In some ways, if you’ve played one Tales games, you’ve played them all. That’s not a bad thing, because for the most part they’re all pretty good. And like all long-running franchises, there are peaks and valleys. I can say with authority, having played many Tales games, this is a peak.

The first thing you’ll notice if you’ve played a lot of Tales titles is the world feels much larger than in previous games. Instead of a series of patchwork areas that allude to a much larger world, now we can walk around and actually see the other areas of the world off in the distance. This feeling of a larger, more realized world is further enhanced by the topographical layout of the land with its rising hills and lowered valleys. And when the music kicks in and you’re treated to a sweeping view, you really feel like there is a grand adventure about to take place.

Although originally a PS3 game, this port to the PS4 features the best graphics in the series. While it’s not FF and never will be, Tales games have a certain graphical charm and this one is a looker. The textures are crisp and clean, the character’s movement is more natural. The monsters look great, aven before you engage them in combat. Of course, it helps when the art design is stellar to begin with. The character’s sophisticated outfits are gorgeous and practically made with cosplay in mind. The architecture of the buildings throughout the game is a wonder to behold. I may be one of the only people in the world who really trips out on the architecture in video games, and this game has some beautiful structures. And quite varied! The only complaint I have is the world looks a little too clean. Some dirt or debris would have given the world a much more lived in and believable look.

The story is the usual Tales mix of a religion, the horror and complexity of war, and a great evil power that must be defeated. I really enjoy the Tales take on religion and war. The games often focus on the complexity of both subjects, and that's especially true of this one. Being a messiah-like figure with powers far beyond mortals isn’t easy. Many want to use that power for their own desires. Also, anyone you help will come to expect that help and ask for more. Every decision must be weighed! And in war, nothing is black and white. Both sides see each other as the “bad guys.” Precious life is lost by all and often for the worst reasons. Everyone suffers.

The story in this one is especially good, because the characters are very likeable. Heck, even the famous Tales skits, segments where the characters' heads talk about various things, are more watchable. They’ve come a long way from the forced comedy of yesteryear. The game features some of the better writing in the franchise.

One of the shining points of the Tales series is the fast-paced combat. The battles are more of a hyperactive hack and slash game than an RPG. You can attack, make combos, unleash special attacks, block, dodge or just run around the battlefield like a crazy guy all at blistering speed. You can also switch between characters on the fly and fight as any member of your team. Or you can have the computer fight for you and just watch the action. This is great because it makes battles very exciting, but can lead to a bit of finger fatigue, especially during long boss battles.

Another minor quip about the combat is its mind-boggling in its complexity. Throughout the world, there are stone columns with game tips on them. Mostly combat tips. You could fill a book with the amount of combat tips this game has. After a while, my mind kind of went blank because there was so much information. Luckily, you don’t need to know it all to win. For much of the game, you can just spam attacks, dodge at the right time and do okay.

The biggest change to the combat is the addition of Armatization. You can combine two characters together and make a super powerful one. This is not only a cool idea, but also really fun during fights. The fused characters look incredible. The characters are already wearing sophisticated outfits, but when you fuse them, they look downright stunning. I’m impressed every time by the sheer amount of detail in the design. Plus, their attacks are super-strong and gorgeous to watch. And you can Armatize with different characters depending on whom you’re fighting. You’ll definitely want to switch it up, as I found out the hard way by wasting ten minutes doing practically no damage to a boss.

Overall, this is a great Tales game and one of the high points of the franchise. The stuff that I love about Tales games is all there, and the larger world and character fusion are welcomed additions to the formula. One of my favorite things about Tales is they don’t try to reinvent it with every new game (cough, cough, FF). They know what works and just add enough to keep the series moving forward and fans coming back for more. 

Hint: Armatization isn’t always the answer! There are some bosses where it’s better not to!

by Urian Brown