@ Jenni: (Quote) The mini dialogues between characters are all voiced (which is nice) (/Quote) Nice, but they promised to go after the original voice actors for the sequel, and instead because of the union and non-union crap we had voice actors that weren’t even contacted to reprise the role, they were informed of the game existance by the fans. This game was even low budget when it comes to voice over treatment, next to a proper installment.

Although yes, they didn’t record skits before, and do now, and thus must have had some kind of shame in not recording them for this one. But the production values are low.

@ Jenni: (Quote) and I like how it uses motion capture scenes that aren’t animated to advance the storyline. Sometimes, when a game suddenly jumps to an animated or FMV sequence (which looks totally different from the rest of the game), it can be a bit jarring. (/Quote) Well, if you’re talking about motion captured in-game cutscenes they look crap to me as well, better than the rest of the subpar graphicall effort (or lack of it) sure, but they certainly don’t seem that good.

@ Jenni: (Quote) Just because it doesn’t look “next gen” and may be a bit slow to start, doesn’t mean its low quality. (/Quote) Well, and it certainly doesn’t mean they did any effort whatsoever as well when they’ve (Namco) shown they can do better, inexperienced third party’s on the Wii are doing RPG’s that look miles and bounds better, and well, it’s still a game made on the prospect of recycling assets, Wii owners deserved better, Tales fans deserved better, Tales of Symphonia fans deserved better. it’s not horrible, sure.

As for how it starts, it starts out as the worse Tales beggining ever, it’s just too darned slow. Abyss was slow but this one really takes the cake, it’s not even enjoyable at first, just a chore.

Well, just the

Regarding the FFX-2 point, FFX-2 was made straight afterwards and for the same platform and by the same team, this? it was forked 5 years afterwards by a third rate team while the original one was too busy to make a game for a new, more powerful console and recycle old stuff.

It’s half assed, it’s low budget, it’s lazy, it’s disrespectful for the platform and their userbase.

Is it a horrible game? no it isn’t, and on that I can agree, but it’s still a lack of respect, and has a pretty bad approach to it… cheap approach.

@Chris; I wouldn’t put it that bluntly, but yeah some of the writing was a bit immature, and very cliche-ish.

@Jenni; I also came to love Tenebrae (although I’ve never heard his english voice). His eccentric attitude always made me laugh. I was a bit dissapointed with Righter though, for one I expected him to appear more often, and I totally misjudged his rule. (ok I’m just a whiny fangirl when it comes to him)

@ lostinblue: A spin-off maybe, but I don’t really think its that low budget. The mini dialogues between characters are all voiced (which is nice) and I like how it uses motion capture scenes that aren’t animated to advance the storyline. Sometimes, when a game suddenly jumps to an animated or FMV sequence (which looks totally different from the rest of the game), it can be a bit jarring. Just because it doesn’t look “next gen” and may be a bit slow to start, doesn’t mean its low quality.

@ Volcynika: I hear you. Its like after Animal Crossing: City Folk, no other “monumental” titles are being released in 2008. It seems like its Nintendo-wide as well – it looks like there may be a bit of a quality DS title drought in December as well. If you liked the original Tales of Symphonia, chances are you’ll enjoy this as well.

@ Aoshi00: That is such an appropriate comparison! It is a lot like that. (I actually adored FFX-2. It was so campy sometimes that it made me overlook some of the smaller quirks. XD)

@ Chris: I know exactly what you mean. It doesn’t help much for me, because the second I started to hear Marta speak, I thought, “Tohru!” (Fruits Basket)

But, if you look at some of the characters, they seem like just preteens or teens. So I’m kind of willing to ignore it. Especially since I’ve developed a fondness for Tenebrae and the fabulous Johnny Yong Bosch is voicing Emil.

This game’s storyline would also fit nicely on that Fox Kids cartoon block or in Disney’s Jetix block. I almost wonder if perhaps Namco Bandai did it purposely since the Wii does have such a wide audience? Perhaps they wanted to create a more family friendly storyline that would be alluring to new gamers who purchased the Wii and yet be tolerated by seasoned Tales of fans.

(As opposed to the other Tales games which come off as an anime geared toward just old enough an age group never to be licensed in the US so it gets fansubbed the hell out of on bittorrent.)