Tales of PlayStation(s) revealed

[Cyril]

I liked it as well.

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It was really sad seeing Ludger just finally break like that. The man went through a ton of crap in-game and he finally just can't stand it
anymore.  He's practically cursed.

It was interesting, and realistic in a sense, to see a hero finally bend under that much pressure.

[Dice]

Just (intentionally) got the bad end in Xillia 2. So awesome!

Spoilers:

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Not that I've seen the good/normal endings yet, but I kind of wish the Bad end was the true one. So atypical for a JRPG and I loved the emotion of having to kill characters I've spent two games with.
I might change my mind when I see the other endings. We'll see!

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It's was so strange, but cool, yet tragic to say I was both astonished and almost a little "offended" that you see the Xillia's cast, or rather their BLOOD on Ludger.  It kind of felt personal, y'know?  Well, I mean, as far as game characters can inspire that (and admittedly, Xillia's cast isn't really close to being my favourite).
Agreed that it was great ending even if it was for shock-value....

[Ranadiel]

Just (intentionally) got the bad end in Xillia 2. So awesome!

Spoilers:

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Not that I've seen the good/normal endings yet, but I kind of wish the Bad end was the true one. So atypical for a JRPG and I loved the emotion of having to kill characters I've spent two games with.
I might change my mind when I see the other endings. We'll see!

As far as I am concerned, the game's true ending should be the Arena ending....because it is a nice anti-climax.

[Andrew]

Agreed that it was great ending even if it was for shock-value....

Very much so. I bought it, too. I really believe that, if it came down to it, Ludger would

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kill the others to protect Julius. I liked the blood; you're right, it did make it personal. It would have been even better if, when they zoom out, we saw the party's bodies lying around. That would have really brought it home for me.

[Dice]

Agreed that it was great ending even if it was for shock-value....

Very much so. I bought it, too. I really believe that, if it came down to it, Ludger would

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kill the others to protect Julius. I liked the blood; you're right, it did make it personal. It would have been even better if, when they zoom out, we saw the party's bodies lying around. That would have really brought it home for me.

Wo-woah!  Hold your horses there.  As is, I think this is the first Tales game to *ever* be so liberal in showing blood, let alone corpses.  We'll see where Zesty goes from here, but I did like the series was less afraid of being mature with Xill 2

Remember this boring bullshit?  God it's so awkward...

[Cyril]

Zestiria has the same writer as Xillia 2, right?

I expect Sorey's (pleasepleaseplease change the name upon localization) going to have some painfully brutal firsthand character development, if so.  So the storytelling style might be more mature, but I doubt we'll see blood again, since Xillia 2 was intentionally more mature.

[Dice]

Tales of Zesteria Surprise Anime DLC isssss........

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Evangelion~!??https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ByCMcpSCUAEKqd2.jpg

Looks cool.....Yeeep. 

Yesiree.

...I'll keep my expectations in check considering the licensing stuffs that make it unlikely we'll see it here. :(

[Annubis]

The outfits really don't seem to fit the characters =/

[Aeolus]

Tales of Zesteria Surprise Anime DLC isssss........

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Evangelion~!??https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ByCMcpSCUAEKqd2.jpg

Looks cool.....Yeeep. 

Yesiree.

...I'll keep my expectations in check considering the licensing stuffs that make it unlikely we'll see it here. :(

Why the fuck is Alicia (or whatever her name is) cosplaying as Mari of all characters?

Also they should've had the rest of the male cast get an EVA alt just so I can see if the Water Elemental dude cosplays as Kaworu or not (it'd make his fuse-shion-ha! with Sorji all the more hilarious/ironic).

[Aeolus]

Pardon the double postin', but off in not Zesty land....

http://gematsu.com/2014/09/tales-hearts-r-european-day-one-edition-pre-order-bonus-announced

So hey, how about that SE Patty costume? Also, have fun trying to win the uber-SE swag EU.

[Dice]

Aston's review (which was very good btw) reminded me how silly Ludger's and Elle's first meeting goes....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlA2OaUifIA&list=PLCLeSTzz6trY9DvyWuy887KO_VcHAy72r#t=358

That's a mean accusation there, little lady.  Had to, shmad to.

I also think this is possibly the strangest game to review.  It's getting good grades, and I'm happy, but I also don't think it deserves them --- even though I enjoyed ToX2 very much (more than the first).

[Ashton]

I have to say that despite the game trying its hardest to make me dislike Elle (and my own desire not to like her after first contact) I ended up genuinely liking her, and her interactions with Ludger, such that the True Ending is possibly one of my favorite endings in Tales history. It just goes to show the power that effective writing can have on the player.

[Cyril]

I have some severe problems with the true ending (which I pointed out on one of the last pages), but I agree.  Despite absolutely loathing her at first I grew to like her.  I think she's fun, especially in her interactions with the older party members (Rowen and Gaius).  Gaius gets all big brother-y and Rowen just teases her constantly and it's amazing.

[Dice]

I have some severe problems with the true ending (which I pointed out on one of the last pages), but I agree.  Despite absolutely loathing her at first I grew to like her.  I think she's fun, especially in her interactions with the older party members (Rowen and Gaius).  Gaius gets all big brother-y and Rowen just teases her constantly and it's amazing.

I *loved* your analysis of the true vs. good ending and really appreciate both in the end.  I'd prefer the 'good' ending as canon, in fact.  But I respect the hell out of the nobility displayed in the true ending, I think it's the decision that, if Ludger is the 'Tales hero' he is, it's what he would have picked.

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I didn't really shine to Elle besides in the occasional skit, but I loved seeing her alive and well, and really living it up.  ...questionable taste in fashion aside.

[Ashton]

I have to agree that the "Good" ending makes the most sense, but Tales (and JRPGs in general) have always been about valuing individual passions rather than going with the flow to benefit society, which is why the True Ending makes the player feel so much better than the Good Ending, I think.

Also, my favorite character ended up being Gaius. His straight man shenanigans to everyone else's antics was absolutely hysterical.

"I am always researching and familiarizing myself with the different cuisines of both coun -- MILLA! WIPE AWAY YOUR DROOL!"

I was only listening to the conversation while doing something else and the sudden segue literally made me laugh out loud, a rare feat nowadays.