Ah, another addition to Bandai Namco’s long-running Tales series—well, sort of. This isn’t a new entry but a remaster of Tales of Graces, a game that originally released on the PS3 when the PS4 was launching. Because of that timing, not many people got to experience it when it was new. Now, with Tales games becoming more of a household name—thanks in large part to Tales of Arise—this seems like the perfect time to bring Graces back. That said, it probably didn’t need a massive overhaul in terms of visuals, considering it was already a late PS3 title.
Tales of Graces f follows Asbel Lhant, a young noble from the kingdom of Windor, as he embarks on a journey filled with political intrigue, personal growth, and, of course, the classic JRPG trope of stopping a greater evil from destroying the world. Unlike many other Tales games, Graces f starts with an extended childhood prologue, letting you see Asbel and his friends Sophie, Richard, Cheria, Hubert, Pascal, and Malik when they were young before jumping to their adulthood years later.
Once the story gets going, though, it delivers a mostly enjoyable ride with some genuinely strong character moments. The main themes revolve around the bonds of friendship and responsibility, which is typical for a Tales game, but the game leans particularly hard into these themes—sometimes to a fault. Asbel, in particular, can come across as frustratingly dense when it comes to understanding certain aspects of leadership and loyalty. Character interactions are the highlight, with plenty of fun and heartfelt skits (short, optional dialogue scenes that Tales fans love). Pascal, the eccentric engineer, steals the show with her energy and humor, while Richard provides a more complex and tragic arc than your usual JRPG villain-turned-antihero. However, the plot isn’t without its flaws. The pacing can be inconsistent, and some story beats feel a little forced. The final act, while offering some cool moments, feels somewhat predictable. That said, if you’re here for an old-school JRPG adventure with likable characters, it still delivers.
Where the game truly shines is in its combat system. Even over a decade later, it remains one of the best battle systems in the series. Unlike other Tales games that use TP (Tech Points) or MP-based combat, Graces f introduces the CC (Chain Capacity) system. Instead of managing a magic meter, every action—attacks, dodges, and special abilities—costs CC, which regenerates during battle. This encourages a more fluid, strategic approach to combat. Instead of just spamming Artes (special attacks) until you run out of TP, you’re constantly adjusting your playstyle based on positioning and enemy behavior. The ability to freely dodge in full 360-degree movement adds another layer of depth, making battles feel more dynamic compared to older Tales games. Each character has two distinct fighting styles—A-Artes, which are simpler melee attacks, and B-Artes, which are more advanced techniques and magic spells. This allows for a lot of experimentation with different combos, and the game rewards players who learn enemy patterns and switch between styles effectively. Boss fights, especially in the late game, can be tough but satisfying. The challenge mostly comes from managing CC efficiently and dodging well-timed attacks. Some of the tougher enemies, particularly in the optional post-game content, will test your mastery of the combat system.
Since Tales of Graces f was already an enhanced version of the original Wii release, this remaster doesn’t introduce drastic changes. The most noticeable improvements are in resolution and frame rate. The game now runs at a stable 60 FPS in battles and has improved texture clarity, making it look sharper on modern displays. However, don’t expect a Final Fantasy VII Remake level of graphical overhaul—this is still a PS3-era game at its core, and it shows in some outdated character models and stiff animations. That said, the bright and colorful art style holds up surprisingly well. The environments are vibrant, and the anime-style character designs remain charming, even if the world feels a bit empty compared to modern JRPGs. The audio remains unchanged, which is a mixed bag. The soundtrack is solid, with a mix of energetic battle themes and emotional character themes, but the English voice acting is hit-or-miss. Some performances, like Pascal’s, are full of personality, while others feel a bit stiff. Fortunately, the Japanese voice track is also available for those who prefer it.
So, in the end, is this game worth your time? Well, if you missed Tales of Grace f on the PS3, this remaster is definitely worth playing. Its combat system is still one of the best in the series, and the remastered visuals and performance improvements make it the best way to experience the game. However, if you already played the original PS3 version, the remaster doesn’t add much beyond a graphical touch-up. For newcomers to the Tales series, it’s a bit of a mixed recommendation. If you love action JRPGs with engaging combat, it’s absolutely worth playing. But if you’re more interested in a strong, unpredictable story, you might find Tales of Arise more compelling.
Score: 8 out of 10
Reviewed on PlayStation 5