14 DAY TRIAL // 
Tales of Vesperia was originally launched more than ten years ago as an Xbox 360 exclusive, but it was later ported on PlayStation 3. Unfortunately, the PS3 port has never been launched in the West and remained an Japanese-exclusive until this day.
The game had such a troubled history that it's a miracle Bandai Namco decided to release a remaster version, which will include upscaled graphics, all content from the Japan-exclusive PS3 version, as well as English and Japanese tracks.
Dubbed Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition, the game is now available worldwide on all major platforms, including Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Vesperia is not old enough to be considered a classic, but it's old enough to make you feel nostalgic if you've previously played it 10 years ago. It's also a great opportunity for young gamers to try out what many consider the best Tales game ever launched.
Tales of Vesperia has aged well enough and that makes a strong case for those who already played the old game but want to give the complete version a try. If you are one of those people, I encourage you to get the Definitive Edition, even if that means waiting for the game to go on sale.
Although Vesperia's main story is full of clichés, the chemistry between the protagonists and their characterization it's what really drives players towards the finish line. You play as Yuri Lowell, a former Imperial Knight who goes on a mission to retrieve a blastia core that's been stolen from where it was most needed, the poor district of The Imperial Capital.
In truth, this isn't the story of a single character, but a band if misfits who operate in the grey area of the law. Yuri and his dog, Repede, are quickly joined by two other interesting characters – Estelle and Karol, each featuring unique personalities that aren't even compatible with one another. But that's the beauty of it, as Vesperia's colorful crew of cast members cover a wide spectrum of temperaments.
Despite its many cheesy dialogues, interaction between characters creates a dynamic rarely seen in a JRPG. Karol, the monster hunter kid who could go very well as an impostor, Estelle, the noble woman who's never set foot outside The Imperial Capital and never catches any jokes, or the ever joyful pirate Patty, are just a fraction of the members that form Yuri's band of misfits.
Since it's just a remaster of an old game, Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition doesn't reinvent the way players explore the world, achieve goals and progress their characters. However, the game lacks some gameplay features that have become standard for JRPGs these days, such as a minimap and a more player-friendly UI.
Those who've never played a Tales game before probably expect Vesperia to come up with the same traditional turn-based combat system almost all JRPGs have implemented throughout the years, but they would be wrong.
Vesperia developers have come up with a unique combat system that now feels convoluted. At first glance, it may seem like a simple button mash scheme, but Vesperia's combat system is quite deep, especially after your characters learn more Artes and skills. My main concern each fight was to correctly time my attacks, blocks and Artes, as to not remain open to counterattacks. Later on, you'll discover that triggering powerful combos with one or more members of your party are the easiest way to win a boss fight.
Technically, the Definitive Edition is a step up from the original game, not just because it adds the extra content from the PS3 version. The art style and the character design have received a boost to match today's standards, although I can't say the same thing about the environments which look a little bit archaic. Also, the control scheme, as I've previously mentioned, is convoluted and very awkward for newcomers to the Tales series.
Another downside that doesn't seem to have been addressed is the AI for your allies, which is a hit and miss. During combat, your allies are of utmost importance, not just because they can aggro the enemies thus letting your character deal max damage, but also because they are mandatory for some of the most powerful combos in the game.
The Good
- Deep characterization
- Great voice acting and soundtrack
- Art style and character design
The Bad
- Uninspired, predictable story
- Convoluted combat system
- Difficulty spikes, especially early in the game
Conclusion
Still, for all the missed opportunities, Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition perfectly catches the spirit of the series. Its biggest achievement is that it puts a great cast of characters front and center without compromising the JRPG-centric narrative style.
Although it does little to refine the Tales formula, Vesperia is clearly a must-play for any JRPG fan, if not for the rather uninspired and predictable story, but for the characterization, great voice acting and more often than not hilarious conversations.
