Tales of Zestiria, developed by Bandai Namco and released on Steam in 2015, is an entry in the long-running Tales series—a franchise known for its action-oriented combat, colorful anime art style, and character-driven storytelling. While Zestiria attempts to modernize some aspects of the series and introduce new ideas into its JRPG formula, it also stumbles in key areas that prevent it from fully realizing its potential. Nonetheless, it remains a rich and engaging experience for fans of the genre and the Tales franchise in particular, offering a blend of traditional elements and experimental mechanics.

The story centers on Sorey, a kind-hearted young man raised among the Seraphim, invisible spiritual beings who are unseen by most humans. Sorey believes in the possibility of peaceful coexistence between humans and Seraphim and dreams of exploring ancient ruins and forgotten legends. His life changes dramatically when he becomes the Shepherd, a prophesied figure who takes on the burden of purifying malevolence—a dark force corrupting both humans and the world itself. The narrative follows familiar JRPG tropes but introduces compelling themes about faith, leadership, responsibility, and the burden of power. While not the most innovative story in the series, Zestiria explores its themes with a degree of emotional sincerity and world-building depth that fans will appreciate.

Character development plays a central role in the experience, as is tradition in the Tales series. The main cast includes a mix of humans and Seraphim, each with distinct personalities and motivations. From the loyal and fierce Mikleo, Sorey’s childhood friend, to the morally complex assassin Rose, the party dynamic evolves meaningfully over time. Skits—optional voiced dialogue scenes—add a layer of charm and levity to character interactions, providing insight into their thoughts while also delivering the quirky humor the series is known for. That said, not all characters receive equal attention in the main plot, and some arcs feel underdeveloped compared to earlier entries like Tales of Symphonia or Vesperia.

Combat in Tales of Zestiria is a hybrid of real-time action and RPG systems, using a variant of the Linear Motion Battle System (LMBS) that the series pioneered. Players control one character directly in battle while the AI handles the others, with the option to switch characters on the fly. The game introduces a new mechanic called Armatus Fusion, which allows Sorey or Rose to fuse with a Seraphim mid-battle, transforming into a more powerful, elementally-infused warrior. This system adds a layer of strategy and spectacle, as players must consider elemental strengths, timing, and resource management. Battles can be fast, fluid, and dynamic—especially when players master positioning and combo chains—but they can also become visually chaotic, particularly in smaller environments where the camera struggles to keep up with the action.

Exploration is another major component of Zestiria, with large open zones replacing the series’ traditional world map. These regions are expansive and often beautiful, showcasing rolling hills, ruined temples, and elemental-themed dungeons. However, despite their size, they can feel empty or repetitive, with relatively few meaningful side quests or points of interest to break up the long walks between destinations. The game’s environmental puzzles and traversal mechanics, such as using Seraphim powers to clear obstacles, help a bit but don’t fully compensate for the lack of interactivity in the world.

Visually, Zestiria adopts a cel-shaded anime aesthetic that suits the tone and setting well. While the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are clean and stylized, with smooth character animations and vibrant effects during battles. The art direction captures a high-fantasy feel, from the divine architecture of ancient ruins to the rural charm of human settlements. The soundtrack, composed by Motoi Sakuraba and Go Shiina, is a standout feature. It combines orchestral swells, haunting melodies, and energetic battle tracks that enhance the emotional and narrative beats of the game. Voice acting is solid in both English and Japanese, though some line deliveries in the English dub can feel uneven, especially during emotionally charged scenes.

On the technical side, Tales of Zestiria had a rocky launch on Steam but has since been patched to run smoothly on most modern systems. The PC version offers improved resolution and framerate options compared to the original console release, which helps showcase the game's art direction more clearly. Still, some design choices—such as the fixed camera during indoor battles or the awkward menu navigation—reflect its console origins and can frustrate players used to more polished PC interfaces.

One controversial aspect of Zestiria lies in its story pacing and the handling of key plot developments. The narrative occasionally glosses over major events or emotional turning points, leaving some players feeling disconnected from important story beats. Additionally, certain lore elements, including those involving the role of the Shepherd and the deeper history of the Seraphim and malevolence, are poorly explained unless players actively seek out side content or supplemental material. This uneven storytelling can cause confusion and weakens the impact of some of the game’s emotional climaxes.

In terms of replayability, Zestiria includes several optional bosses, a New Game+ mode, and a respectable number of hidden secrets and tough encounters for completionists. It also connects—loosely—to Tales of Berseria, a prequel released later, which helps expand on the lore and retroactively gives Zestiria some added narrative weight. For players invested in the broader Tales universe, this connection is intriguing, though it's not essential to enjoy the game on its own.

Ultimately, Tales of Zestiria is a flawed but worthwhile experience. It offers enough engaging characters, satisfying combat, and heartfelt moments to satisfy most JRPG fans, even if it doesn't reach the heights of its predecessors. The game’s experimentation with open environments, fusion mechanics, and deeper lore show a willingness to evolve, though not all changes land successfully. For fans of the series, it serves as an interesting transition point between classic Tales design and more modern sensibilities. For newcomers, it might not be the ideal entry point, but those who stick with it will find a game with ambition, heart, and plenty of action-packed content.

Rating: 7/10

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