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Jan 21, 2013 12:58 am GMT
I'm back into a good ole RPG mood and a long time ago I bought symphonia and really liked it, but only got about 5-10 hours through before a Zelda game took up all my time. After reading a lot, idk which to get first:
Abyss, vesperia, symphonia?
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gamertag:airsoft246
Friend code: 2064 9270 5047
Jan 21, 2013 4:58 am GMT
Symphonia -> Abyss -> Vesperia
That's the order in which they were released. The three of them have really similar gameplay, except each improves a little on the previous, so I'd recommend playing in that order. And don't even think about jumping straight to Vesperia! Symphonia and Abyss have great stories, and they have some unique mechanics not present in Vesperia. IMO the three of them are equally good.
I also recommend playing Graces before or after Vesperia. Some people dislike its story, but its gameplay is beyond fantastic. Most fans agree that it has the best battle system in the series, and the most hilarious victory quotes/skits/sidequests.
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PS3 Favorites: Tales of Graces f, Resonance of Fate and Valkyria Chronicles
http://myanimelist.net/profile/LeninhaJan 21, 2013 8:00 am GMT
Get all 3 if you can. They're all great buys!
Jan 21, 2013 8:58 am GMT
Also PS3 Vesperia is JP only, so get the 360 version...
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"I expected disappointment. In that regard, I was not disappointed."
Iwata: "Betrayal that makes the fans happy!"
Jan 23, 2013 7:41 pm GMT
*Spoiler?*
Nordipolica references all playable characters in Symphonia and Abyss.
*End*
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Seriously... all of these flames are amusing that it's fun to be trolled nowadays, FLAME MORE EVERYONE! THEY ARE FUN! Official Laguna's Ragnarok Cannon of TGAE!
Jan 24, 2013 12:47 am GMT
921sora posted...*Spoiler?*
Nordipolica references all playable characters in Symphonia and Abyss.
*End*
Where?
I know abyss is on the back of the Sign, but what about Symphonia?
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"Wherever I may live, I remain the same person. Nothing will change." - Milla Maxwell.
Feb 5, 2013 7:17 pm GMT
Milla_Maxwell posted...921sora posted...
*Spoiler?*
Nordipolica references all playable characters in Symphonia and Abyss.
*End*
Where?
I know abyss is on the back of the Sign, but what about Symphonia?
i know there was another board there... i have the ps3 version and my friend rented 360 and found both. i'll look next time i see him, i could be wrong.
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Seriously... all of these flames are amusing that it's fun to be trolled nowadays, FLAME MORE EVERYONE! THEY ARE FUN! Official Laguna's Ragnarok Cannon of TGAE!
Feb 5, 2013 8:58 pm GMT
Meh, I'm not too keen on Abyss. Seems like it's just me that doesn't like that game whatsoever, but oh well. If anything I really dig Anise and Mystic Cage saving the day.
Vesperia is one of my favourite games and my favourite Tales games, so ofc I'm gonna say go ahead and buy it. X360, PS3, what have you, it's a great game all around. I would end up writing an essay on why I love it so much, despite it being mostly me rambling and getting really excited over Estelle, so I'll spare you. Seriously, tho. Play it.
Symphonia is also a pretty good game. The battle system is pretty rad and I love playing as Presea, but I think what I like most about it is that literally everyone is fun to play as. The plot is really unique and while although the cast can be somewhat cliche 90s anime characters, they're still really great. I really liked the whole thing with the Chosen/Cruxis/all that, especially Kratos and Yuan's dealio. Really good game, okay.
But Symphonia is HAAAARD. Go for it first if you really want to but... so much grinding, no free run, lol if you want Grade easily. Bosses will murder you if you're not ready. In which I never was and some other people weren't but I sucked at Symphonia because I hadn't played a game of that nature since Nocturne and that was... October and November 2011. Also, the puzzles are either really obnoxious, confusing, tedious, or all of them at once. (Ymir Forest Ymir Forest Ymir Forest)
Vesperia obvs isn't as bad. There are some dungeons where literally every room looks the same and it's so frustrating to navigate argHhhhHHHHH BAKUTION FRUSTRATION, and Duke 3 will be the end of you (lv130 and still can't beat him on anything but Easy am I just sucking at this game or something I DON'T KNOW). Chapter 2 isn't just where you walk on eggs all the time, it's where you CRY about the current events while walking on eggs. It's really sad, man! I'm not looking forward to it in my Unknown playthrough. I'm really not.
Also lol SMs, namely Autobreaker's SM (without Kogahazan). Frustrating. Super frustrating! This game can be really frustrating. But I love it anyway.
Its plot is amazing. Unique (though not as unique as Symphonia's I gotta admit -- that was pretty cool stuff, okay) with fabulous characters. Gosh especially Rita, she was the best. Estelle and Patty's development is the best and Repede is BA. Leaves the little shipper inside you, if you've got it, to determine the endgame pairings, which is a nice change. The battle system is absolutely lovely and bosses (especially Gigantos) can just get to be SO FUN gosh. The EX Dungeons are kind of tedious but the end result is so worth it. The music is absolutely fantastic -- definitely one of my favourite OSTs along with VS. The graphics are really unique and the models are some of my favourites in the entire series (even though I want to tape the front parts of Yuri's hair to his shirt STOP WAVIN AROUND IN THE WIND PLS it's driving me nuts 8( ) along with Graces. Yeah. Okay. Great game, I love it, play it because it's FABULOUS MAX, etc.
In short: Both Symphonia and Vesperia are very very lovely games but I would overall rec Vesperia first.
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PSN: sylvaranti_
drifloon @ backloggery
Feb 6, 2013 7:05 am GMT
^ lol, and here I thought I was bad because I had to go to the 70's to beat RWO on Normal.
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"It's a tradition unique to JRPG fanbases to discuss the virginity of characters." - SetsunaFSeiiei
BBCP HYYYYYPE
Feb 6, 2013 7:53 am GMT
Tokunagas, edit your major Vesperia spoiler, dude.
Btw, did you just make a Penguindrum reference? XD
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PS3 Favorites: Tales of Graces f, Resonance of Fate and Valkyria Chronicles
http://myanimelist.net/profile/LeninhaFeb 6, 2013 10:47 am GMT
Final boss is joke
with Repede. >_>
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"I expected disappointment. In that regard, I was not disappointed."
Iwata: "Betrayal that makes the fans happy!"
Feb 6, 2013 12:20 pm GMT
If you're asking which I think you would be better off starting with, I'd say Symphonia.
If you're asking which I think is the best one out of the three than definitely Vesperia IMO.
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Waiting for: Tales of Xillia 2
Feb 6, 2013 6:50 pm GMT
Niennae posted...Tokunagas, edit your major Vesperia spoiler, dude.
Btw, did you just make a Penguindrum reference? XD
Woah woah what where OH... Oh okay SORRY I'm so sorry omg I tried to put out as many spoilers as possible BUT I'm gonna fix it right now I'm sorry
Penguindrum! I love that anime even though I never got around to finishing it. Edit, I found out where you're talking about, lol.
Also maybe it's my lack of Karma but I cannot edit twice GRRR please pardon me. Unless I am doing something wrong or not seeing something (which I probably am)
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PSN: sylvaranti_
drifloon @ backloggery
Feb 7, 2013 6:54 pm GMT
Haha, I think you can only edit your post within a certain time limit. Anyway, I had been spoiled about
Duke turning on the party elsewhere, so I'm not mad about that. I was just thinking that it would be bad if someone who didn't know about it stumbled upon that post.
But yeah, I forgive you because of the reference.
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PS3 Favorites: Tales of Graces f, Resonance of Fate and Valkyria Chronicles
http://myanimelist.net/profile/LeninhaFeb 14, 2013 11:27 am GMT
From: tokunagas | #008But Symphonia is HAAAARD. Go for it first if you really want to but... so much grinding, no free run, lol if you want Grade easily. Bosses will murder you if you're not ready. In which I never was and some other people weren't but I sucked at Symphonia because I hadn't played a game of that nature since Nocturne and that was... October and November 2011. Also, the puzzles are either really obnoxious, confusing, tedious, or all of them at once. (Ymir Forest Ymir Forest Ymir Forest)
Wat?
Not going to lie that blew my mind. Never seen anyone say ToS was hard.
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http://i47.tinypic.com/2qc038l.jpg Feb 17, 2013 8:13 am GMT
darkzero16 posted...From: tokunagas | #008
But Symphonia is HAAAARD. Go for it first if you really want to but... so much grinding, no free run, lol if you want Grade easily. Bosses will murder you if you're not ready. In which I never was and some other people weren't but I sucked at Symphonia because I hadn't played a game of that nature since Nocturne and that was... October and November 2011. Also, the puzzles are either really obnoxious, confusing, tedious, or all of them at once. (Ymir Forest Ymir Forest Ymir Forest)
Wat?
Not going to lie that blew my mind. Never seen anyone say ToS was hard.
You've never seen someone say Symphonia is hard? Dang. I think it's mostly based on my lack of preparation when playing the game (I got stuck on the first boss for, like, two days and I just tried replaying some of the game with my friend and I killed him really easily it was sad) and also the fact that I sucked at games when I played Symphonia LOL c_c
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PSN: sylvaranti_
drifloon @ backloggery
Feb 17, 2013 10:28 am GMT
Short answer:
Vesperia.
Slightly longer answer:
I don't really agree with people who playing through all the games in order for any getting into any long running series. These are quite long games, going through them in order means slogging through games you might not get along with to reach a game you are more likely to enjoy. So just skip to Vesperia and if you enjoy it work through the series or at least Symphonia, Abyss and Graces f.
Feb 18, 2013 1:32 pm GMT
From: tokunagas | #016darkzero16 posted...
From: tokunagas | #008
But Symphonia is HAAAARD. Go for it first if you really want to but... so much grinding, no free run, lol if you want Grade easily. Bosses will murder you if you're not ready. In which I never was and some other people weren't but I sucked at Symphonia because I hadn't played a game of that nature since Nocturne and that was... October and November 2011. Also, the puzzles are either really obnoxious, confusing, tedious, or all of them at once. (Ymir Forest Ymir Forest Ymir Forest)
Wat?
Not going to lie that blew my mind. Never seen anyone say ToS was hard.
You've never seen someone say Symphonia is hard? Dang. I think it's mostly based on my lack of preparation when playing the game (I got stuck on the first boss for, like, two days and I just tried replaying some of the game with my friend and I killed him really easily it was sad) and also the fact that I sucked at games when I played Symphonia LOL c_c
Fair enough. We all play differently. Its cool to hear you got to play some co-op on it XD
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http://i.minus.com/iAOnVeG24nM9l.gif Feb 20, 2013 11:19 pm GMT
tokunagas posted...darkzero16 posted...
From: tokunagas | #008
But Symphonia is HAAAARD. Go for it first if you really want to but... so much grinding, no free run, lol if you want Grade easily. Bosses will murder you if you're not ready. In which I never was and some other people weren't but I sucked at Symphonia because I hadn't played a game of that nature since Nocturne and that was... October and November 2011. Also, the puzzles are either really obnoxious, confusing, tedious, or all of them at once. (Ymir Forest Ymir Forest Ymir Forest)
Wat?
Not going to lie that blew my mind. Never seen anyone say ToS was hard.
You've never seen someone say Symphonia is hard? Dang. I think it's mostly based on my lack of preparation when playing the game (I got stuck on the first boss for, like, two days and I just tried replaying some of the game with my friend and I killed him really easily it was sad) and also the fact that I sucked at games when I played Symphonia LOL c_c
lol, I think Symphonia is the easiest in the series tbqh (The main reason I want an HD remake is so they can Add Unknown difficulty.)
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"Wherever I may live, I remain the same person. Nothing will change." - Milla Maxwell.
Feb 25, 2013 11:01 am GMT
Milla_Maxwell posted...
lol, I think Symphonia is the easiest in the series tbqh (The main reason I want an HD remake is so they can Add Unknown difficulty.)
And free run!! You know, Kratos' AI free runs all around the field (he literally runs circles around the enemies sometimes XD) and I'm stuck on the stupid lines.
I've really been hoping for a Symphonia remake too... I was keeping my fingers crossed that they would announce it this year being that it's the 10 year anniversary of its first release in Japan, but they might be working on a Tempest remake instead. Bleh.
Anyway, to OP... I personally highly recommend all of Symphonia, Abyss, Vesperia and Graces. They are fairly long games though. Not Persona 3 + 4 long, but still long. Some people don't like Abyss because they can't get into the characters, but that wasn't a problem for me (though I didn't love all the characters like I did in other Tales games). It wouldn't hurt to start with Symphonia and then try Vesperia. Have you picked up any of them yet?
Tales of Symphonia (GC)
Tales of Graces f (PS3)
Bullet Soul (X360)
Tales of the Abyss (3DS)
L@ve Once: Mermaid Tears (PS3)
Tales of Xillia (PS3)
