@RobbyBevard:
So, I'm finding myself in the mood to play a console RPG and thinking of getting a tales game. I've played a smattering of them in the past and enjoyed them to varying degrees. Vesperia is the one I really wanna play but they refuse to release the PS3 version in the US…
SO that considered, which one should I go for on the PS3?
Tales of Symphonia Chronicles
or
Tales of Xillia?
They're both the same price anywhere I look, and I might not jump on it immediatley, but I'm kinda in the mood for it.
I'd recommend Symphonia seeing as the first one is my favorite Tales game and the fact that you're getting two games for the price of one. Symphonia also starts off a bit quicker in the beginning, which in my opinion is one of Xilia's biggest problems. That said it's just an HD remake of Gamecube era games so parts of them definitely feel dated, especially the world map and other navigating sections. Xilia, despite having a slow opening, is definitely more streamlined in other parts of the game, making for a slightly more user-friendly experience.
The stories for both are great and you'll definitely get sucked in as you play, though they're nothing too special. One unique feature to Xilia is that you can pick between protagonists, and this adds a cool element to the story with different interactions and added replay value.
While I recommend Symphonia (which just feels more classic), you can't go wrong with either as they're both great games, especially if you're in the mood for an RPG.