Games Happy

There’s one thing about catching up with an previous buddy. Whether or not it’s been weeks, months, or years because you final noticed one another, it solely takes one second to reacquaint, and all of the sudden it’s like no time has handed in any respect. It has been over a decade since I first performed Tales of Graces f on the PlayStation 3, after I loved the sport nicely sufficient on the time. But revisiting this sport in 2025 has been nothing wanting pleasant. Bursting with an limitless provide of charming characters, frenetic fight, and a heartfelt story, Tales of Graces f Remastered is a good instance of why the sequence stays beloved, and hopefully an indication of issues to come back from future re-releases from the sequence.

First launched on the Nintendo Wii in 2009, Tales of Graces didn’t seem on Western shores till it was launched on the PlayStation 3 in 2012 as an enhanced port. Set on the planet of Ephinea, Graces sees gamers assume the position of younger Asbel Lhant, a younger lord who occurs upon a younger amnesiac woman who does not keep in mind a lot of something, not to mention her identify. Given the identify Sophie, she seemingly sacrifices herself to avoid wasting Asbel, his brother Hubert, and his buddy Richard from a monster; an occasion that fractures Asbel’s life and vanity.

The story picks up seven years later. Throughout that point, Asbel has fled the household dwelling to enlist within the Knight’s Academy and has not seen his household since. On the cusp of his commencement from the academy, he’s suggested of tragedy at dwelling which lastly brings him again to Lhant the place his life once more will take a flip. At this level, the story has already leaned right into a handful of tropes: an amnesiac woman clearly from one other world; broad political overtures, and even some basic betrayal. Graces does not let off the fuel, even because the story hits acquainted mild sci-fi components within the third act. Graces wears its coronary heart on its sleeve, totally embodying its central themes of friendship and combating to guard these we look after. Whereas followers of the Tales sequence will discover themselves proper at dwelling right here, even newcomers to the sequence will discover themselves charmed by the proceedings, as a result of the solid is so rattling earnest and likeable. 

I have been a longtime fan of the sequence – there are lots of us right here – however the characterization right here is especially sturdy. That is largely because of the wonderful skits, a sequence of elective vignettes between the characters that happen throughout their travels in cities and dungeons Right here they’re totally voiced and accompanied with sharp character portraits, which makes stopping to take heed to them a deal with. These are sometimes random bits of banter, however they contribute to each character improvement and a big sense of deepening relationships between the solid. These skits, coupled with the outlandish exchanges between the characters after a battle, are so vigorous and make the characters appear totally realized – particularly once they contain among the quieter solid members.  

An incredible solid of characters is not sufficient to hold a sport by itself, however Graces delivers in spades with regards to fight and supporting gameplay. This title makes use of one thing known as the “Model Shift Linear Movement Battle System”, which emphasizes motion across the subject and placing collectively devastating, flashy assault mixtures. Gamers management certainly one of 4 social gathering members and may execute Assault or Burst Artes,  which expend factors from a personality’s rechargeable Chain Capability (CC). Not like some Tales video games the place your Arte skills are restricted by a TP pool (and thus you’ll should gobble down Orange Gels like sweet), right here your CC gauge dictates what number of artes you’ll be able to chain in succession, which will increase as you evade assaults and land essential hits. Artes are discovered by way of the usage of titles: a barrage of intelligent nicknames for the character which double as a main type of development. Every title, when outfitted, earns SP after battle which awards stat boosts, artes, and the like because the character ranks up and completely earns the reward. There are dozens and dozens of titles for every character, which permits for a broad vary of customization throughout the board.

Fight is frenetic but strategic, with gamers needing to dam assaults, keep away from injury, or typically stagger an enemy earlier than it could possibly pull off a strong arte. Merely spamming the assault button will not get the job achieved, as a substitute encouraging gamers to make use of their CC strategically and to relaxation to recharge and also you construct your assault mixtures. Having the ability to change management between the 4 members on display screen is a pleasant contact, particularly when needing to toss a restorative throughout a tense second. Issue within the many tweaks to fight that may be turned on in an elective menu known as the Grade Store – double injury involves thoughts – and battles can actually get cooking with fuel. 

It definitely helps that Graces appears and sounds nice for what it’s as a contemporary remaster of a 15-year previous sport. First, brace your self for the actual fact this can be a remastered port of a PlayStation 3 sport, itself a port of a 2009 Wii sport. Enhanced for PS5 Professional, this is not. Battle environments are sparse, and even the overworld and dungeons are tunnel-esque corridors replete with invisible partitions or walled-in areas. But the character fashions are nicely animated; drawn with a basic anime fashion, designed by the impeccable Mutsumi Inomata, and the cities are charming, if a bit fundamental. The artwork fashion and path carry the day right here, bolstered by a pointy person interface that quietly updates the PS3’s menus. There are just about no loading instances, and every part is usually crisp. It’s clear there was vital effort in upgrading the appears and sound with out making drastic modifications, and it pays off.

Likewise, sound design is basic Tales. I’m a Motoi Sakuraba apologist, so your mileage might range. Graces options his signature types, with idyllic, soothing city themes met with vigorous, high-octane battle themes and all the time at the least one basic snowy theme. I personally rank this sport’s predominant battle theme as among the many greatest within the franchise. 

It is nearly overwhelming simply how a lot there’s to interact with right here. In case you aren’t in fight or managing titles to be taught new artes, you need to use the Eleth Mixer to schedule meals to cook dinner mid-combat. If that does not fulfill there’s all the time the flexibility to dualize (the sport’s model or crafting or synthesis). I spent hours dualizing fundamental substances to ultimately make an omelette that might heal a 3rd of my well being, and set it to set off in-combat when a celebration member’s well being hit beneath 30%. You may infuse gear with shards for extra results, and extra. Graces hits a superb synergy between its fight design, character development mechanics, and supporting techniques like dualizing.

High quality of life modifications like vacation spot icons assist quicken the tempo and forestall gamers from getting misplaced. The choices within the Grade Store are bonkers, unlocked from the beginning of a brand new playthrough and provides main GameShark vibes: you’ll be able to skew the sport’s stability wildly off target on the click on of a button, or simply go along with one thing mundane, like growing your motion velocity. You are going to want it, too, with the just about offensive quantity of backtracking required throughout massive sections of the sport. It’s these small annoyances and minor gameplay limitations, merchandise of now twenty-year-old {hardware}, that marginally diminish an in any other case wonderful presentation.  

It seems like loads – it’s – however in one of the best ways potential. There isn’t any scarcity of extra issues to do: titles to hunt, library books to trace down, post-game story content material, and dungeons, all of which happen with a solid we have seen undergo a lot collectively. It is endearing to look at these childhood pals reunite beneath the shakiest of phrases as adults solely to ultimately re-discover their shared bonds and affections that made them shut within the first place. Watching them heal their literal childhood trauma is, for some motive, considerably extra satisfying this time round. 

That is the factor about catching up with previous pals. It is good to suppose like nothing has modified; that no time in any respect has handed, though we all know it is not true. What a nice shock then, to have the ability to play Tales of Graces f Remastered and expertise one thing that appears and feels even higher than you keep in mind.

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