![]() Same story for the EX Gem system, which enables notable stat boosts and in important cases, new skills (such as being able to do multiple combos mid-air or increasing overall movement speed). Only one can be equipped at a time, which makes for some splendid build diversity and seemingly endless party combinations. Completing certain side quests or other prerequisites earns the player and allies very specific titles, which offer dramatic boosts to key areas. Similarly, Symphonia always handled progression in a fun and interesting way with the Titles system. In this way, Symphonia really set the bar for a player's relationship with party members in RPGs. No proverbial stone goes unturned when getting to know the colorful cast and players who take the time will find it hard not to care about how things play out for each one. Enthralling characters abound and the narrative keeps adding to the cast for quite a bit of game time.Įven to this day, the number of side items and conversations with each character is staggering. That doesn't mean it won't grip new players. But two decades later, something of a trendsetter hasn't aged so well and some stiff writing with emotional pitches all over the place doesn't help. The cookie-cutter JRPG dressing changes to something else in a hurry. In its heyday, Symphonia was so beloved in part because of the stunning twists that happen within the storyline. The cutesy visuals, in fact, sometimes clash in an almost uncomfortable manner with some of the things happening (see: early Human Ranches). While it sounds as trope-y as it gets, and in some ways it is, players paying close attention will notice underlying themes of racism and mature subject matter that will come to the forefront in time. ![]() ![]() They journey together, fending off evil Desians, picking up new party members, trying to solve the mystery of Exsphere devices and so much more. Players assume the role of Lloyd, friend of the current Chosen, Colette. The land of Sylvarant, stricken with an energy crisis requiring "The Chosen" to trigger Regeneration in order to save the planet-let's stop there and say Symphonia is very JRPG cookie-cutter stuff. Players will also eventually unearth Unison Attacks, which adds another layer of depth. However, putting strategy and timing into the use of elemental attacks or healing for each of the party members is a strategic blast. Running around using basic attacks and techs while juggling item usage to keep the whole party alive is fun. Those powerful magical attacks are where Symphonia really opens up on battlefields. Combos based on directional inputs and timing are nice, but things don't really open up until Artes enter the fray. It is downright essential for players to get familiar with the proper timing for blocking and the strategy involved in predicting an enemy's movements before attempting a combo they can't stop. But the player remains locked on to at least one enemy at all times and is restricted to a 2D plane. It's 3D and in real-time which are positives. Similarly, combat was amazing upon initial release but understandably feels stiff in 2023. It's a very long game, but the balancing act it walks of high story drama and combat in a genre that struggles mightily with bloated runtimes is one of the big reasons it remains a beloved classic. Pacing is a very important word with Symphonia. Players roam the overworld, visit towns and tackle dungeons with different gimmicks, although actual Zelda-styled puzzles aim more at providing good pacing than a variety of different challenges. The gameplay loop won't be unfamiliar to RPG fans. Bonus points because players can choose between the English and Japanese audio options. The stunning soundtrack returns and does one of the best-ever dubs of a Japanese game thanks to some amazing voice acting from heavyweight actors. The audio portion of the game remains classic, at least. And it would have been nice to see some scenes mixed up and possibly re-told, as seeing highly emotional moments acted out via the awkward overworld character models just doesn't hit right, especially when an anime has since down the major moments so much better. Muddy textures and awkward blocky characters remain. Presentation-wise, this is a remaster in a light sense. That's still mostly true, though 20 years of RPGs have lessened the impact of say, the expected sandy deserts and beachside cities. Visually, the cel-shading wowed audiences back then and the art style was distinctive. It mixed walking around a 3D overworld with navigating towns and dungeons with battles handled by running into a monster on the overworld before being transported to a separate battle scene. Symphonia was a brave effort at the time, going full 3D mixed with a stunning cel-shaded style, the latter a big leap forward for the series.Īnd at the time it was a stunner.
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