Namco's Tales Series

As with Final Fantasy, the Tales games feature common elements throughout the series. The Linear Motion Battle System (LMBS) is one such element that singles out the Tales games. Where other rpgs use menu commands which control the actions of the entire party, the LMBS allows control of just one character. Battles are played out like fighting games; the player uses various buttons for attack, defence and special abilities. The player can access the menu during battle, pausing the game in doing so, and use items, magic or flee from battle.

Abilities used in battle are unique to each character. Only certain characters can use healing magic or sword techniques. Some characters in the games can also use powerful summon magic. Also a feature of the series is Mystic Artes, which is a characters most powerful attack.

Cooking is another staple of the Tales series. The player finds a recipe and uses ingredients bought or obtained in battle to cook food. The food cooked will restore hit points (hp), tactical points(tp) or boost stats for a limited amount of time.

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Tales of Phantasia (ToP) was the first of the Tales series and was originally released for the Super Nintendo in Japan in 1995. However it was not released in North America or Europe until the Game Boy Advance version in 2006.

A PS1 version of ToP was released in Japan in 1998 featuring a few updates, including skits (which every Tales game since ToD have contained) which flesh out the characters and the story of the game. Unfortunately this version was not released in North America and Europe. Although a translation patch for the game is available to download for free from Absolute Zero. Another translation is being developed by Phantasian Productions. Although still a work in progress it is said to be of a more professional nature akin to the official English translations of the games. Before you use either of these patches you need to buy the original Japanese PS1 game. I got mine on eBay. There is also a translation for the SNES version available from DeJap Translations. However for this patch you need emulation software on your PC and a ToP rom.

There is also a four-part anime OVA available which is based on the events in the game. There is also a sequel to Tales of Phantasia entitled ToP: Narikiri Dungeon for the Gameboy Colour. This is set 104 years after the previous game and is a dungeon crawler RPG, but sadly this game was never released outside of Japan.

ToP begins with the scene of a battle between four heroes and and evil sorcerer, Dhaos. The four heroes almost defeat Dhaos but he escapes through time into the future. However, the descendents of the heroes are waiting for him and, when he appears, seal him away using the power of two pendants. Ten years on, the setting changes to the town of Toltus, where we meet Cless Alvein and his best friend Chester Barklight.

Cless and Chester set off to hunt boar in the nearby forest. When they return they discover the town has been attacked and all the villagers have been killed. Cless, intent on revenge, parts company with the distraught Chester and heads to Euclid in search of his uncle.

I have played the PS and Gameboy versions and have also played through some of the SNES version too. The graphics on the PS are what you'd expect and are very similar to those of Tales of Destiny. The SNES graphics are amazing and the detail goes as far as to show character reflections in water. The GBA was a let down however with the graphics not even up to the standard of the SNES version.

GBA has the only official translation of the game and it is very disappointing with the script has been ridiculously diluted for reasons known only to the translators. If you can, I would highly recommend getting the PS or SNES version and using an unofficial translation.

The sound is fantastic on all but the GBA version. During battle, characters shout the name of the particular attack they are performing and the effects are stereophonic which was pretty rare on a SNES game. The soundtrack is amazing, composed by Motoi Sakuraba, who also composed the music for Star Ocean and other Tales games. The music is upbeat and cheerful in towns and suitably dark in the dungeons.

The game is a bit on the short side but has plenty to keep you entertained. The plot moves at a steady pace and is never boring and all-in-all it's a very worthwhile purchase.

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Tales of Destiny (ToD) was the first of the series developed for the Playstation. It was released in 1997 in Japan and 1998 in North America; it did not receive a European release. In terms of gameplay there is very little difference between this and ToP.

The story begins with Stahn Aileron, a young country boy who seeking fame and fortune stows away on the airship Draconis. He is discovered by the crew and forced to work as a deckhand during the voyage. The ship is suddenly attacked by an unknown enemy leaving the crew overwhlmed and Stahn free to make his escape. He discovers a sword in one of the ships storerooms which he uses against the attackers as he makes his escape.

The sword is no ordinary one, as he discovers when it speaks to him. The sword is a Swordian from the Aeth'er Wars called Dymlos. Using Dymlos, Stahn fights his way to the escape pods and escapes the ship and so begins his adventure. He meets other Swordians and becomes caught up in a battle for an ancient relic from the Aeth'er Wars.

A sequel, Tales of Destiny 2 (not to be confused with the North American PS1 release of Tales of Eternia - see below), was developed for the PS2 and released only in China and Japan. It's set eighteen years later, and follows the exploits of Kyle Dunamis, son of Stahn Aileron and Rutee Katrea.

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Tales of Eternia (ToE) was released for the Playstation in Japan in 2000. It was then released under the name Tales of Destiny II in North America in 2001; the name Eternia was owned by Mattel and used in their Masters of the Universe toyline.

The story of ToE is set in Eternia, which is made up of the twin planets, Inferia and Celestia, separated by the Orbus Barrier. Despite being neighbours, the inhabitants of both worlds have not communicated for some time. The player takes control of Reid Hershel on Inferia, who along with his friend Farah Oersted notice an unusual change in the state of the Orbus Barrier. They witness a ship leave Celestia and crash to the ground. On board they find a young girl who speaks a strange ancient language. It's revealed that the girl, Meredy, is gathering Greater Craymals, a type of summon spirit, from both planets and the two friends decide to help.

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Tales of Symphonia (ToS) was first released on the Nintendo Gamecube in Japan in 2003 and later in North America in 2004. It was also released for the Playstation 2 in Japan in 2004. It is the fifth Mothership title in the series, the third released in North America and the first released in Europe.

ToS is effectively a distant prequel to Tales of Phantasia set many years before the events of previous game. The story begins in the local school of Iselia Village. Inside three friends - Lloyd Irving, Genis Sage and Colette Brunel, the Chosen - are learning of Colette's role in the regeneration of the world. The class is interrupted by a flash of light from the Temple of Martel. Raine Sage, the teacher and Genis' sister, goes to investigate and the three friends follow soon after.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

ToS: Dawn of the New World (or ToS: Knight of Ratatosk in Japan) was released in 2008 for the Wii. There was a rumour that the game would not receive a European release, however it has now been confirmed that it will eventually be released in Europe nearing the end of this year.

ToS:DotNW is set 2 years after the events of the previous game and the twin worlds of Tethe'alla and Sylvarant have now been merged into one. Once this occurred maps became useless and the land went through many extreme climate changes. There is also much tension between the people of the two worlds. The Tethe'allans see the Sylvaranti as an inferior people largely because of their limited technology, and the Sylvaranti fear the power of the Tethe'allans.

This is all I know about the plot and all I want to know until I play it myself :D.

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Tales of Legendia (ToL) was developed for the Playstation 2 and released in Japan in 2005 and North America in 2006. The game was developed in-house by Project Melfes rather than the usual Namco Tales Studio/Wolf Team, and was criticised for lacking the innovation of previous titles (Personally I quite liked the game).

The story begins with small boat drifting in the ocean. On board are Senel Coolidge and his sister Shirley Fennes. Having defeated a sea monster, what appears to be a great ship appears out of nowhere and collides with their boat. The pair regain conciousness on an island but it seems the salt water of the sea has made Shirley ill. A man named Will Raynard offers his help but Senel runs off with Shirley to find some freshwater. Will follows them to a pool and finds Shirley underwater and confronts Senel. At that point Shirley's hair turns blue and Will suspects she may be the person the people call the Shining One. Suddenly a man appears out of nowhere kidnapping Shirley prompting Senel and Will to give chase.

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Tales of the Abyss (ToA) was released for the Playstation 2 in Japan in 2005 and in North America in 2006. A twenty-six episode anime adaptation of the game was developed and aired in Japan, running from the 4th October 2008 to the 28th March 2009.

The story of ToA begins in the home of Luke fon Fabre, son of the Duke of Kimlasca. Seven years previously Luke was kidnapped and since that time has been confined to the manor due to his parents' fears for his safety. Luke has also lost all memories of his life before the kidnapping and has become selfish and ignorant of the world. His only hobby is swordfighting and it is during a training duel with his mentor General Van Grants that his life-changing adventure begins. During the fight the manor is infiltrated by a mysterious young woman who attempts to kill General Grants. Luke rushes to Grants defence and when he blocks her attack the pair inexplicably vanish in a flash of light....

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Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology was released for the Playstation Portable (PSP) in Japan 2006 and in North America and Europe in 2007. The game is a spin-off title from Namco's Tales series. It is the fourth Tales of the World game but the only one so far to have been released in North America and Europe.

The story begins on the world of Terresia which is being attacked by a Devourer which is consuming the world's mana. The World Tree creates a Defender, of whom the player takes control. The defender is awakened by Mormo a creature whose world was destroyed by a similar Devourer. The pair meet Kannono, a girl they rescue from an enemy. They learn that she is a member of Ad Libitum, a kind of vigilante group set up to free people from oppression. The pair decide to join the group in an attempt to locate the Devourer. As well as five original central charcters Radiant Mythology also features many of the characters from the main Tales games.

Playable

• Chester Barklight and Arche Klaine from Tales of Phantasia
  
• Stahn Aileron, Rutee Katrea and Leon Magnus from Tales of Destiny
  
• Reid Hershel from Tales of Eternia
  
• Lloyd Irving, Raine Sage, Kratos Aurion and Genis Sage from Tales of Symphonia
  
• Eugene Gallardo from Tales of Rebirth
  
• Senel Coolidge from Tales of Legendia
  
• Luke fon Fabre and Tear Grants from Tales of the Abyss

Non-Playable

• Philia Felice and Garr Kelvin from Tales of Destiny
  
• Nanaly Fletch and Harold Berselius from Tales of Destiny 2
  
• Annie Barrs from Tales of Rebirth

A sequel to Radiant Mythology was released in Japan at the beginning of 2009 for the PSP. A date for its release in North America and Europe has not yet been announced.

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Tales of Vesperia is the first of the series for the Xbox 360. It was released in August, 2008 in Japan and North America, and in Europe on the 26th of June, 2009. An animated movie prequel called Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike was released in October 2009 in Japan. The game was also released for the PlayStation 3 in Japan in September, 2009. This version features material not included in the original Xbox 360 version, such as a new playable character, called Patty Fleur and a second Mystic Arte for playable characters. It is still not certain whether or not this version will be released in the west.

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