So I'm a guy who played Tales of Symphonia about half a year ago. My friend recommended it to me, so I picked it up and played it with another friend. Amazing game, I was totally blown away and thought it was just such an incredible game in general, and I loved it to no end.

Naturally, I decided to pick up Tales of the Abyss as well... And was terribly let down. I just couldn't get how this game, which was made and released AFTER Tales of Symphonia could be worse in almost every category (personal opinion, don't hate me XD). The only part I think might've been better(not fully sure of that either) is combat. The load times were terrible too, one of the main things that turned me off from the game. As a result I don't think I played more than about 5 hours.

When I see people talk about Tales-games on these forums, they usually lump Symphonia and Abyss together, saying they were awesome games made by the same team, which makes me kind of... Skeptical. Given that I love Symphonia but despise Abyss, would I like Vesperia at all? I've been excited about both Vesperia and Symphonia: DotNW for some time, but after spending more time here on VGChartz it's dawned on me that maybe Vesperia will be, to me, just like Abyss was - A horrible disappointment, and may just turn me off from the series completely.

Please, Tales-fans, give me your views and advice on how it can be possible that I love Symphonia yet hate Abyss, and if there's any chance I could like Vesperia at all.

I'll just wait until Soriku arrives in this thread....

Phantasia was a god-game.
Eternia was... interesting.
Abyss was a letdown (result: began it 2 years ago, haven't finished it)

PS:
People always say Square milks down Final Fantasy... which makes me laugh, seeing how many tales games are out there.

Still not quite sure. I mean, is it more like Symphonia than it is like Abyss?

I love both Symphonia and Vesperia.

I'm 17 hours into Vesperia and I can tell you that it hasn't disappointed one bit.

The thing I really love about Vesperia more than Symphonia are the characters. Not that Symphonia characters weren't awesome, because they were. Rita Mordio is absolutely awesome and probably my favourite Tales character ever.

The Tales studio got everything right in Vesperia (imo). If you liked Symphonia, this game is even better.

Abyss's engine problems like long load times is because it's using the Symphonia engine which was tailored to the Gamecube. The ToS PS2 port suffers from similar problems. I heard rumors that Abyss was originally going to be on the Gamecube...

Anyways, I think Symphonia is smack in the middle of the series. Its cast and story range from mediocre to horrible but its battle system is a move in the right direction even if it is sort of gimped for a Tales game. The future incarnations using the 3D system are remarkably superior to Symphonia in almost every way, making it irrelevant in this day even though it's not really that old.

But when it comes to Tales games you can't use one to judge others. Just because you like/dislike one doesn't mean you'll feel the same about another even if it is by the same team.

I disliked Symphonia and liked the Abyss. It depends on what you didn´t like in Abyss. I haven´t played Vesperia, but it uses an upgraded battle system of Abyss. If it´s the story and characters you didn´t like then nobody can really give you an advice, as those matters are exclusively personal, especially in jRPGs. Since you liked Symphonia you should better try its sequel first. If you really want the best characters and story and don´t care about graphics and combat, then you should give a try to the old 2D Tales, they are far better in that department imo.

One of best games I have ever played on PSP vas Tales Of Eternia.Its god dam good game that anygamer should not miss.

True

Yet the number of Tales games released in the last 2 years makes me cringe.

I've played Tales of Destiny, Symphonia, and Vesperia. All three are great imo with Symphonia being the best(mostly because of impact[first tales], and story) and Destiny being the worst, but still good. So I liked both Vesperia and Symphonia,don't know if you will too though. Abyss is on my list of games to get, but if it is as bad as you say it is I might put it lower on my list.