Review | Tales of Graces F Remastered

A Tales of Review

Tales of Graces is an action role-playing game developed by Namco Tales Studio and published by Namco Bandai Games. It was originally released for the Wii in Japan in 2009 as the twelfth main installment in the Tales series. The game was later ported to the PlayStation 3 under the title Tales of Graces f, launching in Japan in December 2010. The PlayStation 3 version was eventually localized and released in English in 2012. Now, after all these years, a remastered version—Tales of Graces f Remastered—has arrived on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows on January 17, 2025. Finally, we can all play it, no matter the platform!

It took them 13 years to bring us this port, but I’m glad it happened. To me, this was—and still is—probably the best Tales game to date. Sure, the story has its flaws, and the art isn’t quite as strong as Vesperia’s... But ultimately, the overall experience this game offers is at the peak of the JRPG genre.ž

I've played the PS5 version of the game, so my experience is based on that version.

I will point out some changes that comes with this Remastered version:

• Smoother Frame Rates And Shinier Visuals. The game looks beautiful and runs perfect on all system expect Switch where it doesn't target 60 FPS.
• You can start the game with all Grade Shop rewards. This means you can enable 10x EXP, tripple SP and so on. This is usually available for players after beating the game and collecting enough Grade points. With this version you get it from the start, although if you don't buy grade rewards, you can't enable/disable them during the game.
• Full Dual Language Support. You can switch between English and Japanese as you see fit
• Useful Toggles And Quality Of Life Tweaks: You can add an icon that will always point you in the direction of the next story event, you can also disable regular enemy encounters at any time, hourglass icons will display in areas when limited-time events are nearby in order not to miss them... And couple of other things

Don't worry about the Prologue chapter - it's short, but sweet. It sets the direction of the story and sets up a ground for the character development. Also, it still looks neat after all these years!

Story and the characters

The story is probably one of the aspects where people tend to criticize the game. Personally, I don’t have that issue—though I’ll admit, the story isn’t anything extraordinary. The game takes place in the world of Ephinea, which is divided into the countries of Windor, Strahta, and Fendel. Asbel Lhant is the protagonist, joined by other party members he meets on his journey to save a mysterious humanoid girl—and, of course, the world itself. The whole plot revolves around friendship and the bonds between the party, which is a good thing because the party is fantastic.

My main issue is how the story starts with one premise in mind but eventually turns into an over-the-top fantasy sci-fi plot. It was probably much more impressive when it came out 15 years ago, but even back then, it had pacing issues. I don’t really mind, though—the characters are great, no one gets on my nerves, and there are plenty of funny moments that help break up the uneven pacing. I personally prefer the earlier parts of the story, where it leans more into political intrigue. Later on, it dives so deep into fantasy that politics stop mattering, which I enjoyed a bit less (which is weird, it's the other way around usually).

One thing I love is how everything feels connected—the world makes sense and feels cohesive. That said, I do wish the dungeons were more unique and artistic. Instead, we mostly explore roads leading to towns and only a handful of dungeons. Still, there’s plenty to love, both in the main story and the side content. But don’t worry too much—the gameplay is so good that it makes up for all of the game’s flaws.

You will not be bored in this game. If you miss the grind, don't worry, it's here. It's also so much fun, and everything you do in the game makes sense. Also, I've always loved the graphics in Tales games.

Game design, exploration

As I mentioned, the game is designed to feel like a big, connected open world. It’s not truly open-world, though—it just gives the impression of one large, seamless map because you have to physically travel to each destination (with the fast-travel later and soon, of course). I’m talking about the world map here, and I love how the early game design embraces this concept. There’s just something special about stepping out of the first town and feeling that energy from the world map. You start walking, fighting… it’s just awesome.

I never felt bored while exploring, nor did I have any issues with the game’s design. I think it’s really well crafted. If anything, the amount of hidden scenes, conversations, and rewards might be a bit excessive—but honestly, I love it. I enjoy exploring the world and actually getting something in return. Every town is designed with that in mind, tying seamlessly into the RPG system of character development—both in terms of story progression and leveling up.

You know how some games punish you by giving less experience when you play on higher difficulties? Tales of Graces doesn’t do that. When you switch to Hard, battles get tougher, but they also reward you with significantly more experience and special points. Everything feels rewarding the way it should. The more you invest in the game, the more you get out of it. It’s one of the better-crafted Tales games—though in my opinion, most of the early Tales titles are.

It's just a shame to miss optional content. It merges with the main plot and character stories so well, you'll never feel like you're doing some fetch part of the game. Tales design at its finest.

Combat

The best part of the game. The combat is simply one of the best action-based systems in the Tales series (and probably overal), with one of the most satisfying progression mechanics. Tales of Graces introduces Titles—each with five skills to learn—that directly contribute to overall character growth, but it can also provide even more buffs on mastering a title. Learning new skills (Arts) also comes from Titles, so progression isn’t just about finding the right equipment; it’s about leveling and mastering Titles to become stronger.

The combat itself takes place on a circular grid where you can freely run, dodge, and attack. You start with B-Arts, the basic combo sets that you refine and level up over time, while adding A-Arts, which are skills basically. The system also features CC points, which act as a stamina bar—depleting as you unleash combos and refilling when you dodge, defend, or simply wait. The deeper you get into the game, the more CC points you earn, the more skills you unlock, the more secondary moves you gain access to, and the more combo potential you discover. It just keeps going—and even after 90 hours, combat remains fun, with new strategies constantly emerging for tough boss fights. It's flashy, it's fun—it holds up so well after all these years.

It’s clear that engaging with side content rewards you with new Titles and equipment that can give you an advantage. Weapons don’t just provide stat boosts; they also enhance CC points and come with various effects. You can even temper them using shards obtained in battle. On top of that, the game features a Dualize (crafting) system, as well as the Eleth Mixer, which lets you duplicate items and materials or even cook food during and after fights. All these micro-systems work together to create a well-balanced and addictively fun combat experience that never gets old.

I love Vesperia and its weapon-skill system, but honestly, I can’t decide if this might be even better.

Boy oh boy, Mystic Arts (like limit breaks) kicks hard! When you keep up with the combo and see that you are doing 100+ combo and unleshing hell on enemies, you know you're on the right track.

Side Content

I feel like more than half of the game is side content. After almost every scene or event, you can trigger a skit—optional conversations with your crew that often provide deeper lore and character development. Skits tend to be over-the-top and funny, adding charm to the game. In towns, you can complete side quests and various requests, which also come with skits and usually reward you with a Title, items, or equipment.

Tales of Graces follows that old-school recipe for success. Not everything is pointed out to you—in fact, most things aren’t. I love that, but from time to time, it can get overwhelming when trying to find a specific skit or quest, since they aren’t marked on the map. The main path is, but side content mostly isn’t (though some timed events are, if you turn on the pointers in the game's options).

The side content will definitely keep you engaged. The post-game is packed with even more to do, and figuring out how to defeat certain bosses in under 60 seconds is a great way to think outside the box.

There is almost no way not to fell in love with Tales of Graces. This is probably the best version out there, so even with full price, the game is well worth it.

Conclusion tales

Tales of Graces may not have the strongest story in the Tales series, but its incredible combat, engaging character interactions, and rewarding progression more than make up for it. The world feels connected, exploration is satisfying, and the sheer amount of side content ensures there’s always something new to discover. Even after dozens of hours, the gameplay remains fun, deep, and strategic—proving why this entry still holds up today. Whether you're revisiting it or experiencing it for the first time, Tales of Graces f Remastered is a must-play for any JRPG fan.