This article was originally published in Italian on MyReviews.it in 2017.
Tales of Berseria was born from the need to restore the Tales of series’ prestige after the commercial and critical failure of Tales of Zestiria. That game — produced by longtime franchise overseer Hideo Baba — was heavily criticized by Japanese players for its glaring narrative inconsistencies and blatant gameplay issues, and it’s no coincidence that it was later adapted into an anime series by Ufotable that rewrote its events. In short, Berseria and its fresh cast of anti-heroes carry a heavy responsibility, one that Yasuhiro Fukaya, the new face behind the franchise, will have to shoulder in the future with the series’ debut on PlayStation 4. Despite being released exclusively for Sony’s latest console in the West, Tales of Berseria is a cross-gen title in Japan, also available on PS3, intended to “close” the generation of Tales of games that began with Tales of Xillia while paving the way for a new technological chapter in Bandai Namco’s action JRPG legacy.
The events of Berseria take place thousands of years before Tales of Zestiria and serve as its thematic opposite. The protagonist, Velvet Crowe, is a quiet young woman living with her sick brother and brother-in-law in a remote village. She trains in swordsmanship under her late sister’s husband and often wonders what fate awaits those who cannot defend themselves against a possible demon attack. One night, under the light of a crimson moon, Velvet leaves home to search for her mysteriously missing brother, only to discover that her village has been ravaged by monstrous demons. In a desperate rush to find her beloved sibling, she is forced to witness a horrifying scene that sets her on a path of vengeance born from inexplicable circumstances. The story echoes Tales of Zestiria and its “redeemer” figure — this time seen from the outside and questioned by Velvet and her companions. Does the well-being of the many truly require the sacrifice of the one? Is it impossible for reason and emotion to coexist without bringing regret or suffering to others?
Tales of Berseria brews these themes into a potent mix of moral and ethical doubts, often handled with a level of maturity rarely seen in the franchise’s recent history. Still, the series’ greatest strength remains its main cast and the way their often conflicting personalities clash and evolve through the story. This colorful group of demons, pirates, spirits, and witches (or supposed ones) are forced to cooperate in pursuit of their individual goals, which often challenge the group’s moral integrity. It’s a dynamic that feels refreshingly new for long-time fans and one that could rekindle the interest of players who may have grown tired of recent Tales of entries.
The game offers pleasant surprises, familiar elements, and a gameplay structure that stays true to tradition while thoughtfully expanding its mechanics. The combat system, as always, provides hours of entertainment built upon the classic and ever-reliable Linear Motion Battle System first introduced in Tales of Phantasia. This time it evolves into a new variant inspired by the technical philosophy of Tales of Graces F and the flashiness and freedom of movement seen in Tales of Xillia, complete with a large variety of Artes. The result is more than satisfying, especially in later stages or when compared to its direct predecessor, though the overall experience suffers from a low difficulty curve even at higher settings. There are, of course, opportunities to take on tougher opponents — the game is packed with side quests — but overall, this chapter is one of the easiest in the series from a purely gameplay perspective. It’s not necessarily a flaw, but it’s worth noting that this entry was clearly designed with a strong narrative focus in mind. While this doesn’t undermine the game’s layered mechanics, it might have benefited from a better-balanced learning curve, especially since difficulty can be adjusted at any time.
As mentioned earlier, Tales of Berseria serves as the Tales of series’ swan song on PS3. Although it arrives in the West as a PS4 console exclusive and the third Tales title available on Steam, its cross-generational nature is evident in the somewhat dated polygonal models and environmental textures that fall short of modern standards. Even so, it stands as one of the most visually impressive entries in recent years, particularly since the series adopted an over-the-shoulder camera system. The game delivers some genuinely pleasant vistas despite being powered by an aging engine, and once again, special care has been given to character modeling and facial animation. The results are excellent, especially during cinematic sequences and close-ups that highlight each hero’s expressiveness.
Motoi Sakuraba returns to compose the soundtrack, delivering a solid if unsurprising score, while the few tracks by Go Shiina — reused from Tales of Zestiria — still manage to elevate key story moments with an epic quality rarely found in contemporary JRPGs. Both English and Japanese voice tracks are strong, though the Japanese cast remains the preferred choice. Some localization issues persist, especially in the English script, which also served as the basis for other translations.
In the end, Tales of Berseria is an adventure with an unusual flavor for the Tales of series — familiar in form, yet bolder in spirit. Velvet’s journey closes the narrative arc that began with Tales of Zestiria, completing the circle and offering a heartfelt farewell to the generation of Bandai Namco JRPGs that defined the PlayStation 3 era. Now, the stage is set for the future.
