Tales of Xillia Remastered is the first game in the duology that originally launched exclusively on the PS3. While it’s a bit disappointing that both titles aren’t releasing together, this still marks an important milestone since the series was previously limited to one platform. The remaster includes all post-launch DLC, making it one of the best ways to experience the story and world, even if most of the extra content is just cosmetic or bonus items.
The story takes place in the world of Rieze Maxia and features two main characters, Jude Mathis and Milla Maxwell, each offering a slightly different perspective and storyline. The plot revolves around the mysterious draining of mana from the world, seemingly caused by the kingdom of Rashugal. Jude is a medical student who unexpectedly crosses paths with Milla, a woman capable of summoning four powerful elemental spirits, setting off a journey that binds their fates together.
When you start the game, you’re greeted by the Grade Shop, which might confuse players new to the Tales of series. Essentially, it’s a menu that lets you toggle various bonuses, such as stat boosts, upgrades, or faster experience gain. It’s best to leave these options alone on your first playthrough, as they’re mostly intended for replays. The PC version doesn’t offer many graphical settings, but it doesn’t really need them. The visuals are fairly simple and not demanding, and the game runs smoothly at 60 FPS—even on a Steam Deck.
Tales of Xillia Remastered features a lively ensemble cast with charming personalities and a distinct visual appeal. While the story is engaging, it doesn’t quite reach a satisfying conclusion. The battle system, however, stands out as one of the highlights, paired with a progression system that feels unique within the series. Alongside the main story cutscenes, there are numerous optional skits that provide extra character insight. Missing these skits means missing important moments that help flesh out the personalities and relationships of the party members.
The combat is fast-paced and, while not as action-heavy as modern Tales titles, it still gives players plenty of freedom in how they approach battles. Movement is primarily on a linear grid, but players can break free from it with a button press. Enemy attacks can be blocked or dodged with proper timing, while critical strikes can be dealt by hitting weak points, such as an enemy’s back. Each character has a distinct fighting style and their own special attacks, known as Artes, keeping battles dynamic and varied. The game also supports cooperative play, letting friends team up and experience the adventure together.
The controls feel somewhat dated, with camera movement occasionally clunky and objects sometimes blocking the view during fights. Exploration involves quite a bit of running, though the remaster adds a useful dash feature that makes getting around much faster. Combined with improved load times, it helps the game flow more smoothly. Several difficulty options are available from the start, including the punishing “Unknown” mode for those looking for a serious challenge.
The game features a strong soundtrack filled with catchy and memorable tracks that perfectly complement the adventure. For long-time fans, there’s even a playlist option featuring music from older Tales of titles, offering a nostalgic touch. The remaster brings improved textures and higher resolution, though it still shows its age in certain areas. The art style does a good job of masking some of the rough edges, but the 3D models can occasionally look dated. On the plus side, the game performs very well, supporting up to 4K and 60 FPS on PS5, and even up to 120 FPS on PC. The animated cutscenes, now rendered at higher resolution, look sharp and flow smoothly.
On PC, the performance is generally solid, though there are a few odd bugs tied to higher frame rates. For the best results, keeping the frame rate locked at 60 FPS tends to provide a smoother experience. Both English and Japanese voice tracks are available, and while the voice acting doesn’t quite match modern standards, it’s still fairly decent and fits the tone of the story. The user interface, however, feels dated and a bit clunky, with key options—like graphical settings—buried too deep within the system menus.
Overall, the port performs admirably. Load times are faster, several quality-of-life updates make the game more enjoyable, and the optimization is excellent, allowing it to run on a wide range of hardware, including the Steam Deck. Although a few bugs persist, none are game-breaking and could be fixed in future updates. It’s refreshing to see Tales of Xillia finally available on modern platforms after being locked to the PS3 for so long, and hopefully Bandai Namco brings the sequel to current systems soon as well.
Tales of Xillia Remastered Game Information
- Price: $39.99
- Publisher: Bandai Namco
- Developer: DokiDoki Grooveworks
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
