Okay, picture this: me, 16 years old, crammed into a friend's basement, fueled by pizza and Mountain Dew. We’d just finished Tales of Symphonia on GameCube – mind blown, right? – and were eagerly awaiting the sequel. We were convinced it would be the best JRPG ever. Fast forward a year, and… well, let’s just say my friend group's reaction to Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World was… mixed. Remember how hyped you were for that game everyone ended up hating? Yeah, that feeling.
So, what went wrong? That’s the question that still pops into my head whenever I see a used copy staring forlornly from a dusty shelf. Let’s dive in, shall we?
First off, let's address the elephant in the room: the protagonists. Lloyd Irving, the lovable, if somewhat dense, hero of the original, takes a backseat. In his place, we get Emil Castagnier, a… well, a character. He’s timid, awkward, and initially, completely unlikable. Sorry, Emil fans (are there any?! Just kidding… mostly). And then there’s Marta Lualdi, whose…enthusiasm… can be a bit much. Now, I'm not saying a good JRPG needs to have likeable protagonists but it definitely helps to engage you.
The plot, while trying to build upon the world and lore established in the first game, feels… disconnected. It throws in a bunch of new monsters, the Centurions (cool idea, poorly executed IMO), and tries to weave a complex narrative about bloodlines and choices. But honestly, it just felt convoluted and, dare I say, a bit boring. Don’t get me wrong, the original Tales of Symphonia had its share of exposition, but it was balanced with engaging characters and compelling motivations. I feel like this one just really missed the mark.
The combat system, while retaining the basic Tales formula, introduced the Elemental System, where monsters had affinities to different elements. Sounds cool in theory, right? In practice, it often felt like a chore to manage, and honestly, it didn’t add much to the overall experience. Plus, the monster collecting aspect felt tacked-on and underdeveloped – like a poor man’s Pokemon. (No offense to poor men or Pokemon!)
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The cel-shaded graphics, while a bit dated now, still hold up. The music, composed by the legendary Motoi Sakuraba, is, as always, fantastic. And the return of the original cast, even in supporting roles, was a nice touch. Seeing Lloyd, Colette, and the rest of the gang again was definitely a highlight, even if their characters were, let's say... slightly off. Did anyone else feel that way, or was it just me?
Ultimately, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World is a game that’s hard to recommend wholeheartedly. It’s a sequel that tries to do too much, fails to capture the magic of the original, and leaves you wondering what could have been. But, and this is a big but, it’s still a Tales game. And even a flawed Tales game has its moments. Maybe, just maybe, if you go in with lowered expectations and a healthy dose of nostalgia, you might find something to enjoy. Or, you could just replay the original. Up to you! 😉
So, did anyone out there actually love Dawn of the New World? Let me know in the comments! I’m genuinely curious to hear your perspective. After all, maybe I'm the one missing something… or maybe not. 🤔
