So... I'm new to the Tales series. Where do I start?

[MisterWytt]

The only tales games I've ever played was Tales of Destiny II back on the PSX. Other than that, I'm pretty much a newbie to the whole series. I've got some time to kill for a few brand new video games, so I was wondering where would be a good place to start? Would it be this game, or some other?

[TrickZZter]

It's like Final Fantasy series, main titles are not related to each other, so you can start from any of them.

[CHG]

People will mention their favorites in a flash. The tales series is very interest based. To be frank, you could start anywhere. :) They're pretty much all good in their own way. Complete with pro's and con's.

[LuizLeal]

Tales of Destiny II is the wrong name of the game on PSX .
It was released with that name in the USA .
but the real name is Tales of Eternia ... as in port released on PSP.
the true Tales of Destiny II is PS2, only in Japan .

[Arthur C.]

Tales of the Abyss for PS2/3DS is a great start IMO.
Only start on Tales of Phantasia if you're really into Retro JRPG's.

[acabuzair]

Tales of Eternia
Tales of Abyss

these 2 are my personal favorite !! both have solid storyline imo

[Munkie]

Tales of Vesperia on xbox 360!

[Linni]

Tales of Abyss was my first tales game

[Vashe]

If you like Jrpg and are not afraid of (good) 2D games, begin with Tales of Phantasia PSX fan translated. If you don't like retro (16 bit) RPG, try Abyss or Symphonia

[Riggs]

you can get the hd symphonia collection on the PS3

[Drude]

I really like Symphonia and Vesperia but I did not like Abyss as I really disliked half of the main cast (luke, anise and jade) but if you come to like those characters the rest of the game was really good.

[Separa]

Originally posted by Riggs:

you can get the hd symphonia collection on the PS3

That's a good choice. Xillia (1+2) is also a good choice. Graces F isn't bad either, although it's not quite up to par.

[Munkie]

Originally posted by The Universal Void:

Originally posted by Riggs:

you can get the hd symphonia collection on the PS3

That's a good choice. Xillia (1+2) is also a good choice. Graces F isn't bad either, although it's not quite up to par.

WHAT!? Graces F is great and I enjoyed it more than Xilia. The story may have been a little cheesey towards the end but like with any Tales game a great cast of characters will carry the game and Graces F had PASCAL! And Malik.

[Pawkt]

Originally posted by DragonLS:

The only tales games I've ever played was Tales of Destiny II back on the PSX. Other than that, I'm pretty much a newbie to the whole series. I've got some time to kill for a few brand new video games, so I was wondering where would be a good place to start? Would it be this game, or some other?

Everyone will tell you
"Start here!"
"Start there!"
"Don't Start there! Start here!"

In the most simplest explaination possible ahememe...:

Every Tales game is different be it combatwise, Character wise, Storywise, Graphics wise.
You get the general idea, no tales game is the same including sequels like ToS: Dotnw or Xillia 2.

They may be located in the same realms and the same cities and towns and have the previous games main characters as backup secondary characters now but overall the gameplay and story are vastly different with a few relations back to the first game like. "Remember when ??? fought with ??? back in ???"

I personally would say, pull up the list of games on the wiki an choose one.
I am not a Retro gamers, I actually have a very hard time getting into retro rpgs due to combat being mostly turned based and 8-16 bit colors.

Tales of Phantasia hooked me the second it opened up with the... **Spoilers** massacre of your entire town you didn't know who did it, or why they did it, but me personally had something inside of me say I have to avenge these people I had no emotional attachment to xD


I tried Tales of Destiny right after Phantasia but ultimately gave up because
(Passport finding simulator...)

Try starting from the beginning either that or start with Symphonia and move on up to Xillia 2

Originally posted by Drude:

I really like Symphonia and Vesperia but I did not like Abyss as I really disliked half of the main cast (luke, anise and jade) but if you come to like those characters the rest of the game was really good.

I also have to agree with Drude, I hated Abyss I loved Mieu and such an I did beat the game it's just... I don't know the game just was awful not counting the overworld excessive FPS drop. Symphonia was amazing 800+ hours back then invested in it when I was younger an didn't own a PC.

Vesperia is the only Tales game I have yet to play, but plan to soon.

[Pawkt]

Originally posted by Munkie:

Originally posted by The Universal Void:

That's a good choice. Xillia (1+2) is also a good choice. Graces F isn't bad either, although it's not quite up to par.

WHAT!? Graces F is great and I enjoyed it more than Xilia. The story may have been a little cheesey towards the end but like with any Tales game a great cast of characters will carry the game and Graces F had PASCAL! And Malik.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BsMFcOFA4o


Such wise words Malik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPeTQKHJMgc

[Dizzard]

I've only played Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss but I enjoyed both of them, particularly Symphonia.