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Tales of Vesperia | 
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| From: Namco
Category: Video Games
List Price: $59.99
Buy Used: $43.97
You Save: $16.02 (27%)
New (23) Used (11) from $43.97
Avg. Customer Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 406
Platform: Xbox 360
ESRB: Teen
Media: Video Game
Edition: Standard
Batteries Included: No
Age: 12 - 20 years
Operating System: Xbox 360
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
MPN: 21016
Model: 21016
UPC: 722674210164
EAN: 0722674210164
ASIN: B0015HZLVA
Release Date: August 26, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Amazing condition. Ships 1st class the same day you order. Buy with confidence.
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| Features:
| • | Next Gen sights and sounds - First Tales RPG game with high-definition graphics, broadcast quality animation, and Dolby surround sound. | | • | Evolved real-time battle system - New refinements and additions to the trademark Tales real-time battle engine making for the most action-packed, dynamic RPG fighting ever | | • | Fan favorite character designs - Characters designed by famous manga artist, Kosuke Fujishima, responsible for popular series’ Ah! My Goddess, Sakura Taisen and You're Under Arrest | | • | Immersive look and feel - Detailed environments, animation and an artistic style so good, it's like playing a cartoon | | • | Dramatic story - Gripping tale of a young hero on a quest for justice, trust and friendship filled with unexpected twists and turns at every step. A decade of Tales - The first game celebrating the Tales 10 year anniversary. |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
A New Generation of Tales Unfold A power struggle begins in a civilization dependant on an ancient technology, the blastia, and the Empire that controls it. The fates of two friends traveling separate paths intertwine in an epic adventure that threatens the existence of all. Tales of Vesperia marks the first Tales RPG release in high-def with detail and graphics never before seen in the series. Now, real-time battles are more exciting than ever with over limits, the ability to unleash fatal strikes, combinations and burst artes. The next evolution of the revered role-playing series comes to the Xbox 360. 
| Key Features
- A classic series returns: The newest installment of the Tales RPG series keeping the established gameplay formula that fans love
- Next Gen sights and sounds: First Tales RPG game with high-definition graphics, broadcast quality animation, and Dolby surround sound
- Evolved real-time battle system: New refinements and additions to the trademark Tales real-time battle engine making for dynamic, action-packed RPG fighting
- Fan favorite character designs: Characters designed by famous manga artist, Kosuke Fujishima, responsible for popular series' Ah! My Goddess, Sakura Taisen and You're Under Arrest
- Immersive look and feel: Detailed environments, animation and an artistic style so good, it's like playing a cartoon
- Dramatic story: Gripping tale of a young hero on a quest for justice, trust and friendship filled with unexpected twists and turns at every step
- A decade of Tales: The first game celebrating the Tales 10 year anniversary
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Characters designed by famous manga artist, Kosuke Fujishima
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A classic series returns.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 A Great Piece of Tale October 8, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have been pleasantly surprised, after almost completely losing interest the JRPG genre, with the traditional gameplay and over-rot and heavy handed writing. Coupled with the usual complaints of the same character templates being re-used constantly. Games like Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon and Enchanted Arms, which are decent games, but they feel into the mould of the traditional JRPG, also these games are almost tributes to Final Fantasy and Phantasy Star with very little innovation asides having halfway decent stories.
But then I tried Tales of Vesperia, one of the Tales series, a hugely popular franchise in Japan that actually was the best selling game in Japan for the debut week, and was the first time the 360 had the top selling game in Japan. Regardless, the game itself doesn't bring anything really new or innovative to the genre, nor do the characters within the game. Also the story isn't anything new with an Empire being at the heart of the story and the main character, Yuri Lowell, the usual upstart ex-soldier taking up the fight as well as many quests that just push the story forward with that new piece of information that makes the game just expand outwards into an issue that can destroy the world. The game really paces itself well, some might think it takes too long to get to the meat of the situation. But I think it's just strong story telling that builds up. And although the characters aren't anything new they interact with each other and seem to have an evolving relationship and friendship with one another that really comes across with the pop up dialogue with some small laughs to be had. The graphics are done in that anime cell shaded presentation that has become a staple to the Tales series. The combat system which isn't turn based but done once again in the Tales real-time combat, where the player controls one character or can take control of all the characters, or even have a second player pop in and take control of an ally. Tales of Vesperia is just a fun game, that's what was missing before with other JRPGs I've played. The graphics aren't the be all and end all, the music is decent, but the story when you get into it is just great.
The story is basic, in this world villages and towns are protected and maintained by blastia. All life hinges and relies on blastia the ancient energy source that can either be a barrier to protect people, or bring water to a town, to the boddhi blastia that are used to learn new weapon-based skills. However, the reliance on the blastia has taken its toll and corrupted parts of the Empire as well as the Guilds. The game begins with Yuri searching for the stolen aqua blastia that was taken from the lower quarter of the Imperial capital. Yuri escapes with the help of Raven, a character who's motivation becomes more apparent as the game progresses. As Yuri is escaping he runs into Estelliese, and from there the game takes the both of them and Yuri's partner dog, Repede, outside the city into a world filled with monsters and even more intrigue. As the game progresses forward the story becomes more than just finding a stolen blastia, it moves into a larger story, with more characters and allies pushing forward this Tale, however, Yuri who's moral compass doesn't always point in the right direction often opting for a means justifying the ends perspective commits some crimes that does seem like good but really help to make him worthy of the vigilante title. I was a little disappointed considering the decidedly darker role Yuri played didn't have the major consequences that I thought it would have. But still the game as well as the immersive storyline and interesting characters is what really makes this game great.
I was very surprised by this title, I originally thought negatively about JRPGs, so Tales of Vesperia has an uphill battle to get me into it. But as soon as the game started I was enthralled in the story and characters. This is a great game worthy of the pedigree, and worth the time of any fan of JRPGs. Tales of Vesperia was the game I was waiting for to come out on the 360, and I really hope this isn't the last Tales game to make it to the 360.
Sweet game! October 3, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Amazingly well done JRPG. Even though a little bit is lost in translation the story is good. The combat system is pretty sweet and you won't get too bored of it your first time through it. Had a lot of fun beating this game, took me about 40 hours without doing sidequests and the like.
 Complete garbage, do not play this game September 25, 2008
3 out of 9 found this review helpful
After beating Tales of Symphonia (ToS) atleast 5 times back on the GC, I was exciting to see the newest game in the franchise to arrive on the 360, however it turned out to be one of the worst games that I have ever played
The story starts out with poor 21 year-old named Yuri who lives in the lower quarter of the capital of the empire and one day, someone steals a blue rock (known as blastia which is the pinnicle of technology and a way of life for people) and takes off with it, however due to removing it, it causes all of the water to go everywhere and flood the lower quarter. Yuri decides to go after said thief with his ragtag team that meets along the way which include his dog, a princess, a 12 year old orphan, a perverted old spy, and a half naked spear weilding elf dragoon.
The main problem with this game is the lack of story, because quite frankly, there is none. You spend 1/3 of the game trying to recover the afermentioned rock, and then the story changes drastically another 3-4 times that follows the same pattern (something major happens, everyone leaves for a while, everyone meets back up, etc.) And the ending is one of the worst, most complete garbage excuses for a game that I have ever seen.
On your first playthrough, it'll take you roughly 40+ hours to complete, which is not including the various sidequests that you can come across, assuming that you even find them. Like most Tales games, its infamous to completely miss a side quest, simply by advacing the story, only so that you can never do said side quest again which would more than likely give you an item that would greatly help. This game even has a new feature to the series which are called "secret missions" which as the name implies, is something secret that you have to accomplish during a boss battle. In retrospect the idea sounds very good, however, it isnt. There are about 30 that you can complete and while optional, you wont get anything for completing every single one, unless your going for 100% completiong which would take another 2-3 playthroughs. Youll know if you completed a secret mission if the word "Great!" appears, afterwhich you only need to finish the battle and out of every single one, there are maybe 2 that help, 1 of which is nearly impossible to do while the other is obsolutely esstianly in winning the battle, while also at the same time very difficult to do.
The only reason this game receives a 2 out of a 5 is because the Tales series has a unique battle system of being in real time, however, not much has changed within 3 years. Back on ToS, you moved on the same plane as the enemy did and moved back and forth as you saw fit and attacked them. In Vesperia, its the same exact thing, only this time you have the ability to walk around anywhere you want. Sound like a good idea? Well it isnt, more than half the time if even attempt to do so, the enemy almost always outruns you and nearly kills you, thus rendering this new feature pointless, which brings up another issue about the game, the AI.
To put it mildly, the AI is just terrible. There were countless times when I told my healer and mage to sit in the back and cast magic the entire time like their supposed to for every other RPG ever made, however, even after telling them countless times to do something, there was a 75% chance of them ignoring me and deciding to rush the enemy and fling their weapons wildly untill they died in a matter of a few minutes. Bosses werent any different either. You will find yourself constantly going through the same dungeon 7+ times just to level up because your too weak to kill the boss who litterally cheats. Every other battle followed the same pattern: the boss comboed everyone, usually you and your healer and/or mage to the point where when you finally got a chance to attack, someone was litterally about to die and so much and shoving them caused them to die. Most of the attacks they did stunned you and would somehow manage to reach across to the other side of the arena, which is something they usually did for your casters because so much as slapping them across the face caused them to fall down and stop casting. By the time that you acctually start doing good, they boss usually used their overlimit move (which anyone, even common enemies can use) which causes said person to make a blash of energy that sent everyone flying in all directions and when you hit them, they didnt flinch at all and could attack you as many times as they wanted without needing to take a break, which in the end brought you down to near death. Most of the bosses even had "nuke" abilities where they would do something so powerful that it killed more than half of your party, while the other half was about to die and more than likely stunned and laying on the ground with more than 2 status effects, usually giving the fight to the boss and causing you to throw the controller across the room. Most people will just say "Dont get hit then." but thats the problem, you cant avoid anything by bosses, even if you attempt to guard, they would break it in about 3-4 hits and then proceed to whail on you.
On a final note, the graphics arent that great either, the honestly dont look any different than they did back on the GC and only really have some improvements with a few extra movements of a persons body, and it has more animed cut scenes, but hardly. If your looking to play the Tales series, than completely skip this one and go play ToS on the GC because that game was a masterpeice.
A New Tales for the Xbox 360 September 25, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Tales of Vesperia is the newest Tales game in Bandai-Namco's long running series of action RPGs. Though the series have a strong following in Japan, causing the Xbox 360 to nearly sell out when Tales of Vesperia got released, the games are not as popular overseas. As such, previous entries in the series have gotten shoddy localization efforts with cut voice acting and added glitches/bugs. However, as the latest game in the series, Tales of Vesperia received high production values during localization with a great translation, good voice acting, and best of all, voiced skits! Continue reading for a detailed review on the game's gameplay, story, and more.
Gameplay: 9/10
Tales of Vesperia plays quite similarly to the previous major console Tales game, Tales of the Abyss. The Free Run ability returns that allows players to control their characters on a 3D battlefield to circle around enemies, dodge attacks, and dish out attacks on enemies. A battle can have up to four characters on the battlefield at a time, where each can be controlled by a separate human player, granted there are four Xbox 360 controllers available, or have some characters controlled by computer AI. The AI is pretty good and players can give commands to AI controlled characters via menus. The battle system is like a fighting game where players can attack enemies in real time on a 3D battlefield. Attacks called artes that consume TP can be assigned to different button combinations that can be executed in a certain order to perform combos. There is now a noticeable, yet not distracting, border around the battlefield to indicate the area where the player can move about. This is actually an improvement over Tales of the Abyss where players are unaware of the invisible borders of the battlefield until he/she reaches them. There are seven playable characters in Tales of Vesperia, each with different fighting styles and abilities including a swordsman, a healer, a heavy hitter, a mage, an archer, and a spear user who specializes in several aerial combos. There is also now a dog character named Repede, a first in the series, who is a fast attacker. Players can choose whoever they desire to play as.
Some new additions are added to the battle system. In Tales of Vesperia, there is now a feature called an Encounter Link that allows different groups of monsters to enter a battle if the player runs into different groups of them at the same time. This causes more monsters to be in a battle rather than if the player only ran into one group. There are also a new feature called Fatal Strikes that can deal massive damage based on the player's correct use of artes and reflexes. Overlimit level is also back in Tales of Vesperia and like in Tales of the Abyss, is visible as another bar, allowing players to know when they are capable of using one to their advantage. Overlimit allows players to perform powerful Burst Artes and Mystic Artes.
Players can also partake in Secret Missions that are special conditions that, if met, will reward players. These special conditions usually involve performing certain tasks in specific battles such as boss battles. They are actually quite easy to miss and the use of a guide may be necessary if players desire to complete them all.
Graphics: 9/10
Tales of Vesperia uses beautiful cel-shaded graphics that rival other Xbox 360 games such as Eternal Sonata. The characters sport a slight chibi look, but that is to be expected since all of the Tales games have such a style. Characters in battle are fluid with many different animations for their many different attacks. There are also quite a few anime cutscenes spread throughout the game. These are wonderful on their own right, but are hardly necessary since the in-game graphics practically look like an anime anyways. Fighting in cutscenes outside of battles are a little stiff, but are better than many of the previous entries in the Tales series. Characters each have their own distinct looks and players can collect costumes for the playable cast that changes their apparel during exploration, battles, and in-game cutscenes. A new addition to the series is the capability to decorate characters with accessories that also show up during exploration, battles, and in-game cutscenes. These accessories include stuff like sunglasses, bunny ears, hats, etc. As with previous Tales games, equipping different weapons on characters will appear in battles and in-game cutscenes.
Story/Characters: 9/10
Tales of Vesperia follows a typical story of the JRPG genre. However, the best part of the story is the colorful fictional world that is presented to the players--a world filled with dangerous monsters and cities protected from the outside with barriers powered by Blastia. Several elements are presented to the player including topics such as Blastia, aer, etc. that help paint a colorful and believable fictional world by backing up topics such as magic with fictional scientific theories and laws.
An interesting aspect about Tales of Vesperia is the average age of the cast of characters. The characters in Tales of Vesperia are a bit older and more mature than the characters in previous entries in the series. As such, rather than having the story overly emphasizing on character growth, the characters are more experienced and have already established developed personalities. For example, right off the start, the game's protagonist, Yuri Lowell, is a very interesting character that is mature, confident, and sarcastic, traits that set him apart from most of the previous heroes in the Tales series.
There are a total of seven playable characters with an eighth temporary one (much like Asch in Tales of the Abyss). Each character has a distinct personality and background story. The cast is probably the best part of the game as each character is given much dialogue and screen time to further allow the player to better understand the character. Much of these are revealed in skits, interesting little conversations between the characters in the party. An interesting thing to note is that the skits are all voice acted now. In previous Tales games, the skits are unvoiced and players are forced to follow the automatically scrolling text written below the characters talking, but not in Tales of Vesperia.
Sound/Music: 9/10
The voice acting in Tales of Vesperia is quite good. Of course, many of the voices should be familiar with those who frequently play JRPGs and/or watch anime. The entire playable cast has great voice acting that fit the characters' personalities. The best thing to note about the voice acting would be the usually silent skits in the previous Tales games are now all voiced. This inclusion to the several voiced cutscenes throughout the game and battle cries adds a whole bunch of voice acting in the game.
The music is very fitting to the game. As usual with the Tales series, the music will sound similar to tracks from previous entries in the series. Battle music, especially boss battles, are intense and changes depending on who the party is battling. Outside of battles, players are still greeted with many different tracks that range from silly clown like music for humorous cutscenes, dungeon exploration music, peaceful town music, to epic tracks. Also something to note would be the theme song, Ring a Bell by Bonnie Pink. For the first time in the localized Tales series, the introduction animation has a song with vocals, and it's pretty good too.
Overall: 9/10
Overall, Tales of Vesperia is a great game that seems to have received quite a high production localization compared to previous games in the series. Those with an Xbox 360 should buy the game to enjoy a wonderful JRPG experience. While the game doesn't do much new, it is still fun and refines what was presented in the previous entries in the series. Tales of Vesperia is another great entry to the Tales series with a fast paced battle system, interesting story and world, and a great cast of characters. By buying the game and showing support for the Tales series' localization, other games in the series that have came out in the past or are coming out in the future will have a better chance of getting translated as well.
Tales of Vesperia September 24, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Graphics: I found the Cel Shaded Animisc graphics to be well done and very catchie. However I do watch alot of anime myself so look at some videos and pictures to judge if the graphics would suit you.
Story: Awesome story I have loved every previous tales game and this lived up to my expectations. 70 hours logged to beat the game and finish the story.
Content: With Titles and crafting aspect influencing costume pieces to weapons and armor the replay ability is there for at least 2 or 3 play throughs. I am currently on my 3rd and still loving the game.
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