Tales of Berseria is a prime example of how a game with immense potential can be undermined by various shortcomings. While the characters and their development are exceptional, several issues detract from the overall experience, leaving me with mixed feelings about the game. If anything, this game deserves a remake.

Tales of Berseria excels in character design and development. The protagonist, Velvet, is a standout in the gaming industry, with a compelling backstory and a dynamic personality. The game takes you on a journey of revenge, redemption, and self-discovery, set in a world plagued by malevolence and moral ambiguity. Each character, from the enigmatic Eizen to the carefree yet tormented Zaveid, is well-crafted, offering depth and relatability. Their interactions and personal growth are the highlights of the game, making it a narrative-driven masterpiece.

However, the story sometimes falters in leveraging these well-developed characters. Despite the rich backstories and intricate relationships, the overarching plot can feel predictable and occasionally drags, failing to utilize the characters in meaningful ways. The pacing, though mostly good, has moments where it could have been tighter, avoiding the lull in engagement.

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The combat in Berseria is fast-paced and action-oriented, fitting well with the game's intense narrative. The combo system allows for fluid and satisfying battles, but it tends to lean heavily towards button mashing. This ease of combat diminishes the challenge significantly, even on higher difficulty settings. The strategic depth present in other Tales games feels somewhat diluted here, with healing artes becoming almost unnecessary due to the low difficulty.

Customization options for artes and equipment are robust, allowing for personalized playstyles. However, the ease of combat makes many of these options feel superfluous, as players can often rely on a few overpowered moves to breeze through encounters.

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Visually, Tales of Berseria is a mixed bag. The art style is vibrant and pleasing, with beautifully designed characters and some stunning overworld areas. Yet, the game's graphics show their age, with plain-looking dungeons and occasional anti-aliasing issues that detract from the overall aesthetic.

The soundtrack, while good, does not reach the heights of previous entries in the series like Zestiria. The music sets the mood appropriately but lacks standout tracks that linger in memory. It's serviceable but not particularly memorable.

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Pros:

• Perfect main character
  
• Exceptional character development and design
  
• Engaging story
  
• Fast-paced, fluid combat system
  
• Robust customization options for artes and equipment

Cons:

• Combat can become repetitive due to button mashing
  
• Low difficulty level
  
• Bad graphics
  
• Bad world building
  
• Soundtrack is good but not exceptional

Tales of Berseria is a game of contrasts. It shines brightly in its character development and story themes but stumbles in execution with its combat system and graphical fidelity. For fans of the Tales series and JRPG enthusiasts, it is still a journey worth taking, though it's clear the game could benefit greatly from a remake or remaster that addresses these issues. Despite its flaws, the narrative and characters make it an experience that's hard to forget, even if it leaves you yearning for what could have been.

8/10 – A flawed gem that still manages to captivate through its characters and story