Too Many Tales of Games Have Been Left Behind

The Tales of series is one of my favorite gaming franchises, with it being as defining for my tastes as Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Trails, and more. I first got into the series during my early middle school years via Tales of the Abyss, and from then on, I’ve found myself hooked. For those unaware, these titles are action JRPGs, usually standalone, that have spanned a vast array of consoles over nearly three decades.

And while I haven’t fallen in love with every title I’ve tried, there has always been this comforting sense of JRPG familiarity with Tales of. Despite the differing casts, contexts, combat mechanics, tones, and stories, I always know I will have a reliably enjoyable time. However, there is a relatively minuscule number of Tales of games to play on modern platforms compared to what the entirety of the series comprises, which has caused me to grow increasingly frustrated.

And for Western fans, this conflict is twofold. Firstly, it’s worth emphasizing that there are several Tales of games the West has never received in any official capacity, even mainline entries. Then, numerous localized titles are stuck on older hardware, making them inaccessible to contemporary audiences.

To better illustrate these amounts, let’s first list which Tales of games have never come West, including the obscure ones (sans those that are redundant, mobile, and/or delisted):

• Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon, 1, 2, & 3
• Tales of the World: Summoner’s Lineage
• Tales of Destiny: Director’s Cut
• Tales of Destiny 2
• Tales of Rebirth
• Tales of Innocence R
• Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 & 3
• Tales of the Tempest
• Tales of the Heroes: Twin Brave

Admittedly, some of these games are minor and incredibly niche, like Twin Brave, Tempest, and Summoner’s Lineage; their lack of Western presence is understandable.

On the other hand, Tales of Destiny: Director’s Cut, Tales of Destiny 2, Tales of Rebirth, and Tales of Innocence R, are mainline and, thereby, pretty major releases that the West should have access to. I’d also like the latter two Radiant Mythology titles, but that’s an even grander pipe dream…

Anyway, let’s now list the localized Tales of games that are stuck on older platforms:

• Tales of Phantasia (GBA)
• Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World (Wii & PS3)
• Tales of Destiny (PS1)
• Tales of Eternia (PS1 & PSP)
• Tales of Legendia (PS2)
• Tales of the Abyss (PS2 & 3DS)
• Tales of Hearts R (Vita)
• Tales of Graces f (PS3)
• Tales of Xillia (PS3)
• Tales of Xillia 2 (PS3)
• Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology (PSP)

Anyone can tell that this is a lot, even someone not knowledgeable of these games. Excluding Radiant Mythology, a minor side-title, every other title in that list is major.

So, it’s pretty wild that the following entries are the only ones available on modern platforms:

• Tales of Zestiria (PS4 & PC)
• Tales of Berseria (PS4 & PC)
• Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch & PC)
• Tales of Symphonia (PC, soon-to-be PS4, Xbox One & Nintendo Switch)
• Tales of Arise (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X|S & PC)

At this point, it goes without saying, but it’s kind of depressing that we’re lacking such an astonishing number of games for prospective, newer fans to enjoy. It’s one thing to lack titles never officially available in English, but to also have so many localized ones not present anymore is vexing.

To be honest, the announcement of Tales of Symphonia Remastered caused me to feel more perplexed bitterness than anything else. It’s one of the most iconic entries, so its arrival on PS4, Switch, and Xbox One makes sense, but as a fan who yearns for the titles overlooked or never even localized, it was underwhelming. It’s also already available on Steam, too.

Plus, even when considering the improvements, such as the skippable cutscenes, Dawn of the New World is being inexplicably excluded despite the PlayStation 3 release of Symphonia housing both games. Regardless of your opinion on this sequel, this is an undeniable net loss of content that I can’t understand the point of removing. Dawn of the New World definitely wouldn’t sell well on its own, so mimicking the PlayStation 3 example of combining both titles seemed obvious. Alas, the reality is seemingly not so simple.

It’d be stellar to at least see Tales of Destiny: Director’s Cut, Tales of Destiny 2, Tales of Rebirth, and Tales of Innocence R localized, and for all of the previously localized games to make their way to newer platforms as well. Of course, such developments would only occur in an ideal world and hoping for even one of the unlocalized titles to make its way West is lofty enough as is. Still, dreaming doesn’t cost anything.

At this point, I’m just hoping that Bandai Namco has additional port plans already set in stone after the Symphonia Remaster launches. This is probably the only series I feel this way about, but I’d much rather see older Tales of games resurge rather than see completely new games made. There’s too much history here that deserves more than hand waves and offhanded remarks.