Venus & Braves
Encyclopedia
Venus & Braves: Majo to Megami to Horobi no Yogen (English: Venus and Braves: The Witch and the Goddess and the Prophecy of Destruction) is a tactical role-playing game
developed by Namco
for the PlayStation 2
. A pseudo-sequel to the 2-dimensional RPG Seven: Cavalry Troop of Molmorth, it takes place in the same fantasy world. Venus & Braves includes both a single player
mode and multiplayer PlayStation Network battles. The game's plot revolves around an immortal warrior named Blood Boall who is sent by a goddess to save the world from destruction in a hundred years' time. The story itself takes place during the ensuing century and beyond. The game was released exclusively in Japan
on February 13, 2003.
grid, and fight enemies in a similar pattern on the opposite grid. The abilities of characters are geared towards different rows; some may attack from the back row, while others may heal ally characters in the same row. Battle takes place automatically, with the player deciding whether to send the front row to the back at the end of the turn, thus "rotating" the field. As the field is rotated, the second row is sent to the front lines, and so on. If a character dies, they are permanently removed from the game.
The effectiveness of a character is determined by a number of stats
, including an "assistance" attribute for attack and defense, and recovery attributes that affect the speed of a unit's healing and allow them to heal allies. There are over 50 individual unit types and 17 unit categories, and certain combinations of characters possess special abilities.
Weapons can become stronger if they are continuously used by a certain character. These weapons retain their power if they are bequeathed to a younger party member and not merely removed from their previous user.
by the goddess
Aria after an important battle. While previously a bloodthirsty warrior, Boall settles down into a more peaceful life before the start of the game. Aria, who travels with Boall as a fellow immortal, has full knowledge of his past and has trouble relating with humans. A witch named Vivid, who obtained immortality through similar circumstances, also has a mysterious grudge towards Boall. Throughout the game, other characters die due to the passage of time, and their age is a key statistic for discerning whether a character is at their peak performance level.
version of the game was released on January 20, 2011.
The remake feature cameos from famous characters of Namco Bandai's RPG - the Tales Series, including: Colette Brunel (Tales of Symphonia
), Cless Albein, Suzu Fujibayashi, and Mint Adnade (Tales of Phantasia
), Tear Grants, Luke fon Fabre, and Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear (Tales of the Abyss
), Phillia Felice and Leon Magnus (Tales of Destiny
), Yuri Lowell (Tales of Vesperia
), Asbel Lhant and Sophie (Tales of Graces
) and Kyle Dunamis (Tales of Destiny 2
).
called the battle system of Venus & Braves "complex and enjoyable", with "an intriguing storyline" supplementing the element of strategy in character formations. The game's artwork and sound were generally praised, with IGN calling the visuals "top-tier".
Tactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
developed by Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
. A pseudo-sequel to the 2-dimensional RPG Seven: Cavalry Troop of Molmorth, it takes place in the same fantasy world. Venus & Braves includes both a single player
Single player
A Single-player video game is a video game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. "Single-player game" usually implies a game that can only be played by one person, while "single-player mode" usually refers to a game mode for a single player, where...
mode and multiplayer PlayStation Network battles. The game's plot revolves around an immortal warrior named Blood Boall who is sent by a goddess to save the world from destruction in a hundred years' time. The story itself takes place during the ensuing century and beyond. The game was released exclusively in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on February 13, 2003.
Gameplay
Venus & Braves uses a "Rotation Battle System" in which seven characters are placed on a 4 block by 3 block isometricIsometric projection
Isometric projection is a method for visually representing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions in technical and engineering drawings...
grid, and fight enemies in a similar pattern on the opposite grid. The abilities of characters are geared towards different rows; some may attack from the back row, while others may heal ally characters in the same row. Battle takes place automatically, with the player deciding whether to send the front row to the back at the end of the turn, thus "rotating" the field. As the field is rotated, the second row is sent to the front lines, and so on. If a character dies, they are permanently removed from the game.
The effectiveness of a character is determined by a number of stats
Statistic (role-playing games)
A statistic in role-playing games is a piece of data which represents a particular aspect of a fictional character. That piece of data is usually a integer or, in some cases, a set of dice....
, including an "assistance" attribute for attack and defense, and recovery attributes that affect the speed of a unit's healing and allow them to heal allies. There are over 50 individual unit types and 17 unit categories, and certain combinations of characters possess special abilities.
Weapons can become stronger if they are continuously used by a certain character. These weapons retain their power if they are bequeathed to a younger party member and not merely removed from their previous user.
Characters
Venus & Braves revolves around Blood Boall, who, while having the appearance of a pale 18-year-old, is actually 345 years old, having been given immortalityImmortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
by the goddess
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
Aria after an important battle. While previously a bloodthirsty warrior, Boall settles down into a more peaceful life before the start of the game. Aria, who travels with Boall as a fellow immortal, has full knowledge of his past and has trouble relating with humans. A witch named Vivid, who obtained immortality through similar circumstances, also has a mysterious grudge towards Boall. Throughout the game, other characters die due to the passage of time, and their age is a key statistic for discerning whether a character is at their peak performance level.
Setting
Venus & Braves is set in the same fictional world as its spiritual predecessor, Seven. The game begins in the town of Barakway, where Boall is the leader of a group of bandits. After the town is attacked, he sets out on his journey.Remake
The PlayStation PortablePlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
version of the game was released on January 20, 2011.
The remake feature cameos from famous characters of Namco Bandai's RPG - the Tales Series, including: Colette Brunel (Tales of Symphonia
Tales of Symphonia
is a video game first released for the Nintendo GameCube and later for the PlayStation 2 in Japan. It debuted in Japan on August 29, 2003, selling 953,000 copies, in Canada and the United States on July 13, 2004, and in Europe on November 19, 2004. The game received a Japanese-only PlayStation 2...
), Cless Albein, Suzu Fujibayashi, and Mint Adnade (Tales of Phantasia
Tales of Phantasia
is a Super Nintendo game in the RPG genre published by Namco and released in Japan in 1995, selling 212,000 copies. It is the first mothership title in the Tales RPG series and was later remade/re-released on the PlayStation, Game Boy Advance and PlayStation Portable...
), Tear Grants, Luke fon Fabre, and Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear (Tales of the Abyss
Tales of the Abyss
is a console role-playing game developed by Namco Tales Studio and published by Namco in Japan and Namco Bandai Games in North America. Tales of the Abyss's characteristic genre name is The Meaning Of Birth RPG . It is the eighth mothership title in the Tales series, and was released for the...
), Phillia Felice and Leon Magnus (Tales of Destiny
Tales of Destiny
is a video game in the RPG genre published for the PlayStation console by Namco on December 23, 1997 in Japan, selling 1,139,000 copies. Tales of Destiny's characteristic genre name is...
), Yuri Lowell (Tales of Vesperia
Tales of Vesperia
is the tenth main title in the Tales series. It was developed by Namco Tales Studio and published by Namco Bandai Games for the Xbox 360. The title was announced on December 22, 2007 at Jump Festa, and was released on August 7, 2008 in Asia, and on August 26, 2008 in North America...
), Asbel Lhant and Sophie (Tales of Graces
Tales of Graces
is the 12th mothership title and the newest generation in the Tales series for the Wii and PlayStation 3. It follows lead character Asbel Lhant, who desires to obtain greater strength. Its characteristic genre name is . The opening theme is by BoA...
) and Kyle Dunamis (Tales of Destiny 2
Tales of Destiny 2
is the fourth mothership title in Namco's popular Tales RPG series, a true sequel to Tales of Destiny that takes place in the same fictional world...
).
Reception
IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
called the battle system of Venus & Braves "complex and enjoyable", with "an intriguing storyline" supplementing the element of strategy in character formations. The game's artwork and sound were generally praised, with IGN calling the visuals "top-tier".