In the day and age of oft-delayed games there are a few series that manage to release entries in a timely fashion, one of them being Tales. Though the Tales series first appeared in Japan in 1995 it took a few years before they started gracing our shores, but since their arrival they have become a mainstay for JRPG fans. Once again, like all Tales releases, Tales of Zestiria attempts to update the formula set up by its predecessors and tell an all new story. Does Zestiria succeed, or is it just dull entry in a long running series?
You play as Sorey, a bright-eyed youth who has grown up away from humanity and who lives among the Seraphim. Though Sorey views his situation as fairly normal it's not long before you discover just how odd it is. It's Once Sorey's adventure begins it becomes clear that he is the only one who can see the Seraphim.
Seraphim are magical beings that live along side humanity, but are invisible to the average human. This is where the majority of the issues arise. As humanity drifts away from their belief in the Seraphim they allow darkness into the world which allows monsters to thrive.
These monsters, or Hellions as they are called cause all sorts of issues with the world. From raging rivers to disease, the Hellions create havoc where ever they are. Hellions can also posses humans that have fallen prey to the darkness in their hearts which then leads them to be cruel or (in the case of kings and politicians) lead their nations to war.
It falls to Sorey and his companions (human and seraphim) to challenge the darkness and fix the world. Only be helping people find their way back to the light and by getting humanity and the seraphim to coexist can his goal be achieved and the world saved.
Fighting Monsters
All Tales games are action-RPGs. Once Sorey bumps into an enemy in the field the game immediately transitions into a fight. And unlike most RPGs, the fight takes place in the same location instead of transitioning into some instanced arena.
The combat is fast-paced relying on player input as much as character stats. Players can dodge, block and re-position themselves with only a few flicks of the analogue stick. Combined with the various attacks that become unlocked as characters level up, combat becomes a fast-paced and hectic affair.
One big change to the combat system this time around is the ability to Armatize. When using armatization Sorey will merge with one of his seraphim companions gaining access to new abilities and a new look. Sorey will eventually gain access to four versions of armatazaion, one for each element, that greatly expand his move-set.
Helping Out
Along with the main story there is a great deal of side-quests to pursue. Usually found in town there'll be people who need help with the typical RPG stuff - find an item, or go somewhere and kill something.
Though side-quests can offer some pretty good rewards they can also being extremely tedious. Some quests will have you walking across the entire world while others require you to go to a specific point, but it won't be shown on your map.
Getting around becomes quite easy as you unlock save points which you can teleport between, but occasionally some will become inaccessible during certain points in the story and it isn't always clear when the functionality will be restored. This prevented me from completing some quests as I refused to walk across the entire game.
Though side-quests can offer some pretty good rewards they can also being extremely tedious. Some quests will have you walking across the entire world while others require you to go to a specific point, but it won't be shown on your map.
Getting around becomes quite easy as you unlock save points which you can teleport between, but occasionally some will become inaccessible during certain points in the story and it isn't always clear when the functionality will be restored. This prevented me from completing some quests as I refused to walk across the entire game.
Pretty Pictures and Stellar Sound
Tales games are not known for their beauty and Tales of Zestiria is no different. Some locations have fairly interesting architecture, but those are few and far between. Most areas are flat and the textures appear stretched and muddy.
Characters and monsters look good, Zestiria sticks with the cel-shaded look that works quite well. Both the people and the monsters have some unique designs, but monsters start getting recycled and start showing up with just a pallet swap.
The audio fares much better than the graphics. From the opening attract video to the ambient sounds as you explore various dungeons, it 's clear a lot of care when towards the music. Voice acting is also expertly handled with the English cast giving great performances, even with some of the more clunky dialogue.
Characters and monsters look good, Zestiria sticks with the cel-shaded look that works quite well. Both the people and the monsters have some unique designs, but monsters start getting recycled and start showing up with just a pallet swap.
The audio fares much better than the graphics. From the opening attract video to the ambient sounds as you explore various dungeons, it 's clear a lot of care when towards the music. Voice acting is also expertly handled with the English cast giving great performances, even with some of the more clunky dialogue.
Just... Don't
DO NOT spend a dime on the DLC - it is a complete ripoff. What's available are items (that you can buy in-game), more outfits and items to level you up faster (which are completely unnecessary). Other than the 3 free ones there is absolutely no DLC you should get. After some quick math I calculated the DLC to be more expensive than the game itself... Shame on you Bandai Namco.
Conclusion
Like most series that release entries like they're on the clock, Tales of Zestiria fails to move the series forward in any notable way. Better versions of the combat can be found in earlier entries (Tales of Graces f) and a more moving story can be found in the pages of Twilight. It's a shame there isn't more care given to each individual release, there are interesting concepts and gameplay found within, but it just lacks the needed polish to be worth your time. Save your money.
No comments:
Post a Comment