2011-06-09, 04:19 AM
I know there are a few Tales fans around, and having just finished Tales of Vesperia PS3, I wanted to throw my thoughts around about the two games that are coming out soon™.
Tales of Vesperia Complete Edition:
Overview: 3.5/5
Story: 4/5
Character: 3/5
Gameplay: 3/5
Graphics: 3/5
Replay: 3/5
Overview: Game length is about 80+ hours. Story is intricate. It starts somewhat abrupt near the early stages, but stretches into a more complex and interesting story. I disliked the male cast except for Flynn. Gameplay is not as good as Graces but still fun. Graphics are Tales graphics, not Final Fantasy. Replay value is okay. EX Dungeons are decent lengthed, but another play through may not be as rewarding due to the length outside of completing every sidequest on a higher difficulty. This game has excruciatingly large amounts of dialogue, I warn you.
Tales of Graces F:
Overview: 4/5
Story: 3/5
Character: 3.5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Graphics: 3/5
Replay: 4/5
Overview: Game length is about 50+ hours. Story is cheesy. (It was originally a Wii game) Characters are all very likable, well designed, and well characterised. Has very vibrant and colourful designs in and outside of battle. Instead of using an expansive overworld, everything is an interconnected word, much like a very gigantically extended dungeon, without the dankness. Gameplay is amazing. All characters are very usable by the human player (particularly end-game) unlike previous Tales games. Graphics are worse than Vesperia, outside of the vibrant colours. Replay value for a new game is better than Vesperia due to the length and playability of other characters, and the things you can transfer to a new game.
My overall opinion is that they are both great games. If you've played Vesperia 360, you may want to invest in Vesperia PS3. Flynn and Patty are great characters. Patty is present for almost the entire game (though leaving for brief periods) and Flynn joins your party at the end. They are both very useful, strong, and fun characters, and Patty adds a lot of story depth in my opinion. Telescopic Graveyward, the new EX Dungeon seems pretty fun, though I may change my mind to repetitive after the next 8 floors I have left.
If for some reason you've played Graces for the Wii, the changes for Graces F are nowhere near as dramatic as Vesperia PS3, but since I doubt you bought Graces for the Wii seeing as the Wii is region locked, I would recommend getting Graces F.
If you're planning to get both games, play Vesperia first and then play Graces. The dramatic shift in game-play is well, dramatic. They are very different, and after playing Graces, I was very much upset with the lower freedom of movement in Vesperia. Graces is also shorter so if you end up not liking it, you can end it faster.
If you're planning to get one game because you are poor or are a casual, I would recommend Graces. Although it is shorter, I feel it has a much better gameplay experience, despite the cheesy story.
With this, I leave you with the preview for Tales of Xillia. Can't wait.
[video=youtube;hLRE8cWK7rs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLRE8cWK7rs[/video]
Tales of Vesperia Complete Edition:
Overview: 3.5/5
Story: 4/5
Character: 3/5
Gameplay: 3/5
Graphics: 3/5
Replay: 3/5
Overview: Game length is about 80+ hours. Story is intricate. It starts somewhat abrupt near the early stages, but stretches into a more complex and interesting story. I disliked the male cast except for Flynn. Gameplay is not as good as Graces but still fun. Graphics are Tales graphics, not Final Fantasy. Replay value is okay. EX Dungeons are decent lengthed, but another play through may not be as rewarding due to the length outside of completing every sidequest on a higher difficulty. This game has excruciatingly large amounts of dialogue, I warn you.
Tales of Graces F:
Overview: 4/5
Story: 3/5
Character: 3.5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Graphics: 3/5
Replay: 4/5
Overview: Game length is about 50+ hours. Story is cheesy. (It was originally a Wii game) Characters are all very likable, well designed, and well characterised. Has very vibrant and colourful designs in and outside of battle. Instead of using an expansive overworld, everything is an interconnected word, much like a very gigantically extended dungeon, without the dankness. Gameplay is amazing. All characters are very usable by the human player (particularly end-game) unlike previous Tales games. Graphics are worse than Vesperia, outside of the vibrant colours. Replay value for a new game is better than Vesperia due to the length and playability of other characters, and the things you can transfer to a new game.
My overall opinion is that they are both great games. If you've played Vesperia 360, you may want to invest in Vesperia PS3. Flynn and Patty are great characters. Patty is present for almost the entire game (though leaving for brief periods) and Flynn joins your party at the end. They are both very useful, strong, and fun characters, and Patty adds a lot of story depth in my opinion. Telescopic Graveyward, the new EX Dungeon seems pretty fun, though I may change my mind to repetitive after the next 8 floors I have left.
If for some reason you've played Graces for the Wii, the changes for Graces F are nowhere near as dramatic as Vesperia PS3, but since I doubt you bought Graces for the Wii seeing as the Wii is region locked, I would recommend getting Graces F.
If you're planning to get both games, play Vesperia first and then play Graces. The dramatic shift in game-play is well, dramatic. They are very different, and after playing Graces, I was very much upset with the lower freedom of movement in Vesperia. Graces is also shorter so if you end up not liking it, you can end it faster.
If you're planning to get one game because you are poor or are a casual, I would recommend Graces. Although it is shorter, I feel it has a much better gameplay experience, despite the cheesy story.
With this, I leave you with the preview for Tales of Xillia. Can't wait.
[video=youtube;hLRE8cWK7rs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLRE8cWK7rs[/video]
