Tales of Symphonia Remastered Reviews
If you overcome rough presentation, low-res cut-scenes and a bit clunky interface, you can expect very solid plot, excellent characters, party banter, interesting world and intense boss fights. Still, this title is not fully fulfilling remaster promise and many fans expected a bit more.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Tales of Symphonia Remastered is not the best version of the GameCube original, but that doesn't mean it's a bad experience. The story still holds up, combat is still exciting, and the characters are some of the best in the series, but all these systems take getting used to compared to newer games. Worst of all is the Switch version, which brings several new technical issues to the game, includes short but repetitive loading screens after you do almost anything outside of menus. It may be a deal breaker for some, but for others it might be a small price to pay to play an RPG classic on modern consoles.
Tales of Symphonia Remastered is a good game that had the misfortune of receiving a bad remastering, or rather “demastering”. Yes, it is possible to complete the title in its entirety on the console, however, it is not the best way to play, especially when there are other official distributions that are more affordable and, even with flaws, with fewer errors than this specific version.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Tales of Symphonia Remastered breathes new life into an old classic in the Tales series. Relive the adventure of Lloyd, Colette and Genis with improved graphics. Do you want to know if this Remaster can match the original? Then read on quickly.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Tales of Symphonia Remastered is still a great action JRPG and an important one in establishing the now long-running series, but there are better ways to experience it than this.
We're admittedly a little mixed on Tales of Symphonia Remastered. Though the story is compelling, the character building is satisfying, and there's lots of content to experience, Bandai Namco's near-nonexistent efforts to scrub out the rough edges of this 20-ish year old game definitely hold it back from greatness. Things like the stiff combat, dated visuals, and awkward writing limit the appeal here, which makes this remaster feel like a missed opportunity. It's easier to recommend this to those who have nostalgia for the original and want to relive those memories, but it's tough to say whether newcomers should pick it up. This is far from the best action RPG on the Switch, and it's arguably not even the best Tales game on the Switch. We'd give this one a light recommendation as its positives do outweigh its negatives, but with the caveat that you should probably wait for a deep sale or buy it used. There are much better RPGs to play on the Switch today, and this one doesn't quite deserve a spot near the top of your list.
This remaster of a classic game does not pay tribute to the original game. The game is very archaic visually and it has a hard time convincing.
Review in French | Read full review
Tales of Symphonia Remastered fails to capture the magic of the original on modern consoles, and it should probably be avoided, especially on Nintendo Switch.
Tales of Symphonia is a brilliant action JRPG that set a precedent for the genre. Even all these years later, its engrossing storytelling, vast array of side activities, character interaction, and layers of combative options all coalesce to make it a must-experience adventure. Yet, as a remaster, this specific release fails to hit the mark, ultimately providing a lackluster and disappointing resurgence that could have been so much more.
Tales of Symphonia deserves to be available to the widest audience, yet the lack of attention or care demonstrated here is troubling. Remastered feels like a cheap and lazy port, and that alone makes this version disappointing, despite the strengths of the game itself.
This remaster brings a classic to modern platforms but loses a bit of Tales of Symphonia's charm in the process due to bugs and odd design choices.
Tales of Symphonia's excellent story and characters are held back by dated mechanics, repetitive combat, and some technical issues.
Tales of Symphonia is a beloved classic of Bandai Namco's Tales series, but this latest version is a disappointing mess of issues, play a different port instead.
Tales of Symphonia Remaster is a low effort re-release thst could have brought a legendary title to the new generation by fixing the rough edges and add few quality of life changes, but sadly this release didn't contain any of that to the more than 20 years old game.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Tales of Symphonia Remastered is an opportunity to experience one of the best JRPGs of all time. It's also an example of how not to re-release a classic from a previous generation, as this remaster is heavily affected by technical flaws and poor choices. Its downgrade in quality is clear for those who have played the original game, Tales of Symphonia Remastered should undergo an overall revision before being considered as a worthy companion to the 2004 classic.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Tales of Symphonia Remastered comes at an odd time. The excellent new version of Dead Space just came out and Metroid Prime Remastered showed how it can be done too. This remaster of a classic JRPG then comes with what seems like minimal energy to really improve the game. It all looks and sounds a bit better, but it doesn't change the fact that this is just a mediocre remaster of a game that deserves a lot more.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Tales of Symphonia Remastered isn't going to win any awards. It's a soulless cash grab that has come with as little effort by Bandai Namco as possible. If you're a die-hard fan, there may be something here for you, but really you're just paying for the nostalgia hit. Those who didn't play the original and are looking to pick up and enjoy a slice of video game history should let this one go past - there will hopefully be another iteration of this in a few years' time and maybe they'll put more effort into that one.
For newcomers, Tales of Symphonia Remastered is a great pickup but for veterans looking for more, you won't find anything new here sadly. If you are collector of the Tales games it will be worth adding to the collection.
The thing that stands out for me the most about Tales of Symphonia Remastered, though, is that underneath the remaster is the construction of its original game. It shows in the animation choices, art direction, combat and stage design. The Tales games were intelligently made and genuinely interested in telling a fun story and providing a good time. Helped along by a great cast of characters, a reasonably well-written plot, and a fairly addicting combat system. Tales of Symphonia Remastered offers up a generous portion of an earlier generation’s take on the JRPG genre for first-time visitors to the series.
Unlike the Chronicles version for PS3 in 2013, Tales of Symphonia Remaster does not disappoint in the technical and graphic component. The 60fps would be the icing on the cake, but there are other arguments and general improvements here that also deserve attention. It is a cult classic of the JRPGs and a son of a generation with a methodology of its own and therefore must be celebrated and caressed.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review