As the Tales of series commemorates its 30th anniversary, Bandai Namco pulls from its extensive library to launch a remastered version of Tales of Graces for contemporary consoles and PC. However, Tales of Graces f Remastered brings more than just nostalgia; it introduces various quality of life enhancements and incorporates content that was once exclusive to the Japanese market. But does it still resonate with players? Is it worthwhile to explore a title that feels significantly different from the essence of the current Tales of gameplay?
In August 2024, Bandai Namco announced the introduction of numerous quality of life improvements for Tales of Graces f Remastered, presenting an extensive list of updates. While these features might seem straightforward at first glance, their true impact often emerges through hands-on experience.
The Tales of series has consistently prioritized storytelling and character development, making them central to the overall gaming experience. Therefore, it’s fitting that Tales of Graces f Remastered includes an option to disable battle encounters. Although I didn’t utilize this feature during my gameplay, I recognized its potential benefit while navigating between objectives and local shops to sell items and complete requests—these smaller side quests reward players with currency and items, crucial for enhancing weapons and armor.
Reflecting on the complexity of earlier Tales of titles, I had nearly forgotten how intricate the gameplay mechanics could be, or how challenging the controls seemed. Yet, after about half an hour, my muscle memory from countless hours spent on Tales of Symphonia kicked in as I adjusted the A.I. for my party members. I recalled the necessity to maneuver towards enemies on-screen and to rotate my thumbstick in any of the four primary directions to execute certain attacks.
Developers have also taken into account those who previously experienced Tales of Graces f on the Wii or PlayStation 3. Players can skip skits and even the “child” phase of the storyline if they’re familiar with it. This adds convenience for those engaging in multiple playthroughs. Nevertheless, I concur with the developers regarding the storytelling and character-driven aspects of any Tales of game, which also hold true for Tales of Graces f Remastered.
I found great enjoyment in hearing the character dialogues post-battle, and I appreciated how the skits elaborated on events I had just witnessed during my gameplay session, letting characters share their backstories. This experience highlighted my nostalgia for the classic Tales of formula. While Tales of Arise was entertaining, the earlier installments possessed a unique charm that set them apart. Ultimately, it’s exciting that this remaster will make its way to modern gaming platforms, bringing all previously Japan-exclusive content along for the ride.
ÉPersonally, my experience with Tales of Graces f Remastered was thoroughly enjoyable. If this marks Bandai Namco’s first move towards revitalizing more titles on contemporary consoles and PC, I eagerly await their future releases and how they will approach these remastered versions. I’m also curious to see if the audience drawn in by Tales of Arise will embrace these earlier titles as passionately as we have.
Tales of Graces f Remastered is set to release on January 17, 2025, for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC.
Images Credit: Siliconera.com
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