Overview
Tales of Symphonia is an action-RPG developed by Namco Tales Studio, released in 2003 on the GameCube in Japan and then in 2004 in the West. It's a GameCube classic, and for many people the way into the Tales of series. The game has since been ported to several platforms, including PC.
Story and world
The world of Sylvarant is dying for lack of mana. Colette, the Chosen One, must undertake a journey of regeneration to save it, and her childhood friend Lloyd Irving sets off with her. This is the starting point of the story of the two worlds, whose twists still hold up very well today.
Gameplay
It's the first mainline entry in the series to move to 3D combat: you move freely around enemies in real time, chaining attacks and artes with your character while the other party members are handled by the AI. The game also lets several people play locally, with each player controlling a party member during fights.
Verdict
Tales of Symphonia remains a classic, with a story of two worlds and twists that still hold up very well. The PC port, however, is technically lazy.