Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star is a Japanese role-playing game that takes place in the same universe as the Ar tonelico series of games, as it's an actual prequel to them. While there are some similar aspects between the two games, Ar nosurge also introduces many new mechanics to the series.
Exploration
This is the area where your characters can interact with other characters and the scenery. Items can even be collected in this area. Characters can learn more about the area by talking to other characters there. You can even switch between the two characters you are playing as for each of them to engage in the conversation.
This is also the area where battles are encountered. There is a bar that changes color based on how close you get to a battle. When the bar turns red and then starts flashing, that means that your characters are close to encountering a battle.
City
This is the place where you can perform synthesis and genometrics as well as switch to the other protagonists. This is the only area where you will be able to enter the field. You cannot battle here.
Zapping
This allows you to switch between the two teams of protagonists. You can only do this while you are either in the city or the field, though. You cannot switch while in battle.
Battle System
The characters encounter their battles in the field. Besides defeating the wave of enemies, the job of the player is to protect the female protagonist that can perform Song Magic. This protagonist will be charging the Song Magic attack while the other protagonist will be protecting them. The player is able to choose which Song Magic the heroine can perform.
In fact, the protagonist does not have any HP, while the heroine's HP is represented by four barriers. When their HP falls below a certain amount, this will destroy one of those barriers, making it so normal items cannot recover it (unless they have a barrier restoration effect). If all four barriers are destroyed, then you get a Game Over.
Attacking and Song Magic
The player will be able to choose between four attacks that correspond with the four main buttons on the PlayStation 3 controller. The player can also bring up a menu where the character can activate Song Magic, flee from the battle, use Friend Skills, and use items. The male protagonist will be able to attack a certain amount of times before it's the enemy's turn to attack.
The female protagonist's Song Magic must charge for a while until it's ready to be unleashed. The player has the option to use her Song Magic before it is charged, but the attack will not be as strong as when it is fully charged. A fully charged Song Magic is powerful enough to wipe out the entire wave of enemies, if not deal a great damaging blow to all of them.
Protection
When it comes time for the enemy to attack, the player must be ready to protect the female protagonist. With the right timing, the player can allow the male protagonist block the attacks of the enemies by pressing the circle button. This will result in less damage for the heroine and an increase of the Burst Guage. If the timing is incorrect, though, the heroine could obtain some serious damage and the Burst Guage will decrease. The heroine has an HP bar whereas the hero does not.
Harmonics Level and Harmonics Burst
The male protagonist can perform bonus actions using L1 and L2, though that will exhaust some of the Harmonics Level. The Harmonics Level can be increased much more quickly by using good battle tactics. The increase of the Harmonics Level actually increases the Burst Gauge more, which is the visual representation of the heroine's charging Song Magic.
When the Genometrics of the Heroine is complete up to the point of the Completion Ceremony and the Harmonics Level reaches level 4, then the Song Magic option turns into Harmonics Burst. With this activated, the hero will be able to attack the enemy an unlimited amount of times while the gauge is decreasing. The heroine's Song Magic will also be incredibly stronger while the Harmonics Burst is activated.
Friend Skills
Friends your characters have made would be able to provide their support while in battle. There are four friend skill slots, and the friend skill can only be used once per battle.
Battle Results
Each battle is timed. If the current wave of enemies isn't defeated by the end of this time limit, then characters can still receive DP, money, experience, and any dropped items. However, the guage that detects when a wave of enemies are nearby in a field can still be red and flashing for that same wave of enemies you just battled. You either have the option to get out of there before you engage in another battle, or finish the battle where you left off.
Genometrics
This gameplay element allows the player to Dive into the mental world, or the Soulspace, of the characters. The player must resolve the inner struggles of each of their characters while there. This will result in the characters receiving Genometric Crystals that can help them grow stronger. However, the character needs a certain amount of DP, or Dive Points, and to have unlocked certain events in order solve certain inner struggles.
Synthesis
When your characters have obtained certain items and collected certain recipes they can combine them to make newer items. They can do this at Synthesis Shops, certain areas in the city where you can perform synthesis of those items. Specific newer items can also be made to strengthen certain parts of the characters' equipment, such as an RNA for increasing armor power or Cathodes increasing weapon power.
Purification
The characters come together in a hot spring to take a bath and have conversations to get to know each other better. This is where the Genometric Crystals can be used to increase the powers of any of the characters. There will be a total of five slots to insert the crystals, but not all of those are available from the beginning.
