Tales of Graces f Remastered [PC] | REVIEW

One of my favourite things about remasters is that they make classic releases more accessible, and believe me, there are still PLENTY of titles in the Tales series that I’d like to see available on modern platforms. Originally released on the Nintendo Wii in 2009 and later upgraded for the PlayStation 3, Tales of Graces f was one such RPG that had become a lot tougher to get a hold of, but with this new remastered release that updates the visuals, refines the gameplay, and introduces numerous quality-of-life improvements, it’s easier than ever to enjoy the adventure.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The story of Tales of Graces f follows Asbel, a young noble from the peaceful village of Lhant. In his childhood, Asbel and his brother Hubert stumble upon an amnesiac girl named Sophie, setting off a chain of events that would change their lives forever. After a tragic incident, the story jumps seven years into the future, where Asbel reunites with his childhood friends as they navigate political turmoil and uncover the secrets of the world.

While the narrative starts off slow and leans into predictable RPG tropes, it gradually becomes more engaging as you progress (and don’t let the slower pace of the childhood section put you off too much). The cast of characters, though not the most deeply written, have their moments of charm and humour, with it easy to find your favourites as you progress. The light-hearted skits – a hallmark of the Tales series – help flesh out their personalities, offering enjoyable banter and comedic relief. However, compared to more recent entries like Tales of Berseria or Tales of Arise, things can be a bit one-dimensional, with familiar RPG archetypes and tropes seeing some elements of the storytelling feeling predictable and losing that sense of grandeur typically associated with the series.

Where Tales of Graces f truly excels is in its combat. Its real-time combat remains some of the best in the series, utilizing the Chain Capacity (known as CC) system, which allows players to execute attacks and abilities as long as they have enough CC available. This mechanic keeps battles fluid and strategic, encouraging players to mix standard strikes with powerful artes whilst managing their CC to keep on top of the enemy threat. It makes for a really enjoyable combat system, with plenty of little intricacies ensuring that battles never grow repetitive even in the later hours of the game.

“Tales of Graces f Remastered is a welcome update to a classic RPG that still holds up sixteen-years on from its original release.“

You’ll level up your character conventionally through experience points, but players can also unlock special Titles that grant stat boosts and new abilities as they’re mastered, providing a more engaging way to develop characters. It felt ahead of its time back when the game originally released, and, sixteen-years on, it still adds a refreshing twist to developing your characters.

While the game’s battle system shines, its exploration elements are a little less impressive. The world and dungeons often feel sparse, with relatively empty spaces and symmetrical layouts that don’t offer much in the way of discovery. This is especially apparent in the dungeons, which are some of the weakest in the series – they’ll feel especially tiresome if you’re coming into the game for the first time after experiencing the improved offerings in some of the later titles in the Tales series. Whilst the world itself has some picturesque landscapes and some interesting locales to scour, exploration itself can feel underwhelming.

Check out some screenshots down below:

While Tales of Graces f doesn’t completely overhaul the graphics, the sharper textures, improved lighting, and higher resolution make it look better than ever, whilst the silky-smooth frame rate makes the combat feel super slick. Of course, this was a Nintendo Wii title originally, so the characters and environments might not have the same detail seen in later releases (and you’ll see a LOT of repeated character models with the NPCs), but the colourful, anime-inspired art style ensures that the visuals still hold up today.

There have been other improvements brought to the remaster, with the new sprint function speeding up exploration, an auto-save system ensures progress is never lost if you have a surprise death in battle, objective markers helping guide players, and even the ability to toggle battles on and off. The Grade Store (something which is typically only available in New Game Plus) is available from the start too, letting players tweak gameplay settings to their preference. I wouldn’t say that Tales of Graces f is a tough game at all, but it’s certainly more accessible for those players who want an easier time. It’s all good stuff and shows that a real effort has been made to ensure this remaster is a lot more than just a fresh lick of paint.

Developer: TOSE
Publisher: Bandai Namco Games
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2530980/Tales_of_Graces_f_Remastered/