Games Happy

2025 marks the thirtieth anniversary of Bandai Namco’s legendary “Tales of” collection, and it seems like they intend to have fun the milestone in type. The upcoming launch of Tales of Graces F Remaster on January 16 marks the start of the Tales Remastered Mission, which goals to remaster Tales video games “persistently.” As somebody who has adored the franchise since I first rented Tales of Symphonia on GameCube—and has since gone on to personal each formally localized title, together with importing some entries as effectively—this effort to remaster and protect video games I like fills my coronary heart with pleasure.

Following the remaster of Graces, the next listing options the highest 5 Tales video games I’d like to see get the remastered remedy.

The Checklist

Particular Entry – Any of the Tales the West By no means Bought

I shall be absolutely clear with you: if I had not condensed unlocalized Tales of video games right into a single entry right here, the listing would have possible *solely*  included beforehand unlocalized Tales titles. As a lot as I might want the prospect to re-experience a few of my favourite RPGs on trendy platforms — and let new generations test them out for the primary time — I’d a lot choose patching the holes first for these mothership titles we by no means obtained.

I’m extremely excited that Bandai Namco is embarking on this path to remaster this historic collection — a path that lots of their friends started way back, together with Sq. Enix and even Tri-Ace with Star Ocean, Tales’ cousin collection. In my preferrred world, this ‘Tales Remastered Mission’ would additionally embrace these lacking video games: Tales of Rebirth, Tales of Innocence R, Tales of Future 2, Tales of Future Director’s Lower, and Tales of the Tempest. My hope is that we are going to get any one in all these video games in a method much like their authentic releases versus full-blown remakes, simply to expertise them as gamers first did. Nevertheless, I’d help remakes as effectively — I simply wish to play these video games!

Tales of Hearts R

I completely adore my PlayStation Vita and can perpetually shake my fist at a few of the choices Sony made that doomed the high-tech handheld. Nevertheless, for all of the challenges it confronted, the truth that it gave Western gamers a beforehand unreleased Tales recreation in Tales of Hearts R is among the causes I cherished it. Tales of Hearts R, a remake of Tales of Hearts on Nintendo DS, was launched in 2014, introducing us to Kohaku Hearts and Kor/Shing Meteor as they dove into individuals’s hearts to proper wrongs and save the world.

Enjoying by way of Hearts R, I appreciated the pliability it supplied in growing your characters by way of the Soma system, and the fight—for a handheld Tales recreation—was snappy and fast-paced. Most of my playthrough was finished on my TV due to the PlayStation TV gadget, so I can attest to how significantly better it feels taking part in on an precise controller. I’d like to revisit the sport on trendy methods with a greater body fee and backbone. I wouldn’t thoughts Hearts getting an official English dub as effectively, and maybe fixing Kor’s title. It by no means stopped being bizarre seeing “Kor” written whereas the Japanese voices referred to him as “Shing.” A remaster can be an ideal likelihood to handle this.

Tales of Eternia

Often known as Tales of Future 2 within the West, Tales of Eternia was the second Tales recreation that we within the States ever obtained again in 2001. Telling the story of Reid, Farrah, and Meredy, Eternia sends gamers on a wild journey, touring to distant worlds and dealing to stop the cataclysmic Grand Fall occasion. Along with solely being accessible on the unique PlayStation (UK gamers acquired a PSP port that North America didn’t), it has additionally fallen sufferer to the retro video games worth spike, with a whole copy operating upwards of $200.

Whereas I choose the story and characters from Tales of Future over these in Eternia, I selected Eternia for this listing as a result of if we get a Future remaster, I’d need the PS2 remake, Future Director’s Lower, over the unique PlayStation model. Eternia additionally has the additional advantage of getting its protagonist, Reid, voiced by Sly Cooper’s voice actor Kevin Miller within the localized model. Regardless, we want a stable remaster of one of many basic PSX video games sooner slightly than later.

Tales of Phantasia

The granddaddy of the collection, the OG, the progenitor itself, Tales of Phantasia launched the Tales collection on the Tremendous Famicom again in December 1995 in Japan. Sadly for these of us within the West, we wouldn’t get an official launch till 2006 with the Sport Boy Advance port, which, sadly, wasn’t the best.

I’d like to see an official remaster of the Tales of Phantasia Cross model of the sport, initially included with Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon X for PSP, based mostly on the stellar PSX construct. Phantasia places you within the position of Cress/Cless Albane as you journey by way of time to thwart the evil Dhaos. It was a monumental achievement when it launched and established lots of the themes and tropes the Tales collection retains to today. Out of all of the video games, I wouldn’t be shocked if this one obtained a full-blown remake as a substitute of a easy remaster.

Reintroducing the sport that began all of it for brand spanking new generations can be the right approach to have fun 30 years of Tales.

Tales of the Abyss

Tales of the Abyss is one in all my high three favourite entries within the franchise, that includes what I’d argue is among the finest character arcs within the collection with its protagonist, Luke. Abyss supplied much more motion choices than earlier Tales video games, due to its Flex Vary Linear Movement Battle System and the brand new Free Run capability, which let gamers transfer their characters freely in 3D battle arenas for the primary time.

Initially launched on the PlayStation 2, Abyss finally acquired a formidable port on the Nintendo 3DS. That moveable launch is now almost 13 years outdated, with the unique being 20 years outdated, making it troublesome to play both by way of standard, authorized means. Fortunately, nevertheless, Abyss has prevented the huge worth spike of different video games on this listing.

A easy visible HD improve and efficiency optimization would make me completely happy, although I wouldn’t thoughts listening to some new strains from my favourite sassy navy officer, Jade. Severely, Jade is unbelievable—and he has a Pac-Man belt.

Tales of Xillia Duology

With probably the most hype anime intros within the collection, Tales of Xillia and its direct sequel are victims of the PlayStation 3’s Cell processor purgatory. Fortunately, with Graces F managing to interrupt free, maybe Jude and firm can as effectively. Launched within the West in 2013 and 2014, respectively, the Xillia titles really feel like a celebration of the franchise. They pull in lots of collection staples—like a number of worlds and summon spirits—whereas introducing distinctive mechanics, resembling viewing the story from two protagonists’ views.

Rumors of a Xillia remaster have swirled for years, making it a protected guess. I hope Bandai Namco releases each video games collectively slightly than simply the primary one, as they did with the Symphonia remaster. Whereas I choose the unique Xillia to its sequel, each video games deserve the remaster remedy—and a bundle can be preferrred.

The Tales of collection holds a particular place in my coronary heart, tied to highly effective recollections. I purchased an Xbox 360 particularly for Tales of Vesperia, and my coronary heart broke when my 60GB PlayStation 3 brought about a bug in my Abyss PS2 recreation. I even owe my likelihood to write down about video games to Tales, by way of somebody with a mutual love of the collection. 

On the time of penning this, the Tales of Graces F Remaster hasn’t been launched but, so we don’t know the standard of this launch. Nevertheless, I hope Bandai Namco discovered its lesson from the disappointing Symphonia remaster in 2023. I’m enthusiastic about the way forward for Tales and the prospect of re-experiencing this long-running franchise’s roots.

What are some Tales video games you’d prefer to see get the remaster remedy? Pontificate within the feedback beneath!