A fan favorite in the series with memorable characters and excellent combat. The PS3 version includes additional content not in other versions. One of the best Tales games available, essential for fans of the genre.
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Category
RPG1 player12+
Description
RPG by Namco Tales Studio, Vesperia entry Japanese port with expanded PS3 content. Published by Bandai Namco, released in September 2009 in Japan and Asia. Yuri Lowell former imperial knight disgusted with corruption defending the oppressed of Zaphias Empire with his dog friend Repede, over nine playable characters including newcomers Patty Fleur and Flynn Scifo exclusive to PS3, action JRPG gameplay mixing real-time four-active-character party combat and semi-open world exploration, Evolved Flex Range Linear Motion Battle System mechanic for free combos and Burst Artes, over a hundred hours of narrative campaign and PS3 exclusive additional chapters, over a hundred side quests, anime cel-shading aesthetic by Kosuke Fujishima, Japanese voice-over with Kosuke Toriumi as Yuri.
Tales of Vesperia 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 and Shinji Tamura, the music unfurls a generous orchestra, from heroic battle to Bonnie Pink's theme song "Ring a Bell". Each theme carries Yuri's journey with an infectious energy and emotion. This sonic richness, in the grand Tales tradition, remains one of the most beloved of the series.
A former soldier turned vigilante of the slums, a hero chooses his own path, even if it means breaking the law for what he believes is right. The tale questions morality, power and responsibility with a maturity rare for the series. Carried by a charismatic, ambiguous protagonist, it remains one of the most beloved Tales.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Renowned for its generosity, this entry weds a sprawling story to a swarm of side quests, recipes to discover and zany costumes to collect. The battle system keeps refining long after the ending, and the hunt for secrets sends you across every corner of the world. Held as a series high point, it keeps its aura intact among fans.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
The Japanese and Asian version of Tales of Vesperia on PS3, enriched with characters and content absent from the Western console release, long kept exclusive to Japan. Sought by fans for this unseen content before its late Western arrival, it combines relative scarcity and the status of the era's most complete edition. A piece coveted by JRPG fans.
Is Tales of Vesperia still worth playing in 2026?
Tales of Vesperia is one of the most beloved entries in the series, carried by a memorable cast and a hero, Yuri Lowell, of ambiguous morality that contrasts with the genre's usual protagonists. Its real-time combat system, fluid and brisk, offers an exhilarating depth, and its polished fantasy world unfolds a story rich in adult themes. The PS3 version, long Japan-exclusive, includes additional content absent from the original Western release. The art direction has aged remarkably well. For the fan of action JRPG or of Tales, this title ranks among the franchise's peaks, not to be missed.
