I've tried to play Tales of Phantasia twice in the past. The first time ended after the boat scene with that questionable "translation" choice. The second didn't go much longer: to where the boat landed. I wandered around the new continent and found a strong spear. Then I got bored because my mages kept not letting me play... Both of those were on the DeJap SNES edition. This time, though, I'll be playing the Playstation One version with the Phantasian Production translation. It's the newest, so my dumb brain assumes it's the best. Honestly, I doubt I'd even know a difference.
The Tales franchise has always been something well regarded and a nail in the Nintendo RPG empire. Although they don't have a Smash rep... But I don't have a lot of experience with them. I played Symphonia a few years ago, and I think it's one of the worst games I've ever played. I've tried Phantasia twice, and both were dropped. If I really am the RPG enthusiast I claim to be, I should know more about this franchise and its unique combat. Here's hoping I can get past a boat!
The game starts with an auto battle scene. Four unknown people are fighting a powerful wizard. One of the good guys is dead, and another is buying time for their mage to cast Indignation! The spell goes off, and the wizard is sealed in several layers of magic. It seems overkill, but what do I know?
We then cut to a small hamlet nestled in the mountains. Our main character, Cless Albane, has just woken up. He goes to speak to his father, Miguel, a famed sword teacher. Miguel asks about Maria, Cless' mom. She's been ill, but she's a fighter and doing well enough. Miguel's mentor, Tristan, is also here. The topic turns to the necklace that Cless wears. It was a gift Miguel gave his son two years ago, Cless' fifteenth birthday. Before we learn anything about it, we cut again.
Chester exits his house and says goodbye to his sister, Ami. Ami has a gift for Cless, so she asks if he can stop by. But the plan today is to go hunting in the woods south of town. They're looking for a meaty boar! Cheater heads to Cless' house and yells for him, interrupting the talk Miguel and his son we're having. With a want to consume ham, Cless joins his friend. Maria comes out to say goodbye and because she's worried. Chester is confident his bowmanship and Cless' sword skills will keep them safe, and Maria goes back to bed. Before heading out, look around town. There are a few goodies around to give you a connection to Toltus. Are titles useful?
And welcome to the world map! I'm quickly reminded that Motoi Sakuraba composed the OST, which is a good sign! We also get to why I wanted to play the PSX version: skits! These fun little scenes can be seen on the world map and let your party members have a moment together. So far, they've only talked about the mission, but it shows more personality that shines through. They were my favorite part of a terrible game and probably worth it. And the Star Ocean world map is red too.
In the valley of the mountains to the south is a forest and home to our boar hunt. It's small, so we quickly find our prey. Cless and Chester give chase but don't follow it at first. There are treasure to the west! Once you've gotten the two chests, go find the boar until you reach a dead end. All we see is a massive, dead tree stump. Chester goes back to see if we missed its trail, and something strange happens to Cless. Suddenly, a gate opens over the tree, and a woman appears in it. She says, "don't let the tree die." An image of the tree in all its glory appears before Cless, but the vision fades when Chester returns. And just in time too, because the boar is sick of running!
The battle is very straightforward, so let's talk about the battle system. It's a 2D beat 'em up, and your group has to march towards the enemy in single file. It's...a thing, alright. I like the idea of it, but it has some annoying things about it. Why must Cless always return to his group if he goes ahead? I don't like having control taken away, and it leaves you open to damage. It's frustrating, and I hate it. But I do like how holding down a button on the d-pad changes the attack Cless can use. Hold up to jump, down's a knock up, and forward is a thrust. Couple that with the Star Ocean fighter skills, and I can see how cool this is. Did Symphonia have this?
But we were killing a boar and its babies! I took out papa, but his kids got away. We got what we came for, but there's no time to celebrate. We hear the alarm bell ringing in town, and we're suddenly worried and book it back home. On the world map, we already see our home is on fire.
We enter the remains of Toltus and see everyone dead. Chester rushes home to Ani, and I see if anyone survived. I found no one. Miguel is barely alive but can tell us what happened. An army came here looking for the amulet Cless has. They used Maria as a shield to take down the fabled swordsman. Miguel tells his son to head to Euclid, where Cless' uncle lives and dies. Nearby is Maria, and Cless places the body of his mom next to him. Meanwhile, Chester is mourning over the body of Ami. Cless tries to get his friend to go with him in case the soldiers attack again. Chester, though, wants to bury everyone, so they split up. If you're on the SNES, leave town. On the PSX, you can find an overpowered sword in Cless' house. But you might lose it soon...
Euclid is to the north, and we need to go through a mountain path. There are two paths to choose from here. If you move the statue blocking the north path, you find a lot of fights but get some treasure at the end. The left canton is short and boring. If you have the Knight Sword when you get back to the world map, unequip it.
Euclid is home to a juggler that entertains kids and a monkey that steals things. None of this matters. Uncle Olwen lives in the northwest, and he's glad to see us. He sets us up for the night, but we don't get much sleep. Olwen betrayed us. He blames the soldiers for threatening to torch Euclid, but word around town makes me think he's working with them. But the same men who attacked Tolkus drag us off to jail. We meet the black knight in charge, and he takes our amulet. As he looks at himself in a mirror, we notice a spirit over his reflection. We then cut to Chester burying his townfolk. But he hears someone approach...
So we're in jail. Inspect the hole in the wall and the door. Suddenly, Cless hears a voice from the hole. It's from a woman who asks him to put his hand in the hole. She'll give him something to escape prison with, but on the condition he takes a girl in a nearby cell with him. Cless does, and a warn hand gives him an earring. The voice says to hold it to the walk. Doing so breaks the wall. On the otherside is a dead cleric. She's been run through with a sword that Cless needs to take. He uses the sword to pry open the door, which he does several more times. In one of the cells is a young girl named Mint. The game treats Mint like she's seven, but she's actually eighteen, a year older than Cless. Despite that, Mint asks us to save her mom. Cless assumes the dead healer is that mother and is afraid to even tell her what happened. She's an adult game! Or is this a questionable translation thing? To the south is a sewer gare that'll break whatever weapon Cless has equipped. RIP my battle axe. But it opens an exit. Pass through and find all the treasure. It's mostly gel and food, but one chest has 1000 gald. The exp is great, and save points are common. There's a mini boss at the end, and we'll get the stuff that was taken from us back. I even got the Knight Sword!
We come to a forest, and we're about to celebrate. But then Cless sees a slime attack Mint. Our tank jumps in front of it and gets poisoned. It's so strong it knocks him out. Mint hears footsteps, so she drags him away.
We wake up in an unknown bed with an old man over us. He introduces himself as Morrison and says our buddy brought us here. Mint enters the room and says how she and Morrison have been speaking. But we should get some air... Outside, we see Chester come into the yard! It turns out he's the one who brought us here. But since we're all here, Morrison says he knows usm or, at least, our parents. Morrison was friends with Miguel, Maria, and Mint's mom, Meryl. He changes the topic to the amulet, but the vibe changes when Cless says it was stolen. Morrison begins to panic and needs to head to a nearby cave. He tells us to stay here, but we want to go with. He's adamant, though, so we go eat.
Later, Tristan shows up. With little egging, he convinces us to chase after Morrison. Before heading into the Mausoleum, Tristan teaches Cless about Duel Techs. I haven't unlocked it, so I still don't know what they are. Anyway, head to the bottom and beat up a golem. Drag that to the southwest to open a door. This takes us to a spirit guarding a Ruby Stone. This stone opens the door at the beginning of the mausoleum, but I'll have to finish that...
... tomorrow!
Remind me to do more skits and return to Euclid.
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