Tales of Symphonia GameCube
  • Publisher: Namco
  • Release Date: Jul 13, 2004
Tales of Symphonia Image
Metascore
86 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 60 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 73 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Summary: In a dying village on Sylvarant, legend has it that a Chosen One will one day appear from among the people, and the land will be reborn. Now, you must enter a cel-shaded world in which you command real-time battles. Execute and combine hundreds of special attacks, magic spells, and combos. Each character grows to suit your fighting style, and the storyline changes based on the characters' relationships. The line between good and evil blurs in this immersive adventure where the fate of two interlocked worlds hangs in the balance. … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 60
  3. Negative: 0 out of 60
  1. Nintendophiles
    100
    This game, while not perfect, will even attract and hold non-RPG fans with its unique battle system, and interesting story. The game is a great, interesting, and fun experience.
  2. GameZone
    85
    A symphonic masterpiece. Such a statement may sound repetitive, but when an RPG is this good you can't help but repeat yourself.
  3. IGN
    85
    Tales is a lot of fun. Plain and simple. And, due to its hybrid RPG/adventure game nature, it's got the customization, strategy, and experience system that RPG fans admire, as well as a battle system and puzzle solving elements that appeals to action/adventure oriented gamers.
  4. Gamer's Hell
    70
    A fairly good RPG. Nothing stands out about it, nothing incredibly amazing has been done with it, but it is a serviceable and enjoyable game if you're a fan of the genre.

See all 60 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 47 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 49
  3. Negative: 2 out of 49
  1. Steven
    10
    Closest thing to a perfect game, amazing characters, amazing story, extremely fun battles, everything, the only problem is whan playing with multiple people the first player has to be a long range spellcaster othewise the camera will follow first player and leave everyone confused, but if playing with alot of people it isnt really an issue since someone has to be a magic user.… Expand
  2. DexterM.
    8
    It's very good, but they're are better rpg's out there and the storyline at fist seemed a bit like a FFX clone.
  3. Mike
    7
    This game starts with a generic story, and that was one of my main fears going into this game. But after playing half way through I found the story started to evolve into a vast epic tale, very book worthy. Now onto the technical game play parts; the battle system is fantastic, one of the best I have seen. Field encounter battles are not so much a drone and this battles are really in close quarters with the enemy which makes it feel like you are actually in a tussle with the enemy, something turn based fighting cant seem to achieve. The praise I gave to the battle system unfortunately cannot be carried over to the game field. The game field is awful and cheesy, the enemies are represented as black blobs and it can really destroy the immersion that you are on an epic quest with friends when you stride around as a giant avoiding black blobs, the music in the field is also very cheesy and repeats itself over and over. Overall the game field breaks whatever emotional scene that came before it. The game can be difficult to navigate sometimes as it never really gives you any clues as to what random faceless NPC you are supposed to talk to next or what area of a town you are supposed to be in. Cut scenes are filled with emotion and great voice acting can be ruined with limited character movements and no physics. Its a good game and I recommend it, just don't expect to play it over and over, as its only the story that will keep you going. (and possibly fights)… Expand
  4. AlecW.
    3
    Doesn't see like much effort was put into it. I've played better games on the super nintendo. SuckAss Story, way to japanesey. I�39;m even a fan of cell shaded graphics, but this product really hates me.… Expand

See all 49 User Reviews