Tales of Graces f Remastered marks the return of a fan-favourite entry in the Tales series, bringing its unique combat and heartfelt story to modern platforms. Originally released on the Wii in 2009, the game has now been updated with quality-of-life improvements, enhanced visuals, and all its original DLC.
The game follows Asbel Lhant and his friends on a journey through a world torn by war and secrets. With its dynamic combat system and engaging character customization, Tales of Graces f Remastered offers a JRPG experience that balances strategy, action, and storytelling.
As a remaster, it introduces updates like better navigation markers, a Grade Shop, and faster movement options. However, the game’s linear structure and predictable story beats might not appeal to everyone. Let’s explore how this classic JRPG holds up for modern audiences.
A Tale of Friendship and Redemption
The story of Tales of Graces f Remastered follows Asbel Lhant and his childhood friends as they make their way through a world divided by war and secrets. The narrative is split into three arcs: a childhood prologue, an adult journey, and the Lineage & Legacies epilogue. This structure allows the story to evolve with its characters, adding depth to their relationships and motivations.
What I really enjoyed about the story is how it focuses on themes of friendship and family. A part of the story that stood out for me was Asbel’s reunion with his estranged brother, Hubert. Their interactions feel genuine, showing how time and choices can challenge family bonds. These moments make the story more emotional and relatable, even when the larger plot leans on familiar JRPG tropes.
The cast includes likable characters, each fitting classic archetypes. Asbel is the determined hero, Cheria the caring healer, and Pascal the quirky comic relief. While their growth feels rewarding, they often remain within their expected roles, making the story predictable at times. Even so, the characters’ personalities and their interactions make the story engaging.
The story has some tonal shifts and predictable moments but remains heartfelt and engaging. The Lineage & Legacies epilogue ties up loose ends, providing a satisfying conclusion. Its mix of emotional moments and lighthearted adventures keeps the narrative interesting throughout.
A Combat System That Shines
Tales of Graces f Remastered features a fast-paced, action-packed combat system that remains one of the series’ best. The Chain Capacity (CC) system replaces traditional MP, emphasizing resource management for combos, dodges, and artes. This mechanic, combined with A-Artes and B-Artes, gives you options, letting you switch between physical attacks and magical techniques.
The combat feels most rewarding during difficult battles. During a tough boss fight in the Warrior’s Roost tower, I had to carefully balance attacking with combos with guarding to survive. The constant attacks required careful timing and smart use of artes, making victory feel satisfying. Battles like this show how Tales of Graces f Remastered’s gameplay rewards strategy and adaptability.
The game’s customization options let you tailor characters and strategies, making the experience more engaging. Titles unlock skills and stat boosts, letting you shape each character’s strengths. The dualizing system allows you to combine weapons and items to create stronger gear, while the Eleth Mixer automates crafting and item use during battles. These systems create a rewarding loop of experimentation and progression.
While the battle gameplay mechanics are fantastic, the linear overworld and repetitive backtracking feels limiting at times. Dungeons offer more variety with hidden paths and puzzles, but they can still lack the depth of exploration seen in other JRPGs.
Despite its linear structure, Tales of Graces f Remastered offers exciting combat and customization, keeping battles enjoyable.
A Polished Yet Dated Look
Tales of Graces f Remastered updates the visuals of the original game while retaining its anime-inspired art style. The resolution bump makes the graphics sharper, and the game runs smoothly at 60 FPS. However, the textures and character models still reflect their Wii-era origins, which makes the game feel dated at times.
The menus and skits are clean and well-designed, adding a modern touch. While the environments are colourful, they often feel simplistic, with limited detail in the overworld and towns. The dungeon designs are more interesting, offering hidden paths and puzzles to explore.
The soundtrack has tracks that enhance key moments well, but some feel repetitive and less impactful. The voice acting brings life to the characters, making their personalities more distinct. However, the quality isn’t consistent. As a result, some come across as flat or less convincing.
Overall, Tales of Graces f Remastered retains the charm of the original while delivering a smoother, more visually appealing experience. While some aspects feel dated, the updates make it fit well on modern platforms.
Tales of Graces f Remastered is a Memorable Return for a Classic JRPG
Tales of Graces f Remastered brings a fan-favourite entry in the series to modern platforms, offering both nostalgia and new experiences. Its combat system and deep customization options make battles consistently engaging, while the updates improve accessibility for newcomers and longtime fans.
For me, the blend of fast-paced combat and the rewarding customization systems kept me hooked. Experimenting with titles and dualizing gear to create a team tailored to my playstyle made the gameplay more exciting and rewarding. It felt like every battle was a new challenge to overcome, and every upgrade made the journey more satisfying.
That said, the game isn’t perfect. The story’s predictable moments and occasional pacing issues can be frustrating. Similarly, the dated visuals and linear exploration are not for everyone. But even with its flaws, the game remains enjoyable, thanks to its likable cast, heartfelt themes, and engaging gameplay loop
Whether you’re revisiting this classic or diving in for the first time, Tales of Graces f Remastered is a JRPG worth experiencing. It’s a reminder of why the Tales series has endured, and it leaves me excited to see more classics brought to modern platforms.
Tales of Graces f Remastered
Summary
Tales of Graces f Remastered revitalizes a classic JRPG with its engaging combat, deep customization, and quality-of-life upgrades. While its story can feel predictable and its visuals show their age, the likable cast and rewarding gameplay make it worth experiencing for both newcomers and fans.
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