Tales of Phantasia

The Good
There were so many implementations that went into this game. The graphics were 48-bit and only one game shares that which is Star Ocean also made by the same group of people. Tales of Phantasia, has engaging driven storyline, which places you with a weapons master named Cless, who has a variety of moves to learn, pair that up with a healer, a magician, and archer, and you got yourself a team of combatants to face against the horrid multitudes of monsters.

The combat interface is simple, it's set in a sidescrolling mode rather than isometric, and you press the corresponding buttons to do a move or combo it up with a special. There's many possibilities.

The music score is one of the best and sometimes very catchy and melodic. Especially when the composer is Motoi Sakuraba. The game features a special option menu to listen to all the sounds and music of the game. A full mixer set and equalizer to play with the music.

There are many comical reliefs in the game that'll keep you laughing and entertained. Most of it is sexual innuendo jokes and puberty lessons. It's more anime-ish with the reactions showing up as a tear or angry red face anime style.

The Bad
With most RPGs its an annoying gripe; random encounters, every 3-4 seconds you'll run into one, and there usually the same type of monsters in that area. It gets harder down the road to the point where the monsters are hitting you with petrify spells.

The combat layout is lousy, most of the time in the side scroller your character will get stuck behind the others and get pummelled relentlessly until he dies. Some monsters attack alot faster than most and can daze your character alot, and it's really hard to get him out of that situation.

There is some voice acting, but not alot and they sound like blips here and there. Not much, though I heard the PS version of it went overboard...

The Bottom Line
A great adventure RPG game worth having either in the original cartridge (good luck with finding one) or through emulators you can experience the joys of playing this magnificent game. It'll keep you on your toes and challenge your wits and reactions to situations. The music score is a keeper and have their own soundtrack somewhere in Japan. Remember this is the same publishers who've done Star Ocean series. So you know this game is worth it!