hi everyone,

i have star ocean, was contimplating getting tales of the abyss, obviously this is the tales forum so there might be a certain bias, but if everyone can reply with objectivity that would be good, compare battle systems, exploration, difficulty, length and story

thanks in advance

First question have you played a game in the tales series before now?

I've just finished SO:TTEOT and just started TotA (~13 hours in) and though i'm a huge Tales fan i can be objective when there is cause to be - i suppose...

anyway if you liked the Battle system of SO then i'd say that the Tales one is going to offer you more variety, though you can't put the cancel hits bonus together in tales you are given a wider range of attacks, that aren't restricted by CP, and the various types can be combined together (Basic attack >> arte >> arcane art) similar to that in SO's weak and strong positions .

As for the storyline, i can't really comment on TotA as i'm only just in but what i've seen is good, the tales series doens't really dissapoint - standard RPG fare, humour and enjoyable characters. But already i'm in to the tales characters more than Fayt and crew, not that i didn't like the SO lot it's just the tales group have got more about them.

As for length and difficulty it totally depends on what type of player you are, if your a person who likes to get everything well it'll take a while - in excess of 80 hours quite easily (and then there's the New Game+ option), i found Star Ocean to be on the easy side pretty much all the way through (on normal mode) so i am biased on that point.

Generally i'd say that if you enjoyed Star Ocean then you'll at least enjoy TotA as much, but most probably more, this is one of those games that is on the must have list of any RPG fan. I know this all does sound majorly biased but it isn't honest - it's just that TotA is just a really good game.

P.S. if you've got a Gamecube and haven't played Symphonia - then get a copy you will not be dissapointed.

hi pal rpgamer, no i have not played any tales games before - i always preferd the turn based battle system, but the battles system in star ocean revitalised my hope in real time systems, i dont have a gamecube, plus i hear that tales of the abyss is the best game in the series, thanks for your input, i dont think your input was too biased , more replies would be welcome

Yes, I’d definitely recommend playing Tales of the Abyss.

Battle System: The battle system for Star Ocean allowed you to free run wherever you wanted, but the battle system for Tales is linear motion. Later in the game you learn a skill that allows you to run wherever, but for a while it’s just linear to the monster you are attacking. I would have to say the BS for TotA is more entertaining than that of SO. Star Ocean’s was good, but it still had pre-set moves, if you know what I mean, that you could do. In Tales you have the liberty of doing whatever you want. In Tales of the Abyss, your magic take the form of ‘artes’. To perform an arte you take up TP. TP is regained during battle by hitting the enemy.

Story: All the Tales games I will guarantee you have good stories. I would say the story for TotA is better done than SO3. I really enjoyed SO3, so I’m not being biased in saying this. I felt, like PAL, the characters in Tales of the Abyss were better developed. To me at least, you are able to connect better with them. I felt the characters in SO3 were okay, but not really all that memorable. They had their moments, but there were few of them, for me.

Length/difficulty: Well, I beat both of these games in 40 hours approx., so I can’t say there’s much of a difference. However, there are more extras in Abyss that I didn’t get to than there are in SO3, so that would greatly increase the play time. The difficutly of them? Hmm...well, there were a few difficult battles in both of them, but I wouldn’t say either of them is too terribly hard.

So, if you liked Star Ocean, like PAL said, you will most likely enjoy Tales of the Abyss as much or more. I hope my little review thing helped...

there really is no comparison, tales is better in every aspect of the game. Characters in tales are better and really help you in getting into the story a lot more than the so-so characters of star ocean. The story line in tales also provides much more for you wrap your head around . The only thing even close to comparible is the battle system, which is the one thing star ocean did right, but I still feel you had a better overall battle system in tales.

You need to pick up Tales of the Abyss, its truly a great game

Yo folks (long time no see to those who actually remember me)

Anyway, so you played SO and looking into Abyss huh? Hmmm well I like both games a great deal. Hmmm, ok here goes.

Story: Ok, I beat SO and I, personally, thought the story was quite well done over all. The plot twist is what did it for me but even without the plot twist the original plot was decent but a bit overdone. WIthout the twist, I'd probably only have enjoyed it so so. As for Abyss, I'm not that far into the game (Crossing the boarder right now) and I have to say I'm enjoying it a great deal. There are a good deal more enjoyable characters than in SO and the comedy seems to be a bit more likeable.

Characters: Now this has always been a major problem with me in some games. If I don't like the main characters, I probably won't finish a game even if the story kicks ass or the graphics are beautiful or whatever. In SO, a lot of the charcters were ok but only about 2 or 3 of them stand out immediatly in my mind. Nel, Cliff, Abel and one other guy but only cause of his short humor(he has like 3 lines the whole game) But in Abyss, everyone seems to be quite intresting from the villians to the heros. (The villans in SO sucked in my mind. >.> Luther needs to go back to programming school...or maybe he programmed Vegnagun...) Anyway, most of the characters kick ass sept the main character. He whines worse than Tidus did in FFX (not that he doens't have a good reason to bitch but there is still a limit) But everyone else in the game brings a nice little flavor as far as I've seen.

Battle System: Can't really add more thanw hat other's have added. Nicer comboing system than in SO, Battles seem to be a bit more fluid. Once you start opening up folks abilities and give them the right Ability Ring, you start hauling off left and right.

Difficulty: Hmmm, neither game has been two hard to me. Cept in SO when they start to go into the plot twist then the new monsters kicked my ass a bit but after I got the hang of them, it was just a matter of getting around the annoyance. In Abyss, I haven't fought any annoying or overly hard monsters yet. Mostly its just pound and pound till it stops moving.

Overall: I think if you even remotly liked SO, you'll like Abyss too. I say go for it. And I've heard how much ass Symphonia kicks. I so want a gamecube for that game.

Thanks everyone for yoyr time to write the comparisons, it seems that the consensus that this game is better than star ocean, i have been looking for tales of the abyss in stores but cant seem to find it (living in australia), i will keep searching but rpg's arent too popular over here

I have been reading reviews for tales of the abyss, one thing that worries me is the battle system - too many reviewers said its invloves too much button mashing, personally i had to use strategy in star ocean and found it a nice combination of action and strategy, how about tales, is it too button mashy?

thanks

every RPG's have some sort of button mashing, you got to mash buttons to play the game . Yes it is a bit of button killing, but its still a fun battle system

Nah it ain't any more of a button basher than Star Ocean - the attacks and the special moves are carried out in a very similar fashion - the key difference is that to pull off the special moves you have to hit a combination of the L-Analogue and the circle (i think - i just do it instinctively now) instead of alternating between the circle and square at different distances in SO - oh and you have up to four members in your party instead of 3.

Yeah you won't find TotA in stores your gonna have to import it from the states unfortunately - if you've got the capability to play imports that is. If not PM me and i may be able to point you in the right direction.

This isn't a button mashing game to the degree of Super Smash Bros. There are actual 'pre-determined' attacks that can be made. Ie: You can slash with your sword up to three times in a row before needing to pause for maybe a second before going back at it. You don't just jam all the buttons down and pray you do something effective.

thanks alot guys and gals, i will definitely be on the lookout for this

palrpgamer - arent imports NTSC and they wont play on my PAL playstation, to be honest due to uni committments i dont think i will have the funds to pay for full priced import anyway, most of my games came from from the bargain bin with a few exceptions like ff12 and disgaea 2, thanks for your effort anyway mate

yea, the button mashing is about the same. Although I was a bit disturbed when I started getting awards for button mashing in SO. First time I got one of the Button mashing battle awards I was like "Oh holy crap! YOu mean the games actually counting?! Wait...I hit the buttons that much? But I'm not even off the first planet yet!"

Well well well. If there isn't a tales forum now. It may not be the Grandia forum I hoped and dreamed for but this is impressive.

On the subject, Tales absolutely $£"^*^& KILLS SO3. I just never felt comfortable with SO3 at all, while Tales is the epitomy of all things great about rpgs. Plus it has a BLOCK button~!

SO3 is very different, It's getting good now, but it takes awhile. It's a bit of a slow game. Nel, Cliff, and Abel really are the most interesting characters, Fayt himself is fairly boring. I havent beaten it but there's a lot to it, on the other hand the skills chick Welch, is one of the better looking RPG gals.
I really gotta play TotA I hear so much hype about it.