![]() My biggest complaint with the character is that Lloyd and Colette never really evolve beyond the basic tropes. There are a ton of characters and each one has a meaningful arc. One of the parts I found most interesting was how one of the stories primary villains is idealized by several of the heroes and that creates an interesting dilemma when they ultimately learn the truth about what he has done. They have to face tough realities about the world they live in and seeing them adapt to that provides a lot of great character moments. The characters are a bit stereotypical on the surface but as the game progresses most of them get a lot of development. The deep quality content is there but the atmosphere often feels inappropriate. I played this game around the same time I played Final Fantasy X and compared to that game this one doesn't do nearly as good of a job when it comes to conveying the tone of important story moments. My only major problem with the story is the tone. For example, there are certain bosses that you can lose against and still continue the game but if you win against them it will lead to a different outcome. The way that you interact with the story as a player is also very interesting because it extends beyond just making choices in conversations. Part of the fun was trying to guess the twists since almost everything is foreshadowed well in advance, figuring it out made it rewarding in a different way. The middle of the game offers a great twist that I kind of predicted but because of how it was handled it was still totally satisfying. Some parts are predictable but I rarely found that detracted from the story as a whole. There are some really big ideas and multiple twists that I found very satisfying. All of these topics are tied into a massive narrative that is complex while still being easy to understand. While the style of the game is a bit childish the story actually has a lot of dark themes, such as persecution, slavery and human sacrifice. Where the game really shines is its story. Like with most JRPGs though traversing the environment is a bit dull, it would have been nice to have more interactivity. Throughout the game you will have the opportunity for many optional conversations with party members, those scenes help to develop the characters but also add another layer to gameplay since you can make choice to either react to them positively or negatively. Another cool thing is the way that you interact with your party. I thought that puzzles could have been better but there were enough to at least keep me engaged. ![]() Outside of combat, there is a lot to explore and there are some puzzles. Some of the field enemies are pretty mediocre but fortunately there are a ton of bosses and some of those battles are excellent. Combat can get a bit repetitive, as the game is very long but there are a lot of techniques to be learned so that kept things reasonably fresh. It allows you to have a lot of control and strategy while still offering the thrill of fast paced action. You can quickly and easily switch between characters and you can also assign strategies and techniques. This game does a good job of balancing the two styles. This makes combat very engaging, while I like the strategy element of turn based combat I generally prefer real time for the sense of immersion. Battles take place in a confined field but unlike traditional turn based RPGs the action all happens in real time. The gameplay is a cross of old school and modern. It's accessible and fun while still offering depth. I recommend this game to almost any fan of JRPGs and I think it is even a great starting point for many people who aren't familiar with the genre. Those flaws are mostly just cosmetic though, beneath its cartoony exterior is a core concept that is actually very mature. The game does have some weak areas such as mediocre level design, bland visuals, childish characters and often jarring anime stereotypes. It is very rare that I find a game that gets me so invested in its world and its lore. The gameplay is fun and rewarding and the story is long, deep and compelling. Tales of Symphonia is one of the best JRPGS of its generation.
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