Tales of Berseria Reviews
Thanks to the distinctive story and a number of improvements to the overall combat, Tales of Berseria ends up being one of the better Tales games in a while.
Tales of Berseria is a return to form for the JRPG franchise, with a captivating main story of betrayal and vengeance, satisfying real-time combat and an amazing cast of characters.
Tales of Berseria is proof that with a more thoughtful approach to design, the series still has what it takes to stand tall among its RPG contemporaries.
Tales of Berseria takes risks with its characters but ultimately keeps just about everything else about as safe as can be. Archaic level design, hit or miss combat, and some severe pacing issues drag down a JRPG that might otherwise have been stellar.
If you're not a fan of JRPGs, or really Japanese entertainment in general, this game isn't going to sell you on it. For us, this game was a great starting point for the Tales series, and we are honestly thinking about giving Tales of Zestiria another go around. A fun cast of characters, a story with an intriguingly dark premise, and an interesting take on the real-time battle system. There's really not much more to be said. Game's good. Get it.
Faster, smoother, and bursting at the seams with content, Berseria delivers a much needed kick to the series.
Tales of Berseria faces the struggle of being developed for both the old and the new generation of Sony platforms, and therefore is forced to stick to the beaten path. It still is a better game than Zestiria, overall, mostly thanks to its dark and gritty storyline and believable cast of protagonists. Let's just hope that the future of the Tales series will bring something new to the table.
Review in Italian | Read full review
What's great about Berseria is that unlike most Tales of games, it acts as a wonderful jumping-in point for new players. Combine this with its ease-of-use and flashy combat designed to accommodate more tactical, veteran players and you have one of the most complete JRPGs you're likely to find on the current generation's systems. Tales of Berseria is a must play for any and all JRPG fans.
If your heart is still wounded after last year's undercooked Final Fantasy XV, try Tales of Berseria. Great storytelling will make up for outdated visuals for sure.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Thanks to brilliant characterisation and the ability to throw some genuine humour and moments of softness into the mix, the team at Bandai Namco has been able to deliver one of the most refreshingly nuanced quests that we’ve seen in this series, and for the first time in a very long time, I haven’t been able to put a Tales game down.
Whilst not on the same shaky ground as Final Fantasy XV by any means, despite Tales of Berseria bringing with it a great story, wonderful animation scenes, a sublime soundtrack and voice cast, it lets the side down with its dull environments, lack of engaging puzzles and quests, overly-wordy interactions that go off on pointless tangents, as well as a battle system that is quite hit and miss, resigning many gamers to mere button-bashing to get through most of the adventure. Bandai Namco has managed to deliver yet another solid Tales entry, but not one that will be remembered anywhere near as fondly as past classics, unfortunately.
Tales of Berseria is a solid JRPG that doesn't excel in any one area but manages to hit all the marks well enough to be enjoyable. It's not ambitious and focuses on providing a pleasant experience. It suffers from being too easy and spending too much time clearing up its predecessor's flaws, but it's balanced by fast-paced combat and an entertaining cast. It's not going to change your world, but Tales fans should find a lot to like, and for casual players, it's a good introduction to the franchise.
Whilst the Final Fantasy series constantly shifts in an attempt to expand its audience, alienating many long-term fans in the process, Tales of Berseria is a love letter to Tales fans, reassuring them that the series doesn’t need to change to remain relevant.
Tales of Berseria is a remarkable improvement over its predecessors and a step in the right direction for the series.
Whether or not the next entry in the series decides to keep Berseria's gloomy atmosphere, it's clear enough that straying away from the series' story norms was the breath of fresh air the Tales of series was desperately in need of.
Tales of Berseria is a fantastically written JRPG that delivers a deep, emotional story that kept me going until the end.
Tales come back again with the combat system and a fun story.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
A combination of complex characters and gameplay makes this one as satisfying as it is enjoyable. Even if you haven’t played any of its predecessors, Tales of Berseria is more than worth your time.
For anyone burnt by Tales Of Zesteria, this game is a step in the right direction. Anyone looking for a long, combat-rich JRPG with interesting characters should pick it up. It isn't going to change your opinion of the genre as a whole, but it does enough right to set it apart from other games like it.
In conclusion, Tales of Berseria is another installment in Bandai Namco’s series that manages to be a refined adventure worth taking with reliable, albeit antiquated, gameplay. While it doesn’t break any new ground in the genre or in gaming as a whole, I can still fully appreciate the polish and care that has gone into this game’s characters, writing, and combat. If you’re a fan of the series and are willing to take a trek down a darker path, this latest tale will be worth telling. If you’re like me and haven’t given the series a fair shake just yet, this is the installment to get you on board.