Topic: The Tales of Threadia

I love the Tales of games, with Symphonia being my favorite of all time. So here's a fan thread so those of us who are fans can chat about it.

Recently I've been playing Graces F, and I'm really liking it so far. Surprised this game is so controversial.

I've only played the ones on Nintendo systems, but I have really liked them all (yes, even Dawn of the New World). Symphonia is still my favorite though. I'm playing Vesperia now and am almost done with it, but unfortunately it has fallen victim to possibly my least favorite thing in video games. I have made it all the way to the final boss with few problems, but then the final boss has a massive difficulty boost I can't get close to beating him. I looked it up online, and all my characters are 10-15 levels below what is recommended to fight him. So how did I get this far with my characters so underleveled? I haven't played in awhile because I don't feel like just grinding forever. I don't remember the other games in the series being like this, but otherwise I have really liked it, probably my second favorite ahead of DotNW and Abyss.

Tales of Symphonia was one of my favourite games as a teenager - back in a time where it was the only Tales game that had made it to the UK. I'd say it still remains in my top 20, and it's my most replayed game that isn't Pokemon.

I also quite enjoyed the GBA version of Phantasia when that was released, and got quite far in Vesperia (although, if I'm perfectly honest, I found the story in that to really lose momentum 30 hours in and I wasn't as fond of the characters).

Otherwise I've dabbled in the main entries, and I'm not really sure where to go next. I've just obtained a modded PS2 so will pick up Legendia. I've heard it's far from the best, but it would be great to finally play a game that I could only read about 15 years ago.

I loved Abyss & Vesperia (Abyss a bit more, but that's probably because it was my first), and also enjoyed Zestiria, though I thought it was a noticeable step down (still good JRPG comfort food, though).

I'll probably play Berseria & Arise at some point since I have a PS4, and I hope some more older games make their way to Switch (such as the Symphonia Chronicles collection), so I can play them as well.

@Xyphon22

I can't really comment on the ending, because like @Buizel said, the story really lost momentum, and I stopped playing right before the final dungeon. Vesperia really has atrocious story pacing. But I love the characters more than any of the other 4 Tales games I've played. Innocence is the only other game in the series I've played where I don't dislike any characters, and I pretty much like the entire cast of Vesperia.

I can't stand Zelos, Anise, Natalia, and now Pascal.

@Xyphon22, did you collect every character's ultimate weapon? I hear that doing so will give the final boss a new, extra hard form, at least in the original version.

I don't remember the final boss being particularly tough, which is why I ask.

@RR529 I'm not sure, but I highly doubt it. It's mostly that he has that attack that hits almost the entire stage and he does it every couple of minutes, so he just wears me down before I wear him down. I think I've gotten him down to about 1/3 of his health before, but that's it. I could probably beat him if I just went back out to restock my life bottles and gels, but I just haven't felt like taking the time to do that. I will one day. It's just the fact that there was a boss battle right before him that only took me 2 tries I think, once to die and learn a good strategy and then I beat him. I've tried this guy like 10 times and that's the best I can do.
@iKhan Yeah, that was my main gripe with Abyss. There were just more characters that for whatever reason I couldn't like very much, mostly Jade. Otherwise it was a good game.

@Xyphon22

Honestly I wouldn't sweat if you don't. I don't feel Vesperia's story is really something that is itching for an ending.

As far as Abyss goes, I actually have a laundry list of issues with it. It's probably one of, if not my least favorite in the series. It really feels like a heavily stripped down experience, because the only elements to the gameplay are the sidequests and the combat. The crafting and customizing is so bad that it might as well not even be there. The world map is barren and useless. While some people don't really care about that stuff, one of my favorite thing to do in adventure games (as a broad category that includes JRPGs) is to look around and find useful things. Guy being the only genuinely great character personality wise, and the only character I enjoy playing is also a big issue.

Innocence is actually similar in it's stripped down gameplay to Abyss, but I feel like its more forgivable for a handheld title. Plus Innocence might have the best characters in the entire series.

I like how "Threadia" was meant to be a pun, yet it sounds no sillier than some of their actual names.

Anyway I've played about half of the series, although haven't finished that many of them. I've got Vesperia for Switch and Berseria for PS4 on my current to-do list though. Those are 2 of the most popular in the series so it should be good.

@iKhan I actually like the story in Vesperia more than apparently most people (at least in this thread) do. I like that it is more down-to-earth and personal than many RPGs that like to throw in all kinds of crazy things like aliens or whatever just for a giant twist. And I can't let this be another RPG where I get to the boss and quit. That has happened too many times. I think it was like 10 years or more between when I first got to Lavos in middle school or something and when I finally got around to replaying and beating Chrono Trigger.

I nabbed Tales of Berseria in the PSN sale (where it's currently $15).

It'll probably be months before I get to it though, as both the second two games in the .Hack// G.U. collection & Kingdom Hearts III (which I also got in the sale) are higher up in the docket (and that's just in JRPGs).

Is that just the US sale? I can't see Berseria on the UK sale.

I do see Ys 8 though. Probably get that.

@Dezzy, I'm in the US, so it could just be regional.

There are actually two sales going on here (a Holiday one & a New Years one), and I'm not sure which one it was a part of (I bought games from both sales).

Speaking of sales, Vesperia is on sale on Switch for $25 right now

Finally, beat Vesperia. The actual final boss ended up being much easier than who I originally thought was the final boss. I'd definitely say it's my second favorite of the 4 I've played behind Symphonia. I hope the Switch get more, this is one of my favorite series. I probably won't bother because I have too many other games to play and too little time, but what would you say is the best one that is available on PS3? I rarely play mine, but I got one for like $30 just to be able to play games that never came to Nintendo (so far I've played Oblivion and a little bit of Bioshock).

@Xyphon22

I can't speak to any of the games but Graces, which I'm playing right now. But I like Graces a lot. I know the fanbase likes to hate on it, but I honestly don't understand why. It changes a lot from Vesperia though. Brand new battle system, no more world map (not that the post symphonia games actually used it much), and a much better side quest system.

The battle system has a pretty steep learning curve though. I'm still struggling with it, and I'm almost at the end.

Here's something that's been intermittently on my mind for a while.

If Tales of were to cross over with a Nintendo franchise, which one would you want it to be?

I think Xenoblade would be the coolest (and they're both going for similar art styles now, with naturalistic yet colorful environments mixed with cel shaded anime-like character design), Zelda would probably be a good fit too if they could find a way around the mute Link thing, though for some reason I think Fire Emblem would be the most likely.

They could just give Namco the Golden Sun IP for a one-off, and let them make a Tales game under that name. They're not doing anything with it otherwise!

Started up Tales of Berseria this morning.

Not far enough in to form any sort of deep opinions yet, but I will say that despite it being based on the same engine as Zestiria, it's a much more striking game aesthetically.