Watch anime or play game first?

[Rontemon]

I am planning to get this game and wonder if I should watch the anime or play this game first? I am new to the Tales series. I think the only tales game I ever played was the PSP version and it was a loooong time ago.

And.. do we get japanese voiceovers with sub in this game?

[Simon]

Yes. Dual audio. But since this game already has an anime, so I think you should watch it. The story of the anime and this game is basically the same, but some scenes are different.
If you are going to get a Tales game, I would recommend to get Tales of Symphonia or Tales of Berseria.

[Rontemon]

Originally posted by Simon:

Yes. Dual audio. But since this game already has an anime, so I think you should watch it.
If you are going to get a Tales game, I would recommend to get Tales of Symphonia or Tales of Berseria.

Do you mean that the anime and this game has the exact same story?

edit: Bersaria looks really good! Didn't know about that game. Too bad it isn't out yet.

Symphonia looks like it is a really dated game... But for 5 bucks? Hmmm I will check out some reviews first.

[Simon]

You can say that it has the exact same story. Just some parts of the plot are being told differently. I meant like, you can't have a battle tutorial in an anime. And there are 2 characters which are kind of "forced" to leave the part due to how the battle system is designed and also because of plot reasons. But in the anime, it seems that there wont be any characters leaving/dying. Cant say for sure, season 2 is coming out in 2017 Jan. The base story is still the same, but it is just a slightly different way to tell the story.

Tales of Berseria demo is coming out in 10th Jan. Get ready for the hype~
If you own either Zestiria or Symphonia game, you will get -10% discount off Berseria if you preorder it. (not stackable)

[Simon]

Anyway, just try out "Tales of Zestiria the X(cross)" anime. The beautiful and gorgeous animation is developed by the ufotable, the same studio that did the animation for Fate Stay Night / Fate Zero

[Ryudo]

Originally posted by Simon:

You can say that it has the exact same story. Just some parts of the plot are being told differently. I meant like, you can't have a battle tutorial in an anime. And there are 2 characters which are kind of "forced" to leave the part due to how the battle system is designed and also because of plot reasons. But in the anime, it seems that there wont be any characters leaving/dying. Cant say for sure, season 2 is coming out in 2017 Jan. The base story is still the same, but it is just a slightly different way to tell the story.

Tales of Berseria demo is coming out in 10th Jan. Get ready for the hype~
If you own either Zestiria or Symphonia game, you will get -10% discount off Berseria if you preorder it. (not stackable)

Oh wow didn't know about the discount, that's nice to know. :O

[frubam]

I would play the game first. The anime takes a few.... liberties with a character or two, though the general consensus is that it was for the better, so its definitely worth watching. I would play the first half of the game, then watch the anime so your expectations won't be high. Not to mention it'll be more enjoyable exploring the world yourself in-game versus the anime showing it to you.

[Rontemon]

Originally posted by frubam:

I would play the game first. The anime takes a few.... liberties with a character or two, though the general consensus is that it was for the better, so its definitely worth watching. I would play the first half of the game, then watch the anime so your expectations won't be high. Not to mention it'll be more enjoyable exploring the world yourself in-game versus the anime showing it to you.

Yep I have decided to play the game first. Despite majority of opinion saying Tales of Zestiria game is one of the weaker game of the tales series, I am surprised you have over 1500hrs on the game.. Wth seriously? Or did you forget to switch off your PC all this time?

Anyway, I hope this game will satisfy my thirst for a anime JRPG for now. I'll probably get Berseria when it goes on a big sale next year. Too many games to play right now...

[Sir Fluffykins]

I found the anime a bit boring, BUT many (and I mean MANY) people loved how they "improved" characters from how they appear in the game.

The anime is only a small part of the game too, plus there's 2 Bestiria episodes in there for some reason and it'll be a while before the next season appears.

So watch the anime. I did and I still feel I'm going into the game (which I bought and am downloading now) mostly blind.

[Simon]

Originally posted by Sir Fluffykins:

I found the anime a bit boring, BUT many (and I mean MANY) people loved how they "improved" characters from how they appear in the game.

The anime is only a small part of the game too, plus there's 2 Bestiria episodes in there for some reason and it'll be a while before the next season appears.

So watch the anime. I did and I still feel I'm going into the game (which I bought and am downloading now) mostly blind.

Yeah, the anime removed a lot of fun and funny moments that can viewed inside the game in the form of Skits. Also, since anime is only 20 min each, they can't include more contents like how games could in one episode so some scenes are altered or cut out.

Tales games always went with the formula of one hero and one heroine. Why people liked some of changes in the anime because many japanese players disliked how Alisha leave the party early in the game because they are not prepared for it. It was last time before the release of the game, they want to make rose as a surprise for the players so the advertisements mainly only showed Sorey, Alisha and Mikleo. So people would normally think that Alisha is the female main character. Later, they apologize for the confusion cuz of poor market and explained that there is no real heroine for this game.

And it is Berseria (from the word "berserk"). Not bestiria. The two episodes were released mainly to promote game in Japan a few months ago because after a few days the episodes aired, was the release of the game.

Season 2 is confirmed to come out in January.

[frubam]

Originally posted by Ronald:

Originally posted by frubam:

I would play the game first. The anime takes a few.... liberties with a character or two, though the general consensus is that it was for the better, so its definitely worth watching. I would play the first half of the game, then watch the anime so your expectations won't be high. Not to mention it'll be more enjoyable exploring the world yourself in-game versus the anime showing it to you.

Yep I have decided to play the game first. Despite majority of opinion saying Tales of Zestiria game is one of the weaker game of the tales series, I am surprised you have over 1500hrs on the game.. Wth seriously? Or did you forget to switch off your PC all this time?

Yeah, my PC stays on; so does the game. I do a lot of.... research... on the game ( >.>).

[Sir Fluffykins]

I'm really enjoying the game, I mean, it took me nearly 2 hours to get the intro XD

Granted I don't have much time, so starting an epic JRPG when I have so many unfinished, might not work out.

What sold me was the skits; I've seen about 7 already and I only just reached Lady Lake.

Also I'm already seeing differences between anime and game. (besides the obvious like Alisha getting a whole set up episode while in game she's...there)

[Rontemon]

Originally posted by Sir Fluffykins:

I'm really enjoying the game, I mean, it took me nearly 2 hours to get the intro XD

Granted I don't have much time, so starting an epic JRPG when I have so many unfinished, might not work out.

What sold me was the skits; I've seen about 7 already and I only just reached Lady Lake.

Also I'm already seeing differences between anime and game. (besides the obvious like Alisha getting a whole set up episode while in game she's...there)

So would you say its better to play the game first, watch the anime first or both at the same time?

[Sir Fluffykins]

Both, I guess, play game then watch an episode

As I say the anime doesn't get very far and doesn't really have anything that could be considered spoilers.

You can also consider the anime "Alisha's path" as they give her a lot of screen time showing events involving her that never appeared in the game.

I think that description fits best, like in the anime they show how she ended up at the ruins, or the Assassins guild after Alisha, things that fit the game but weren't in the game or were only mentioned in passing.

I like that the game is more light-hearted (so far at least - only just became the Shepard) than the anime which felt moody most of the time, but I also prefer how the characters reacted to things and were protrayed in the anime over the game.

[Simon]

The game serves like the foundation for the overall story. And the anime is like an expansion / improvisation for it. Both anime and the game follows the same plot, but the anime is like an another way to tell the journey of Zestiria.

[Sir Fluffykins]

The anime is better because Mason lives, lol XD