9) Tales of Phantasia
Best Tales of Games
This is where it all began for the Tales series, on the Super Famicom in 1995. Unfortunately, North America wouldn’t see the game until years later when it released on the Game Boy Advance in 2006.
Much of what each Tales game draws from started here; a character-based story, fast real time combat, and other themes like the presence of elves in the world.
The story starts as four legendary heroes are locked in battle with the evil sorcerer Dhaos. Before he’s defeated, Dhaos uses a spell to travel into the future where he runs into the heroes descendants who lock him away.
The main character of Phantasia is Cress, a young man living in a quiet village. Through some circumstances Cress his friend Chester and a girl named Mint are thrust into a struggle against Dhaos.
Phantasia has its characters time hopping between the past and present as they fight Dhaos and his evil forces.
Phantasia also introduces the fast-paced fighting system the series would expand on, as players control one character directly in real time and can use an assortment of attacks and artes.
Phantasia is dated by all standards, graphics, gameplay, storytelling. However, the story and characters have enough of a draw to pull you into the experience easily.
