Tales Series

Hello tropers! So I've decided to start this thread because I've had Tales fever recently {which I've been trying to cure by giving Tales Of The Abyss another go}. Jade is still my favorite mage, the story still rocks, and I still find Natalia and Tear incredibly hot. :P I'm looking forward to a new Tales release here in the US {Xillia, I'm looking at you!}. Please Namdai, deliver unto us more Tales goodness! :)

edited 28th Dec '10 1:28:43 AM by joerc45

Tales games? Americans don't want that. Hiroshi, call the offices across the pond and tell them to get cracking on a new Dead To Rights and maybe something with some space marines in it. They'll love it this time, for sure!

For some reason even though I finished Symphonia about two years ago I suddenly had a really strong desire to play through the game again, but then I realized I only had 500 Grade and grinding is taking forever. From what I (re)played, though, it's even better than I remembered; Raine and Zelos are pretty much my favorite video game characters of all time.

My sister got a PS 2 a while back for the Kingdom Hearts games, but I haven't been able to find a copy of Abyss. I might just get it off Ebay.

Hi joerc45. I was going to direct you to our existing Tales Series thread, but it seems to have disappeared. Gah. Here's the thread we had on Tales of Xillia.

edited 28th Dec '10 6:47:12 AM by RadicalTaoist

Is it OK to continue this thread? That thread is specifically Xillia.

Yeah, it's fine, the other thread has disappeared. Mostly because there was nothing to do but weep about all the games Namdai wouldn't release over here.

Which reminds me, back to my regularly scheduled weeping. T_T

I wonder what Namco wants all those tears for...

Inspiration for their Woobie filled games. T_T

Namdai obviously finds great joy in our suffering.

Raven from Tales of Vesperia is my favorite video game character of all time, by the way. Jade of Tales of the Abyss is a close second.

As any given thread that involves the Tales Series gets longer, the probability of the thread devolving into bemoaning and outraged cries of despair about the series' No Export for You-ness approaches 1.

Yuri is one of my most favorite RPG protagonists of all time.

Sorry, if the opening post doesn't moan about a certain Tales game not getting an English release then the probability that the following post will moan about it is already 1.

Well yeah, just as a thread on Metroid will include a discussion of Other M. It'd be sillier to not expect complaints to drop.

I've only played Tales of Symphonia, Legendia, Abyss, and Radiant Mythology to completion. Out of them, Legendia's probably my favorite, despite my wish that they had kept Symphonia's battle system. Not saying what's there is bad though.

Favorite characters (as in the ones I enjoyed using) from each: Sheena and Presea; Senel and Jay; Tear, Natalia, Guy, and Anise.

Despite not expecting it be ported, I'm excited for Xillia. And I've never played Vesparia, having not owned a 360 when it was released, but I'm debating buying it now. Is it worth tracking down?

edited 29th Dec '10 5:08:08 PM by Customer

Definitely. The battle system is the most refined yet of the Team Symphonia games (there are some absolutely ridiculous, insane, and fun combos you can pull off), and there's a lot of personality to the characters and the world. Don't listen to the people who tell you the 360 version's an Obvious Beta either — it's a perfectly good, complete game on its own, it's just that the PS3 got the Final Mix.

It has Rita Mordio, who's able to murder over a hundred enemies with ease in only one long chain of pain.

edited 29th Dec '10 5:22:35 PM by daltar

Let's see, Tales games I've played...Phantasia (on both the GBA and PSX), Destiny (both the original and the PS 2 Director's Cut remake), Eternia (PSP), Symphonia (on both the GCN and the PS 2), Rebirth, Legendia, Abyss, Innocence, Radiant Mythology, Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, Vesperia (on both the 360 and PS 3), and VS.

Even if Namco doesn't release Xillia here, I'll most likely end up importing it. That's what I plan to do with Graces as well.

Is Rita some sort of legendary champion in the game or something?

I heard about the beta thing, but found it hard to believe. And the only benefit I saw in the PS 3 version was an additional character and some extra cutscenes. So yeah, it sounded very Final Mix.

How's the AI? I like to use the magic users, but they tended to be not as fun as the melee rushers (at least until near the endgame when it's easier to keep your TP up), not to mention the AI not fighting effectively enough to protect me.

The AI for Vesperia is very good imo, with the exception of Estelle. She has to be one of the worst healers I've ever had the displeasure of having to use.

Of course, I don't really like her as a character either.

I thought she was a pretty good character, but yeah, she's a pretty trophy case of Gameplay and Story Segregation. The story goes on and on about her Chronic Hero Syndrome and how she absolutely must stop to help/heal people in need, even/especially if it'll cause the party problems. In battle, she's much more likely to run up in the enemies' face to attempt her amateur brand of swordplay, and while it doesn't necessarily mean she gets killed — particularly since she actually has the highest defense rating of the party — it does mean there's less First Aid and Nurse going on than you'd like.

There are ways to configure her AI to focus on healing, though. You just usually have to turn off literally all of her other skills, tell her to stay far away, and make her burn through all her TP.

^Indeed. At this point, I don't even use her anymore, I just use Karol primarily for healing. While he doesn't have Resurrection, I find that with his best healing skills he can heal my party faster than Estelle ever did. I did try to configure her AI to heal me more (turned off her other skills, set her to heal, etc.) but she still seemed to run up to enemies and get herself killed when my party could really use some healing...

Amazingly enough though, they seem to have vastly improved Estelle's AI in the PS 3 version.

I was always amused by Genis' similar antics in Tales Of Symphonia; specifically the way he would run out of TP and then immediately charge the enemies to whack them with his cup and ball for 1 damage.

Jade from Tales Of The Abyss may just be my favorite game character in anything ever.

I heard a little about Estelle from my brothers. I was hoping she wouldn't be another female lead healer like every other Tales female lead but that doesn't seem to be the case. It sounds like they were trying to make her into some sort of Paladin (or The Mario) character but failed.

And I have to say I am getting a bit tired of every female lead being The Medic in these games, especially when the AI is so unreliable. I woulnt mind the hero getting healing skills along with the regular skill set (Dragon Quest heroes tend to be like this), especially since every Tales game seems to enjoy having the hero fight on his own at one point or another.

edited 29th Dec '10 6:33:30 PM by Customer

Well, I usually play as Raven anyway, who has a healing skill of his own...Yuri does get Guardian Field, which heals a little bit, but not very much.

Though I don't like Colette very much either, she at least was not the healer in her respective game.

I think Lloyd is one of my favorite protagonists in any Tales game, mostly because he's insanely fast while being one of the games' heaviest hitters at the same time. I remember fondly combos being chained together without the slightest effort. Tiger Bla-Heavy Tiger Blade! Demon Fang->Sword Rain: Alpha->Raging Sword Rain! Sheena's also pretty cool, too. I love her summoning capabilities and her seal combos. As far as Vesperia goes, I was quite fond of using Judith. She's quick and has some of the most amazing combos I've seen in a Tales game. Her Mystic Arte is also one of my favorites. Another character who deserves mention is Jade. He's just plain awesome.

edited 29th Dec '10 11:41:30 PM by joerc45

^I agree with everything you just said. Love all of those characters.

Symphonia: I'm a fan of Zelos, for whatever reason.

Vesperia: Raven Raven RAVEN! Bow attacks, close range knife slashes, and one of the best healing moves in the game! Yuri's pretty good as well. Repede isn't bad, Karol has the best menu healer in the game.