Tales of Symphonia review

**Moogy** · 01-11-2005, 10:15 AM

Alright, so I finished playing this yesterday. I might as well review it.

Gameplay
The gameplay is definitely Tales of Symphonia's greatest point, as with any Tales game. The battle design and control is basically flawless, and the out-of-battle puzzles, etc. are as well. However, there are a few poorly-designed puzzles in the game, especially the block puzzle in Vinheim and the shadows at the Shadow Temple. I'll give this a 9.5/10.

Music
To be honest, I didn't really like the music at all when I started playing. I was just playing Star Ocean 3, and I was really expecting a different style from Sakuraba than the one he used in this game. However, over time, the music grew on me. I like the style now... it's basically SNES style with updated synths. There's also a lot of returning music from ToP, which made me very happy. All in all, the music is good, but there are a lot of meh tracks. The event music, in particular, is not always that great. I'll give it an 8.5/10.

Graphics
No complaints here. The cel-shaded style worked perfectly. 10/10.

Story
Alright, this is Tales of Symphonia's main flaw. For the first part of the game, the story is incredibly cliched. You have to help "The Chosen" "revive the world" by releasing the elemental seals and whatnot. Incredibly, incredibly cliched. However, after you do this, the story has a major plottwist, and becomes fairly interesting. The character development, in particular, is very good. However, the story also has some notable holes in it, such as what's up with Lloyd's Ex-Sphere, or how Tabatha was made. The game really isn't very good at giving backstory, either; it never explains how Yggdrasill and co. saved the world, or got the Eternal Sword, or even how they managed to live for like 4000 years. I'll give this a 7/10.

Overall
ToS is a great game, but the storyline has serious flaws. I'll give it a 9/10 overall, because it is very fun; but it could have scored a 9.5 or a 10/10 if the story hadn't been flawed.

Recommended playing.

**iPatcH** · 01-11-2005, 10:24 AM

Well, honestly I've never played ToS or any of the Tales games, so I'm going to trust you on this one.

You've always been quite good at review games/music and such, and whenever I play something you recommend I'm always pleased, so I'll have to say the same for your review over this game. I'll actually try and get around to getting a copy of this game sometime soon.

**Squeek** · 01-11-2005, 08:53 PM

You should have had this game the day it came out.

And, since words can't always do a game justice, I give you this:

http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=1307

Also, Moogy, I believe you were very fair on your review. However, some of the things in your "story" section that you say were unexplained WERE explained. The 4,000 years thing and Lloyd's exsphere were both explained.

~Squeek

**Moogy** · 01-12-2005, 07:43 AM

Oh. I realized the 4000 year thing was explained after I wrote this, but what's up with Lloyd's Ex-Sphere?

UWSTopGun · 01-12-2005, 08:20 AM

Wow this game looks sick, is it an action RPG where you get to move freely during battle like a Secret of Mana type thing, or do you order your computer allies to keep constantly attacking?

EDIT: I've seen all the trailers and wow this game looks insane, I MUST get a PS2 in a few weeks.

**Moogy** · 01-12-2005, 08:37 AM

It's for the Gamecube.

UWSTopGun · 01-12-2005, 08:39 AM

It shows it's on PS2 also

Right from the link Squeek provided it says this :

Tales of Symphonia
Gamesite: http://www.namco.com/game...
Developer:
Publisher: Namco
Platforms(s): GC PS2
Release Date: 7/13/2004
Total Downloads: 11198

**Moogy** · 01-12-2005, 09:26 AM

The PS2 version is Japanese.

**Squeek** · 01-12-2005, 04:01 PM

Moogy, it is to be released here in PS2 format from what I hear.

And they're adding / fixing things.

Not to spoil anything, but you seriously didn't pick up the fact that Lloyd's mom is his exsphere? They talk about it when he discovers the true meaning of expheres, and right at the beginning of the game a little.

End spoilers.

The battle system works as such - You have 4 players on the field. You control the first one in the list (usually Lloyd, but you can be anyone you want). You can run forward and backward in relation to your targeted enemy. The camera fixes itself for you to keep the 2d plane proper. If you do not have up to 3 other friends on the controllers, the game AI will handle their actions for you. This game is about 100x more fun (more fun than pure awesome? wow) with more players than yourself. You can solve puzzles together, battle, engage in game discussion about the story (the story really does require some thinking), etc.

Shame that Paper Mario 2 overshadowed it for best GCN RPG for 2004.

~Squeek

buttonkiller · 01-19-2005, 12:24 PM

i never heard of it

**Squeek** · 01-19-2005, 03:26 PM

THEN WHY DID YOU POST?!

YOU BOTHER ME SO MUCH.

http://tales.namco.com/

~Squeek

StarOceanFanboy · 01-20-2005, 12:34 PM

Buttonkiller, make your posts a little longer, okay? Anways, on to the topic: from what I've heard, ToS is a good game. But, I've also heard that it's a lot like Star Ocean 3 (Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time, technically), and I LOVED it (read my username... duh). So, I think I'll buy it soon for my GCN. Oh, and I want to retract an earlier statement: I once said I enjoyed PS2 more, but after going back and playing SSBM and Zelda:WW, I have to say GCN is better. But only barely: PS2 has SO3 (yes, I'm a huge SO freak).

01-11-2005, 10:15 AM	#1
Moogy 嗚呼 Join Date: Aug 2003 Age: 36 Posts: 10,303	Tales of Symphonia review Alright, so I finished playing this yesterday. I might as well review it. Gameplay The gameplay is definitely Tales of Symphonia's greatest point, as with any Tales game. The battle design and control is basically flawless, and the out-of-battle puzzles, etc. are as well. However, there are a few poorly-designed puzzles in the game, especially the block puzzle in Vinheim and the shadows at the Shadow Temple. I'll give this a 9.5/10. Music To be honest, I didn't really like the music at all when I started playing. I was just playing Star Ocean 3, and I was really expecting a different style from Sakuraba than the one he used in this game. However, over time, the music grew on me. I like the style now... it's basically SNES style with updated synths. There's also a lot of returning music from ToP, which made me very happy. All in all, the music is good, but there are a lot of meh tracks. The event music, in particular, is not always that great. I'll give it an 8.5/10. Graphics No complaints here. The cel-shaded style worked perfectly. 10/10. Story Alright, this is Tales of Symphonia's main flaw. For the first part of the game, the story is incredibly cliched. You have to help "The Chosen" "revive the world" by releasing the elemental seals and whatnot. Incredibly, incredibly cliched. However, after you do this, the story has a major plottwist, and becomes fairly interesting. The character development, in particular, is very good. However, the story also has some notable holes in it, such as what's up with Lloyd's Ex-Sphere, or how Tabatha was made. The game really isn't very good at giving backstory, either; it never explains how Yggdrasill and co. saved the world, or got the Eternal Sword, or even how they managed to live for like 4000 years. I'll give this a 7/10. Overall ToS is a great game, but the storyline has serious flaws. I'll give it a 9/10 overall, because it is very fun; but it could have scored a 9.5 or a 10/10 if the story hadn't been flawed. Recommended playing. __________________ Plz visit my blog ^^^ vintage signature from like 2006 preserved

01-11-2005, 10:24 AM	#2
iPatcH Swamp Lemons Rule Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: not detroit you idiots Age: 37 Posts: 3,370	RE: Tales of Symphonia review Well, honestly I've never played ToS or any of the Tales games, so I'm going to trust you on this one. You've always been quite good at review games/music and such, and whenever I play something you recommend I'm always pleased, so I'll have to say the same for your review over this game. I'll actually try and get around to getting a copy of this game sometime soon. __________________ put on a donk on it

01-11-2005, 08:53 PM	#3
Squeek let it snow~ Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 39 Posts: 14,444	RE: Tales of Symphonia review You should have had this game the day it came out. And, since words can't always do a game justice, I give you this: http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=1307 Also, Moogy, I believe you were very fair on your review. However, some of the things in your "story" section that you say were unexplained WERE explained. The 4,000 years thing and Lloyd's exsphere were both explained. ~Squeek

01-12-2005, 07:43 AM	#4
Moogy 嗚呼 Join Date: Aug 2003 Age: 36 Posts: 10,303	RE: Tales of Symphonia review Oh. I realized the 4000 year thing was explained after I wrote this, but what's up with Lloyd's Ex-Sphere? __________________ Plz visit my blog ^^^ vintage signature from like 2006 preserved

01-12-2005, 08:20 AM	#5
UWSTopGun Banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 668	RE: Tales of Symphonia review Wow this game looks sick, is it an action RPG where you get to move freely during battle like a Secret of Mana type thing, or do you order your computer allies to keep constantly attacking? EDIT: I've seen all the trailers and wow this game looks insane, I MUST get a PS2 in a few weeks.

01-12-2005, 08:37 AM	#6
Moogy 嗚呼 Join Date: Aug 2003 Age: 36 Posts: 10,303	RE: Tales of Symphonia review It's for the Gamecube. __________________ Plz visit my blog ^^^ vintage signature from like 2006 preserved

01-12-2005, 08:39 AM	#7
UWSTopGun Banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 668	RE: Tales of Symphonia review It shows it's on PS2 also Right from the link Squeek provided it says this : Tales of Symphonia Gamesite: http://www.namco.com/game... Developer: Publisher: Namco Platforms(s): GC PS2 Release Date: 7/13/2004 Total Downloads: 11198

01-12-2005, 09:26 AM	#8
Moogy 嗚呼 Join Date: Aug 2003 Age: 36 Posts: 10,303	RE: Tales of Symphonia review The PS2 version is Japanese. __________________ Plz visit my blog ^^^ vintage signature from like 2006 preserved

01-12-2005, 04:01 PM	#9
Squeek let it snow~ Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 39 Posts: 14,444	RE: Tales of Symphonia review Moogy, it is to be released here in PS2 format from what I hear. And they're adding / fixing things. Not to spoil anything, but you seriously didn't pick up the fact that Lloyd's mom is his exsphere? They talk about it when he discovers the true meaning of expheres, and right at the beginning of the game a little. End spoilers. The battle system works as such - You have 4 players on the field. You control the first one in the list (usually Lloyd, but you can be anyone you want). You can run forward and backward in relation to your targeted enemy. The camera fixes itself for you to keep the 2d plane proper. If you do not have up to 3 other friends on the controllers, the game AI will handle their actions for you. This game is about 100x more fun (more fun than pure awesome? wow) with more players than yourself. You can solve puzzles together, battle, engage in game discussion about the story (the story really does require some thinking), etc. Shame that Paper Mario 2 overshadowed it for best GCN RPG for 2004. ~Squeek

01-19-2005, 12:24 PM	#10
buttonkiller FFR Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: liek omgz!!! Posts: 194	i never heard of it

01-19-2005, 03:26 PM	#11
Squeek let it snow~ Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 39 Posts: 14,444	THEN WHY DID YOU POST?! YOU BOTHER ME SO MUCH. http://tales.namco.com/ ~Squeek

01-20-2005, 12:34 PM	#12
StarOceanFanboy FFR Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 94	Buttonkiller, make your posts a little longer, okay? Anways, on to the topic: from what I've heard, ToS is a good game. But, I've also heard that it's a lot like Star Ocean 3 (Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time, technically), and I LOVED it (read my username... duh). So, I think I'll buy it soon for my GCN. Oh, and I want to retract an earlier statement: I once said I enjoyed PS2 more, but after going back and playing SSBM and Zelda:WW, I have to say GCN is better. But only barely: PS2 has SO3 (yes, I'm a huge SO freak).

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