<s>
is	O
an	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
Namco	O
Tales	O
Studio	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Namco	O
for	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
ported	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
with	O
additional	O
content	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
September	O
22	O
,	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
a	O
fictional	O
world	O
called	O
Sylvarant	B-Application
and	O
follows	O
Lloyd	O
Irving	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
their	O
journey	O
progresses	O
,	O
they	O
learn	O
that	O
saving	O
Sylvarant	B-Application
endangers	O
Tethe'alla	B-Application
,	O
a	O
world	O
parallel	O
to	O
their	O
own	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
received	O
generally	O
positive	O
reviews	O
upon	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
received	O
a	O
Japan	O
Game	O
Awards	O
in	O
2003	O
and	O
had	O
received	O
re-releases	O
under	O
the	O
Player	O
's	O
Choice	O
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
the	I-Device
Best	I-Device
labels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
entitled	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dawn	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
New	I-Application
World	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
in	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
and	O
its	O
sequel	O
were	O
collected	O
as	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
high	B-Device
definition	I-Device
release	I-Device
in	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
Chronicles	I-Application
in	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Steam	B-Application
version	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
February	O
2	O
,	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
remastered	O
version	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
on	O
February	O
17	O
,	O
2023	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
previous	O
installments	O
in	O
the	O
Tales	O
series	O
,	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
consists	O
primarily	O
of	O
three	O
major	O
areas	O
:	O
an	O
overworld	O
field	O
map	O
,	O
town	O
and	O
dungeon	O
maps	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
battle	O
screen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
preceding	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
the	O
world	O
map	O
can	O
be	O
traversed	O
by	O
foot	O
,	O
on	O
the	O
party	O
's	O
quadrupedal	O
pet	O
Noishe	O
,	O
and	O
on	O
flying	O
vehicles	O
known	O
as	O
Rheairds	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Four	O
characters	O
from	O
the	O
party	O
are	O
chosen	O
to	O
battle	O
;	O
those	O
not	O
controlled	O
by	O
a	O
player	O
are	O
guided	O
by	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
with	O
instructions	O
set	O
by	O
the	O
player	O
beforehand	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
initial	O
setting	O
of	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
is	O
Sylverant	O
,	O
a	O
world	O
in	O
a	O
state	O
of	O
decline	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
depletion	O
of	O
mana	O
,	O
a	O
force	O
essential	O
to	O
life	O
and	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
magic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
Sylverant	O
's	O
weakening	O
mana	O
,	O
the	O
Desians	O
have	O
reemerged	O
and	O
are	O
terrorizing	O
humanity	O
,	O
conducting	O
biological	O
experiments	O
on	O
abducted	O
humans	O
in	O
facilities	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
human	B-Application
ranches	I-Application
"	O
,	O
which	O
further	O
consumes	O
mana	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
,	O
the	O
existence	O
of	O
a	O
parallel	O
world	O
named	O
Tethe'alla	B-Application
comes	O
to	O
light	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sylverant	O
and	O
Tethe'alla	B-Application
are	O
inhabited	O
by	O
humans	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
elves	B-Application
,	O
a	O
race	O
of	O
long-lived	O
humanoid	O
extraterrestrials	O
who	O
originated	O
from	O
the	O
giant	O
comet	O
Derris-Kharlan	O
and	O
can	O
manipulate	O
mana	O
to	O
cast	O
magic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Offspring	O
born	O
between	O
humans	O
and	O
elves	B-Application
are	O
half-elves	O
,	O
who	O
bear	O
both	O
the	O
fighting	O
spirit	O
and	O
curiosity	O
of	O
humans	O
and	O
the	O
longevity	O
and	O
magical	O
capabilities	O
of	O
elves	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
of	O
this	O
,	O
they	O
are	O
discriminated	O
against	O
by	O
condescending	O
elves	B-Application
and	O
jealous	O
humans	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
Tethe'alla	B-Application
they	O
are	O
deprived	O
of	O
civil	O
rights	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Desians	O
are	O
composed	O
entirely	O
of	O
half-elves	O
who	O
act	O
out	O
of	O
vengeance	O
for	O
this	O
discrimination	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
characters	O
bear	O
an	O
"	O
Exsphere	B-Application
"	O
,	O
a	O
small	O
jewel	O
that	O
enhances	O
the	O
wearer	O
's	O
natural	O
abilities	O
when	O
implanted	O
onto	O
the	O
skin	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
also	O
used	O
as	O
a	O
power	O
source	O
for	O
machinery	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
an	O
Exsphere	B-Application
's	O
amplifying	O
capability	O
can	O
only	O
be	O
awakened	O
at	O
the	O
cost	O
of	O
a	O
human	O
life	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Exsphere	B-Application
parasitically	O
feeds	O
off	O
the	O
user	O
's	O
mana	O
unless	O
a	O
suppressant	O
named	O
a	O
"	O
Key	O
Crest	O
"	O
is	O
installed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
evolved	O
form	O
of	O
Exsphere	B-Application
known	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
Cruxis	O
Crystal	O
"	O
grants	O
its	O
user	O
immortality	O
,	O
a	O
pair	O
of	O
angel-like	O
wings	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
relinquished	O
need	O
for	O
human	O
functions	O
such	O
as	O
eating	O
or	O
sleeping	O
,	O
but	O
eventually	O
erases	O
the	O
user	O
's	O
ego	O
if	O
worn	O
without	O
a	O
Key	O
Crest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
seeks	O
to	O
defeat	O
the	O
Desians	O
and	O
avenge	O
his	O
mother	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
said	O
to	O
be	O
killed	O
protecting	O
the	O
Exsphere	B-Application
on	O
the	O
back	O
of	O
Lloyd	O
's	O
hand	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
group	O
is	O
later	O
joined	O
by	O
Sheena	O
Fujibayashi	O
,	O
a	O
ninja	O
from	O
Tethe'alla	B-Application
who	O
initially	O
tries	O
to	O
assassinate	O
Colette	O
;	O
Zelos	O
Wilder	O
,	O
the	O
arrogant	O
and	O
womanizing	O
Chosen	O
of	O
Tethe'alla	B-Application
;	O
Presea	O
Combatir	O
,	O
a	O
young	O
lumberjack	O
with	O
superhuman	O
strength	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
of	O
Cruxis	O
Crystal-related	O
experiments	O
;	O
and	O
Regal	O
Bryant	O
,	O
an	O
ex-convict	O
who	O
wishes	O
to	O
avenge	O
his	O
lover	O
,	O
whom	O
he	O
was	O
forced	O
to	O
kill	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
organization	O
Cruxis	O
is	O
led	O
by	O
Yggdrasill	O
,	O
a	O
half-elf	O
whose	O
ultimate	O
goal	O
is	O
to	O
turn	O
all	O
people	O
into	O
lifeless	O
beings	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
bring	O
about	O
an	O
age	O
free	O
of	O
discrimination	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Renegades	O
,	O
a	O
group	O
attempting	O
to	O
thwart	O
Cruxis	O
 '	O
goals	O
,	O
are	O
led	O
by	O
Yuan	O
,	O
a	O
half-elf	O
who	O
aided	O
Mithos	O
in	O
ending	O
the	O
ancient	O
war	O
and	O
was	O
engaged	O
to	O
Martel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Lloyd	O
and	O
Genis	O
's	O
intervention	O
to	O
rescue	O
a	O
friend	O
of	O
Genis	O
at	O
a	O
nearby	O
human	B-Application
ranch	I-Application
results	O
in	O
their	O
village	O
's	O
retaliatory	O
decimation	O
and	O
their	O
subsequent	O
exile	O
,	O
leaving	O
them	O
no	O
other	O
option	O
but	O
to	O
join	O
Colette	O
's	O
pilgrimage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
encounter	O
and	O
eventually	O
make	O
peace	O
with	O
the	O
assassin	O
Sheena	O
,	O
who	O
comes	O
from	O
the	O
parallel	O
world	O
of	O
Tethe'alla	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Within	O
a	O
human	B-Application
ranch	I-Application
,	O
the	O
group	O
discovers	O
that	O
Exspheres	B-Application
are	O
cultivated	O
within	O
humans	O
,	O
with	O
Lloyd	O
's	O
Exsphere	B-Application
having	O
came	O
from	O
within	O
his	O
mother	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Yuan	O
declares	O
his	O
intent	O
to	O
secure	O
Lloyd	O
to	O
further	O
the	O
Renegades	O
 '	O
purpose	O
,	O
the	O
party	O
escapes	O
for	O
Tethe'alla	B-Application
,	O
where	O
they	O
restore	O
Colette	O
's	O
humanity	O
after	O
crafting	O
a	O
Key	O
Crest	O
for	O
her	O
Cruxis	O
Crystal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
actions	O
instead	O
destabilize	O
the	O
Great	O
Seed	O
,	O
the	O
supplier	O
of	O
mana	O
to	O
both	O
worlds	O
,	O
causing	O
it	O
to	O
grow	O
and	O
engulf	O
Sylvarant	B-Application
at	O
an	O
exponential	O
rate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
party	O
re-stabilizes	O
the	O
seed	O
,	O
they	O
learn	O
from	O
Yuan	O
about	O
the	O
origins	O
of	O
Sylvarant	B-Application
and	O
Tethe'alla	B-Application
and	O
how	O
they	O
used	O
to	O
be	O
one	O
world	O
but	O
was	O
split	O
by	O
Cruxis	O
 '	O
leader	O
Mithos	O
with	O
the	O
Eternal	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
;	O
the	O
party	O
realizes	O
they	O
can	O
save	O
the	O
world	O
if	O
they	O
wield	O
the	O
Eternal	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
,	O
merge	O
the	O
worlds	O
,	O
and	O
germinate	O
the	O
Great	O
Seed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
decide	O
to	O
confront	O
and	O
defeat	O
Mithos	O
before	O
seeking	O
the	O
Eternal	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kratos	O
is	O
revealed	O
to	O
have	O
been	O
gathering	O
materials	O
to	O
have	O
Lloyd	O
use	O
the	O
Eternal	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Using	O
the	O
Eternal	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
,	O
Lloyd	O
merges	O
Sylvarant	B-Application
and	O
Tethe'alla	B-Application
together	O
and	O
germinates	O
the	O
Great	O
Seed	O
into	O
a	O
Giant	O
Kharlan	B-Application
Tree	I-Application
to	O
supply	O
the	O
world	O
with	O
mana	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
first	O
announced	O
on	O
May	O
8	O
,	O
2002	O
,	O
by	O
Namco	O
to	O
be	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
many	O
titles	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
releasing	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
GameCube	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Namco	O
stated	O
it	O
would	O
be	O
a	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Phantasia	I-Application
series	O
and	O
expected	O
comics	O
,	O
animation	O
,	O
drama	O
CDs	O
and	O
novels	O
to	O
be	O
spun	O
off	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
name	O
was	O
revealed	O
to	O
be	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
in	O
February	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
April	O
2003	O
edition	O
of	O
Famitsu	O
revealed	O
the	O
game	O
has	O
been	O
in	O
development	O
for	O
two	O
years	O
,	O
its	O
developers	O
are	O
the	O
same	O
from	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Eternia	I-Application
,	O
the	O
game	O
will	O
have	O
the	O
most	O
main	O
characters	O
in	O
the	O
Tales	O
series	O
,	O
and	O
will	O
be	O
the	O
first	O
3D	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2013	O
"	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
orchestra	O
version	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
also	O
performed	O
by	O
the	O
band	O
's	O
lead	O
singer	O
,	O
Misono	O
,	O
in	O
the	B-Operating_System
PS3	I-Operating_System
version	O
in	O
both	O
the	O
Japanese	O
and	O
Western	O
releases	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
PC	O
and	O
Remastered	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
celebrate	O
its	O
release	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
bundled	O
with	O
a	O
symphonic	O
green	O
Nintendo	B-Application
GameCube	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
second	O
week	O
of	O
April	O
2004	O
,	O
Weekly	O
Shōnen	O
Jump	O
announced	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
port	O
of	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
received	O
new	O
in-game	O
additions	O
and	O
its	O
theme	O
song	O
is	O
by	O
Day	O
After	O
Tomorrow	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
also	O
remixed	O
as	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
also	O
performed	O
by	O
the	O
band	O
's	O
lead	O
singer	O
,	O
Misono	O
,	O
in	O
the	B-Operating_System
PS3	I-Operating_System
version	O
in	O
both	O
the	O
Japanese	O
and	O
Western	O
releases	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
PC	O
and	O
Remastered	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
exclusively	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
September	O
22	O
,	O
2004	O
,	O
and	O
re-released	O
under	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
the	I-Device
Best	I-Device
label	O
on	O
July	O
7	O
,	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Takumi	O
Miyajima	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
writer	O
,	O
explained	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
was	O
planned	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
"	O
unique	O
symphonia	O
"	O
,	O
dependent	O
on	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
choices	O
and	O
the	O
affection	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
generally	O
a	O
self-contained	O
story	O
,	O
Symphonia	O
apparently	O
takes	O
place	O
within	O
either	O
the	O
same	O
or	O
a	O
similar	O
timeline	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
Tales	O
game	O
,	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Phantasia	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sequel	O
,	O
localized	O
in	O
English	O
as	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dawn	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
New	I-Application
World	I-Application
,	O
was	O
announced	O
on	O
July	O
20	O
,	O
2007	O
,	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
Chronicles	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
on	O
June	O
1	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
contains	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
and	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
:	I-Application
Dawn	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
New	I-Application
World	I-Application
with	O
remastered	O
graphics	O
and	O
additional	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
October	O
10	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
in	O
February	O
2014	O
as	O
both	O
a	O
retail	O
version	O
and	O
download	O
release	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
option	O
to	O
purchase	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
as	O
a	O
standalone	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
spawned	O
seven	O
manga	O
adaptations	O
after	O
its	O
release	O
:	O
six	O
anthology	O
collections	O
and	O
a	O
traditional	O
manga	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
manga	O
series	O
by	O
Hitoshi	O
Ichimura	O
was	O
titled	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
and	O
was	O
an	O
adaptation	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
storyline	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
has	O
spun	O
off	O
two	O
novel	O
series	O
adaptions	O
,	O
four	O
strategy	O
guides	O
,	O
a	O
character	O
book	O
,	O
an	O
official	O
scenario	O
book	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
art	O
book	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
novel	O
series	O
is	O
titled	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
and	O
is	O
written	O
by	O
Kiyoshi	O
Yuki	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
strategy	O
guides	O
under	O
the	O
V	O
Jump	O
Books	O
brand	O
were	O
published	O
by	O
Shueisha	O
:	O
the	O
Gamecube	B-Application
guide	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
August	O
29	O
,	O
2003	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
on	O
September	O
22	O
,	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Namco	O
Bandai	O
Games	O
released	O
two	O
official	O
strategy	O
guides	O
on	O
October	O
1	O
,	O
2003	O
,	O
and	O
October	O
27	O
,	O
2004	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
Gamecube	B-Application
and	O
PS2	B-Device
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
two	O
CDs	O
were	O
released	O
on	O
May	O
25	O
,	O
2005	O
,	O
and	O
June	O
24	O
,	O
2005	O
.	O
and	O
are	O
side	O
stories	O
with	O
guest	O
characters	O
from	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Vesperia	I-Application
and	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Graces	I-Application
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
soundtrack	O
was	O
re-released	O
on	O
October	O
27	O
,	O
2004	O
,	O
by	O
King	O
Records	O
(	O
Japan	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
PS2	B-Device
port	O
of	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
four	O
episodes	O
received	O
an	O
early	O
screening	O
:	O
The	O
first	O
was	O
screened	O
on	O
March	O
13	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
in	O
Fukuoka	O
and	O
was	O
hosted	O
by	O
Music	O
Plaza	O
Indo	O
;	O
The	O
second	O
on	O
May	O
4	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
in	O
Tokushima	O
,	O
Tokushima	O
by	O
Ufotable	O
;	O
the	O
third	O
on	O
September	O
17	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
in	O
Yokohama	O
by	O
Animate	O
;	O
and	O
the	O
fourth	O
on	O
February	O
20	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
in	O
Roppongi	O
by	O
Toho	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reception	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
garnered	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
"	O
reception	O
from	O
critics	O
according	O
to	O
review	O
aggregator	O
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alan	O
Averill	O
and	O
Steve	O
Thomason	O
of	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
determined	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
's	O
best	O
RPG	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
Averill	O
had	O
played	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jonathan	O
Metts	O
of	O
Planet	O
GameCube	B-Application
said	O
that	O
although	O
the	O
game	O
"	O
clings	O
to	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
well-worn	O
RPG	O
elements	O
"	O
,	O
its	O
distinct	O
battle	O
system	O
,	O
story	O
,	O
and	O
visual	O
presentation	O
allowed	O
it	O
to	O
stand	O
on	O
equal	O
footing	O
with	O
the	O
most	O
recent	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Benjamin	O
Turner	O
of	O
GameSpy	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
lush	O
artwork	O
and	O
innovative	O
battle	O
system	O
characteristic	O
of	O
Tales	O
games	O
helped	O
Symphonia	O
stand	O
out	O
in	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
's	O
"	O
RPG-starved	O
"	O
library	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
battle	O
system	O
was	O
praised	O
for	O
its	O
ease	O
of	O
use	O
and	O
fast	O
pace	O
,	O
with	O
Jastrzab	O
declaring	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
systems	O
conceived	O
for	O
an	O
action	B-Application
RPG	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Metts	O
explained	O
that	O
it	O
"	O
strikes	O
a	O
perfect	O
balance	O
between	O
the	O
strategy	O
of	O
traditional	O
menu-based	O
RPG	O
battles	O
and	O
the	O
fast	O
,	O
skill-based	O
action	O
found	O
in	O
a	O
weapons-based	O
fighting	O
game	O
like	O
Soul	B-Application
Calibur	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Star	O
Dingo	O
of	O
GamePro	O
concurred	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
individual	O
character	O
control	O
was	O
"	O
excellent	O
"	O
,	O
he	O
lamented	O
that	O
the	O
computer-controlled	B-Application
nature	O
of	O
the	O
other	O
party	O
members	O
resulted	O
in	O
a	O
loss	O
of	O
the	O
experience	O
of	O
learning	O
new	O
skills	O
and	O
spells	O
,	O
and	O
said	O
that	O
attempts	O
to	O
micromanage	O
the	O
other	O
members	O
made	O
the	O
battle	O
system	O
clunky	O
and	O
burdensome	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Joe	O
Juba	O
of	O
Game	O
Informer	O
,	O
meanwhile	O
,	O
was	O
impressed	O
by	O
the	O
variable	O
customization	O
of	O
the	O
computer-controlled	B-Application
characters	O
 '	O
behavior	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
this	O
regard	O
,	O
Smith	O
deemed	O
the	O
system	O
to	O
be	O
an	O
improvement	O
over	O
that	O
of	O
Star	B-Application
Ocean	I-Application
:	I-Application
Till	I-Application
the	I-Application
End	I-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
;	O
Fahey	O
also	O
drew	O
a	O
comparison	O
to	O
the	O
title	O
,	O
considering	O
the	O
computer-controlled	B-Application
characters	O
in	O
Tales	O
to	O
be	O
significantly	O
more	O
intelligent	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shane	O
Bettenhausen	O
of	O
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
and	O
Mary	O
Jane	O
Irwin	O
of	O
IGN	O
complained	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
difficulty	O
was	O
imbalanced	O
by	O
the	O
boss	O
battles	O
,	O
which	O
required	O
significant	O
grinding	B-Application
and	O
were	O
sometimes	O
fought	O
in	O
a	O
close	O
consecutive	O
fashion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Irwin	O
negatively	O
compared	O
the	O
amount	O
of	O
backtracking	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
vast	O
overworld	O
to	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Wind	I-Application
Waker	I-Application
,	O
but	O
was	O
thankful	O
for	O
the	O
various	O
modes	O
of	O
transportation	O
that	O
were	O
continuously	O
introduced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Irwin	O
,	O
comparing	O
the	O
puzzles	O
to	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
,	O
welcomed	O
them	O
as	O
breaks	O
from	O
the	O
frequent	O
exploration	O
and	O
battles	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
an	O
expansion	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
appeal	O
to	O
a	O
broader	O
audience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Smith	O
agreed	O
that	O
the	O
quality	O
of	O
the	O
puzzles	O
was	O
not	O
exceptional	O
,	O
he	O
considered	O
them	O
a	O
decent	O
challenge	O
and	O
an	O
improvement	O
over	O
those	O
in	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Destiny	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
negatively	O
compared	O
the	O
character	O
designs	O
to	O
Fujishima	O
's	O
earlier	O
work	O
in	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Phantasia	I-Application
,	O
saying	O
that	O
Symphonias	O
characters	O
lacked	O
the	O
personality	O
of	O
those	O
in	O
the	O
preceding	O
title	O
,	O
and	O
claimed	O
that	O
"	O
any	O
number	O
of	O
cheaper	O
artists	O
could	O
have	O
delivered	O
equally	O
inspired	O
designs	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Smith	O
also	O
criticized	O
the	O
cel-shading	O
style	O
as	O
uneven	O
and	O
shaky	O
compared	O
to	O
that	O
of	O
Jet	B-Application
Set	I-Application
Radio	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
overworld	O
's	O
presentation	O
was	O
criticized	O
as	O
underwhelming	O
;	O
some	O
compared	O
its	O
level	O
of	O
detail	O
to	O
titles	B-Application
from	I-Application
the	I-Application
previous	I-Application
generation	I-Application
of	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
,	O
while	O
Jastrzab	O
argued	O
that	O
the	O
quality	O
would	O
not	O
have	O
been	O
passable	O
even	O
in	O
that	O
context	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
reviewers	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
story	O
was	O
told	O
with	O
"	O
wonderful	O
craft	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
were	O
surprised	O
that	O
the	O
player-controlled	O
character	O
does	O
not	O
carry	O
the	O
"	O
chosen	O
one	O
"	O
role	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
he	O
proposed	O
that	O
the	O
narrative	O
could	O
assuage	O
GameCube	B-Application
owners	O
desiring	O
a	O
traditional	O
RPG	O
,	O
and	O
described	O
the	O
ending	O
sequence	O
as	O
"	O
beautiful	O
and	O
powerful	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
reviewers	O
and	O
Metts	O
were	O
satisfied	O
with	O
the	O
story	O
's	O
pace	O
,	O
while	O
Turner	O
remarked	O
that	O
the	O
narrative	O
meandered	O
at	O
times	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Juba	O
regarded	O
the	O
character	O
archetypes	O
as	O
cookie-cutter	O
(	O
apart	O
from	O
Raine	O
,	O
who	O
he	O
described	O
as	O
"seem[ing]	O
to	O
derive	O
sexual	O
pleasure	O
from	O
uncovering	O
archeological	O
artifacts	O
"	O
)	O
,	O
he	O
along	O
with	O
Bettenhausen	O
and	O
Massimilla	O
acknowledged	O
that	O
the	O
optional	O
skits	O
substantially	O
contributed	O
to	O
the	O
characters	O
 '	O
depth	O
;	O
Juba	O
additionally	O
compared	O
the	O
skits	O
to	O
the	O
Active	O
Time	O
Event	O
system	O
in	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
IX	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
considered	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
worst	O
version	O
,	O
with	O
Noah	O
Leiter	O
of	O
RPGFan	O
describing	O
it	O
as	O
an	O
"	O
antithetical	O
runt	O
"	O
to	O
Metroid	O
Prime	O
Remastered	O
and	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
emulations	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
Online	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paul	O
Shkreli	O
of	O
RPGamer	O
added	O
that	O
selling	O
the	O
remaster	O
at	O
a	O
premium	O
price	O
without	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
its	O
sequel	O
Dawn	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
New	I-Application
World	I-Application
felt	O
"	O
both	O
confounding	O
and	O
anti-consumer	O
"	O
,	O
noting	O
that	O
the	O
2016	O
Steam	B-Application
release	O
featured	O
everything	O
the	O
remaster	O
offered	O
at	O
half	O
the	O
price	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mitch	O
Vogel	O
of	O
Nintendo	O
Life	O
agreed	O
that	O
the	O
exclusion	O
of	O
Dawn	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
New	I-Application
World	I-Application
resulted	O
in	O
an	O
unclear	O
value	O
proposition	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Glen	O
Fox	O
of	O
Gamezebo	O
,	O
upon	O
establishing	O
that	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Symphonia	I-Application
is	O
his	O
personal	O
favorite	O
video	O
game	O
,	O
denounced	O
the	O
remaster	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
complete	O
and	O
utter	O
mess	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
expressed	O
bafflement	O
as	O
to	O
why	O
Bandai	O
Namco	O
would	O
allow	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
its	O
most	O
treasured	O
releases	O
from	O
yesteryear	O
"	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
such	O
a	O
state	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vogel	O
cited	O
the	O
same	O
difficulty	O
,	O
remarking	O
that	O
the	O
battles	O
felt	O
stiff	O
compared	O
to	O
similar	O
hack	O
'	O
n	O
 '	O
slash	O
combat	O
featured	O
in	O
Ys	B-Application
VIII	I-Application
:	I-Application
Lacrimosa	I-Application
of	I-Application
Dana	I-Application
and	O
Kingdom	B-Application
Hearts	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vogel	O
considered	O
the	O
dungeons	O
a	O
highlight	O
in	O
the	O
title	O
's	O
conventional	O
gameplay	O
loop	O
,	O
positively	O
comparing	O
their	O
use	O
of	O
puzzles	O
to	O
Golden	B-Device
Sun	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jake	O
Dekker	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
described	O
the	O
combat	O
as	O
stiff	O
and	O
slow	O
compared	O
to	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Berseria	I-Application
and	O
Tales	B-Application
of	I-Application
Arise	I-Application
,	O
but	O
noted	O
that	O
unlocking	O
more	O
skills	O
eventually	O
made	O
for	O
a	O
more	O
intricate	O
and	O
satisfying	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fox	O
declared	O
the	O
remaster	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
ugliest	O
version	O
,	O
citing	O
an	O
unpleasant	O
sharpening	O
effect	O
caused	O
by	O
AI	B-Application
upscaling	O
,	O
missing	O
cel-shading	O
effects	O
,	O
desaturated	O
colors	O
,	O
and	O
missing	O
visual	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
transparent	O
menus	O
and	O
the	O
"	O
screen-shattering	O
"	O
battle	O
transition	O
effect	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
he	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
story	O
's	O
heavy	O
themes	O
of	O
genocide	O
and	O
slavery	O
were	O
sometimes	O
at	O
odds	O
with	O
the	O
light-hearted	O
and	O
humorous	O
tone	O
and	O
mildly	O
cutesy	O
visuals	O
,	O
and	O
considered	O
the	O
presentation	O
of	O
such	O
themes	O
uncarefully	O
handled	O
,	O
referring	O
to	O
the	O
human	B-Application
ranches	I-Application
as	O
"	O
Philosopher	O
’s	O
Stone	O
factory/concentration	O
camps	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2007	O
,	O
Namco	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
version	O
had	O
sold	O
953,000	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
port	O
had	O
sold	O
486,000	O
copies	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
bargain	B-Device
reissue	I-Device
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
in	O
2005	O
sold	O
almost	O
50,000	O
copies	O
in	O
Japan	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
total	O
worldwide	O
sales	O
for	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
and	O
PS2	B-Device
have	O
reached	O
1.6	O
million	O
units	O
as	O
of	O
2008	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
best-selling	O
Tales	O
title	O
to	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
2016	O
PC	O
release	O
sold	O
more	O
than	O
250,000	O
copies	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
,	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
estimated	O
to	O
have	O
sold	O
2.4	O
million	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
across	O
all	O
platforms	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
best-selling	O
title	O
in	O
the	O
franchise.GameSpot	O
named	O
it	O
the	O
best	O
GameCube	B-Application
game	O
of	O
July	O
2004	O
,	O
and	O
nominated	O
it	O
for	O
the	O
year-end	O
"	O
Best	O
Role-playing	O
Game	O
"	O
award	O
across	O
all	O
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
January	O
2009	O
issue	O
of	O
Game	O
Informer	O
listed	O
it	O
at	O
#24	O
in	O
its	O
"	O
Top	O
25	O
GameCube	B-Application
Games	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
ranked	O
Tales	O
of	O
Symphonia''	O
107th	O
in	O
a	O
list	O
of	O
"	O
Top	O
200	O
Nintendo	O
Games	O
Ever	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
