Tales of the Abyss

 3DS
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 216 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 172 out of 216
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 216
  3. Negative: 19 out of 216
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  1. Incarta
    Feb 16, 2014
    7
    I tried to like this more and for a while I did. But for some reason I found myself not caring for the story or characters enough to carry on. It's a good game but you'll need to be a bit more patient than I was with it.
  2. TheQuietGamer
    Jan 29, 2013
    6
    It's no secret that the 3DS is lacking in the RPG department, so in order to fill this gap Nintendo gives gamers a port of a six year old PS2 game. I missed this game when it originally came out on PS2, so I can't compare the different versions, although I heard that it's an exact port so if you've played this one before you can probably skip it this time around. Tales of the Abyss is aIt's no secret that the 3DS is lacking in the RPG department, so in order to fill this gap Nintendo gives gamers a port of a six year old PS2 game. I missed this game when it originally came out on PS2, so I can't compare the different versions, although I heard that it's an exact port so if you've played this one before you can probably skip it this time around. Tales of the Abyss is a rather disappointing game, JRPGs are supposed to suck you into the games world and story by giving you characters you care about much like anime does. The problem is that during my time with the game I only found myself liking a few of the characters. I don't know why the writers of this game gave us some of the meanest main characters in gaming history, honestly all they do insult and put down one another simply out of spite and to make them feel better about themselves. It's irritating and really brings down the whole game. The story is decent but if you don't like the characters it's hard to care about their fates. Where the game succeeds is in the combat system, it's fun and challenging even though it can sometimes turn into a button masher and gets repetitive. The game also packs a lot of content, it took me over 38 hours to beat and that was just the main quest. If you must have a RPG for your 3DS there are some good things going for this game, but the issues with the story and characters make it a game I have problems recommending. Your probably better of waiting for the 3DS's RPG library to grow instead of purchasing this game. But if you do decide to pick this one up don't turn on the 3D effect, seriously it's just awful on this game.… Expand
  3. Shoujikimedia
    Nov 16, 2012
    7
    When Nintendo announced that the 3DS would be region locked, many worried that they would not be able to play some of the rarer games released only in Japan. Tales of the Abyss was originally never released in Europe on PS2, but rather than force people to import, Namco have decided to release the game in Europe on 3Ds, so
  4. duncanaus
    Dec 8, 2012
    7
    This is an enjoyable action RPG with beautiful graphics,a big cast of characters and a generous-sized world to explore. The only downside is the lack of difficulty - most enemies, even bosses, can be beaten pretty easily as long as you're levelled-up enough. Even so, Tales Of The Abyss is a lot of fun.
  5. Dokkodo
    Oct 11, 2013
    6
    The storyline of this game stands out. Yes it does like most RPGs devolve into LET'S SAVE THE WORLD, but it's still unique in the way it gets to that path. It's a pretty good story, despite some very annoying characters in the mix, and it's pretty well voice acted as well. The graphics are ok, the anime sequences are alright.

    However the gameplay is like a second-rate Star Ocean, or I    The storyline of this game stands out. Yes it does like most RPGs devolve into LET'S SAVE THE WORLD, but it's still unique in the way it gets to that path. It's a pretty good story, despite some very annoying characters in the mix, and it's pretty well voice acted as well. The graphics are ok, the anime sequences are alright.

    However the gameplay is like a second-rate Star Ocean, or I suppose like a second rate Tales game. Very little viability in controlling anyone besides the two swordsmen in combat, so the other characters are just there to be your AI back-up.

    The map sucks, the amount of times it leaves you trying to guess where to go sucks, and despite having a seemingly open world it's pretty damned linear.

    All in all it's not a bad game, but it's not a particularly good one either. I would say just watch the anime instead, you get a condensed version of the story without wandering around port to port trying to figure out which unlabeled city is which.    … Expand
  6. Marco_AGJ
    Feb 1, 2015
    7
    This Tales game is very much alike the others which is a good thing. The story is complex with numerous twists during the adventure and should keep you hooked for hours upon hours. This is not the best Tales released but it does many things right. The battle system takes what Symphonia had right for a new installment. I'm giving it a 7 because the game often feels unpolished, at least notThis Tales game is very much alike the others which is a good thing. The story is complex with numerous twists during the adventure and should keep you hooked for hours upon hours. This is not the best Tales released but it does many things right. The battle system takes what Symphonia had right for a new installment. I'm giving it a 7 because the game often feels unpolished, at least not in the sense Symphonia and Vesperia had. Still a proper tales installment.… Expand
  7. Abrill
    May 26, 2016
    6
    First I need to say that I did not finish the game. I got 38 hours in before I called it quits. There wasn't enough to keep me engaged. I truly enjoyed the first portion of the game but it spent so much time pushing you through every town in the game, leaving certain spots off limits, and then forcing you once again to the same towns with tiny new portions. On top of the strange pacing ofFirst I need to say that I did not finish the game. I got 38 hours in before I called it quits. There wasn't enough to keep me engaged. I truly enjoyed the first portion of the game but it spent so much time pushing you through every town in the game, leaving certain spots off limits, and then forcing you once again to the same towns with tiny new portions. On top of the strange pacing of the gameplay there was many semingly pointless trips to places to talk to one person. One conversation two skits and another "go here, talk to this person." The combat was fun enough, but there were certain aspects that I didn't understand. FOF changes were unnecessary so I never had the need to learn how they worked. I think deep down in there somewhere was a solid storyline but I couldn't trudge through the dredge to get to the end of it.… Expand
  8. Andbrian
    Feb 13, 2023
    6
    I really wanted to love this game, but after much endurance, I quit after 18 hours. And trust me, I am NOT one to just give up on a game easily. Everything just felt mediocre. I thought the graphics were terrible (I played on a 2DS XL). Most of what promotes the drive to search rooms in a JRPG is the prospect of finding items/loot or someone to talk to, but I feel like I wandered through aI really wanted to love this game, but after much endurance, I quit after 18 hours. And trust me, I am NOT one to just give up on a game easily. Everything just felt mediocre. I thought the graphics were terrible (I played on a 2DS XL). Most of what promotes the drive to search rooms in a JRPG is the prospect of finding items/loot or someone to talk to, but I feel like I wandered through a million empty rooms with nothing in them. The battle system felt weak, just a button masher (slight team management as far as items/healing). Speaking of items, there were a ton, but I never used anything more than Apple or Orange Gels. Truth be told, I should have just bumped up the difficulty to Hard, maybe it would've provided more of a challenge. Some positives, however, great voice acting across the board along with good characters. The story was a mix. On the one hand, I did like it, it did a good job of creating intrigue. But then on the other hand, it felt too political, and many times I was like, where is this even going?! Granted, the game came out in 2005. But overall, just left a bad taste in my mouth, and it was my first Tales game, so I'm not exactly thrilled to try another one (I already own Vesperia on Switch).… Expand

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best 3DS Game of 2012
10
#10 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2012
8
#8 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 33
  3. Negative: 1 out of 33
  1. Worth Playing
    Jun 27, 2012
    80
    For Tales of the Abyss, what we're left with is a bad port of an old, polarizing game that is mediocre at best and dangerous at worst. Given all of its flaws, there's really not much of a reason for this port to exist, outside of it being The First Pretty RPG for the 3DS. If that's enough for you, then by all means, grab this on the cheap and play it in 2-D mode. Otherwise, you're better off waiting for games made expressly for the system.
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  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Jun 20, 2012
    82
    While the story and characters are somewhat lacking, Tales of the Abyss stands tall due to its superb battle system. [June 2012]
  3. Game Informer
    Mar 8, 2012
    68
    There isn't a huge selection of RPGs on the 3DS, and Tales of the Abyss will definitely appeal to the handheld gamer that wants to take this particular genre on the go. It hits all the beats of your typical JRPG, for better or worse.
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