One of the strongest modern Tales entries. Dark narrative, an excellent villain-turned-protagonist, and fluid combat. A great entry point for newcomers and a satisfying experience for long-time fans of the series.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player16+
Description
RPG by Bandai Namco Studios, Berseria entry of Tales of franchise. Published by Bandai Namco, released in August 2016 exclusively in Japan. Velvet Crowe woman corrupted by Daemonblight and transformed into demoness on quest of vengeance against Artorius the apostate in Midgand kingdom, over six playable characters including Laphicet, Eleanor and Magilou with contrasted personalities, action JRPG gameplay mixing real-time four-active-character party combat and interconnected zone exploration, improved Linear Motion Battle System mechanic with Liberation Soul Gauge for Mystic Artes, over eighty hours of epic and dark narrative campaign, over a hundred side quests, hand-painted anime aesthetic by Mutsumi Inomata, Japanese voice-over with Rina Satou as Velvet, soundtrack by Motoi Sakuraba.
Tales of Berseria review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
Luminous cel-shading, expressive anime characters and colourful worlds: the Tales series transposes Japanese animation into a warm 3D. The fluidity of the combat and the vividness of the hues compose a welcoming, living universe. This visual direction, polished and energetic, charms well beyond fans of the genre.
From the pen of Motoi Sakuraba, the music adopts a darker, more mature tone, embracing Velvet's quest for revenge. Between dramatic orchestra and moving flights, each theme underlines the darkness of the story. This sonic richness, intense and nuanced, ranks among the finest of the whole Tales series.
Driven by a thirst for revenge after losing her own, a young woman turned daemon defies an order that preaches the sacrifice of free will. Darker than its forebears, the tale explores rage, grief and the blurred line between justice and selfishness. This tormented heroine gave the series a powerful new breath.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Marked by a dark, long-form narrative, this epic unfurls a world to roam freely, snappy combat to master and an equipment system to mine without pause. Side quests, rare-item farming and end-game content extend the journey considerably. Its mature storytelling made it one of the most respected entries in the series.
