Following last year’s Tales of Graces f Remastered, Bandai Namco is back bringing another beloved JRPG to PlayStation 5. This time around it’s 2016’s Tales of Berseria, which admittedly wasn’t the Tales game most in need of an update but is worth revisiting nonetheless. The new remastered release features plenty of quality-of-life tweaks and includes many of the original game’s DLCs, so there is zero reason to pass this version up.
As with all Tales games, combat is an active experience. The linear motion battle system returns with a few tweaks, as you can freely move around during fights as you look to stun enemies with attacks. One big difference is that each character has a soul gauge, which is used up when performing skills. You can still attack when it’s empty, but they often get deflected, so you’ll want to manage how often you’re attacking. It’s also used to trigger special effects, such as when Velvet makes her arm bestial to mow down baddies. It’s a really fun system that has aged well.
Those hoping for a major boost in graphics will be a bit disappointed with Tales of Berseria Remastered. While there have been some cool tweaks (more on that later), the graphics look near-identical to the original release. Thankfully, the game looks good for a 2016 title due to its great art style, but it didn’t feel like much of an upgrade. It does play smoothly, though, as I never experienced any frame drops.
The biggest draw to Tales of Berseria is its increrdible story, which is a prequel to Zestiria but takes place a thousand years earlier so it works as a stand-alone experience if you haven’t played it. At the center of the storry is Velvet, a young woman whose life is turned upside-down after the death of her older sister and later her sick brother. Less noble than some of the other protagonists in the franchise, Velvet is purely driven by rage and is on a quest for revenge at first. It’s one of the series’ best stories, with its emotional plot twists still resonating strongly in this remaster.
As mentioned, there are a ton of small quality-of-life additions that really add up when put together. First off, the grade shop is available from the start, allowing you to boost your gold and experience points earned or make the game more difficult. The default movement speed has also thankfully been boosted, and there’s an optional ability to view destination markers so you’re never lost on what to do next. Throw in a bunch of other small tweaks, along with an auto-save and a retry when failing a battle, and you’ve got a much-better play experience that eliminates many of the original game’s frustrations.
Tales of Berseria Remastered (PS5) Review: Final Verdict
There’s no doubt that Tales of Berseria Remastered lives up to its billing and delivers the definitive version of one of Bandai Namco’s best role-playing games. Featuring a beautifully constructed story full of emotional twists and turns, Berseria has aged well and deserves to be revisited. Newcomers and veterans alike will enjoy the new quality-of-life upgrades to this incredible game.
-
Stellar story
-
Combat is a ton of fun
-
New quality-of-life options
Disclosure: The publisher provided a digital copy for our Tales of Berseria Remastered PS5 review. Reviewed on version 1.000.001.
