Optional only if you don't want the Mr.Fluffy-Cat-Eater-Steak-Moose title that requires you watch 4 skits in various places throughout the world before certain events and after others happen.

I look forward to Disgaea's brand of innovation because it innovates by adding things to gameplay.  ^_^

the only improvements I can see in the gameplay videos are in the animations and effects during battle. However, I'm sure there are changes, hopefully improvements, in other parts of the gameplay.

The reviews have actually been very good, text-wise, and certainly not bad numerically. The Tales community very much expected these scores to average between 7.5 and 8.5.

If you want to know more about the game, then I suggest you read this excellent review:

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/902/902269p1.html

In fact, if you'll look at the text for these reviews, they all highly praise the game as one, if not the best entry in the series.

8.5 for a Tales game is AAA. Keep that in mind. You'll hear the same from every knowledgable Tales fan on this forum. You can read this post for proof of that:

http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=39016

As for those unaware of the series past, or unaware of the reviewers score system for this niche anime themed jrpg series, I wrote this, before the reviews came pouring in, believe me when I tell you that reviewers give this series the Disgaea treatment in reviews, though it has a huge cult fanbase, just like Disgaea, and the games are quality:

I, ZenfoldorVGI, believe and hope that Tales of Vesperia will recieve between a 75 and 85 percent rating on gamerankings. This won't mean the game sucks, but instead that it is not for everyone, and instead pleases jrpg fans, and in particular, the Tales of fanbase. Similar games that will always recieve these scores are the Phoenix Wright series, and the Disgaea series. The vast majority of people touting and looking forward to this game also realize that it won't be reviewed as a AAA title. When the scores are released, no one will be "owned" and no one will be dissapointed. This game is not the next Haze. Nobody on this forum believes ToV will get 90 percent, not even close. We're shooting for an 85, and such a score should be considered AAA for the series.

	Tales of Symphonia  Publisher: Namco Number of P/Reviews: 179	GameCube	85.7%

	Tales of the Abyss  Publisher: Namco Bandai Games America Number of P/Reviews: 46	PlayStation 2	79.1%

Both superb games, and fantastic examples of the jrpg genre, in the eyes of most Tales fans.

Now, if the game ends with a 74 or below, I'll probably still get it, but I think that would be a fair starting point for calling the game a flop. I still wouldn't be dissapointed. Not even a little. I really hope it ends up somewhere in the 80s. That would be a great day for me, and a victory for the game. - August 22, 2008

They've actually added over half a dozen new classes alone.

You can now stack geoblocks (what were Geo symbols) and there's a whole crapload of stuff to go with that.

...etc.

I don't want to spell out all the changes from the past games, but there's a lot of new stuff in there.

I don't make the call. It is my opinion that they are similar.

I have no interest in those titles anymore. When I realised you were basically always powerful enough to go straight through the game without breaking a grind sweat, I stopped bothering with recipes, titles and I rode the animal all throughout the overworld. As long as you fight inside dungeons and get better weapons, it's a cakewalk. I'm talking about Symphonia by the way. I haven't played the others to compare, but I hear it's very similiar.

yeah that's what I mean, I've only seen gameplay videos and most of what you just said can't be known just by watching videos.

Just one little thing Zen, Abyss isn`t among the best in the series. It is much better than Destiny or Legendia, but worst than the rest. Sure Famitsu and other sources think it is the best, but trust me it is not that good. Usually Tales main series follow a high-low trend. I believe Abyss was the low and Vesperia may be the new high.

@Zen
I understand that history dictates it, I'm just wondering what the reasoning is the reviewers give for marking it down. Since it seems they always mark this series down to some degree. I only comment because Disgaea has a fairly obvious reason to get the treatment it does, I was curious what reason reviewers use to do the same to Tales games (if there is one).

On the which is more niche idea, I would just see which had less sales, but I understand that you could think they are similar within their respective genres.