Tales of Graces f Remastered brings a beloved Tales series entry to modern platforms, blending nostalgia with meaningful updates. Originally released in 2009 for the Wii, it now features quality-of-life improvements, enhanced visuals, and all its original DLC, making it the definitive version of this classic JRPG.
The story follows Asbel Lhant and his companions as they navigate themes of friendship, family, and self-discovery. Set in a world torn by political turmoil and secrets, the story unfolds through three arcs: a childhood prologue, an adult journey, and the Lineage & Legacies epilogue. This structure allows characters and relationships to grow over time, offering emotional and engaging storytelling.
The remaster introduces several updates, such as better navigation markers, faster movement, and skippable cutscenes, making the experience smoother for modern audiences. Its Chain Capacity combat system replaces traditional MP mechanics, focusing on strategy and resource management. Customization options, like Titles and dualizing, let you shape each character’s skills and progression.
With its engaging story, dynamic combat, and meaningful upgrades, Tales of Graces f Remastered revitalizes a fan-favourite JRPG for today’s gamers. Let’s take a look at how this remaster brings new life to a series classic.
Tales of Graces f Remastered details
Platform(s):Â Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4 and Xbox One
Developer(s):Â Tose CO., LTD.
Publisher(s): Bandai Namco Entertainment
Genre: Action RPG
Modes:Â Single-player
ESRB Rating:Â T (Teen)
A journey of growth and connection
Tales of Graces f Remastered tells a story of friendship, family, and redemption set against the backdrop of a world at war. The narrative spans three distinct arcs: a childhood prologue, an adult journey, and the Lineage & Legacies epilogue. This structure allows the characters to grow, making their relationships feel authentic and meaningful.
One particular part of the story that really stood out for me was the group’s reunion at Lhant Manor after years of separation. The mix of bittersweet memories and emotional distance in their interactions highlighted how much had changed while reminding me of the unbroken bond they shared. Scenes like this make Tales of Graces f Remastered’s story feel personal, even when the main plot leans on familiar JRPG tropes.
The cast is filled with likable characters who each bring their own charm. Asbel is a determined leader, Cheria offers emotional depth, and Pascal adds humor, balancing out the more serious moments in the story. While these archetypes are familiar, their interactions and personal struggles keep the story interesting. The epilogue, Lineage & Legacies, ties up loose ends and adds closure to the characters’ journeys. Though the story occasionally relies on predictable twists, its emotional moments and well-developed themes make it one you won’t soon forget.
Engaging combat and customization
Tales of Graces f Remastered’s combat system is one of the best in the Tales series. The Chain Capacity (CC) system replaces traditional MP, requiring you to carefully manage resources for combos, dodges, and artes. This mechanic, combined with A-Artes and B-Artes, creates battles that are both strategic and fast-paced.
The game’s customization options add even more depth. Titles unlock abilities and stat boosts, letting you shape each character’s progression. The dualizing system allows you to combine weapons and items for better gear, while the Eleth Mixer automates crafting and triggers effects during battle. These systems let you experiment with different strategies, and each upgrade noticeably improves your characters, keeping progression rewarding.
One of my favourite fights in the game was a boss fight in the Fendel Glacier. Balancing offense and defense became critical as I dodged powerful area attacks while landing precise artes. After failing a few times, I changed my approach, saving CC for key moments. Winning felt rewarding and reinforced the combat’s focus on strategy.
While the combat in Tales of Graces f Remastered is great, the game’s linear exploration and frequent backtracking often feel limiting. Dungeons offer more variety with hidden paths and puzzles, but they lack the complexity found in other JRPGs. Despite these limitations, Tales of Graces f Remastered excels in creating satisfying battles and rewarding progression systems that keep you engaged.
Updated visuals that show their age
Tales of Graces f Remastered updates the original game’s visuals while keeping its anime-inspired art style. The resolution bump makes the graphics sharper, and the game runs at a smooth 60 FPS. These upgrades add to the overall experience, even though the textures and character models still show their Wii-era origins. The environments are colourful and varied but often are bland, especially in towns and the overworld.
Dungeons are more detailed, with hidden paths and unique designs that keep exploration interesting. The menus and skits are clean and easy to navigate, adding a polished touch. On the other hand, the soundtrack features a mix of dynamic and repetitive tracks. Some add to the game’s emotional moments and battles, while others feel less inspired. Voice acting is also a mixed bag. Some performances feel natural, while others come across stale and less polished.
While the visuals and audio updates don’t completely modernize the game, they do make it more accessible. Tales of Graces f Remastered retains its charm and offers a smoother experience, though some visual elements still feel dated.
Tales of Graces f Remastered revives a classic JRPG
Tales of Graces f Remastered breathes new life into a fan-favourite entry in the Tales series. Its fantastic combat system and rewarding customization options remain enjoyable, while the remaster’s updates improve accessibility for both newcomers and longtime fans.
For me, experimenting with the game’s systems was one of the highlights. Whether it was customizing Titles to unlock abilities or dualizing gear to create powerful equipment, every decision felt meaningful. These mechanics kept me invested, as each battle became an opportunity to refine strategies and grow stronger.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fast-paced and strategic combat system. | The visuals still still look dated. |
| The remaster adds quality-of-life improvements like navigation markers. | Exploration feels limited due to linear gameplay design. |
| Customization options like Titles and dualizing are rewarding. | The voice acting quality is inconsistent. |
| The Lineage & Legacies epilogue provides satisfying story closure. | Frequent backtracking can become tedious. |
That said, Tales of Graces f Remastered isn’t without its flaws. The graphics, while sharper, still show their age, and the linear gameplay design might not appeal to everyone. The story leans on familiar JRPG tropes, and uneven pacing occasionally disrupts the flow. However, the likable cast, emotional moments, and fast-paced combat more than make up for these shortcomings.
Overall assessment of Tales of Graces f Remastered
Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 3/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Lasting appeal/Replayability: 4/5
Overall rating: 3.6/5 (72%)
Tales of Graces f Remastered is a reminder of why the Tales series has endured for decades. Whether you’re revisiting it or playing for the first time, it offers a memorable and satisfying JRPG experience that’s more than worthy of your time.
Purchase Tales of Graces F Remastered
