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Tales of Graces f is the best Tales of... game I've played
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Not just weaker end, but weakest in the series (only Hearts comes close) and actually offensive in some regards. Thankfully, Xillia seems to have one of the better OSTs in the series.
Too bad Future Arc was super short. And Vesperia has the best cast, lbr. I agree with the last point though (again Vesperia too though).
Eh... Some of the bosses are the complete antithesis of fun on higher difficulties.
Byronic Hero
Member
To each their own I guess. But since I play most JRPGs for story and characters, Graces f isn't my favorite. Pascal & Sophie are good, as for everyone else, they can go die in a hole.
Vesperia is my favroite, it's got everything I wanted in a JRPG.
Vesperia is my favroite, it's got everything I wanted in a JRPG.
Graces had an incredibly good combat system. The core is easily the best in the Tales franchise, and sitting up near the top of the all-time-greats list. I don't think that non-core stuff was handled exceptionally well, though: I didn't feel that there was as much differentiation in playstyle between characters compared to Vesperia, for instance, and Vesperia was a lot better in terms of not having a 'best' party, Rita aside. Still, I think mechanically it was the best Tales game.
But HOLY FUCKING SHIT was the cast and the writing just goddamned abominable. I could put up with the cast of Tales of Symphonia because I had fun with the combat. I stopped playing Final Fantasy 13 not because the awful cast bothered me, but because the combat system outstayed its welcome. The combat in Blue Dragon sustained my interest until my groaning and eye-rolling gave way to actually kind of liking the Saturday morning cartoon vibe of it all. Hell, I managed to put up with the interminable cast of fucking Star Ocean 4 while I had fun with the game, even though the combat isn't much better than average - I didn't even have to skip cutscenes the first time through. What I mean to say is, I am pretty good at ignoring shitty animu/video game writing if the core gameplay is there.
But I just could. not. fucking. take. any of the cast of Graces. Watching one of those many, many cutscenes that consisted of something like Cheria getting mad at Asbel, and throwing a fit, and then Asbel asks what's wrong, and she tells him to shut up, and then they hug and she starts crying, or whatever the fuck - that's the only time in my life that a video game has made me angry enough to throw my controller across the room. The cast is so fucking bad.
But HOLY FUCKING SHIT was the cast and the writing just goddamned abominable. I could put up with the cast of Tales of Symphonia because I had fun with the combat. I stopped playing Final Fantasy 13 not because the awful cast bothered me, but because the combat system outstayed its welcome. The combat in Blue Dragon sustained my interest until my groaning and eye-rolling gave way to actually kind of liking the Saturday morning cartoon vibe of it all. Hell, I managed to put up with the interminable cast of fucking Star Ocean 4 while I had fun with the game, even though the combat isn't much better than average - I didn't even have to skip cutscenes the first time through. What I mean to say is, I am pretty good at ignoring shitty animu/video game writing if the core gameplay is there.
But I just could. not. fucking. take. any of the cast of Graces. Watching one of those many, many cutscenes that consisted of something like Cheria getting mad at Asbel, and throwing a fit, and then Asbel asks what's wrong, and she tells him to shut up, and then they hug and she starts crying, or whatever the fuck - that's the only time in my life that a video game has made me angry enough to throw my controller across the room. The cast is so fucking bad.
PedroPanache
Member
Here's a small sample of my experience with Tales of Graces F.
SCENE: Richard starts acting mental and trying to kill everyone.
Asbel : Hey Richard doesn't seem himself. I wonder what's up.
5 hours later
Asbel : What's wrong with Richard. I think he may be sad, or something.
3 hours later
Asbel : Maybe he's just needs a good nights sleep, and he'll be fine.
2 hours later
Asbel : Hey, I wonder why Richard tried to murder us just then. We should go chase him and ask him about it. I have some herbal tea which might help.
So, fuck that game, fuck it into the sun and let it burn for all eternity. Along with Asbel and Richard.
SCENE: Richard starts acting mental and trying to kill everyone.
Asbel : Hey Richard doesn't seem himself. I wonder what's up.
5 hours later
Asbel : What's wrong with Richard. I think he may be sad, or something.
3 hours later
Asbel : Maybe he's just needs a good nights sleep, and he'll be fine.
2 hours later
Asbel : Hey, I wonder why Richard tried to murder us just then. We should go chase him and ask him about it. I have some herbal tea which might help.
So, fuck that game, fuck it into the sun and let it burn for all eternity. Along with Asbel and Richard.
This was truly the worst aspect of the story. Your party seems composed of mentally handicapped children, especially Asbel.
And you get 40 hours into the game, and they still don't fucking realize that Richard ain't Richard anymore.
MagiusNecros
Gilgamesh Fan Annoyance
Graces lacks BARBATOS. Therefore it is suck.
cm osi
Member
ahaha yes, totally.
King of the Potato People
Member
I was unimpressed with the opening few hours, everything seemed too simple and the characters like Asbel (knelling and crying) were embarrassing to watch. However something about the game clicked with me once the characters reach Strata, the conversations between the characters started getting entertaining and the combat starts to evolve in some awesome ways. I'm glad I persisted with the game. The game is great but takes too long to get there.
Tales of Symphonia is my favourite, the scope and variety of the two worlds as well as the complex lore of Cruxis blew me away as a teenager. Vesperia probably has my favourite characters though.
Tales of Symphonia is my favourite, the scope and variety of the two worlds as well as the complex lore of Cruxis blew me away as a teenager. Vesperia probably has my favourite characters though.
This. Unless you're talking about Vesperia and maybe the Xillia games which all have somewhat decent plots. Also I usually find the casts servicable thanks to skits. Most of the plot in this series is laughable. They range from mediocre to hilariously bad (Rebirth). Graces f easily has the best gameplay, though as an overall package Destiny remake or PS3 Vesperia probably take it for me.
It has the best battle system out of all the Tales games however a lot of other things in the game were bad such as characters, music, scenery and enemies. I did like how they included the hardest setting on your first play-through, it added a little bit of challenge to the game.
Symphonia and Vesperia are still better though.
Symphonia and Vesperia are still better though.
Tales of Vesperia has a fantastic plot. Tales of the Abyss too.
I got to play the game for around 10 hours before me PS3 died and I don't think the characters were that bad. Gonna get a new PS3 soon, and I already own the game so I hope the characters won't turn shit later in the game.
Also, Symphonia isn't good.
grandjedi6
Master of the Google Search
FRIENDSHIP IS ETERNAL. I WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR FRIEND.
I gotta say, this trend of "the characters in Graces are awful, I hate it. By the way, Symphonia is my favorite" is blowing my mind. I don't like any character in Graces besides maybe Malik, but I'll take all of them over Lloyd and Colette. I want to hate them to death.
Nostalgia is a powerful thing.
Vesperia has great, great characters (Yuri is one of my favorite characters in any video game) and a good plot for the first 2/3, but then the last 1/3 turns into absolute boiler-plate stereotypical JRPG nonsense.
I still love the game, though.
MagiusNecros
Gilgamesh Fan Annoyance
PedroPanache
Member
I feel like some battered husband, going back to a genre that just bitch-slaps me and busts me up every time I buy a new JRPG. Star Ocean 4 bust my right cheek up, Final Fantasy XIII cracked my ribs, Eternal Sonata knee-capped me, Final Fantasy XIII-2 broke my right arm, and Tales of Graces F knocked my left eye out of its socket. But, hey, this time its going be different, this time I can believe the promises, this time Ni No Kuni is going to treat me right and give me the respect I deserve.
Alex
Member
Vesperia and Destiny were always the least embarrassing entries (Destiny mostly because the characters are so dumb it's almost charming) but it doesn't make them good. I'm hardly picky nowadays, but I'll never understand what a person can objectively get out of a Tales narrative, Symphonia being one of the big championed ones and it's probably bottom rung for the entire medium.
Vesperia is my favorite by leaps and bounds, even if it pitters out a bit in the last third. Graces had great combat but I couldn't handle it alone given all the bullshit inbetween. The story and characters were cringeworthy as all hell, and that's the majority of time spent in the game.
There's lots of great Japanese RPGs. You just seem to pick the worst ones!
Seriously? SO4 is on a whole different level for me. The story and cast is offensive, something i wouldn't label Graces as.
I've played all the localized Tales games and honestly, the gameplay in Graces feels leagues ahead of the rest. Like the OP, i don't think i can ever go back to a pre-CC Tales game anymore.
I'm really curious why so few feels the same way. None of the stories in entire Tales series (or 90% of JRPGs tbh) can be considered above-average.
JennyTablina
Member
I like the art design, and Graces is technically the first Tales I've ever really sat down and played. The kids prologue is a nice touch that eases you into the story - though I dunno about the characters, all of them are kinda okay as kids - but they get pretty annoying as adults (though Asbel actually gets a bit better with age) - some of the plot developments are a bit out there though. But I haven't finished it yet, about midway thru the story right now.
Picked up Abyss, though I find Luke a more annoying protagonist to start with in that case (I really hope the whining stops soon, it's funny but starting to get a little old a few hours in...)
Picked up Abyss, though I find Luke a more annoying protagonist to start with in that case (I really hope the whining stops soon, it's funny but starting to get a little old a few hours in...)
Haven't most of the quality JRPGs migrated to the handhelds, as that's where the Japanese audience is?
MagiusNecros
Gilgamesh Fan Annoyance
Quite the accomplishment.
pancakesandsex
Member
pfffft. More like best plot point. Also peach pie.
It's like they were writing a decent plot, ran out of ideas, and pressed the emergency Tales trope switch. Summon spirits ahoy! Also people who like Phantasia's plot the best outside of nostalgic reasons weird me out. I do admit that the opening is one of the strongest in the series though.
Really? Lloyd is harmless and not as dumb as Asbel IIRC and I don't know why but I like Colette. She made me laugh in some scenes even. Controlling her was a mess though.I gotta say, this trend of "the characters in Graces are awful, I hate it. By the way, Symphonia is my favorite" is blowing my mind. I don't like any character in Graces besides maybe Malik, but I'll take all of them over Lloyd and Colette. I want to hate them to death.
Emil has to be worst lead, lbr.
I gotta say, this trend of "the characters in Graces are awful, I hate it. By the way, Symphonia is my favorite" is blowing my mind. I don't like any character in Graces besides maybe Malik, but I'll take all of them over Lloyd and Colette. I want to hate them to death.
Lloyd was bad, but he was 'relentlessly optimistic, everybody's superfriend' dumb standard JRPG lead, which at this point just kind of registers as white noise characterization, as opposed to Asbel who was the 'mopey, whiny, guilt-ridden, with no confidence' dumb standard JRPG lead, which is like poison ivy for your mind.
Colette, though, yeah, she would've fit right in with the rest of the Graces cast. Her only saving grace is that the rest of Symphonia's cast is generally just Lloyd-bad, and not Graces-bad, so she doesn't get to multiply her wretchedness by every other character in the game.
Overall it's the Tales game I find the easiest to go back to and still have a really enjoyable experience, though Rebirth is my favorite in the series. I can see myself going through Xillia 2 again at some point too.
Some of the Tales games (namely the Symphonia, Abyss, Vesperia trio) are a little tedious to play now, some were fun the first time but don't offer any reason to play them again (Eternia, Phantasia, and Legendia), and others ended up being so unexciting I'm quite sure I'll never touch them again (Xillia, Innocence).
I enjoyed almost all them (at least the first time), but only a few really stick out in my mind as reaching a level where they're really, really fun and fairly timeless games. Not necessarily the best written or anything among video games or even among the Tales series (especially Graces and Rebirth...), but something like Resident Evil 4 or Bayonetta, where I could play it right now after playing it several times before years ago and still think "this is awesome".
Some of the Tales games (namely the Symphonia, Abyss, Vesperia trio) are a little tedious to play now, some were fun the first time but don't offer any reason to play them again (Eternia, Phantasia, and Legendia), and others ended up being so unexciting I'm quite sure I'll never touch them again (Xillia, Innocence).
I enjoyed almost all them (at least the first time), but only a few really stick out in my mind as reaching a level where they're really, really fun and fairly timeless games. Not necessarily the best written or anything among video games or even among the Tales series (especially Graces and Rebirth...), but something like Resident Evil 4 or Bayonetta, where I could play it right now after playing it several times before years ago and still think "this is awesome".
SonicX_Zero
Member
Graces F was a different beast, the cast was brought down by a horrible lead and the story was just blech! But I have to admit I logged in a huge chunk of time into the game because of the battle system. <3 I'll always have a soft spot for Team Destiny, I'm not much of a Team Symphonia fan after only finishing Abyss and still haven't touched my Vesperia save file.
More like they realized that they had resolved everything at the end of Act 2, and scrambled to figure out a third act.
RurouniZel
Asks questions so Ezalc doesn't have to
I love Graces f! I'm with you OP.
My rankings of the ones I've played.
Graces f > Symphonia > Vesperia > Phantasia > Symphonia 2 >>>>>>>> My dung >>>>> Abyss > Legendia
My rankings of the ones I've played.
Graces f > Symphonia > Vesperia > Phantasia > Symphonia 2 >>>>>>>> My dung >>>>> Abyss > Legendia
Evil.
MagiusNecros
Gilgamesh Fan Annoyance
Everyone should play Destiny DC.
Collete is AWFUL. Luckily the plot worked around that and took her out of commission one way or the other a lot. Lloyd was hammy but it was bearable to me, Asbel was a lot worse.
distantmantra
Member
Graces f was fun, but I thought Vesperia was the better game.
PedroPanache
Member
What can I say, that's just my type.
Sir_Crocodile
Member
Have you played Radiant Historia, Growlanser : Wayfarer of Time, Persona 4, Disgaea 4 & Xenoblade?
WickedLaharl
Member
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