Mystery Tales: Art and Souls Collector’s Edition

Mystery Tales:

Introduction:

The Tales series, initiated in 1995 with Tales of Phantasia for the Super Famicom, consists of fantasy role-playing video games published by Bandai Namco Entertainment (formerly Namco) and developed by Namco Tales Studio until 2011, now under Bandai Namco Studios. The franchise encompasses seventeen main titles, accompanied by spin-off games and related media like manga, anime, and audio dramas.

Though each entry in the series features distinct characters and narratives, they share common gameplay, themes, and high fantasy settings. The franchise is recognized for its art style influenced by Japanese manga and anime, as well as its action-oriented "Linear Motion Battle System." Notable contributors include character designers Kōsuke Fujishima and Mutsumi Inomata, producers Hideo Baba and Makoto Yoshizumi, and composer Motoi Sakuraba. The series was conceived by Yoshiharu Gotanda.

While the majority of main Tales games are localized for North America and Europe, spin-offs often remain exclusive to Japan, rendering the series a niche in English-speaking regions. Nonetheless, the franchise holds significant importance within the realm of Japanese RPGs. The release of Tales of Symphonia played a pivotal role in expanding the series' popularity in the West. By 2022, the series had shipped over 25 million units globally.

Tetles:

Since its inception in 1995, the Tales series has evolved to encompass main entries and spin-offs that draw gameplay and narrative elements from the main titles. The core Tales games share common gameplay mechanics and themes, although they remain distinct from each other in most cases. Remakes of original titles for new consoles are often limited in their localization efforts. Tales of the Tempest, originally viewed as a main entry, was reclassified as a spin-off due to mixed reception.

The series debuted with Tales of Phantasia on the Super Famicom in 1995, introducing several elements that became staples of the series. It later released in the West on the Game Boy Advance in 2006 and saw ports to other platforms. Tales of Destiny arrived on the PlayStation in 1997, marking the first title to reach North America, while Tales of Eternia followed in 2000. The latter was titled Tales of Destiny 2 for its North American release in 2001.

The PlayStation 2 saw the release of five titles, including Tales of Symphonia on both PS2 and GameCube. This game featured 3D graphics and became the first entry to launch in Europe. Other PS2 titles include Tales of Rebirth, Tales of Legendia, and Tales of the Abyss. The latter was also ported to the Nintendo 3DS, receiving worldwide releases.

Games:

Tales of the Tempest was initially seen as a spin-off on the Nintendo DS but is now considered a mainline title. Tales of Innocence followed on the same platform, later receiving a remake called Innocence R on the PlayStation Vita. Tales of Vesperia marked the series' debut on seventh-generation consoles, first on Xbox 360 and later on PlayStation 3. Tales of Graces and its PlayStation 3 port, Graces f, were well-received, as were Tales of Xillia and its sequel, Tales of Xillia 2. Tales of Zestiria and Tales of Berseria continued the series on PS3, PS4, and PC, with the latter game representing a departure from the traditional formula. Tales of Arise, the upcoming title, was postponed to launch on next-generation consoles.

The Tales series encompasses sequels, spin-offs, and subseries. Notably, Tales of the World and Tales of Fandom are the primary spin-off subseries. The franchise has extended to various media, including CD dramas, manga, and anime adaptations. Symphonia, Abyss, and Zestiria, among others, received anime adaptations, while the series' theatrical film Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike gained attention. Books and audio dramas also contribute to the expanded universe of Tales.