IU is considered to be a prototype to SO4 while ES was a sort of prototype for ToV.  IU is a very flawed game as a result of coming out too soon.

Well Vesperia and Sonata have the same average on metacritic. It seems they are both quite good. Games that a lot of people think are boring are sometimes games that lack explosions. I usually have to play myself. It seems Sonata is the better of the two in artistry and presentation, but I haven't played so I can only go by critics (who are often wrong :) )

it could be, at least in the JRPG field, I cannot comment as I have yet to play it

but if we count WKC and it's potential Japanese release, then that game may supplant it. (in Level 5 we trust)

I hate you mrstickball for writing such a good user review although you know exactly that the game isn't out in PAL regions.

Burn in HELL !!!! /joke end

It may be very well a candidate for RPG GOTY, I'm sure it's a fantastic game. But the GOTY has already been decided and is Persona 4 (second RPG GOTY consecutive for Atlus)

I'm playing it now. I have to say that it's a shame how this game is compared to Eternal Sonata. Personally, I think it's lightyears ahead of ES, having completed both games.

It's also shocking at the sheer lack of reviewers who have actually rated ToV.

So yeah, this is my favorite rpg in a while (I feel persona 3 is only slightly inferior), and one of the best games released this year, period.

I'm sure we'll have the inevitable troll pop up claiming that "The game sucks because review XXX says so."

The gaming magazines were overly harsh on the game, while the online reviewers praised it. Once again, Metacritic has considered a B- a 67, and used a quote from the worst review of the 3 from EGM.

I highly suggest checking out Gamespot or IGN's text reviews of this game for fair and accurate reporting.

While I think Fallout 3 or Fable 2 will end up with RPG of the year, I highly doubt that I would like either game more than Vesperia.

However, there are a lot of anti-360 posters out there who would hate on the game given the opportunity, which is a major reason I avoid creating topics like this about Radiant Dawn and ToV, but I guess we can't live our lives in fear of trolls. :P

To sum up, imo, yes, ToV is the best JRPG I've played since FFXII, which in turn is the best JRPG I've played since Tales of Symphonia. The game has some of the best characters and gameplay to be found in a game of this genre, and IGN and Gamespot agree with me, despite the numerical reviews.

...and Stick, at 25 hours in myself, I can tell you the game's just getting warmed up.

You should see the users rave about this game at rpg-centric sites like gamefaqs.

I still have to play Persona 3:FES

*hangs head in shame*

That's another great game. You should pick that up when you can, though the FES version is probably relatively expensive now, or will be soon. Day 1 purchase, just like Vesperia, for me. Don't let it throw you off, like Vesperia, Persona 3 takes about 15 hours to really warm up.

Oh Stick, one of the best parts about the game is how the different characters react during the victory screens. I love when Estelle tries to give Repede a high-5 and he puts his tail up, lmao!..and she's like "Repede....your tail?"

The characters in this game are amazing.

Also, this game might have the most VA ever in a console game.