| Tales of the Tempest | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Dimps, Namco Tales Studio |
| Publisher(s) | Namco Bandai Games |
| Director(s) | Teruaki Konishi Takeshi Narita |
| Producer(s) | Makoto Yoshizumi |
| Designer(s) | Mutsumi Inomata Daigo Okomura |
| Writer(s) | Shino Taira Riku Okimata Makio Kurita |
| Composer(s) | Motoi Sakuraba |
| Series | Tales |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Role-playing video game |
| Mode(s) | Single player Multiplayer |
Tales of the Tempest (Japanese: テイルズ オブ ザ テンペスト, Hepburn: Teiruzu Obu Za Tenpesuto) is an action role-playing game developed by Dimps and Namco Tales Studio, and published by Namco Bandai Games for the Nintendo DS exclusive in Japan. An entry in the Tales series, it was released on October 26, 2006. The game makes use of the Tales series' recurring Linear Motion Battle System, customized so characters and actions can be controlled and determined using the DS touch screen, as well as incorporating multiplayer elements. The opening of the game was made by Production I.G (2D animated parts only) and uses the music VS composed by Koda Misono.
The game follows Caius Qualls, a Leymon (race of werewolf-like shape-shifters who are persecuted for previous disastrous abuse of their advanced technology) who also have a human blood. With his guardian and parents taken prisoner by the church authorities, he sets out on a quest with other outcasts to save them and overthrow the church's oppressive regime. The game's characteristic genre name is Tamashii o yobisamasu RPG (魂を呼び覚ますRPG, RPG that Awakens the Soul).
Tempest was developed by Dimps, along with staff from Namco Tales Studio, including composer Motoi Sakuraba, designers Mutsumi Inomata and Daigo Okomura, and producer Makoto Yoshizumi. As the first title in the series to be developed for the DS, the concept behind it was to create a compact Tales experience for that platform. Yoshizumi moved to delay the game twice before its release so as to refine the experience. Upon release, the game polarized Japanese and western critics, with Famitsu Weekly giving it a notably harsh review. While some have praised the game's story and gameplay, others have faulted these and other aspects such as its technical quality and short length.