Paper Mario or Tales of Symphonia?
Which is the better of the two?
PM got a 7 in Edge, as opposed to an 8 for ToS, right?
Which is the better of the two?
PM got a 7 in Edge, as opposed to an 8 for ToS, right?
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Both are wonderful games. It is hard to say which is better or worse imo, because they are distinctly different.
Surely you should ask yourself which you think you would prefer, rather then basing your purchase on which has a higher score or acclaim?
ToS focuses far more on character development, has a ricer, deeper story and has the potential to double the length of Paper Mario. However Paper Mario is less a traditional RPG and features a lot of classic Mario-platforming and even puzzle solving. Neither take themselves too seriously but Tales of Symphonia reaches far deeper into the players emotions, whereas PM has a greater emphasis on humour...
Concerning battle. Neither are traditional turn-base battles? but rather allow the player to interact with the actions. But Tales of Symphonia is completely in real-time (aside from being warped into a battle screen) and Paper Mario is still based on choosing actions (like attact or defend)
...In Paper Mario, unlike most turn-based RPGs, you have a far greater interaction with the commands. For example, if you press ?A? just before you hit the opponent you will cause greater damage, or if you press ?B? just before you?re attacked you can deflect.
...And in ToS you have complete control. You can move around freely in a 3 Dimensional environment and attack by pressing A or a combinations of button presses...
Concerning leveling up. Neither are as complex as, say Final Fantasy, but Tales of Symphonia is more traditional (though doesn?t really allow the player to upgrade specifically. You do this by equipping items, weapons and Armour). In Paper Mario leveling up isnt the same as seen in most RPGs. On the service it appears very simple but it allows you to develop three key areas? your Health, Special moves or ability to hold more badges (the badges create a commendable level of strategy ) But you don?t have the sheer depth as seen in ToS?.
I loved both for their own reasons. I personally think, if you are only buying the one, it all comes down to what you are looking for in a RPG.
I would recommend buying both?
*thinks* Maybe for a the Xmas holidays Paper Mario would be more suited because it requires less devotion and save ToS for the summer? It?s the perfect summer holidays game to lose yourself in
edit: Oh, and don?t forget Baten Kaitos (another RPG by Namco) which is released next week in the US (though has been out in Japan for some time now) ^_^Last edited by Adam Stone; 14-11-2004, 11:37. -
Well i know waht i'm getting for a christmas pressie for myself baten kaitos and skies of arcadia now thats two solid rpgs for you to think about.... In the new year i'll pick up tos and pm...Comment
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ToS is a fantastic game and no Cube owner should be without it, it looks great, the battle system is excellent, there's over 80 hours of gameplay and the story is solid (if a little unoriginal
). I really can't recommend it enough, I lost my summer to that game.
I was going to pick up Paper Mario 2 the other day however Baten Kaitos will be arriving soon (next Friday hopefully, with MGS2 \0/) so I think it'll have to wait. Interestingly Baten Kaitos scored better than Tales over at IGN so I may loose a few more months yet
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I'm still waiting for Baten Kaitos to be released....
The Japanese trailer got me really hyped about 2 years ago but I recently saw a US trailer and the accents just made it a bit ****. Someone please resurrect the Baten Kaitos thread and say if you can turn the voices off please... :/Comment
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Thanks for your excellent in depth responce Adam Stone
I am definitly going to get both eventually, but with other games I want to play, such as Jak 3, San Andreas and Halo 2 (Fable, PoP2, MP2 etc etc!!!) I have to decide which of the two to get.
gingerj, Skies of Arcadia IS a wonderful game, I love it, and I think part of the appeal of ToS for me is that it reminds me slightly of it, in it's presentation and music...Comment
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Slightly off topic...but I didn't think Edge had reviewed Paper Mario 2 yet?Comment
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That is a very, very hard choice. Right now I'm a little annoyed with one of those annoying turn-into-a-plane parts in Paper Mario 2, but ToS' map screens also annoy me. Other than that, they're both excellent games...Comment
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Radio, its quite immense isnt it? The amount of quality games out/coming out at the moment I mean. Its hard finding the time to play them all? heh. But its time well spent imo.
I think that?s the beauty of both Paper Mario 2 and Tales of Symphonia?. No matter which of the two you do decide to play this Christmas, you?re in for some quality gameplay, and hopefully an experience which will last even after you?ve seen the final credits.
You will learn to love characters such as Lloyed, Kratos and Sheena and it may even make you hunt out the previous Tales games. (I've even started to collect the ToS figures! hehe)
Are you a Mario fan out of interest? Obviously most people have a little place in their hearts for the little red plumber, but are you one who thinks highly of the series as a whole? The eneimies, mushroom kingdom, the music and the little sound effects only in Mario games? for me personally? all those things bring a massive smile on my face ^_^
?if it?s the same for you? then definitely go out and pick up Paper Mario 2 this Christmas and save ToS for later. Paper Mario is full of wonderfully implemented things from Mario?s past and present. You even get to control Peach and Bowser and there is a little section where you return to mario?s GameBoy sprite form. So many little things to make the experience all the more richer...
Or i suppose, if you're after something new, new characters, environments and... well... a series of games in general, then ToS will be your better option. heh, i'm actually kinda excited at the thought of you playing one of these top games soon
Concerning Baten kaitos, i really want this game. I bought the Japanese version to get a taste of it a few months back and was most impressed. Sadly though... with so many other games coming out, and yet still to play, (i'm still on the final boss in Paper Mario, am playing Halo 2, Animal Crossing a few other oldies such as Devil May Cry and Onimusha 2, Ninja Gaiden and will have Metroid Prime 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 next week) finding even more time to fit in another RPG is going to be quite troublesome. heh.
Still... i'm sure i could fit it in! ^_^Comment
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Baten Kaitos comes out tommorrow in the US. Really looking forward to it now.
Has anyone preordered it to get the soundtrack and a poster?Comment
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Give Adam a job TBH, he summed up Paper Mario and ToS absolutely perfectly with so much detail and enthusiasm. Well done Ad.
Personally I'd plump for Mario. I have both and love them, though Mario is a little more special for me if you're a big Nintendo fan and will appreciate the little jokes. If you're after a more traditional RPG (although it has a unique and brilliant battle system) then ToS is your game.Comment
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Whats great is finally the gamecube is home of quality rpgs this christmas no matter what you pick you'll be in for a great experience if its tos, soa, pm or baten kaitos. Hopefully now other major rpg developers will finally stick more quality rpgs our way, i dunno about you but since i'm not a ps2 gamer so i'm missing out on some quality rpg production especially from Nippon Ichi
Plus soon to come will have fire emblem and homeland to a gc near you
(Anyone played giftpia is it any good?)Comment
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Paper Mario, definitely. Tales of Symphonia is as generic as they come and dull as dishwater. Paper Mario is the most beautiful looking game I have played in a long time, plus you can turn into a paper plane
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I tend to agree with you and can't understand why so many people like it.Originally posted by KempStarComment
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