Tales of the first Tales of
Couple days ago I watched the end credits of Tales of Phantasia. Game I’ve started several times, but only now finished. I don’t blame past me or anyone else for not playing the game, it was rough at times, but ultimately there was enough good in there too. Definitely I don’t anyway regret the time I put in it. Even though I played the PS1 version, instead of the original release, I feel it was interesting to see the starting point of long running series that’s still going.
Tales of Phantasia is sadly one of those games where battles feel like they take several times longer as they should. Especially in mid-game enemies felt like they had five times as much hp as they should. Things got better later, but lot of the combat became bit tiresome. Which is sad, because I felt the core was fine, some jank, but manageable. And cumbersome combat feeds into other aspects of the game, mainly dungeons. Dungeons in Phantasia has some thought in them, there were mazes and puzzles and puzzly mazes, neat stuff. But when combat feels like chore, it makes exploring these environments a chore too. And not all the dungeons are great, I don’t think all the puzzles land properly, but I still appreciate even the attempt.
Thinking back on the story of Phantasia, I like how it’s the story of the main characters, a group of young heroes who stop the evil demon-army leading warlord Dhaos. But there is also more than that, the story and world is larger than just what main characters are up to, but things game focuses on are just the parts with main characters. Biggest aspect of this is the villain Dhaos. Fairly early on character and party member Arche wonders what is Dhaos’ deal, why he does what he does. And everyone else basically goes “shut up kid, he is evil and needs to be stopped, that’s all.” Not that that’s wrong assessment of him, but it’s obvious there’s is a lot more. And some of it is learned, but not much, there is just implication that there is more to this person called Dhaos, traveller from another world than what characters and thus player learns.
I’m not Tales of expert. Haven’t played that many of them. Overall my feelings towards the series has been; they are fine. I don’t have any nostalgia for the series, nor great love of any kind, but the games are good. I generally enjoy the story, like the characters and tolerate the combat. Tales of Phantasia fits the group well. Sure bit weaker side on all aspects, but it’s the first game in the series, makes sense that things get better with time and experience.
