Which "Tales" series game should I play? Never played any of them.

[Ssenkahdavic]

For the most part (with exception to the nifty different aspects of the Combat system) they play reasonably similar.

Biggest thing is the story: I like the characters in all the games on the PS3 (Xillia1/2, SymphoniaChronicles, Graces F) but they have similar overall themes but definitely different tones.

I call Graces F's story "The Power of Friendship"

Xillia is more mature (especially the second one fuck if I dont feel like a complete ass a good bit of the time, but I really dig it) The second one also has the best character development of all of them on PS3.  Hell, the main character is my least favorite part of Xillia 2.  I like the option to choose what I say, but really?  He wont say it?  And everything he does say is 1 word (Kind of Annoying with almost everything else voiced). 

Symphonia is more of a feel good story than the other two (first game). Second Game I characterize as the "Power of Love".  The second game is like Xillia 2 in that it also features the cast of the first game in the series, but with different main characters.

You can usual find a good combo price on Xilla 1 / Graces F (and Symphonia Chronicles isnt to expensive). If you can deal with the Older School Graphics on Symphonia, Id start with it. They did not bother me at all and it is definitely an earlier, less advanced battle system than the other 2.