t1z4l

The 30th anniversary of the Tales series is just around the corner and Bandai Namco has already started preparations with the Remastered Project. For those who would like to take a walk down memory lane, or are curious about what other Tales games they can play while waiting for new (or remastered) releases, here is a full list of the mothership Tales titles.

Tales of Phantasia 2q1f5t

Release Date: December 15, 1995

Platforms: Super Famicom, PlayStation, GBA, PSP, iOS, mobile devices

The first Tales title takes place in Aselia and follows Cless Albane, who seeks revenge after his hometown is destroyed. He learns that the culprits behind the attack wish to revive a powerful sorcerer king, Dhaos. Using the power of time travel, Cless and his friends travel to the past and future in order to defeat Dhaos for good.

Tales of Destiny 304o49

Release Date: December 23, 1997

Platforms: PlayStation

The original Tales of Destiny came out on the PlayStation and the remake came out in 2006 for the PS2. It follows Stahn, who accidentally finds a sentient sword that calls itself Dymlos. He, along with other wielders of speaking swords, fight for the Eye of Atamoni, which is a powerful relic from an ancient war.

Tales of Destiny Remake is one of the best titles in the Tales series for its story—which expands on the original and includes a redemption arc for popular character Leon—and fighting style. Hopefully, Bandai Namco has plans for a remaster so that it can officially release the game to the west.

Tales of Eternia 2t543o

Release Date: November 30, 2000

Platforms: PlayStation, PSP

Tales of Eternia, released in the west as Tales of Destiny 2, has nothing to do with Tales of Destiny. Instead, it follows Reid Hershel and his friends, who live together in the world of Inferia. One day, they come across a mysterious foreign girl named Meredy and through their interactions with her, learn of a different world called Celestia. They journey together to stop an ages-old conflict between the two worlds.

Tales of Eternia feels like the turning point for the Tales series in that it propelled the series into its initial popularity. It was popular enough for an anime adaptation and a MMO, though the anime was pretty bad (in that it had little to do with the game) and the MMO didn’t last long. The battle system feels a lot more fluid compared to Phantasia and Destiny, and it holds up to newer 2D Tales games too. 

Tales of Destiny 2 3i3854

Release Date: November 28, 2002

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The actual sequel to Tales of Destiny, Tales of Destiny 2 follows Kyle, who’s the son of Stahn and Rutee from the first game. Due to his parents’ heroic past, he’s also obsessed with becoming a hero. One day, he meets a mysterious girl named Reala and embarks on a journey to become a true hero.

Like the above Tales of Destiny Remake, Tales of Destiny 2 is a fantastic game. It’s got a great story, compelling characters, and a difficult battle system that’s rewarding to master. The meme himself, Barbatos, is also from this game. Considering how much trouble he can give you, it can be a little hard to laugh at the jokes Bandai Namco make at his expense.

Tales of Symphonia 5r3l5w

Release Date: August 29, 2003

Platforms: Nintendo GameCube, PS2, PS3, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One

Tales of Symphonia was popular in its native Japan, but it’s what really put the franchise on the map for the western audience. While the west had gotten Phantasia and Eternia, they weren’t exactly selling like hotcakes in the way that Symphonia did. The story follows Lloyd, who s his friend Colette’s pilgrimage to regenerate the world of Sylvarant.

Tales of Rebirth 3d484v

Release Date: December 16, 2004

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The story of Tales of Rebirth heavily focuses on racism. It takes place in a world where people wield a magical power called Force after King Ladras, in his final moments, uses his power to unleash the potential in people around his kingdom. Veigue lost power of his Force of Ice and froze his childhood friend Claire in a pillar. Even after he manages to free her with the help of new friends Eugene and Mao, soldiers acting on orders from Karegia Kingdom heiress Agarte take her away. His journey to rescue her from the palace morphs into a battle to end racism.

Tales of Legendia 4q6q12

Release Date: August 25, 2005

Platforms: PS2

Tales of Legendia follows the story of Senel and his surrogate little sister Shirley. Shirley is the Merines, a legendary figure among the Ferines, which is a race of people who can live underwater. Because Shirley is the Merines, many different factions want to capture her to use them for their own schemes.

Compared to previous titles (and its successor Abyss), Tales of Legendia looks and plays in a very weird way. This likely has to do with the fact that the developer, Project MelFes, consists of Tales Studio , along with developers from the Tekken and Soul Calibur series. It’s the first Tales game with Go Shiina as the composer and the soundtrack is objectively the game’s highest point.

Tales of the Abyss 5h3k3x

Release Date: December 15, 2005

Platforms: PS2, Nintendo 3DS

Tales of the Abyss is the eighth mothership title, but it’s the commemorative game for the series’s 10th anniversary. It follows Luke fon Fabre, a pampered noble and swordsman who ends up outside of his comfy mansion after heroine Tear appears to assassinate her brother, who’s also Luke’s teacher. The story heavily focuses on Luke’s personal development as he seeks the meaning of his birth. There is also an anime adaptation for Abyss, which you can watch on YouTube.

Tales of the Tempest r5ii

Release Date: October 26, 2006

Platforms: Nintendo DS

Tales of the Tempest follows Caius Qualls, who is a Leymon (essentially a werewolf). After the church takes his guardian prisoner and kill the parents of his childhood friend Rubia, the two of them set out for the capital. The adventure then turns into one to overthrow the church.

Tales of the Tempest is the first Tales game for a handheld console. However, the reception to the game was very mixed, with some places giving it a very positive score and others giving it a very negative one. Points of criticism included the story’s short length, lack of content, unappealing relationship between Caius and Rubia, and more.

Tales of Innocence 14305s

Release Date: December 6, 2007

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita

The story of Tales of Innocence follows avatars, human reincarnations of the divine Devalokans who can still use supernatural powers from their past lives. Ruca, a timid boy, is an avatar of the powerful Asura and he awakens to his powers after rescuing fugitive Illia, a fellow avatar. They meet up with other avatars, who then travel to do something about the wars engulfing their world.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World 4t508

Release Date: June 26, 2008

Platforms: Wii, PS3

Though the sequel of Tales of Symphonia, Dawn of the New World introduces a lot of lore and elements that weren’t in the original game. It follows Emil, a timid boy who survived a massacre that Lloyd from the first game perpetrated. After meeting with Marta, a girl with Ratatosk’s Core on her forehead, the two of them set out on a journey to fix the meteorological problems occurring around the world and escape from Marta’s pursuers.

Tales of Vesperia 164y6m

Release Date: August 7, 2008

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Windows PC, Xbox One

Tales of Vesperia is a very popular and successful entry in the Tales franchise, selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide. It also has a prequel film, though Flynn in particular is so out-of-character it might as well be fanfiction. The story follows Yuri Lowell, a former soldier who’s now doing odd jobs around his neighborhood. After meeting a noble named Estelle and fleeing from the capital with her, he forms a guild called Brave Vesperia.

Tales of Hearts 6c70r

Release Date: December 18, 2008

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita, iOS

Tales of Hearts follows Kor Meteor (Shing Meteoryte) who meets siblings Kohaku and Hisui Hearts. A monster infects Kohaku and in an attempt to save her, Kor accidentally destroys her Spiria (her heart and emotions). The three of them set off on a journey to restore Kohaku’s Spiria.

People don’t talk about the CG Movie Edition, but I definitely that one. People were comparing the models to the Evil Goddess MOCCOS, an old 2ch meme about the ugly KOS-MOS figure that came with the Xenosaga Episode 2 Box Set.

Tales of Graces 5q5o6m

Release Date: December 10, 2009

Platforms: Wii, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Windows PC

Tales of Graces follows the story of Asbel Lhant, who is the future heir of the Lhant village. As a child, he befriends an amnesiac girl named Sophie and the prince of Windsor, Richard. Witnessing Sophie’s death traumatizes him and he runs away from home to become a knight. Seven years later, he reunites with Sophie, setting into motion an adventure that takes him all across the world of Ephinea.

Tales of Xillia 1l6o71

Release Date: September 8, 2011

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia is the first Tales game that combines character designs from Kosuke Fujishima (Phantasia, Symphonia, Abyss) and Mutsumi Inomata (Destiny, Eternia, Rebirth). Like Tales of the Abyss, it’s a celebratory mothership title. In Xillia's case, it was for the 15th anniversary. It follows Jude Mathis, a medical student who encounters Milla Maxwell after she breaks into a military research facility in an attempt to destroy a secret weapon. Now that they’re on the run from the military, Jude and Milla, along with their companions, journey to help Milla with her mission to save the world.

Tales of Xillia 2 3nb3v

Release Date: November 1, 2012

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia 2, like Dawn of the New World, is a sequel of its predecessor while introducing elements and lore that the original game never really mentioned. It takes place a year after Xillia and follows Ludger Will Kresnik, a guy who just wants to cook. It turns out he’s not just a good cook, as he possesses the Chromatus. He and the cast from the first Xillia need to go into parallel worlds—essentially what-if scenarios from the first game—and destroy them to prevent their own world’s destruction. He also has to pay off a huge medical debt. Ah, adult life.

Tales of Zestiria 3cr5c

Release Date: January 22, 2015

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Zestiria was, like Abyss and Xillia, an anniversary title and this time, it was for the 20th anniversary. It draws inspiration from Arthurian legends and it follows the story of Sorey, a young human who can see the mystical spirits Seraphim. He leaves the village of Elysia with his best friend Mikleo and, after forming a pact with the Seraph Lailah, he becomes the Shepherd whose job is to purify the Hellion rampaging throughout Glenwood.

For an anniversary title, Zestiria had its fair share of controversies. Before the game came out, Japanese fans were ticked off about how prominent advertising for Alisha was, yet she was a mere guest party member in the actual game. After it came out, fans seemed split on the story, battle system, and tutorials.

Tales of Berseria k586k

Release Date: August 18, 2016

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Berseria technically serves as the prequel to Tales of Zestiria. However, you don’t have to play Zestiria to understand Berseria. It follows Velvet Crowe, a normal village girl who lost her pregnant sister after a daemon attack. One day, tragedy strikes the village and Velvet comes across her brother-in-law Artorius killing her younger brother Laphicet in a ritual. She transforms into a daemon and Artorius tosses her into jail. Once she wakes, she swears vengeance on the man who used to be her family.

Tales of Arise 37x2o

Release Date: September 10, 2021

Platforms: PS4, PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

Tales of Arise follows the story of Dahnan slave Alphen, or “Iron Mask,” and a Renan girl named Shionne. A curse on Shionne hurts anyone who touches her but since Alphen can’t feel pain, he’s the only person who can pull a sword from the Master Core she has. Like Rebirth and Eternia, it deals with themes of racism and oppression.

The post All Mothership Titles in the Tales Series in Release Order appeared first on Siliconera.

The Tales of the Rays Twitter has revealed a hidden code that you can use to change the color of Quickie in the PS version of Tales of Eternia. Some people in the comments have revealed that it works and turns Quickie yellow.

You can see the code for Tales of Eternia on the Tales of the Rays Twitter . According to the post, someone who worked on developing Tales of Eternia showed it to them. You can input the code by going into the menu for Tales of Eternia and picking custom. Then, you can change Quickie’s color by setting it to Red 254, Green 254, Blue 54. It’s unclear if you can do this with other shades or if it’s set to this particular code.

Here is a picture from Twitter “pipiyo4193,” who actually tried it and replied to the original post.

This code was unknown to players until now. So no one ever discovered it even after 24 years. Even when looking up this trick, all of the results are from today. Walkthrough sites in Japanese do not talk about this code either.

Tales of Eternia came out in 2000 and was the third mainline title of the Tales series. It follows a boy named Reid Hershel who’s trying to prevent the Grand Fall, which is an apocalyptic event in which his planet Infernia crashes into Meredy’s planet Celestia. Meredy is the owner and friend of Quickie. Quickie looks like a mix between a squirrel and a rabbit, and serves as a mascot for the game.

Tales of Eternia (Tales of Destiny 2 when it originally came out in North America) is only available on the PlayStation and the PlayStation Portable.

The post Tales of Eternia Code to Change the Color of Quickie Revealed After 24 Years appeared first on Siliconera.

JRPGs typically have very grand stories that translate well in adaptations such as anime and manga, and the Tales series is no exception. Ever since Tales of Phantasia came out in 1995, the worlds that Namco (now Bandai Namco) created have captivated audiences from around the world. So it stands to reason that there are several anime series that use the same stories, settings, and characters as the games. Here are all of the Tales games that have received animated adaptations:

Tales of Phantasia 2q1f5t

A 4-part OVA for Tales of Phantasia ran from 2004 to 2006. Though the show closely followed the game’s plot, it mostly focused on Dhaos, the Tree of Life, and the Elves. Therefore, those who have only experienced Phantasia through the OVA did not get the entire story. Despite the multiple cuts to the story in order to create a more cohesive show for anime-only fans, there are several scenes and dialogue lines that are exclusive to the OVA.

Tales of Eternia 2t543o

Saying that the Tales of Eternia anime was an adaptation of the game is like saying the Ghost Stories dub is a faithful localization of the original. It ran for 13 episodes in 2001. Though Tales of Eternia had the same name, setting, and four main characters, it mostly focused on an original story. Fans of the characters may enjoy it, but for those who have never played Eternia before, it is definitely not a substitute for the game.

Tales of Symphonia 5r3l5w

Tales of Symphonia, like Phantasia, had OVA adaptations rather than an anime series. There are eleven episodes in total, providing a much more complete re-telling of the story than what Phantasia had. There are some elements that are different, such as Marble not being in the OVA. However, the main plot remains the same. Both fans of the game and those new to the series can enjoy the Tales of Symphonia anime, and still be able to discuss it afterwards.

Tales of the Abyss 5h3k3x

Unsurprisingly, Tales of the Abyss (one of the most popular Tales games in multiple regions and the game for the 10th anniversary) also had an animated adaptation. It was a weekly series and not an OVA like Symphonia. But it also covered more or less the entire plot of the game. It did have to cut out or combine various sub-plots and skits, and the Japanese dub had to recast several characters. However, the Tales of the Abyss anime provides non-Tales fans a complete overview of the story, and is enjoyable for those who played the game as well. The whole series is actually available for free on the official Tales YouTube channel.

Tales of Vesperia 164y6m

Similar to the anime for Tales of Eternia, the animated adaptation of Tales of Vesperia did not cover the events of the game. Instead, it served as a prequel. Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike is the first (and only, so far) theatrical film for the Tales series. Though it covers Yuri’s time with the Knights, as well as Flynn’s childhood, one should consider it non-canonical. There are several changes to the characterization, such as Flynn's strangely skewed moral code. However, it does have Repede as a puppy, which more than makes up for it.

Tales of Zestiria 3cr5c

Gee, Tales of Zestiria! How come Bandai Namco let you have two anime adaptations? Don’t get me wrong – Tales of Zestiria has a story with lots of potential. But it is very interesting how it is the only one to get two separate adaptations. The first one was a TV special that came out before the game: Tales of Zestiria: Dawn of the Shepherd. This details the start of Sorey and Mikleo’s journey, ending with them actually leaving Elysia.

The second one was Tales of Zestiria the X. As a ufotable production (like Dawn of the Shepherd), Tales of Zestiria the X is beautiful to watch and covers the entire game, albeit with some changes. Alisha has way more screentime than in the original, which is great for Alisha fans. There are also two episodes showing Velvet’s jailbreak from Tales of Berseria, which aired shortly before Berseria’s release date. So technically speaking, one can consider Tales of Zestiria the X to be an animated adaptation of Tales of Berseria as well.

Tales of Crestoria e1t34

The ill-fated Tales of Crestoria received several concept movies that are available on Crunchyroll. They are on the Tales YouTube channel as well. There are four episodes in the Tales of Crestoria -The Wake of Sin- ONA, and it covers Chapter One of the game. There are several differences, but most of them are fairly minor. In of the animation style, Crestoria differs from all of its predecessors in that it uses 3D animation rather than 2D.

Tales of Luminaria 2q4232

The equally ill-fated Tales of Luminaria had two episodes in the Tales of Luminaria: The Fateful Crossroad OVA. It follows the events of the Third Lunne Battle, and features characters like Leo, Celia, and Lisette. You can watch it on Crunchyroll as well.

As more Tales games appear in the future, more anime adaptations may show up as well. Bandai Namco might even adapt older titles, such as Xillia, for special anniversaries. Until then, these are all of the shows that both Tales novices and diehard fans can watch until Bandai Namco releases more.

The post Which Tales of Games Got an Anime Adaptation? appeared first on Siliconera.

More information on the Tales of series collaboration appeared during the Chain Chronicle livestream. While we knew that Reid would appear when news of the crossover event first came out in February 2022, we now know all seven characters who will appear when the event runs from March 3-17, 2022. [Thanks, Gamer!]

In total, the seven Tales of characters who will appear in the Chain Chronicle collaboration event are:

• Asbel Lhant (Tales of Graces) - Takahiro Sakurai
• Estelle (Tales of Vesperia) - Mai Nakahara
• Luke fon Fabre (Tales of the Abyss) - Chihiro Suzuki
• Reid Herschel (Tales of Eternia) - Akira Ishida
• Sophie (Tales of Graces) - Kana Hanazawa
• Tear Grants (Tales of the Abyss) - Yukana
• Yuri Lowell (Tales of Vesperia) - Kousuke Toriumi

[gallery columns="7" ids="918473,918472,918471,918470,918469,918468,918467" link="file"]

If you set a collaboration character as the leader of your party, the battle music will change to one from the game they originally appeared in. In addition, you can create collaboration weapons during the event. Of all seven people, only Reid is free. You can obtain him via multiple methods, such as through exploring or as a campaign award.

The event will also be split in two sections, with three characters becoming available each time. Yuri, Tear, and Sophie will appear in-game starting on March 3, 2022. Meanwhile, Estelle, Luke, and Asbel will show up from March 6, 2022.

Chain Chronicle is available for mobile devices in Japan, and the Tales of crossover will run between March 3-17, 2022.

The post Seven Tales of Characters Will Appear in Chain Chronicle appeared first on Siliconera.

Sega's ongoing Japanese mobile game Chain Chronicle will receive guest characters from Bandai Namco's Tales of series. The company has set up a new webpage dedicated to the crossover event.

The Chain Chronicle collaboration event will add multiple characters from the Tales of series. Reid Herschel, the protagonist of the 2000 title Tales of Eternia, was the first character announced for this crossover. Reid's original Japanese voice actor Akira Ishida will reprise the role. Sega will reveal more characters coming from the franchise in due time.

Chain Chronicle is a mobile RPG with a tower defense-styled gameplay system. Other than Tales of, the game had also received guest characters from various franchises, including the Atelier series. A western release of the title appeared in December 2014. However, it later shut down shortly after a year in February 2016.

Meanwhile, the game remains active in Japan for more than eight years since it first released in 2013. The latest major update, which rebranded the title into the fourth chapter, came out in 2020. Even though Sega revealed a new mobile game titled Sin Chronicle in October 2021, the long-running Chain Chronicle still has not shown any signs of shutting down.

Chain Chronicle is immediately available for Android and iOS mobile devices in Japan.

The post Tales of Series Characters Will Appear in Chain Chronicle appeared first on Siliconera.

With the remastered release of Saga Frontier, we’ve been thinking a lot about the original PlayStation. What are the best PS1 RPGs to check out today? Which stand the test of time? The experts here at Siliconera are here to help!

When people think RPGs on the PlayStation, Square immediately comes to mind. Any Final Fantasy is an easy pick, but there is a title that I believe stands out even more. While Vagrant Story's combat may not have aged fantastically, it is still remains one of the best RPGs of that generation. Perhaps, even, one of the most relevant.

Known for its complex storytelling that touches on various aspects of class and global politics, Vagrant Story is also a testament to what the PlayStation could do graphically. Looking for a game with a narrative that will leave you contemplating on the various perspectives of those intertwined and caught in the tangle of war? One that oftentimes soars above and beyond what more modern AAA games have attempted to present? Vagrant Story is what you need. — Kazuma

PS1 RPGs are a great place to recite a list of the usual suspects. It's been long enough that I'd wager a majority of today's players only know those games by reputation rather than personal experience. My picks: Suikoden and Suikoden II, two games largely overshadowed by Final Fantasy that built a world distinctly their own. One famous line of the '90s was the notion that "it takes a village." In Suikoden, getting things done takes a whole castle's worth of heroes and allies, many of whom can't even fight.

Suikoden acknowledges that single heroes and their closest friends just aren't enough to render real change. That's a prospect I appreciate more as a crusty old nerd. It also helped that they crammed in nifty strategic battles, too. Though Konami seems pretty firmly out of the Suikoden business, some key creators haven't forgotten that energy. I'm hoping they can recapture that magic for a new set of players. — Josh

Tales of Eternia, released as Tales of Destiny 2 in America, was the first game in the franchise to really nail down the action-oriented battle system. In earlier games, you were basically the only person doing anything. It’s a colorful and flashy feast for the eyes that plays smoothly and comfortably. Not only is Tales of Eternia's battle system fun, but its main cast and story are also memorable.

I liked the way the game fleshes out the characters’ relationships in the main and side stories. The journey is everyone’s, not just Reid’s or Meredy’s. Though the story focuses on one of Tales’ favorite themes — racism and acceptance — it approaches it from a more personal angle as opposed to the grandiose scale of Tales of Rebirth. For fans still waiting for Tales of Arise, Tales of Eternia is one of the best PS1 RPGs to revisit. — Stephanie

When you think about it, Valkyrie Profile aged pretty well! Its story pulls from Norse mythology, something that wasn’t exactly common at the time, and explored the lives of people right as they were about to die. Some were sympathetic! Others, less so.

But it isn’t just about the dearly departed. It is also about those left behind and Lenneth, the Valkyrie, herself. As she collects of a group of mercenaries, we see what the left behind go through. As the seal on Lenneth weakens, we learn what her life is like when she isn’t called into service.

It also has a battle system increasingly implemented in more modern games like Indivisible and Super Neptunia RPG, which is exciting to see. Not to mention the multiple endings you get for making the “right” choices. — Jenni

The most wonderful thing about playing the best PS1 RPGs in 2021? There are so many more options opened up through the efforts of fan translation teams. My pick, then, is Tear Ring Saga! A Fire Emblem game in all but name, Tear Ring Saga offers more great action from creator Shouzou Kaga. It's familiar in all the right ways. Though the legal action surrounding the game likely will continue to scare off anyone from bringing the game over officially, the fan work takes away a lot of that pain. — Graham

I'm not sure how no one else has mentioned either of these yet, but two of my top three PS1 RPGs are Revelations: Persona and Persona: Innocent Sin. (Number one is FFIX, the best Final Fantasy ever made. No further questions.)

These Shin Megami Tensei spinoffs laid the foundation for what has become one of the most beloved JRPG series. Perhaps it was the relatable high school students coming to with adulthood and delving into some pretty heavy topics most games were too afraid to cover at the time that makes me nostalgic. It could also be that Persona was the first PlayStation game I ever played. Either way, if you can find either of these, I recommend taking them for a spin. — Annette

What do you think are the best PS1 RPGs to play today? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter! And read our other handy roundtables for more thoughts from the Siliconera team.

The post The Best PS1 RPGs to Play in 2021 appeared first on Siliconera.

This year is full of anniversaries. It also happens to be the 15th anniversary of the Tales series, and Namco are celebrating with budget re-releases of some of the older games.

From right to left, you have: Tales of Phantasia (PSP), Tales of Eternia (PSP), Tales of Destiny 2 (PSP), Tales of Rebirth (PSP), Tales of Vesperia (PS3), and finally, Tales of Graces f (PS3). Each one comes in a special 15th anniversary sleeve, and will be sold separately.

On the back of each box is a code for a Tales of Xillia custom theme:

All six Tales of 15th Anniversary Collection budget re-releases are slated for release on August 4th. Tales of Xillia itself will be released a month later on September 8th.

The post Namco Celebrate Tales’ 15th Anniversary With Budget Re-Releases In Japan appeared first on Siliconera.