Lurker > EstelleBright

60. Tales of the Abyss (NBIceman)


Tales of the Abyss is an oddly structured game in many ways. You really have to be patient with it through its first act because it's rough. The cast isn't particularly likable (Luke being first and foremost among them), and the characters don't seem to like each other very much either. The story's pace is rather plodding, and it feels like monumental moments are few and far between. You also have to deal with the game's absurd terminology, which it is not afraid to use ad nauseum. It won't take long before you get tired of hearing Abyss talk about the various types of fonons, the Score, Lorelei, miasma, hyperresonance, etc. However, if you're longsuffering enough to stick with it to Akzeriuth, it will begin to reward you for your perseverance because it changes course. Most of the cast undergoes very compelling character development to the point that I started rooting for them to succeed (Anise never makes the transition to being likable, but eh, you can't win 'em all). The scale of the plot in Abyss expands in a major way, and it finally managed to hook me so that I never had to wonder again about whether to keep playing. The dumb terminology never goes away, but it's a Tales game. It's not going to be perfect.

Luke's character growth from an unbelievably selfish jerk to a self-sacrificing hero is a joy to behold. Sometimes it takes someone hitting absolute rock bottom in more ways than one to get the most out of a character, and that's definitely the case with Luke. The other characters come a long way in moving beyond their dark pasts, but nobody overcomes more of his own faults and failures than Luke. The party goes from a bunch of people who don't like and don't trust each other to a close-knit group. I actually like it a lot when an RPG can pull that off well because the friendship and camaraderie feels earned. It makes for a very satisfying journey for me. The Skits go a long way in that department, too. They've been one of my favorite things in both Symphonia and Abyss (the only two Tales games I've played). I also like the group of antagonists in Tales of the Abyss because each one has a special connection with one of the party members, and it's cool discovering how they relate to one another and what their background together was.

The battle system doesn't feel too different from Tales of Symphonia, but that's fine because I think it's a lot of fun. I eventually swapped out controlling Luke for Guy, whose playstyle is a lot like Lloyd's. I enjoy his flashy, fast-paced moveset. I tend to be aggressive and offensively-minded in video games, regardless of the genre, so Guy fits what I like to do very well. You can just get up in your enemies' faces and attack away. One major improvement over Symphonia is that the dungeons don't suck. They're actually fairly simple and straightforward, which was a nice change of pace. I still prefer Symphonia overall for reasons that I'll get into when we get there, but Abyss was a very worthwhile experience, too.

Bonus Question: What is your favorite Tales game?
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@SaveEstelle

I demand that you move me to the front of the line
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SaveEstelle posted...

I added Loewe parenthetically because Janus came to my house and said he'd hurt Estelle if I didn't :(

if he's still in Georgia right now he's fairly close by

I'll give him a place to meet and he's welcome to try before it's time for ultra-violence
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Joshua > Me
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Jeff Zero posted...

and I give kateee free reign to post about Estelleee

you're lucky your name's still in the title

speaking of which

since I'm very nearly done with Mario Odyssey that means very soon I shall be able to return to playing Skies of Arcadia (and Trails FC too)
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Jeff Zero posted...

I ask Estelle

No.
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The Steiner entourage basically got to decide who went out when once we got to the top ten so who even knows
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Jeff Zero posted...

Estelle

You rang, user @Jeff_Zero?
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UInstinctGogeta posted...

Laguna boosted after yesterday.

well yeah all the Squall mains jumped to him
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greetings user Jeff Zero

thank you for your once every 25 rounds save
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Janus5k posted...

This

I guess he just realized Estelle does not require saving

I've only been trying to tell him this from the start

(he's also kinda bitter I got this account and he didn't imhotbqh)
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Kyon
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Hachiman Hikigaya
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Yuki Nagato
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Kyon
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And Monika some more
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Monika
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Hachiman Hikigaya
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Yuki Nagato
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Chizuru Hishiro
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Phoenix Wright
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Sousuke Sagara
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Kyon
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also I will always hold it over his head that I got this account instead of him
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Janus5k posted...

I am mildly amused by EstelleBright saving

it's a nice reversal

I am insulted that user Jeff Zero thinks I need saving
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Hachiman Hikigaya
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Chizuru Hishiro
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Yuki Nagato
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Phoenix Wright
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Sousuke Sagara
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Kyon
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actually I'm going to head out for a little bit so I'll take advantage of the rule

Sousuke Sagara
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I'll throw in a vote for Kyon because I'd hate for him to get shut out
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ya go my Kurisu Makise
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Kurisu Makise
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Yeah, but there's no reason his great-great-grandfather can't be Japanese, is there? I have a good friend who is third generation Japanese-American (although only a quarter Japanese technically at this point) and she has a fully "American" name, so it'd be doable for Phoenix's name to become Phoenix Wright within a few generations.
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I'd vote for Kurisu Makise some more
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I nominated Kurisu Makise so it'd be cool if she won
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Right, Kurisu Makise
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Kurisu Makise, right?
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Seriously, vote Kurisu Makise
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Kurisu Makise is greater than even me
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did someone call for ultra-violence
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UNSAFE [22]

[2] Cecil Harvey - KommunistKoala, OlDirtyNumbers
[2] Kain Highwind - Janus5k, StifledSilence

[2] Galuf Halm Baldesion - TexWolf_1729, Rockdan

[2] Celes Chere - ProfitProphet, Celestecebo
[2] Gau - VeryInsane, GenesisSaga
[2] Terra Branford - Luis_Sera89, Denzokuken
[2] Umaro - Great_Paul, BetrayedTangy

[2] Barret Wallace - captaincanadian, KommunistKoala
[2] Vincent Valentine - th3l3fty, captaincanadian
[2] Yuffie Kisaragi - Arti, ProfitProphet

[2] Laguna Loire - ecksgem, Xuxon
[2] Ultimecia - FFDragon, The Mana Sword

[2] Kuja - BetrayedTangy, kateee

[2] Seymour Guado - WhiteLens, v_charon
[2] Tidus - GenesisSaga, mnkboy907

[2] Ashelia "Ashe" B'nargin Dalmasca - The Mana Sword, FFDragon

[2] Ramza Beoulve - mnkboy907, Eddv
[2] Wiegraf Folles - Gatarix, MarquessLaus

[2] Layle - WhiteLens, profDEADPOOL

[2] Dr. Mog - iiicon, RPGlord95

[2] Echo - GuessMyUserName, v_charon

[1] Agnes Oblige - Dantezoid
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looks like everyone who voted "next topic" in the last topic wins
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Estelle needs no one to save her. I do the saving around here.
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maybe I should go ahead and make it now so he can't have it later

much like this account for all the Trails fans
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th3l3fty posted...

Jeff Zero posted...

hold the line

CLOUD STRIFE isn't always on time

who is this guy

well I know who he isn't...!
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