Are Tales games supposed to be cringey?

[아줌마]

This is obviously my first entry to the series. I am sort of familiar with JRPGs and kind of know what to expect from them gameplay-wise.

However, Arise's story so far seems to target a much younger (?) audience? I am not sure if it's a typical anime thing where it's a given for the main character to have some sort of hero complex and do the infamous "motivational talk to convert bad guys". Alphen seems like the embodiment of that stereotype. I haven't watched anime in ages and I don't consume Japanese pop culture that much, but all this tsundere type of love interest vibes coming from Shionne is predictable and cringeworthy. Not sure if it's normal these days.

I don't know if I'm wrong to expect a more mature story with depth from the Tales series. Is it more like Dragon Quest where everything is shallow and light-hearted??

The characters *so far* (I'm in 3rd region) seem bland, flat and so trope-y. I get Alphen was a slave and "couldn't think for himself", but I don't see how Zephyr has changed him? What has he done? He literally just said some motivional words one time and now Alphen worships him like the second-coming of Christ?

Also Shionne has her reasons to be cold and distant, I'm sure but constantly being snarky, passive aggressive is just lazy writing.

Not related but the same one-liners the characters keep repeating is slightly irritating. Have they not added more one-liners to at least offer some diversity?

[RoyalTavern]

Very cringey indeed. These are the alpha cheese of all cheeses.

I think this comes from the asian movie culture where emotions and gestures are highly amplified for impact or stress.

[DaylightDemon]

yup its pretty normal. although i think they upped it up a notch with the voice acting compared to other entries.

[Yuuki]

To be fair alphen Is pretty much child in terms of being easily swayed by people due The whole memory loss. Happens in reality too.

[Katak]

Compared to what exactly ? I mean pretty much every JRPG is like that, there are few exeptions of course. Also believe it or not, this one is probably one of the more mature of the series. For context I'm playing tales of for 20 years now, started on snes emulation when fan translation of phantasia came out, then bought every single console entries afterward.

In the end it all comes down to west/east mentality/culture I believe.

But one thing I agree with you, Shionne can chill the f. out already. I really hope she gets some character developpement that softens her up a little.

Overall I'm loving the game so far.

[PFC Demigo [29th ID]]

Its a JRPG. Its a Niche Standard.

[No' Name]

There's basically one thing to note about "Anime"

It's always going to be cringey, because in reality, people aren't as emotionally stupid, and are pretty self-aware.

It's honestly the only "Cringe-worthy" thing about Anime, and JRGP's.

You'll see people have a connection, and play it off as dumb-founded, which would never happen in reality.

just how JRPG, and Anime go.... basically.... "Fake it until you make it" lol.

[Onryo]

Originally posted by Katak:

Also believe it or not, this one is probably one of the more mature of the series.

I strongly disagree. The plot so far, the story so far are somwhere in kids-grade department. Berseria's more mature, Xillia 2 is more mature, Abyss is more mature, hell, even Graces are more mature than this one. Whats mature about "freedom for slaves, for all good against all bad"? Nothing.

The characters are understandable, but no less bland. They are boring, they are predictable (Alphen is understandable, but barely), they are unlikable.

Battle-wise game is good, graphics-wise is good. Characters and story-wise - not good at all.

[Ryulightorb]

No and they aren't.

[아줌마]

Originally posted by Ryulightorb:

No and they aren't.

That's fair. I guess I'm just not into trope heavy stories like this - for the same reasons I couldn't stand re-watching Naruto. It was just way too childish for me at times and that's fine. I guess I expected a more mature and darker story because that's what I read in the early reviews.

[CentroXer]

Originally posted by Onryo:

Originally posted by Katak:

Also believe it or not, this one is probably one of the more mature of the series.

I strongly disagree. The plot so far, the story so far are somwhere in kids-grade department. Berseria's more mature, Xillia 2 is more mature, Abyss is more mature, hell, even Graces are more mature than this one. Whats mature about "freedom for slaves, for all good against all bad"? Nothing.

The characters are understandable, but no less bland. They are boring, they are predictable (Alphen is understandable, but barely), they are unlikable.

Battle-wise game is good, graphics-wise is good. Characters and story-wise - not good at all.

Berserias story is garbage with that 3 year old kid laphicet. This game doesnt have little kids like that.

[Vesques23]

Well it's a JPRG. Being over the top is standard. JRPG's have mastered the art of melodrama and theatrics.

[Vesques23]

Originally posted by Onryo:

Originally posted by Katak:

Also believe it or not, this one is probably one of the more mature of the series.

I strongly disagree. The plot so far, the story so far are somwhere in kids-grade department. Berseria's more mature, Xillia 2 is more mature, Abyss is more mature, hell, even Graces are more mature than this one. Whats mature about "freedom for slaves, for all good against all bad"? Nothing.

The characters are understandable, but no less bland. They are boring, they are predictable (Alphen is understandable, but barely), they are unlikable.

Battle-wise game is good, graphics-wise is good. Characters and story-wise - not good at all.

Abyss mature? In what way? The main character is a whiny child that evolves into a depressing boy who has suicidal thoughts.

[XCROSS]

I'll tell what's cringey! The fact people still use that word to describe anything.

[kiteloops]

Zephyr has some great quotes that I think goes beyond cringy or younger audience. Stuff that goes like "Rinwell, 300 years of atrocities is too much to lay at one person's feet. Shionne, you can't understand a person's actions in the present without taking into account their past."

But Alphen is a huge fan of Zephyr because of his ability to bring people together and lead them. Alphen clearly wants to be like that and Shionne's coldness is a reminder that he's failing. He's always thought as a slave and it's not good enough, so Zephyr was a big role model. Idunno about the rest of the story, but these parts are pretty good imo.

[아줌마]

Originally posted by XCROSS:

I'll tell what's cringey! The fact people still use that word to describe anything.

I translated from Korean to English, hope you understand.