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!"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.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."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 LiveblogsI'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
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.
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."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 SymphogearThe question was more not dark games.
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
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.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!

The darkest Tales gets is that game where the protagonist is an edgelord.
Nach jeder Ebbe kommt die Flut.