PixlBit

aw man I'm gonna pick this up in a week or two.  I'm so excited and jealous.  

That game store sounds freaking awesome.  maybe we have something like that in Phoenix but it's probably downtown.  :(

I wish I was an orphan saving the world!

I love Game Box. The staff is fantastic, I've never had the "OMG! It's a girl in a video game store!" reaction there, and there's a female staff member who I hit it off with immediately. And there's a back room that usually has some sort of table top game going on.; And did I mention they sell comics?

I rationalized buying ToZ by realizing that I've bought very few games this year, and most of them were used. And it will keep me occupied for a very long time.

goddamn sounds like a nerd's paradise!

Ask SanAndreas. I took him there when he came up to visit. And he's been to the market I work at, too.

I will get this but only when it goes on sale. I wish we had an independent game store. You find the coolest stuff in them.

I'm spoiled for choice in my area. There's Bull Moose Music (a chain, but a local chain), Game Box Video Games, and The Fun Box Monster Emporium all within a half-hour's drive from my house.

I got hooked on Tales since Symphonia, practically buying any Tales game that came stateside except for Vesperia which I didn't have a 360 to play it. I love the series!

Symphonia was my introduction to the series, too. It was one of the first games I got when I bought my Game Cube. I didn't like it at first, so I put it back on the shelf and a year or so later I picked it up and tried it again. Glad I did, because I really enjoyed it. And I've grabbed all the Tales games I can, too. Some I've liked better than others, but I think Symphonia will always be my favorite. The first Xillia may be a close second, though.

Have you gotten Zestiria yet?

I was thinking about waiting about getting Zestiria since I have so many other games to play and review right now.  Plus, I like to NOT buy everything, that way I have some ideas to give to people who want to give me Christmas presents.  But we'll see.

So how is the music?  I heard it was done by my favorite video game music composer: Go Shiina.  He also did the music for Legendia.  Do the two games sound similar?  Also, are there any characters in Zestiria that you think I'd like?

It's been so long since I played Legendia, that I really can't compare the two. And to be honest, I really haven't been paying a whole lot of attention to the music. I'll try harder when I play next. As for who you'd like, I'm not all that far into the game yet, so can't say for sure.

Tales of Phantasia is as far as I go. Can't stand the prissy anime designs of the later games.

Independent games stores are the best. These are people who are really into the hobby and it shows in their customer relations.

That's part of their charm for me, but we all like different stuff.

Jason and I were commenting on how different an experience it is for me as a woman shopping in Game Box (or the other indie game stores) as opposed to shopping at Game Stop. Jason's been with me at Game Stop on many occasions where he commented after we got back into the car how surprised he was that I didn't haul off and slug the employee for whatever slimey, condescending remark was made, or for not looking me in the eye instead of at my breasts. Actually, I think he may have said to one guy "Hey, her eyes are up here, buddy!"

I was supposed to be playing Horror games all this weekend but after reading through your blog and the replies I wound up on Symphonia which I never finished. This time it's personal. :P

I finished it on the Game Cube, but I left off partway through in the HD remake.

Are you plnning on getting that new Dragon Quest game?

And I agree, having to download a game when you have a disc is bullshit. I was shocked I had to do that for Arkham Knight yet I have to pop the disc in to play the game? Fuck is that?! I bet they're just trying to push towards digital-only, cause I hardly see how that's necessary. Only upside is the DL takes a lot less time than when it's done over the Internet.

Well, ok the game IS 50GB so maybe not all of it is on the Blu Ray, but still annoying.

No, because it's a PS4 exclusive and I don't have a PS4 or any plans of getting a PS4 in the near future.

I don't think it was the whole game that installed, but whatever it was, it took far longer than I wanted. There really ought to be a warning label on the box telling you that you have to wait for whatever it is to install. That way I'm not disappointed when I can't play my brand new game for twenty minutes after I put the disc in.

"watercolor backdrops" makes me really interested. I have several Tales games but haven't gotten to them yet. I'm determined to get through my collection and trade in anything I'm finished with. I'm tired of the backlog. 

If you have Symphonia, that's where I'd start.

Yes I do.

Along with Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Dragon Quest, Tales is one of my automatic buy series.

It's funny, I have most of the Final Fantasy games, but I've only played up to IV. I don't like them nearly as much as DQ and Tales games. But I'll buy every almost Ratchet & Clank game out there.

It was fun reading your play-by-play of the visit to your local game store.  reminds me of my adventures when I had retro game shop near me.  and if it makes you feel any better, I'm the same way when it comes to getting games I really want althought maybe I shouldn't buy it just then.  At least you can tell yourself that you HAD to do it because it was the last copy.  It always feels sweet to get the last one.

I think I may have bought one other new game this year. Maybe. All the others were used and cheap, so I really don't feel bad treating myself to a game I REALLY want. And yes, it does feel good getting the last one!

How many Tales games have you played and where does Zestiria fit into the series? I'm playing Zestiria on PS4 right now and I don't know what the hell I'm doing!!! I think that if I push up, down, left or right on the Left joystick and O button I do different hidden attacks. I think? I was just mashing O and X for combos, but apparently combining with Joystick movements you can unleash secret attacks? I don't remember the game explaining this? How far are you into the game? I have 3 seraphim in my party so far. 

I've played Legendia (PS2), Symphonia (GC), Graces, Xillia, and Xillia 2 (all PS3). Other than the two Xillia games, none of them are really related to each other. As for combat, yes, moving the left stick while pressing X or O will give you different moves. A lot of the combat is explained in the Library section of the menu screen. You can  (or at least previous games allowed you to) map certain attacks to different buttons. I haven't really explored that too closely yet, but I probably should... As for where I am in the game, I just woke up at the inn after becoming the Shepherd.

Oh, okay. I'm way ahead of you in the story then. I would push on through because the game story and combat gets better after you've added more characters to your party and explored more of the world and plot. It felt like a slow burn at first, but I feel things have picked up now.
Which was your favorite Tales game and why? Is there a consensus among fans about which game is the best? 

I think my favorite is Symphonia, closely followed by Xillia. Cary's is Legendia. Can't speak for anyone else, though.

Yeah, I really only had the one day with the game so far. Work, housecleaning, getting ready for my trip, and my trip kind of took up all my free time for the last week. Hoping to get back to it soon.

I own more than a few Tales of games, but I only played 2 of them.  I think?  I plan to get ToZ.  If I'd known earlier, I'd preordered it and saved up some money.  Now, I just plan to get it next year. 

I think the only two I haven't played that I own are Tales of the Abyss and Tales of Destiny.