Tales of Symphonia Remastered

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 55 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Tales of Symphonia Remastered Game Cover
Tales of Symphonia Remastered does what it set out to do—allow a classic JRPG to be playable on modern hardware. However, even then, this remaster falls short.

Tales of Symphonia, an action RPG and one of the most critically-acclaimed titles in the series, returns with a full HD remastering. The story takes place in Sylvarant, a world in danger of extinction due to the exploitation of mana by an evil group thought to be sealed away by the hero Mithos 4,000 years ago. Colette, The Chosen One, receives an oracle from the heavenly institution Cruxis, and …

  • Nintendo Switch
  • Play​station 4
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 55 reviews
story10 positive mentions
optimization6 negative mentions
  • The game features an amazing story and character development that captivates players.
  • The remaster offers graphic improvements and allows a new generation to experience a classic JRPG.
  • The combat system is engaging and strategic, providing a challenging experience for players.
  • The remaster suffers from technical issues such as frame rate drops, long loading times, and missing quality of life enhancements.
  • It feels more like a simple port rather than a true remaster, lacking significant improvements over the original.
  • Many players found the navigation and combat mechanics to be dated and unpolished, detracting from the overall experience.
  • story17 mentions

    The story of "Tales of Symphonia" is widely praised for its depth, character development, and emotional resonance, making it a standout aspect of the game. Reviewers highlight the engaging narrative and memorable characters that elevate the experience, appealing to both returning fans and newcomers. However, some note that the remaster's lack of modern quality-of-life enhancements and technical issues detract from the overall experience, despite the story's enduring appeal.

    • “The story is amazing and it was great to relive the nostalgia.”
    • “Overall, it is an excellent game, the cute graphics look gorgeous in HD, and the gripping story and lovable characters are mesmerizing for returning and new fans alike.”
    • “I'll try to finish the story, try to recapture that nostalgia, but barring a major update/patch/fix I can't see myself recommending this game to anyone.”
    • “Tales of Symphonia Remastered shows exactly why it's a classic game: a fine story with plenty of heart and consequence.”
    • “The story still holds up, combat is still exciting, and the characters are some of the best in the series, but all these systems take getting used to compared to newer games.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics of the Switch remaster of "Tales of Symphonia" received mixed reviews, with some praising the improved visuals and HD quality, while others criticized the overall graphical fidelity as feeling dated and unpolished compared to modern standards. Many users noted issues such as poor framerates, longer load times, and a lack of new quality-of-life enhancements, leading to disappointment in the remaster's execution. Overall, while the graphics have some appealing aspects, they are often seen as a missed opportunity to fully modernize the game.

    • “Overall, it is an excellent game, the cute graphics look gorgeous in HD, and the gripping story and lovable characters are mesmerizing for returning and new fans alike.”
    • “Its strengths lie in its improved visuals, engaging story, and memorable cast of characters.”
    • “I really like the story and the graphics.”
    • “The framerates are terrible, the graphics quality... it's just broken. I do love that I can take this on the go and put it down as I need.”
    • “I’m extremely disappointed at how this game turned out. It said 'remastered', but in truth it’s just a copy and paste of the original. The graphics are the same as they were originally, there’s no voice acting for the skits, and the combat is just so boring.”
    • “The Switch has 4GB more RAM, 16x faster CPU, and 5x faster GPU compared to the GameCube, so why does 'remastered' have a lower graphical quality, longer load times, and more lag than the GameCube version?”
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay of "Tales of Symphonia Chronicles" is praised for its engaging battle mechanics and character depth, enhancing the original experience. However, players note issues such as lag during certain cutscenes, repetitive combat, dated exploration mechanics, and technical problems, particularly in the Switch version. Overall, while the gameplay offers flexibility and enjoyment, it is marred by some frustrating elements.

    • “I loved the GameCube version of Tales of Symphonia, and when Tales of Symphonia Chronicles was released on PS3, I loved being able to replay it with the additional gameplay elements that only enhanced the game.”
    • “Very good story and gameplay. I love the Tales series; I have played multiple Tales series games and I give this 97% satisfaction.”
    • “Symphonia regenerated the traditional RPG structure with smartly designed battle mechanics and a well-fleshed-out cast of characters.”
    • “Anytime you get to a part of the game or cutscene that involves transparency layers (like in the desert area in the beginning), gameplay comes to a crawl and everything is super laggy.”
    • “[Stiff combat gets repetitive, dated exploration mechanics make it far too easy to lose track of the narrative and keep tabs on side quests, technical issues are disappointing given how old this game is.]”
    • “[More a port than a remaster, if you're into labels, certain mechanics from the original have aged poorly, near constant loading screens on the Switch version.]”
  • optimization7 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant frame rate drops, stuttering, and long loading screens that disrupt gameplay. Many recommend seeking a better-optimized version, as this port fails to match the performance of the original GameCube edition, particularly lacking the smoother 60fps experience. Overall, the poor optimization detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “Almost instantly I was met with frame rate drops and just general bad optimization.”
    • “However, everything about the port is just a poor experience with performance, and how it compares to the original GameCube edition.”
    • “The fact that this version still lacks the 60fps performance of the GameCube original is embarrassing.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development in the Switch remaster of Tales of Symphonia is highly praised, with users highlighting the engaging story, well-crafted character support conversations, and impressive voice acting. Despite some criticisms regarding the remaster's lack of new quality-of-life enhancements, the depth of character interactions remains a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's enduring appeal.

    • “The character development in this game is amazing, with great character support conversations that really enhance the story.”
    • “I loved the character development in Tales of Symphonia; it truly brought the story to life and made me feel connected to the characters.”
    • “The voice acting complements the character development perfectly, making each character's journey feel authentic and engaging.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game boasts a compelling story and a vast world, contributing to its high replay value, making it an overall fantastic experience for players.

    • “Great story, expansive world, high replay value, fantastic game across the board.”
    • “The different choices and outcomes make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
    • “With multiple endings and character paths, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

66% average critic score

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