I respect anybody on here who likes Tales of Graces f

 

What I disliked about the game is the battle system: the battle system didn't feel feel at all. I prefer battle systems that let you do anything at anytime with no limit to it. I just love feeling so free to the point that I can do whatever move I want to do without the gameplay stopping me. Games that are like that are most of the kingdom hearts games and most of the tales games. It seems like kingdom hearts 3 is probably going to be free too. Tales of Graces f was the exact opposite of that. Tales of Graces f didn't feel free at all.It limited me so much that it made the gameplay feel boring and repetitive. I hated how the numbers limited so much that I couldn't basically attack that much.The battle was also one of the most confusing battle systems I've ever seen in a video game. I tried to understand it, but I couldn't get it. Most of the music was also boring.

 

What I liked about the game:The storyline and at least one battle theme in the game. There was only on battle that I actually liked, which was the one that played when you fought enemies when Asbel was a kid. 

i finished Tales of the Abyss and was going to play Graces f next but after hearing some negative things about it, and knowing that Tales games are quite the time investment, I decided to go with Tales of Xillia

i've been thinking about buying the game but after reading this i might not, i'm a huge Tales fan with Tales of Xillia being my favorite and one of my favorite games of all time. i'll probably buy Tales of the Abyss instead since i've heard so many good things about it (if i could actually find the 3DS version where i live)

Doesn't all of the Tales games have some sort of combo limitations on the battle system(At least for those I've played),Symphonia 1 and 2 have MP bars and Xillia 1 & 2 have MP bars as well and they brought back the numbered combo thing from Graces. I think its only a matter of understanding the battle system of each games to work around those limits,if you know what you're doing you can score pretty big combos in Graces. There are many ways to extend the limit of the number like guarding or evade at the right time.To me it was a great addition along with the side stepping to make the game more interesting,they made battles more intense and fun,its definitely my favorite and there's no jump mechanic too. Unless they intend to make jumping more useful in futur installment, I hope they get rid of it for good.

 

But I do agree that the soundtrack is very forgettable aside for two themes that I really like,but that's an issue I think the entire series suffers from except for Symphonia which had a lot of memorable tracks.I also don't like how you go back and forth the same places over and over,reminds me of Skyward Sword and like the other Tales games some dungeons are really annoying to go though

Doesn't all of the Tales games have some sort of combo limitations on the battle system(At least for those I've played),Symphonia 1 and 2 have MP bars and Xillia 1 & 2 have MP bars as well and they brought back the numbered combo thing from Graces. I think its only a matter of understanding the battle system of each games to work around those limits,if you know what you're doing you can score pretty big combos in Graces. There are many ways to extend the limit of the number like guarding or evade at the right time.To me it was a great addition along with the side stepping to make the game more interesting,they made battles more intense and fun,its definitely my favorite and there's no jump mechanic too. Unless they intend to make jumping more useful in futur installment, I hope they get rid of it for good.

 

But I do agree that the soundtrack is very forgettable aside for two themes that I really like,but that's an issue I think the entire series suffers from except for Symphonia which had a lot of memorable tracks.I also don't like how you go back and forth the same places over and over,reminds me of Skyward Sword and like the other Tales games some dungeons are really annoying to go though

It's true that previous tales games are limited too, but to me, Tales of Graces kinda took it too far. If they want to stay on the more limited side of things without making it too limited, I think they should stick with or expand upon Tales of Xillia's battle system. It isn't too button mashy, nor is it too limited. 

Graces is absolute crap in all aspects tbh. Though I'll give it credit for the f arc, which was about the only enjoyable part of the whole game.