The Tales series, known in Japan as the Tales of series (「テイルズ オブ」シリーズ, "Teiruzu Obu" Shirīzu), is a franchise of fantasy Japanese role-playing video games published by Bandai Namco Games (formerly Namco), and developed by its subsidiary, Namco Tales Studio (formerly Wolf Team) until 2011 and presently by Bandai Namco. First begun in 1995 with the development and release of Tales of Phantasia for the Super Famicom, the series currently spans fifteen main titles, multiple spin-off games and supplementary media in the form of manga series, anime series, and audio dramas.
While entries in the series generally stand independent of each other with different characters and stories, they are commonly linked by their gameplay, themes and high fantasy settings.[1] Most of the main Tales games have been localized for North America and Europe, although almost all of the spinoff titles have not been released abroad. While generally seen as a niche series in English speaking regions, Tales is considered a high-profile property in Japan, just behind other series such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.[2] As of December 2013, the series has sold 16 million units worldwide.[3]
Video games
In 2007, series producer Makoto Yoshizumi defined two classes of Tales games, "Mothership Titles" and "Escort Titles".[4] "Mothership" essentially means "Main series", where as "Escort" essentially means "Spinoff".[5] The games are also frequently given what is called a "Characteristic Genre Name", which is a short subtitle or phrase that outlines the game's overall theme.[6] There are also terms that are used in remakes or ports of games: "R" stands for "remake" or "re-imagination" (as in Hearts R), while "F" in Graces F stands for "future", in reference to the game's extra story content.[7][8][9]
PlayStation and Game Boy Advance versions are a full remake with updated graphics and gameplay, PlayStation Portable version added fully voiced cutscenes
Characteristic genre name not present for original, set as Legendary RPG (伝説のRPG, Densetsu no RPG) for PlayStation version and Game Boy Advance port, and as Legendary RPG, Embellished With Voices (声が彩る、伝説のRPG, Koe ga irodoru, densetsu no RPG) for PlayStation Portable version
Also available for PlayStation 2 (2006)[21] and as Director's Cut for PlayStation 2 (2008)[22]
PlayStation 2 version is a full remake with updated graphics and gameplay
Characteristic genre name is RPG of Destiny (運命のRPG, Unmei no RPG), changed to RPG Called Destiny (運命という名のRPG, Unmei to iu na no RPG) for remake and to One More RPG Called Destiny (もうひとつの運命という名のRPG, Mou hitotsu no unmei to iu na no RPG) for the Director's Cut
Also available for PlayStation 3 (2009)[39], PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch (upcoming for Holiday 2018 release as Remaster or Definitive Edition).
Characteristic genre name is RPG to Enforce "Justice" (「正義」を貫き通すRPG, "Seigi" wo tsuranukitōsu RPG)
Games that are sequels to mothership titles, but are not considered to be one themselves, and are not a part of the Tales of the World, Narikiri Dungeon, or Radiant Mythology series.
Contains an additional mini-game called Tales of Wallbreaker which features traditional 2D gameplay with additional characters not featured in the main game.
^"Creator's Voice". Nintendo DS Creator's Voice. Archived from the original on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)