question before buying the game

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The_Show_Stopa
Posted 5/3/2012 9:58:30 AM
i haven't played any tales game and i ma wondering if this game has a lot of exploration or free roaming stuffs where you do lots of side quest or grinding like other classic JRPGs or is it straight forward much like FFXIII?

i don't quite like console style rpg's that are straightforward so do yo guys think i would like this game? thanks!
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"F*pping is a prayer, prayer to god that someday you would graduate from being a lonesome wizard"
Hikari62
Posted 5/3/2012 10:05:05 AM

(edited)
It's not exploration based with huge environments like Xenoblade or FFXII, but it's not as linear as FFXIII either. The paths can be somewhat linear (with a few branching paths), but it doesn't feel all that restrictive because the game gives you the freedom to do sidequests and backtrack to previous locations throughout the game. It's not like in FFXIII where you have to continue with the story and there are no sidequests until the end of the game. Graces has lots of extra stuff to do. That being said, the game still has only one plotline, and you have to follow that plot to proceed.

Also, if you like grinding there is lots of optional stuff in this game that allows you to grind. But the battle system is so much fun it will never feel like a chore.
The_Show_Stopa
(Topic Creator)
Posted 5/3/2012 8:50:49 PM
woah thats good to hear, so it is kinda like xenosaga series?
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"F*pping is a prayer, prayer to god that someday you would graduate from being a lonesome wizard"
ragnaroker2
Posted 5/3/2012 8:59:24 PM
Yeah, somewhat. Or if you've played FFX, maybe like that? It's the closest equivalent to how I can think of the way world exploration goes - except for the fact that instead of going one direction from one side of the world to the other, you go over here, then over there, then back here, then to this other place... cities and towns feel like important places, instead of just stops on your journey.
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Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Hikari62
Posted 5/3/2012 9:12:53 PM
The_Show_Stopa posted...
woah thats good to hear, so it is kinda like xenosaga series?

Like Xenosaga in what way? I would compare Xenosaga more to FFXIII in the way that it was very focused on the plot over exploration/gameplay. I would say Tales is more like Eternal Sonata and Star Ocean (but with better story and characters and battle system and less exploration than star ocean). I'm not sure if you'll like it, but it is a great game in my opinion.

I mean, basically in Graces you go from town to town proceeding with the story (you revisit the main two towns a few times in the early part of the game). sometimes with a dungeon and puzzles thrown in between. Each town is connected not by a traditional world map, but with normal-scaled field areas/paths. I won't deny that these areas are fairly linear (with a few branching paths), but you have the option to pause in your story proceedings and do sidequests quite often. Also, later in the game you will visit new countries, so there's a pretty good variety of towns/fields/dungeons. The plot progression and the way you visit various towns and dungeons is set up in a traditional RPG way. Enemies are visible on the field, so there's no random battles.

As for other aspects of the game, Graces has forgettable music and a standard RPG plot, but you will fall in love with the characters and become engrossed just because you want to see the characters interact. Battle system is amazingly fun, action-oriented, and fast-paced, with adjustable difficulty levels.

I don't know what else to tell you really. I would check out some gameplay videos and see if you think you'll enjoy it.