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MisterTambourineMan Unbeugsame Klinge from Under a tree Since: Jun, 2017 Relationship Status: Browsing the selection
Unbeugsame Klinge
#3076: Sep 3rd 2024 at 6:53:35 AM

The darkest Tales gets is that game where the protagonist is an edgelord.

Nach jeder Ebbe kommt die Flut.
RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#3077: Sep 3rd 2024 at 7:00:25 AM

Trails of Cold Steel has you part of an expansionist empire but you aren't part of the faction that supports war.

In fact, you end up more at odds with that faction.

EDIT: FUCK! I misread that as Trails, not Tales. Keeping this post to remember my shame.

Edited by RedHunter543 on Sep 3rd 2024 at 11:27:21 PM

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
PhoenixAct Since: Feb, 2011
#3078: Sep 3rd 2024 at 7:32:42 AM

The darkest Tales gets is that game where the protagonist is an edgelord.

And yet a lot of people still count Vesperia as one of the best ones. tongue

Jaryl from Austria Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#3079: Sep 3rd 2024 at 7:36:30 AM

I wouldn‘t count Yuri as an edgelord, tbh

PhoenixAct Since: Feb, 2011
#3080: Sep 3rd 2024 at 7:43:15 AM

I mean, he was a murderous vigilante.

Still, my comment was more just a reaction to Velvet being dismissed as an edge lord, when there's more to her character than that.

MisterTambourineMan Unbeugsame Klinge from Under a tree Since: Jun, 2017 Relationship Status: Browsing the selection
Unbeugsame Klinge
#3081: Sep 3rd 2024 at 7:54:50 AM

I'm not outstandingly find of Yuri and I'm not trying to be dismissive of Velvet. But when you run around fixating on revenge and calling yourself the "Lord of Calamity", the Internet is going to make certain jokes, even if they're reductivist.

And going back to the question from earlier; the only thing Tales is known for "subverting" is the individual games' own set ups (a reputation that perhaps deserves reassessment). That doesn't necessarily mean that they're dark. Heck, Tales of Symphonia had a very similar plot set up to Final Fantasy X, and Symphonia is by far the more light-hearted game.

Nach jeder Ebbe kommt die Flut.
dragonfire5000 from Where gods fear to tread Since: Jan, 2001
#3082: Sep 3rd 2024 at 7:57:40 AM

The only Tales game I ever played to completion was Symphonia, so that's the only one I feel confident commenting on. It does subvert certain fantasy tropes, but I wouldn't call it a dark game. It certainly deals with some topics that can be considered dark, but the overall presentation is not what I'd call dark.

Edited by dragonfire5000 on Sep 3rd 2024 at 8:00:25 AM

"I squirm, I struggle, ergo I am. Faced with death, I am finally, truly alive."
PhoenixAct Since: Feb, 2011
#3083: Sep 3rd 2024 at 7:59:37 AM

[up][up]And the game goes into detail on how Velvet's mindset isn't healthy, and is a result of trauma.

And the whole "Lord of Calamity" thing was more of a title given to her by her enemies.

MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#3084: Sep 3rd 2024 at 8:02:01 AM

Only tales games I'm remotly familiar with were the Xillia duology

Edited by MorningStar1337 on Sep 3rd 2024 at 8:02:17 AM

ComicX6 (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#3085: Sep 3rd 2024 at 8:15:52 AM

I've only played Abyss and Vesperia so far and while Abyss could get heavy at times I didn't find it especially dark compared to many other JRPGs out there. Vesperia's more personal conflicts like Yuri's vigilantism - which is a bit overblown by the fandom, IMO kinda peter out as the game goes on and pivots to dealing with a more typical world-ending threat.

Edited by ComicX6 on Sep 3rd 2024 at 8:16:15 AM

My Megaman and MegaTen RPG Liveblogs
RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#3086: Sep 3rd 2024 at 8:18:26 AM

I only played Tales of Berseria and Zestiria but Velvet is my favorite protagonist.

Then Magilou as the best party member.

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
lalalei2001 Since: Oct, 2009
#3087: Sep 3rd 2024 at 8:23:28 AM

I only played Symphonia and liked it, but never finished it.

The Protomen enhanced my life.
Jaryl from Austria Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#3088: Sep 3rd 2024 at 8:27:16 AM

I've beaten Vesperia Definitive Edition on Switch and Arise's base game on PS 5 so far, and I've already played bits of Symphonia on Game Cube and Abyss on 3DS.

I wanna try getting into the series more, but I keep getting distracted by other stuff. Like Final Fantasy 16, for instance. And then that new Castlevania-collection dropped out of fricking nowhere, so now I'm focused on that one xD

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#3089: Sep 3rd 2024 at 8:53:50 AM

For a light hearted game but with some rather dark undertones, would recommend Tales of Graces F. It’s getting H Ded soon too.

Also would heavily HEAVILY recommend the Trails series.

RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#3090: Sep 3rd 2024 at 8:55:05 AM

Big ooof on my end for mixing up Tales and Trails.

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
Argon2 (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#3091: Sep 3rd 2024 at 9:38:43 AM

It's fine, I don't appreciate Trails either. Well, the gameplay was fun, especially when I just wanted a deep grind, but the characters seemed repetitive.

There is no failure condition during life.
dragonfire5000 from Where gods fear to tread Since: Jan, 2001
#3092: Sep 3rd 2024 at 9:41:09 AM

On the subject of games with dark undertones, I think Live A Live is one of those games that definitely isn't afraid to touch on dark themes, but the whole game itself ultimately doesn't feel super dark because its overreaching theme is about overcoming adversity and remaining steadfast in the face of overwhelming odds. It is a fairly optimistic game, all things considered.

Unless you go to a certain final chapter, in which the tone takes on a more somber and pitiful feel. Which is fitting, given that particular final chapter has you playing as the main villain, who is someone who couldn't withstand the adversity he faced and ended up giving in to his inner demons.

Edited by dragonfire5000 on Sep 3rd 2024 at 11:48:16 AM

"I squirm, I struggle, ergo I am. Faced with death, I am finally, truly alive."
Demongodofchaos2 Face me now, bitch! from In a Cultivation World (Ancient one) Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Face me now, bitch!
#3093: Sep 3rd 2024 at 11:06:26 AM

There's Always Yoko Taro's games if you want dark JRP Gs. FF XVI, too. Yoko Taro even gets a special thanks in that one.

Watch Symphogear
Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#3094: Sep 3rd 2024 at 11:30:26 AM

The question was more not dark games.

The Tales series is really dark and subversive, right? I like the character concepts, but I couldn't appreciate those traits.

Graces F was the lightest Tales game in tone despite some dark undertones.

For Dark JRP Gs... I would point to SMT and especially Digital Devil Saga.

For JRP Gs without any darkness in em in general.. umm modern Atelier Series games are probably the closest that comes to mind. Also Dragon Quest XI

Edited by Memers on Sep 3rd 2024 at 11:32:06 AM

darkabomination Since: Mar, 2012
#3095: Sep 3rd 2024 at 12:20:46 PM

Devil Survivor 1 has mostly lighthearted characters, but filtered through a grim plot. It's ultimately a very optimistic game by SMT standards, but it doesn't detract from the fact that you really have to work for it. And hopefully don't end up with dead party members.

ShirowShirow Dinosaur Hunter from Land of Maple Syrup (Old as dirt)
Dinosaur Hunter
#3096: Sep 3rd 2024 at 1:24:56 PM

The Devil Survivor games are both masterpieces. 1 has the better plot and 2 has the better gameplay, but they're both awesome in both respects. I bought both games and both Updated Re-release.

(Man they really should have just done that gameplay style again when they crossed over with FE)

You are not alone.
Demongodofchaos2 Face me now, bitch! from In a Cultivation World (Ancient one) Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Face me now, bitch!
#3097: Sep 3rd 2024 at 5:09:13 PM

They were going to, but trying to mix the tones of FE and SMT was too difficult

Watch Symphogear
Mizerous Pet Owner from Hell Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: Brewing the love potion
Pet Owner
#3098: Sep 3rd 2024 at 5:33:47 PM

Then the fusion result flopped sadly. I wish they tried again with a more faithful take of both series.

Just Makima.
HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#3099: Sep 3rd 2024 at 5:41:21 PM

I still want to get back to that game. If I can find the Switch version, I'd be ok with buying it.

I kinda get why they went more light-hearted. Like, if they stuck with the darker tone, what would have made it any different from a regular SMT game.

One Strip! One Strip!
Mizerous Pet Owner from Hell Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: Brewing the love potion
Pet Owner
#3100: Sep 3rd 2024 at 5:42:31 PM

That's what Persona is for then. If they did not want a dark theme use Persona instead.

Just Makima.

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