Don't be fooled by its kiddie appearance, Tales of Symphonia is really a hardcore RPG in disguise. Expect to play for well over sixty hours if you want to beat every facet of the game. This blows any other Gamecube game out of the water. This game has everything a good, solid RPG needs. The story, while not superb, is done well and will keep you interested. The battle system is very unique and even features a four-player mode. Of course, what really makes this game fun to play, as in any other game, is the extreme level of hidden bonus. All these points make Tales of Symphonia a real winner, especially for the RPG-lacking GameCube.

Even if you're not a fan of traditional RPGs, you should still give this game a try because of its spiffy battle system. It is fully action-based and works in a 2.5D fashion; while your party and the monsters are arranged on a 3D plane, you can only move in 2D (forward or away from the monster you are targeting). This introduces an interesting element of strategy to an already good battle system. Also, with eight different characters with completely different styles to control, you never get bored of fighting battles, which is truly the downfall of many RPGs. The leveling/equipment system is fairly traditional except for the choice to equip ex-spheres which produce various special abilities. As good as it is, the battle system has one major flaw: the camera completely sucks when playing with more than one person. It only focuses on one player and everyone else ends up running around with their hair on fire. Of course, a flaw in multiplayer mode doesn't have a large negative impact on the game. In fact, despite this flaw, playing with multiple people is often very entertaining.

The story to this game certainly isn't a boring, run-of-the-mill traditional RPG story. It contains many twists and turns and keeps you interested enough to keep playing just to see what happens next. For the most part, the game is linear and you face no real choices as you progress, but you always have to option to go bonus hunting whenever you like. One thing that suprised me was some of the more adult content the game featured; at first glance you would never really expect it. Some examples of this are a public execution you witness, discussion of men with cosplay fetishes, and a healthy dose of swearing. And all this in cartoony, cell-shaded action! So in other words, don't think that the game will be dumb because it looks like its meant for kids.

Now, on to my favorite part about Tales of Symphonia, the hidden bonus. When I finished this game, I knew there was a fair amount of optional bonus action to be had. However, my mind was completely boggled when I went online and saw how much there really was. The amount of side quests and secrets in this game literally adds at least 10 hours of gameplay. There is a wealth of costumes, weapons, figurines, and just plain bonus to be unlocked in Tales of Symphonia. Serious gamers will be pleased to know that there are multiple super-bosses to be found which will test your skill to the extreme. And for those who really like to play a game to death, Tale of Symphonia features a sort of New Game + system. With the grade you've earned in battles, you can purchase things for a new game such as starting with all your sweet weapons, earning double gold or experience, and other such goodies. I recommend this game to pretty much all gamers, it really has something for everyone.