Tales of Symphonia

[ZeroAX]

I just think the story is like a 14 year old's fanfic. It sucks. But I still didn't mind being the bodyguard for a change (though the girl is pretty retarted "No please don't attack her. even if she wants to kill me it's ok. cause I'm good. So I won't die right?" then aeris pokes her from behind)

[bobbynewmarkiii]

agreed, i found the story way too juvenile and gave up - got a good price for it on amazon as well

[RackGaki]

I'd argue that something can be the worst entry in a series while still being a good game, but then again I've only played Phantasia and Symphonia, so I can't compare it to the Playstation entries.

Vesperia has been the subject of high acclaim as well. I haven't played it, but a friend of mine keeps telling me about it. Everything he describes makes it sound like a traditional Tales game, just on steroids.

[lisalover1]

So to add an actual response to this:

I actually didn't have any problems with taking the role of a "side character", as it were. From a gameplay perspective, you're still fully in control, so it's really only from a story perspective that you play second fiddle. But the way I look at it, you have this character who really cares about his friend. His friend is going on a very important journey, and thus he wants to help her any way he can. Sure, he's not actually DOING the important thing, but he is facilitating it in a very big way.

Im gonna have to agree, tales is one of my favorite rpgs of all time. I thought that offmain character style was cool, something a little different form the norm. But its respectable that that wouldn't work for you, some people like their games a very specific way only. I have a friend that wont even play rpgs with polygons, he only likes the old 2d classics. Personally i love every style of game and every style of rpg, so im always looking for something experimental. Like eternal sonata for instance.

It's not that I don't like the idea of a secondary character being the hero, I've just played so many RPG's that are the other way around. Let me explain with let another analogy: You're listening to a record [Yes, for the purposes of this analogy, it's a record]. You're listening to a medicore song, and the needle skips to a better song. It's ultimately a turn for the better, but you're still a bit thrown by the sudden break.

Anyway, when I said I got sick by this fact is just a joke. It's ridiculous to get sick because of a game, especially a good one. [Although I did get sick to a game once when listening to the US voice acting dub of "Brave Fencer Musashi". ] Thanks for everyone giving insight about this topic. I think I'll pick up the game again.

Yeah, no. I'm not a fan of Symphonia either. Was the lamest entry in the series at the time, but it got all this undeserved attention just for being a an exclusive on a JRPG starved machine.

I think that was the reason they put it on the Gamecube. If they put it on the PS2, it would be "Just another PS2 RPG", even though it was ported to the PS2 in Japan, but it just wasn't the same. It's like when they ported Resident Evil 4 to the PS2. They said something about loading times, so that might have been a decent excuse. But is it so wrong for a developer or publisher to want publicity for a game?

[gennss]

the combat system is what turned me off, i prefer turn based.

[ott0bot]

Symphonia is a good game, but unfortunately is suffers from a rather immature plot. I much prefer Tales of the Abyss which only has moderately immature dialog, a good plot and a great sense of humor. I like the battle system a bit more as well.