Namco chases Tales to North America for Wii, Xbox 360

by Jason Dobson { Feb 27th 2008 at 4:00PM }

Namco's Tales RPG series is a lot like the bus -- if you miss one, just wait a moment and another will be around shortly. The series, which got its start back in 1995 with Tales of Phantasia for the SNES, is now set to get two new entries as Namco Bandai announced plans to localize both Tales of Vesperia (pictured) for the Xbox 360 and Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World for the Wii later this year.

While Vesperia was first announced during Tokyo's Jump Festa event last December, the game's console destination had been something of a question mark until now. The game, which marks the franchise's first entry on Microsoft's console, will feature character designs by series stalwart Kosuke Fujishima of Oh My Goddess! and Gungrave fame, and promises "significant additions" to the series' action-heavy combat, a facet that has been Tale's defining feature since hit met points.

For those with a taste for nostalgia, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World will take place two years after the GameCube original, whisking Wii owners away on a journey wrought with discovery, old friends, and what we're sure will be plenty of waggle. There's also talk of being able to "recruit" more than 200 different monsters, no doubt pleasing those harboring an incessant need to "catch 'em all."

Gallery: Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

Gallery: Tales of Vesperia

Tags: kosuke-fujishima, kosukefujishima, namco, tales, tales-of-symphonia, tales-of-vesperia, talesofsymphonia, talesofvesperia

Related From Joystiq

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jerk Face @ Feb 27th 2008 4:14PM

I've never played a Tales game, and I'm really not sure why. I mean, I am "down" with "JRPGs." I am "hip to" the "Final Fantasies." I would "give oral" to "Nobuo Uematsu."

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Feb 27th 2008 4:17PM

Awww why does the 360 get all the cool cel shaded graphics and the Wii gets some weird non-cel shaded graphics

Co @ Feb 27th 2008 4:20PM

Huh? Shoot over to wii.ign.com, ex-jesus. They got your cel-shaded fix through and through.

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 27th 2008 4:40PM

Is also cel-shaded.

http://wii.ign.com/articles/855/855146p1.html

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Feb 27th 2008 9:15PM

yea but the cel shading in Symphonia 2 doesn't seem as vibrant as Symphonia 1 or Vesperia

it looks kinda bland to me

creid @ Feb 27th 2008 4:24PM

"Namco's Tales RPG series is a lot like the bus -- if you miss one, just wait a moment and another will be around shortly."
I lol'd. Very true. Though since when did Fujishima do Gungrave? I thought that was Nightow (of Trigun fame.)

Demeth @ Feb 27th 2008 6:57PM

You could also compare it to herpes.

Or Linkin Park.

Denji @ Feb 27th 2008 4:30PM

Dammit, now I need a Wii.

Co @ Feb 27th 2008 4:35PM

No true-er or more common words have ever been said...

Squeek @ Feb 27th 2008 4:42PM

Dammit, now I need an Xbox.

WiNG @ Feb 27th 2008 4:42PM

Gotta say, Tales of Symphonia is a great game and any JRPG that strays from the Squenix (boring) battle system gets a [+] in my book.

See: Grandia II

deaftly @ Feb 27th 2008 4:44PM

Shaftstation 3?

HighFiveJesus @ Feb 27th 2008 6:26PM

Don't freak. There's a good chance it'll wind up there not too long if you look at what namco's been doing lately most of their games.

HighFiveJesus @ Feb 27th 2008 6:27PM

protojimmy that was meant for you. ---v--v--v

ruibing @ Feb 27th 2008 9:19PM

If it is coming out now, it means development started back in 2005 when only the 360 dev kit was available. So until this hits the PS3 in 2009, I'm just going to have to be satisfied with White Knight Chronicles, Disgaea 3, and Eternal Sonata.

ProtoJimmy @ Feb 27th 2008 5:06PM

Ah, damn!
I was hoping they'd make it for the PS3, and it seemed like that was the most logical solution...
Tales of Phantasia: SNES, PSX, PSP
Tales of Destiny: PSX
Tales of Destiny 2: PSX, PSP
Tales of Eternia: PSX
Tales of Symphonia: GCN, PS2
Tales of Symphonia 2: Wii
Tales of Rebirth: PS2, PSP
Tales of Legendia: PS2
Tales of the Abyss: PS2

I mean, c'mon - they just screwed all of us who've followed the franchise loyally and don't have a 360.
It'll be the only American-Released Console Tales I can't play.
Lame.

Fernando Rocker @ Feb 27th 2008 5:14PM

You missed Tales of Pahntasia in GBA too, and Tales of Innocence in the DS.

creid @ Feb 27th 2008 5:15PM

If they don't eventually make a PS3 port of Vesperia, I'll eat my hat. They'd basically be throwing money away otherwise.

ProtoJimmy @ Feb 27th 2008 5:17PM

@Fernando Rocker:
You're right, I forgot to mention the GBA Tales of Phantasia, as well as the two DS ones.

@creid
I REALLY hope you're right.

Sean @ Feb 27th 2008 5:42PM

Actually, this most certainly is a timed exclusive like Eternal Sonata. I saw an interview with the lead designer and he admitted as much. They will start work on the PS3 version once the 360 version is done and shipped.
Interesting... Microsoft obviously has some sort of finacial arrangement with Namco to make these timed exclusives. Licesening fee wavied perhaps?

PKFC @ Feb 27th 2008 10:03PM

@Sean: prove it.... :( please? :(

ruibing @ Feb 27th 2008 9:20PM

Tales of Abyss was an awesome game.

RoboJoel @ Feb 27th 2008 10:27PM

The Designers said they wouldn't doubt it coming to PS3, they just aren't working on it right now.

There is a Three Page Interview in the current Play Magazine, read it :)

ProtoJimmy @ Feb 27th 2008 11:16PM

Hm, so many comments, haha.
Symphonia is what took my Tales-virginity.
Then I grabbed Legendia - not sure why every bashes it. It had it's flaws but I LOVED it.
Abyss was also amazing - I was glued to it for every second.
I order Destiny and Destiny 2 off of eBay shortly ago, I've just been kinda too busy to play them.

Hoping that the talk of it being a timed-exclusive is true, I'll just have to play through those to take up the wait time XD

As for Eternal Sonata, has anyone heard ANYTHING about that hitting North America, or is it a japan-only-ps3-release?

Batzarro @ Feb 27th 2008 5:15PM

IIIIIn-teresting... looks great, if that's a screen of the game.

motang @ Feb 27th 2008 5:37PM

Awesome, Tales games are fun!

Sucklechimp @ Feb 27th 2008 6:40PM

Tales of Symphonia for the GC was one of my favorite RPGs ever. I am stoked that the sequel is coming to Wii!

VenerableSage @ Feb 27th 2008 6:50PM

"whisking Wii owners away on a journey wrought with discovery, old friends, and what we're sure will be plenty of waggle."

Actually, straight from the devs, the use of the Wiimote will mainly be used for activating shortcuts to moves and the like. It'll also be used as a pointer on the map.

Also, the party mainly fights with 2 characters and 2 AI-controlled monsters that you've captured and "befriended". Though, you'll sometimes get cameo guest appearances as characters on your team.