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[Ventara]

There is fishing, but it doesn't open up until pretty late in the game.

Ah, alright. Weird decision to have that feature introduced late in the game.

 

[Cornbread78]

Ah, alright. Weird decision to have that feature introduced late in the game.

I never did it once past the game event, lol.

 

[Thickstone]

The credits are rolling at this very moment.

Good game but this was by far the worst Xillia-style gameplay iteration ever. Normal was piss easy (and Hard was the same just with more HP), the areas were even bigger and formulaic than usual and the battle system was way too Button-smashy. It was just a slog to play. I downed it to easy in the final dungeon and just set it to auto play.

However I will say that the cast is great without any resemblance of a black sheep. They were all well done and interesting. The story was okay and way more focused than past entries. There were clear goals and objectives unlike in previous games where things just...happen.

Velvet is also a good main imo. I felt that her motivation was well established and her attitude was justified. I expected ridiculous amounts of edge but they were nowhere to be found. Just a nice girl that was turned into a bitter tragic person. I really liked what they did with her.

Spoiler

The ending was especially well done although I hoped for a happier ending for Velvet ;(

However they really change the formula for the next title asap. As good as these characters were, they just barely carried the game for me. I can't stomach another round of 'plz enjoy these empty fields'

 

[lucablight]

The credits are rolling at this very moment.

Good game but this was by far the worst Xillia-style gameplay iteration ever. Normal was piss easy (and Hard was the same just with more HP), the areas were even bigger and formulaic than usual and the battle system was way too Button-smashy. It was just a slog to play. I downed it to easy in the final dungeon and just set it to auto play.

However I will say that the cast is great without any resemblance of a black sheep. They were all well done and interesting. The story was okay and way more focused than past entries. There were clear goals and objectives unlike in previous games where things just...happen.

Velvet is also a good main imo. I felt that her motivation was well established and her attitude was justified. I expected ridiculous amounts of edge but they were nowhere to be found. Just a nice girl that was turned into a bitter tragic person. I really liked what they did with her.

Spoiler

The ending was especially well done although I hoped for a happier ending for Velvet ;(

However they really change the formula for the next title asap. As good as these characters were, they just barely carried the game for me. I can't stomach another round of 'plz enjoy these empty fields'

I think compared to other Tales of games this is definitely overrated. Blandest OST in the series (especially disappointing after how great the widely panned Zestiria is), battle quotes aren't anywhere near as witty as past entries and the characters aren't as good as people are making out. I couldn't take the last boss seriously with its design. They still haven't topped Grace's battle system. I actually enjoyed Zestiria more in the end (Edna > any Berseria character and Rising up is one of the best moments in the series).

 

[Celcius]

I think compared to other Tales of games this is definitely overrated. Blandest OST in the series (especially disappointing after how great the widely panned Zestiria is), battle quotes aren't anywhere near as witty as past entries and the characters aren't as good as people are making out. I couldn't take the last boss seriously with its design. They still haven't topped Grace's battle system. I actually enjoyed Zestiria more in the end (Edna > any Berseria character and Rising up is one of the best moments in the series).

 

[Thickstone]

My thoughts exactly. But to each his own.

 

[GKSilKamina]

I think compared to other Tales of games this is definitely overrated. Blandest OST in the series (especially disappointing after how great the widely panned Zestiria is)...

...you say that despite having played

Tales

of

Graces

 

[demidar]

Combat doesn't shine unless you're playing on Intense or higher.

You get away with way too much on the lower difficulties, and enemies just die too fast.

 

[The Salt Life]

I need to be spoiled on one thing because I have not been able to get back to the game.

So please post the answer in spoiler tags.



Why do birds fly??


Also someone just died? How much of the story do I have left?

Spoiler

the real laphicet turned #1 into a dragon and we defeated the dragon so I guess it's dead? The gang just escaped on a boat, Arthur, omnominat/laphicet, Melchior and I'm guessing the pirate captain they were looking for, now a demon watches

 

[Cornbread78]

I need to be spoiled on one thing because I have not been able to get back to the game.

So please post the answer in spoiler tags.


Why do birds fly??


Also someone just died? How much of the story do I have left?

Spoiler

the real laphicet turned #1 into a dragon and we defeated the dragon so I guess it's dead? The gang just escaped on a boat, Arthur, omnominat/laphicet, Melchior and I'm guessing the pirate captain they were looking for, now a demon watches

You are almost there (80/90% done, with two "levels" left to go) and your question will be answered at that time. Nobody will post it for you at this point, lol.


Be aware, the final dungeon is awesome, but very long...

 

[Paltheos]

...you say that despite having played

Tales

of

Graces

Graces is a game of extremes. F-tier story and world, top level combat and game systems (the characters are pretty fun too when they're not wondering why a guy who is clearly the devil is doing evil things).

Same applies for the music although it really got the short end of the stick. The large majority of the soundtrack ranges from awful to subpar, but then there are a few tracks that are straight-up spectacular, some of the best Sakuraba's produced for the series. Impatient Sword, Risk Everything final ver., The Door That Cannot Be Opened (this one I'm convinced is actually some unused Star Ocean track because it's so radically different from everything else in the game but it's awesome so w/e) are all favorites of mine.

 

[The Salt Life]

Nobody will post it for you at this point, lol.

So I guess In that flashback

Spoiler

and laphicet says to athur "well then they wouldn't be birds" was wrong? Damn

This better be some life changing answer.

 

[Cornbread78]

So I guess In that flashback

Spoiler

and laphicet says to athur "well then they wouldn't be birds" was wrong? Damn

This better be some life changing answer.

I will leave you with this thought. Are there any right or wrong answers for the motivations behind the characters up to this point in the game?


Velvet and Laphi are awesome!

 

[Thickstone]

How did you guys feel about the ending?

I'm still thinking about it.

Spoiler

I hate bittersweet endings. They are great but I always feel like shit.

 

[Datschge]

How did you guys feel about the ending?

I'm still thinking about it.

Spoiler

I hate bittersweet endings. They are great but I always feel like shit.

Considering the circumstances

Spoiler

being able to reunite with her brother is the best possible outcome for Velvet. Of course they can't go back to how it was before everything happened (and Laphicet wouldn't want being back to his sickly self anyway) so they at least get to dream about the peaceful alternate reality. *shrugs*

 

[Celcius]

How did you guys feel about the ending?

I'm still thinking about it.

Spoiler

I hate bittersweet endings. They are great but I always feel like shit.

Now that I've beaten it twice

Spoiler

I think it's fitting, but I somehow wanted Velvet to get a happy ending. Gonna hope she gets out of this predicament somehow someday

 

[jorgeton]

How did you guys feel about the ending?

I'm still thinking about it.

Spoiler

I hate bittersweet endings. They are great but I always feel like shit.

I really loved the ending. Very fitting.

Spoiler

was expecting something much darker, but really liked the bittersweet tone. Glad Velvet got the peace she deserved in a weird fucked up way.

 

[Cornbread78]

How did you guys feel about the ending?

I'm still thinking about it.

Spoiler

I hate bittersweet endings. They are great but I always feel like shit.

Very fitting and leaves things open for a sequel. I loved that Zestiria tie-in at tge very end as well..

 

[Ventara]

Bad guys: "None can stand against our power! Well, unless they *insert something that requires traveling around to do something*. But there's no way anyone can do that!"

Hmm, I wonder what our gang of misfit pirates will be doing next, lol.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

How did you guys feel about the ending?

I'm still thinking about it.

Spoiler

I hate bittersweet endings. They are great but I always feel like shit.

I didnt like it because its exactly what I figured it would be, that and it honestly feels far too similar to the endings of xillia 1 and 2 and zestiria

 

[Cornbread78]

I didnt like it because its exactly what I figured it would be, that and it honestly feels far too similar to the endings of xillia 1 and 2 and zestiria

But Xillia 2's ending was not so

Spoiler

happy at all..

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

But Xillia 2's ending was not so

Spoiler

happy at all..

all 4 games end with

Spoiler

the main character going away. I

Spoiler

n xillia 1's case one of the dual MCs. thats what is getting repetitive to me

 

[Cornbread78]

all 4 games end with

Spoiler

the main character going away. I

Spoiler

n xillia 1's case one of the dual MCs. thats what is getting repetitive to me

Gotcha.


Very true. They have been really pushing the whole

Spoiler

Sad/Bitter-sweet ending for awhile now. Can't we get another ending like Tales of Hearts or even Graces? (I still want to know what was up with the purple haired baby in the ED!)

Maybe the new team will take a new approach with the next game. Look like they will leave 2017 release free and are looking towards Fall of 2018 for Japanese release..

 

[Fauve]

Gotcha.


Very true. They have been really pushing the whole

Spoiler

Sad/Bitter-sweet ending for awhile now. Can't we get another ending like Tales of Hearts or even Graces? (I still want to know what was up with the purple haired baby in the ED!)

Maybe the new team will take a new approach with the next game. Look like they will leave 2017 release free and are looking towards Fall of 2018 for Japanese release..

Well, Hearts

Spoiler

is kinda bittersweet in that the party has to say goodbye to Kunzite and Lithia after they both go into a cold sleep.

 

[Cornbread78]

Well, Hearts

Spoiler

is kinda bittersweet in that the party has to say goodbye to Kunzite and Lithia after they both go into a cold sleep.

True, but it

Spoiler

worked for the main pair

for once.

 

[Fauve]

True, but it

Spoiler

worked for the main pair

for once.

Oh yeah, definitely.

 

[lucablight]

...you say that despite having played

Tales

of

Graces

Graces has a way better OST than Berseria. The battle theme is awesome (better than the generic rock noise in Berseria) and a lot of the dungeon music was way better as well. Berseria's OST was so offensively mediocre it lessened my enjoyment of the game so much I liked it less than Zestiria in the end (I hated the equipment system in Zestiria).

Graces is a game of extremes. F-tier story and world, top level combat and game systems (the characters are pretty fun too when they're not wondering why a guy who is clearly the devil is doing evil things).
Same applies for the music although it really got the short end of the stick. The large majority of the soundtrack ranges from awful to subpar, but then there are a few tracks that are straight-up spectacular, some of the best Sakuraba's produced for the series. Impatient Sword, Risk Everything final ver., The Door That Cannot Be Opened (this one I'm convinced is actually some unused Star Ocean track because it's so radically different from everything else in the game but it's awesome so w/e) are all favorites of mine.

I don't understand where the story hatred for Graces comes from. The characters have really good chemistry and the story isn't offensive at all like people continually keep going making out. Lambda is a way better villain than what we got in Berseria. The Malik/Richard skits are amongst the best in the series. Graces is easily one of the best Tales of titles.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

zestiria remains a fucking abomination. awful game

 

[kewlmyc]

I don't understand where the story hatred for Graces comes from. The characters have really good chemistry and the story isn't offensive at all like people continually keep going making out. Lambda is a way better villain than what we got in Berseria. The Malik/Richard skits are amongst the best in the series. Graces is easily one of the best Tales of titles.

It's mostly Asbel's actions in the face of a "friend", whom he spent one weekend with as a kid, going crazy and killing a bunch of people and almost the entire world. His whole "gotta save everyone" motivation contradicts with his actions, which could have made for an interesting conflict, but of course everything works out for the best regardless because standard JRPG story.

Asbel sucks and is one of the main reasons the plot sucks in graces. The comedy in the Future Arc and the combat are the only saving grace (heh) of that game.

 

[Dice//]

However they really change the formula for the next title asap. As good as these characters were, they just barely carried the game for me. I can't stomach another round of 'plz enjoy these empty fields'

I honestly can't wrap my head around why they keep doing....

Fuck, give me fixed-camera again if it means we can get "better views" again and don't have these boxed-in/corridor dungeons.

vs

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

Xillia did have some really good views though, in the cities.

 

[PeterVenkman]

Currently playing this co op, and as someone who couldn't get through Xillia, Zestiria or Graces (all for dif reasons), this already feels better. Good thing I can enable Velvets regular town outfit instead of the default abomination.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

Currently playing this co op, and as someone who couldn't get through Xillia, Zestiria or Graces (all for dif reasons), this already feels better. Good thing I can enable Velvets regular town outfit instead of the default abomination.

you mean the best costume ever

 

[lucablight]

It's mostly Asbel's actions in the face of a "friend", whom he spent one weekend with as a kid, going crazy and killing a bunch of people and almost the entire world. His whole "gotta save everyone" motivation contradicts with his actions, which could have made for an interesting conflict, but of course everything works out for the best regardless because standard JRPG story.

Asbel sucks and is one of the main reasons the plot sucks in graces. The comedy in the Future Arc and the combat are the only saving grace (heh) of that game.

I found Velvet continually hitting me with a sledgehammer by repeating over and over "but did you know I'm just using you for my own needs" x1000 a lot more irritating than that.

 

[PeterVenkman]

you mean the best costume ever

As a parody of all things bad with jrpg costumes, sure.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

As a parody of all things bad with jrpg costumes, sure.

you dont like fun

 

[Taruranto]

zestiria remains a fucking abomination. awful game

Berseria's cast and story is miles ahead and the game systems are more straightforward, but I don't think it's particularly better than Zesty. Heck, it even has worse dungeons.

 

[ShadowSoldier89]

Berseria's cast and story is miles ahead and the game systems are more straightforward, but I don't think it's particularly better than Zesty. Heck, it even has worse dungeons.

yet zestiria remains a far bigger chore to just traverse, the pacing (which berseria isnt even great at) is atrocious, and the combat is one of the worst in the series.

Horrid flashbacks of having to fight level 10 enemies just to trigger some windrunning...

 

[PeterVenkman]

Honestly I'm just so glad that link combat is gone that I am willing to let so much slide. Fuck link combat, fuck those shitty transformations. Fuckkkkk.

 

[GoldCrusader]

Zestiria was really fun. It has my favorite cast. Sorey and Mikleo are the best!

 

[Cornbread78]

Zestiria was really fun. It has my favorite cast. Sorey and Mikleo are the best!

Best bromance yes, but I had a lot more fun in Berseria.

But alas, I think I still put Graces and Hearts above both because I'm a sucker for those types of stories.

 

[GoldCrusader]

Best bromance yes, but I had a lot more fun in Berseria.

But alas, I think I still put Graces and Hearts above both because I'm a sucker for those types of stories.

Silly Corn. The bromance is all that matters.

 

[kewlmyc]

I found Velvet continually hitting me with a sledgehammer by repeating over and over "but did you know I'm just using you for my own needs" x1000 a lot more irritating than that.

True, that did get tiring, but she has a late game redemption arc that makes her likable after that. That and I at least feel bad for her (mostly) in the first 2/3rds of the game. In the playable prologue, she comes across as likable instead of just a brat like Asbel came across in the childhood arc of Graces.

I also found the other characters made up for Velvet's lack of fun in the beginning. This is probably my overall favorite Tales party now. There isn't a weak link in the bunch (not counting side characters like Kamoana). Graces had Pascal, Malik, and Richard (Future Arc) as the only characters I really liked.

Zestiria was really fun. It has my favorite cast. Sorey and Mikleo are the best!

The cast is one of the stronger things about the game. Sorey and the seraphim were really fun. Rose was cool too if you ignore that she's a walking contradiction to the rules of that world.

 

[Taruranto]

yet zestiria remains a far bigger chore to just traverse, the pacing (which berseria isnt even great at) is atrocious, and the combat is one of the worst in the series.

Horrid flashbacks of having to fight level 10 enemies just to trigger some windrunning...

Oh for sure, Berseria is way more refined and pleasant to play. I just think that when you look at stuff like dungeons design, fields design, etc Berseria is really not that much of improvement, but it certainly less annoying to play.

 

[demidar]

At least you can auto-move with the hoverboard and move faster without doing that awful windstepping thing.

 

[Hikami]

I don't think I can return to this game after playing Persona 5. Should've finished it up before it released..

I already thought the dungeons/fields were plain and boring but coming from P5 will just make it even worse in comparison.

 

[Celcius]

I honestly can't wrap my head around why they keep doing....

Fuck, give me fixed-camera again if it means we can get "better views" again and don't have these boxed-in/corridor dungeons.



vs

I really like the text font in that first picture. So easy to read

 

[aitakute]

I don't think I can return to this game after playing Persona 5. Should've finished it up before it released..

I already thought the dungeons/fields were plain and boring but coming from P5 will just make it even worse in comparison.

I played Berseria before P5. Almost everything in P5 is better but after playing Berseria, I was so disappointed with how few voiced dialogues in P5 compare to Berseria

 

[Ventara]

Just have the bonus dungeon and one last side-quest to go. Was thinking of going for the plat, but geeze, does it sound grindy. Not sure if I will since I have stuff like Horizon, P5, Nier, Y0 and GR2 in my backlog.

 

[Cornbread78]

Just have the bonus dungeon and one last side-quest to go. Was thinking of going for the plat, but geeze, does it sound grindy. Not sure if I will since I have stuff like Horizon, P5, Nier, Y0 and GR2 in my backlog.

This is exactly why I didn't bother... Just too much stuff on my plate waiting for me to devour.