Idea for Tales...

[Joan-Michele]

I just had this idea that would work quite well for a Tales game, it's basically turning it a couple of steps closer to a fighting game than any other. So, instead of the controls being Attack-Tech-Guard, it would be something like Slash-Thrust-Guard or Slash-Kick-Guard or Punch-Kick-Guard à la Virtua Fighter, and techs would be preformed by pressing the input combination for each conponents. So Kogahazan would be something like this >-V->+Slash->-V+Slash and Shuuzouraizan would be >-V->+Slash-^->-V+Slash. Akisazame? V-V+Thrust->-V->+Slash(or >->+Thrust) Any attack+guard is a grappling move and it counts as an attack chain. In addition to that, instead of TP, there would be a rush gauge that fills up with every attack or tokugi that connects and depletes for every damage a character has.  As the rush gauge is filled, their speed  is increased greatly and attack power marginally. They can also execute ougis which consumes a bit of of rush points and hi-ougis that can only be executed right after an ougi is performed and when the gauge is at least 80% filled.

Spell casters are a different story. Their controls would remain the same as per the Tales tradition but with a little twist. For every action they take, the gauge gets filled, and as the gauge fills up, the spell-casting time decreases, any level 1 and support spells would fill up the gauge, any level 2 and healing spells would deplete the rush gauge, Level 3, summoning and ressurection spells would empty the rush gauge and the power of the spell depends on the amount of which the rush gauge is filled. Summoning spells must be chained right after a level 2 spell, the rest can be cast right off the bat. Attack+Guard is short range, grabs the enemy and drains HP. Tech+Guard is long range and it holds the enemy in place, draining the enemy's rush meter.

Another introduction would be skillsets which are found in the form of scrolls. Depending on how well you performed in battle you'll recieve a certain amount of skill points (which depends also on the difficulty rating of each monster) which you can use to "buy" and upgrade skills, which can later be equipped and de-equpped freely out of battle.

The amount of rush also has a bonus, minimal HP regeneration which can be increased by artifacts and skillsets.

For the party, the amount of rush can be seen as a gauge and also as an aura, the more it's filled, the stonger the aura appears. The colour differs between the enemy parties and player parties.

I have a more tactical-oriented idea in my head, but this is a starter.

[Cless]

Abyss seems to have achieved everything I could have ever wanted out of a Tales battle system. Good luck to Team Symphonia in finding more things to make it even better.

I'd like some big changes to the plot style and feel, though. Super cliched generic anime plots don't do it for me anymore. Tired of teenaged heroes who look like they're 5+ years older than they're profiled (sadly, the jokes about Will being a geezer in ToL seem to have killed any hope of getting a more mature cast). And I also hate that damned androgynous character that HAS to be in every Japanese game ever made these days. I just wish they'd pull a Resident Evil 4 on the plot (I.E., total makeover compared to previous outings).

[Fluffy]

I totally agree about the storylines. I really don't think I can say anything else about them that hasn't already been said. I've never played Tales games for their storylines, though (well... I have to say, I really, really enjoy Phantasia's, despite the many flaws people like pointing out  ), always for the gameplay and small extras (like namco references, character cameos, etc.). I dunno if Tales could handle a more mature cast/storyline without making a joke out of itself. Hmm... still, Xenogears perfectly pulled off a mature cast and storyline with an anime-style to it. I don't see why it couldn't be possible for a Tales game. ^__^; But I doubt something like that will happen anytime soon, if at all. Maybe it's better if it doesn't?