Tales of Zestiria

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 411 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 241 out of 411
  2. Mixed: 91 out of 411
  3. Negative: 79 out of 411
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  1. ChromXsome
    Oct 22, 2015
    10
    This Game is simply awesome.
    Graphics don't make a game. The Story, the characters and the innovative (and at first VERY complex) fighting System does.
    I am 15 hours into the game now, and everytime I am at work during the day, I just can't wait to get home and Play further into the Story! The only negative Thing for ME ist the fighting System. It doesn't make use of the D-Pad which    This Game is simply awesome.
    Graphics don't make a game. The Story, the characters and the innovative (and at first VERY complex) fighting System does.

    I am 15 hours into the game now, and everytime I am at work during the day, I just can't wait to get home and Play further into the Story!

    The only negative Thing for ME ist the fighting System. It doesn't make use of the D-Pad which is unfortunate. All the skills Need to be done with the Analog Stick and the "X" and "O" button, which makes everything more complicated. For beginners it is frustrating.

    Anyways, I think it is an awesome Game!    … Expand
  2. Xervathu
    Oct 20, 2015
    10
    I've received the game on Friday, Due to living in Europe.
    Im not done with the game yet,I guess i'm somewhere halfway,
    But i really wanted to give my oppinion. Zestiria feels like a step forward for the tales franchise. Smooth transitions into combat and cutscenes and it feels like theres barely Any black/loading screens present in the ps4 version. The combat is taken straight from    I've received the game on Friday, Due to living in Europe.
    Im not done with the game yet,I guess i'm somewhere halfway,
    But i really wanted to give my oppinion.
    Zestiria feels like a step forward for the tales franchise.
    Smooth transitions into combat and cutscenes and it feels like theres barely Any black/loading screens present in the ps4 version.
    The combat is taken straight from Graces,which is a good thing because that is one of the best systems in the Tales series. Graphics look awesome, the world looks alive, the soundtrack is fantastic.
    Please dont get dissapointed by negative reviews. try it out. its worth it!    … Expand
  3. igorrocks2
    Oct 22, 2015
    10
    It was long wait and Tales Of Zestiria deliver ! Yet I hopped for something more rewarding. Since it is 20th anniversary! I hope that future games in the series will improve more. Yet I give it solid 10 because I missed it a lot.,,
  4. Quandary
    Oct 20, 2015
    10
    I was a bit worried about Zestiria because I read some criticism from Japanese gamers, but it turns out to be one of the best games I've played on Ps4, and definitely the best Japanese rpg on that console. The story is charming and has a lot of flavour, with throwbacks to the King Arthur legends and interesting ideas like the invisible Seraphims that accompany the main character coupledI was a bit worried about Zestiria because I read some criticism from Japanese gamers, but it turns out to be one of the best games I've played on Ps4, and definitely the best Japanese rpg on that console. The story is charming and has a lot of flavour, with throwbacks to the King Arthur legends and interesting ideas like the invisible Seraphims that accompany the main character coupled with charming dialogues and funny skits. The world feels vast and great to explore, yet it is never a chore like in other opern world games. The battles are probably the best in any Tales game, keeping Graces f's flair and adding unique concepts like armitization, with a great loot system to tinker with. Zestiria also has dual audio, something I wish happened with all other Tales games before, even if the English dub is rock solid. Overall one heck of a purchase, I bet other fans of the genre will feel the same if they give the game a chance. I'm already waiting for Berseria to be localized.… Expand
  5. Gamexpert
    Oct 20, 2015
    10
    I am from Europe, so i got the game last Friday, and i really cant understand these few Hate-Comments.
    This Game is unbelievable. I can really recommend it to everyone who likes any sort of JRPG, and to new PLayers of the Genre.
    The Open World is fantastic, the graphics are a little bit outdated, but thats no reason to miss this game. The Main Reason to buy this game should be Gameplay,    I am from Europe, so i got the game last Friday, and i really cant understand these few Hate-Comments.
    This Game is unbelievable. I can really recommend it to everyone who likes any sort of JRPG, and to new PLayers of the Genre.
    The Open World is fantastic, the graphics are a little bit outdated, but thats no reason to miss this game.
    The Main Reason to buy this game should be Gameplay, Story and the excellent Characters.
    10/10 Awesome game, really.    … Expand
  6. eaboo316
    Mar 16, 2017
    10
    I really enjoyed my experience with Zestiria, and thought it was a solid addition to the Tales of series. I admit, I am a loyal fan of the series, and love the storytelling and character development present in all its titles (at least the ones I have played), and this game is no exception. I thought Sorey was great as a main character, and had great development from being naive and notI really enjoyed my experience with Zestiria, and thought it was a solid addition to the Tales of series. I admit, I am a loyal fan of the series, and love the storytelling and character development present in all its titles (at least the ones I have played), and this game is no exception. I thought Sorey was great as a main character, and had great development from being naive and not knowing much about the world in the beginning, though learning more throughout his journey which culminates into the decisions he makes towards the end of the game. He was a relatable character, and watching him and the other characters grow was a pleasure. In many ways, it is a simple story, but through the side quests and the skits, there is much to learn about the characters and many great messages to take away. I remember one part when one of the characters talked about the importance of critical thinking and not buying into narratives just because it may feel convincing - there are smart dialogues in this game that talk important issues which can be transferable to issues in the real world.

    The battles were really fun - I really liked the "transformations" in the game and how you could use the mechanics of that to your advantage. The equipment attributes were really confusing at first, though once you play through it more you are able to use it as strategy for harder battles. It is difficult though to "intentionally" try to get the best equipment stats wise and the special skills you want. The graphics were great, overall. I really like this type of 3D anime style, and the environments were solid, as in most of the Tales games. I thoroughly enjoyed the music, and listen to the OST now and then. Motoi Sakuraba and Go Shiina did a phenomenal job.

    Only thing I was really bothered about was the design of a certain character's hat, it's not really that big of a deal but it bothered me...

    I thought this was a very classic, Tales title. If you like Tales and JRPGs, you will like this game. The strength of this game is in the storytelling and the fun battles, so if you primarily like to explore in games, this may not be for you.

    It seems to not be the most highly rated in the series, and I understand the general consensus of why. Though I enjoyed this just as much as every other game in the series. Tales games are consistently fun and have great storytelling, which is why I love Zestiria and the series franchise! I think I clocked about 80 hours in this game, and I didn't do much of the post-game content, so it'll keep you engaged for awhile!

    And Sorey is one of my favorite Tales characters, he's the best nerd and his optimism is contagious. ^_^    … Expand
  7. tsumasaki
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    zestiria is a great game
    zestiria is better than zelda breath of the wild
    the music of it . is magic and awesome
    play zestiria is magic
    the boss are difficults
  8. Goodplayer
    Jul 17, 2019
    10
    Tales of Zestiria is truly one of the best video games of all time. It's a totally charming game from the beginning to the end, with handsome characters, great gameplay, good graphics, and nice story.
  9. AnimeFreak1305
    Nov 26, 2016
    10
    The graphics are spot-on.I love the voice actors of each individual characters!!! This game is absolutely-unbelievably good!! I very much enjoyed it till the very end!!
  10. Flypaper
    Oct 27, 2015
    9
    I'd give it an 8.5 if I could. This review is coming from someone who hasn't played much Tales in the past. I'm 15 hours into the game and love the uplifting and feel good story of a truly good characters trying to save the world. There is no grit here folks. The story is 8.5 so far with a constant barrage of new information about the malevolence and where the shepherd fits into theI'd give it an 8.5 if I could. This review is coming from someone who hasn't played much Tales in the past. I'm 15 hours into the game and love the uplifting and feel good story of a truly good characters trying to save the world. There is no grit here folks. The story is 8.5 so far with a constant barrage of new information about the malevolence and where the shepherd fits into the story (along with new battle mechanics - more on that later). Its not as simple a story as some reviewers seem to claim. I enjoy the characters and want to see how they end up, which is rare for me these days in games when they make the characters so unlikable that I don't care about them.
    The battle system is surprisingly complex. It is still teaching me new things after 15 hours and I still don't get it all. So maybe it could be a little more streamlined and still be a deep experience. It is flashy and fun though with some relatively challenging bosses after easing you into the system. Save often as there are some enemies on the map that will wipe the floor with you in one or two hits. You will want to go around those (which is an option with most fights, but you won't gain levels of course). There are no random battles in this game. That's a big plus for me. I hate being interrupted unexpectedly every five seconds. The enemies in this game are well spaced enough to not feel tedious most of the time.
    Graphics get the job done in this game. It fits the anime style in my opinion. Its last gen pretty (since it was made for PS3 and doesn't even make the cooling fan blow much on my PS4). Not PS2 ugly like some claim. There are some lower res textures and its not going to wow you with its realism, but my big thing is animation. If the characters move like robots it takes me out of the story. The animation is very natural even with the in engine "cutscenes." By the way the English dub is pretty good in my opinion. Its not the best ever with some unnatural pauses and responses, but overall its not distracting.
    One thing that may bother some is the lack of real choices in this game. In my 15 hours with the game, I have made 1 choice and wonder if it really mattered. Honestly it doesn't bother me a bit. The game has a story to tell and you are along for the ride. Works for me as I don't want to tell my own story as many games want you to do. I want the developers to write a story and tell it in a compelling way. This game does that. There are mysteries to unravel and I need to get back to slaying dragons. I recommend this game to anyone who isn't too jaded to enjoy a good vs evil story, innocent and good characters like only Japanese culture can do these days. I hope this review helps make up your mind!    … Expand
  11. jirren
    Oct 29, 2015
    9
    Anyone complaining about the camera and basing a low score on that is stupid. The camera is bad at times but not very often and you can easily adjust it if you actually know what your doing. The games music is possibly the best in any tales game IMO. Sorey is very standard but he is surrounded by interesting party members and a well developed story. If you like tales games then this willAnyone complaining about the camera and basing a low score on that is stupid. The camera is bad at times but not very often and you can easily adjust it if you actually know what your doing. The games music is possibly the best in any tales game IMO. Sorey is very standard but he is surrounded by interesting party members and a well developed story. If you like tales games then this will easily please you.… Expand
  12. Gamingking007
    Oct 26, 2015
    10
    This game is simply amazing, I do admit they should have raised the fps and they could of done a lot better with the graphics but the rest is simply amazing! If you can get the collectors edition don't hesitate to buy it , you won't be sorry one of the best collectors edition I have ever owned and I have countless of them! Enjoy everyone !
  13. Lendra-chan
    Feb 8, 2016
    10
    I believe TOZ gets far too much flak for what it's worth. A lot of this game intends for the user to infer things and explore to piece the puzzle together. It stays away from heavily overused tropes and cliches while still executing a trope of its own. I believe it was really well executed and the fighting system, though is indeed difficult to get used to at first, makes battles enjoyableI believe TOZ gets far too much flak for what it's worth. A lot of this game intends for the user to infer things and explore to piece the puzzle together. It stays away from heavily overused tropes and cliches while still executing a trope of its own. I believe it was really well executed and the fighting system, though is indeed difficult to get used to at first, makes battles enjoyable and something you constantly need to think about instead of button mashing.

    Also, the fact that none of the females in your party are involved with the main character romantically is such a breath of fresh air. Both females are very individualistic and following are the other supporting character. They are all very interesting in different ways, little snippets of their characteristics revealed in the smallest areas and it makes them seem more realistic. There's no romance forced on you and where many players are frustrated that you can't romance the female characters, I'm very pleased that they kept to the realistic idea that they're amidst war and there are larger issues at hand. Plus there is the interpretation of the main character's relationship with his childhood friend as well.

    A lot of new things are introduced in TOZ and I'm very pleased with it. Certainly there were tedious parts of the game play and aspects that probably could have been better dealt with like close quarters fighting and the aesthetics of some of the ruins, but I far prefer an interesting and intricate plot and characters. I heard so many complaining about the plot and characters being flat, and perhaps it's because I played it with Japanese audio and English subtitles, but none of them seemed flat what so ever. On the contrary, everyone was very vibrant in their own ways, and the plot was one giant puzzle that had its pieces skewed everywhere, which is very believable for someone in the main character's position; flung into an unknown world with only a few clues to start a massive journey. You're rewarded for being ambitious and exploring, which is very true to the main character's interests and character, so he's not someone you can 'self insert' yourself into. You need to be diligent like him and observant and explorative. I greatly appreciate characters being true to themselves.

    Long story short, TOZ smack talking became a bandwagon ordeal and too many players became caught up in comparing it to earlier titles instead of taking it as a game of its own. A lot of new things were introduced, even progressive and risky in terms of tradition (fighting style, romantic options, etc) and I greatly enjoyed it.

    The music is also incredible~    … Expand
  14. oathkeepings
    Oct 22, 2015
    10
    Not totally sure why this game is getting such mediocre reviews. The combat is fantastic, the graphics are gorgeous, and I personally find the story intriguing. I've fallen in love with all of the characters I've encountered so far. A lot of people are saying the story is lackluster and boring, but I really find it engaging and interesting. I think Sorey's journey as a Shepard with hisNot totally sure why this game is getting such mediocre reviews. The combat is fantastic, the graphics are gorgeous, and I personally find the story intriguing. I've fallen in love with all of the characters I've encountered so far. A lot of people are saying the story is lackluster and boring, but I really find it engaging and interesting. I think Sorey's journey as a Shepard with his friends is really fun to follow, and I haven't gotten bored of the story. I think this is one of the best RPG's on the PS4 right now by landslide, in my personal opinion. I also get some moderately strong Star Ocean TTEOT vibes from this game, not exactly sure why. I also really enjoy the voice acting.… Expand
  15. snakekill321
    Oct 24, 2015
    10
    This game is amazing. It has everythign you want in a tales game. Ye the plot os cute and paste, but the characters are so unique and memorable, the plot does have twists, and the game has an open world feel to it now. The game has four difficulty settings so if you like a challenge or even if you want to blow through for the story the option is there. Combat is done real well too,This game is amazing. It has everythign you want in a tales game. Ye the plot os cute and paste, but the characters are so unique and memorable, the plot does have twists, and the game has an open world feel to it now. The game has four difficulty settings so if you like a challenge or even if you want to blow through for the story the option is there. Combat is done real well too, combining aspects of Xillia, Graces and Hearts R. I wont admit this is my favorite Tales game, but this is a solid 10/10 game for any Tales of fan.… Expand
  16. AllUltima
    Oct 25, 2015
    10
    Ignore the "hater" reviews-- this is a great game with huge scope and it gets good pretty quickly. It's a shame it's rating gets dragged down from the ~8.5 or so that it deserves. Its few faults are quickly overshadowed by it's overall greatness. The more interesting characters come a bit later as well. And of course the combat is great. The only people who really won't like it are thoseIgnore the "hater" reviews-- this is a great game with huge scope and it gets good pretty quickly. It's a shame it's rating gets dragged down from the ~8.5 or so that it deserves. Its few faults are quickly overshadowed by it's overall greatness. The more interesting characters come a bit later as well. And of course the combat is great. The only people who really won't like it are those that can't stand anime for whatever reason.… Expand
  17. VsAssassin
    Nov 20, 2015
    9
    Conviction and commitment. These themes are central to the plot of Tales of Zestiria. A plot that is intriguing enough to keep you playing. Luckily, Tales of Zestiria has other strengths that make it a seemingly breath of fresh air when compared to past titles. For one, there is the battle system, which is an addicting, real-time affair. Another is the field skills which may earn you moreConviction and commitment. These themes are central to the plot of Tales of Zestiria. A plot that is intriguing enough to keep you playing. Luckily, Tales of Zestiria has other strengths that make it a seemingly breath of fresh air when compared to past titles. For one, there is the battle system, which is an addicting, real-time affair. Another is the field skills which may earn you more gold or keep your health green.

    Characters are more quirky this time. There are moments that make them a little JRPG cliché, but for the most part, they are fleshed out enough so you can care about them. They also participate in short dialogues called skits where you get to know more about each character and unveil more about the intriguing story. These skits are also surprisingly funny.

    The sound design is also very nice. There will be moments when your emotions will be heightened by great background music. The OST is also quite catchy.

    One thing I did not like much about Tales of Zestiria is the confusing weapon/skill system. For the most part, you can just ignore the attached skills to weapons. Fusing similar weapons together is a welcome mechanic to the game, though.

    Bottom line: Get this game if you are a Tales fan. If you are not, this entry in the series might just be the JRPG Trojan Horse you have been looking for. Dare I say that this game is better than Tales of Xillia and Tales of Graces F.

    Pros:
    +Intriguing story
    +cool characters
    +awesome battle system
    +beautiful soundtrack

    Cons:
    -Convoluted weapon/skill system
    -big areas with little else to do    … Expand
  18. lrobert
    Mar 19, 2017
    10
    This game is awesome... i bought it two months ago and i've been playing since that. It has a good story and great characters, and an amazing ending. You guys SHOULD buy this game if you like TALES SERIES.
  19. Hobobear
    Oct 20, 2015
    8
    Tales of Zestiria. New game to my all time favorite JRPG series aside from Valkyrie Profile. First off my own opinion is game looks and plays great. I love characters though the shepard of humanity, savior of mankind theme straight off the bat bit displeases me. Like many tales series games, i have always loved combat system of the games. this time though i must say its hideous. ItsTales of Zestiria. New game to my all time favorite JRPG series aside from Valkyrie Profile. First off my own opinion is game looks and plays great. I love characters though the shepard of humanity, savior of mankind theme straight off the bat bit displeases me. Like many tales series games, i have always loved combat system of the games. this time though i must say its hideous. Its hideous and good at the same time. What hapened to old TP/Mana combat and why they had to change it to CC and from CC to SC. thats my number one problem of the game. Also sometimes during battle your camera may get stuck on trees/walls etc depending where you fight the monsters on the map. Beside that its solid succesor of Tales series and dont have problems with it. They also decided to add in fusion gear like in tales of Graces which in my opinion is not bad idea and adds bit to gameplay. Though to play higher difficulties you need to do fusion to actually survive.
    Game also offers Battle suppor skills which can be translated straight to Talent system of Tales of abyss/symphonia which is neat.
    TLDR: Camera can make battles annoying depending where you fight. Good characters and gameplay. SC system in battle does not realy work in favor in my opinion.    … Expand
  20. Mijdax
    Oct 25, 2015
    10
    This game is getting some undeserved bad reviews and scores thats why I give it a 10. Normally I would give it at least a 8 - 8.5.

    PRO: - Great and Lovely Design and Graphics (UI and InGame, even though its not on ps4 standards but that might be because of its ps3 roots.) - Interesting setting. It feels a little retro to be a "Chosen One"-Type of Hero. I kinda missed these plots :)    This game is getting some undeserved bad reviews and scores thats why I give it a 10. Normally I would give it at least a 8 - 8.5.

    PRO:
    - Great and Lovely Design and Graphics (UI and InGame, even though its not on ps4 standards but that might be because of its ps3 roots.)

    - Interesting setting. It feels a little retro to be a "Chosen One"-Type of Hero. I kinda missed these plots :)

    - Fusion and Battlesystem in General. It starts of a little slow but as you progress in the game it gets faster and faster as well as cooler and cooler (In terms of combos) and its (Thank god) not so confusing as Xillia 2 which took too much time to master it

    - Another improvement over Xillia 2 is that you are not flood with abilities and skills. Getting a new skill feels special and rewarding again.

    - CHARACTERS, Yes sorey can be a bit cheesy but hell Edna, Laylah, Rose are holy masterpieces in the series and I also love the Normin :)

    - Story, I remember wishing Graces battle system with a little more mature plot... here I got it. And besides, I am so happy that they don't hesitate to be a little more concrete when it comes to death.

    CONS:
    - Camera CAN be a hassle. But Its not as bad as I thought it would be.

    - Story, I know I know. I have it in the Pros already but I have to admit that it has a few Plotholes. It does not annoy me so far.

    - Difficulties, well well... I dont know whether its a con or not but it really annoys me that I get less EXP on Harder difficulties than normal.

    - Costumes, They seem to be a bit too saving on this end :/ Most of the Costumes are bought as DLCs

    Final Words: They have put some effort and love into this game and you basically feel it while playing it. The menus, the battle system, the characters, the animations and transitions. It all feels great and did I mention that I love the characters? Losing the forth time against an enemy and getting told that I suck while the game over screen is showing up is really the small things that brings them to life :')    … Expand
  21. consolfreak1982
    Nov 9, 2015
    8
    As a huge Fan of the Tales Series, with Symphonia and Graces being my two most beloved ones so far, im extremely satisfied with Zestiria - and its easily the best Tales of game since Symphonia thanks to a brilliant and entertaining cast of characters and a huge, connected gameworld. The biggest improvements concern the battle system, and I can say for sure that its the best in the series,As a huge Fan of the Tales Series, with Symphonia and Graces being my two most beloved ones so far, im extremely satisfied with Zestiria - and its easily the best Tales of game since Symphonia thanks to a brilliant and entertaining cast of characters and a huge, connected gameworld. The biggest improvements concern the battle system, and I can say for sure that its the best in the series, its tactical, flashy, and fun to play. There are a few downsides however, the graphics for example, while colorful, are a huge disappointment - the huge "open" areas look very empty, dungeons are always structured with same narrow corridors. The camera sure has its problems as well, especially in narrow places. Sometimes its quite unsure where to go to next, which leads to some unecessary backtracking.The Soundtrack is extremely good this time, so is the english voice over. The adventure is quite lenghty as you would expect from a Tales game, and even features replayability if you want a second or third walkthrough.
    For me, Zestiria is on par with Symphonia, and that means a lot if you know the series.
    I can recommend it to every JRPG Fan    … Expand
  22. Darkkillia
    Oct 1, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This Game very good but I hope camera Blocked off make Story Boring Nothing annoying wish No bad language this game tales of zestiria Awesome But But Custom Outfit Not free I wandering New Update cool Hairstyles… Expand
  23. Vectus
    May 11, 2017
    10
    I think the hate this game gets in undeserved. looking at the story as a call back to classic ps1 and snes rpgs its a nice welcome call back in a sea of convoluted messes that jrpgs have become and the game play while not the best in the series is quite amazing when experienced as a single player
  24. Phuz
    Mar 30, 2021
    10
    First things, first. If you're not slightly Weebie, don't like Anime and generally don't like things associated even slightly with these things, then you are on the wrong review page and will waste your money. People rave about Vesperia. Take those nostalgia glasses off, it's a bit ****, Clunky, with annoying as hell characters.

    People go on about Berseria as if it is some new breath of    First things, first. If you're not slightly Weebie, don't like Anime and generally don't like things associated even slightly with these things, then you are on the wrong review page and will waste your money. People rave about Vesperia. Take those nostalgia glasses off, it's a bit ****, Clunky, with annoying as hell characters.

    People go on about Berseria as if it is some new breath of life in the series and some great, dark story. It is infact very beautiful, the colour palette here was well chosen but it is slow and chessy and boring and those dark themes, sorry? Am I missing something? Just filled with annoying characters like Vesperia and a slow burn of a story.

    Now Zesteria is the only Tales of game that I actually think, oh, I wouldn't mind playing Zesteria tonight. Berseria, Symphonia and Vesperia (the only other three I own) I just think, oh I should try these again and see if they get better. Zesteria I think oh, I've not heard that lovely OST in ages, I've not seen those vibrant characters, I've not wandered around that nicely designed city. I want to go back rather than feeling an impusle to go back to try and justify the money I spent/wasted on the games.

    It's not a masterpiece but it is a great effort and I think the OST is amazing at times. I also think it just works. The individual parts are not great but they all work great together. I really think this pisses on the other Tales games I own and I also had some Tales games I couldn't get into at all and exchanged. So I've played 5, or 6 and this was my favourite.

    A quick rundown

    Graphics - I thought were stunning. The game world was plain but the design and colour choices were perfect. Side note here, I was playing tonight long after this was originally written. My girlfriend commented on how nice the graphics looked. She has as far as I remember never said that about any other game and she has seen me play hundreds.


    OST - I still play one of the songs on youtube every week, roughly 5 years after getting this game.

    Dialogue and VA - usual cheesy, crappy Yankee/Jap junk.

    Gameplay - fun.

    For me when I have a game I never delete to free up HDD space and I listen to the OST after many years and I still go back and play it again (something I rarely do outside of 2D fighters). It is a damned good game. I bought it in the sale at about £8 and it has been worth every penny.

    I know 7.2 isn't a bad score but this game is a lot more enjoyable than so many games rated more highly. Zesteria is like the Tales game it is cool to hate on and the reality is, it **** all over the so called best Tales games "classics".

    New note. I am still not even half way through this. I have put it on and off for years and I still love it and after 35 years gaming it is right up there in my favourite games. I am about to side line it again to play Arise but unless my PS4 blows up, I will be 100% back to this game again.    … Expand
  25. redmandana
    Oct 22, 2015
    8
    Ok i already reviewed this game but i came back to rewrite my review.. Previously i gave this game a bad review. But i was only a quaterbway through the game. But now im 75% through the game... And i had to change my review.. I actually like this game the combat is awsome the story is good. Basically your the avatar.. You control the four elements. All together its a good game and i expectOk i already reviewed this game but i came back to rewrite my review.. Previously i gave this game a bad review. But i was only a quaterbway through the game. But now im 75% through the game... And i had to change my review.. I actually like this game the combat is awsome the story is good. Basically your the avatar.. You control the four elements. All together its a good game and i expect nothing less from a tales series.. The only back draws is the complicated story and the dated graphics .im giving it an eight because i actually still playing it... I dont recommend it... But its not a bad buy ether.… Expand
  26. Stefanobed
    Apr 13, 2021
    10
    The best of the serie . Funny gameplay ,amazing story ,great journey . Simply The best
  27. blakfayt
    Feb 4, 2017
    8
    I love how people think the characters in this game are terrible tropes. Play Graces F, the game with the literal tropes in them. Silent, obedient female, tsundere girl next door that doesn't like you at all b-baka, jealous younger brother that's much better than you but isn't the protagonist, protagonist that loves justice and has the attention span of a flea, and of course, the olderI love how people think the characters in this game are terrible tropes. Play Graces F, the game with the literal tropes in them. Silent, obedient female, tsundere girl next door that doesn't like you at all b-baka, jealous younger brother that's much better than you but isn't the protagonist, protagonist that loves justice and has the attention span of a flea, and of course, the older veteran that knows more than he lets on.

    Zestiria's characters are frankly the most original JRPG characters in a long, long time. The protagonist is idealistic and naive, but he's not down right stupid. He learns, he observes and he make decisions. "We can't save this person" doesn't end with him trying and failing and wondering why, it ends with him realizing that's what needs to be done and that his ideals have to be compromised for the greater good. He's also got quirks that aren't incredibly dumb. He's an archaeology buff, so he gets to show off book smarts, which is rare in a Japanese protagonist in a video game. Some of the characters do fall into annoying tropes or suffer from cliche habits, but those aren't their main personality, which is what makes a trope character.

    The combat is also pretty grindy, unless you play on hard and above, which actually addresses another issue people have with the game being too easy. Turning the difficulty up means you have to actually exploit enemy weaknesses proper in order to be successful, but in turn you get really high level equipment very early on. This bonus is clearly less important late game, but if you're really concerned about the game being challenging, you wouldn't turn the difficulty down just to whine about how it's easy.

    The worst part of the whole game is the equipment skills system. Mostly because it's a massive, over cluttered mess that you shouldn't pay any attention to until the end of the game. Essentially, there are about ten skills across several element types. When you line these up either vertically or horizontally, you get a buff. The problem is that when you fuse two pieces of equipment together, the skills fuse too and change based on what the two skills are. Without a calculator to tell you what skills make what skills, it's just a headache to follow and the best buffs are just straight up stat increases anyway. It was a very silly idea that adds to the grind far more than simple leveling.

    Overall though, Zestiria is easily one of the better games in the series. It's not one of the greats, but it's not Graces F, it's not Destiny, it's not Hearts R. It's a solid game that lacks annoying, overused characters that Japan has been pushing out for waifu huggers since the mid 2000's. (And the story may be the "typical" save the world plot, but at least it's in danger in an interesting way instead of typical "evil emperor.")    … Expand
  28. INODratedRjoker
    Jun 3, 2016
    8
    Sorey a beau être humain, celui-ci vit au sein d’Elysia, village peuplé de Séraphins, entités quasi-divines ne pouvant être vues par… les êtres humains justement. Hormis une certaine catégorie, en l’occurrence celle réunissant les cœurs purs.
    En plein dans ses recherches parmi des ruines et accompagné de son ami Mikleo, qui lui est Séraphin, notre futur héros tombe sur une demoiselle    Sorey a beau être humain, celui-ci vit au sein d’Elysia, village peuplé de Séraphins, entités quasi-divines ne pouvant être vues par… les êtres humains justement. Hormis une certaine catégorie, en l’occurrence celle réunissant les cœurs purs.
    En plein dans ses recherches parmi des ruines et accompagné de son ami Mikleo, qui lui est Séraphin, notre futur héros tombe sur une demoiselle inconsciente. Cette dernière, nommée Alisha, n’est rien d’autre qu’une humaine elle aussi, mais pourra apparemment repartir chez elle sans aucun problème. Sauf qu’alors que celle-ci vient de quitter le domaine, on découvre un Hellion à sa recherche et cela certainement pas en lui ne voulant que du bien. N’écoutant que son courage, Sorey se lance à sa recherche afin de la protéger, ceci non sans se faire repérer par son ami qui choisira lui aussi de partir vers cette aventure qui verra son comparse devenir «Le Berger», légendaire personnage ayant pour rôle de sauver l’humanité. Et oui, rien que cela.

    Le système de jeu qui vous permettra d’arriver à vos fins s’avèrera être un subtil mélange entre ce que les Tales Of ont déjà pu proposer, mais pas nécessairement sur les derniers volets, et des nouveautés offrant une bouffée de fraicheur, ainsi que des surprises.
    Tout d’abord, les combats se déroulent là où vous rencontrez vos adversaires et non plus dans une arène conçue à cet effet. Précisons que ces mêmes ennemis sont à découvrir au sein du monde ouvert que vous parcourrez. Celui-ci n’est pas forcément gigantesque et propose des lieux pas énormément fournis en détails, mais cela reste en rapport avec son milieu et se comprend donc aisément.

    Concernant la baston, une jauge servira à ne pas rendre TOZ comme un jeu bourrin, celle-ci diminuant au fil des attaques. Afin de la remplir à nouveau, il suffira de stopper ses offensives et donc d’esquiver ou encore de parer celles de vos adversaires.
    Un système basé sur le principe du pierre/papier/ciseaux sert également à affiner ce gameplay, en évitant la répétitivité et même l’acharnement sur un seul et unique bouton comme l’on peut le voir ailleurs.
    Au-delà de ces features, la grande spécificité du soft est la fusion entre un Séraphin et un humain. En plus de l’excitation provoquée par cette particularité toujours très attrayante en jeu vidéo, anime, manga… elle amène bien sûr son lot d’attaques inédites, ainsi qu’une puissance accrue. Sans oublier que les différentes combinaisons offrent directement de l’originalité par le passage de l’une à l’autre, surtout au moment où l’on découvre et admire le combattant qui en ressort.
    Notons aussi la présence des talents et de l’équipement, dont la fusion, décidément essentielle, entre deux éléments verra naitre une nouvelle capacité. Moult possibilités donc, en plus de la progression disponible également pour cet équipement, gonflant avec plaisir la durée de l’aventure.

    Comme dans la plupart des jeux de rôle nippons, l’aspect visuel se divise de deux manières bien distinctes. D’un côté on retrouve les protagonistes, tous aussi somptueux les uns que les autres et bénéficiant d’un fabuleux chara design. On voyage littéralement de peinture divine à une autre et l’on se régale à chaque rencontre. Tandis que de l’autre part, on découvre des environnements assez vides, mais ne posant aucun problème. Cela est rendu possible car Tales of Zestiria se situe dans la catégorie des très bons jeux, ceux sachant proposer un game system intéressant, prenant et non misant simplement sur les graphismes pour ne s’avérer être qu’un univers sans fond.
    A noter pour les esthètes que le quatuor d’artistes de la série est réuni, en l’occurrence : Inomata Mutsumi, Fujishima Kosuke, Okumura Daigo et Iwamoto Minoru. Concernant les cinématiques, c’est le studio Ufotable Inc. qui s’en est occupé, offrant une immense qualité digne du plus bel anime. On se plonge avec délectation dans chacune et cela devient un véritable cadeau donnant envie d’avancer dans l’aventure.

    On ne change pas les bonnes vieilles habitudes, si la franchise Tales Of perdure dans le haut niveau concernant le rendu de ses personnages, la partie sonore n’est pas en reste. Sakuraba Motoi et Shiina Go délivrant une bande-originale de haute volée, comme à l’accoutumée dans la série.
    Toujours dans ce que l’on pourra entendre, notons la présence des doublages en japonais et en anglais, soit plus qu’il n’en faut. Evidemment on préfèrera évoluer avec la version originale, cette dernière étant plus qu’appropriée étant donné ce milieu si proche du manga et de l’animation. Au-delà de cette évidence, relevons les sous-titres et autres textes en français, démontrant l’ambition du titre, certain(e)s joueuses/eurs restant hermétiques aux logiciels ne possédant point cette option.

    Tales of Zestiria va sans aucune difficulté entrainer les joueurs attendant chaque itération des Tales Of, ainsi que des nouveaux qui se trouveront portés par la magie de son univers et son système de jeu tout aussi attractif.    … Expand
  29. SilentEFFect241
    Jan 23, 2017
    8
    I don't have a long history with this series unfortunately. The only games from this series i have experience with are vesperia and abyss which are excellent. for me this was a sally game with the characters lowering there heads and grunting when dealing with a problem, but hey its a jrpg whatcha gonna do. Aside from that i thoroughly enjoyed this epic adventure. now i did pretty much theI don't have a long history with this series unfortunately. The only games from this series i have experience with are vesperia and abyss which are excellent. for me this was a sally game with the characters lowering there heads and grunting when dealing with a problem, but hey its a jrpg whatcha gonna do. Aside from that i thoroughly enjoyed this epic adventure. now i did pretty much the main story only and it took me roughly 36 hours to beat not counting grind time( which you don't need to do so don't worry). Like ChromXsome said graphics dont make the game. This is true and while they wont win any awards the graphics here worked well. Now whats an story without the characters....its twilight thats what hollow and empty. But luckily thats not the case here. Cast here are good although soreys good boy character was kinda annoying at times never made me stop playing. now as far as gameplay the action is smooth responsive and fun but face a large group of enemies later on after getting more moves an you'll be lost in a sea of particael effects that had me saying thats pretty but whos shanking me from behind i cant see. all in all from the perspective a newbie to the series this is an fantastic and well worth the money cant wait to get Beseria tomorrow.… Expand
  30. NairbYeldarb
    Jun 19, 2019
    8
    I really enjoyed Tales of Zestiria. As a whole, it’s definitely a good game, despite its low production value. If you can get past the fact that it’s not a AAA game, the experience is very wholesome and entertaining, and the fun, although unnecessarily complicated combat system kept me engaged until the end. The thing that drew me in though was the beautiful character designs andI really enjoyed Tales of Zestiria. As a whole, it’s definitely a good game, despite its low production value. If you can get past the fact that it’s not a AAA game, the experience is very wholesome and entertaining, and the fun, although unnecessarily complicated combat system kept me engaged until the end. The thing that drew me in though was the beautiful character designs and visually pleasing anime aesthetic. The game expands on this by really getting to know each of these characters through animated skits (which are a staple of the franchise) you can trigger at inns, discovery points on the map, or at save points. These are all very satisfying to watch and range from conversations between two characters to ones that feature your entire party, and while most expand on lore, many are pretty funny. Edna in particular is a total troll with some brilliantly devious lines. The things that are wrong with this game are indications of laziness on the developers’ part and mainly technical/visual. One, the world feels very small compared to the world of, say, Vesperia. Even though the zones themselves are expansive. Second, a lot of the environments are just, bland. I found it hard sometimes to become fully immersed in the world, especially when I look up at the sky and it’s blatantly copy pasted with the same cloud everywhere I look. Maybe some don’t notice this type of thing but to me it’s like OCD, really gets to me because it shows laziness not lack of budget. However, I still had a good time galavanting around the game’s wide open spaces purifying hellions, and there are also numerous cities and towns which they did a pretty good job on. It feels somewhat lived in with exceptions to the blandness in a couple of uniquely pretty zones. The general progression through the game is linear with lots of optional dungeons and bosses along the way, and of course extra things off the beaten path. You’ll do a fair amount of backtracking through previously explored areas also. The story seems basic and cliche at first but definitely gets a bit deeper as you get towards the end with heavy themes of duality and the spectrum of morality. While I kind of lost interest in the second half and wasn’t too impressed with the villain, the final dungeon and boss battle were pretty awesome and the ending was fantastic, wholesome and touching, left a smile on my face. One thing I love is how a big focus in the story is Sorey and Mikleo’s relationship and for once the main character isn’t getting chased by all the females of the group (or vice versa... although you do get a party member later on who fits the cliche anime perv bill). It was super refreshing. Combat is pretty solid, I had a lot of fun to where I didn’t really ever want to skip battles. The only thing is it’s very complex and the game dumps complicated information about it on you constantly. The skill progression system is a bit weird making you fuse weapons of the same name together in order to get more skills.... which you have to stack in certain ways to power up your stats.... I still didn’t have my head wrapped completely around it by the end of the game but honestly it didn’t really matter because this game isn’t that difficult and you can breeze through the whole thing on normal if you don’t skip too many fights. Anyway if you want a charming, wholesome anime fantasy adventure with fun combat, and don’t mind the graphical/environmental issues, this is a good time and I’d recommend it for any jrpg fan.… Expand
  31. xXDFGVv
    Nov 9, 2019
    10
    Tales of Zestiria was a great game! The storyline and gameplay was fantastic, not to mention the beautiful art style!
  32. Adriella01
    Aug 30, 2021
    8
    For an jrgp it's a really good game, because many jrpgs are a big flop. But this games does a lot of things right. Smooth interesting combat, nice story, you have the freedom to walk in an open beautiful world. Most NPCs are also part of the story and sidestorys, which makes them important (Not like in SAO where most are just decoration lol?).
  33. Neia
    Mar 22, 2022
    10
    Conheci a saga tales of pelo zestiria e cara que jogo,história muito bem contada e persomagens bem desenvolvidos tem alguns problemas mas nada que tire o brilho do jogo
  34. Jmart8
    Jun 21, 2020
    8
    Just got introduces in the tales of games and came to this one right after Vesperia. It is clear that the game is inferior and the characters are less memorable but to a very marginal level and it doesnt destroy at all the strong points it has. As fot those, storywise it is even more interesting in my opinion than Vesperia and most games Ive played in the recent years since it reflects onJust got introduces in the tales of games and came to this one right after Vesperia. It is clear that the game is inferior and the characters are less memorable but to a very marginal level and it doesnt destroy at all the strong points it has. As fot those, storywise it is even more interesting in my opinion than Vesperia and most games Ive played in the recent years since it reflects on right and wrong, war, trust and convictions to points you might even doubt yourself. It is mildly enjoyable gameplay with a lot of options(maybe too many) and it stilllacks fluidity. Not the best choice as a first tales of games but its an enjoyable ride… Expand

Awards & Rankings

44
#44 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2015
5
#5 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 59 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 59
  3. Negative: 1 out of 59
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Mar 3, 2016
    63
    Tales of Zestiria is just bad and lazy entry for a 20 year old series. [Jan 2016]
  2. GameCritics
    Feb 5, 2016
    75
    Tales of Zestiria had a good chance to surpass Vesperia as my favorite Tales title, but the weak plot left me wanting more. On the other hand, the combat system is currently tops, so that's a plus. Overall I still enjoyed my time with it, and would recommend it to Tales newcomers. Just come to it for the combat (and not the story) and everything will be roses.
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  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Dec 16, 2015
    70
    Beyond its puddle-deep characters, Zestiria is a decent addition to the series. [Christmas 2015, p.86]
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