that's like complaining there is too much jumping in Mario

I don't know if this is a complaint per se, but I have found that in games that use cel-shading instead of "realistic" 3D graphics, I find myself a bit more withdrawn from the characters and story.(especially the former) This is a more recent of a development obviously since RPG's didn't always have the graphics they do now. But for the last couple/few years, the stories that I found myself most engrossed in were games like Final Fantasy X, Xenosaga and Kingdom Hearts. (to name a few) I still loved games like Rogue Galaxy and Dark Cloud 2 etc., but I was less into the story. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the stories and they weren't good, but it wasn't quite the same. This could just be coincidence however. It's not like I have something against Cel-Shading or a bias against it, it's just something i've noticed.

This is kind of odd since i'm a big fan of Anime Film, specifically its storytelling.

I know exactly what you mean. The 2 games you've mentioned are developed by the same studio. Level-5. Both games have very poor character development, and minimal story. Like Dragonquest VIII, also by the same developer. Unfortunately, I too disliked Rogue Galaxy and Dragonquest VIII. I did enjoy Dark Cloud 2, but for an entirely different reason(the characters and story sucked). It's not a coincidence, you just didn't realize that all the cell shaded rpgs you've played are by the same developer, lol.

Level-5 makes great games, but they're far more renound for their gameplay and depth, than their ability to craft a character driven narrative, which is a must for all anime style stories, and which no Level-5 game I've played, has had. White Knight Story is the next game by that developer, highly touted on the PS3. Most people who tout it as a Final Fantasy killer, probably haven't played past jrpgs by the company, and are instead basing their hype off of the trailer(which is amazing). I hope Level-5 has fixed their narrative issues with this new game. They really are great developers, but end up with too small a focus on what jrpgers crave, which is character interaction and emotion(this isn't always true, as some people actually find jrpg storys disposable, but still manage to love them based souly on gameplay. The Level-5 crowd is the prime example of this, as Level-5 games are tailored towards them, and are remeniscant of the early jrpgs with their sparse stories and long difficult dungeons.).

The Tales games give a completely different approach to storytelling, more akin to a PS1 Final Fantasy game, where the stories are generic, but instead plot and motive is moved along by anime-like character interaction, directly opposite of Rogue Galaxy or Dragonquest VIII.

Seriously, go watch the gamespot.com video review, found here:

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/rpg/talesofvesperia/video/6196860/tales-of-vesperia-video-review-1

That review should tell you everything you need to know.

If you have never played a Tales game, trust me, they are NOTHING like Rogue Galaxy, Suikoden, Dragonquest, or Dark Cloud. You can virtually guarntee that if you like anime, you're gonna find the game intriguing and become emotionally invested with the characters. That's the main point of the game, of which all else is focused.

My Steelbook Tales of Vesperia should land on my doorstep any time today. Can't wait to review this thing!

I'm guessing you never played Jeanne d'Arc or the Professor Layton games(both made by Level 5) as the stories in both games are considered to be really good.  Also, according to a fellow VGChartz member, Level 5 acknowledged that they had issues with the storytelling in their games and were working the issues out.

Have they even heard about Lost Odyssey ?

I've played Layton, to be honest, the characters didn't exactly grab me. In fact, I found the whole narrative to be an excuse that leads you from one puzzle to the next, though admittedly I didn't finish the game.

As for Jeanne d'Arc, I've never played it. I have, however, played every other Level-5 game. If d'Arc is an exception to Level-5's usually poor character development, then let us hope that WKS is also an exception.

A lot of those critics bashed LO(well , not literally) for being "traditional"

Yes they have, yet they stand by their original statement.

We can't agree on everything.  Not suprising since you didn't like Lost Odyssey, a JRPG with a very character-driven story.

You were the one that didn't like LO or was that someone else?