So after many years of searching, failing, and watching the game get snatched before my eyes numerous times, I finally got my hands on SMT: Nocturne.  Now I just need to get Digital Devil Saga 1 and 2 and I can at least start to feel complete.

A question, though : For someone whose only SMT-verse experiences are the Persona series, some bits of Strange Journey and DS:Overclocked (working on both at the moment), and the Imagine MMO, what should I expect from this?

Happy for this.  I had considered hunting down KH1 and Re:Chain of Memories for the PS2, but if these are coming here then I won't worry about that and pick this up instead.

And dat cover...I don't think I've ever seen Sora look that badass.  Ever.

Liking the answers.  I think I'll pick up the 3DS title and try it out.  I only have Devil Survivor Overclocked and LoZ: Ocarina of Time at the moment, so they could use a new friend.  Might try to find Radiant Dawn as well.  There's a couple of Gamestops relatively close by that I can look at.

I've never played a Fire Emblem game before.  I'm considering jumping in with this one, but as I still have my Gamecube does anyone think the FE game on that system is worth the trouble?

Finally started playing this and, after the Escape from Dulkheim (should be a movie title), it looks like it's beginning to pick up.  Granted, GLIII is still my favorite of the series, but this game is proving to be a contender so far.  Though I have to ask: does Tricia ever become playable?  I feel I've put a good amount of quality time into making her happy and it'd be a waste if I never saw her again, or worse, had to fight and kill her.  :/

Also, just in case anyone was interested in the artwork, it looks like Udon entertainment has licensed the Growlanser Artworks book for release this February according to ANN.  I've already picked it up from Japan, but I might double dip to support the English release.

Link: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-10-12/udon-licenses-haruhi-vocaloid-growlanser-art-books

Tales of Phantasia for me and always will be.  Sure, the character setup is pretty damn standard, but then again maybe that's why I like it.  It's also the only other Tales game I've played to completion besides Symphonia and Symphonia felt like a bit of a slog towards the end.  That's probably because I was power gaming the hell out of it, though.  I've played Destiny (been a long time, I need to pick that up again), Legendia (never finished, but might try it again.  I liked Chloe), Eternia (got sort of bleh in the middle, so I quit), Abyss (the less said about that, the better.  It's sad when I consider Jade and MIEU the most tolerable characters in that game.), and currently Graces f (this one is a lot of fun, really enjoying the characters and banter in this one). 

From what I have seen of Vesperia, I dearly want to play that, too, but I'm not willing to pick up a XBox for it so I'll likely import the PS3 verson from Japan.  Kind of a shame, because I liked what I heard of the english voice acting.

I originally liked the original .hack series and .hack//SIGN was a favorite of mine for a while.  I actually liked the multimedia storytelling concept, but unfortunately it got quite convoluted after a while.  I got fed up with .hack//GU after a while, though I liked the gameplay more in that one.  I just couldn't stand Haseo and his constant jerkass (with the occasional heart of gold) attitude.

I'd only been lightly following news on PSO2 until recently.  Just played around with the character creator and benchmark tester and I'm in love!  As if SW:TOR hasn't been taking up a lot of my time already...o_O;

I'm probably one of the few who liked Xenosaga 2 better than Xenosaga 1, though I do like Xenosaga 3 best of all.  Maybe because 2 fleshed out Jr., Gaigun, and Albedo, who turned out to be some of my favorites in the series.  Hell, even MOMO went from being merely moe-moe lolicon-bait to something more.  1 just dragged on and started losing me once the Encephalon bit started (though I blundered through).  I also went from liking Shion in 1 to not being able to stand her in 3.  Crazy.

Even as a little brat, I'm finding Asbel far more likable than, say, Luke ever was.  That disturbs me far more than it should.

Didn't get too far in the Childhood arc before having to go to work.  I plan on rectifying that tonight.  I'm still trying to get used to the battle system, which is a lot of fun.  Another night with no sleep?  Bring it on!

Nice, Dice!  I'm happy for you.  I agree that it's always good to hear nice things be said about a tales game.  Especially a localized version.  Makes all the waiting a bit less painful.

Preordered the other day.  I'm with the OP; I beat and enjoyed Symphonia a while back, but got halfway through Abyss before I gave up.  Apparently, I like cheese in my stories and character tropes so gameplay and story wise, it should please me if what I've hear through the grapevine is true.

Yay!  More time to get through Mass Effect 1 & 2!  Plus, that's one less distraction to watching the girlfriend play Skyrim.  :P

I still don't get all the hate towards Dragon Age 2.  I love the hell out of it, repetitive dungeons and all.

In my view, Virginia was never meant to be the "badass vigilante" in the story.  That's Maya's job.  :P  Virginia was more the passionate, yet exceptionally naive, heroine wannabe with daddy issues, who makes her mistakes and learns her lessons and manages to stick to her guns without having to do a complete 180.  Oddly enough, I never considered that a weakness.  Not every heroine needs to become the next "Rambo".  I like the type of character who sticks to their core beliefs and outlook in life.  Call me weird.

Well, seeing as Raquel...  I have to agree about the writing, it is probably my least favorite of the series.

Personally, I think the "everyone's bi" thing was a great idea.  I was one of those who didn't like being locked out of some romances in Origins due to picking a certain gender.  I just took it as being able to have more options per playthrough.

That being said, I'm not sure I'd ever want to romance Varric.  Not because he isn't attractive, but because he just comes off as the "awesome friend" type, like the type of cool, somewhat jaded, yet wise and understanding bartender that keep slinging you drinks while you tell him your woes then throws out a line that solves just about everything.  Okay, so that's not the best way to describe it but that's the best way I can think of to describe him.