" and fan-service gimmicks (or enjoy, depends on the taste) I would really say this isn't a bad game and it's worth a check before getting it completely.… Full Review »
  3. Kthalas
    8
    Ar Tonelico Qoga is one of those games that will appeal to a select crowd. It is almost a traditional JRPG. This game likely will not appeal to gamers that are heavy into Western styled RPGs like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Fallout 3 or Demons' Souls. Graphically Ar Tonelico Qoqa is beautiful. Not quite cell shaded, but somewhere past that. The characters are anime style, in keeping with Japanese tradition. At times it feels almost as if your characters are on the background rather than in the background. The colors are varied and bright. Combat is similar to the Tales of series of games. It's not turnbased, but action based. You can time your attacks with the Harmonic graph/bar causing the Reyvateil's Heart beat to increase, eventually allowing you to do a "Purge" move. Sort of like a special attack that's pretty powerful. Good for boss fights, not as useful in normal fights. You can also hit the X button for a magic attack done by the Reyvateil in your party. At the beginning of each fight your Reyvateil begins singing. The strength of the magic attack is based off the song percentage. There are no enemies on screen so fights are random, but there is a gauge on the lower right of your screen that is sort of an indicator of when a fight is approaching. It can happen regardless of color but the closer to red it gets the more likely an encounter will happen. When the gauge is empty there is no more combat in the area until you zone out and re-enter. The story line is interesting, but slow to pick up. Around 6 or 7 hours before it really picks up. You are able to "dive" into the cosmospheres of your Reyvateils' (call it mind diving) and help them to over come aspects of their personality and to perform stronger magic attacks. There is an option to change the English voice acting to Japanese voice acting. Overall I have been enjoying Ar Tonelico Qoga. I hope others give this gem a try. As I said to begin, it won't appeal to everyone, but it is a solid title once you get past the minor flaws.… Full Review »
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