Tales of the Abyss

Tales of the Abyss was the first of the Tales of Series that I played. It is about a young man named Luke fon Fabre, the son of a duke, who had been kidnapped from his home seven years earlier. Because of this, his parents are over protective and confined him within the palace. One day, a mysterious woman shows up at the palace and a hyperresonance that teleports them to a whole new counrty. The woman, Tear, explains to him that she had not meant for this to happen but was actually there to kill her brother, Van, who was the head of the Six God-Generals. Tear decides to help return Luke to his home but, along the way, find a conspiracy unravel before them that began seven years ago, when Luke was kidnapped.

(Copyrighted by Namco)

The main character, Luke fon Fabre is very ignorant when it comes to the workings of the world around him and it causes him to be very selfish. In the first part of the game, he complains a lot and often doesn't try to spare the feelings of others.

(Copyrighted by Namco)

Tear Grant is the first character to join your party. She is very strict and is always trying to push forward though, it is discovered, has a weakness to cute things. Luke and she are the games official couple.

(Copyrighted by Namco)

Anise Tatlin is Fon Master Ion's guardian and is the second to join your party. She is very money hungry for the fact that her parents live in constant poverty from following the teachings of the Score, which is a written document that predicts the future. In the begining of the game she hits on Luke once she finds out he is royalty.

(Coprighted by Namco)

Jade Curtiss is the colonel for the Malkuth Empire and is also the creator of fomicry, which is a science for developing replicas (or clones). He is hightly sarcastic and honest and, at the same time, very logical.

(Coprighted by Namco)

Guy Cecil is Luke's first friend and is also a servant of the House of Fabre. He has a fear of women and freaks out whenever he is touched by one or too close.

(Copyrighted by Namco)

Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear is Luke's fiancee (and also his cousin). She repeatedly scolds Luke for his selfishness and spoiled attitude.

Other characters, who are nonplayable but appear a lot in the game, are Van Grant ,who is Tear's brother, Fon Master Ion, who is the leader of the Order of Lorelei, and the Six God-Generals: Arietta the Wild, Dist the Reaper, Asch the Bloody, Legretta the Quick, Sync the Tempest, and Largo the Black Lion.

(Seriously. This is all from Namco.)

 And, of course, no one can forget Mieu and the love/hate relationship between him and Luke.

Seeing as this was my first Tales game, it's hard to think of bad points. One thing that's dissapointing is that the skits aren't voiced like they are in the Japanese version. Also, when the characters get angry, they tend to go cross-eyed. But that's also one of the things I like about the game because it makes me laugh.

Now, for my favorite parts of the game. To me, this Tales game has a different atmosphere than the others and I like that about this game. The relationship between the characters is well put together (especially when you find out some of the characters backstories.) The battle system is great (though, at times the CPU doesn't like to help, so that could be posted as a negative.) It also has my favorite secret boss ever: the replica of Jade's teacher, Nebilim. She's also the hardest boss of the entire game so, if you can beat her, the end boss will be a piece of cake.

Just look at her! Not only does she have an amazing outfit, she also knows every attack that you know and she doesn't mind using them against you. Out of all game bosses, she's my favorite. Her goal in life is to learn all fonic artes, not because she wants to destroy the world or any goal like that, but because she can.

Obviously, you can tell that I'd recomend this game to everyone. It has a great story and the characters are protrayed nicely.