Tales of Graces f

Tales of Graces f is an expanded version of a JRPG originally released on Wii, and it reached Western PlayStation 3 stores in 2012 complete with an extensive epilogue. The story begins with the childhood of a trio of heroes in the kingdom of Windor, devotes a surprisingly long prologue to it, and only then jumps forward years later, when Asbel Lhant has grown into a knight who must come to terms with his own guilt as well as the return of old friends. The central theme of the whole game is friendship and the question of what remains of childhood promises once you're grown up.

The main draw is a battle system that ranks among the most refined in the entire series. Instead of classic mana, it uses a CC gauge that fills up through movement and defense, so the game rewards a rhythm of attacking and retreating rather than mindless button mashing. Techniques are split into two groups that can be chained into long combos, and new ones unlock through equipment use via the titles system, which also serves as a form of stat progression. Solid defensive mechanics are added on top, where a well-timed sidestep opens up an immediate counterattack, giving battles almost a fighting-game feel. Alongside the main campaign, the game offers a shop where accumulated points let you carry part of your progress into a new game, and most importantly, an additional story taking place after the end of the original narrative, which was the main reason for owners of the older version to buy this one.

Visually, it's a well-ported game with a distinctive drawn art style that hides its age better than more realistic titles, though its origins on weaker hardware still show in the environments. Motoi Sakuraba's music complements the lighter, adventurous tone of the story and can really turn up the heat in battle. Reviews mainly praised the combat and the tightness of its pacing, while criticizing the childish opening and a less mature script than in other entries. In hindsight, Tales of Graces f is a title best recommended to players seeking depth in the battle system within action JRPGs, since in that regard hardly anything on PS3 beats it.