Now we all know that Gamecube doesnt have much to offer us RPG fanatics, not that there aren't any good games just not nearly enough RPG's. But this game makes up for the lack of other RPG's. Im not gonna say much here, rather Im gonna get right into the review.

The story to this game was very good. I can't say it was the most original story Ive ever play through. But something they did in this game, was much better then any of its kind I've played. The game starts off FAST, thats part of the thing I love about it. A fast start and it never slows down. You start off in a little town at your school, were soon there after you see a flash come from the distance, though the window. This is were your told(though the main character already knew) that your friend Collette has to start her journey, one to regenerate the world. "But wasnt that done in Final Fantasy 7?" you ask? Yes, but this is done in a whole different way. Now I can't say any more without ruining the begining of the experience of the game. But I personally saw nothing of notable mention that was bad in this game. Please try out this game!! You wont regret it.

I dont rate games on graphics, dont forget that!! This games graphics...well they're not up to par with todays standerds at all. But they arent that bad, its a cell shaded look thats turned out pretty well. But the characters are done wonderfully. They look great for short cell shaded characters. And theres alot of detail in the enviroments. So overall the graphics arent that good, but the character design is great.

The characters in this game are truly great. There are about nine playable main characters: Lloyd, Collette, Genis, Raine, Kratos, Sheena, Presea, Zelos and Regal. I dont think that I have ever played a game that has ever, so wonderfully played out every character. I cannot think about anything that they may have left untold about a character in this game. There are many quests you can take to find out how the characters bacame who they are now, things about there family and many others. It really is amazing. Its always been something I've complained about. Having a cast of characters that don't play a big part throughout the whole game. I hate that!! Especially when the character that was my personal favorite stops playing a big part or any part. Tales keeps every character as part of the game, right to the end. I love it, I love the characters. I cant help but give the characters a perfect score.

Whenever I game has voiceovers, I leave the volume on and take in the whole soundtrack. Tales had a good soundtrack, though its one that isnt very memorable. There were quite a few good songs, but none that really stood out to me. In all I really wasnt impressed with the soundtrack. But, the voiceover, I thought were justa bout the best I've ever heard. When I play old games that don't ahve voice overs, I imagine what they would sound like. With this game, it was just like I would make them talk. Simply amazing if you ask me. But with the soundtrack that really just wasnt that strong, I just can't give the sound a perfect score. But the voiceovers were great.

This was just another area were this game proved it was supreme. The battle system in this game is much like that of Star Ocean( another great game I need to write a review for..) It active, and frankly I love it. It gives you a break from th common, slow paced turn based battle system. Dont get me wrong, I LOVE Final Fantasy, Suikoden and other turn based system games. Its just nice to have a change. There are a great amount of special moves also, which add to the already adictive battle system! Then theres the link system, where you link each one of your characters special attacks, of which you set up, to create a chain that does big damage. If you do it right, it could work out awesomely. Last, theres all the titles you can earn for a character. Some are just for laughs, others are extemely helpful. I found those to be another nice addition.

Okay, so this games sems to have flourished in almost every area. But this is where the game REALLY flourishes. Theres almost an endless( not really,lol) amount of side quests to do. Like I mentioned earlier each character has many quests that you can do for them to find out more about each character. Also, theres the very fun Colosseum. It will keep you VERY occupied for awhile. I thought that it was a great form of Colosseum, becuase there are many in games, an I found this one exceptionally fun. Then theres, the fact that you have a Monster Guide, Item Guide Figure Guide, and ther things that you can fill to by collecting different forms of data. And I tell you what, I GUARANTEE that if you want to get a hundred percent, and you have to fill thes guides out to get a hundre percent, you will have to play more then once. Thats were the replay comes in. Its there and its huge. When you beat the game the first time, if your like me then you may have liked it enough to play again very soon afterwards. You also get to buy special things and effects with the points you got on your last game. It really makes you want to play again. If I gave more then a ten, I would do it right now. But I cant, so its a ten!

You know Gamecube doesn't have a strong third party support. Every Nintendo fan has noticed that by now. But Namco did something fantastic here. They took on of they're alltime greatest game series, and gave Gamecube a chance. It obviously didn't help the sales of the G.C. rise but I tell you what, it gave it something that it didnt have before. A great, no a incredible thrid party game. There is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the bests, if not the best G.C. game to date. No G.C. owner should be without it in there library. The one thing that I have to say is that I feel bad for the RPG fans who don't have a Gamecube, cause they may not ever have the chance to play this incredable game! This game is truly a classic.