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. 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
  2. VerminosoGames
    Feb 5, 2022
    10
    Um dos melhores jogos que eu já joguei, simplismente sensacional, zerei mais de uma vez, pena que não saiu para PC.
  3. NoIdeaName
    May 10, 2020
    4
    The combat is the same of other "Tales of" games, being a positive point of the game.
    The plot although good, has terrible pacing making the game drag for a long time.
    The protagonist is the worst part of the game being boring and irritating.
    I've almost given up playing it instantly but I had just too much free time so I forced myself to finish it.
  4. Mooteddy
    Apr 3, 2020
    1
    **** Higuchi, I'm sorry dude, you should absolutely not direct games

    I played the game for 31 hours and I'm not even remotely interested in what is happening. Every conflict is resolved absolutely randomly. There is ALWAYS some CONVENIENT coincidence happening that solves the problem that the characters are having. No moral, no risk, no danger ever surrounds your party. Every single    **** Higuchi, I'm sorry dude, you should absolutely not direct games

    I played the game for 31 hours and I'm not even remotely interested in what is happening. Every conflict is resolved absolutely randomly. There is ALWAYS some CONVENIENT coincidence happening that solves the problem that the characters are having. No moral, no risk, no danger ever surrounds your party.

    Every single character is driven by guilt and they all tell each other "don't be so hard on yourself. Basically, every single character has the same dialogue in regard to morals. How cheap is that???

    The backtracking in the game is beyond rational. The game even sometimes offers you to teleport you to the location because it knows how bad the backtracking is. Thank you? I guess? No.

    Pacing is abnormally bad. Something interesting happens every 10 hours. The rest of your time you spend running from point A to point B. Then to C. Then to D. Then to A. To B. To A. To A.b. . To C. To A. To E. To B. It's Fun...

    Not worth your time.

    THE POSITIVE:
    -Combat is okay, with skills that you learn...more or less random. There's a system to it, but it's meh.
    -Equipment is fun to get but most of it is just bought from a vendor.
    -Puzzles are kinda fun. More fun than the story
    -Voice acting is on point

    That's it.

    VERDICT:

    The game has ZERO respect for your time and expects you to play it like it's your job. The traces of the story that you get are very unfulfilling that come to a consensus every 10 hours, which isn't very spectacular in the first place. The voice acting is nice, but given the below amateur level writing, pretty wasted. The combat is kinda nice, but it's NOT "I'd play that for 50+ hours nice". A great prologue that leads to a very disappointing rest of the game.    … Expand
  5. Rare289
    Dec 10, 2019
    9
    This was my first Tales game that I literally only bought because I thought it had a cool cover and saw it preowned at GameStop. I'm so happy I bought this game. The characters are fantastic, the story is engaging and always has some twist. It still amazes me that this is so underrated in terms of "Tales" games. If you haven't played it yet, just do it. I never played it on the PS2, butThis was my first Tales game that I literally only bought because I thought it had a cool cover and saw it preowned at GameStop. I'm so happy I bought this game. The characters are fantastic, the story is engaging and always has some twist. It still amazes me that this is so underrated in terms of "Tales" games. If you haven't played it yet, just do it. I never played it on the PS2, but with the ease of being able to play it on the go with the 3ds, you can't go wrong with this port.… Expand
  6. lostinwisconsin
    Sep 16, 2019
    9
    Excellent entry of the tales series, and a must have for any rpg fan. Great story, great characters (Jade is one of my top favorite tales of characters) and a fun and intriguing battle system.
  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. Super_Cloud
    Jan 1, 2016
    10
    This is a fantastic game, i been playing this since Playstation 2, while i like the game alot more on PS2, i been playing mostly on 3DS now, the story is great and the game really goes on and on in a good way, you feel like you're reaching the end game but nope still alot to come! I really love every character in the game, the soundtrack is great, one of the best tales of!
  9. Ventrust
    Jun 2, 2015
    8
    I will acknowledge that this game is quite above average, at the very least. The story is deep, is has interesting subject matters, the characters are quite likable and the world is one of the better realized settings I have seen in a game. However, there are a few traps in the game, traps that will ruin your experience, and make your long, great adventure into a miserable drag. Traps,I will acknowledge that this game is quite above average, at the very least. The story is deep, is has interesting subject matters, the characters are quite likable and the world is one of the better realized settings I have seen in a game. However, there are a few traps in the game, traps that will ruin your experience, and make your long, great adventure into a miserable drag. Traps, that if you fall into them, will throw you out of the experience and will make you into a cynical critic of the story, characters and events. I will tell you, without spoilers of course, what these kinds of traps are so you can have a great, deep and intriguing playing experience:
    First off, the game does not take into account 'foo strategies' (extra credits). What I mean is that one of your party members you meet in the first ten minutes is ridiculously strong, and quite frankly, breaks the game. The strength of this character lies in his agility and quick strikes, that makes every enemy in the game flinch and unable to do much in resistance. I liked this character's style a lot, so I used him the most, and when a challenge came by I could kick its ass no problem. This was such a good feeling. However, at some point I simply could not switch back to the other characters. Why? Because at some point, you just get to a point where switching to other characters hurts you, because I didn't have as much experience with them, the enemies actually gets the better of me. They were so strong that I felt I could not even train or experiment with the other characters, because the monsters would just beat me down again and again, and I would have to use costly mana and revival items all the time. You barely need to worry about those things with that one character, since he can take down pretty much every single enemy himself in a one on one fight. The problem comes with multiple foes, but guess what? He has great area-of-effect attacks that hits everywhere around him too. And I never wanted to go back to an earlier area to train either, since the game has a slow enough pace already. My point is: Experiment with everyone, and don't just stick with your favorite, since you won't experience any of the large depth the battles has that way.
    Second, the game may feel very linear and restricting if you just go from place to place. This game pretty much discourages exploration with sandstorms. barrages and blizzards blocking you so much of the time. But don't let that dissuade you: go and find what the game has to offer, and if you feel the story is already going slow enough, the side-quests actually spice it of quite a bit, often more than the main story because it really takes it time with foreshadowing and events.

    I fell into both these traps, and the game became a rather terrible experience for me, the only thing keeping me going being I wanted to finish it. Which took about 15 more hours than I expected. However, if you avoid these two problems you will have a great adventure waiting ahead of you, one that a lot of consider one of the best RPG of all time.    … Expand
  10. 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
  11. 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.
  12. 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
  13. TacticalRanger
    Sep 20, 2013
    10
    I loved this game. At first Luke was really annoying but towards the end he became one of my favorite characters along with Tear and Jade. His relation to Ashe (which I will not spoil) is perfectly executed. The plot is very deep and the world is very interesting and unique. The combat is good but I really enjoyed the story and characters. The Six-God General were all great characters andI loved this game. At first Luke was really annoying but towards the end he became one of my favorite characters along with Tear and Jade. His relation to Ashe (which I will not spoil) is perfectly executed. The plot is very deep and the world is very interesting and unique. The combat is good but I really enjoyed the story and characters. The Six-God General were all great characters and how the Score (prophases written telling the entire future) plays out was very interesting. The music was also very good my favorite song being Meaning of Birth. The 3D aspect isn't that good but I really only turn the 3D on during cutscenes so I didn't mind… Expand
  14. pocky
    Jul 13, 2013
    8
    A pretty solid RPG for the 3DS. The touchup work was great, it's a great looking game. The characters were great and the gameplay was fun. Overall it's a solid enough game, would recommend if you like JRPGS because it's a pretty big one.
  15. enkidu_clay
    Jun 5, 2013
    8
    Story: While the story follows the typical RPG format, a hero who has to “discover” himself, a world in danger, and myriad complicated relationships and ideologies, it is convincing and easy to follow. There are times when the game drags on, especially with periods of running back and forth from town to town to get a short dialogue that generally provides very little to the coreStory: While the story follows the typical RPG format, a hero who has to “discover” himself, a world in danger, and myriad complicated relationships and ideologies, it is convincing and easy to follow. There are times when the game drags on, especially with periods of running back and forth from town to town to get a short dialogue that generally provides very little to the core experience. (7/10)

    Voice acting: The voice acting is a mixed bag with about half of the primary cast rendering rather good performances, one character sticks out as exceptional to me, and the other half ranging from annoying to downright rage worthy—the protagonist is among the worst of the lot. There are also a number of skits in the game, but they fall flat without voice acting to carry them. (6/10)

    Characters/World: The cast is largely forgettable, only a few really stick out in any sense, but they all compliment each other well and carry the story well enough. The main antagonist is pretty cool, and his minions are well thought out and have varying personalities. The world itself is a little bland, but does allow for open world exploration and has varied locals and towns. (7/10)

    Graphics: The graphics aren’t atrocious, but they certainly aren’t pushing the 3DS’s capabilities considering titles like the new Resident Evil. The world has a certain Tales flair to it that is nice to look at, but it is marred by considerably dated graphics. (7/10)

    Game length/Replayability: The game is very lengthy, approximately 60-80 hours, probably 40 or so if you stick just to the main story, with long story segments and few save opportunities unless you’re on the world map. You’ll find save points at the end of lengthy dungeons, before bosses, but it often takes 30 minutes or more to get there. Boss fights can also be quite lengthy. The game touts a new game plus with additional difficulty levels and enhancements you can purchase to enhance subsequent experiences. (10/10)

    Gameplay/Optimization: The gameplay is frenetic and fun. The enemy designs are varied and interesting, and boss battles can be epic when playing on higher difficulties. You can outfit your characters, augment their skills, earn and equip titles that add bonuses, and even change costumes later in the game: optimization is a staple of Tales games and the Abyss is no exception. (10/10)

    Verdict: While the story can be a bit clichéd, the voice acting is spotty, and characters sometimes lack the general likeability you’ve experience in other games, the combat is furiously fun, there is a ton of content, and the game makes for a fantastic RPG experience. As far as the 3DS’s current library is concerned, this game should be at the top of the list for RPG lovers! (Overall: 7.8/10)    … Expand
  16. TheGale
    Mar 6, 2013
    9
    It's my first time with a ''Tales of'' game, and all I can say about it is ''WOW'', Amazing and engaging story, very lovable characters, a very cool and fun battle system, definitely a must-have for all RPG fans that never played it back in the PS2 era.

    Going now to the ''Port'' side, it doesn't have a surprising 3D effect, no extras, no improvement, but, again, if you have never played    It's my first time with a ''Tales of'' game, and all I can say about it is ''WOW'', Amazing and engaging story, very lovable characters, a very cool and fun battle system, definitely a must-have for all RPG fans that never played it back in the PS2 era.

    Going now to the ''Port'' side, it doesn't have a surprising 3D effect, no extras, no improvement, but, again, if you have never played the original, Go for it NOW!    … Expand
  17. Cale
    Feb 8, 2013
    9
    Going in, I'd never played any of the Tales series. I am now rectifying the situation. I actually found myself savoring the game as I played, dragging out my first full playthrough to just over one hundred hours. The combat system (once free running is unlocked) is outstanding, reminescent of Star Ocean 2, only less cumbersome as long as you stay within the 8 provided shortcut slotsGoing in, I'd never played any of the Tales series. I am now rectifying the situation. I actually found myself savoring the game as I played, dragging out my first full playthrough to just over one hundred hours. The combat system (once free running is unlocked) is outstanding, reminescent of Star Ocean 2, only less cumbersome as long as you stay within the 8 provided shortcut slots when mapping abilities. The addition of AD skills as you progress seems to add a touch of realism to development, as a person who fights will pick up little things that they can do in combat that can give them a slight advantage. This adds subtle nuance to the concept of being a combat veteran as opposed to most JRPG games that use just a levelling system. The story was engaging, almost immersive at times, and proceeded at a pace that always seemed appropriate. The characters were very well done, Luke and Jade in particular, the first being completely believable and natural based on his past and circumstances, the second being just about the most awesome character ever to be created. The addition of alternate costumes is a feature that other games should have, as it was surprisingly nice to have the ability to change their appearance. The 3d features aren't overblown, though the text presentation could have been done a little better, as the text seemed to always be right at the top of the screen, with the characters far behind it. This tended to make them sometimes a bit of a pain to read, although I cannot think of a way that would have been better. Replay value is through the roof, as there are so many things that can't even be seen or gotten until at least the second playthrough. The many side conversations were a nice touch, providing extra comic relief, character and plot development, but could have used a way to control going through the text, making them sometimes more of an annoyance than their worth as part of the game. On occasion, you need to be able to somewhat precicely use the Mieu fire ability, and the controls are not well suited to this, making such situations easily the most annoying parts of the game. All in all, it easily makes my personal top ten of the genre, and should be a must play for any fan of good RPGs.… Expand
  18. 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
  19. maddymarie
    Dec 29, 2012
    9
    Tales of the Abyss. Ah, such an amazing game. Let me just say, in contrary to some of the lower reviews that people have written, this game is far from uninspiring, the characters are great, and the story is one which is unique to most games and keeps you guessing along the way. Which isn't a bad thing. There is only one complaint that I have towards Tales of the Abyss, and that is thatTales of the Abyss. Ah, such an amazing game. Let me just say, in contrary to some of the lower reviews that people have written, this game is far from uninspiring, the characters are great, and the story is one which is unique to most games and keeps you guessing along the way. Which isn't a bad thing. There is only one complaint that I have towards Tales of the Abyss, and that is that the game starts out quite slow. Unless you're very patient, this is a game that will be put down, and then picked back up later on. The combat, is extremely well done. The ability to be able to move your character around and land different combos against enemies, as well as the way the characters move, is breathtaking. This game should not be overlooked for anyone who wants a good, long RPG. It is also nice to be able to play as the different characters in your party while doing battles or exploring. During the many cutscenes and such, there are quirky jokes that will keep you entertained the entire time. Almost everything about this game, perhaps the charm or the way that the characters different relationships develop overtime, the dialogue, the combat, will appeal to someone, in my opinion. As I previously stated, this game is a must have for anyone who is looking for a good RPG with some length and an awesome story for the 3DS.… Expand
  20. 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.
  21. Oceanicus
    Nov 20, 2012
    8
    Great game, of a great series, it takes you through a magical land and has quite an interesting story, however fans of the genre will notice quite some "clichés" and sometimes the game suffers from frame rate during battles, which can be a little mood-killing...
  22. 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
  23. IrishChai
    Jul 19, 2012
    2
    I really didn't enjoy this game right from the start. I think I gave it a pretty good chance, investing a few days and many hours devoted towards getting a good feel for the story, characters, and design. I thought Tales of Symphonia was decent on GC, but this felt even older, slower, and terribly more uninspired then that. I was so uninterested in playing this after the first week that II really didn't enjoy this game right from the start. I think I gave it a pretty good chance, investing a few days and many hours devoted towards getting a good feel for the story, characters, and design. I thought Tales of Symphonia was decent on GC, but this felt even older, slower, and terribly more uninspired then that. I was so uninterested in playing this after the first week that I had to return it, willing to take anything in it's place. Maybe you'll like it more if you are a big fan of the series and feel the need to play or own it as a part of the series. Unfortunately this title was so bad to me that I'll be staying away from the series from now on. Really disappointing to say the least.… Expand
  24. iamtrent424
    May 12, 2012
    9
    One of the best games to get for the 3ds. If you like role playing game then you will love this game. The story is very great and it is very interested. The graphics for this game is very great but the 3d on this game is worthless. It actually makes the game look worst. The con is no extra content. It just an import of the ps2 version with the same graphics. They didn't upgrade the graphicOne of the best games to get for the 3ds. If you like role playing game then you will love this game. The story is very great and it is very interested. The graphics for this game is very great but the 3d on this game is worthless. It actually makes the game look worst. The con is no extra content. It just an import of the ps2 version with the same graphics. They didn't upgrade the graphic at all but it looks great on the 3ds. A game worth getting.… Expand
  25. FrogGoSquish
    Mar 17, 2012
    9
    Great JRPG. A perfect pick me up for those of us rpg fans who have been stomaching through the latest Final Fantasies
  26. Redz0ne
    Mar 15, 2012
    1
    I have never in my life as a gamer played a game that was more boring and uninspiring as this one. it looks pretty on the 3ds, but that's it''s only redeeming feature (and playing a game merely because it's "pretty" is doing a massive disservice to the gaming industry.)

    the combat is interesting in that it's a departure from your typical turn-based combat, but that doesn't even begin to    I have never in my life as a gamer played a game that was more boring and uninspiring as this one. it looks pretty on the 3ds, but that's it''s only redeeming feature (and playing a game merely because it's "pretty" is doing a massive disservice to the gaming industry.)

    the combat is interesting in that it's a departure from your typical turn-based combat, but that doesn't even begin to make up for the fact that the characters are contrived, cookie-cutter parodies. I could not once find a moment in this game where i felt any sort of emotion for the characters. this game may appeal to your typical jRPG fans, but then anything that's even remotely "anime" will appeal to them, even if it is a steaming pile with "cute anime eyes" slapped on.

    overall, best to avoid this game unless you want to play an uninspiring game where the story is forced and predictable.    … Expand
  27. Ironmonger
    Feb 27, 2012
    9
    This is the first of the "Tales of the Abyss" games I have ever played, and I like it! I was expecting a little more free roam in battle, but i like how i learned free roam with the L button. I am not very far in it, so it hasn't gotten difficult yet, but i would recommend it to any of my friends. I didn't give it a 10 because i didn't think it was good enough for a ten, but i think itThis is the first of the "Tales of the Abyss" games I have ever played, and I like it! I was expecting a little more free roam in battle, but i like how i learned free roam with the L button. I am not very far in it, so it hasn't gotten difficult yet, but i would recommend it to any of my friends. I didn't give it a 10 because i didn't think it was good enough for a ten, but i think it definitely deserves a 9!… Expand
  28. Kenmei
    Feb 22, 2012
    10
    Here's the best advice I can give to anyone who might be thinking about buying this game: BUY IT NOW!!! Namco likes to not release too many copies of the Tales of series for some reason and it's like pulling teeth trying to find a copy of whatever version you want to play. As of this review, this version of the game has only been out for 1 week and I already had to go to 5 stores to findHere's the best advice I can give to anyone who might be thinking about buying this game: BUY IT NOW!!! Namco likes to not release too many copies of the Tales of series for some reason and it's like pulling teeth trying to find a copy of whatever version you want to play. As of this review, this version of the game has only been out for 1 week and I already had to go to 5 stores to find it around me New. I can't even imagine what it'll be like a few months down the road if it's already this difficult to find. So, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this game immediately after reading this. The game is awesome and there are other reviews that talk about how good it is. My main goal is to warn people that this game is already difficult to find and to anyone who's going to wait to pick this up, good luck finding a copy and to not having to resort to going on ebay and getting it for 60 bucks.… Expand
  29. MarleGuardia
    Feb 16, 2012
    9
    I have to say, that Tales of The Abyss does for the series what Final Fantasy IV: Complete did for the Final Fantasy series, it polishes over a bit and keeps the originality of what made the game so excellent to begin with. Playing this on my 3DS was well worth it, and I'm so glad to be able to play it again, especially on a handheld. The game is just beautiful, definitely worth your time.
  30. Rockstarjantzen
    Feb 15, 2012
    10
    Fans of the "Tales of" series are obviously going to be very pleased with the first (and hopefully not last) entry on the 3DS. There is a staggering amount of material in this game, especially for being a cart portable game. The game is gorgeous, fun, and engaging.

    Story - Easily the strongest part of the game, the story is very engaging and it is amazing to watch the character    Fans of the "Tales of" series are obviously going to be very pleased with the first (and hopefully not last) entry on the 3DS. There is a staggering amount of material in this game, especially for being a cart portable game. The game is gorgeous, fun, and engaging.

    Story - Easily the strongest part of the game, the story is very engaging and it is amazing to watch the character development. The main protagonist can be a bit annoying in the beginning of the game, but the maturing that he does in the 40 - 60 hours of your game-time will be well worth the annoyances early on. The main plot is full of twists and turns, and does not fill up your time with 20 minute cutscenes.

    Presentation - Essentially a port from the PS2 title of the same name, Tales of the Abyss has near-identical appearance from it's original release. That is not to say that they are bad at all! The art style has made this game age very well and the graphics are actually a bit impressive for a handheld RPG title. The menus are easy to use and there's plenty of customization available.

    Sound - The sound is what you would expect from an RPG. There are sweeping scores, fast-tempo rock battle music, and sometimes-annoying menu sound effects. The English voice-acting is very well done and fits the game perfectly.

    Overall - This game is worth any RPG fan's time. If you've been pining away for that engaging title that you could sink your teeth into on the 3DS, this is the game for you! Don't wait too long, though, because NAMCO is notorious for releases the Tales of games in limited production runs. Get it from your local retailer now, before it is only available on EBay for $90.    … Expand
  31. Alderan77
    Feb 14, 2012
    10
    Back in the days I learned about the Tales series with Symphonia, and when I learned another Tales game was hitting the States I was elated. It turned out to be the right reaction, since Tales of the Abyss is one of the greatest Japanese RPGs I have ever played.

    Vesperia (and Graces F, when it will be out next month) could have made its combat system obsolete, but it's still funny as    Back in the days I learned about the Tales series with Symphonia, and when I learned another Tales game was hitting the States I was elated. It turned out to be the right reaction, since Tales of the Abyss is one of the greatest Japanese RPGs I have ever played.

    Vesperia (and Graces F, when it will be out next month) could have made its combat system obsolete, but it's still funny as hell and more modern, deep and enjoyable than most rpgs out there.

    Also, the characters are fantastic. You will probably hate Luke at the beginning, but during the game each hero and heroine manages to shine, and by the end you will hope the game lasts forever (it happened to me). Since this game was made for the series' anniversary it was a bit rushed from a technical standpoint (long loading times before the fights being the worst offenders), but the 3DS version happily has none of those problems, and is a must have for any RPG fan and Tales fan out there.    … Expand
  32. frantisek
    Feb 14, 2012
    10
    Tales of the Abyss, the first game in the series to make use of the free run system for its 3d battles, is probably the best entry in the franchise so far and has aged very well. The world of Auldrant is extremely well portrayed, and the plot is convincing, deep and enthralling till the ending credits, with a solid, likeable cast that will often surprise you with their interactions andTales of the Abyss, the first game in the series to make use of the free run system for its 3d battles, is probably the best entry in the franchise so far and has aged very well. The world of Auldrant is extremely well portrayed, and the plot is convincing, deep and enthralling till the ending credits, with a solid, likeable cast that will often surprise you with their interactions and they way they develop during the game's events.

    The game is also filled to the brim with optional scenes that will make a lot of difference if you want to fully understand what's going on, and the Tales series' skits are a nice way to have a constant feedback from your party members. All those features make the game extremely lengthy, too: with all the side material this game can last even more than 100 hours.

    The battle system is also great, and makes use of the 3d arena by allowing you to freely move your characters and build up combos of skills and magics in extremely fast paced action battles. The PS2 version had some issues, like the unnerving loading times and glitched world map, but this 3DS port completely solved them, making this the definitive way to enjoy this game.    … Collapse
  33. frantisek
    Feb 14, 2012
    10
    Tales of the Abyss, the first game in the series to make use of the free run system for its 3d battles, is probably the best entry in the franchise so far and has aged very well. The world of Auldrant is extremely well portrayed, and the plot is convincing, deep and enthralling till the ending credits, with a solid, likeable cast that will often surprise you with their interactions andTales of the Abyss, the first game in the series to make use of the free run system for its 3d battles, is probably the best entry in the franchise so far and has aged very well. The world of Auldrant is extremely well portrayed, and the plot is convincing, deep and enthralling till the ending credits, with a solid, likeable cast that will often surprise you with their interactions and they way they develop during the game's events.

    The game is also filled to the brim with optional scenes that will make a lot of difference if you want to fully understand what's going on, and the Tales series' skits are a nice way to have a constant feedback from your party members. All those features make the game extremely lengthy, too: with all the side material this game can last even more than 100 hours.

    The battle system is also great, and makes use of the 3d arena by allowing you to freely move your characters and build up combos of skills and magics in extremely fast paced action battles. The PS2 version had some issues, like the unnerving loading times and glitched world map, but this 3DS port completely solved them, making this the definitive way to enjoy this game.    … Collapse

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

All reviews »
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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