Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is an ok game. The fun characters and story are engaging but the game does feel old. For fans of the original version, this game will be great for you. For new players, this game will test your patience.
Tales of Vesperia, originally released in 2008, has been remastered for all current consoles and PC. The JRPG follows a diverse cast of characters as they begin what seems to be a simple adventure but turns into a quest to save the world. In the Definitive Edition, the game has been expanded to host new characters, side missions, abilities, and more. Tales of Vesperia puts emphasis on fast combat and a character-driven story. The characters and combat are the highlights of the game but the games lack of directions and slow pace made me want to put the controller down.
When the game starts, it becomes apparent that there is going to be a lot of dialogue and cutscenes. There is not much to do in the beginning but click “X” to keep the conversations moving forward. Once I was given the ability to move my character I was put in a third person view with no camera control. The lack of camera control makes searching areas frustrating and limited my ability to immerse myself in the game.
My first fight was disappointing. The game forces you to fight alone and your character’s actions constantly leave him open to attack. You do not feel like you are doing well against opponents and each battle is cumbersome. The games movement system also makes it difficult to get a good angle to attack multiple enemies. The combat continues to feel disjointed until a member is added to the party. The second that you have people to fight with the combat feels balanced. You have more freedom to do different attacks and strategy and timing become more important. The game allows the player to play as any member of the party and has customizable strategy options for all characters. Fights can also be stopped at any time to use an item but all items are on a timer and can temporarily immobilize a party member.
All characters’ progress through battles by earning XP. Even if a member of the party is not being used in the fight they will still get XP. This is nice because it allows you to change your roster depending on the enemy without worrying about the character’s level being dramatically lower than the rest of the groups. A character’s weapons will also increase in level allowing new moves and abilities to be learned. The level increase feels steady and balanced with the enemies you will face. The fights can feel tedious but the items and XP acquired at the end of each encounter makes them feel worthwhile.
Each character brings a strong dynamic to the game both in combat and story. All the characters in this game are bizarre and I love it. From the edgy rebellious hero, to a kid looking to go on his first adventure, and a dog that dresses in chains, smokes a pipe, and fights with a sword. Each character also brings along a sense of humor that helps when grinding through all the dialogue. The jokes will put a smile on your face but often the slapstick is so poorly animated it is difficult to enjoy. The more I played the more attached I became to each character and found myself yelling at the TV when I thought characters were going to leave the party. The only thing keeping the character’s back are the choppy animations. There is a lack of diversity in movement and facial features. Character are slow to act and look like chumps compared to their fluid and active movements when in battle.
The music in Tales of Vesperia does a good job of controlling the mood and pace of the game. The music is never very busy but provides a subtle attitude towards the setting. When in combat, the music picks up making all the action intensified and the game’s speed increases. When searching areas, it can be slow and repetitive but rarely bothered me.
The biggest issue I have with this game is the lack of directions. I had a lot of fun playing but often I would realize there were actions and abilities I had but did not know how to use. This would be frustrating to anyone but is amplified because of my lack of JRPG experience. If you are going to play this game I would take the time to look up abilities when the game first introduces them because after they are initially shown there will be nothing else to tell you how to activate or utilize that skill.
The story is fun and the combat is engaging. The choppy animations paired with the large quantity of dialogue can make the game feel slow and the lack of direction made the game confusing. I did enjoy Tales of Vesperia and will probably try more JRPGs in the future.
I rate this game a 6.8 for newcomers and an 8 for people that know what they are doing.
Overall, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is an ok game. The fun characters and story are engaging but the game does feel old. For fans of the original version, this game will be great for you. For new players, this game will test your patience.
