Tales of...

[Zankoku no Yami]

Microsoft is the reason that the PS3 version hasn't been released in the US, since they kind of wanted to be the only ones to have it (who knows though, it could change).

Yeah... reasons as to why I hate microsoft! But I wouldnt care so much if the PS3 version didnt get such an upgrade! I mean... common... FULL voice over? I love when they do that, haha. Which is just the tip of the iceberg as to what they added to the game. Kind of like when they put ToS on the PS2 and never ported it over; I was also sad about that. I mean, hell, I dont mind playing the tales games again if they add enough new stuff! Just gives me an excuse to go through it again, hahaha.

Though, I still find it ironic that Namco would strike such a deal. Naturally, when the PS3 came out, the majority of people who picked it over the 360 were interested in the JRPGs; namely, Final Fantasy and Tales series'. Since, aside from a few tales games, the majority have always been on the PS1 and PS2. Yet the ONLY Tales game we have gotten thus far is Graces F. And its Vesperia and Xillia we REALLY want.

One thing that has always left me wondering though... why dont companies like XSEED ever take up the ones that dont come over? I mean... if you THINK about it, there are a few companies like them that take games that dont normally come over. If I was namco, and thinking this game wont do well, I'd just hand it over to one of those companies. Because I understand from a companies perspective that they are afraid of it not selling well enough to justify the costs; but I am also sure that there are a handful of developers that are willing to take that chance themselves; and Namco can only gain from seeking them out. Meh, whatever. I just want more tales games! They are gosh dang addicting! You cant stop once you start!

[Xephon0930]

A lot of things going on with certain game companies have been pissing me off a lot lately. All I can do at the moment is support these titles as best as I can while also not giving a cent to unfavorable business practices(Tales of Graces costumes for $4,no thanks). I have a list of Tales games I wish I could play like Rebirth,Destiny 1 and 2 and a huge list of other games unlikely to have a US or European release.

[Sukisho]

Yeah, it's hard not to care when they make so much changes to games when put on other consoles. All we can do right now though is hope & wait...also support the stuff that they have released, like Graces F. I even bought one of the costumes in the game, which yeah are a bit expensive but overall all the support you can give to these games does show them how much people will want more and they will do what they can to bring them over.

[Zankoku no Yami]

Yeah, it's hard not to care when they make so much changes to games when put on other consoles. All we can do right now though is hope & wait...also support the stuff that they have released, like Graces F. I even bought one of the costumes in the game, which yeah are a bit expensive but overall all the support you can give to these games does show them how much people will want more and they will do what they can to bring them over.

That is why I own one of every tales games released in America, haha. Except Graces F so far... but only because I havent had money to buy it! *dies* I waaaaant!

Though some choices of theirs still dumbfound me. Like why Tales of Eternia on the PSP was never brought to America but instead only Europe? Like... really? Its essentially the same thing released on the PS1... so it should have costed nearly nothing to bring to us as well! Still need to import it... but those imports dont really seem to show the company we are interested.

And speaking of DLC: still... buying LEVELS for Vesperia? COME ON! What game lets you PAY for money and exp?! That was just a CHEAP shot. Especially counting you can easily hit level 200 if you just grind some Grade easily.

[Sukisho]

yeah Graces F also does that too, you can buy Level/EXP ups >_< I got to level 200 though after playing the game day and night XD I still want them to release the Anime DLC stuff for Graces >_<

Who knows why they release things like that :/

[hadohado319]

Weird thing is, I'm pretty sure I've seen a video of a Troy Baker at a panel where he claimed to have actually done the additional voicework for the PS3 port. Also, word it that one of Patty's artes is present in the game's files, which some have taken to mean she was already conceived and cut from the 360 release rather than added later on.

I've had a pretty rough opinion of Microsoft for a while now for taking my money, so I'm not so quick to point the finger at them, generally because it's already been there for a while now. But I will easily rage as Namco for screwing with their fans by "unexclusifying" a title many have put down a few hundred extra dollars to get to.

Could be worse though. Could be Capcom.

[Zankoku no Yami]

yeah Graces F also does that too, you can buy Level/EXP ups >_< I got to level 200 though after playing the game day and night XD I still want them to release the Anime DLC stuff for Graces >_<
Who knows why they release things like that :/

Wow... did not know that. Seriously, what is the point? I mean, getting 10x exp is easy enough in every tales game and well... you dont need to buy levels once you do that, haha. *sigh* this generation has been ruined by the invention of DLC. Remember when they actually put all that stuff into a game without any strings attached? I miss those days!

Weird thing is, I'm pretty sure I've seen a video of a Troy Baker at a panel where he claimed to have actually done the additional voicework for the PS3 port. Also, word it that one of Patty's artes is present in the game's files, which some have taken to mean she was already conceived and cut from the 360 release rather than added later on.
I've had a pretty rough opinion of Microsoft for a while now for taking my money, so I'm not so quick to point the finger at them, generally because it's already been there for a while now. But I will easily rage as Namco for screwing with their fans by "unexclusifying" a title many have put down a few hundred extra dollars to get to.
Could be worse though. Could be Capcom.

That video you spoke of... think it was from a year or so back. And he might have gotten it confused maybe with the movie? Dunno. I mean, I WANT to be an optimist; but since its namco we are talking about... well.. its hard, y'know? haha

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ANYWAY! Recently FINALLY got around to finishing Veperia for the 360. Was holding off because I figured the PS3 version would be coming out soon... which was a while back. But, since that isnt happening anytime soon, figured I would finish it up. It was OKAY for a tales game, but after Symphonia and ESPECIALLY Abyss, it doesn't stack up. The characters were really not likeable, in my opinion, naturally. Yuri got +2 points for each 'awesome' scene, which I am sure some of you may know what I am talking about. Moments in which you go... 'yes, that is what I would have done too you bastards!'. But Estelle, Karol, Rita and Repede were just not it for me. They just weren't THERE. Raven and Judith were probably my most two likable. But seriously, why does EVERY tales game have at least one traitor? Not saying who; but seriously, its getting over done, hahaha.

Symphonia's biggest flaw was cliched characters; but it made up for it by having charm and also for the battle system being the top of its game. Vesperia's battle system felt TOO SLOW and TOO CLUNKY. It was probably the slowest battle system in a tales game I have played in a while. I mean, the tutorial battles were POINTLESS. Seriously, why make Yuri so SLOW and then pit you against two incredibly fast enemies? Here, lets teach you overdrive and burst artes and let you ATTEMPT to test them out... only to fail. MISERABLY. All because Yuri moves the speed of a snail and is easily caught in a combo you cant break. I let my guard down and DIED in a tutorial battle. SERIOUSLY?! That shouldn't be possible! I mean, I have let my guard down in BOSS battles in previous tales games and still had the speed and dexterity to kick some major arse.

Worst yet, the AI was one of the worst. Not nearly as bad as Legendia, sure; but pretty damn bad. I set the AI to heal. Only heal. THEY DID NOTHING. I mean, man, the system is messed up. I wanted no one to attack; and they kept attacking anyway! What part of KEEP DISTANCE dont you get?! The only other game I had to manually go in and tell a character to heal me was in Legendia; because half the time, Estelle would rather go running up to the enemy and lay down a few hundred damage than heal me when I was about to die. OH! And gotta LOVE how Estelle is told to keep her distance; but she goes 'hey, you know what sounds like a great idea? Standing RIGHT NEXT TO THE BIG BOSS WHO HITS EVERYTHING WITHIN HIS RADIUS while ATTEMPTING TO HEAL YOU!' all so that she can continuously get hit and interrupted and then everyone dies.

I only really complain a lot here because well... the battle system is one of the most important aspects to me. And after playing Abyss, I felt like the enemies were running circles around ME. It felt like guarding, running, whatever! It was pointless! Because after you finished a combo; counting the enemies didn't group up on you and give you a chance to finish... or attempt to attack again within a reasonable amount of time, you were going to get hit. Period. Might as well just face it.

Anyway. Minor complaints would be not being able to equip two accessories anymore, but who cares. The one thing I REALLY give it props for is telling a story. Different than any other tales game; and different than most games PERIOD. i mean, I dare anyone to tell me who the main bad guy was. REALLY think about it and try to answer that. Because in all honesty:

Spoiler:     

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There wasn't one. If you think about it, all the 'bad guys' were just basically following Alexie and on top of that, he was only doing what he was because he thought it was the right thing to do. Even Duke wasn't a bad guy. Basically EVERYONE was trying to accomplish the same goal; but in their own ways. Sure, some weren't good ways; but its not like they were trying to be super evil. Even characters like Yaeger and Zagi weren't EVIL. I can barely say anyone was BAD. Jerks, enemies, sure. But no one was down to the core EVIL, like 'I shall rule the world!' And I LOVED THAT. It is actually very similar to one of my stories/radioplays. It was almost like taking Abyss' story to the next level. Hell, I almost felt like Van was actually the good guy for a sec; he wasn't completely evil himself. I love that. Its not so clear cut... so black and white! Thus, I will give Vesperia props for that.

Abyss, however, has still proven to be the best tales game by far. From story to engaging characters! I mean, it was the first tales game to give me so many to choose from (excet you Anise! I hate you!) that I had the hardest time choosing my favorite team! I loved them all!

So my ranking of the ones I have played would be:

1) Abyss
2) Symphonia
3) Vesperia (the story was at least better than a lot of previous titles)
4) Destiny
5) Eternia
6) Legendia
(things like Tales of the World naturally dont count)

Anyway. On my second playthrough kicking ass after grinding 15000 grade, haha. Still hoping the PS3 port comes so I can dive into those delicious extras.

And naturally; just my opinions. But I will say, its not like I am hating on Vesperia by any means. Just certain aspects, mainly characters and battle system, perturbed me. A lot. And its not like I am some noob, i even enjoy playing them on Unknown; but for some reason, they slowed down Vesperia too much to make it as exciting and enjoyable as Abyss. I love the fast paced action and hated how it felt like it didnt get 'fast' until the very end. Hell, even then, enemies were still batting my Yuri around like he was some dang ping pong ball. And what is up with the enemies in the final dungeon getting an instant knock down every 2 seconds?! Come on!

But I digress. My silly complaints aside; I just wanted to get that all out, hahaha. It was still an enjoyable game. But after Abyss, I guess I might be a little extra picky~

[Sukisho]

It's now official, Xillia is to be released in the States and Europe next year. http://m.ign.com/articles/2012/07/06...ed-in-the-west

[Xephon0930]

It's now official, Xillia is to be released in the States and Europe next year. http://m.ign.com/articles/2012/07/06...ed-in-the-west

Godammit!!!! You beat me friggin to it!!!! I just saw it through a video on Youtube.

[Sukisho]

It's what I do best XD