Tales of Vesperia

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 323 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 254 out of 323
  2. Mixed: 49 out of 323
  3. Negative: 20 out of 323
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  1. tonberry_ftw
    Jun 25, 2023
    7
    My favorite tales series. Was very fun until a piece of garbage called Sodia appears and keeps ruining the plot
  2. Killerbe3
    Nov 23, 2021
    2
    I enjoyed almost everything. And I gotta say that the protagonist is really one of the most loveable. Video game characters out there. But the skits ruined EVERYTHING. TOO MANY dialouges. Story was all over the place. Hopefully they learn from their mistakes here. Big potential, wasted by insanely loooooooong skits. Easy 2/10. Could've gave it a 1 if it wasn't for Judith. AVOID THIS GAME
  3. Overprogi
    Oct 15, 2020
    10
    This is definitely my favorite Japanese game!

    I played a lot of Japanese games, but only the mission of this game can keep me from forgetting for a long time-they have distinctive features, full character background, and reasonable behavior. Each of them is lovely and real. In addition, music and art also surprised me very much. The plot of the game is rather mediocre in comparison.    This is definitely my favorite Japanese game!

    I played a lot of Japanese games, but only the mission of this game can keep me from forgetting for a long time-they have distinctive features, full character background, and reasonable behavior. Each of them is lovely and real.
    In addition, music and art also surprised me very much. The plot of the game is rather mediocre in comparison. The combat system is its charm, but there are also some unreasonable points, such as the locking system. No matter what, I love this game~    … Expand
  4. Jmart8
    Jun 21, 2020
    8
    As an action RPG fan this was my first tales of game and I do not regret it at all. Not many games have made me inmediately replay it after I finish them and this is one of them. A bit of an odd fighting mechanics which had to grow on me and still is that one improvement for me to give it a 10/10 because for the rest it's just absolutely amazing. Deep character creation and developmentAs an action RPG fan this was my first tales of game and I do not regret it at all. Not many games have made me inmediately replay it after I finish them and this is one of them. A bit of an odd fighting mechanics which had to grow on me and still is that one improvement for me to give it a 10/10 because for the rest it's just absolutely amazing. Deep character creation and development makes you care for them, intriguing and interrsting story, small details everywhere, very long game. Of you are looking for a great game simillar to a Zelda BOTW, or Ni No Kuni 1 and 2, this franchise is up your alley… Expand
  5. auditbadger
    Sep 26, 2018
    8
    I think that this is truly a unique game and I would recommend that if you are a fan of this type of genre then I think you should give this game a try.
  6. dashantaozi
    Sep 7, 2018
    8
    It's your average tales of game, but Yuri is such a unique protagonist that he carried the entire story. Troy Baker's voice acting also contributes a lot.
  7. rachillustrate
    May 14, 2018
    10
    Tales of Vesperia is my favorite installment of the Tales series, which is also one of my all-time favorite franchises. Even after hours and hours of combat, I always find the battle system extremely fun and rewarding. Your team members are hilarious and some of the most memorable in the franchise. Additionally, Yuri serves as one of the most original and realistic “heroes” I’ve everTales of Vesperia is my favorite installment of the Tales series, which is also one of my all-time favorite franchises. Even after hours and hours of combat, I always find the battle system extremely fun and rewarding. Your team members are hilarious and some of the most memorable in the franchise. Additionally, Yuri serves as one of the most original and realistic “heroes” I’ve ever played.

    The story takes some unexpected turns and keeps the plot moving and interesting, which can be difficult to achieve in a JRPG. The optional skits within Tales games also add a great way to spend more time with your party and enjoy the journey that much more.    … Expand
  8. Sressiv
    Mar 5, 2018
    9
    This is the best Tales of-game I have ever played. This game made me laugh, feel bad, feel excited, and motivated to keep playing the whole time. The characters are very nice, the story is good, and the gameplay and battle system are fantastic. English voice acting is very well done. The soundtrack is absolutely amazing, just like in every Tales of-game. This is one of the best games IThis is the best Tales of-game I have ever played. This game made me laugh, feel bad, feel excited, and motivated to keep playing the whole time. The characters are very nice, the story is good, and the gameplay and battle system are fantastic. English voice acting is very well done. The soundtrack is absolutely amazing, just like in every Tales of-game. This is one of the best games I have ever played, so I really recommend it, it's so worth it. Amazing. Can't say that enough.… Expand
  9. RPGBuff
    May 22, 2017
    9
    Xbox hasn't always been the most fair platform to JRPGs, since AAA RPGs like Lost Odyssey are rated in the 7s when they are in actuality 9s and 10s. That said, you should certainly pick up Tales of Vesperia if what you want is a beautiful story, and are not interested in just non stop action all the time. This is a perfect way to break away from the action of a heavy multiplayer session,Xbox hasn't always been the most fair platform to JRPGs, since AAA RPGs like Lost Odyssey are rated in the 7s when they are in actuality 9s and 10s. That said, you should certainly pick up Tales of Vesperia if what you want is a beautiful story, and are not interested in just non stop action all the time. This is a perfect way to break away from the action of a heavy multiplayer session, as it offers an awesome story, great visuals and amazing characters. Likewise it is relatively low cost. While there, give Infinite Undiscovery a try as well since you can ride a giant sea faring ship. Vesperia also has some of the most memorable protagonists and a large airship: So make sure to give this a good go. Easily ranks among the best RPGs of all time.… Expand
  10. Broyax
    Apr 14, 2017
    0
    Si on met de côté la naiserie incommensurable de l'histoire et la stupidité effarante des dialogues et l'aspect dessin animé manga pour les 3-5 ans (assez mignon au passage -au moins pour les décors), on pourrait sans doute se laisser tenter...? En fait non, même en faisant abstraction de ces éléments déjà abrutissants en soi, impossible d'adhérer à cette débilité à moins d'avoir laSi on met de côté la naiserie incommensurable de l'histoire et la stupidité effarante des dialogues et l'aspect dessin animé manga pour les 3-5 ans (assez mignon au passage -au moins pour les décors), on pourrait sans doute se laisser tenter...? En fait non, même en faisant abstraction de ces éléments déjà abrutissants en soi, impossible d'adhérer à cette débilité à moins d'avoir la cervelle qui dégouline par les oreilles...

    Et ce n'est pas le combat en temps réel d'une nullité absolue qui va y remédier, ni l'impossibilité de contrôler la caméra comme dans un Resident Evil d'il y a 15 ans... Quant à la musique, elle finit de vous achever : ces petites ritournelles servent à faire parler les prisonniers. Un jeu pour les enfants japonais donc ou qui aurait eu mieux sa place sur les téléphones portables pour s'y endormir entre deux stations de métro, bourré de saké.    … Expand
  11. Pariable
    Mar 23, 2017
    9
    Probably my favorite of the Tales series. The characters and the story move you throughout the expansive world. The over world works well in this one, and I wished they had chosen to continue using this formula for the more recent Tales games (rather than save point fast travels which detract from the concept of exploring the world Namco Bandai created). So lets get to why this is aProbably my favorite of the Tales series. The characters and the story move you throughout the expansive world. The over world works well in this one, and I wished they had chosen to continue using this formula for the more recent Tales games (rather than save point fast travels which detract from the concept of exploring the world Namco Bandai created). So lets get to why this is a 9/10 and not a perfect 10. While it meets my criteria of the holy trinity: challenging, rewarding, and emotionally impacting. I can say it does not do one thing well, it concludes too well. No spoilers, but once beating this game the concept of a new game+ is not necessarily appealing. To me that removes one aspect which is the cherry on top for the 10/10 rating, replay-ablilty. By falling short for only that I can say this is a masterful Tales game. Yuri and his crew are all perfectly written and work well with each other. You truly get a feel for all the motivations and character progressions throughout this saga. The story is a 10/10 and so are many of the side quests (for which there are many). The combat system is second (in my opinion) only to Zestiria in enjoyable faced paced beat em up and item management. The trigger events during combat give it some flare along with all the returning and new artes. Each character is unique in their fighting style so playing through parts of the story with each can be a fun change of pace. The visuals and the soundtrack are one of the best in the series, as well. You get a thumbs up from me, so go play this game!… Expand
  12. Manamaster
    Jun 7, 2016
    8
    The crystallization of all I loved from previous Tales games, like Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss, the combat system is refined and doesn't hold your hand, it is not that action focused as Tales of Graces, but slightly better than the system used in Xillia.
    The thing I disliked is that if the game had ended when the second act finished I would have been satisfied with the game,    The crystallization of all I loved from previous Tales games, like Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss, the combat system is refined and doesn't hold your hand, it is not that action focused as Tales of Graces, but slightly better than the system used in Xillia.
    The thing I disliked is that if the game had ended when the second act finished I would have been satisfied with the game, because the ending is something I didn't like, it felt rushed, yet, I would recommend this game for everything in between.    … Expand
  13. Super_Cloud
    Jan 1, 2016
    9
    When i originally played this game i was kinda disappointed, it started getting interesting after around 15 hours of game time (around the coliseum) I'm replaying Vesperia every year and over time this became one of my favorite Tales of, i don't know if it's because the newer tales of never give me the same satisfaction but i feel like the newer are never as good, the game is around 35-40When i originally played this game i was kinda disappointed, it started getting interesting after around 15 hours of game time (around the coliseum) I'm replaying Vesperia every year and over time this became one of my favorite Tales of, i don't know if it's because the newer tales of never give me the same satisfaction but i feel like the newer are never as good, the game is around 35-40 hours long but if you do every side quest in the game it can easily double, the characters are amazing, Yuri is one the Best character ever, i also don't get the hate with Karol, hes an awesome char and his english is also great. The OST is awesome, really one of the best Tales of ever.… Expand
  14. NexusTsunami
    Dec 29, 2015
    10
    Für mich das beste Tales of! Und ich habe viele gespielt (Phantasia, Destiny, Symphonia, Vesperia, Graces f, Xillia und Xillia 2). Nicht weil es in den anderen Spielen kein besseres Kampfsystem gibt (eigentlich ist es bei Tales of ohnehin immer gut), keine bessere Grafik, keine bessere Story oder OST. ToV ist einfach in ALLEN diesen Belangen belangen gut und solide, während einige andereFür mich das beste Tales of! Und ich habe viele gespielt (Phantasia, Destiny, Symphonia, Vesperia, Graces f, Xillia und Xillia 2). Nicht weil es in den anderen Spielen kein besseres Kampfsystem gibt (eigentlich ist es bei Tales of ohnehin immer gut), keine bessere Grafik, keine bessere Story oder OST. ToV ist einfach in ALLEN diesen Belangen belangen gut und solide, während einige andere Tales Spiele in irgendeinem Aspekt eingeknickt sind. Zum Vergleich: Phantasia - hakelige Steuerung. Symphonia - teils nervige Partymember. Destiny - siehe Phantasia. Graces f - keine Open World. Xillia 1/2: Keine Open World und zu kurz!

    Für mich ToV = Best Tales of :D    … Expand
  15. Daelus
    Mar 16, 2015
    2
    I bought this game when I first started gaming 3 years ago; after about an hour it was clear it wasn't my style, so I shelved it. Quite a few games like that in the beginning that I have come back to to clean up the Achiivements. Every other game, from Dark Souls to Quake 4, has either turned out to be a fantastic game or a servicable one....then there is this thing...

    In the 90's, as a    I bought this game when I first started gaming 3 years ago; after about an hour it was clear it wasn't my style, so I shelved it. Quite a few games like that in the beginning that I have come back to to clean up the Achiivements. Every other game, from Dark Souls to Quake 4, has either turned out to be a fantastic game or a servicable one....then there is this thing...

    In the 90's, as a kid I thought JRPG's were awesome and if this game came out in the early/ mid 90's, it would have been average to good. In 2012, let alone 2015, this game is horrible rubbish unless you are a complete and utter JRPG fanboy. I can't fathom people in 2015 (which there are) suggesting the visuals in this game are stunning....even for a 2D game (how did we ever live like this???), the visuals are average at best.

    The characters - androgenous as only the Japanese can dream up....and bland, bland, bland.
    Story line - there was one? I'm serious, there is no storyline here; no idea why we're doing any of it....1 loooong fetch quest...in a very uninteresting world.
    Combat engine is great??? Compared to what from the 90s?

    I made it through about 20 hours...that I will never get back. One of the very few games I have left most of the Achievements on the board...and the only 1 that the Achievements not gotten were not multiplayer.

    Conclusion - if you are a JRPG fan, you may enjoy this 1990's game...if you aren't steer well clear.    … Expand
  16. bloop
    Jan 22, 2015
    10
    Sick game! I'm usually not into jrpgs, and it seemed a bit weird/slow at first but holy moley this game opened up a whole new genre for me and its definitely worth a pickup.
  17. kebecritic
    Dec 25, 2014
    9
    Well played this game principally over a nine month period treating it as a kind of serial anime, which is kind of what it is. It accompanies you just as much as Assassin's Creed does only in a fictional and cutesy atmosphere with an attaching cast and memorably rendered enemies. Three types of art style seamlessly combined in ways which I sometimes would have to ask myself "Are theyWell played this game principally over a nine month period treating it as a kind of serial anime, which is kind of what it is. It accompanies you just as much as Assassin's Creed does only in a fictional and cutesy atmosphere with an attaching cast and memorably rendered enemies. Three types of art style seamlessly combined in ways which I sometimes would have to ask myself "Are they rendering in CGI NOW?"

    Yeah. Played Symphonia when it came out in Canada on the GameCube and played fifty hours straight over five days. The same type of devotion is required to play this game.    … Expand
  18. Mikeylano
    Mar 29, 2014
    5
    I became so drowned in dialogue that I lost the will to finish this game after 25 hours of playtime.

    The battle system is not all that great. In the end, it boils down to pressing attack or a macroed special attack (arte) and hoping that your target doesn't wander off slightly to the side. Flying enemies are a complete pain. "Combos" are unsatisfying and not true combos. It's a matter    I became so drowned in dialogue that I lost the will to finish this game after 25 hours of playtime.

    The battle system is not all that great. In the end, it boils down to pressing attack or a macroed special attack (arte) and hoping that your target doesn't wander off slightly to the side. Flying enemies are a complete pain. "Combos" are unsatisfying and not true combos. It's a matter of pressing the right macros in sequence.

    This battle system would have been a whole lot better if you were able to actively switch between the four characters on the field at will. Instead you are locked into playing just one, with the option of commanding the others through a clunky menu that pauses the action. There is an option to assign just four attacks from other characters to the game pad, which simply isn't enough. This means you leave most of the action to the computer whilst you mash the attack button and attempt a "combo".

    Most of the characters are not fun to play. Yuri is the only one I had fun with; the others are clunky, slow or entirely dependent on TP (which is too onerous to recover and severely disadvantages them against players that can deal damage for free with weapons).

    I'm not much of a fan of anime but I found this art style quite charming. The characters are perfect for this type of game, but unfortunately, in my personal opinion, this made them cringeworthy and annoying at times. Estellise was the main offender, but several others were also very cliché. Clearly, this is what anime fans want to see, but for those who are not, the experience becomes very repetitive and one-dimensional. For example, I'm sure fans love that Karol, the young boy, is so excitable yet determined - taking on the role of a leader. But to everyone else, he seems like a child who has become too big for his boots and shrieks a lot. At times I just wanted Yuri (the older, main character) to tell him he needs to grow up and listen to others. Perhaps my real qualm is with the lack of maturity embedded in the characters; e.g. Rita is always stroppy, Estellise is always naive, except for those things she has studied. It creates a setting that is just not enjoyable for anyone but anime fans.

    The dialogue was just too frequent, nonsensical and irrelevant. Most of the "skits" (talking head conversations on screen) were entirely for the purpose of character building - great to a degree, but painstaking in excess - especially when several cutscenes are followed by a series of skits. I was sitting there thinking "oh god just shut up" many times towards the end of my experience.

    The world is fine and as you would expect, although I would have to say that if you are a masochist determined to complete every section of this game then expect to spend a long time doing it - with the help of guides. From the first battle you are expected to start working towards trophy goals that you will otherwise have to obtain by restarting the game.

    The graphics are good, but with an art style like this, I should hope so (I personally prefer photorealistic games, although this art style did work tremendously with this game, for which I give it credit).

    The "story" is not so much one linear story with a defined objective, but a narrative about a journey where the goal constantly changes depending on the whims of the party members and the events they encounter. Ultimately, the game feels quite aimless and the desire to go on is seriously reduced - nothing is a surprise/sidequest/setback because there is no overall goal.

    I am very disappointed with this game. I think you have to be a die-hard anime fan to enjoy the charm of the characters and world. Personally, I enjoy a battle system that makes me sweat and a story that makes me laugh and cry. Tales of Vesperia does none of those things. It's like being on prozac - everything is just lukewarm. Hence why I give this 5/10. Only die hard anime fans need apply.    … Expand
  19. Bloodshed194
    Mar 25, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I love this game. The characters, plot and game play all stand as the shining example of what other JRPGs should aim for. One comparison I noticed was to Final Fantasy VII. I think that is an unfair comparison. They are completely different game outside of being JRPGs in Science fantasy settings and one focus each story has. That focus is on how technology can destroy the world. In FFVII, the plot starts off with you playing as eco terrorists who are trying to stop a power plant from abusing the earth's energy. It's one sided, having the energy that's clearly destroying the planet be used for comfort. In Tales of Vesperia, their source of energy, aer, is unknowingly destroying the world due to overuse and the people use it to protect themselves against monsters, not abuse for comfort. The game acknowledges how the energy source is only bad in excess and that an alternative may be necessary to save the world and keep monsters at bay. Tales of Vesperia has a much more in-depth look at environmental damage, whereas FFVII is unsubtle and forgets about that plot point a few hours in. If you're comparing the two games, Tales of Vesperia has the advantage in the only thing they truly have in common outside of setting.… Expand
  20. Kenmei
    Mar 9, 2014
    10
    Truly one of the best RPG games of all time, and my pick as best JRPG of the last gen consoles, Tales of Vesperia is when the Tales series really started to take off. While riding high on the success of Symphonia, Vesperia introduced widespread changes to alot of the core mechanics of the game while making the experience feel like a classic Tales game. The thing that jumps out the mostTruly one of the best RPG games of all time, and my pick as best JRPG of the last gen consoles, Tales of Vesperia is when the Tales series really started to take off. While riding high on the success of Symphonia, Vesperia introduced widespread changes to alot of the core mechanics of the game while making the experience feel like a classic Tales game. The thing that jumps out the most here is the characters. From the main character Yuri to his canine friend Repede, each character has a certain charm that most games can only dream of having. Their interactions with each other is truly the brightest spot in an already fabulous game and it really sets itself apart because of the now voiced skits. Giving voices to the skits is a huge deal, even if you may not realize it. Going from Symphonia to Vesperia you'll feel a huge difference between the two and the voiced skits give that extra push you need to really care about these characters. The battle system has been tweaked just a bit, adding the ability to move in a 360 angle around the battlefield, which is huge. Plus the strategy it takes to beat some of the missions is helped out immensely by being able to move in every direction. While the ending is a bit campy and the story is anything but original, there's so much to this game that I can take away from its final score because of a story you've seen a thousand other times. This game renewed my interest in JRPG's and the biggest fault I can find here is the fact that we'll never see the best version of it in the states, the PS3 version which adds two new characters to the roster and quite a bit more stuff to the world. It's still easily the best JRPG on the system, and top 3 JRPG's of the last gen console's at least. Wonderful game that needs to be played by all fans of JRPG's.… Expand
  21. kendstryker
    Nov 6, 2013
    10
    The game is huge very artistic even though the effects is not that stunning but the HD anime textures and vibrant environment is incredible and is not seen often in most console RPG's it's very worth your time and it has a very high replayability since there are so many miss-able content in this game. The battle are a bit slow during the start but as your character grows in terms ofThe game is huge very artistic even though the effects is not that stunning but the HD anime textures and vibrant environment is incredible and is not seen often in most console RPG's it's very worth your time and it has a very high replayability since there are so many miss-able content in this game. The battle are a bit slow during the start but as your character grows in terms of skills and artes learned, doing combos on your enemies is very flashy and satisfying.… Expand
  22. Infielozo
    Oct 29, 2013
    9
    It was a true pleasure to experience this one, story and battle system are a amazing. The Characters are likable, but the main character stands out. This is an instant classic and it is deserving of a sequel. The side-quests were not really a strength and I felt they were scarce, but this really is another masterpiece and should not be missed by true RPG gamers.
  23. wesker2012
    Oct 6, 2013
    7
    Beautiful visuals, but I just couldn't get into this game. Played a good amount of hours, but it was more of a chore than fun to play. Plot was pretty slow and boring. And the constant enemy encounters really got on my nerves.
  24. mafonso
    Aug 13, 2013
    6
    I have a lot of history with JRPGs, and I hadn't played one in a year or two so I decided to throw this one on my game que for gamefly and try it out. I start playing it and it resembles what most JRPGs are like for the first 8 hours or so. Out of no where the game runs into this terrible problem of character development where they are repeatedly saying the same things over and over againI have a lot of history with JRPGs, and I hadn't played one in a year or two so I decided to throw this one on my game que for gamefly and try it out. I start playing it and it resembles what most JRPGs are like for the first 8 hours or so. Out of no where the game runs into this terrible problem of character development where they are repeatedly saying the same things over and over again and it's doing nothing for you in character development, the team takes on somewhere between 8-15 jobs that are all of their "main missions" and slowly learn information and repeat repeat repeat. It gets very tiresome to sit through dialogue while the main character says, "choose for yourself" to the other character over and over again. It feels like the characters want to split up but always decide last minute to stay. You expect it... and it got in my head and made me really really annoyed with the game.. I think there must have been some sort of translation issue.… Expand
  25. Charllize
    Aug 6, 2013
    5
    Not bad.Story is standart, graphics looks good. But combat and character development is little boring. And totally horrible thing is, if you want see all things in game, you cant play without guide. 50% game is missable. I know, lot a JRPG have missable things, but here, hmm..crazy.I hate use guides, and dont want play same game 4 or 6 times for see everything..NO!
  26. MisterNoodles
    Jul 26, 2013
    10
    Amazing! This game is one of favorites. Even with it's somewhat cliche storyline it is still one of the best JRPGs out due to having some of the best character development I have ever seen. With some great dialog that is pretty funny. The combat is fun an keeps you involved and quite brutal. There are many bosses that will rip you to shreds. I feel like many games don't do this and forAmazing! This game is one of favorites. Even with it's somewhat cliche storyline it is still one of the best JRPGs out due to having some of the best character development I have ever seen. With some great dialog that is pretty funny. The combat is fun an keeps you involved and quite brutal. There are many bosses that will rip you to shreds. I feel like many games don't do this and for that they suffer. The soundtrack is great and the environment is astounding. Graphics are nice and fit. I could on and on about this game, but I'll stop here so you can go and buy it. 10/10… Expand
  27. Kakashi2
    Jul 22, 2013
    7
    Sweeter than honey. This game is the best Jrpg on the 360 by far. The game is just soooo pretty to look at. The characters are likeable (which is getting harder to find with jrpgs). I understand that this game has some clichés but to me it felt like a sweet throwback. This game puts its twist on the conventions. I like this game so much because it is fun continuously. That's really all ISweeter than honey. This game is the best Jrpg on the 360 by far. The game is just soooo pretty to look at. The characters are likeable (which is getting harder to find with jrpgs). I understand that this game has some clichés but to me it felt like a sweet throwback. This game puts its twist on the conventions. I like this game so much because it is fun continuously. That's really all I need in a game.… Expand
  28. Thelostpariah
    Jun 6, 2013
    7
    Vesperia feels like a great game that made a lot of mistakes. It's a seven, but just barely. To start with the bad, the plot is one of the worst I've ever played. It is disconjointed and I, as a player, don't feel like I'm accomplishing anything. Several times you will show up in a city/dungeon, complete it, and then find that the person/thing you went there to find had already gone orVesperia feels like a great game that made a lot of mistakes. It's a seven, but just barely. To start with the bad, the plot is one of the worst I've ever played. It is disconjointed and I, as a player, don't feel like I'm accomplishing anything. Several times you will show up in a city/dungeon, complete it, and then find that the person/thing you went there to find had already gone or escaped. There isn't a villain that I feel like I have an agenda against and the end game is full of pointless plot-twists that don't really mean anything. The game is also very long, which isn't bad, but it gets boring when the plot isn't interesting.
    There is still a lot of good, however. The characters are interesting and are easy to get connected to, even if they are cliche and unoriginal. The fight engine is also fantastic. There are a lot of the same battles, but they do well to stay fun and interesting. Also, you feel like you really progress throughout the game and get stronger. The characters grow as you do and that really helps the game. All in all, a very good game that is probably worth buying if you feel like putting the effort into it.    … Expand
  29. Underpants158
    May 30, 2013
    7
    Tales of Vesperia is all around OK. The combat system is ok. The story is ok. The characters are ok. And the style of the graphics is..well, pretty good. I'll skip the combat system as it's not why i play these games and not why you should be playing them either.

    The story progresses slowly. So slowly and without a leading cause that I found myself forgetting what I was doing. It's your    Tales of Vesperia is all around OK. The combat system is ok. The story is ok. The characters are ok. And the style of the graphics is..well, pretty good. I'll skip the combat system as it's not why i play these games and not why you should be playing them either.

    The story progresses slowly. So slowly and without a leading cause that I found myself forgetting what I was doing. It's your typical "HIGH SCHOOL KIDS SAVE THE WORLD" JRPG and that is fine if only because it is to be expected. I won't get into the specifics other than that if you watched fox news you'd think it's hippie-left wing-tree huger propaganda. What my biggest complaint about the story is the big evil bad guy only shows face in the later portion of the game. He just comes on the scene and goes "IM GONNA DESTROY THE WORLD! TEENAGERS BE DAMNED!" It's very lackluster. No build up. No real desire to defeat him. I just found myself going through the motions and not giving a damn and the whole reason I play these games is to so I can give a damn. Damn not given.

    The characters! The main character is a beautiful dark haired girl with a sexy mans voice-kinda like Dr.Girlfriend from "The Venture Bros." Some people may say this character is a guy but "Yuri" is such an androgynous name that I feel perfectly justified in assuming he's a she. This Yuri believes that the law is not always right and breaking the law is not always wrong. He's rebellious wise ass. If he didn't look like a girl (and a pretty one at that) I may just taken him seriously. There is a book smart princess who is obliviously naive as she was sheltered her whole life. There's a child prodigy mage that is kinda like a female version of Sheldon Cooper from 'The Big Bang Theory." However she is not the star of the show and her and complaining isn't funny it's just... and complaining. Then there is a (14 year old?) boy with a gigantic sword that is street smart but at the same time is kind of a pansy. How does one get street smart without in the process growing balls? I do not know the answer to this question but he isn't very likable either. The complaint with the characters in this game is that they are just ok. I don't care about them and I don't care about what they are doing. In other words I am not giving a damn.

    I admit, I didn't finish the game. I really only know of the big bad boss because I looked up the plot summary after ten hours and realizing I'd rather not play the game anymore. I do give it a seven out of ten though because I know there is a crowd that aches for this stuff. The type of quirky that only the Japanese know how to do. And in reality it's not that bad of a game. I like JRPS. Suikoden III was one of my favorite games of all time but I just couldn't get into this one.    … Expand
  30. Tomaskovic93
    Apr 25, 2013
    7
    Very fun game, definitely worth buying. Combat is very well done AI is spot on. only problem is some cut scenes include voices but most of them don't. Very long game as well, story is quite confusing as they explain to you what everything in the world is only once and expect you to know it by heart from then on.
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Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2008
29
#29 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2008
15
#15 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 67 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 67
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 67
  3. Negative: 0 out of 67
  1. Official Xbox Magazine
    85
    Incredibly satisfying. [Oct 2008, p.82]
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  2. Hardcore Gamer
    80
    The graphics are stunning, the characters are interesting and the game is simply really fun to play.
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  3. IGN
    82
    Tales of Vesperia is a strong anime-style Japanese RPG with a wide-ranging story, compelling characters and an intense real-time battle system that keeps you on your toes.
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