Tales of Symphonia Chronicles

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 69 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Tales of Symphonia Chronicles Game Cover
If you want some good, surprisingly progressive JRPG questing, get Tales of Symphonia Chronicles.
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Tales of Symphonia Chronicles is a compilation release of Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World HD remasters with additional content.

  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 69 reviews
story18 positive mentions
optimization2 negative mentions
  • Tales of Symphonia offers an engaging story with well-developed characters, providing over 30 hours of gameplay and high replay value through numerous side quests.
  • The battle mechanics are highly praised, allowing for creative combos and a satisfying combat experience that has been refined in later titles.
  • The HD remaster includes additional content, such as new cutscenes, costumes, and dual audio options, enhancing the overall experience for both new players and fans of the original.
  • The port is based on the PS2 version rather than the original GameCube release, resulting in lower frame rates and some graphical issues that detract from the experience.
  • Localization errors and inconsistent voice acting have been noted, which can disrupt immersion and enjoyment of the game.
  • While the sequel, Dawn of the New World, is included, it has received mixed reviews for its story and gameplay, often seen as a weaker follow-up to the beloved original.
  • story43 mentions

    The game's story is widely praised for its engaging characters, dramatic twists, and emotional depth, making it a highlight for many players who find themselves captivated for over 30 hours. While some critiques mention pacing issues and inconsistencies in character treatment, the overall narrative is considered a strong point, especially for fans of JRPGs. The sequel, while not as beloved as its predecessor, still retains a compelling storyline that appeals to returning players.

    • “I don't want to spoil anything, but I can tell you that you will definitely fall in love with each character and their story. Everything that happens is really cool; there's a lot of drama, love, and really great twists to the story, so you will be entertained for more than 30 gameplay hours. This game is going to become one of your favorites of all time.”
    • “The storyline is so good that I could not put the controller down for hours.”
    • “Having a lot of fun! The game story started slow, but after 30 minutes it got very interesting, and now I'm hooked. Highly recommended for any JRPG player.”
    • “I could ignore the different voice actors and the mispronunciation if it wasn't for some story elements that just do not work.”
    • “I never got around to playing this because I wasn't crazy about the game in the first place because I did not enjoy how the story and original characters were handled.”
    • “[Symphonia being so faithful means it often has anachronistic design elements; Dawn of a New World's story is as insufferable as it was.]”
  • graphics27 mentions

    The graphics of the HD version of "Tales of Symphonia" have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that they appear simplistic and have aged poorly compared to other titles, such as "Wind Waker." While the game features cleaner visuals and improved frame rates, some players feel that the graphics lack detail and depth, making the backgrounds seem primitive. Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern standards, the gameplay remains engaging, and the port offers a good value for fans of the series.

    • “The game has cleaner, polished graphics based on the PS2 edition of the game that came out in Japan a couple of years after the original GameCube release.”
    • “The graphics look better, the gameplay is still the same and everything you remembered from the first game is still here.”
    • “[Polished visuals are great without being overbearing or distracting, assortment of extras are a nice bonus for fans of the original releases, fantastic value for two excellent games].”
    • “However, the graphics have aged quite a bit since its GameCube release.”
    • “There is just a lack of details and simplicity in the backgrounds - with the blurry low-def graphics of the GameCube, you get tricked into 'seeing more' in the backdrops.”
    • “If you have played Tales of Symphonia on GameCube, be warned that the HD version brings both improvements and drawbacks to the graphics; it may be enough to ruin the experience for you.”
  • gameplay13 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its engaging fighting mechanics, which have been refined over time while retaining the essence of earlier titles in the series. Players can expect over 30 hours of entertaining content filled with rich character stories, drama, and plot twists, although some feel the pacing may be slow compared to modern standards. The option to choose between English and Japanese adds to the enjoyment, particularly with voiced skits in the Japanese version, making it a solid RPG experience despite its less flashy presentation.

    • “The fighting mechanics are awesome; these mechanics were improved with the launch of new Tales games, such as Tales of Abyss and Tales of Vesperia, but the essence is still the same.”
    • “It is not as flashy as the new Tales games, but it is a wonderful RPG that still holds strong to this day and has a lot to offer in terms of story, exploration, and gameplay.”
    • “Also, you are able to choose between English or Japanese (in the Japanese version, the skits were voiced, which makes the gameplay enjoyable because the skits have more life to them).”
    • “My biggest criticism of this game is that while it is great, it doesn't hold up as well to current standards as some other games from the time period. At times, the story paced a little too slowly, even for a JRPG, but the pros of the story and gameplay outshine these criticisms.”
    • “The graphics look better, but the gameplay is still the same, and everything you remembered from the first game is still here.”
    • “Same classic gameplay though, and worth it.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing dialogues in sidequests and entertaining skits, which enhance character engagement. Players find battles particularly funny, especially those unfamiliar with Japanese, and praise the new English voice actors for their superior performance in the skits compared to the main game.

    • “Every side quest comes with funny new dialogues between the characters, which makes you feel more connected to them.”
    • “Battles can be pretty funny for anyone who doesn't know much Japanese (like me).”
    • “There are a lot of funny skits in 'Dawn of a New World,' and the new English voice actors for the returning characters do a better job in the skits than they do in the game itself.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game is a mixed bag; while some tunes are simple and enjoyable, others can be grating enough to prompt players to leave the area. Overall, it maintains the classic charm associated with the franchise, featuring familiar characters and a solid story, though it lacks standout tracks.

    • “It still has all the same classic characters, fantastic story, and good music it always has had, plus some extras to keep things new and interesting!”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players highlight the strong replayability of the game, noting that even after completing the main storyline, there are numerous side quests available to explore, significantly enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The replay value is impressive; even after finishing the main game, there are still countless side quests to complete.”
    • “The game offers significant replayability, with a plethora of side quests available even after the main storyline is done.”
    • “There's a remarkable amount of replay value, as the game is packed with side quests to explore even after completing the main campaign.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game suffers from noticeable frame rate issues and stuttering, particularly on the world map during loading transitions, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these optimization problems, many players still express a strong affection for the game.

    • “Weird frame rate issues, stuttering on the world map when you can tell it is loading another section, and some other odd things can't take away from the game itself, and I still love it for what it is.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report minor audio glitches, such as missing dialogue and brief periods of silence, occurring early in the game. However, these issues are generally considered minor and do not significantly detract from the overall experience, with few additional problems noted thereafter.

    • “It's not a perfect copy; I've noticed a few audio glitches hardly an hour into the first game, including one completely missing line of dialogue and a few odd gaps of dead air. While it's a minor annoyance, I haven't really minded, and I haven't noticed many or really any more issues since.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times. It's frustrating to lose progress due to stability issues.”
    • “I experienced several freezes and bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience. It feels like the developers rushed the release without proper testing.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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