Is this game worth it? I hated Symphonia

[Raz~]

I thought symphonia was trash, with really bad characters, trying really hard to copy FFX and very dull gameplay.

Is this game a vast improvement over Symphonia in characters, story, and gameplay?

[Giro]

This game is basically nothing like Symphonia honestly. I mean I do consider symphonia to have some of my favorite characters and a good story but I really love Berseria's characters and story so you might like it.. Gameplay wise the games are completely different, and basically different in every other aspect too.

[Giro]

if you play the demo and you can see for yourself

[MR.hyde]

Originally posted by Giroliro3:

if you play the demo and you can see for yourself

the demo is a mixed bag, it gets the story aspect right since it has many jokes but the combat demo can turn people off, the combat in game is actually better then in the demo, i mean it is still the same but in the game u get tought how it all works and that plays much better then to get thrown in the demo in a 6 man group and not knowing whats up

[Giro]

Originally posted by MR.hyde:

Originally posted by Giroliro3:

if you play the demo and you can see for yourself

the demo is a mixed bag, it gets the story aspect right since it has many jokes but the combat demo can turn people off, the combat in game is actually better then in the demo, i mean it is still the same but in the game u get tought how it all works and that plays much better then to get thrown in the demo in a 6 man group and not knowing whats up

good point

[Eze]

You won't find nothing particulary different or better in another Tales game. Maybe the combat may have a different imput structure, but it is the same real time simplified combat some JRPG detractors like myself respect.

Tales games have real time combat but sometimes it gets too mashy unless you raise the difficulty, and the stories never flesh out well the setting because character development is more central, even if they usually do cliche/tropes ones.

I loved Symphonia enough to have it in my top 5, but I'm aware of it's limitations. Anyone who is interested in this game should play it with japanese VA.

[Giro]

Originally posted by Eze:

You won't find nothing particulary different or better in another Tales game. Maybe the combat may have a different imput structure, but it is the same real time simplified combat some JRPG detractors like myself respect.

Tales games have real time combat but sometimes it gets too mashy unless you raise the difficulty, and the stories never flesh out well the setting because character development is more central, even if they usually do cliche/tropes ones.

I loved Symphonia enough to have it in my top 5, but I'm aware of it's limitations. Anyone who is interested in this game should play it with japanese VA.

The english dub is actually good in this game (other than Kamoana) so I believe the OP would be satisfied with either.

I also disagree with your statement about "you won't find anything different in another Tales game."

Berseria is miles different in both combat, gameplay and story/feel. The other Tales games are arguably more of the same stuff just with slight variations in combat/characters/worlds. Berseria is still similar enough to be called a Tales game but it shares far more differences than it does similarities IMO

[Raz~]

Originally posted by Giroliro3:

Originally posted by Eze:

You won't find nothing particulary different or better in another Tales game. Maybe the combat may have a different imput structure, but it is the same real time simplified combat some JRPG detractors like myself respect.

Tales games have real time combat but sometimes it gets too mashy unless you raise the difficulty, and the stories never flesh out well the setting because character development is more central, even if they usually do cliche/tropes ones.

I loved Symphonia enough to have it in my top 5, but I'm aware of it's limitations. Anyone who is interested in this game should play it with japanese VA.

The english dub is actually good in this game (other than Kamoana) so I believe the OP would be satisfied with either.

I also disagree with your statement about "you won't find anything different in another Tales game."

Berseria is miles different in both combat, gameplay and story/feel. The other Tales games are arguably more of the same stuff just with slight variations in combat/characters/worlds. Berseria is still similar enough to be called a Tales game but it shares far more differences than it does similarities IMO

Care to name some of its differences? (without spoiling of course!)

Right now it's really cheap (the game), but I don't want another Symphonia, which I felt was a very blatant ripoff of FFX, with worse characters and cartoony interactions.

Berseria seems darker (or the more infamously 'edgy'), with interesting character designs. However if the story is dumb or has -too- many cliches, then I would like to know beforehand.

I purchased Symphonia on PS3 just going by worth of mouth and reading random opinions on the internet who regarded it as one of the best, if not the best tales game EVUHR! I don't want to make that mistake twice!

[{ST}Immortal Nub]

Here's a little thought experiment for you. Imagine Tales of Symphonia. Now imagine a game nothing like Tales of Symphonia.

[Giro]

Originally posted by {ST}Immortal Nub:

Here's a little thought experiment for you. Imagine Tales of Symphonia. Now imagine a game nothing like Tales of Symphonia.

^ basically this.


I'll name some similarities and differences.

Combat:

1. They both have mystic artes (Berseria has multiple for each character)

2. You can only have 4 players fighting at one time in both however in Berseria you can trade out your party members mid battle allowing every character to participate

3. Symphonia has regular attacks and you press a button to do artes while in Berseria every attack is an arte and you just have different types.

4. Berseria has equipment upgrading using collected materials (I dont remember if symphonia had that or not)

5. Berseria has multiple costumes and things to unlock in game for each character (dont remember if symphonia had that)

6. Symphonia doesnt have freerun, Berseria has mandatory free run and as such there are no directional attacks when moving the analog stick.

Gameplay:

1. Berseria doesn't have missable quests/items (as far as I know)

2. Berseria's puzzles are far less tedious than Symphonia's but they're also a lot more straightforward/boring imo

3. Symphonia has an overworld, in Berseria you just walk around in towns/dungeons/open spaces

4. Berseria has fights that increase different aspects of the game outside of combat


Story:

1.Berseria is darker than almost, if not all Tales games.

2. Each Tales game usually has a moral lesson/theme. Berseria has this as well

3. (Assume everything else is different between the two story/character wise)

[Raz~]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll get it... but if I dislike it again, it will be my last run with the Tales franchise lol.

One last question: Does it have multiple endings? One thing that annoyed me in Symphonia is that I didn't know this little fact. I didn't care to give the proper answer, always gave the middle finger to the silver haired annoying kid, and the red haired dude died lol. Later I found out that I had to build relationships and give the right answers.

Edit: Does it have end game stuff like boss fights and secret post-ending dungeons?

[Giro]

Originally posted by Razor:

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll get it... but if I dislike it again, it will be my last run with the Tales franchise lol.

One last question: Does it have multiple endings? One thing that annoyed me in Symphonia is that I didn't know this little fact. I didn't care to give the proper answer, always gave the middle finger to the silver haired annoying kid, and the red haired dude died lol. Later I found out that I had to build relationships and give the right answers.

Edit: Does it have end game stuff like boss fights and secret post-ending dungeons?

Ehh if its gonna be your last run I with Tales I would recommend getting Vesperia instead. Berseria is great but its best qualities lie with its story and characters.

The dungeons arent that great and the combat isnt anything to write home about but it is serviceable.

**Just make sure you play on moderate difficulty or higher otherwise the game will be too easy.**

^ I cant emphasize that enough

But to answer your question no it doesn't have multiple endings and yes there is a lot of game and post game content (sidequests/bossfights/ex dungeons/etc.)

[Giro]

Originally posted by Alex:

In fact I daresay it's the most anti-Symphonia of the series,

That about sums it up honestly. But like I said before I would try Vesperia or Abyss first if you're going to let Berseria decide whether you play more games in the series.

[{ST}Immortal Nub]

Originally posted by Giroliro3:

Originally posted by Razor:

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll get it... but if I dislike it again, it will be my last run with the Tales franchise lol.

One last question: Does it have multiple endings? One thing that annoyed me in Symphonia is that I didn't know this little fact. I didn't care to give the proper answer, always gave the middle finger to the silver haired annoying kid, and the red haired dude died lol. Later I found out that I had to build relationships and give the right answers.

Edit: Does it have end game stuff like boss fights and secret post-ending dungeons?

Ehh if its gonna be your last run I with Tales I would recommend getting Vesperia instead. Berseria is great but its best qualities lie with its story and characters.

The dungeons arent that great and the combat isnt anything to write home about but it is serviceable.

**Just make sure you play on moderate difficulty or higher otherwise the game will be too easy.**

^ I cant emphasize that enough

But to answer your question no it doesn't have multiple endings and yes there is a lot of game and post game content (sidequests/bossfights/ex dungeons/etc.)

Berseria was my first tales game, and I was hooked.

[Giro]

Originally posted by {ST}Immortal Nub:

Originally posted by Giroliro3:

Berseria was my first tales game, and I was hooked.

I'm not saying its not a good first Tales game I'm just saying there are other games that represent the series better.

I've seen quite a few forum posts about people not being in to Berseria's combat system and I dont think many people found the combat to be an issue in Abyss or Vesperia.
Those 2 games probably have the least flaws of any Tales game.

[MancSoulja]

I hated symphonia, but loved this game.