Revisiting an old friend after all these years feels just like no time has passed at all. It’s been over a decade since I first played Tales of Graces f on my PlayStation 3, and I appreciated it back then. But playing it again in 2025 has been nothing short of enjoyable! This game is packed with lovable characters, intense battles, and an emotional narrative that reminds me why the series continues to be cherished. Tales of Graces f Remastered is a wonderful demonstration of the enduring appeal of this franchise, and I hope it’s a sign of more great releases to come from the series in the future.
Back in 2009, I got my hands on Tales of Graces when it first dropped for the Nintendo Wii. However, it wasn’t until 2012, when it made its way to the PlayStation 3 as an upgraded version, that gamers like me in the West could enjoy it. This game is set in a world called Ephinea and follows my character, young Asbel Lhant, a noble lad who encounters a mysterious girl with amnesia. She’s later named Sophie, and in a desperate bid to save me, my brother Hubert, and our friend Richard from a monster, she seemingly gives up her life. This self-sacrifice leaves a deep mark on Asbel, shattering his life and confidence.
The narrative resumes seven years later, with Asbel having left his family’s house to join the Knight’s Academy. Since then, he hasn’t returned home. Just before his academy graduation, he learns of a calamity at home, forcing him to revisit Lhant where new challenges await. The story incorporates several familiar themes: an enigmatic girl who seems from another realm, complex political intrigue, and even a touch of deception. Yet, Graces doesn’t slow down, continuing to explore these elements as it ventures into third-act sci-fi territory. This series openly expresses its core values, focusing on friendship and the determination to safeguard those we value. Fans of the Tales series will feel at ease here, while even newcomers will find themselves drawn in by the genuinely likable characters.
For quite some time now, I’ve been an enthusiastic fan of this series, and it seems we share that enthusiasm. What sets this series apart, though, is the exceptional characterization. A significant contributor to this is the engaging skits – these are optional scenes featuring our characters interacting during their journeys in towns and dungeons. These skits are fully voice-acted and accompanied by detailed character illustrations, making them a delightful pause in the action. These moments often consist of casual banter, yet they play a crucial role in shaping the characters and strengthening the bonds between them. Combined with the witty exchanges among characters following a battle, these skits truly breathe life into the characters – particularly when they spotlight some of the more reserved members of the cast.
In Graces, an impressive lineup of characters isn’t solely responsible for the game’s appeal; instead, it excels in combat mechanics and supplementary gameplay features. The unique “Style Shift Linear Motion Battle System” is employed, focusing on dynamic movement across the battlefield and creating spectacular, synchronized attack sequences. Players command one of four party members and can perform Assault or Burst Artes, each depleting points from a character’s rechargeable Chain Capacity (CC). Unlike other Tales games that restrict Arte abilities with a Turn Pool (requiring players to consume Orange Gels like candies), here the CC gauge determines the number of consecutive artes you can execute. As you dodge attacks and score critical hits, your CC gauge fills up, allowing for more chained artes. Titles serve as a means to learn new abilities in Graces; they’re clever nicknames given to characters that act as the primary method of progression. Each title earns SP after battles, which can be used to upgrade stats, acquire artes, and so forth as the character advances and permanently unlocks rewards. With numerous titles available for each character, there’s plenty of room for customization across the board.
The fighting is fast-paced yet tactical, requiring players to defend against attacks, dodge damage, or occasionally stun enemies before they perform a powerful skill. Mindlessly mashing the attack button isn’t effective; instead, it encourages strategic use of Crowd Control (CC) and taking breaks to recharge while building your attack sequences. The ability to switch control among the four characters on screen is a useful feature, particularly during critical situations where healing might be needed. Additionally, various combat adjustments can be found in an optional menu called the Grade Shop – such as double damage – which can make battles even more intense and exciting.
Graces, a modern remake of a 15-year-old game, certainly maintains an attractive appearance and sound quality for its genre. Here’s a bit about what you can expect: This is essentially a revamped version of a PlayStation 3 game, which was itself based on a 2009 Wii game. It’s not specifically enhanced for PS5 Pro. The battlefields are somewhat sparse, and even the overworld and dungeons have a tunnel-like structure with areas that might seem walled off due to invisible walls or restricted sections. However, the character models are well-animated, featuring classic anime design by the talented Mutsumi Inomata, and the towns are quaint, though perhaps a bit simplistic. The art style and direction are what truly shine in this game, supported by an intuitive user interface that has modernized the PS3’s menus. There are almost no loading times, and overall, it presents a crisp, smooth experience. It’s evident that much effort has been put into enhancing the visuals and audio without making major alterations, and this investment pays off.
Similarly, just like Tales series, sound design in Graces showcases Motoi Sakuraba’s style. Being a fan of his work, your opinion might differ. The game features themes typical of him: peaceful and calming for idyllic towns, intense and fast-paced for battles, and at least one captivating snowy theme. Personally, I consider the main battle theme in this game as one of the finest in the series.
There’s just so much to explore and interact with in this game! When you’re not battling or acquiring new artes, you can set up meals to cook during combat using the Eleth Mixer. If that’s not enough, there’s always the option to craft items through dualizing. I’ve spent countless hours transforming basic ingredients into an omelette that restores a third of my health, and even set it to activate when a party member’s health drops below 30%. You can also enhance your equipment with shards for extra effects. The game strikes a fantastic balance between its combat system, character advancement mechanics, and additional features like dualizing, which are all well integrated.
Destination markers enhance the quality of gameplay by making navigation smoother and reducing the chances of players getting lost. The offerings in the Store are quite extraordinary; they’re accessible right from the start of a new game, and they evoke a strong resemblance to GameShark-style cheats: you can dramatically alter the game’s balance with a single click or opt for something more modest, like enhancing your movement speed. You’ll find this extra speed beneficial, considering the significant amount of backtracking needed throughout large parts of the game. It’s these minor inconveniences and slight gameplay constraints, resulting from now two-decade-old hardware, that slightly detract from an otherwise impressive presentation.
The abundance of activities here is truly impressive – it’s almost overwhelming, yet delightfully so. From quests to embark on, books in the library to find, post-game content to explore, and dungeons to conquer, there’s a wealth of entertainment. It’s heartwarming to witness these longtime friends reunite under challenging circumstances as adults, eventually rekindling the bonds and affection that made them such close companions initially. Their journey towards healing their past traumas provides an unexpected satisfaction in this installment.
It’s fascinating how reconnecting with long-lost friends can stir up feelings of timelessness, as if no time has passed since last we spoke, despite the reality being far different. It’s quite delightful when an experience like playing “Tales of Graces f Remastered” manages to surpass our memories, offering a sense of familiarity enhanced by improved visuals and gameplay.
9
Versions tested: PS5
Read More
- SUI PREDICTION. SUI cryptocurrency
- „People who loved Dishonored and Prey are going to feel very at home.” Arkane veteran sparks appetite for new, untitled RPG
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- Destiny 2: A Closer Look at the Proposed In-Game Mailbox System
- Clash Royale Deck Discussion: Strategies and Sentiments from the Community
- Jennifer Love Hewitt Made a Christmas Movie to Help Process Her Grief
- ICP PREDICTION. ICP cryptocurrency
- Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic Was Inspired By Akira And Cowboy Bebop
- Critics Share Concerns Over Suicide Squad’s DLC Choices: Joker, Lawless, and Mrs. Freeze
- EUR IDR PREDICTION
2025-01-15 19:26