Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Review
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition Review:
A few weeks ago I speculated in my early impressions that Tales of Vesperia - now available again in English after almost a decade entangled in a past of Xbox 360 exclusivity and held by a publisher seemingly cold on the idea of bringing it back - is perhaps "the ideal Tales game".
In retrospect, I did not fully comply with that claim at the time, partly because the piece is still based on my earliest hours with a game that many fans consider the biggest in the franchise's history.
I still had to pay more to find out if Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition was worth the wait, or whether it could be further improved by the extra content transferred from the game's improved, never before localized PS3 port.
I still had to pay more to find out if Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition was worth the wait, or whether it could be further improved by the extra content transferred from the game's improved, never before localized PS3 port.
Video Credit: YouTube
That leads to the inevitable question: how does it last after ten years, and is it really the "ideal" Tales game?
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (PS4 [rated], Xbox One, PC, Switch)
Developer: Bandai Namco Games
Publisher: Bandai Namco Games
Release: January 11, 2019
Suggested retail price: $ 49.99
Given that in the eyes of an outsider, Tales games usually look alike, it is not always easy to see what sets Vesperia apart from such a large number of releases, but even for a Tales dilettante like me, the story of Yuri Lowell and his buddies respond quickly and smoothly to the core activity of what makes a Tales game a Tales game.
The world of Terca Lumireis, once occupied by monsters, is only habitable thanks to the Blastia, ancient magical artefacts that protect against beasts and provide conveniences.
Local ne'er-do-well Yuri is on the trail of a thief who has the courage to steal a precious blast from the people who can least afford to lose it. Yuri quickly becomes entangled in events that go all the way to saving the world.
Local ne'er-do-well Yuri is on the trail of a thief who has the courage to steal a precious blast from the people who can least afford to lose it. Yuri quickly becomes entangled in events that go all the way to saving the world.
Next to him is a colourful crew of cast members, from his loyal buddy Budede to the almost painfully serious Estelle. Also here are Karol, one of the least annoying anime children ever made, the blunt and honest magician Rita, the dark veteran Raven and the eleven badass Judith.
New in the playable cast is Yuri's old friend Flynn (formerly exclusive scene-exclusive) and cheerful pirate, Patty.
New in the playable cast is Yuri's old friend Flynn (formerly exclusive scene-exclusive) and cheerful pirate, Patty.
In a series where sea changes are rare and innovation often occurs in the story and around the margins, the greatest strength of Tales of Vesperia is in the cast, and it is better than most to get that cast far away in the hearts of players.
Everyone is charming and slightly different from the selected anime archetype (make no mistake, they usually adhere to a well-defined template) to stand out.
Everyone is charming and slightly different from the selected anime archetype (make no mistake, they usually adhere to a well-defined template) to stand out.
This efficient and yet endearing characterization has been greatly helped by Tales' characteristic storyteller: The skit. Optional conversations that pop up during the game, skits fill the airtime that players could grind, or roam the fields, delivering cleverly written doses or stories ranging from dry exhibition around the world to hilarious little gags.
By presenting minimally, each skit is expressive and, more importantly, helps to identify the characters and their relationships by showing players how they interact and bounce.
The urgency of the core story could never offer these children moments without getting completely stuck, so the skits are an ideal way to build the impression of strong chemistry between the cast.
By presenting minimally, each skit is expressive and, more importantly, helps to identify the characters and their relationships by showing players how they interact and bounce.
The urgency of the core story could never offer these children moments without getting completely stuck, so the skits are an ideal way to build the impression of strong chemistry between the cast.
Each Tales game has its own appearance, but compared to the others I have played, Vesperia is one of the best in establishing the sense of a found family that the bonds between these disparate characters are willingly formed and become organic to maintain.
I would not go so far as to say that the characters feel "real", but I would certainly claim that they feel "good", which is more important in some respects.
Even Patty, who might have been superfluous, gets time to shine and settle sufficiently that it is difficult to imagine people years ago that the game was complete without her.
I would not go so far as to say that the characters feel "real", but I would certainly claim that they feel "good", which is more important in some respects.
Even Patty, who might have been superfluous, gets time to shine and settle sufficiently that it is difficult to imagine people years ago that the game was complete without her.
Beyond the skits helps other material to work out character relationships, especially the friendship between Rita and Estelle.
Seeing those two spending time together also goes a long way toward confirming that Vesperia - unlike my claim made earlier in this review - is not all about "Yuri and his friends".
Seeing those two spending time together also goes a long way toward confirming that Vesperia - unlike my claim made earlier in this review - is not all about "Yuri and his friends".
I have praised the cast of Tales of Vesperia a lot, but while it may lean on the best aspects of his parent franchise, it is not entirely the golden child of everyone's memories.
Zippy already starts, the main story begins to drag his feet in the back half and shows the child or the storyline that seems endemic to sprawling JRPGs.
Zippy already starts, the main story begins to drag his feet in the back half and shows the child or the storyline that seems endemic to sprawling JRPGs.
The fight is also not entirely beyond decent. A hybrid or combo-based fighting game and traditional JRPG-like command selection, the EFR-LMBS combat system appears to be a lot easier than the long initialism suggests.
It is simple enough that outside the heavy early hours, the biggest challenge in the main game is to play in such a way that it remains interesting. Combining combos and looking for an exactly right set of Artes attacks or a combination of weapon-based benefits is fascinating enough, but I didn't feel pressured to really master the system.
This led me to often use the handy auto-battle option for most random in-game encounters.
It is simple enough that outside the heavy early hours, the biggest challenge in the main game is to play in such a way that it remains interesting. Combining combos and looking for an exactly right set of Artes attacks or a combination of weapon-based benefits is fascinating enough, but I didn't feel pressured to really master the system.
This led me to often use the handy auto-battle option for most random in-game encounters.
If the story and the characters are gracefully outdated, other problems betray the age of Vesperia. The control system does not exceed clumsiness and changing goals in combat was a constant irritation for me even after I got used to the procedure.
Although the art style and character designs (by the legendary artist Kosuke Fujishima) hold out just as well as everything else, environments, in particular, are clearly rooted in a previous technological era.
Furthermore, the design of many of the game's side quests is not in line with the skits and main campaign. Salting that small wound is the fact that some additional requests and the significant benefits they bring are easy to miss without consulting a guide (a step I recommend for the completists in the crowd).
Although the art style and character designs (by the legendary artist Kosuke Fujishima) hold out just as well as everything else, environments, in particular, are clearly rooted in a previous technological era.
Furthermore, the design of many of the game's side quests is not in line with the skits and main campaign. Salting that small wound is the fact that some additional requests and the significant benefits they bring are easy to miss without consulting a guide (a step I recommend for the completists in the crowd).
Nevertheless, Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition excels in the places that are most important for the Tales game, and with that, it deserves the timeless worship it is offered by its fans.
I can't tell you if this is the best Tales game, but it's all that a Tales game should be considered great.
I can't tell you if this is the best Tales game, but it's all that a Tales game should be considered great.
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