Tales of Symphonia Remastered Review - Fun But Flawed

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sees Lloyd Irving and company once again in the land of Sylvarant as they explore temples and uncover secrets alongside the “Chosen,” Colette. The original is an undeniable classic that brought the series into full 3D. The PS3’s version in was arguably even better. And while is still enjoyable, it can’t quite reach the heights of those previous releases.

As a game, still has a loveable cast, an engaging if somewhat familiar story, and the fast action-combat the series is known for. As a remaster, though, doesn’t quite stick the landing. It definitely feels more like a half-hearted revision than a meaningful update to an older game.

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isn’t bad by any means, but it can be frustratingly mediocre. Outside of some slow loading times on Switch, the game runs fine. Skits aren’t voice-acted, which can be jarring at times, and the loading breaks between walking and combat is the most obvious way still shows its age. And maybe that’s the problem here — for better or worse, it still feels like playing a game from 2004.

For its time, was excellent. But all the drawbacks of a first-time 3D entry are still present here — some wonky animations, odd facial expressions, and transitions that look a little rough. So much of ’s effectiveness depends on nostalgia. These quirks will likely remind players of a bygone era they’re sentimental for — or leave them frustrated that there’s not more offered here.

The real issue with is that outside of bringing a classic JRPG to modern consoles, it doesn’t really do much else. As remasters have gotten more common, the expectations over quality-of-life improvements and updates have gone up. If a remaster can be accused of being too faithful to its