Tales

Confessions of an RPG Nerd

HIGH Finding an RPG hero and villain who aren't exactly like every other RPG hero and villain in video game history.

LOW Non-skippable cut-scenes. Really, should I have to watch five minutes of dialogue again just because I suck and died on a boss?

WTF There is a dog in your party. A dog who fights with a knife and smokes a pipe.

Game Description: A new generation of tales unfolds! A power struggle begins in a civilization dependent on an ancient technology, the blastia, and the Empire that controls it. The fates of two friends traveling separate paths intertwine in an epic adventure that threatens the existence of all. Tales of Vesperia marks the first Tales RPG release in HD with detail and graphics never before seen in the series. Now, real-time battles are more exciting than ever with over limits, the ability to unleash fatal strikes, combinations and burst artes. The next evolution of the revered role-playing series comes to the Xbox 360.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes

According to the ESRB, this game contains: Fantasy Violence

Namco's Tales of Phantasia has an abundance of clichés. But the game handles them so well that it's made me see why these things became clichés in the first place.

Game Description: Tales of Legendia is an epic tale of love and heroism that explores the ties that bind us all. Senel Coolidge, a young expert in the special skill called "eres," was drifting in the ocean on a small boat with his sister Shirley when they stumbled upon a mysterious giant ship called Legacy. Have they stumbled upon an unknown civilization, or is the Legacy a relic of something long past? Find out with them, and become part of an incredible new adventure!

Rather than a game that relied completely on its brand name, I found a colorful role-playing game (RPG) that stepped up to the challenge of providing a unique experience compelling enough to keep me in front of the controller to the end of the story, despite some smudges around the edge.

It has gameplay that sucked me in, characters that were greatly expanded via manga-inspired "skits," and an epic story full of wonder. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this game; my previous Tales experience was with Tales of Destiny 2 on PlayStation, and I found that game too trite to ever get involved. Fortunately, this new game is an entirely different animal.

Game Description: In a dying village on Sylvarant, legend has it that a Chosen One will one day appear from amongst the people and the land will be reborn. Enter a world of beautiful cel-shaded graphics and high-quality Anime cut scenes by renowned artist Kosuke Fujishima. Command real time battles in a unique 3D battle system that gives you full control over the characters. Execute and combine hundreds of special attacks and magic spells. The line between good and evil blurs in this immersive, emotionally charged epic adventure where the fate of two interlocked worlds hangs in the balance.