I love Tales franchise, in fact Tales of Eternia is one of my favorite games of all time. But were you serious when you wrote the bolded part? I mean I agree the focus is definitely not on the visuals (although ToV looks gorgeous in my opinion) but Tales games were NEVER about characters (to a certain extent) or story, that's just untrue. Of course you could disagree, but that's my opinion and what a lot of people think.

Actually I believe that the only thing that kept Tales of Symphonia, for example, from reaching the 90 levels on metacritic & gameranking is its story, which almost ALL reviewers complained about.

Tales games have generally were about characters.  Character interaction is the 2nd most important element of a typical Tales game(just behind battle system).  The stories in the series were only there for backdrop for character development

IU looks more interesting: Real time battles, good combat system, and off-the-beaten-path when it comes to story line.

However, it looks to lack the polish that ToV has. ToV will be better made, and polished, but I really am looking forward to IU as well.

If I had to pick JUST one, I'd pick ToV due to my girlfriend really anticipating it. For myself, personally, I'd go with IU since it reminds me of FFXII.

@mrstickball

Doesn´t ToV have real time battles as well?

IU is more innovative but ToV is more polished.  Polished JRPG that doesn't due much new>Innovative JRPG that has framerate issues IMO

Are you trying to kill my buzz for the game? IU reminds me a lot of Star Ocean but given its developer that isn't surprising.

I think IU as im not sure about the style of ToV but im hoping a review comes out for IU soon so I can preorder one or the other (live in UK!).

Vesperia would be my choice if I HAD to choose one simply because of the fact that I have really enjoyed the previous Tales games and this ToV looks to be more of the same, just prettier.

Saying that, I'm definitely going to get both lol.

A week ago I thought Vesperia was going to be better. Yesterday I watched a new video of Infinite Undiscovery and got really excited... In the end, I want them both badly...

I just finished Disk 3 of Lost Odyssey... The pace at which games are coming for 360 is impossible to keep up with...

Yes, but not in the way IU does.

In Tales, it uses a similar way that Star Ocean does: You walk around in the world, and then approach a monster party. Once you get attacked or attack them, the battle is initiated...There's a transitioning screen, and then the battle is done in that pre-generated area. Kind of like Final Fantasy, but (obviously) real time, and so on.

IU, on the other hand, is more like FFXII: 100% of the battles take place on the same screen - no transitioning, just battles. I like that, as XII, Kingdom Hearts, and KOTOR use that same system: Which I really enjoy.

That's not to say that IU or ToV's actual battle system is better than the other: ToV has far more polish, and better frame rates, but IU could pull out some crazy stuff when it launches.