Gloria Union: Twin Fates in Blue Ocean | |
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Developer(s) | Sting |
Publisher(s) | Atlus |
Producer(s) | Hikaru Yasui |
Artist(s) |
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Composer(s) | Shigeki Hayashi |
Series | Dept. Heaven |
Platform(s) | |
Release | PlayStation Portable
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Genre(s) | Tactical role-playing game |
Mode(s) | Single player |
Gloria Union: Twin Fates in Blue Ocean[a] is a tactical role-playing game for the PlayStation Portable, developed by Sting Entertainment and published by Atlus. It is a spinoff to Yggdra Union, and including Yggdra Unison and Blaze Union is the fourth installment in the Union subseries to Dept. Heaven. It was unveiled in Famitsu magazine in late March 2011 and released in June.[1] A remastered version for mobile platforms and the Nintendo Switch was released in March 2021 in Japan.
Gloria Union does not take place in the world of Ancardia, and so its story connections to the other Union games and the Dept. Heaven series itself are unknown.
Thousands of years ago, a great kingdom called Euforia flourished making use of a power source known as "Will".
Through the centuries, Euforia developed many customs based on the use of Will, but when one day they realized that their civilization would soon come to an end, they poured all their Will into crystals in order to leave a record of their culture behind. After this, Euforia sank to the bottom of the ocean.
In the present day, with the ocean now taking up over half of the world, the seas became populated with many pirates. Those pirates, hearing the legend of the crystals, began to search the ocean for clues to their whereabouts.
Among those pirates was one young boy dreaming of greatness.[2]
Like Blaze Union before it, Gloria Union inherits the same card system, turn-based movement, and real-time union combat used in Yggdra Union; it also keeps the Ax Battler class which debuted in Blaze Union.
However, Gloria Union also introduces a number of new cards and classes, as well as new system functions.
Problems with Blaze Union's battle display (such as character statistics being hidden behind speech bubbles during Skill usage) have also been rectified, with Skill-relevant statistics now being displayed at the top of the screen during use.[3]
According to the newly released PV, there will be 48 Tactics Cards, including several cards newly created for this game.[4] Comparatively, Yggdra Union featured 37 cards, while Blaze Union had 39.
In certain game maps, the Gloria pirate ship itself is available as a mobile cannon battery and piece of crossable terrain.
Gloria Union also contains a hidden feature in certain battlefields which allows the player to swap the formation style of units from male to female and vice versa regardless of their actual gender. A special item is required to do so. Intergendered character Kyra's personal formation overlays the male and female formations, creating a Union radius of 16 squares rather than the usual 8.
In addition to the day/evening/night time system, Gloria Union also features three types of weather: Sunny, Rainy, and Foggy. Sunny conditions are the default, whereas rainy weather decreases the power of units aligned to fire and gun-using classes. Fog decreases visibility, which results in the Union matrix being smaller, enemy units' manpower becoming indiscernible in battle, and a high chance of units going into Panic when hit with an enemy charge.
In Gloria Union, the bow-using classes "Hunter" and "Assassin" are replaced by gun-wielding classes "Sniper" and "Gunner" respectively. Previously Assassin-only card "Bloody Claw" has been reassigned with the male Sniper units accordingly.
Additionally, the "Bandit" class has been replaced with "Pirates", and the "Fencer" class replaced by "Chaser". Like the female-exclusive "Ax Battler" class that debuted in Blaze Union, a new male-only sword-using class called "Paladin" and a male-only spear class called "Sailor" have been added as well.
Fifteen new cards were created for Gloria Union, fourteen of which have been revealed on the official website[2]
To make room for the new cards, all character-exclusive cards used in the previous games are unused except for Coma Karma, Judgment Zero, and Insanity.
Gloria Union shares its producer and many other team members with Blaze Union, although Radiant Historia's Hiroshi Konishi and Dokapon Kingdom's Eiko Tameshige are handling the character art for this release rather than Rui Kousaki or Satoko Kiyuduki.[1]
Much like Blaze Union before it, Gloria's development was kept secret until its unveiling, unlike Gungnir, which JaJa discussed in its early stages on his blog. 2011 is the third year in which two Sting games have been released in directly consecutive months; 2009 saw the release of Hexyz Force in November and Yggdra Unison in December, and in 2010 the PSP version of Knights in the Nightmare (April) was followed by Blaze Union that May.
A remastered version of the game featuring various graphical and gameplay adjustments titled Gloria Union: Twin Fates in Blue Ocean FHD Edition is planned for a March 18, 2021 digital-only release for iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch platforms in Japan.[5][6]
Preorders of Gloria Union at certain vendors (Fammys, Softmap, Messe Sanoh, Imagine, Gamers, and Medialand) include phone cards with illustrations of Kyra and some of the game's female characters (Pinger, Elisha, Ruru, Ruru, Kyra, and Melanie respectively). In addition to this, preorders at Messe Sanoh's women-oriented vendor include a full set of bromide cards featuring the male cast, a first for the Union series as well as the Dept. Heaven series as a whole.
The game's single-disc soundtrack was released under the SMD itaku label one week after the game's release.[7] Its official strategy guide was printed by Softbank Creative and released on August 3.[8]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "GLORIA" | 0:43 |
2. | "To the Glorious Sea (栄光の海へ, Eikou no Umi e)" | 1:05 |
3. | "Ancient Euforia (古代ユーフォリア, Kodai Yuuforia)" | 1:21 |
4. | "Tremble of the Battlefield (戦場の戦慄き, Senjou no Wananaki)" | 1:45 |
5. | "To Victory" | 2:07 |
6. | "Depart for the Wide Sea! (大海へ出でよ!, Taikai e Ide yo!)" | 1:05 |
7. | "Guerilla Warfare (遊撃戦, Yuugekisen)" | 1:04 |
8. | "Breakthrough - Rescue Tactics (突破・救出作戦, Toppa / Kyuushitsu Sakusen)" | 1:10 |
9. | "Defensive Battle (防衛戦, Boueisen)" | 1:10 |
10. | "Decisive Battle at Sea! (海上決戦!, Kaijou Kessen!)" | 1:07 |
11. | "Fierce Battle! (激突!, Gekitou!)" | 1:00 |
12. | "He Who Defies God (神に抗う人, Kami ni Aragau Hito)" | 1:07 |
13. | "Pirates (海賊たち, Kaizokutachi)" | 1:15 |
14. | "Those Fangs Devour the World (その牙、世界を喰らう, Sono Kiba, Sekai wo Kurau)" | 1:05 |
15. | "The Enemy Arrives with a Secret Plan (出でる敵、潜む策, Ideru Teki, Hisomu Saku)" | 1:10 |
16. | "The Saint who Embraces Death (屍を抱く聖女, Shi wo Idaku Seijo)" | 1:08 |
17. | "Those who Seek the Light (光を求める者たち, Hikari wo Motomeru Monotachi)" | 1:09 |
18. | "History of Holy War (聖戦の系譜, Seisen no Keifu)" | 0:44 |
19. | "Trust in Your Friends (仲間への信頼, Nakama e no Shinrai)" | 0:34 |
20. | "Blue Ocean Boy (蒼海の少年, Soukai no Shounen)" | 1:32 |
21. | "The Guide to Euforia (ユーフォリアへ導く者, Yuuforia e Michibikumono)" | 1:18 |
22. | "My Twin Guns Sing on the Battlefield (双銃は戦場で歌う, Soujuu wa Senjou de Utau)" | 1:13 |
23. | "Supreme Ruler of the Sea (大海の覇者, Taikai no Hasha)" | 1:14 |
24. | "The Cat-Eared Pirate (猫耳の海賊, Nekomimi no Kaizoku)" | 1:16 |
25. | "The Fighting Archaeologist! (戦う考古学者!, Tatakau Koukogakusha!)" | 1:19 |
26. | "Candy Power! (キャンディーパワー!, Kyandii Pawaa!)" | 1:18 |
27. | "The Demon Lance-Wielding Vampire (魔槍を持つ吸血鬼, Masou wo Motsu Kyuuketsuki)" | 1:16 |
28. | "Flowing Pure Will (流れる清廉の意思, Nagareru Seiren no Ishi)" | 1:18 |
29. | "Ga-ga-ga-Gang! (ガガガガング!, Gagagagangu!)" | 1:07 |
30. | "The Golden Destroyer (黄金を纏う破壊者, Ougon wo Matou Hakaisha)" | 1:18 |
31. | "Brave!" | 1:18 |
32. | "Avaricious Lady Pirate (強欲なる女海賊, Gouyokunaru Onna Kaizoku)" | 1:31 |
33. | "It's the Great Pamela! (パメラ様だわさ!, Pamera-sama da wa sa!)" | 1:21 |
34. | "Beautifully, Fiercely (可憐に、獰猛に, Karen ni, Doumou ni)" | 1:33 |
35. | "They Entrusted Their Dreams to the Sea (大海に夢を託した者達, Taikai ni Yume wo Takushita Monotachi)" | 1:06 |
36. | "Covetous Fangs (垂涎する牙, Suizensuru Kiba)" | 1:13 |
37. | "First-Rate Villainy (極上の悪意, Gokujou no Akui)" | 1:13 |
38. | "Greedy Merchants (欲塗れの商人, Yoku Mabure no Shounin)" | 1:04 |
39. | "On a Straight Rail (逸れないレールの上で, Sorenai Reeru no Ue de)" | 1:09 |
40. | "For the Hope of Tomorrow... (明日の希望の為に…, Asu no Kibou no Tame ni...)" | 1:21 |
41. | "The Sacrificed Saint (捧げられた聖女, Sasagerareta Seijo)" | 1:17 |
42. | "Move Out!! (進軍!!, Shingun!!)" | 1:12 |
43. | "The Strongest Unbeatable Heroes (最強にして不破の豪傑, Saikyou ni shite Fuha no Gouketsu)" | 1:03 |
44. | "The Seeker (求める者, Motomeru Mono)" | 1:17 |
45. | "The Power of Euforia (ユーフォリアの力, Yuuforia no Chikara)" | 1:19 |
46. | "Victory! (勝利!, Shouri!)" | 0:07 |
47. | "Disgrace (不屈, Fukutsu)" | 0:07 |
48. | "The Battle Continues (戦いは続く, Tatakai wa Tsudzuku)" | 0:12 |
49. | "At the End of the Battle (戦いの果てに, Tatakai no Hate ni)" | 0:58 |
50. | "Banquet of Victory (勝利の宴, Shouri no Utage)" | 0:07 |
51. | "Fighting Spirit Sinking to the Depths (深淵へ消える戦意, Shinnen e Kieru Seni)" | 0:10 |
52. | "Drifting Days (流れるままの日々, Nagareru Mama no Hibi)" | 1:28 |
53. | "Power of the Awakened Will (覚醒する意思の力, Kakuseisuru Ishi no Chikara)" | 1:21 |
54. | "Touch and Go (一触即発, Isshoku Sokuhatsu)" | 2:03 |
55. | "Critical Attack and Defense (瀬戸際の攻防, Setogiwa no Koubou)" | 1:22 |
56. | "Tears of the Sea (海の涙, Umi no Namida)" | 1:14 |
57. | "Ship's Log (航海日誌, Koukai Nisshi)" | 2:12 |
58. | "History of Battle (戦いの歴史, Tatakai no Rekishi)" | 1:15 |
59. | "With the Blue Sea... (蒼海と共に…, Soukai to Tomo ni...)" | 3:29 |
60. | "The Sea Route to Glory (栄光へと続く航路…, Eikou e to Tsudzuku Kouro)" | 3:18 |
61. | "Glorious Pirates (栄光の海賊たち, Eikou no Kaizokutachi) (Unused Track)" | 1:22 |