Tales of Legendia (Sony PlayStation 2, 2006)

Tales of Legendia is an entry in Namco's excellent "Tales of" series. The series is known for it's interesting stories and real-time "linear motion battle system." Though not perfect, this is a worthy entry in the series.

Graphics 4 out of 5
This is the first true 3D entry in the series and it looks very good overall. The anime styled portraits are beautiful and the in game graphics while not the best ever seen on the PS2 are well above average.

Story 4 out of 5
The story starts with Senel and his sister Shirley on a boat when a storm comes and strands them on what appears to be an island. However, this island is actually a massive ship (The Legacy) built by an ancient civilization and Shirley is believed to be the "Merines" told of in the ancients' legends. I haven't completed the game yet, but I have liked what I've seen so far. It sounds a bit strange at first but it gets quite interesting with some plot twists as you progress.

Sound 5 out of 5
Most of the background music is very beautifully composed. The sound effects aren't spectacular but I have no complaints about them either. The voice acting, limited to the first half of the game only, isn't Hollywood quality but is still far above average for a video game.

Controls 5 out of 5
Everything is very responsive, my only complaint is that the menus are a little more complex than they need to be, but still completely functional.

Gameplay 4 out of 5
The gameplay consists of exploration and battles. When exploring, you get to visit towns and traverse dungeons. In dungeons, you generally are trying to find your way through a maze of sorts, and most have a puzzle room. In the puzzle room there are no random battles to distract you from solving the task at hand. Speaking of random battles, my biggest complaint is that after doing away with random battles in the previous entry, Tales of Symphonia, they decided to bring them back in this game. I'll never refuse to play a game just because it has random battles, but like many people, I do find them highly annoying. That said, at least the encounter rate in this game isn't too bad.

In battle, you're moved to a 2D side-scrolling battlefield where you combat your enemies in real-time. If you have played Super Smash Brothers the combat should feel familiar to you. Basically you have regular attacks mapped to the x button and d-pad, eres attacks (magic or attack skills depending on the character) mapped to the O button and d-pad, and blocking mapped to square. You fight alongside up to four allies who are controlled by the computer and you can give them orders and strategies via the menus inside and outside of battle. Since the battles are often quite fun, the random battle mechanic is made more bearable in this game than most which use it.

Replay Value 2 out of 5
Haven't finished it yet, but like most RPGs it doesn't have much replay value. I heard it does have a "grade shop" like Symphonia where you can replay with certain new options depending on your battle grade, but only the hardcore will likely take advantage of it.

Overall 4 out of 5
Like any Japanese RPG, this game isn't for everybody. However, if you have any interest in games like this, I highly recommend giving it (or any entry in the series) a try.

I have really enjoyed playing this game. More than anything, it makes me laugh. It is like watching a humorous anime and actually controlling the characters. Every now and then you might see them break into song and dance or crack jokes. The plot line is deep and full of twists. The guide is lacking, but it does help. Most of the time, I just use it for small problems because the game itself is self-explanatory. You don't have to have the guide to beat this game. It does help a little, but I have fought on my own for most of the game. Again, it is very self-explanatory. The battle system is fun. I enjoyed the set-up. It is a mixture between the freedom of Kingdom Hearts and the Final Fantasy X style of taking turns. Everyone fights together at the same time, and you control how aggressive their fighting is. I would recommend this game to people who love RPG's or just a good laugh. Not all of the game is funny, but there are some very humorous parts. *ors* You won't regret investing in this game.

My 12 year old son wanted this game so badly, that he spent 2 days weeding the garden in order to earn it (I had bought it on ebay and put it away)! He is too old for Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon, but loves this genre of game. Between my 2 sons, they have all of the "Tales of" games now, and they never get tired of playing them. The instruction book says that the Main Scenario is "...the story focuses on Senel and SHirley, and concerns the development of a battle on which the fate of the world hangs. In the course of the main story, players will encounter new friends and foes, and new discoveries will arise."
reviewed by ericaginter

Awesome game with an awesome plot. It is about a boy named Senel Coolidge and his sister Shirley. In the first bit of the game Shirley get's kidnapped by bandits and Senel must rescue her. It starts to get very deep into the plot after this.
If you like Tales games this one is a great game to pick up.

The soundtrack to this game is TO DO FOR. The music fits it very well, it is NOT a step back in the battle system like so many other people have said, personally, it's one of my favorites. The characters are likeable, the story is intriguing, you can create your own compound eres. Very good game.