Genre: RPG
System: Playstation 2
Rating: “T” Teen
Tales of the Abyss is a recent entry in Namco’s relatively unnoticed “Tales of” RPG series (Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Symphonia, etc). A Playstation 2 exclusive, Tales of the Abyss centers on the story of a spoiled young noble with a mysterious past who, after a chance encounter with a mysterious would-be assassin, is thrust into a dangerous world on the brink of war and must fight just to make it back home. Along the way, the young man must make new allies, face fearsome villains, and struggle against his own selfish nature. The fate of the world could be in his hands…
The Review will be based on a scale of 0-6, the maximum number of party members. 0 = awful, 6 = outstanding.
Story: 5
Tales of the Abyss spins a complicated yarn, but it is nonetheless very entertaining in its storytelling. You follow the exploits of the main character, Luke fon Fabre, as he struggles to make it back home to his life of royal luxury. Of course, Luke eventually realizes the sad state of the world he’s in, but it’s up to you to find out whether or not he can (or wants to) bring himself to do anything about it. Luke will make unlikely friendships, and get more than a few nasty monsters and diabolical (and diabolically entertaining) villains after him. The characters are what really drive the story (more on them in a bit), and the fantasy world in which they reside is both stunning and believable at the same time.
There’s a lot of humor as well, and it is well-executed without being overused or unnecessary. Just like the story, the humor revolves mainly around the quirky personalities of the characters, something the Tales series is known for. One drawback is that the plot can be a little convoluted at times, particularly the parts revolving around the world’s complex elemental system (known as Fonons). Fortunately, the game has an automatic journal feature where you can look back at the main points from the story.
In addition to the main storyline, there are also “Skits”, where your characters (in face portrait format) converse with each other. These are optional and can be ignored, but they usually provide some very interesting backstory and character development, or at least make for some funny dialogue.
Characters: 6
As I said before, the characters are what make the game shine. Each has their own unique personality, with some truly humorous quirks that make them all the more memorable. Here’s a breakdown of the main characters:
Luke: The central character that you control from the beginning, although you can change to other characters later in the story. Luke is the game’s protagonist, and he is also skilled at swordplay. He is the son of a Duke of the Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear (say that ten times fast), and as such Luke comes across as a majorly spoiled and naïve brat. When he’s unwillingly thrust into his own adventure, his reactions to the real world are… well, let’s just say he’s in for a shock. (One very humorous moment occurs when he fails to realize that you have to pay to get items from a shop.) Although obnoxious at first, Luke may change as he encounters some adversity and witnesses the dangerous state of the world around him. Good thing his only hobby was sword-training. Luke fights with a katana-like blade, and can learn a few elemental Fonon attacks later in the game.
Tear: Tear is a mysterious figure who breaks into Luke’s manor, attempting to kill his mentor, Van, for unknown reasons. When she clumsily bumps into Luke, the two are magically teleported to a different country. It is from there that she decides to help Luke return home, feeling that it was her fault he was involved. As a soldier, Tear tries to come across as cold and serious, but she secretly has a soft spot for cute things. Tear fights with a staff and specializes in healing magic. Unlike most RPG healers, she can also hold her own physically by fighting with small kunai throwing knives.
Guy: Guy is Luke’s best friend and sparring partner. Guy is a fun-loving, carefree fellow who does his best to defend his friends, no matter what. Underneath his happy-go-lucky demeanor, however, Guy has a very troubled past, and he is also very uncomfortable around women, leading to some humorous situations. Guy is a fast-moving swordsman and fights with a slim katana. He can become the fastest character, but has no long-range magical/elemental attacks.
Jade: Jade Curtiss is a colonel in the military of Malkuth, the country in which Luke and Tear end up. Known as “the Necromancer,” Jade’s reputation as a brilliant commander and magic-user precedes him. Jade’s primary concern is preventing war between Kimlasca and Malkuth. To that end, he decides to aid Luke in exchange for diplomatic help. Although a bit snobbish and sarcastic, he actually strives for peace and serves as a wise mentor to Luke and his friends. He also adds some very entertaining sarcastic comments throughout the adventure. Jade fights with a spear, but specializes in powerful, long-range offensive magic.
Anise: A young girl who also happens to be a bodyguard to Fon Master Ion, an influential figure in the Order of Lorelei (the world’s primary religious group). Anise’s dream is to marry someone rich and powerful, and her obvious attraction to Luke provides for some awkwardly funny moments. In battle, she fights while riding a size-changing teddy bear (yeah, you read that right). The doll grows to the size of an actual bear, and while riding it Anise can cast offensive black and light magic. Not a girl to be taken lightly.
Natalia: The Princess of Kimlasca, Natalia is engaged to marry Luke. Although haughty and arrogant, Natalia genuinely cares for her country and people. She uses archery in combat, and can also use some healing magic.
Mieu: A young member of a blue, cuddly, Pokemon-like race called Cheagles, Mieu joins your adventure by accepting Luke as his master. While not a playable member of the party, Mieu aids you on your quest by helping to solve various puzzles and environmental traps by way of his Sorcerer’s Ring, a device that allows him to speak (in an annoyingly squeaky voice) and to use elemental abilities. Luke’s extreme dislike of his "servant" Mieu provides for some very funny scenes.
Van: Luke’s mentor and sword instructor, Van also serves as a high-ranking General in the Order of Lorelei and is a master swordsman and Fonon magician. Luke places all of his trust in Van, even to the point of insulting his comrades. Although kind towards Luke, Van’s motives, and often his whereabouts, are mysterious.
Asch: A mysterious, red-haired figure who appears to be leading the evil God-Generals, Asch frequently appears and attempts to kidnap Fon Master Ion or assassinate. Luke who stands in his way. His motives are a mystery, but it’s clear he means business.
Villains: 5
The villains in Tales of the Abyss not only serve their purpose well, but are very interesting and memorable characters themselves. Early on in the story, you’ll encounter a rogue faction of the Order of Lorelei, known as the Six God-Generals, and their henchmen, the Oracle Knights. It is this rogue’s gallery that is trying to start a war between the two countries. But could there be another, more sinister motive behind their war? While I did dock a point for the fact that most of the God-Generals were not given much development and only showed up in the story a limited number of times, I do have to mention that one of them is worth an extra point on his own: that insane, self-absorbed, mad genius Dist. And his flying chair! What a brilliant character… he deserves his own game.
Gameplay: 5
Aside from the memorable characters, the gameplay is the main draw of Tales of the Abyss, especially when compared to other RPG heavyweights like Final Fantasy. It is a traditional RPG in the sense that you traverse an overworld, explore towns and dungeons, battle enemies, and level up your characters’ stats in order to progress the story. But the battle system is where this game shines. Utilizing what the developers call “Flex-Range Linear Motion Battle System”, battles take place in real-time, 3D environments, and it’s up to you to run around, attack the enemy, defend, cast magic, or issue commands to other party members. You control one character at a time, using the left analog stick to move towards or away from the enemy on a 2D plane. Unlike previous Tales games, however, in Abyss you can hold L2 to “Free Run”, or run anywhere in the 3D battle zone.
The X button will let you use your weapon to attack the enemy, and you can chain combos by repeatedly pressing X and following with Circle to use an Arte (Special Move/Magic). You can assign various Artes to combinations of Circle and a direction on the D-Pad (aka Up-Circle, Down-Circle, etc). Press Square to guard, and Triangle brings up the menu. You can use R1 to select which enemy to target, and the R2 button triggers your character’s Overlimit, a limited power boost that can activate after you receive sufficient damage.
While you fully control only one character, your other party members will be controlled by a very intelligent AI, and they will attack, defend, use magic, and request items according to the parameters that you get to fully customize in the menu. While some people may complain about not being able to control all party members at once, the AI actually does a respectable job, and you can always change strategies on the quick with the D-Pad or the battle menu.
Winning battles awards your characters experience points (EXP), items, and money, but if you win battles well, quickly, or with style, you will also earn Grade Points. These accumulate throughout your entire adventure, and by the end of the game you can use the points to purchase upgrades for a second playthrough. While your characters level up automatically after gaining enough experience, you can use items called Capacity Cores to fully customize how you want their stats to grow. Outside of battle, all other customizations take place in the main menu, which you can bring up anytime by pressing Triangle. The menus are a little cluttered, but you’ll get the hang of it.
In addition to your party members and enemies, occasionally the battlefield will feature something called a “Field of Fonons”, a small circle of magic that will alter (and strengthen) your attacks if you stand inside it. Different colored circles indicate a particular element, such as red for fire. So, if a character initiates a compatible attack inside a fire Field of Fonons, it can transform into a more powerful fire-based attack. The only problem is the fields appear and disappear completely at random, so utilizing them can be difficult, and sometimes it’s all by chance. Of course, bosses can usually abuse these Fields of Fonons against you!
While complicated to explain here, the game does a good job of introducing you to the concepts a little at a time. Most important, the system works well and feels great. By giving the battles a fighting game-style energy, it even makes turn-based RPGs seem a little boring!
That said, there are a few problems involved in the battle system. For one thing, the screen can sometimes become a little cluttered, with an average of four party members and up to ten or so enemies running around and casting magic. It can sometimes be difficult to tell which enemy you’re targeting, and sometimes your party members will suffer from status ailments without you even realizing it (I once finished a battle with my main character, only to notice that half of my party had been turned to stone).
Graphics: 4
Tales of the Abyss takes a more realistic approach to its graphics than its GameCube predecessor, Tales of Symphonia, yet still appears distinctly stylized and anime-ish. The characters are once again designed by anime artist Kosuke Fujishima, who has worked on the previous Tales games. In fact, the overall art design of the game is fantastic, and the game truly feels like an anime fantasy world. The only problem is that up close, some of the characters lack detail, and the backgrounds during the battle sequences are rather bland. A little more detail would have made all the difference, but nevertheless the dungeons, enemies, characters, and environments still look stylish and cool.
Sound: 6
The sound effects in Tales of the Abyss are well done and appropriate to their role, from the clashing of swords to exploding fireballs and beams of light magic. What really stands out in the sound department of Abyss, though, is the voice acting. Each of the main characters is well-acted, showing a range of emotions and a sense of believability. They also happen to be voiced by big talent in the anime voice-over industry, such as Yuri Lowenthal (Luke) and Kirk Thornton (Jade). Even most of the secondary characters are well-acted, although most generic townspeople are still silent. Even so, the voices suit the characters and make the game more, not less, enjoyable.
Music: 6
The music in Tales of the Abyss is well orchestrated and appropriate, with catchy battle tunes and melodic town themes. The music really shines during the boss battles, especially the God-General battle theme (“Awkward Justice”), a driving, guitar-filled rock/orchestral blend. The music in each of the dungeons provides just the right atmosphere and stays out of your way. Some of the town themes are a bit bland, but that’s a small complaint amidst an otherwise enjoyable soundtrack. My favorite tracks include “Awkward Justice”, “Bloodthirsty Fang” (standard boss music), and the final boss music.
Items/Cooking: 5
As an RPG, Tales of the Abyss has all of your standard character weapons, armor, health-restoring gels and items, and some odds and ends that you’ll have to obtain to progress in the story. You can equip your character with a weapon, body armor, hand armor, footwear, and headgear. Of course, this only affects their stats. Your characters will always appear in their standard, anime-style costumes (unless you unlock alternate ones). Only the weapons actually change in battle. There is also a cooking system! Along your journey, you will obtain new recipes that require certain ingredients (most can be purchased at food shops) to cook meals that can heal your party’s HP, restore your magic points, and cure ailments, among other things. This can all be done from the menu in the overworld or dungeons, or you can set it to be automatic after a battle. You even choose which character cooks the meal, and depending on each character’s individual cooking ability, the recipe could be a tasty success or a disgusting failure. The cooking is as easy as selecting an option from the menu, and there is no actual gameplay required to make the character cook the meal. It would have been nice had there been some kind of mini-game for it, at least every now and then.
Multiplayer: 4
Did I mention Tales of the Abyss is multiplayer? Yes, up to four people can play at once, with each player controlling one member of your party. This works well with the real-time battle system, and it can be fun to team up with a buddy and battle. Just a few problems here, though: only Player 1 is in control during the dungeons and overworld, leaving the other players to sit and watch, waiting for the next battle. Some puzzles requiring more than one player to participate would have solved this. There is also no Versus or competitive mode to face off. Still, it’s nice that it’s included.
Dungeons: 3
And we have a low point… or almost. Tales of the Abyss does have a very admirable number of dungeons, and the majority of them are well-designed and really just interesting and beautiful locations, but the problem lies with the difficulty. The majority of the puzzles are all too easy to solve, and the only difficulty lies in having to run through long, repetitive rooms of enemies. There are also a small handful of dungeons that don’t even attempt to contain any intricate puzzles, but are merely a linear romp through an enemy-filled locale. Even so, this does highlight the battle system, which is where the real challenge and fun lies anyway. Still, it makes you feel a little shortchanged when there could have been many more detailed dungeons.
Another personal gripe is that one dungeon, which must be completed about three-quarters of the way through, is very long, and almost tediously difficult, and yet the final dungeon is very simple, linear, and contains only a couple of puzzles. Just my own complaint there. (I like a challenge at the end!)
Difficulty: 5
Aside from the aforementioned dungeon problems, the battle system presents a fairly big challenge. Each enemy and boss has its own behavior and weaknesses, and depending on your play style, which party member you choose to control can make a huge impact in battle. As a bit of a button-masher myself, I always felt most comfortable using Luke or Guy, who can melee combo like crazy. But you may just want to sit back and cast magic, in which case Jade or Tear might suit you. Then again, Natalia’s archery or Anise’s unique blend of special attacks may be your thing. Any way you play, the battle system takes a little while to get the hang of, but once you do it becomes second nature. The bosses are perhaps the most exciting part of the game, since most minor enemies can be disposed of in a matter of seconds, whereas a giant monster or a deadly villain can take up to five or ten minutes to fend off. Still, the game never becomes too hard, and in fact the more experienced you become with your characters, the more the battles will seem a little on the easy side. Fortunately the game can be played on Normal or Hard difficulty, and after you beat it once you can play it again on Very Hard or even the nigh-unbeatable “Unknown” difficulty.
Length: 6
Simply put, Tales of the Abyss is long! The main storyline can take 60+ hours to complete (that’s if you rush), and if you add in sidequests, mini-games, secret bosses, and the optional arena battles, this game can last you over 80 hours. The sidequests are often rewarding, particularly quests known as Town Link features. This involves trading certain goods or completing certain sidequests that will strengthen the trade between different towns, effectively lowering the cost of all items you can buy in the various towns affected. Some sidequests will also reward you with alternate outfits for your characters, which can be quite amusing (especially the swimsuit costumes!). There are also some optional boss battles that provide an extra challenge and usually a valuable item if you can claim victory. All in all, Tales of the Abyss will last you a long time.
Unlockables: 5
Beating the game rewards you with extra difficulty levels, as well as a Sound Test where you can listen to the game’s soundtrack and the brilliant voice talent. It would have been nice to see something like an artwork gallery, but still, the Sound Test is enjoyable and there are several incentives to play a second time…
Replayability: 6
From the endearing and entertaining story to the fun and engaging battle system, Tales of the Abyss certainly deserves more than one playthrough. If the incredible length of the game discourages you, don’t worry: there are more reasons why you should play a second time! After you complete the game once, you will gain access to something called the Grade Shop, where you can spend all those accumulated Grade Points on upgrades for your second playthrough, such as 2x or 10x EXP, all earned money, or all your unlocked Artes and abilities. As if that wasn’t enough, there is also a secret dungeon that can only be entered after you’ve beaten the game at least once.
Fun Factor!: 6
Overall, Tales of the Abyss is entertaining, tells an exciting story with memorable characters, and offers a fun and engaging battle system. It will keep you playing for a long time, and offers many reasons to play more than once. The art style is inspired, and the voice acting is admirably well done. Aside from a few disappointing dungeons and a few complications with the menus, this is a game that has so much to offer. Amidst all the overshadowing competition from other, more highly advertised RPG series, Tales of the Abyss stands strong on its own, and really deserves to be played.
Recommendation: If you own a PS2 and enjoy RPGs, Tales of the Abyss is an amazing game to buy and enjoy for hours on end. Its entertaining story and action-packed battle system will even appeal to people who tend to shy away from the repetitiveness of turn-based RPGs, and anime fans will appreciate the character design and art style. I cannot say enough how much this game deserves more attention, so if this appeals to you, go ahead and purchase Tales of the Abyss.
| If you would like to send some feedback
to the author of this submission, please complete this form.
What's your name?
What's your Email address?
How do you rate this submission?
Does this submission belong in Little
Lemmy's Land?
Would you like to see more from this author? Comments and suggestions:
|
