Tales of Symphonia

 GameCube
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 289 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 256 out of 289
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 289
  3. Negative: 17 out of 289
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  1. Cyberdragon
    Jun 5, 2023
    10
    This is the Blueprint of an amazing Action RPG. Characters, Dialogs, Plot, Battle-System, Menu-Management, Over-World, Length, Art-Style, Sound. This is Top-tier.
  2. Agusto101
    Feb 28, 2023
    6
    No puedo creer que la gente de tan alta puntuación a este juego , haber la historia personajes y música son buenos pero el resto es absolutamente tedioso e insufrible , el combate esta decente supongo veo que la nostalgia deja ciegos a muchos.
  3. kristinaformer
    Nov 24, 2022
    10
    amazing characters deep and moving story beautiful and interesting towns my favorite rpg ever
  4. AntiqueGull
    Nov 14, 2022
    10
    Очень интересная и затягивающая РПГ, в это просто стоит сыграть хоть раз.
  5. ThorCarmine
    Aug 29, 2022
    0
    Just dropped by to give this game a 0, I wasted a weekend of my childhood playing this garbage pile of a game.
  6. Kart01
    Aug 1, 2022
    8
    I love Tales of series and i've heard many great things about Symphonia throughout the years. Well...it's kinda started good, but ended horribly. Most unsatisfied end of the game in series. To be honest, considering all hickaps that this game have i simply don't see why everyone love it so much.
    P.S. right after this game i've started Symphonia 2 and oh boy it's fun! Don't listen those    I love Tales of series and i've heard many great things about Symphonia throughout the years. Well...it's kinda started good, but ended horribly. Most unsatisfied end of the game in series. To be honest, considering all hickaps that this game have i simply don't see why everyone love it so much.
    P.S. right after this game i've started Symphonia 2 and oh boy it's fun! Don't listen those who say that it's bad. I was shocked, but 2nd game raped the ending of 1st one by quality, story and bossfight.    … Expand
  7. rowyal
    Jul 8, 2022
    8
    Some insane twists and really neat characters. Have played it multiple times. Gameplay falls apart pretty badly near the end of the game and the QA isn't there. Dungeons become so difficult and tedious with very little UX design built in to help players.
  8. Ventuski
    Apr 20, 2022
    10
    Despite being too bright and happy aesthetic-wise, it's a real masterpiece. The story has some clichés but it's deep enough to build incredibly complex character development. The battle system felt fresh and smooth compared to the ol'good turn based mechanics, and the anime-like design and cut scenes closed what is still for me the best Tales of all times.
  9. sapphireglaceon
    Mar 27, 2022
    10
    one of the best games i ever played it fits best on gamecube. ps2/3 and steam just dont feel right played and beat it over 40 times
  10. S3XU4LH34L1NG
    Nov 20, 2021
    8
    This is a strange one for me. Its a very long adventure with a very dark story. It got me hooked and i liked it alot but i took weeklong breaks and i had to force myself to finish it.

    Pro / Cons:
    +Likable Cast with great interactions
    +timeless graphics
    +music
    +/-length
    +/-convoluted story with insane amounts of mcguffins
    +/-deepish combat
    +/-rpg elements
  11. Jmaneater21
    Sep 20, 2021
    10
    This game deserves a waaayyy higher rating than tales of arise. One of my favorite.
  12. MystWalker
    Sep 10, 2021
    10
    It might be a tad odd that I am reviewing this classic in this day an age. However, amidst the hype for the new Tales of Arise game and seeing incessant memes about how it "dethroned" Symphonia, I felt I had to review it and give my two cents on my experiences with this game, along with addressing the memes. Since I cannot review Tales of Arise yet because reasons.

    Tales of Symphonia is a    It might be a tad odd that I am reviewing this classic in this day an age. However, amidst the hype for the new Tales of Arise game and seeing incessant memes about how it "dethroned" Symphonia, I felt I had to review it and give my two cents on my experiences with this game, along with addressing the memes. Since I cannot review Tales of Arise yet because reasons.

    Tales of Symphonia is a perfect example of how to transition from 2D to 3D. It's a perfect jump that strips nothing the 2D classics had and adds new and entertaining aspects into the game experience. Everything is intact and improved upon here, from staple features of past Tales games such as battle Co-op, skits, cooking etc. to the nice stylized look of the game's environments and characters which resemble the classic 2 sprites but in 3D. Exploration was kept intact as well and as a result it's engrossing and fun as always.

    Tales of Symphonia doesn't try to rewrite the JRPG genre or the franchise itself. It fixes what was broken and improves just about everything else from its 2D predecessors. It is the perfect 3D Tales experience. I feel the franchise started going downhill after Symphonia however, I don't know why but every Tales game after Symphonia feels progressively worse.

    I think people have forgotten about this game and how good it really is and are easily being swayed by the hype of a new Tales game which does a LOT of wrong to the franchise. I'm talking about Tales of Arise. Don't believe the hype about how pretty and perfect that game is. Graphics is its best quality but it pretty much fails itself in others aspects. Not only does it punch itself in the face but it fails us as fans of the franchise by exploitative and predatory practices, such as having 2 dozens of paid DLC content at release, and thus being littered by IN GAME ADS in your face about said DLCs. Everything in this game has been adapted to get people to go and pay for DLC; from the enemy scaling to one of the worst things I've seen in a JRPG... And that is LOCKING SKILLS BEHIND PAID DLC WALLS. If that isn't one of the most scummy things to be seen in SINGLE PLAYER JRPGs in recent years, I don't know what else could be. Sadly this is just two of the bad aspects of this game. This game fails in many other areas but I'll save that for the review on its respective page.

    So no, Tales of Arise (which should have been named Tales of ARSE instead) does not in anyway dethrone Symphonia, other than it being "prettier" to look at, but that's about it. The stripping of Co-Op in Arise was the first red flag for me but, I never imagined how bad things were really going to be...The game is highly dysfunctional in many ways and I have no idea what the "critics" are thinking or how much they got paid to give it such a high rating. Do NOT buy Tales of Arise full price or preferably do not buy it at all. My Recommendation for Arise? Sail the high seas on it, it does not deserve your money.    … Expand
  13. napoleoninrags9
    Dec 3, 2020
    0
    My favourite video game of all time. I have never been so effected by a video game's story, or so completely engrossed in it's world. It may not be completely perfect, but it is about as sweeping and epic an adventure as you can hope to experience in a video game. I actually came out of it feeling like I learned something and have replayed it probably like ten times. It never gets old. ItMy favourite video game of all time. I have never been so effected by a video game's story, or so completely engrossed in it's world. It may not be completely perfect, but it is about as sweeping and epic an adventure as you can hope to experience in a video game. I actually came out of it feeling like I learned something and have replayed it probably like ten times. It never gets old. It has some of the best combat I've experienced in a game (it gets much better as you continue to play) and am completely in love with it.… Expand
  14. FSL
    Nov 18, 2020
    10
    This game is must be played , it has the best story in any game, but the gameplay is a little bit boring
  15. Captainj99
    Jul 25, 2020
    10
    I absolutely enjoyed this game. So much replayable value and hundreds of hours you can spend playing. However it’s easy to get lost and not remember where you were going or what you were doing. All in all great game!
  16. Triet
    Jun 8, 2020
    10
    Fun gameplay, grand plot, and a fantastic cast of characters brought to life by some of the best voice acting I've ever heard in a video game. Truly an underrated gem of an RPG.
  17. zera555
    Sep 4, 2019
    9
    It's not perfect, but even decades later I still love this game–cheesiness and all :)
  18. shootingstars99
    Aug 4, 2019
    9
    Epic RPG that encompasses 2 worlds, 9 party members and a story that will you will not soon forget. The plot grips you right away with the ensuing conflict, and proceeds to take you on a wild ride at breakneck speed, with action, emotions and drama being plentiful. A fun, unique take on the action RPG genre with some fun combat and 100s of spells. One of the best RPGs on the system!
  19. Daze072401
    Feb 20, 2019
    8
    With sublime tunes, abundance in content, and a battle system that feels right in every way imaginable, Tales of Symphonia is able to outrun its time-wasting dungeon design and stiff production values. One of the greatest games on the Gamecube.
  20. VendonJura
    Dec 7, 2018
    10
    This game was one of my childhoods best rpg game I ever had. Even now I am still loving it and everyone who loves to play RPG games, I must say that this game is a must have in every collection of rpg gamers library. Tales of Symphonia is also my favourite number 1 of all Tales of Off games. I totally recommend to get this game on the PC. There are also some collectables to get via Steam version.
  21. Irisen
    Dec 6, 2018
    9
    Great characters, great storyline with an insane plot-twist, a long life for a game cube game, pretty good and colorful graphisms, fun mechanics like cooking and fun sidequests, this game is a great experience and one of the best JRPG I've played. It's fun, it's engaging and you'll find yourself loving the characters and the stories they tell.
    I strongly recommend playing it.
    (The PS3    Great characters, great storyline with an insane plot-twist, a long life for a game cube game, pretty good and colorful graphisms, fun mechanics like cooking and fun sidequests, this game is a great experience and one of the best JRPG I've played. It's fun, it's engaging and you'll find yourself loving the characters and the stories they tell.
    I strongly recommend playing it.
    (The PS3 remaster is also pretty good if you can't be bothered to buy a Game Cube or a Wii)    … Expand
  22. Mogoalex
    Nov 15, 2018
    10
    Uno de los mejores JRPGs jamas hecho, grandes gráficos para la época y una gran jugabilidad.
    Pero este juego va mas allá de eso, tiene una de las mejores historias jamas contadas, te hará reflexionar sobre la vida, la religión y los aspecto más básicos de la sociedad, aunque también llorarás y reirás con él.
    Este es un videojuego que recomiendo a cualquiera persona y que ha marcado mi    Uno de los mejores JRPGs jamas hecho, grandes gráficos para la época y una gran jugabilidad.
    Pero este juego va mas allá de eso, tiene una de las mejores historias jamas contadas, te hará reflexionar sobre la vida, la religión y los aspecto más básicos de la sociedad, aunque también llorarás y reirás con él.

    Este es un videojuego que recomiendo a cualquiera persona y que ha marcado mi vida.    … Expand
  23. artificeprime
    Jul 1, 2017
    9
    Tales of Symphonia is one of the best JRPGS of its generation. The gameplay is fun and rewarding and the story is long, deep and compelling. It is very rare that I find a game that gets me so invested in its world and its lore. The game does have some weak areas such as mediocre level design, bland visuals, childish characters and often jarring anime stereotypes. Those flaws are mostlyTales of Symphonia is one of the best JRPGS of its generation. The gameplay is fun and rewarding and the story is long, deep and compelling. It is very rare that I find a game that gets me so invested in its world and its lore. The game does have some weak areas such as mediocre level design, bland visuals, childish characters and often jarring anime stereotypes. Those flaws are mostly just cosmetic though, beneath its cartoony exterior is a core concept that is actually very mature. I recommend this game to almost any fan of JRPGs and I think it is even a great starting point for many people who aren't familiar with the genre. It's accessible and fun while still offering depth.

    The gameplay is a cross of old school and modern. Battles take place in a confined field but unlike traditional turn based RPGs the action all happens in real time. This makes combat very engaging, while I like the strategy element of turn based combat I generally prefer real time for the sense of immersion. This game does a good job of balancing the two styles. You can quickly and easily switch between characters and you can also assign strategies and techniques. It allows you to have a lot of control and strategy while still offering the thrill of fast paced action. Combat can get a bit repetitive, as the game is very long but there are a lot of techniques to be learned so that kept things reasonably fresh. Some of the field enemies are pretty mediocre but fortunately there are a ton of bosses and some of those battles are excellent. Outside of combat, there is a lot to explore and there are some puzzles. I thought that puzzles could have been better but there were enough to at least keep me engaged. Another cool thing is the way that you interact with your party. Throughout the game you will have the opportunity for many optional conversations with party members, those scenes help to develop the characters but also add another layer to gameplay since you can make choice to either react to them positively or negatively. Like with most JRPGs though traversing the environment is a bit dull, it would have been nice to have more interactivity.

    Where the game really shines is its story. While the style of the game is a bit childish the story actually has a lot of dark themes, such as persecution, slavery and human sacrifice. All of these topics are tied into a massive narrative that is complex while still being easy to understand. There are some really big ideas and multiple twists that I found very satisfying. Some parts are predictable but I rarely found that detracted from the story as a whole. The middle of the game offers a great twist that I kind of predicted but because of how it was handled it was still totally satisfying. Part of the fun was trying to guess the twists since almost everything is foreshadowed well in advance, figuring it out made it rewarding in a different way. The way that you interact with the story as a player is also very interesting because it extends beyond just making choices in conversations. For example, there are certain bosses that you can lose against and still continue the game but if you win against them it will lead to a different outcome. My only major problem with the story is the tone. I played this game around the same time I played Final Fantasy X and compared to that game this one doesn't do nearly as good of a job when it comes to conveying the tone of important story moments. The deep quality content is there but the atmosphere often feels inappropriate.

    The characters are a bit stereotypical on the surface but as the game progresses most of them get a lot of development. They have to face tough realities about the world they live in and seeing them adapt to that provides a lot of great character moments. One of the parts I found most interesting was how one of the stories primary villains is idealized by several of the heroes and that creates an interesting dilemma when they ultimately learn the truth about what he has done. There are a ton of characters and each one has a meaningful arc. My biggest complaint with the character is that Lloyd and Colette never really evolve beyond the basic tropes. Lloyd never really seems to mature and still seems like a bit of a duffus by the end. Colette's entire system of faith is proven to be a fallacy but ultimately she remains a mary sue. She is the type of character who is shy and clumsy for the sake of cuteness, rather than it actually being a relevant, informed part of her character journey. Despite these problems though, I found most of the characters fairly likable and the diversity of the cast kept me entertained to the very end. This could have been a great story about kids growing up but they never really do.

    The visuals and sound design are both pretty solid but they aren't nearly the best that the genre offers.

    There is also a ton of extra content beyond the main story and most of it is good.

    I give it 85%    … Expand
  24. raccoondaddy
    May 23, 2017
    10
    Tales of Symphonia is my best experience with the Tales series, so far. (Having finished 5 or 6 of them)
    Almost all of the characters are likeable, the story appears to be your typical RPG save the world sort of game, but ends up being MUCH DEEPER and keeps things interesting. Character dialouge from the skits are very funny and truly flesh of the personalities of your party, far better    Tales of Symphonia is my best experience with the Tales series, so far. (Having finished 5 or 6 of them)
    Almost all of the characters are likeable, the story appears to be your typical RPG save the world sort of game, but ends up being MUCH DEEPER and keeps things interesting. Character dialouge from the skits are very funny and truly flesh of the personalities of your party, far better than most RPGs ever do.

    Combat is tight and remains fun outside of the normal RPG grinding. Plenty of side quests and things to do. I'd put this up there with the higher quality Final Fantasy games. Easily a gem and must play.    … Expand
  25. TmatoCE
    Apr 11, 2017
    10
    Un juego totalmente necesario para la gamecube, incomparable excelente historia y mecanica de combate, todo perfecto tanto la mecanica del rpg como los objetos, metodo de combate, musica, todo 10.
  26. Causese
    Mar 26, 2017
    10
    Stopped by to drop a 10.

    Looking back, I can't find a single thing that I didn't like about this game.
    Some things may seem repetitive but I didn't care/notice it because it was fun throughout.
  27. LuisAntonio
    Aug 21, 2016
    8
    It´s a nice game, you can find some interesting things and details in this JRPG, but is a "pretty" jumble. The plot has twists and the protagonists are attractive, but the antagonist looks weak. I mean, you can´t hate him, because he is just a lost child. The battle system is dynamic, but sometimes is a little confused and some puzzles are too difficult. Anyway is a good game with goodIt´s a nice game, you can find some interesting things and details in this JRPG, but is a "pretty" jumble. The plot has twists and the protagonists are attractive, but the antagonist looks weak. I mean, you can´t hate him, because he is just a lost child. The battle system is dynamic, but sometimes is a little confused and some puzzles are too difficult. Anyway is a good game with good graphics, good music and good appereance. This game is not a FF, but it helps to palliate the lack of RPG´s for GameCube.… Expand
  28. TheLordJames
    Apr 3, 2016
    10
    Tales of Symphonia is among the greats when it comes to JRPGs. This well written masterpiece was my favourite game for the Nintendo GameCube and is my second favourite RPG next to Chrono Trigger. This game features a diverse cast each with their own heartfelt and hard-felt back stories and an overall plot that will make you think and make you feel for you party members. With a wide varietyTales of Symphonia is among the greats when it comes to JRPGs. This well written masterpiece was my favourite game for the Nintendo GameCube and is my second favourite RPG next to Chrono Trigger. This game features a diverse cast each with their own heartfelt and hard-felt back stories and an overall plot that will make you think and make you feel for you party members. With a wide variety of side questing you can easily clock well over 100 hours of game time. The gameplay is fluid along with the battle system. Tales of Symphonia has a fantastic score to accompany you in the journey. Tales of Symphonia kick started my love for the Tales Series.… Expand
  29. Super_Cloud
    Jan 1, 2016
    10
    This is my first and favorite Tales of, there is too many memorable moment that i love to keep replaying over and over again. I have the game on PS3 now and i'm still enjoying it alot.
  30. Ventrust
    Jun 2, 2015
    10
    If I had to sum this up quickly, I would say that while Tale of Symphonia is one of the most endearing and interesting games of pretty much all RPG's, Dawn of the new World, while being a good game in itself, is one of the worst sequels you will probably ever see. Let me elaborate:

    Let's start with the original, Tales of Symphonia. Tales of Symphonia has a decent beginning, but it does    If I had to sum this up quickly, I would say that while Tale of Symphonia is one of the most endearing and interesting games of pretty much all RPG's, Dawn of the new World, while being a good game in itself, is one of the worst sequels you will probably ever see. Let me elaborate:

    Let's start with the original, Tales of Symphonia. Tales of Symphonia has a decent beginning, but it does not seem like something special. However, the story quickly evolves into something of an epic fantasy novel, with a rather unique plot and great characters you want to follow and root for. Out of all the tales games, I believe this one is the best when it comes to character-player relationships, and your choices, even, no, especially the small ones, matter to your experience and the connections between you and the characters. Playing through this adventure is a blast, and most people love it for that. Though i recommend searching for 'ToS affection system' before you begin, just saying.

    Now, before we talk about the game's own story and setting, let's look at why the game is a bad sequel: If you are reading, watching or playing a sequel of something, its most of the time because you enjoyed the original. Now, sone start with the sequel for various reasons, but if we look at it from wanting more of the world and story you loved so much, this game does not even satisfy, but pretty much, excuse my language, takes a **** on the original. The characters you loved interacting with? Pushed to the side for two new ones, and you can't even effect the old characters relationships, one of the cooler functions in the old game. Well, you can make ONE choice in an end-game sidequest, but that's just that, a side-quest. It's not even required. That, and the fact that it's just one choice compared to the original's many, makes it almost insulting. It was shoved in, with no build up. And don't even make me start on the setting! Just trust me, no spoilers, but's it pretty much a punch to the stomach what happened to the world after Takes of Symphonia.
    Now, for the game itself, without any spoilers: It's actually not bad. It's terrible in the beginning, so terrible you might even drop the entire game in the first hour, but at the end, it's not just good, it's great. However, when you reach that point of greatness, you are almost done with the game.
    The gameplay is a large step down from Symphonia. Sure, a few aspects are better, but it's basically.,, how do I put this.... Imagine Mario Galaxy without the spin, minus the parts where it's required: every platform segment, every normal enemy and all the tight moments where you save yourself just in time, all of that is gone. You still have a good platformer, but everything is a notch down from what it could be. And that's how Dawn if the new World feels: like something is just missing from the entire game. Combos? Branching attack choices? Special combo attacks between two characters? All gone. Have fun using the same to 'super attacks' through the entire game. Both which you unlock before midway through the game. The game itself is also filled with bad design choices, and I just don't mean stuff they could not finish in time, I mean directly bad choices that make no sense. Like how restricted the party is: you HAVE to have one of the two new characters in the party at all times no matter what. That, and one or them HAS to be in the lead. You can switch between characters inside battle whenever you want, but fir some reason you do 't just have to have a new character in the party, but you also have go start the battle with them. It takes one seco d to switch when battle begins by the way. Why would you design it like that.
    I could go on, but this is getting long, so I will finish my thoughts now:

    If you loved the original for it's characters, then this game will make them worse than they were in the first place. It's better to just play the first one again in that case. If you loved the game for it's world, then it's also better to just play the first game, trust me. If you loved it for it's plot... well, you might find something enjoyable at the end of the game, but it's a drag to get there. What I am trying to say is: if you liked Symphonia 1, then it will be a bad experience for you, or at least a frustrating one.

    Final verdict: Takes if Symphonia is one of the best RPG's, no, one of the most endearing and enjoyable games of all time. Tales of Symphonia 2 is better of not being experienced, as while it is a fine enough game, it actually takes away from the original game, rather than add anything of real substance to it.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best GameCube Game of 2004
5
#5 Most Discussed GameCube Game of 2004
5
#5 Most Shared GameCube Game of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 60 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 60
  3. Negative: 0 out of 60
  1. Eurogamer
    90
    Arguably the finest example ever made of the truly traditional Japanese RPG. It may be clichéd, and altogether a little too bright and happy for its own good, but Tales of Symphonia is nonetheless epic, enjoyable, and superbly constructed.
    Read full review
  2. games(TM)
    90
    It's through the amount of details, distractions and other additions to the more obvious elements that Symphonia builds itself up from what starts as an above-average RPG into one that'll stand as a benchmark in future. [Oct 2004, p.102]
  3. AceGamez
    90
    It's another masterpiece by Namco and a more than welcome addition to Namco's ever growing 'Tales of' series.
See all critic reviews »