The Tales of collection has had its ups and downs over time, however the basic consensus amongst followers is that the older video games had been higher. I can’t actually disagree – the previous few video games have actually been missing – so the possibility to revisit one of these previous video games in Tales of Graces f Remastered was thrilling. Unfortunately, I don’t suppose it’s finished a lot to persuade me that the collection’ yesteryear was all that a lot better.
To be clear, Tales of Graces f Remastered is a fairly good remaster. It seems to be great, with sharp, handsome character fashions and environments which have aged very gracefully and look fantastic rendered at such a excessive decision. There are a bunch of quality-of-life additions, together with entry to the New Game+ Grade store out of your first playthrough, however for essentially the most half that is the Tales of Graces f I keep in mind enjoying on the PS3, simply working at a increased decision.
But regardless of trying good, there’s a lot about this game that feels dated. The fight is clunky and unintuitive, the character writing is okay at greatest, and the pacing of the principle story is uneven at one of the best of instances.
Tales of Graces f is a game of two components. It opens with a prolonged prologue which options a lot of the principle solid as youngsters. It’s gradual and admittedly boring, and I’d think about a lot of gamers would bounce off the game earlier than getting by means of it. It’s vital, although, as a result of it introduces all of the vital characters within the story and units up the plot for after the time skip.
When that seven-year time skip does arrive, about 2-3 hours into the game, it doesn’t pace up the tempo of the game a lot in any respect. While a lot of the mechanical tutorials aren’t repeated, the story feels prefer it’s beginning another time — we’re as soon as once more launched to every of these characters, the story needs to be re-established regardless of being arrange simply a couple hours earlier, it appears like beginning the game from scratch once more. A few hours later, issues get higher, with the story shifting ahead at a first rate tempo for essentially the most half, however when it’s important to get by means of 6 hours of slow-burning chaff to get by means of first, it’s onerous to get invested.
Thankfully, as soon as the story does get going, it’s fairly good. While the character writing and dialogue is frustratingly middling, the overarching story is attention-grabbing and compelling, with twists and turns which can be genuinely shocking and character arcs that really feel satisfying. There is a lot of tropey nonsense amongst all of it, with a journey to the middle of the earth, apparent betrayals, and really out-of-place sci-fi parts, however should you can lean into the truth that it’s simply going to go off the rails, it may be enjoyable.
The fight might be the side of the game that has aged the worst. In my thoughts, I remembered Tales of Graces’ fight to be revolutionary and contemporary. Now, not a lot. It’s a clunky combination of action RPG fight, useful resource and gauge administration, and a unusual enter methodology for talents and combos. Add in an unclear job system that forces you to play in particular methods to stage up, one of the clunkiest concentrating on programs I’ve ever seen in a game’s fight, and a unnecessary crafting system for good measure, and also you get one thing that feels properly previous its use-by date.
All of this stuff may have been fastened on this remaster, however then it wouldn’t actually be Tales of Graces anymore. Still, there may be a lot of room for enchancment, and no quantity of toggles to allow you to do additional harm or earn extra expertise change that all of it feels very overwhelming and really clunky.
There’s one thing to be stated for remasters preserving video games largely as they had been with a increased decision and picture high quality, bugs ironed out, and a few non-obligatory quality-of-life additions. Sometimes you simply wish to play the game you keep in mind, warts and all, and experiences like Tales of Graces f Remastered supply precisely that. While that will make for a great remaster, it doesn’t essentially make for a great game in 2025.
Score: 7/10
Version examined: PS5
