Tales of Zestiria Reviews

Tales of Zestiria is ranked in the 48th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
3 / 5.0
Nov 23, 2015

So then, Tales of Zestiria, senpai knows you tried really hard, but maybe with a little bit more time and polish, you could've done a lot better. Better luck next time.

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3.5 / 5.0
Nov 3, 2015

Tales of Zestiria remains a worthy addition to the Tales series, thanks to likable characters and a top-notch battle system. Story pacing bogs down a bit in the middle and occasional issues with the camera and AI can negatively impact the combat. Overall, however, Zestiria does a good job in scratching the JRPG itch of fans looking for a solid game to sink their teeth into.

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Emma Schaefer
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Nov 2, 2015

Though its graphics are a bit dated and it's not going to revolutionize the genre any time soon, Tales of Zestiria is a solid, anime-inspired RPG with a new twist on battling, a fun story, and a great central idea that pushes the Tales franchise forward.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 19, 2015

If you're already embedded in one of the other great role-playing experiences on Sony's platform, Sorey's adventure is worth looking at as a follow-up. If you're not, this is a great place to start adventuring this fall.

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7.4 / 10.0
Nov 12, 2015

Tales of Zestria is a solid addition to the "Tales of" series by Bandai Namco. While this is not an excellent game it is far from being one deserving of being tossed onto the scrap heap. If you are looking for a game with a solid combat system that is not the run of the mill turn based or active time based system then this might be the game for you. However if you are looking for a game that provides a solid and consistent narrative experience you may be put off.

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8.2 / 10.0
Oct 29, 2015

Tales of Zestiria is a competent and quality JRPG that doesn't try to over-extend itself. It may have a lot in common with previous series entries in terms of design, but it has more than enough of an identity on its own to make it standout.

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7 / 10
Nov 17, 2015

An ambitious but flawed RPG experience.

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Alana Hagues
Top Critic
80%
Nov 2, 2015

An excellent battle system and gorgeous soundtrack create an immersive entry that's a whole lot of fun, but Bandai Namco needs to polish their series a little more.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 2, 2015

Tales of Zestiria is a JRPG built primarily for Tales fans and those who truly want to be Tales fans.

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3 / 5.0
Oct 24, 2015

By no means is Tales of Zestiria bottom of the pile, yet as far as all around quality goes — by which the many cogs keep this latest entry circulating; moving with swift, relevant engagement — Zestiria is perhaps the point wherein Bandai Namco really do have a franchise on one hell of a tipping point.

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3.4 / 5.0
Oct 26, 2015

Tales of Zestiria is not bad nor is it broken but it does not offer the wonder that I once found in JRPGs. Perhaps it is like a relationship grown too far apart; we no longer work together but neither knows how to end what has become comfortable, if rote. Maybe something will rekindle the spark, but it's not Tales of Zestiria. It's not you, it's me. Sorry.

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GamingBolt
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Nov 1, 2015

Fans of the series, or JRPGs, should not hesitate to pick Tales of Zestiria up.

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8 / 10
Dec 26, 2015

Minor flaws, but still a contender for JRPG royalty

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NZGamer
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Nov 12, 2015

Love Tales, hate Tales, or just don't care - Zestiria will give you exactly what you expect.

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8 / 10
Oct 30, 2015

While you might not come out this game's 40+ hour adventure with memories of the plot, you will remember the heroes, their fights and the lovely music that wraps it up to signal this as the best Tales of game since Tales of Vesperia hit the Xbox 360 back in 2009.

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Unscored
Oct 31, 2015

Not many games can capture the players attention as well as Tales of Zestiria managed to do for me. Yes, they're a couple flaws that hold back the game, but in the grand scheme of things, Tales of Zestiria has to be one of the best JRPGs of 2015.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 20, 2015

Let down by its story, dialogue, and visuals, Tales of Zestiria is still pretty good - but not quite good enough.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 14, 2017

Just be sure to take a look at the fan-operated wiki and study up on skill stacking, because you’ll need it when your NPCs bum rush a boss without their guard up.

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6 / 10.0
Oct 25, 2015

Zestiria does some interesting things with its battle systems but really falls short in terms of story telling and artistic presentation. Although I feel this title would make for a better entry point into the Tales of franchise, it hardly feels like one of the more stellar games in the series. Give it a shot if you're a die-hard fan, but take caution if you're new to the Tales of games.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 23, 2015

Tales of Zestiria sticks to a lot of the typical JRPG stereotypes with its plot and characters but it's still an enjoyable ride from start to finish. Sure the linear dungeons can be rather tedious to explore, the camera swings around uncontrollably and some of the characters are a tad on the bland side but the pros far out way the cons. That charmingly beautifully anime art style and deep robust combat system make this title another great instalment in to the Tales series, one that both fans and newcomers will love!

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