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[img width=400 height=538]http://diablobasher.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/ttydbox.jpg[/img]
Nintendo is well known for taking Mario and putting him into games of unexpected genres, and usually adding their own unique twist to that genre. One of the best examples is the Paper Mario series, a simplified take on RPGs that has secured a distinct following in the gaming community. Starting out on the Nintendo 64, it became one of the few RPGs for the system, which continued with a sequel on the Gamecube. Unfortunately, the latest entry in the series has abandoned the RPG elements in lieu of standard 2D platforming. So today, I'm going to review the last RPG in the series, and one of the most fun games for the Gamecube.
Gameplay
Paper Mario 2 [or Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, if you're not into the whole brevity thing] is a very different kind of RPG. It is still turn-based, like most games in the genre, but it includes much more user input than most. During battle, you can press buttons at certain times in order to make an attack more powerful. Most attacks actually depend on precisely-timed button presses for maximum damage. This works very well for keeping you interested and engaged in the battles, as you have to pay close attention as to how you execute your moves. You're not just going through menus; it really feels like you are doing the actual fighting. Another abnormal aspect of the battle system is the low scoring, in that even late in the game, you probably won't reach a maximum of 100 HP. In fact, the toughest boss in the game, which is a hidden one, at that, only has 200 HP. If you're used to playing RPGs with comically-high status numbers like Disgaea, get ready for a bit of a shock. But, after getting used to the system, I came to the conclusion that it works just fine for this type of game. Paper Mario 2 is meant to be a simple, entry-level RPG, and it succeeds greatly on this level. A nice touch to the battles is that you can see enemies on the screen, and launching a preemptive attack on them gives you an edge in the coming battle, much like in the Persona series, only much more lenient. You can tell that a heavy emphasis was put on interactivity in the battles, and that Nintendo wanted to stay as far away from the stereotypically dull battles of most turn-based RPGs. The world map is also atypical, in that it is not an actual map; just an overall collection of normal screens. It is an odd, but effective way to make the world seem big. Instead of conveying it artificially by a world map, it really makes you move across the world by yourself, if you can see what I mean. There are warp pipes that let you go long distances, but that is about it. The gameplay in Paper Mario 2 is best described as unique, and is much better for it. It always keeps you interested, and coming back for more.
Gameplay: 10/10
[img width=480 height=360]http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1tUL57jp8zs/0.jpg[/img]
Story
Since Paper Mario 2 is an RPG, I can't use the standard cop-out here. Luckily, there is actually a very good story, but, in true Mario fashion, in anything but an ordinary way. Instead of telling a dramatic, epic tale like in most games of the genre, it goes for a much more lighthearted and humorous approach that is quite refreshing. The characters are witty, colorful, and interesting; the villains in particular are a total riot, and it is almost a shame you have to fight them! Another nice part about the game is the fantastic locations you visit. A floating vegas-esque city, a monochromatic giant tree, and even the moon! There is an unbridled sense of creativity in the game, making it always a joy to play. As I said, the dialogue is entertaining, the locations are unique and interesting, and everything is just plain fun. Kudos to Nintendo for doing something different, and making it work.
Story: 9/10
[img width=640 height=480]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/article/555/555128/paper-mario-the-thousand-year-door-20041007013518730_640w.jpg[/img]
Sound
As you might expect, the audio in Paper Mario 2 has a perky, whimsical quality. It's anything but serious, and suits the game nicely. Nintendo gave it a whole lot of personality, even in the [relatively] dramatic moments, it still sounds funny, in a good way. The sound effects are also humorous, making the entire audio experience in Paper Mario 2 to be something humorous and quite fun. Few of the tracks feel truly out of place, so for most of the areas you will encounter will be accompanied by a suitable tune. The only bad thing I can say about the audio seems awfully low-fidelity for a Gamecube game; sounding more like its Nintendo 64 predecessor than other disc-based games. Other than that, you are in for some nice tunes in Paper Mario 2.
Sound: 8.5/10
Graphics
The Paper Mario series employs a unique art style that can best be described as faux-3D: 3D models that look like 2D sprites. It gives the game a certain charm that few other games can match, and allows for some incredibly expressive animations, mostly from Mario himself. Everything looks full of life and is vibrant and colorful, and even the one level that is intentionally monochromatic is still infinitely more interesting than most games that are unintentionally so. I cannot overstate how great the animations are in Paper Mario 2; they give a great amount of characterization, and can describe a character just as well as dialogue. Since the game supports progressive scan 480p, the faux-2D visuals look especially nice at a higher resolution. Yet another reason too seek out a Gamecube Component Cable.  Another excellent aspect of the graphics is the amount of models that can be on the screen at once; the game obviously borrowed some ideas from the famous 'Mario 128" Gamecube tech demo, as some scenes can have around 100 models on screen at once! I was very proud that the 'Cube could handle such a feat.
Graphics: 9/10
[img width=480 height=360]http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/image/article/789/789733/super-paper-mario--20070518013555694.jpg[/img]
Extras/Value
Sidequests are the name of the game in Paper Mario 2, with over half a game still left after you finish the game. Among other things, you can participate in a cooking minigame with dozens of recipes to find, take personal requests at the hub city's "Trouble Center", searching for all the hidden star pieces and shine sprites in the game, or undergo the "Pit of 100 Trials", a hidden dungeon in the game that is exactly what it sounds like. Standard RPG fare, but it is appreciated to have so much of it in the game. Also, most of the sidequests are actually enjoyable, as opposed to endless and boring rare monster hunts seen in other games. Finally, and possibly the most fun, are the missions that take place at the end of each chapter, in which you play a short stage with Bowser, who mostly retraces Mario's steps about 1 chapter behind the plumber. The stages are quite varied, and the dialogue is some of the best anywhere in the game. In other words, you will be looking forward to them, in particular. The game is currently going for $15 at Gamestop; not bad at all for a Role-Playing Game AND a First-Party Gamecube title. I would highly recommend picking it up if you enjoy RPGs, or are just Nintendo fans.
Extras/Value: 9/10
[img width=640 height=480]http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/article/555/555128/paper-mario-the-thousand-year-door-20041007013508934.jpg[/img]
Overall
The Gamecube was pretty starved for RPGs, but in all honesty, it got some of the best ones of the generation, and Paper Mario 2 is a great example. It had buckets of personality, dashing visuals, and simple-yet-fun gameplay that is unconventional for the genre. It is an awesome game that deserves to be played by every Gamecube fan, and at least tried out by every Gamecube owner. If you care about RPGs and have some spare cash, put this near the top of your purchase list. You won't regret it.
Overall: 9/10
This is Lisalover1, folding some origami to simulate a boss fight.
[img width=250 height=364]http://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/59738.gif[/img]
Note: I will often make and post reviews on this blog, most of which are of Gamecube games. Most reviews will be for GC exclusives, but some will be just for games that either ran better on the Gamecube, or were important to its history. I am still unsure of expanding to non-GC content, but I am considering it.
Tales of Symphonia is the first 3D entry in Namco Bandai's "Tales" series of Action RPGs, and was an exclusive for the Nintendo Gamecube in all regions except Japan, where it received a shoddy Playstation2 port. The game takes advantage of the Cube's power to make a beautiful game for the player to explore. Is the game a triumph of the highest caliber, or does it fail because Namco Bandai never localizes anything and hates their fans, not even giving them the Tales of Vesperia PS3 port, or Tales of Destiny 2, or well over half the games in the series? Sure, they're localizing Graces F, but that hardly puts a dent in the huge backlog of untranslated Tales games! ...Sorry about that.
Gameplay
Tales of Symphonia is an Action RPG, so instead of just sitting around, navigating through menus, and selecting attacks in turn-based format, you are actively participating in the battle in real time. Also, unlike most RPGs, there are no random encounters. All enemies can be easily seen, avoided, or confronted visibly. The battle system feels much like a 3D fighter [a genre in which Namco has quite a bit of experience in], in that you can string together combos by timing your moves correctly and teaming up with other characters. You also use special attacks that can be mapped to the B button + different analog stick directions, and the C-Stick. It makes battles very fast-paced and fun, with an infinite number of ways to fight. A nice little feature exclusive to Symphonia [surprisingly never brought back in later installments] was the Unison attack, which was a gauge that filled up as you fought, and when it filled up completely, you could hit the Z button, and unleash hell. By which I mean, you can assign different attacks to party members for use in unison attacks, and as soon as you hit the Z button, you must start as many of these attacks as possible before the gauge empties, and all the attacks would be performed at once, creating a flurry of attacks. Sometimes, doing certain unison attacks in a row will trigger an even bigger combo between two or more characters, causing massive damage, and most likely stunning the enemy for a brief period. It also just looks awesome. The battles never get boring; I found myself intentionally running into enemies just for the fun of the fight. Yes, the battle system is certainly one of Tales of Symphonia's most standout features.
As is a common feature in the Tales series, multiplayer is available in battles, allowing 4 players to fight at once. I can attest to this being very fun, having beaten the game both alone and with a friend. When playing alone, you can go through battles like you would in a normal ARPG, but when a friend comes along, you add a whole new level of strategy to the game, allowing you to work together to do some really neat tricks and combos. As I stated before, up to 4 people can play at once, effectively make the game a "party" RPG.
Outside of battles if pretty standard fare for RPGs; you go around, exploring towns and the overworld, talking to people and gathering info. Not much to say here, except that I should mention that there is a nice system in the game for cooking meals. The meals require ingredients which can be bought cheaply or found free. The meals heal the whole party, and their effectiveness depends on the recipe and the person cooking. You learn new recipes as you explore each town, and cooking can become a very useful tool if you use it right.
Gameplay: 9/10
[img width=632 height=448]http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/514/514311/tales-of-symphonia-20040512051212321_640w.jpg[/img]
Story
For the most part, I was impressed with Tales of Symphonia's story. It starts off in the land of Sylvarant, in a small village called Iselia. Here is where the primary characters live. Lloyd Irving, the main character, is friends with a girl named Colette Brunel, who is destined to become the "Chosen", the Half-Human, Half-Angel being that will go on a journey to save Sylvarant. I don't want to spoil too much, but let me just say that the first third of the game is devoted to this portion of the story. The game starts off with this standard, run-of-the-mill story; what everyone expects from your average JRPG. However, it soon grows into something far more complex and enthralling. I honestly didn't think the story was anything special until I got past the first couple dungeons. But, trust me, Tales of Symphonia's story is something to behold when it is in full steam. I spent many sleepless nights playing the game, just to see more of the plot. There are times when the game does something somewhat cheesy and melodramatic, but I really had to think about when they were, and even then, they were few and far between. What I am saying is, if you want a good RPG story that will really suck you in and keep you clinging to your Gamecube controller, look no further than Tales of Symphonia.
Story: 8/10
[img width=640 height=432]http://images.fragland.net/screenshots/1114/4.jpg[/img]
Sound
I didn't fully appreciate tales of Symphonia's musical score until I saw the soundtrack as a whole. I was absolutely shocked to find that there is a total of 83 songs in the game! It is truly amazing how they fit such an extensive soundtrack into 2 Gamecube discs. Thus, it is rare to find the same song in two different locations [unless they are the same type of building, of course]. The music has a lighthearted yet majestic tone; reminding me a lot of the music in the Dragon Quest games. Most tracks are mellow and fun, so as to not distract from the rest of the game. But, the music mirrors the events quite well, and each track provides a spot-on musical interpretation of the events at hand, which is very effective in immersing you in the game. It won't blow your mind, but tales of Symphonia's soundtrack is still one of the better overall soundtracks I have heard in a game. There's not really much else I can say about it, so I'll let the music do the talking. Here's one of the songs from the game:
Sound: 8/10
Graphics
The art style for Tales of Symphonia was largely up in the air during development, due to it being the first game in the series in 3D. So, Namco decided to employ a semi-cel-shaded look for the game, an art style that has since become a common trait in Gamecube games. The character models look beautiful, and are very expressive, with each character having multiple animations for their emotions. It really feels like the expressive sprites of games like Final Fantasy VI or Suikoden II, but in 3D form. The backgrounds and locations are also very detailed. I always found new things that I hadn't noticed before when I re-entered buildings. That level of craftsmanship and care taken into each area is spectacular. I suppose that Namco really wanted to show what the Gamecube's next-gen graphics could do when designed by the right people. It is a beautiful game to see, with the only graphical downfall being that the game does not support Progressive Scan mode; something I think would have really helped the game. The environments are so detailed that the standard 480i resolution causes them to sometimes be blurry, and I am unable to see some very small things clearly. Other than that, Tales of Symphonia will make your 'Cube feel good about itself.
Graphics: 8.5/10
[img width=637 height=445]http://www.ntsc-uk.com/reviews/ngc/TalesOfSymphonia/02.jpg[/img]
Value
Tales of Symphonia is currently selling at Gamestop for $20. Not the best deal you will get on a used game, but in my opinion, it is worth every penny, because the game's length will more than justify the cost. Tales of Symphonia markets itself as a 40-hour game, but it is really selling itself short. You will easily get around 60-80 hours from the story alone, as long as you're not doing a speed run. I personally spent around 150+ hours on my first playthrough, going through everything I could, and I still wasn't able to complete every side-quest! Think about it. For $20, you could buy a bunch of okay games that will last you a total of maybe a week, or you can buy one incredible game that will last you several weeks. Which one would you rather have?
Value: 10/10
[img width=535 height=344]http://img.neoseeker.com/screenshots/R2FtZXMvR2FtZUN1YmUvUm9sZS1QbGF5aW5nL0ZhbnRhc3k=/tales_of_symphonia_image29.jpg[/img]
Miscellaneous
As I said before, there are a huge number of side quests in Tales of Symphonia; all of which give you cool extras throughout your game. A good number of side-quests' rewards involve things called Titles, which, when equipped, give your characters bonus points and abilities when leveling up. It is a nice little system that gradually pays off depending on your play style. Speaking of which, the special attack progression system is really something else in Tales of Symphonia; it is a bit more of a realistic system than you would expect. Instead of just learning set new moves when you level up, the game instead determines your character's new moves based on what types of moves you use most often. For example, if you use magic more often than physical special attacks, you will learn more magic, and vice-versa. It makes you think more about how you want your characters to level up, and what to make them fight with. All these things add unprecedented levels of depth to the game, and make it all that more enjoyable of an experience. I could go on about each subsystem and all the side quests of the game, but I think my keyboard would wear out if I tried. Also, I should say that this game was so popular in Japan that a special edition Gamecube was released for the game!
[img width=604 height=453]http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v234/177/3/197000224/n197000224_30285008_82.jpg[/img]
Miscellaneous: 9.5/10
Overall
Tales of Symphonia is a game for the ages, and is definitely one of the best adventures you will find running on Nintendo's lil' powerhouse. It has everything you could want in an ARPG, and is in the top of its genre because of that. You will not get easily bored of Tales of Symphonia, and I have a feeling you will like it as much as I did. If you have never played an RPG before, this might even be a good place to start, due to the simple-to-learn, hard-to-master combat system. I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who plays games, as it is one of the classics of the Gamecube's era. Buy Tales of Symphonia. Right now. You will not regret it.
[img width=600 height=560]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yt6rZiXQUtw/S-AU-H1AVHI/AAAAAAAASgc/VCGcHz8LGX0/S740/tosbanner.jpg[/img]
Overall Score: 9.5/10
This is Lisalover1, going off to play some Tales of Vesperia after all this talk about the Tales series.
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A look at the past, present, and even future of Nintendo's most overlooked home console. This blog will feature reviews, retrospectives, and investigations regarding the Nintendo Gamecube, or anything else that falls within this spectrum. |
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