Alright Bandai Namco, Where Are All the Tales of Games Remasters?
Despite being one of the best-selling JRPG series in Japan, the Tales games haven’t always gained the support it deserves in the West. So unlike Final Fantasy, the Tales games haven’t been graced with what everyone really wants: remasters.
Despite the lack of tremendous popularity in the West, that doesn’t mean the series doesn’t have devoted fans. It was only recently that Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition surpassed 1 million sales, so the demand for Tales games remasters is there.
If that’s the case, where are they? Bandai Namco, will you please give us a crumb of some Tales serotonin? No? Please?
The Tales of games getting a series of remasters wouldn’t just be incredible for nostalgic fans, but it’d bring some games that have never been released outside of Japan to the West. Games like Tales of Rebirth, Tales of Destiny 2, and Tales of Innocence are all games that have left many people relying on fan-subs, walkthroughs, and even mobile crossovers to see what they’ve missed out on in regards to the characters and stories. It’s a shame, because fans do want to give them a go for themselves, so why not give them a chance by reviving these games for platforms like the Nintendo Switch?
In all honesty, the Tales games deserve the chance of other JRPG series like the Romance SaGa and Mana – a chance to connect to new audiences who may have never played a Tales game, or have only had the chance to play newer games like Berseria and Zestiria. Both of which, outside of Vesperia’s definitive edition, are the only games to be available on PS3, PS4, PC and work well on the PS5. So, it’s no real surprise that fans getting introduced to the Tales series start with either these two titles.
The introduction to Tales games is good, but it could be better. And perhaps, considering the Tales team’s promise that this year will be more exciting for fans of the series, remasters of the Tales games are on the way… But until we have more solid evidence of that, I’m just going to fold my arms, sulk and wish that every Nintendo Direct from now on has some sort of Tales announcement. Maybe we’ll even finally get an answer to what Tales of Luminaria actually is?
Unlikely, but a girl can dream.
About The Author
In the tail end of 2020/January of 2021 I splurged in getting a refurbished PS3 just so I could get a stack of Tales games (Graces F, Xillia, Xillia 2, & Symphonia Chronicles – which bundles Symphonia & it’s sequel together). And oh my god did my wallet take a hit for me to do that. Almost regretted it until I started to play graces and really got into the kids adn the story.
Totally agree that if Bandco were to do reissues/remasters of their older games besides Vesperia that would be a boon for them and for getting more people in the rest of the world to play them.
I’d personally love a remaster and official translation of Tales of Rebirth.