Tales of Symphonia

Tales of Symphonia (テイルズ オブ シンフォニア) is the fifth main game in the Tales series and the eleventh game released in total. It is the third game released in North America and is known as the most successful-selling game, only competing with the newer Tales of Vesperia. It follows the adventures of Lloyd Irving, as he and his friends work to help Colette Brunel regenerate the world.

This title brought the Tales series a new battle system in 3D, where the player-controlled character moves on a 2D plane, except when physically attacking an enemy located off the plane.

Gameplay
Like previous games in the Tales series, Tales of Symphonia uses a version of the Linear Motion Battle System — a real-time battle system, called Multi-Line Linear Motion Battle System. When the party is on the world map, they can enter battles by running into monsters visible on the field. During battle, up to four players may each control one character. Characters not under the control of a player are controlled by artificial intelligence, and can be set to operate according to specific tactics; players can determine which techniques or magic spells the character may use during battle. AI-controlled choices can be overridden by the player by selecting orders from a menu. The player may also map certain techniques, spells, or strategies to controller buttons, allowing quick use of them without pausing. Battle movement is relative to enemy characters. Each character and its targeted enemy define a plane perpendicular to the ground, to which movement is restricted. Characters can attack, defend, or use magic and special techniques. Guarding is of much greater importance than in previous Tales games, as Tales of Symphonia characters take more damage when unguarded than their series counterparts, and guarding prevents attacks from stunning the character. However, being hit from behind while guarding triggers a "Guard Break," leaving the character briefly vulnerable.

Another feature of the Multi-Line Linear Motion Battle System is Over Limit. Characters enter Over Limit mode after having obtained a certain number of tension points. Several things contribute to tension, such as getting hit or cooking a meal featuring an ingredient that the character enjoys. However, a character's tension points reset upon dying. Over Limit mode prevents staggering, reduces the amount of damage taken by half, and allows spells to be cast more quickly. Some attacks may only be used while in Over Limit mode. Sheena Fujibayashi must be in Over Limit mode to summon a Summon Spirit. Certain enemies, most notably bosses, can go into Overlimit as well.

Dealing combos on an enemy fills the Unison Gauge. When filled completely, a Unison Attack can be triggered. During a Unison Attack, the player hits buttons corresponding to the position of each character in the party. Each party member executes the move assigned to the top of their list. Certain attacks, when combined together, result in a special attack to cause additional damage. Lloyd Irving, Colette Brunel and Genis Sage also possess special hidden moves that can be activated under specific conditions. The PlayStation 2 version contains hidden moves for additional characters, including some bosses and every member of the party.

Grade is awarded after each battle. It is awarded or subtracted based on specific criteria that are fulfilled in battle. Scoring multi-hit combos increases Grade, but having a character die will subtract from it. The length of the battle also has an effect. Grade can be used to purchase items for customization and EX Gems, or to buy bonuses when starting a New Game Plus.

Characters
Lloyd Irving (ロイド・アーヴィング) Once but a simple country boy, Lloyd Irving is thrust out into a journey of epic proportions following a brutal attack on his village. The Chosen of Regeneration, Colette, is in fact one of his dearest friends, and after an exile from his home, Lloyd Irving joins her on her Journey of Regeneration. Although the young warrior himself plays no part in the prophecy as such, he is still a strong optimist and eventually a fair leader. Colette Brunel (コレット・ブルーネル) The kind and selfless Chosen of Regeneration from the land of Sylvarant, whose destiny is to climb the Tower of Salvation and restore life to the planet. For the sake of this cause, she would willingly give up her own life.

Genis Sage (ジーニアス・セイジ) A childhood friend of Lloyd Irving who grew up studying magic in the small countryside village of Iselia. Being something of a prodigy with his powers, this young boy becomes an invaluable member of the Chosen's group through their Journey of Regeneration.

Raine Sage (リフィル・セイジ) A skilled healer who worked as a teacher in Iselia before leaving with Colette on the Journey of Regeneration. Together with her younger brother Genis, she claims to be an orphaned elf who carved out a life in the land of Sylvarant.

Kratos Aurion (クラトス・アウリオン) A sword-wielding mercenary whom the Church of Martel hires in order to protect the Chosen on her Journey of Regeneration. At the beginning of the game, not much is known about this mysterious character, but as things progress, more and more of his history becomes clear.

Sheena Fujibayashi (しいな藤林) A female ninja from the Tethe'alla village of Mizuho, who was sent to Sylvarant to assassinate Colette. However, as she travels through the faraway land, she begins to feel sympathy for its people and their plight.

Zelos Wilder (ゼロス・ワイルダー) The Chosen of Mana from the land of Tethe'alla. Raised as an aristocrat, his view of the world is clouded. He is unaware of the effects of discrimination in his world, although he is aware of its presence. An irrepressible flirt, he takes every chance he can get to hit on all female party members, much to the annoyance of the party.

Presea Combatir (プレセア・コンバティール) A young girl who is a victim to the effects of a special Exsphere, halting her physical growth. She is very quiet and constantly asserts her need to go home.

Regal Bryant (リーガル・ブライアン) A convict bound with shackles for the crime he committed long ago, this man owes no real debt to society for what he did. He cannot forgive himself.

Mithos (ミトス) A young half-elf outcast from Ozette, he befriends the party after Cruxis destroys the village. Being so close to Genis' age, they quickly bond. The party shows Mithos that it is possible for humans and half-elves to work together. He is named after Mithos the Hero.

Story
The game begins in the world of Sylvarant, a land that is dying due to a steady loss of mana, the energy source that is needed both for magic and to support life itself. As crops begin to wither and hardship sets in, the people turn their hopes to the Chosen, a servant and messiah of the Goddess Martel, who can reverse the ills of the world by completing the Journey of World Regeneration. In order to regenerate the world, the Chosen must travel from continent to continent, awakening the Summon Spirits that sleep at ancient shrines known as "seals." With every seal released, the Chosen comes closer and closer to becoming an angel. Once the Chosen fully transforms into an angel, the world will be regenerated.

As the game progresses, many revelations are made about World Regeneration and the hidden plots that complicate the scenario. One of the earliest revelations is that becoming an angel forces the Chosen to give up the aspects that make him or her human. With the release of the first seal, the Chosen loses the need to eat; with the second, the ability to sleep; with the third, the ability to feel physical sensations; and after releasing the fourth seal, the Chosen can no longer speak. The fifth and final seal requires the Chosen to give up his or her heart, memory, and life. When this process has been completed, the Chosen's body will become one with the goddess Martel.

The party also learns of a second world, known as Tethe'alla, which lies parallel to Sylvarant. Replenishing Sylvarant's supply of mana reverses the flow of mana, thereby draining it from Tethe'alla. The reverse also holds true. As the worlds of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla must compete for a limited amount of mana to survive, whenever one of these two worlds is regenerated, the other falls into a state of decay.

The party succeeds in releasing all the seals, and Colette becomes Martel's vessel. However, they learn that the "angels" they serve have been using them. The party is betrayed by one of its own members, Kratos, who is then revealed to be an angel--a member of Cruxis. The remaining party then goes to Tethe'alla to find answers, where their goal ultimately changes to saving the two worlds. In order to do this, they decide that they must sever the ties between Sylvarant and Tethe'alla to separate the worlds, thus ending the competition for mana. The party goes into the adventure of making pacts with all the Summon Spirits of both worlds, but this causes a giant tree to rampage and destroy many things in Sylvarant. After they manage to stop the tree, the party goes on search to look for a way to fuse the worlds into one. Ultimately, this means destroying Yggdrasil and making a pact with Origin to wield the Eternal Sword.

In the end, the party fuses both worlds into one, but a new problem surfaces: the ancient World Tree cannot exist without the Great Seed. In the end, Lloyd and Colette revive the ancient tree of ever-flowing mana, which, with the aid of the Eternal Sword, merges the two worlds into one. A spirit calling itself Martel appears and tells Lloyd the complications of the tree, and Lloyd swears to protect the tree. Because of this, he is given a chance to name it, the ending cuts off as soon as Lloyd says, "This tree's name is...".

Tales of Symphonia (PS2)
Due to poorer-than-expected GameCube sales of Tales of Symphonia in Japan, Namco decided to re-release the game on the PlayStation 2. This newer version included two extra anime sequences, a different opening song and some added side-quests amongst other things.

Major

 * The game's theme song has been changed from Starry Heavens to Soshite Boku ni Dekiru Koto. It sounds quite similar to the original and was performed by the same band, Day After Tomorrow.
 * The Tales of Symphonia logo is magenta-colored instead of blue.
 * New anime sequences play inside of the Triet Ruins when Colette first receives her wings, and when the group first steals Rheairds from the Sylvarant Base.
 * The end credits now feature a montage of portraits off to the left side.
 * Each playable character, as well as some enemies, has a Hi Ougi (秘奥義). This must be done under special conditions and inflicts massive damage to the enemy. In the GameCube version, only Lloyd, Colette, and Genis have one.

Graphical

 * The frame rate is lowered from 60 frames per second to 30 frames per second.
 * Each character receives an extra costume, which depend on whom Lloyd chooses in Flanoir.
 * Loading times are increased to compensate for the PlayStation 2's poorer graphics engine.
 * The Synopsis option in the menu now displays newer entries at the top.
 * The skit portraits shake and move around more to better display the characters' emotions.
 * When a character is about to enter Over Limit, their portrait will start to glow. In the GameCube version, the characters flash red.
 * When the Unison Attack gauge fills up, it glows.
 * Most of the angels' wings are now of a deeper color.
 * The GameCube-object in the Sylvarant Base has been removed and replaced by the Sony logo.
 * The Sword Dancer now appears on the field as a regular white skull.
 * When Sheena summons a spirit, a cut-in of her face appears on the screen.
 * There are more post-battle animations.
 * The dark rooms in the Tower of Lightning have gone from slightly visible to pitch-black.

Events

 * There are now a set of several books about Mithos the Hero. They can be read for deeper insight into the character and the Kharlan War itself.
 * There are two new events that will let you get more insight into the ancient hero, Mithos. The first can be watched by talking to Mithos while he is living in Altessa's House, and the second can be watched by speaking with Yuan after the events in Welgaia.
 * After completely restoring Luin, a chat with Pietro can trigger a scene where both him and the village residents thank the party by allowing one of them to become honorary mayor. Whoever takes this role is the player’s choice and whoever out of the party chosen will get a point in affection.
 * The sealed spirits of young Kratos, Yuan, and Mithos can be challenged in the Underworld instead of the Living Armor of the GameCube edition.

Tales of Symphonia manga
A manga adaptation was made, written and drawn by Ichimura Hotoshi. Many scenes were cut off in order to make it suitable, though the story line is the same.

Tales of Symphonia: The Animation
A nine episode long anime named Tales of Symphonia: The Animation was made a couple of years after the release of Tales of Symphonia. It has left out even more scenes than the manga, and the first arc ended when the group traveled to Tethe’alla in order to save Colette. New episodes were made for the Tethe’alla Arc. There are only two episodes in this arc and the third and fourth episodes are in development.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
A spin-off sequel to the game, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, was made in 2008, telling the story two years after the end of the original. The heroes of the original return, but the main characters for the sequel are Emil Castagnier, Marta Lualdi, Tenebrae and Richter Abend, and the game is about their journey to find out the mysteries about the chaos in the reunited world, as well as getting revenge on Lloyd Irving, who killed Emil’s parents and many innocent people in a massacre called the Blood Purge.

Reception
Tales of Symphonia garnered both critical acclaim and a strong cult following from fans. It was praised for its endearing art style, battle system, storyline, and audio, and was considered a welcome entry in the "RPG-starved" GameCube library. The camera has been criticized for making it difficult to see obvious enemies at times. The January 2009 issue of Game Informer listed it at #23 in its "Top 25 GameCube Games". Its popularity stems from the fact that it was considered to be one of the few good RPG games made for the GameCube console.

As one of the few games to have been released in Asia, North America and Europe, it is considered one of the best Mothership Titles so far, possibly only rivaled by Tales of Vesperia.