Re: Tales Series - Da Official Thread

[SanAndreasX]

Glad I preordered the Tales of Symphonia Chronicles CE and picked it up at midnight, is all I can say.

[BretBaber]

I'm into the snow section of Xillia, and as you could guess it is magical. Snow in games is awesome. Snow in real life not so much.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

Here's why I'm not getting the platinum for Symphonia. You need EVERY title and some are complete bullshit, and/or need careful preparation and a entire playthrough planned around them. I'm listing them from my guide. Kind of wanted to list them off for reference anyways so why not here. These are the one's that take full playthroughs to complete and are REALLY easy to miss.

Some of Lloyd's

Brave Soul: Don't run from battles until roughly over 1/3rd of the game (this one is really doable, but very easy to fuck up)

Eternal Apprentice: Keep Lloyd's default weapon euipped until after Palmacosta is cleared. (its pretty early but the problem is theres a few parts where Lloyd is alone and it can make it annoying)

Gung Ho: Beat the boss roughly 2/3rd's into the game with a party averaging level 36 or lower.

Collette's:

Friendship First: Don't let ANY party members die for roughly 1/3rd of the game

Genis's:

I Hate Gels: Don't use gels (standard healing items, bottles don't count so you CAN use them) till a bit beyond 1/3rd of the game.

The other characters have some that are hard but these are literally the worst.

I'd like to try but ugh some of these are gonna be a pain in the ass.

[SanAndreasX]

What is "1/3 of the game"? Clearing the first Tower of Salvation?

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

Yeah i'm just estimating they are all based on different boss fights. I got these on gamecube way back but i also beat it like 10 times

Brave Soul: Yuan and Botta at the Teth'alla base

Eternal Apprentice: Killia

Gung Ho: Rodyle

Friendship First: Iubaris (When you reach the seal of light)

I Hate Gels: First battle against Pronyma

[Waggy]

I've only played Tales of Xillia, albeit I put in a good 40 hours. It was a really fun game despite the few faults here and there.

I'm probably one of the few who actually loved Milla's lisp too.

[BretBaber]

I know nothing of this Milla lisp everyone talks of.

I predicted my own future, a little over a month ago I said I was going to try and beat Xilia before X and X-2 HD came out because I wouldn't play it anymore. I was right. Haven't played the game since, which is a real shame because I actually was really enjoying myself. If I don't game with my cousin before work tomorrow I want to try and get back into this game, but now I'm at a loss as to where I left off.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

Holding L1 or R1 on the field should give you a clue where to go next.

[SanAndreasX]

The Tales games also have a nice "synopsis" feature which helps you pick up where you left off storywise.

[BretBaber]

I try not to play more than one RPG for reasons like this. I've always felt you can only commit yourself fully to one RPG game at a time.

[A Roguish Ham]

I played the original Tales of Phantasia on an emulator using De-Jap's translation and it was probably the best thing I ever played, lol. 
After that, I played part way through Vesperia. I need to finish that game. Story is pretty generic but I love the hell out of those characters.

[SanAndreasX]

I'm actually of the same mind. My RPG experiences are better when I focus on one game at a time. The problem is, I buy RPGs whenever they come out because they tend to become rare and expensive somewhere down the line if I don't. Then I get stretched too thin. Oh well. First world problems.

[SanAndreasX]

And it looks like we're getting Tales of Hearts R this winter. Confirmed by Hideo Baba. Now I finally have a reason to get a Vita.

[pspiddy]

I'm thinking of getting the Xillia 2 CE. I dunno though. My b-day is the 18th and the price tag is in the ballpark of what me and the wifey are allowed to spend on b-days. But then I have to wait until August and no guarantee the art book is badass. Thoughts?

[SanAndreasX]

Safe bet, going by what Namco did for Xillia, Symphonia, and Ni no Kuni's CEs. Symphonia actually had better feelies than Xillia did.

[pspiddy]

I missed during E3 that Tales of Hearts R is coming to Vita. That's pretty sweet. Definitely picking that up. I won't allow myself to play it until I finish my first Xillia run through. I've really sucked at finishing games this year. Or in the case of Bravely Default, even starting them >.<;

[SanAndreasX]

They announced it a little before E3. If it does well enough they may also release Tales of Innocence R in the US.

[pspiddy]

That would be cool. Maybe the Vita will go through what PSP went through and become a haven for JRPGs. I'm just glad I saw that and now you mentioned the possibility of more releases because that flew right under my radar.

*edit* Obviously I mean Vita optimized and not straight up lazy ports.

[SanAndreasX]

Yeah. I just wonder what Namco considers to be "success" for Tales of Hearts R in the US. From what I understand, it's going to be English text with Japanese voices, so they're apparently trying to keep costs reasonable. In any event, I have my copy preordered.

[BretBaber]

I'm going to attempt to play some Xillia tomorrow. when I finish that I'm moving on to X-2, so that should help get me pumped to do so.

[BretBaber]

I'm back into really enjoying this game. Taking that long break made it really hard to get back into it, but once I did it is as enjoyable as when I left it.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

Xillia 2 comes out in August.

I'd replay the first one but ive literally done everything in it. Maybe do a half xp run.

[BretBaber]

Kay, I'm nearing the end of my Tales run. I finished the sub-event trophy/title, and I was wondering what titles can be transferred to the new game. Not really sure if I want to try to go for a platinum, but I'm considering it. Also, is skit viewer missable because I have like 20 to go and the game's almost over.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

All titles carry over, and only sub events/skit progress dont iirc. All unlocked skits will be in your log on the menu in NG+ though, but you have to watch them again for them to register.

Easiest way to get that trophy is to buy "unlock all skits" from the grade shop in NG+ (if you've been collecting trophies it should be easily affordable) and just watch them all from the menu. You can quit after the trophy dings though you wont get the title unless you find a save point before quitting.

If you do do a second run. Make sure you pick at least 2x exp from the grade shop. Grinding to level 99 takes a LONG time even with the modifiers. Also keep shop levels and/or 2x shop XP

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

Also i would reccomend doing the Magnus Zero which unlocks after you beat the game before heading into NG+ or dropping the game. It unlocks the power of the devil's arms which is something you can carry over, and gets a gold trophy.

The devil's arms basically start out sort of weak, but once they are unlocked they will grow in power with each enemy they kill. This will help out a lot in your next playthrough

[BretBaber]

So after you beat the game, you can still run around and do stuff and then move on to new game + which will then give you the ability to buy these things you speak of? Just don't want to fuck up if I do decide to do it.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

after you beat the game it puts a little star icon next to your save or something like that. It can then be loaded as a normal save or loaded from the new game+ menu to start a new game. The start stays on it regardless of what you do with it unless you delete it of course

How much grade you have to use for new game+ will be displayed in the titles menu if you want to check that.

[SanAndreasX]

Couple of questions for folks here.

1. Has anyone here played old-school Tales (Phantasia, Destiny, Destiny II/Eternia, etc)? I'm working through Tales of Destiny right now. It's pretty good, but the dungeons are brutal.

2. Who is picking up Xillia 2 on launch day?

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

I played Eternia, and Phantasia. Eternia is pretty great, but i couldnt get into Phantasia

and im getting Xillia 2 at launch no collectors edition though

[BretBaber]

No and no. Someday I'll probably get Xillia 2.

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