Tales of Hearts R Reviews

Tales of Hearts R is ranked in the 71st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
95 / 100
Mar 13, 2016

Wow. I haven’t enjoyed a game as much as I am enjoying Tales of Hearts R in a long, long time. It has all of the classic elements of RPG gaming that the genre’s fans love, and an incredible battle system that stands high as a possible industry standard. The story is more than passable and the world is a large one, rife with discovery and exploration. There is nothing to not like about Tales of Hearts R, so I didn’t want to complicate the matter by rating it “appropriately” due to its being like so many games from before. This game is absolutely great, and everyone who loves RPG games should play it, without hesitancy. I hope that young gamers find this game at their local retailer and take a chance on it. Everyone should have the pleasure of enjoying this game. Without a doubt, this game deserves to be recognized for what it is: an absolute masterpiece.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2014

I must say I loved Hearts R. The game is made with the Vita in mind, and is a great Tales experience. If you’re a fan of the Tales games, I would heavily recommend Hearts R—it’s a fantastic game. If you aren’t so much of a Tales fan, the game is still possibly one of the best (if not the best) JRPGs on Vita we have out here so far … but I may be a bit biased as the Tales series is my favorite JRPG.

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9 / 10
Dec 1, 2014

Tales of Hearts R is a wonderful and well crafted J-RPG, and is the perfect pick up for those that love the Tales franchise that has been out of reach for Western audiences for far too long. It delivers a deep and meaningful story, wrapped up in a great package. The only issue is that the story at the beginning is too slow paced for newcomers to the series, which sadly may turn them off before the core of the story kicks in. Overall, though, this is a very high quality game that cannot be recommended enough to those looking for a strong J-RPG to sink their teeth into.

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8.8 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2014

A great fit in any Vita library that would benefit from an excellent JRPG.

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8.5 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2014

Forget about graphic fidelity, and find a strong narrative and character development alongside a universal combat system that Tales of Hearts R can only deliver to the PlayStation Vita.

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ZTGD
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Nov 12, 2014

Still, at the end of the day Tales of Hearts R is a testament to the fact that with enough care and attention to detail, a venerable series can make the transition to the portable market with great success.

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8.5 / 10.0
Nov 20, 2014

Tales of Hearts R doesn’t have the most original story and the characters are mostly well-meaning but occasionally stereotypical. The game’s localization feels a bit lacking without an English dub as well, considering the amount of work that was clearly poured into the translation. However, the beautifully remade visuals, stellar combat and development system and on-point voice acting more than compensate for the admittedly superficial shortcomings. If you own a PS Vita and are on the lookout for a great new game to add to your library, Bandai Namco has a lovely polished gem for you to purchase.

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8.5 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2014

Tales of Hearts R is a fantastic addition to the diverse Tales of franchise. I found myself engrossed in the story of the characters as I followed them. I laughed with them, and I had my heart strings tugged on once or twice. I took on epic battles with them, and I struck down evil with amazing magical fortitude. I enjoyed all of the hours I sunk into Tales of Hearts R, and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to begin with the Tales Of franchise.

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Nov 10, 2014

Aside from some outdated appearance issues, JRPG cliches, and forgettable music, there isn’t anything terribly wrong with this game. The characters are charming, exploring is satisfying, the action is fast and engaging… this may not be the title that gets the Vita flying off of store shelves, but Tales of Hearts R is definitely worth adding to a pre-existing library. I may be one of the few still really happy with my PSP’s titles, but I’m growing quite fond of my PSP’s bigger little brother now.

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8 / 10
Nov 14, 2014

Tales of Hearts R starts strong, and only gets better as it progresses. The cast may not be the best in the series, and the random encounters do feel a bit dated, but this is an overall top-notch production, which we’re thrilled has found its way overseas at last. If your Vita’s barely murmured over the past few weeks, then this is the blood that’ll bring your system back to life – and it’s a release that no self-respecting JRPG fan should bypass.

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Nov 26, 2014

Tales of Hearts R isn't the pinnacle of Tales games, but it is a lovely re-imagining of a classic entry. The iffy 3D combat may be a put-off for some, but the new anime sequences, improved graphics, and extra content all work together to make up for it.

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EGM
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2014

After six years of pleading, North American players finally get Tales of Hearts—previously a Japan-only gem in Bandai Namco’s flagship RPG series. The wait was undeniably worth it, since this entry features some of the best storytelling, characterization, and pacing in the franchise—though the combat doesn’t make the smoothest of transitions from the DS version. Those who never played the original Japanese release won’t know what they’re missing, of course, but it’s frustrating that this undeniably excellent game isn’t quite all it could’ve been on the PS Vita.

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The Digital Fix
Lewis Brown
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Jan 1, 2015

Perhaps the greatest compliment that one could pay to Tales of Heart R is that (even with all the boob talk and Japanese innuendo) it manages to feel almost wholesome; perhaps there are nostalgic elements bubbling away under the surface, but the truth is that the game wears its heart on its sleeve ' well, in the title in fact. Tales of Hearts R doesn't feel like it intentionally set out to rewrite how elements of the genre work, but by the end of the game it somehow feels as though it's succeeded in doing so. It's a lovely experience, and if you're one of those gamers that live and breathe handheld RPGs then you really need to make the time to check this one out.

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NZGamer
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Nov 28, 2014

That said, these are niggles that are more than made up for by a stellar battle system, a breadth of great content, and the Tales series’ trademark vibrant, anime-like art style. Tales of Hearts R won’t convert anyone, but fans of Japanese RPGs would do well to pick this up.

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Nov 12, 2014

Tales Of Hearts R is a fantastic handheld RPG and one of the most impressive remakes of recent years. Expect a top-quality JRPG experience from start to finish, even if it's a touch familiar in parts.

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Digitally Downloaded
Nick H.
Top Critic
Nov 20, 2014

When I started playing Tales of Hearts R, I found myself almost sighing because it seemed so similar to everything else on the JRPG market. However, this sense of familiarity makes the title more accessible to fans of the genre, and the game starts to reveal more of its layers as time goes on. There is a camaraderie for the heroes built around trust and affection for one another that really resonates and gives the narrative a certain warmth that I enjoyed through to the end.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2014

If you've never tried a Tales game before, then this is a great way to introduce yourself to the franchise. The story is a little lackluster, but the interesting use of emotions and the colourful cast more than makeup for it. The battle system is fast, fun, painfully addictive and lets you feel like you're kicking a whole lot of ass. Tales of Hearts R is a fantastic addition to the PlayStation Vita's library, bringing a solid 40+ hour experience, that is worth both your time and your money.

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75%
Nov 11, 2014

A competent, if unspectacular, RPG for your Vita

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7.2 / 10.0
Dec 29, 2014

Tales of Hearts R is a solid and enjoyable JRPG, especially for a portable offering. It has a number of flaws, both on its own merits and in comparisons to its bedfellows, but it's still an enjoyable JRPG romp. It suffers from poor pacing and is generally unexceptional. If you're a JRPG fan looking for a Vita game, it's one of the better JRPGs available for the system. If you're a Tales fan, it's worth your time even if it is weaker than its console counterparts.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2014

Tales of Hearts R has some fun moments wrapped in a solid battle system, but it’s far from the best Tales adventure

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