Tales of Phantasia Gameplay Differences (GBA/SNES SFC/PSX PS1)

For some reason, the PSX/PS1 version lost its game audio. My voice remains intact :) I'm presenting a small portion of the game in 3 different formats to help show the key differences between the games. Tales of Phantasia GBA- 2:29 - 8:03 To sum up. The GBA version utilizes the PSX graphics though not as crisp. There is lag time during the battles that exists during magical spells, summoning, and plain attacking. I personally almost beat the GBA version, so it's not really unplayable, you just need to be able to let the game do its thing. Tales of Phantasia SNES/SFC- 8:04 - 19:18 The first incarnation of the game utilizes a battle system that isn't as free as the GBA and PSX versions. One simple reason being that holding up and pressing the attack ("A" by default) button results in Cless/Cress swiping up at the air with no hope of actually jumping up to the enemy. The random encounter rates are much higher than the other two versions even with the use of Holy Bottles, which are items that help reduce the random encounter rate. Tales of Phantasia PSX/PS1- 19:19- 26:45 Revered usually as the best of the three versions to play. Picture basically the GBA version with more vibrant colors and a smoothed out battle system with little to no lag. The only downside to this game USED TO BE the fact that it wasn't translated into English, which it now is. Just give it to me straight, what kinds of differences are we looking at here? Battles- GBA- Pretty laggy. Sprites are more detailed than the SNES/SFC version and less polished than the PSX/PS1 version. Abilities can be stored to the "B" button alone or B+Up/Down/Left or Right. Ability to jump while attacking, though not on command. Same EXP/Gald as PSX version. Chester can use abilities just like the PSX version. SNES/SFC- Very fast paced. Sprites look good, though they do not match their character portraits. In order to jump up to hit aerial enemies, you must be a distance from them to allow Cless/Cress to get a running start, and press Up+A in order to jump up. Abilities are put into two categories: Long Range and Short Range. Moves like Demon Fang/Demonic Wave/Psion Bolt require the enemy be a certain distance from you in order to use the moves. If they cross that imaginary line, Short Range moves will now be used (Swallow Kick and Autumn Sandstorm.) An indicator above the enemy's head will show if they are short range or long range. EXP appears to be about the same as the GBA and PSX versions, though Gold earning appear to be much higher as well as the random encounter rates. Chester cannot use abilities. PSX/PS1- Better looking and smoother running than the GBA version, however all other accounts are exactly the same. Abilities are set to the "X" button as opposed to the GBA's "B" button. Menus- GBA and PSX/PS1- Gives two new menu options: Titles and Cooking. Titles do absolutely nothing and are meant for completionists. Cooking is used in the more traditional "Tales of" sense, in which you acquire ingredients that are used to cook recipes that heal the entire party in either HP, TP, both, and sometimes add another effect (cures poison, paralysis, etc.) Cooking skill can go up to increase the potency of the heal and different characters take different amounts of time to master recipes. Recipes are also obtained throughout the game through various chefs in town. SNES/SFC- I personally like the menu set up better, though that isn't going to make me choose one version of the game over the other. No titles are in the game, and cooking is used as a "food sack" in which you store raw ingredients (no recipes in this version) into the sack and as you walk the food count depletes by 10s and health is restored to the party by 10s. Different food items grant different amounts to the food sack, and two upgrades can be acquired throughout the game to increase the maximum capacity of food to be stored. Other differences- PSX/PS1 - grants a new character to add to the party. Also, special rings are gotten along with new party members to allow multiplayer in battles with the use of the Playstation Multitap. The world map features towns as fully 3D and the ability to rotate the map with L1 and R1 exists. From the start, you can run while NOT on the world map by holding the "X" button. Also, by pressing the SELECT button on the world map, little side dialogues start up to give hints on where to go next and also give more insight to the characters' personalities. GBA- I'm not entirely sure on the new character. The world map cannot be rotated, and the map itself is more like the SNES/SFC version than the PSX/PS1. The cut-scenes involving the SELECT button are not present. The SNES version is the same as the GBA version. For specific breakdowns of items, spells, etc. visit: http://www.gamefaqs.com/search/index.html?game=tales+of+phantasia and look at one of the in-depth FAQs by Cless or sarysa