#Tales of Graces f Remastered – Destructoid

Initially launched as a Nintendo Wii unique in 2009—and solely in Japan—Tales of Graces was ultimately remastered and delivered to the Western viewers on the PlayStation 3 within the type of Tales of Graces f in 2012. Now, virtually 13 years later, the JRPG has been remastered as soon as once more and made out there on just about each trendy platform with Tales of Graces f Remastered.

These days remastered can imply lots of issues on the subject of video games, anyplace from primary ports to a extra trendy system to an entire remake like Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake. Within the case of Tales of Graces f Remastered, it means up to date graphics to look higher on trendy shows, alongside a plethora of quality-of-life additions starting from small to very large.

A lot of the additions merely make this over two-decade outdated JRPG extra accessible and enjoyable to play, whereas conserving many of the expertise genuine and true to the unique. Which, I’m not afraid to confess, is certainly one of my favorites within the ‘Tales of’ franchise.

Tales of Graces f Remastered (PC, PS5[reviewed], PS5, Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Swap)
Developer: TOSE Co. LTD
Writer: Bandai Namco
Launched: January 16, 2025
MSRP: $39.99

Yup, you heard that proper. If I needed to decide an absolute favourite, it might most likely be probably the most not too long ago launched Tales of Come up. However earlier than then, I’d put Tales of Graces f up there alongside Tales of the Abyss as my favourite, largely due to its enjoyable high-speed battle system that was a standout within the sequence. Fortunately, developer TOSE Co. LTD has left the battle system absolutely intact from the unique.

The story of Tales of Graces f Remastered takes place within the fantastical world of Ephinea, a world divided into three totally different nations: Windor, Strahta, and Fendel. Firstly of the sport, the principle protagonist Asbel, and his youthful brother Hubert, discover a peculiar purple-haried lady named Sophie close to their city. Sophie is affected by amnesia and has no thought who she is or why she is there. Asbel and Hubert take Sophie again to their village, solely to come across Prince Richard, the longer term king of one of many different three kingdoms. The 4 change into mates earlier than an sudden tragedy leads to the group all going their separate methods.

From right here, Tales of Graces f Remastered jumps ahead seven years to a time when the three kingdoms that had been all beforehand at peace are actually below the specter of battle on account of a sequence of occasions that transpired over that time frame, ensuing within the childhood mates reuniting throughout fairly attempting instances because the three kingdoms are below the specter of an all-out battle.

Like most JRPGs, the story of Tales of Graces f Remastered is a crucial a part of the sport. I believe the explanation I benefit from the story of Graces a lot is as a result of fixed rigidity introduced on by the factor of political intrigue, one thing usually absent in JRPGs and extra particularly within the ‘Tales of’ sequence. It’s not with out its faults—it actually suffers from among the regular JRPG cliches, particularly with its characters—however the fixed twisting and turning of the story on account of backstabbing and politicking units it other than different entries within the sequence.

Whereas I benefit from the story, it’s vital to focus on that I very a lot suggest you play by means of the optionally available ‘Lineage and Legacies’ after finishing the principle story. It was initially a DLC that truly serves because the ending to Tales of Graces, resolving lots of ongoing subplots and total places a pleasant of completion on the principle story as nicely. The Lineage and Legacies DLC, in addition to all the opposite DLC that launched for Tales of Graces f apart from a couple of items of license-restricted cosmetics, are included within the remastered model.

Tales of Graces f Remastered makes use of an motion fight system the place working into enemies on the world map will ship you right into a real-time battle in opposition to the enemy. You may run across the battle map in addition to block or dodge assaults, all whereas attacking your foes with quite a lot of assaults together with A Artes (bodily particular assaults) and B Artes (magical particular assaults. Utilizing a system referred to as Chain Capability (sometimes called CC), you possibly can combo Artes collectively to deal large injury. As you progress by means of Tales of Graces f Remastered, undertaking varied achievements will unlock Titles for every of your characters that additionally grant new Artes.

I bear in mind attempting to get the platinum trophy for Tales of Graces f which required you to get 100 Titles for every of the playable characters. This was an enormous time sink, as many titles merely required you to grind them out mindlessly. With Tales of Graces f Remastered, you get full entry to the Grade Store, as particular store that lets you allow and disable sure systematic adjustments to the sport on the fly comparable to Double Merchandise Drop possibilities, elevated expertise and foreign money beneficial properties, and extra. Imagine me once I say a few of these will actually lower down on the grind, particularly should you’re trying to get all of the Titles. Within the unique, you could possibly solely entry the Grade Store after finishing the sport. For many who have performed beforehand and need to have a much less grindy expertise, it is a very welcome quality-of-life addition. And for individuals who don’t need it, you possibly can merely select to not allow any of the buffs from the Grade Store.

Alongside the Grade Store, listed here are among the different quality-of-life additions in Tales of Graces f Remastered. On the overworld map, you possibly can toggle your run button into a touch button to extra shortly traverse the world. You may also toggle enemy encounters on or off by way of a easy setting within the choices menu, so if you wish to keep away from battles and simply progress the story for a bit, you are able to do so. All cutscenes and dialogue skits are skippable (thank god) and vacation spot icons on your subsequent fundamental story quest vacation spot have been added when on the overworld map.

On the finish of the day, Tales of Graces f Remastered is all the things a remaster must be: graphical upgrades that make an outdated recreation look higher on trendy platforms, a trove of quality-of-life additions that make the sport higher whereas staying true to the unique model, and inclusion of all of the DLC for the whole bundle. It’s actually strong worth, particularly for individuals who have but to play Tales of Graces in both of its earlier two kinds, since that is basically the last word model. Now I simply hope Tales of Xillia 1 and a pair of or perhaps even Tales of the Abyss are subsequent!

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}