What version?

[Kobethecat2]

Well I'm new to Phantasia (sorta). I've played up to the catacombs in both the GBA and SNES version. Which one is better to play? I heard the GBA is pretty slow, but in the SNES version Cless keeps running back to his orginal position (very annoying). He doesn't do that in the GBA. But the GBA is pretty slow, and the music is kinda glum.

Now I've seen what the PSX version can do, and it looks perfect. Of course I can't read japanese. So when I saw there was a translation I was all yeah. But then I learned it wasn't finished T_T.

So should I play the GBA or the SNES ToP? I've played ToS, TotA, and ToTW:3.

Also unrelated, is there a patch to the GBA where I can get my favorite japanese voices back?

[Mestre]

Play the snes version before, it's the best ever.

[Goshi]

Yeah, the SFC version is 100 times better than the horrid GBA one.

The SFC version isn't as good as the PSX version though >_>

[Cyllya]

ToP-GBA doesn't have semi-auto running? Is that some US version change? >_> Well, solving that problem in the SFC version is as simple as making Cless "base point" next to the enemy. Either walk up to it before attacking or hold the D-Pad toward the enemy after attacking (I prefer the latter option in most cases).

As for GBA versus SFC, they both have their advantages and disadvantages. In terms of plot, the GBA version has some extra story content from the PSX version (e.g. Chester scenes), while the SFC version has inferior characterization (not saying much, but still). Since you're apparently playing in English... the GBA version has a more accurate translation, but it's poorly written, makes silly errors like screwing up gender pronouns, and is generally unproffessional overall. The SFC version's fan translation ironically appears more proffessional, and it is probably more entertaining to just kick back and enjoy, but it changes so many random plot points that the story doesn't make much sense once you start to think about it. As for gameplay, the GBA version has advanced features (play as non-Cless characters, non-SR/LR system, etc) but the battles are slow, and the controls are crappy, and the menues are just plain stupid and annoying.

I vastly prefer the SFC version myself.

[aether_orange]

Oh, and don't forget the ridiculously half-assed translation:

[throughhim413]

I started cracking up when I saw that...  And crying.  What an awful translation that game got.  The DeJap job may have been far from perfect, but man, the GBA was awful.  Kangaroo... Wow.  They managed to suck all of the tension right out of that part of the story...

[Kikujiro]

Oh yeah, THAT was something :p

When I played the GBA version, I turned off my DS as soon as Brambert said "Ragnarok", just to switch the language in english (I was playing FR version, which was quite decent) and see that "Kangaroo" thing with my own eyes.

I can't believe they didn't even bothered to fix this with the EU version.

[StIoachim]

If you are saying that, you haven't seen the spanish one.
They changed almost EVERY name to completely unrelated things...

[throughhim413]

Was there a Spanish version of Symphonia?  If so, I take it there must not have been much concern for continuity...  (Though it's not like ToP GBA in the US was great for continuity either...)

[Kogahazan]

Yeah, there was, with the PAL release in Europe

[Goshi]

If you are saying that, you haven't seen the spanish one.
They changed almost EVERY name to completely unrelated things...

Bug Bears into Dark Knolls

[Kobethecat2]

Well I'm playing the GBA version, and no offense to the SFC lovers but I'm liking the GBA version more.

[throughhim413]

If you can put up with the laggy battle system, then there isn't that much else that you would actually NOTICE in the game without having played other versions.  I mean, the world map doesn't look like crap and the battle system doesn't seem shitty if you haven't played ToP PSX.  You're certainly welcome to like the GBA version more, but it is the worst version of the game.  That's pretty universally agreed upon.

[Cless]

I'm actually split. I don't like either the SNES or GBA versions. While the GBA version is loaded with slowdown, bad frame rate, and a badly mixed soundtrack, the SNES version feels terribly archaic and unrefined to the point where it's rendered completely unplayable for me. I guess that sounds like I lean slightly towards the GBA version, but really, I don't like either of them.

[Kajitani-Eizan]

it sure is a pain in the butt to control your character in the SNES version, but it's better in just about every respect, i'd say. and character control isn't too bad once you get used to it. they really should have put a manual mode in, though... i don't see why it wouldn't have been possible, and it would have made the game rock so much more.

[throughhim413]

Yeah, I agree with you in that regard.  The battle control isn't great in either version.  Obviously the PSX version blows the SFC and GBA versions out of the water.  I actually haven't finished the SFC version myself, a few hours in I popped in the PSX version to try it out and there was no going back.  I actually finished the GBA version, though that was more because it was portable than because of anything else.