Tales of Symphonia

 

 

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Look, I know that there hasnt been a good rpg on gamecube for a while now but that will soon change. If you like rpg games then youll love Tales of Symphonia. I for a matter of fact couldnt wait for it to come out cause its been so long since the last rpg game on gamecube. The last ones i can think of are christal chronicles (witch wasnt a true rpg game) but skys of arcadia legends (witch was more of an rpg.) Listen, if you like rpg games, I strongly suggest that you buy this game, you wont be dissapointed.

Tales of Symphonia, a game like no other for the Nintendo Gamecube. Seriously, there are so many unique features in this game that it should have it's own genre! Okay, but this reveiw isn't to butter you into buying this game, it's to inform you about it, so lets get crackin'!

STORY: The plot of Tales of Symphonia starts out like most other RPGs - Enter Lloyd Irving, a teenage swordsman. Along with his friend Genis, he must accompany The Chosen, an angelic girl named Colette, on her pilgrimage to save the world. Along the way, many characters will join and leave them as they help Colette save humanity.

CHARACTERS: The characters play a major role in Tales of Symphonia. Each is fully customizable, although they each have certain skills that imply which job they'd be best suited for. Although Lloyd is the default character, you can choose to control another if you so desire. I particularly like this, because the player can form their own customized battle style and character, whether it be strong Kratos, versitile Colette, or healer Genis. The characters also affect the plot as well. Depending on your realationships you forge with your fellow party members the plot and course of the game will change accordingly.

MULTIPLAYER CAPABILITIES: Another thing that seperates Tales of Symphonia from the rest of the RPG pack is the multiplayer capabilities. Unlike most other RPG games, you are able to battle on a team with three other friends who are each controlling a different character in your party, via the Nintendo GameCube controllers. So, instead of watching you play with a dull expression in their eyes, your buddies can get in on the action too.

GRAPHICS: Lovely cel-shaded graphics decorate the world of Tales of Symphonia. Characters are painted with vibrant colors and scenery is characterized with amazing detail. Cutscenes, however, make the game even more special when cel-shaded graphics become anime masterpieces. Yes, that's right, cutscenes are in anime, and characters are blessed with the voices of skilled actors (such as Tara Strong, Bubbles in Cartoon Network's The Powerpuff Girls, and Jennifer Hale, Prier in Mastiff's La Pucelle: Tactics.)

EXTRAS: Tales of Symphonia is lavished with goodies that only add to it's uniqueness. Characters are able to learn special recipes and cook meals for their friends. When a meal is cooked, you can see an anime cutscene of the rag-tag group devouring it hungrily. Also, a special Titles system is introduced with the creation of Tales of Symphonia. Players can earn special titles that enhance one aspect of their fighting style. Like, "Turbo Waitress" might increase Colette's speed, and "Defender" might increase Genis's defence.

All together, I think Tales of Symphonia will be a GREAT game. Take pride in adding it to you GameCube collection, because it surely will be what gamers will be talking about over the water heater.

I'll admit that the anime style of animation is a strong pet peeve of mine. The mouth movements never fit the dialect, the movements often seem choppy and sudden and the characters seem to be able to achieve many unrealistic things that most Disney characters would be faulted for. And yet, even after admitting my bias I can say that Tales of Symphonia overcame all of that.

I boycotted the game for the longest time simply because of the anime style used in game, and now I regret that I could have experienced this earlier. The plot is incredible not because of its uniqueness per se, but because it evolves as you play. Your friends will become your enemies, and vice versa, and almost every character introduced - even a couple very minor ones - are made real through the thought and detail put into their individual lives. Every character seems to have a history and a personal objective. The game and the world is continuously changing as well; after certain in game events, you'll find that world regions have changed or entire cities have been destroyed (or in the case of one, destroyed and then rebuilt even better - depending on how active a role you take in its reconstruction).

The battle system takes some getting used to but the versatility the player has makes it incredibly enjoyable. Not only can you control any of the eight characters, but even in the midst of battle you can switch your character of choice or command another's movements. The freedom presented to the character allows you to direct the entire battle every step of the way, or if you so choose, you could sit back and watch; allowing the computer to play it out for you. Certain events require certain characters to be in the party, and in many instances characters will leave your party for a time (or in the case of one; permanently) only to reappear later. It gives you the feeling that all your characters are on an equal footing and you don't just have one hero, like you will in most role-playing games.

One of the best features of the game is that it actually has replay value. Imagine that; an RPG in which you can control how it changes each time you replay it. Upon completion you can customize what will change - experienced gained can be doubled, enemy encounters can be more difficult, you can carry over weapons or combos learned, etc ... Furthermore depending on how you let your characters evolve they can learn a completely different move set, and gameplay can change too depending on the relationships you have with the other members of your party.

As an RPG it definitely stands tall, and I even began to appreciated the anime style used as the game progressed. The simpler animation style doesn't take away from the gameplay at all ... in fact it enhances it, allowing players to fully appreciate and enjoy the freedom they have. Tales of Symphonia is one of the most unique and original RPGs on the market, and in my case this game alone made the GameCube worth purchasing.

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5.0 out of 5 stars The Very Best game on the Cube
This game is exceptional fun, and offers a playful and well developed story. It does have many trappings of Japanese Role Playing Games, but this doesn't significantly detract... Read more

Published 16 months ago by Aaron Myradon

4.0 out of 5 stars Really good game if you ask me
I didn't played a lot of RPGs in my life, but I did played a lot of games. Tales is a really good game. Read more

Published on Sep 10 2009 by Pierre St-Onge

5.0 out of 5 stars Coop mode
I agree with all remarks of amazingness on this game. The only problem I had with it is the camera is terrible for co-op play. Seriously. Read more

Published on Sep 21 2006 by REB

5.0 out of 5 stars THE best game ever
Did you ever find a game where there are 8 different stories? as told on many sites, you can choose which character you'd like to be most friend with by answering to some... Read more

Published on Feb 27 2006 by shippou_satsuki

5.0 out of 5 stars The Game
Every century,
a game comes out that is so fun you don't think it can be real. This century's game is Tales of Symphonia. Read more

Published on Jan 8 2006 by jakester13

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
This game is by far one of the best I have ever played. It's right up there with Final Fantasy VII and Chrono Trigger. Read more

Published on Dec 11 2005 by Tash

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring
Wow. What a cliched video game. why is everyone so obsessed with it? I don't like it at all. The plot is this: Boy is an orphan(Just like Harry Potter and whole bunch of others)... Read more

Published on Sep 14 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST GAME EVER
This game is quite possibly the best game ever. Only the legendary Chrono Trigger ties with it as the best video game ever created. Tales of Symphonia has many, many pluses. Read more

Published on July 12 2005 by Elolas

5.0 out of 5 stars Great game
Awesome game! Tons of characters, moves, and weapons. the storyline is long enough, but through in hundreds of sidequests, and you have yourself over 80 hours of gameplay. Read more

Published on April 26 2005 by James Sutter

5.0 out of 5 stars A great game
This game is so cool.The plot is almost as good as Zelda!(ALMOST)
ITs like a whole new world that you can explore.The graphics are great and it's so great! Read more

Published on Nov 20 2004 by Em Katyna

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