History Videogame / TalesOfSymphonia

* BaitAndSwitch: A priestly girl in Palmacosta appears once the party has been to Hakonesia Peak, asking them to take her there. Players expecting an EscortMission will be pleasantly surprised to discover it's just a ZipMode.

* TrialBalloonQuestion: The Question is skipped however, with the answer being given straight.

* ArtEvolution: The {{OVA}}'s started out great, but it just gets better with each one.

** Verius, the summon spirit of heart. It is rainbow like Corrine, but much larger.

* BadassAdorable: Presea is a adorable, tiny little girl who cuts enemies apart with a massive ax.

*** Happens again with the PC version. Default controls for players using an Xbox 360/One controller are A for normal attacks, B for special attacks and X to guard. While that is technically the same as the Gamecube keep in mind that the X/B buttons between the Gamecube and Xbox controllers are REVERSED. [[SarcasmMode This is especially fun]] if you went from the Gamecube version of ToS, got used to Vesperia on the 360 and then later came back to Symphonia on the PC.

''Tales of Symphonia'' is the fifth mainline entry in the ''VideoGame/TalesSeries''. The game was released on August 29th, 2003 in Japan, on the UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube. It received an international release on July 13th, 2004 in North America and November 19th, 2004 in Europe.

A spin-off-sequel for the game called ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'' (originally titled ''Knight of Ratatosk'' in Japan) was released June 26th, 2008 in Japan, and internationally on November 11th, 2008 in North America and November 13th, 2009 in Europe, all exclusive to the UsefulNotes/NintendoWii.

An [[UpdatedRerelease HD port of the [=PS2=] version of the game]] titled ''Tales of Symphonia Chronicles'' (or ''Tales of Symphonia: Unisonant Pack'' in Japan) for the [=PS3=] containing Dual-Audio, new bonus cameo costumes, as well as an HD port of ''Dawn of the New World'' was released in 2014. Both games can also be bought separately through UsefulNotes/PlaystationNetwork. The HD port was also released for the PC through Steam. A remastered edition for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch was released in February 17, 2023.

* StoryBranchFavoritism: In Flanoir, [[spoiler:choosing to talk to Kratos instead of any other potential choice]] has far-reaching consequences for the rest of the game. Firstly, even getting the scene is a bit of a GuideDangIt, since you have to reject the three other characters that Lloyd has built up affection for (and even then, if your relationship with the GuideDangIt character wasn't high enough, the scene won't trigger in the UsefulNotes/PlayStation versions). Secondly, [[spoiler:this turns Zelos's fake FaceHeelTurn into a real FaceHeelTurn, and you're forced to kill him in a boss battle]]. That causes major problems at the end of the game, since the character you abandon is required for a good number of endgame skits, cutscenes and sidequests, while the optional secret character has none. Thirdly, getting the secret character also [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking locks in Colette as Lloyd's soul mate]], which meant if you wanted to see Lloyd pair up with anyone else, you're out of luck.

** Genis uses a kendama, a ''children's toy''. Sheena uses cards with wards inscribed on them.
*** [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in both cases. The kendama is explicitly said to help Genis concentrate when he's casting, and Sheena's 'cards' are actually ofuda, which are magical.
** If you equip the fancy clothes for Presea and Zelos, they have a chance of using a giant stuffed bunny and flowers respectively.

* ChildishVillainMatureHero: * ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'': The BigBad, [[spoiler:Mithos]] Yggdrasil, initially acts as the [[MaskOfSanity composed and calm leader]] of Cruxis, but it's later revealed that the death of his [[spoiler:sister, Martel]] has driven him over the edge that for all of his power and intelligence, he never grew up mentally. He [[DetrimentalDetermination becomes so determined]] to bring [[spoiler:Martel]] back to life that he'll cross any lines to get her back. [[spoiler:When Martel finally intervenes and calls out Mithos for his actions, pointing out that this goes against everything they fought for, Mithos [[IRejectYourReality refuses to accept her words]] and goes LaughingMad, and then deliberately misinterprets her last request to restore the world to the way it was by taking her soul and the Great Seed to Derris-Kharlan just to be with his sister forever, [[MotiveDecay no longer caring about the world]]. When he's finally put down, [[IRegretNothing he states that he doesn't regret any of his actions and he would do them all over again if he could]]]]. [[TheHero Lloyd Irving]] on the other hand, while his ideals also clash with the way the world works, is willing to yield when it's clear he's in the wrong and actually learn from his mistakes, allowing him to undergo CharacterDevelopment and become an AllLovingHero. Lloyd's party members also share some of Yggdrasil's insecurities, but they are able to overcome them by choosing not to go with the [[EvilIsEasy easy solution like he has]].

*** Surprisingly enough, there is also an orange Gamecube visible as a background object in a scene in the Elemental Research Laboratory... and this one wasn't edited out of subsequent releases, including releases on non-Nintendo hardware.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The spellings differ depending on whether it's the Japanese version or the English version. Collet[=/=]Colette, Shihna[=/=]Sheena, Ruin[=/=]Luin, Haima[=/=]Hima, Parumacosta[=/=]Palmacosta, Ascard[=/=]Asgard. (Japanese spelling first, then English.)

** In the original GameCube version, the rotating lock in the Sylvarant Base is an indigo GameCube, recognizable by its distinctive circular top plate and gray front controller panel. For obvious reasons, this was changed to a nondescript object in subsequent re-releases on PS2, PS3, PC, and eighth generation systems. Even the Switch version, the first time the game was released on Nintendo hardware since the original, has the same nondescript item in the Sylvarant Base.

** In a skit with Raine and Regal that is available during the party's return to the Tower of Mana to unlock Luna, Lloyd complains about the lack of a "Quick Jump" to get the party straight to Luna's altar instead of having to climb the tower again.

* DeconstructorFleet: Pretty much every main character, including the BigBad, is a {{Deconstruction}} of a standard RPG character archetype. It's particularly savage towards the idea of TheChosenOne and just what self-esteem issues a MessianicArchetype could potentially end up with. It tears into the {{Determinator}} and IdiotHero tropes too.
** And as noted below, the BigBad is just as much of a {{Determinator}} as Lloyd is -- his ideals just got compromised along the way.

* ChildishVillainMatureHero: The BigBad, [[spoiler:Mithos]] Yggdrasil, initially acts as the composed and calm leader of Cruxis, but it's later revealed that the death of his [[spoiler:sister, Martel]] has driven him over the edge that for all of his power and intelligence, he never grew up mentally. He [[DetrimentalDetermination becomes so determined]] to bring [[spoiler:Martel]] back to life that he'll cross any lines to get her back. [[spoiler:When Martel finally intervenes and calls out Mithos for his actions, pointing out that this goes against everything they fought for, Mithos [[IRejectYourReality refuses to accept her words]] and goes LaughingMad, and then deliberately misinterprets her last request to restore the world to the way it was by taking her soul and the Great Seed to Derris-Kharlan just to be with his sister forever, [[MotiveDecay no longer caring about the world]]. When he's finally put down, [[IRegretNothing he states that he doesn't regret any of his actions and he would do them all over again if he could]]]]. [[TheHero Lloyd Irving]] on the other hand, while his ideals also clash with the way the world works, is willing to yield when it's clear he's in the wrong and actually learn from his mistakes, allowing him to undergo CharacterDevelopment and become an AllLovingHero. Lloyd's party members also share some of Yggdrasil's insecurities, but they are able to overcome them by choosing not to go with the [[EvilIsEasy easy solution like he has]].

* DevelopersDesiredDate: Any of the party can be chosen as Lloyd's soul mate (not always but often a romantic relationship) based on who has the highest Affection for Lloyd. However the game heavily favours Colette for this role. While every other party member starts with an Affection score of 0, Colette starts with an Affection score of 500. She also has more chances to increase this score and less chances to reduce it than any other character. Colette also has more scenes alone with Lloyd than the other party members and the final cutscene is with her and Lloyd even if she isn't his soul mate. Zelos and Kratos, meanwhile, seem to be [[DownplayedTrope the intended "alternate" choices]], as they're the only other ones who ''must'' be chosen for eventual OneHundredPercentCompletion, and they both have further-reaching effects on the post-choice story than any of the remaining six characters.

*** Genis earns "Experimental" for changing his weapon a lot in one battle. Changing equipment during battle is rarely necessary, other than if you suddenly realize that you should have used a different loadout, and even that isn't doing to happen ''repeatedly in the same fight''.

* TurnsRed: {{Superboss}} Abyssion starts using attacks like Indignation Judgment and Meteor Storm when his HP is low.

* TurnsRed:
** Played straight by {{superboss}} Abyssion, who starts using attacks like Indignation Judgment and Meteor Storm when his HP is low, and subverted in the case that [[TheHero Lloyd]]'s [[LimitBreak Falcon's Crest]] becomes available to him only when his HP is lower than 16%, so it's the player character turning red.
** Also, Genis and Sheena's strongest attacks can only be performed while in Overlimit- a Status Effect that is pretty much [[TurnsRed turning red]], but that can be activated through other means.
** The [[UpdatedRerelease PS2 version ]] gives the player even more of these. Raine and Regal's Mystic Artes require Overlimit, as does one of Zelos's. Kratos's Mystic Arte requires his HP to be lower than 16%. One of Zelos' Mystic Artes requires him to have [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs less that 16% of his HP]] ''[[BreadEggsBreadedEggs and]]'' [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs be in Overlimit]]. The crowner goes to Presea, whose second Mystic Arte requires her to have less than 10% of her HP remaining, be in Overlimit, ''and'' activate a compound EX Skill to further boost her attack power, while the rest of the party is KO'd.

* YouLoseAtZeroTrust: While the RelationshipValues system in the game generally has little impact on the story apart from determining the way certain scenes play out, there are a few instances where failure to cultivate any level of camaraderie with particular characters will result in negative consequences.
** Most significantly, Zelos's trust in the party is the biggest determinant for whether he decides to [[spoiler:pull a SuicideByCop on the party or survives that visit to the tower]], and if his points are in the red he will automatically do the former.
** In the updated/ported versions of the game, if the player makes choices that result in Kratos having the lowest trust in the party, he won't show up in Flanoir to speak to Lloyd at all.

* EscortMission: The Temple of Darkness features the party escorting five fragments of Shadow, the Summon Spirit of Darkness, to the bottom of the temple. [[ThatOneLevel Player hatred ensues]].

* ZeroGSpot: Referenced in a skit between Zelos and Lloyd, the latter of whom [[ChasteHero having no idea what the former's talking about]].
* ZipMode: The game often lets you "quick jump" through a dungeon you have already traversed when you have to go back to its final room for plot reasons. One time it simply doesn't happen. Lloyd gets amusingly frustrated about it in a rare moment of BreakingTheFourthWall.

** After you make a summon pact with Undine, you can go make pacts with Efreet and Sylph as well. There's no in-story reason to do this, but it will unlock them as spells earlier and save you the trouble of going back for them later in the game when you need all the Summon Spirits. The bosses are even returned to match your current level.