TheTales Ofseries has been undergoing a renaissance lately. The release ofTales Of Arisein 2021 significantly boosted its visibility, attracting waves of Western players to the series. This newfound interest has reignited curiosity in the older titles, but many of these gems are stuck in old-gen console purgatory, particularly those tied to the PS3, like my beloved Tales Of Graces F. It’s frustrating to see these titles trapped, especially one so close to my heart as Graces, and I firmly believe a remaster could revive this cherished entry for new audiences to discover its magic.
My journey with Tales Of Graces F began in 2012, a time when I was navigating the post-college “real world.” It was a challenging period, and gaming provided a refuge from life’s onslaught of lessons. The game’s history predates its 2012 PS3 release. Originally, it debuted on the Wii in 2009 but was limited to Japan. This transition occurred when Bandai Namco started porting numerous contemporary Tales Of games to the PS3, setting the groundwork for smoother releases like Tales of Arise.
For me, Tales Of Graces F is one of the series’s stand-out entries.
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A Graceful Narrative
I’ll confess: Tales Of Graces F’s storyline lacks originality. It doesn’t quiteembrace the subversive natureseen in standouts likeTales Of VesperiaandTales of Berseria, which introduced protagonists deviating from the typical heroic mold. Instead, this entry opts for a more conventional plot. Asbel, the protagonist, fits the mold of the typical young hero striving to grow stronger and protect his friends. Cheria, his childhood friend, harbors feelings for him but spends a significant portion of the game denying them. Hubert, Asbel’s brother, carries a chip on his shoulder and frequently clashes with him.
The story, although centered around the familiar themes of friendship and adventure, holds intrigue for two main reasons: the character dynamics and narrative execution. While the core cast might appear stereotypical at first glance, it’s the writers' approach that adds depth. Character interactions carry a tongue-in-cheek tone, infusing the narrative with playful moments. Early on, you encounter instances where characters are playfully teased for their predictable behavior, like Asbel being called out for his overly heroic tendencies. These self-aware moments breathe freshness into the otherwise familiar character archetypes.
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The narrative progression in Tales of Graces F is akin to growing alongside the main cast, and has a classic three-act structure. Initially, it introduces Asbel, Cheria, Hubert, and later, the antagonist Richard, forming a close-knit group that encounters the enigmatic amnesiac Sophie. The story then evolves, portraying the characters as they mature and grapple with changing bonds, influenced by external pressures. Revelations about Sophie’s mysterious origins unfold in classic JRPG fashion, delving into extraterrestrial involvement and ancient civilizations, all leading towards a grand quest to save the world.
The Future Arc, the third act in Tales of Graces F, stands out as my favorite. It goes beyond the typical happily-ever-after trope, delving into life after saving the world with a more gritty and realistic tone. The post-war world depicts a challenging recovery filled with new conflicts, significant character development, and deeper exploration of the main characters' relationships.
Particularly satisfying was witnessing Cheria and Asbel’s shift from the ‘just friends’ narrative to a matured and established couple. Sophie’s revelation about her supernatural existence transforms her into a cherished member of their found family, adding an endearing layer to their dynamics. This multi-act storytelling provided a comprehensive view of character growth, leaving a lingering fondness for these characters even years after completing the game.
A Tale Of Amazing Combat
The game’s combat system urges you to adopt an aggressive stance in battles, placing crucial emphasis on precise timing. Your mastery of timing directly correlates with heightened aggression and increased damage output. This is closely tied to the absence of mana, allowing you to solely focus on chaining attacks, exploiting weaknesses, and stringing together combos without the constant worry of managing mana resources.
The system also rewards adept timing and strategic dodging by granting invincibility frames and additional crowd control benefits. Enemies in this game showcase identifiable attack patterns, offering you opportunities to capitalize on their vulnerabilities. This creates many satisfying moments such as predicting and flawlessly dodging Mystic Artes (power attacks) before launching precise counterattacks.
You can’t just spam spells though, as I learned all too well.
I opted to play as Cheria, focusing her role as the dedicated healer in my party. Battles became a tactical dance for me. Without an MP meter, and a very aggressive enemy AI, timing my healing spells was crucial. I carefully cast spells while customizing my allies' behavior—Asbel, Sophie, and Hubert—to adopt an aggressive tactic, attacking different enemies to keep them mostly stunlocked and unable to reach me. However, there was always a catch—the enemy AI caught on swiftly. The moment I initiated my healing sequence, they’d zero in on Cheria, making it a race against time to cast before they disrupted my strategy. Many times, I had to stop what I was casting and dodge or face the consequence of being stunlocked into an enemy’s three hit combo.
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Let The Renaissance Continue
The Tales Of series is thriving after Tales of Arise’s success. However, this resurgence has highlighted a problem: beloved titles like Tales of Graces F remain stuck on older consoles. Remembering my adventures in this game, both in its story and thrilling combat, I can’t help but also long for games like Tales of Xillia 1 & 2 and Tales of Hearts R, which are also trapped without backward compatibility.
It’d be great to see these titles break free, sharing their tales with new audiences. Each game has its unique allure and stories worth rediscovering. Here’s hoping these older titles find a way into the hands of eager players, adding richness to the series' legacy and welcoming a new generation into its enchanting world.
