I've just been wondering a lot lately how well this title has been selling in Europe and America, and also how easy it is to purchase, considering the games exclusivity in your guys parts of the world. I just recently bought the EU version from a local importer (which by now is on it's way) because I have a Australian/ PAL 3DS and there are no retailers or local sites that sell the game. Unfortunately the game, even on the most cheapest import site, is pretty expensive, I managed to get the game for $69.80 NZD, which included shipping and handling which is still not that cheap even for 3DS game over here. Most 3DS games are roughly priced between $50 (e.g. Rayman Origins) to $90 (e.g New Super Mario Bros. 2), those are EB games prices, and all retailers here basically charge those kinds of prices.

So i've got a question, whatever you paid, was it worth it? I usually refuse to buy a game at EB prices unless I can find it cheaper or online or if there's a nice pre order bonus, like we got with LOZ: OOT. Don't worry there a few places that have bargain bins and such, but they're usually overloaded with crappy DS games or 3DS launch titles that i've already played. We still don't have really have any good 3DS RPGS here, I liked Heroes of Ruin, but I thought it was a bit repetitive, however I loved the online. I've played OOT of course, but that isn't usually classed as an RPG though. Good thing we get Shin Megami Tensei: DSO and Paper Mario: Sticker Star soon, plus not to mention hopefully some good eShop titles like The Denpamen, Crimson Shroud and Cave Story+.
Let me know how you found TOTA, I've heard mostly positive stuff since it launched last year, this should be a great game to pass the time until some better quality releases come around.

I bought it brand new at GameStop for $40 (in U.S.). Easily my favorite 3DS game (even over OoT3D, MGS3D, DOAD, & KI:U), & of course the best RPG on the system, IMO. So, of course, I've found it to be well worth the money.

I'm not sure if this is true for this particular release, but I've heard that Tales games in the past usually have limited runs, so go up in price quickly (not sure, but I think I heard somewhere, that it can cost over $100 U.S., to get a PS2 copy of TotA online).

Worth the $40 retail price in Canada. The characters have distinct personalities, funny dialogue and scenes (there's a lot of it though, sometimes gives background on the characters' likes/dislikes and thoughts, if you don't mind), and a few of the characters have cool special moves. I haven't finished the story yet, but from previous posts apparently there are additional quests that you can take on to get useful/powerful items.

Only minor gripes for me are not being able to select which character in the party to control in battle (so far only got to play as Luke or Guy), and which 4 of 6 party members to engage in battle (you can even change the battle formation and characters' battle modes, but not swap out characters for some reason).

A good game overall.

^I'm not sure if you have to get a special item for it or not (been a few months since I last played), but you can switch the character you play as in battle.

A good place to get used to your other characters, is to go to the arena in Baticul, and select the singles tournament (and choose whichever character you want to play as).

Hope is becomes available on eShop for DL, I'd DL it for sure, heck any 3rd party title other then Layton, Layton VS Write, Epic Mickey, and Bravely Defult

You can do it pretty early in, and in every Tales game. You just have to do it from the menu.

@RR529 and @CanisWolfred: thanks, I'll try looking for that option again. (I dug around the menu, set the red flag next to the character, which set it as the character you see when you're walking outside of battle but didn't change in battle.)

It should say it in the Manual, hold on:

"You can change the order of you characters at the Main Menu. Move the cursor to the character window, highlight the character whose order you wish to change and press the Triangle button. Next, select a character to switch positions with and press the X button to cause the two characters to exchange positions.

....When playing alone, the player controls the character in posiion 1 (the topmost character)..."

Got it for $40 in America. Was totally worth it and got a lot of playtime out of it. 48 hours final playtime and I didn't even do sidequests. My longest played 3DS game and it was really awesome, so yeah it was worth it Should be for you too if it's your type of game

I also got it for $40 here in America. And it is definitely worth the price tag. I still haven't finished the main story, and I've played it a lot. Taking a break because it's just more content than I can handle!

I saw it for $30, but ill wait to see if it's on eShop, and I'd even pay $40 to have it digital

I really want this game but something always compels me to put it back and tell myself to wait until I can find it cheaper. Hmm maybe I should stop procrastinating and just get it. Too bad the Wii U is right around to corner I will be spending too much money on games for it.....

Dude, if you buy it for $30, and keep it in good condition, you could sell it for $40 when you're done. Just buy it damnit!

Only Otaku would have skipped on an amazing deal like that, so I'm not surprised...

^see it a lot at that price actually

Where? Most people are lucky they can find it at all.

^a GS in my home town, another GS in a couple towns over, and one in a mall, but I might get it seeing how I might be able to sell it for more like you said, I just am going the all digital route from now on, but maybe selling it for more can help

Tales of the Abyss is one of those games that can get hard to find after launch and gets even more expensive to buy, not cheaper. $30 was essentially a steal, and Tales of the Abyss is more than worth the money. So epic fail for you.

@CanisWolfred: Got it, thanks! I missed the line on the bottom screen that says "(X) Swap". Much better, there were times when there was no healer active by default, so this comes in handy to revert the formation. Yeah, I like the game a bit more now being able to play as the other characters (since Luke spends a chunk of the story being an arrogant lead, whereas Guy's special attacks are more fun. Tear is another one I'd like to try.)

About 30 hours so far - playing slowly and between other games - probably still some ways to go. Also agreed that $30 is a good deal, I haven't seen the game discounted yet in stores up here.

I'm guessing TOTA isn't hard to find over in @HarmoKnight's neck of the woods? That seems to be the case over here as well, which is weird since niche games are usually hard to find locally. I wonder if recent games have done well enough to not need a limited print this time around, The Last Story is still available at regular price despite supposedly being limited.

Haven't gotten TOTA 3D yet because I still have the original, still debating on getting it. One thing I like about the series is grinding is actually fun and doesn't become a mash A or stall fest. I'm really good at dodging attacks so I like to coax bosses into going after me, keeping them busy and drawing attention away from my party.