Will the PSP version be released in the U.S.?

[Tedius Zanarukando]

The PlayStation Portable version of Tales of Phantasia was recently released in Japan.  It is unknown whether it will be released in North America or Europe.  The North American audience was unhappy with the GBA version, but the game should have another chance in North America with the PSP version.  The PSP version will replace the GBA version, which is the worst version of the game.

[DemonFang]

...and what was the point of starting this topic, again?

[Goshi]

It doesn't look like it has any chance on being released in English

[Cless]

One could hope, but holding one's breath for Tales games in the US is often setup for disappointment. I got lucky when gambling for Abyss...

But you never know...

[DemonFang]

Here's what I think:

Since ToP GBA wasn't exactly a success here, Namco won't want to release the PSP version in the states, because they won't want to risk another failure. They don't realize that 1. The GBA is the worst version and 2. The localization was TERRIBLE. They just think that Americans don't like the game. Therefore, although I'd love to see it released in the US, I highly doubt it will happen.

The same thing can be said for the ToD remake for PS2.

[supersonic1453]

But ToD apparently sold enough to warrant bringing ToE here didn't it?

[throughhim413]

I have to agree with what DemonFang said.  The people making the decisions on localizing games aren't looking to please small fanbases.  Sadly, those of us who know that Tales of Phantasia is so much greater then what the US have recieved are in the insignificant minority.  Tales of Phantasia has been treated very poorly in the US, where gamers have only experienced a poorly translated version of the worst of ToP's incarnations.  ToP GBA sold poorly, and since the majority in the US now associate only that version of the game with the ToP name, I'd say odds are very slim for getting the PSP version.  At least that's how I see it.  Oh well, I'll just go back to playing my PSX version I imported.  I'm perfectly happy with it.

[Tedius Zanarukando]

The chances of a U.S. of any version of Tales of Phantasia and many other Tales games are historically slim.  Namco has been letting the U.S. Tales fanbase down for years. The company has made a big mistake by localizing the GBA version with a bad translation only just to trick us out of the game.  They should be scolded for that.  The GBA version was released in the U.S. three years after its Japanese release.  But still, Tales of Phantasia should get another chance in the U.S.  The PSP version should be associated with the Tales of Phantasia name, not GBA version.  One good thing is that the PSP is region free for gaming.  I will have to spread my message on this to the U.S. audience who purchased the GBA version.  I suggest that you import the PSP version.  There will be further versions of Tales of Phantasia. 

[Cless]

One thing that just came to mind is that SCEA won't approve ports on the PSP unless there's a certain amount of additional content.

Seeing as how it's a port of the PSX version, I don't know if ToP FVE has enough additional content to satisfy that requirement anyway, but Valkyrie Profile Lenneth seemed to slip through those cracks somehow.

SCEA tends to not care if the ported game did not come out in the US previously, and still enforces this policy (hence Devil Summoner PSP getting blocked).

[Kogahazan]

VP Lenneth probably slipped through because of t3h purty new cutscenes. Also probably because it's a port of a 6 year old game on a now outdated console. They probably wanted people to play the first VP on a modern system (being modern  would make it easier to obtain) to refresh their memory before playing VP2.

For ToP-FVE, the PS1 version was never released here, so Americans wouldn't know if there was additional content when compared to the PS1 version... but now Americans have ToP-GBA to compare it to... If that was to be the case, the PSP version would have not only additional content (the added voice acting was the point of this port after all), but it would be much improved in graphics and gameplay.

That's not to say that the chances of them even considering it is good. They don't really have an incentive to release it here. Even with additional content, I just don't see them considering it.

[Tedius Zanarukando]

The PSP version of Tales of Phantasia is called "The Full Voice Edition."  Therefore, it has a lot of additional audio content.  Dubbing is required to localize the PSP version to North America.  The GBA version is based on mainly the original version. 

The PSP version was released in Japan in September, so it may be too early to consider a U.S. localization at the moment.

[throughhim413]

I think the fact that it is a Full Voice Edition that makes it even less likely.  Let's face it, as far as game dubs go, Tales often gets screwed.  Even on the most recent Tales game for the PS2, the audio is once again mysteriously absent on the skits.  And I'm sure nobody forgets the silent movie that was the second half of Legendia.  If ToP PSP were brought over here, do you really think they'd give it all the silver bells and whistles and actually voice the whole game over when they don't even do it for their 'newest' game?

The more I think about it, the less likely it is that this will be brought over here.  Just enjoy the import, because that's likely the best you'll get.  I think at this point, any chance of a PS2 remake like Destiny saw is out of the question.  Sadly.

[Kogahazan]

Aww, the localized Abyss doesn't have voiced skits? Oh wells. I'd rather prefer that than what they did with Legendia.

I still say there's not really a chance that ToP-FVE or ToD-PS2 will ever get over here. ToP-FVE has a better chance than ToD-PS2 though, since PSP doesn't have a successor looming around the corner that would overshadow it. Still, either will most likely not get here.

[throughhim413]

No, it doesn't have voiced skits.  It doesn't seem to have any at all.  I too was hoping it would at least be up to the Legendia level, but thus far they have all been completely silent.  I agree with your points though, sad as it is, ToD PS2 probably won't make it here either.  But who knows?  I mean, anything can happen, unlikely though it may be.

[Tedius Zanarukando]

Aww, the localized Abyss doesn't have voiced skits? Oh wells. I'd rather prefer that than what they did with Legendia.

I still say there's not really a chance that ToP-FVE or ToD-PS2 will ever get over here. ToP-FVE has a better chance than ToD-PS2 though, since PSP doesn't have a successor looming around the corner that would overshadow it. Still, either will most likely not get here.

It is really too early to think about the chances of Tales of Phantasia: Full Voice Edition or Tales of Destiny PS2 remake being localized to North America.  Tales of Phantasia: Full Voice Edition was released in Japan just two months ago.  The Tales of Destiny PS2 remake is still in development at the moment.  I would say that the chances of a U.S. release are historically slim, but can become greater.

Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) has a policy against localizing games with sprite-based characters with the intent to release them individually.  Therefore, if Tales of Destiny PS2 were to be released in North America, it would require a localization of Tales of Rebirth, and they would have to be packaged simulataneously.  I am personally against SCEA's localization policies.

[Leroy]

Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) has a policy against localizing games with sprite-based characters with the intent to release them individually.  Therefore, if Tales of Destiny PS2 were to be released in North America, it would require a localization of Tales of Rebirth, and they would have to be packaged simulataneously.  I am personally against SCEA's localization policies.

FALSE.