## 2026-01-17 Been playing this after figuring out vita3k[^1] It's very cute. I briefly played the DS game but wanted to see differences in the remake. I think it's better overall. The random encounters kinda suck but the combat changes make up for it. I think I miss the class system a bit since that's pretty unique for a **Tales** game, but the Style system seems more flexible overall. It’s a bit like the license board from [[Final Fantasy XII]], but for abilities. You get points and spend them on things like more hits in your basic combo or getting 5% of MP after defeating an enemy. Each of these has a point cost to equip, the limit of which you can upgrade. Even if you hit the limit, getting new stuff on the board unlocked is still worthwhile, though. This is because the abilities are in linked batches, and unlocking everything in a chain leads to a net stat boast, like more HP or attack. It's a great progression loop. But the comparisons with **FFXII** don't end there, surprisingly. **Innocence** also has a [[Final Fantasy XII and the Illusion of Free Will|gambit]] system! It's a little more rudimentary, but all the bones are there. You use Grade — the currency you get from performing well in battle — to buy modifiers. Then you can create set-ups, like having characters use an MP item if they're at 30% or lower, and so on. As a result, this game has the best party AI of any **Tales** game I've played. I'm shocked they didn't keep it for subsequent entries. Also the dungeon changes are a massive net positive overall from the original. They're so bad in the first try at this game, and are the reason I dropped it, figuring I'd get back to it eventually.[^2] Can't speak to the plot too much at four hours in, but I like the cast which is all that really matters in a tales game, right? All that said, the original **Tales of Innocence** is insanely impressive and ambitious for a [[Nintendo DS|DS]] game. Like on the [[PlayStation Vita|Vita]] it's great but there are lots of great vita [[JRPG|JRPGs]]. The scale of **Innocence** on the DS will always be unparalleled though. I was kinda surprised it was labeled a mainline **Tales** game until I got to actually play it. ## 2026-01-23 i’m almost done with Tales of Innocence R. I like it overall but Tales games tend to fall apart in the 11th hour so lemme just finish it first before I give an opinion I regret later lmfao one objectively good thing are the skits. there are over 600 skits in this game, which I think is more than any other tales game to ever come out. there are skits for cooking well. there are skits for cooking poorly. there are skits celebrating 50 encounters, then 250 encounters, then 500 encounters, as one of your party members gets more and more bewildered that someone’s even counting them. there are skits where party members complain after not being in the active party for a certain period of time, and skits for letting your gald grow but not spending it on anything, and also skits for using an arte 1000 times. it’s extremely cool. a lot of them are annoying to unlock (i’ve slept at an inn so many times in a row to get them that i’m surprised there isn’t a skit for that too). but the stuff that just comes from your decision making is very fun in a “proto-hades” sort of way. sad they don’t really do it like that anymore. berseria still the peak of tales skit writing (and also tales game writing, lmfao) ## 2026-01-23 Bagged. Very strange game. The plot is completely whatever. The initial premise is super intriguing, but kind of falls apart in its execution. But the combat and characters are great overall. Very strange. 4/7 [^1]: I know I have an actual vita but it was easier to do this on vita3k plus I can have syncthing saves and play on stuff like my steam deck and flip 2 which have much better battery life [^2]: I wouldn't have lol