[Mejilan]

Yeah, I'm with Himu on this. Point A to B dungeon design is sloppy and lazy, IMHO. I definitely prefer ones filled with mishaps and challenges.

[bbsting120]

Wait, when did the release date get pushed to 2009? All the sites I went to still say the end of this month...

Edit: Or is the 2009 people are talking about only referring to the European release?

[Himuro]

I'm going to have to agree with you on this one, Himuro. This is one of the reason why I enjoyed LO dungeons quite a bit.

That said, FFXII has like shitty one to two hour dungeons which are filled with nothing but monsters and boring go to point a to point b bullshit. At least earlier 3d FF's made the dungeons much shorter and had gimmicks. In FFXII you have a 2 hour dungeon and there's nothing in there but monsters and shit loot like 12 gil treasure chests. At the very least, Megaten it up and put some provocative dungeon shit in there like I don't know...actual traps or puzzles than the crap that's in 95% of FFXII's dungeons.

Thankfully, Tales games tend to have pretty short dungeons, unless the dungeons in Vesperia are 30 minute romps with nothing in them but monsters or something, but it'd still be bearable. I guess?

[Firestorm]

Wait, when did the release date get pushed to 2009? All the sites I went to still say the end of this month...

Europe/Australia has always been 2009.

[Princess Skittles]

I'm *slowly* getting excited for this. I think it'll be similar to Symphonia and Abyss where I'll be in love with it for the first half of the game and then it'll just be punishing to finish it. Team Symphonia's game have, thus far, been far too overlong. The 2D games have always had a much brisker and enjoyable pacing which enhances their New Game+ ability. Nothing prevents me from wanting to New Game+ a game then one that's 80 hours long.

[ShockingAlberto]

Symphonia's biggest problem with puzzles is that they sometimes lacked creativity.

When they're fun, they're really fun. When they're tedious bullshit (Shadow, Ice), they make you want to quit the game.

[Kyoufu]

I'm *slowly* getting excited for this. I think it'll be similar to Symphonia and Abyss where I'll be in love with it for the first half of the game and then it'll just be punishing to finish it. Team Symphonia's game have, thus far, been far too overlong. The 2D games have always had a much brisker and enjoyable pacing which enhances their New Game+ ability. Nothing prevents me from wanting to New Game+ a game then one that's 80 hours long.

Well New Game+ in the 2D ones is just stupid. I don't want to go through the game 2 or 3 times just to be able to experience it like I was meant to.

[Himuro]

Symphonia's biggest problem with puzzles is that they sometimes lacked creativity. When they're fun, they're really fun. When they're tedious bullshit (Shadow, Ice), they make you want to quit the game.

What was wrong with shadow and ice? :P

[ShockingAlberto]

What was wrong with shadow and ice? :P

Shadow involved very little thinking, it was more just doing work than figuring out solutions. Ice...I hate ice sliding puzzles. Hated them in Pokemon, hated them in Symphonia. Then they did the same basic thing again in the no gravity area.

[Himuro]

Shadow involved very little thinking, it was more just doing work than figuring out solutions. Ice...I hate ice sliding puzzles. Hated them in Pokemon, hated them in Symphonia. Then they did the same basic thing again in the no gravity area.

I love ice puzzles and water puzzles in games.

In fact, water levels are my favorite type of level. :o

[kiryogi]

Dungeons are more like Abyss. There are puzzles but they are pretty light for the most part. Max number of enemies is WAY more than the other TS games. Like 8 or 9 enemies at once. Also I haven't noticed any slowdown so it's pretty rare I'd say.

Slowdown was me being 3 encounterlinks with some huge enemies. But like I said, even with some heavy magic things get ugly.

Jonnyram: I actually placed the trap near the water and lured him.

[Himuro]

Man, A. Fitch's impressions really have me excited.

The outspoken Mr. Bettenhausen also derided Vesperia's "autopilot" narrative, and while it's true that you'll find all of the familiar archetypes (plucky tomboy, spunky kid, old trickster), it's definitely a step up from Abyss, which cast players as a whiny amnesiac teen noble and surrounded him with even more grating companions -- a disturbingly annoying 13-year-old gold digger among them. Vesperia's protagonist, an affable ex-soldier-turned-vigilante named Yuri, is instantly likable, and he straddles the line between capable badass and genial, charismatic leader. Vesperia also manages to avoid a couple of major narrative traps as well; this isn't really a coming-of-age story or a sappy romance, focusing instead on political intrigue and environmental themes. My biggest issue with Abyss, though, is its bloated pacing, and while Vesperia greatly improves this element, I'll freely admit that not every EGM reviewer concurred: On 1UP Yours, Philip, a Tales neophyte, described Vesperia as having pacing "worse than any Japanese RPG" he'd ever played. To be honest, though, I'm not sure where that complaint comes from -- the game constantly sends you to new towns and new dungeons instead of backtracking through the same areas to artificially extend the experience. In the first 15 hours alone, the journey spans eight towns, seven dungeons, and two continents.

That's what I'm talking about.

I hated Abyss' pacing. It's the very reason I'm not big on it. The battle system needed work too. That seems to going well too.

Skip thanks for the great impressions. As someone who wasn't a big fan of Abyss how do you figure I'll enjoy Vesperia if I go in with the right mind?

You better be reading this thread! :P

[Rpgmonkey]

Well, I just play dungeons to find treasure chests and avoid enemies on my way to a boss so I can kick his ass. Do any Tales games have a boss rush mode? There should be a boss rush mode.

The Director's Cut of Destiny sorta has one (almost every boss, but normal enemies are thrown in here and there).

It's more annoying than fun though with how fast everything moves in that game.

[Jonnyram]

Think I've passed kiryogi now. The last dungeon was a little puzzly, I guess, but not major.
No idea what Philip is complaining about with the pacing, unless he's actually finished it and things deteriorate a lot. That said, the fastest people are now finishing the game in under 9 hours, so the pacing can't be that bad. I think you can pretty much control how things go by yourself.

[ZealousD]

In fact, water levels are my favorite type of level. :o

I think most people hate water levels. =P

Here's a test to see how weird you are. Do you even like the water levels in Sonic games?

[gregor7777]

It's a shame that one of the go-to guys for EGM/1up when it comes to JRPGs can't be trusted in the least when it comes to anything but a Sony-platform RPG.

Particularly now that the 360 gets so many of them. He's like a book I've read countless times, where I know everything that's going to happen ahead of time.

[kiryogi]

Think I've passed kiryogi now. The last dungeon was a little puzzly, I guess, but not major. No idea what Philip is complaining about with the pacing, unless he's actually finished it and things deteriorate a lot. That said, the fastest people are now finishing the game in under 9 hours, so the pacing can't be that bad. I think you can pretty much control how things go by yourself.

Gasfrost? It was 6am. I dealt with most of the puzzles and was so tired. Had to sleep! I'll pass you up today!

[Himuro]

I think most people hate water levels. =P Here's a test to see how weird you are. Do you even like the water levels in Sonic games?

Sonic games are the very reason I love water levels. Hearing that music, is it a mystifying experience. Every time I hear it, I get tense.

"AQUA!!"

[Princess Skittles]

It's a shame that one of the go-to guys for EGM/1up when it comes to JRPGs can't be trusted in the least when it comes to anything but a Sony-platform RPG. Particularly now that the 360 gets so many of them. He's like a book I've read countless times, where I know everything that's going to happen ahead of time.

That's sounds like most of GAF actually. :lol

[gregor7777]

That's sounds like most of GAF actually. :lol

Yeah, but most of us would be awful professional reviewers. If a JRPG is shit, I want to know it. If a JRPG is great, I'd like to know that too. Regardless of platform...but that is seemingly an impossible task for Shane.

Look at Mr. Fitch's blog. He spends the entire thing rebutting points made by another reviewer who is consistently giving you opinions with an agenda.

It just would be nice to hear more impressions from people who just enjoy JRPGs.

[clashfan]

Yeah, but most of us would be awful professional reviewers. If a JRPG is shit, I want to know it. If a JRPG is great, I'd like to know that too. Regardless of platform...but that is seemingly an impossible task for Shane. Look at Mr. Fitch's blog. He spends the entire thing rebutting points made by another reviewer who is consistently giving you opinions with an agenda. It just would be nice to hear more impressions from people who just enjoy JRPGs.

I remember on the 1up yours show a few weeks back, somebody make a comment about shane being critical of the graphics of ToV. He said something like "If it was running on Cell would your opinion of the graphics be different?". I though that was so funny...

[NolbertoS]

Can't wait to play this #$%@$# game. Finished all the Tales games ever released, including the PS1 Tales games, but excluding the JPN exclusive Tales games. Can't wait to immerse myself in the world, like I was in Symphonia.

[PseudoKirby]

Can't wait to play this #$%@$# game. Finished all the Tales games ever released, including the PS1 Tales games, but excluding the JPN exclusive Tales games. Can't wait to immerse myself in the world, like I was in Symphonia.

Exactly, Symphonia was magical!

[kiryogi]

Things are finally picking up as Bebpo mentioned at this point. World theme has changed, as has the battle theme. It's the turning point now! And based off our achievements, looks like I've caught up to Jonnyram.

Sorry to the others that I haven't posted any actual impressions. Bebpo covered most of it as it is. If there's anything, i'll get some final ones up once I'm done or something.

Here's another attachment I just got for Rita. A Mitama necklace! Oh, and Estelle showing her justice :D

[ZealousD]

Here's another attachment I just got for Rita. A Mitama necklace! Oh, and Estelle showing her justice :D

Maybe your next attachment will be a whip! Or maybe a vibrating bracelet?

[kiryogi]

Maybe your next attachment will be a whip! Or maybe a vibrating bracelet?

Actually, Rita uses whips and scarves/belts as her main weapons. XD

[Mr. Wonderful]

I love Tales' random weapons.

[Captain N]

I'm not sure if anyone has said this or not, but the Premium Edition is at ebgames.com now.

http://www.ebgames.com/Catalog/Produ...oduct_id=72387

[My Arms Your Hearse]

Symphonia's shadow temple is amazing.

You must have a special copy where the shadows actually follow you like they should.

That place is WRETCHED.

[Kandrick]

Things are finally picking up as Bebpo mentioned at this point. World theme has changed, as has the battle theme. It's the turning point now! And based off our achievements, looks like I've caught up to Jonnyram. Sorry to the others that I haven't posted any actual impressions. Bebpo covered most of it as it is. If there's anything, i'll get some final ones up once I'm done or something. Here's another attachment I just got for Rita. A Mitama necklace! Oh, and Estelle showing her justice :D

Amazing :D

Still no release date for Europe ? Im about to buy a cheap US 360 so i can fucking play it soon.

[grandjedi6]

Things are finally picking up as Bebpo mentioned at this point. World theme has changed, as has the battle theme. It's the turning point now! And based off our achievements, looks like I've caught up to Jonnyram. Sorry to the others that I haven't posted any actual impressions. Bebpo covered most of it as it is. If there's anything, i'll get some final ones up once I'm done or something. Here's another attachment I just got for Rita. A Mitama necklace! Oh, and Estelle showing her justice :D

[IMG]http://i35.************/1620hhd.png[/IMG]

[FateBreaker]

It's a shame that one of the go-to guys for EGM/1up when it comes to JRPGs can't be trusted in the least when it comes to anything but a Sony-platform RPG.

Really? I'm not defending Fitch or anything, but his Lost Odyssey grade seemed like what I would give it (B+). Same as Eternal Sonata (C+, actually, I'd probably give ES even lower). I think Blue Dragon (C+) could have been a little higher, but oh well. He also said in a podcast that he really hopes Vesperia does well, as he'd love to have these type of games continued to be made. Compared to Shane's constant jibber-jabber about PS3>360 and such hyper-sensitive nitpicky-ness about graphics (again, 360 vs PS3 stuff), I find Fitch's stuff to be alright. Also, it seems like he actually BEATS the games. That's also kind of nice. Again, not an advocate of him or anything, but I think that there are certainly worse.

...you were talking about Fitch, right? :lol

Edit: Yeah, I think I read that wrong. Shane? Yeah, he's terrible. Neverrrrrrrrmind.

[Jonnyram]

Shane's a fanboy, yeah, but he has a massive knowledge about games in general. That's one of the great things about him. Get him talking about previous gens, and everything will be fine :)

Anyone else think the environment graphics in Vesperia are really similar to Legendia, by the way? Except proper 3D explorable. Are the artists the same?

[SatelliteOfLove]

[IMG]http://i35.************/1620hhd.png[/IMG]

Haha.

Wierd someone would paint a game containing Guy, Tear, and Jade as having "grating companions"; besides, Luke was almost less fun after Akzeriuth.

[Bebpo]

Shane's a fanboy, yeah, but he has a massive knowledge about games in general. That's one of the great things about him. Get him talking about previous gens, and everything will be fine :) Anyone else think the environment graphics in Vesperia are really similar to Legendia, by the way? Except proper 3D explorable. Are the artists the same?

I don't think Legendia used the same artists as I thought Legendia was pretty much all non-Tales staff.

If you like the art direction in Vesperia you really should check out Abyss some day (although the loading times might kill it for you), Team Symphonia's environment art direction is very consistent and by consistent I mean consistently excellent. They really know how to design cell-shaded pre-set camera angles to look gorgeous.

Here's some environment art pics I took from Abyss back in the day. You should be able to see the similarities to Vesperia:

[Jonnyram]

Ah yeah, that is pretty similar. Maybe they'll remake all the old games for next-gen, just like they remade all the old old games for PS2/PSP lol.

[kiryogi]

Well. It'd be Tales of Eternia next to be remade. Still got a decade or two until abyss!

On another note. A few more pics! This time with Judy!



Take what you will from this

[Jonnyram]

As a Tales noob, can you explain the Grade Shop to me? Basically if I get 20% in a boss fight, and 1-2% most regular fights, do they all get added up? Or is it something else?

[Rpgmonkey]

As a Tales noob, can you explain the Grade Shop to me? Basically if I get 20% in a boss fight, and 1-2% most regular fights, do they all get added up? Or is it something else?

It's basically all added up, and at the end of the game you can "buy" various things or options to bring to your next playthrough.

Like there's one option in this that'll let you inherit all your skills for 1000 Grade points.

[Jonnyram]

It's basically all added up, and at the end of the game you can "buy" various things or options to bring to your next playthrough. Like there's one option in this that'll let you inherit all your skills for 1000 Grade points.

So basically I should have a shitload of grade points at this rate, as I rarely get -ve scores and I've killed about 1500 enemies and only beaten about a third of the game...

Oh, and if I'm reading right, I can't get any more 赤眼レンズ because they're only available in a couple of forced battles that I've already beaten? Shiiiit, they're needed in loads of synths :(

[Himuro]

My favorite shot in Abyss. Such a beautiful area.

[kiryogi]

So basically I should have a shitload of grade points at this rate, as I rarely get -ve scores and I've killed about 1500 enemies and only beaten about a third of the game... Oh, and if I'm reading right, I can't get any more 赤眼レンズ because they're only available in a couple of forced battles that I've already beaten? Shiiiit, they're needed in loads of synths :(

Actually, no, you can find them. Although, I think you might have reached a point where you can't access those enemies for awhile. But , if you take the west exit out of Dangrest and detour away from that moc forest. You can find some ??? area that has those shady fellows in black (called bronzes?) wandering around. They drop the lens. Yeah, you need it for Karole's 2nd bag and the Moon Crystal.

[Jonnyram]

Actually, no, you can find them. Although, I think you might have reached a point where you can't access those enemies for awhile. But , if you take the west exit out of Dangrest and detour away from that moc forest. You can find some ??? area that has those shady fellows in black (called bronzes?) wandering around. They drop the lens. Yeah, you need it for Karole's 2nd bag and the Moon Crystal.

Phew, thanks.
Yeah, I could really do with the Moon Cresta special item ;) I got the S Flag already. Mmmmmmm.

Oh yeah, I just got this black hat for Yuri. I'll have to take a pic to post here. He looks like Michael Jackson in the early 90s :/

[kiryogi]

Phew, thanks. Yeah, I could really do with the Moon Cresta special item ;) I got the S Flag already. Mmmmmmm. Oh yeah, I just got this black hat for Yuri. I'll have to take a pic to post here. He looks like Michael Jackson in the early 90s :/

Haha, I decided against the hat. (which also comes in white!) Bebpo mentioned something about how it covers his face. Which seems to be annoying in cutscenes.

[Yasser]

Really sad its 2009 release though (my wallet is happy atleast). Play.com had it up for the end of this month...

i was pretty pissed till i realised how many rpgs are coming before the end of the year. not counting importing persona 4 and if ToV ends up being region free in US, there's fable 2, fallout 3 and infinite undiscovery on consoles and ff iv on ds. more than enough to keep most people busy!

[SailorDaravon]

For anyone waiting for it, the LE has finally showed up at Gamestop:

http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/Prod...oduct_id=72387

Also apparently it showed up in-store a few days ago, but only as "Vesperia CE" in the system, not Tales of Vesperia, which is why no one was finding it (sorry if this was already posted, I'm out the door to work). I'm pretty sure the website addition was as of this morning, so it should hopefully be in the store computers normally now.

[gregor7777]

Really? I'm not defending Fitch or anything, but his Lost Odyssey grade seemed like what I would give it (B+). Same as Eternal Sonata (C+, actually, I'd probably give ES even lower). I think Blue Dragon (C+) could have been a little higher, but oh well. He also said in a podcast that he really hopes Vesperia does well, as he'd love to have these type of games continued to be made. Compared to Shane's constant jibber-jabber about PS3>360 and such hyper-sensitive nitpicky-ness about graphics (again, 360 vs PS3 stuff), I find Fitch's stuff to be alright. Also, it seems like he actually BEATS the games. That's also kind of nice. Again, not an advocate of him or anything, but I think that there are certainly worse. ...you were talking about Fitch, right? :lol Edit: Yeah, I think I read that wrong. Shane? Yeah, he's terrible. Neverrrrrrrrmind.

Yeah, I was talking about Shane.

Good read though. :)

[Ricker]

For anyone waiting for it, the LE has finally showed up at Gamestop: http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/Prod...oduct_id=72387 Also apparently it showed up in-store a few days ago, but only as "Vesperia CE" in the system, not Tales of Vesperia, which is why no one was finding it (sorry if this was already posted, I'm out the door to work). I'm pretty sure the website addition was as of this morning, so it should hopefully be in the store computers normally now.

It's still under Vesperia,just pre-ordered the CE also but first i just asked for Tales of Vesperia CE and after looking in his comp,he said they only had the regular game,i had to tell him to look under Vesperia not Tales otherwise no CE...thanks for the heads up and Firestorm also.

[Brandon F]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLPF0...eature=related

Holy christ...this is the demo?

[Ricker]

Yep hehe...never could beat him...only tried a few times though and came close on my last try,killing the flunkies first helps a lot,i had him alone but i was too low on health,even after using all my items and heals.