Summary
Recently, listings have been spotted on the websites of various Czech and Slovak retailers that seemingly point towards the existence of a potentialTales of Xilliaremaster. Assuming the information provided in these store pages is legitimate, this rumored re-release will reportedly bring the classic 2011 JRPG to modern platforms, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. If thisTales of Xilliaremaster is indeed real, fans of theTales offranchise will undoubtedly be excited to see this critically-acclaimed title become accessible to players with current-gen hardware.
However, with great news often comes caveats, and thisTales of Xilliaremaster may be no different. While it’s hard to tell for sure what this potential re-release might contain, given the fact that it’s yet to be announced, the leaked box art and name for this rumored game may carry some unfortunate implications. Bandai Namco, the creator oftheTales ofseries, isn’t exactly known for having a flawless reputation when it comes to ports and re-releases, so it wouldn’t be too surprising if the Japanese publisher ended up missing out on a major opportunity regarding this rumoredTales of Xilliaremaster. Specifically, there is a chance that the sequel is not re-released alongside the original, which would be a shame.
The Rumored Tales of Xillia Remaster Could Fumble the Bag in One Major Way
Tales of Xillia is a Notable PS3 Exclusive
Tales of Xilliais the thirteenth mainline installment in Bandai Namco’s long-runningTales offranchise. Like most entries in the aforementioned series, it tells a distinct, standalone story that isn’t directly connected to any of its predecessors. The game made its debut as a Japan-only PS3 exclusive in 2011, though it was later brought to the West in August 2013, roughly two years after its original launch. Even thoughTales of Xilliacame to North America and Europe only a few months before the release of the PS4 and Xbox One, it never landed on either platform, let alone PC. Instead, thisacclaimed PS3 RPG has remained stuck on Sony’s seventh-generation consoleto this day.
Despite it releasing as an exclusive for a platform at the tail end of its lifespan,Tales of Xilliawas a hit for Bandai Namco, both critically and commercially. The title ultimately sold over 1 million copies worldwide, which was an impressive feat at the time for a fairly niche franchise. On top of that, the game’s success even prompted Bandai Namco to release a direct sequel to thePlayStation 3 JRPG, simply dubbedTales of Xillia 2. This title initially came out in 2012 in Japan, only a year after the launch of the original game, but it wasn’t released in the West until 2014. Unfortunately, though, just like its predecessor,Tales of Xillia 2was only available on the PS3.
Bandai Namco Should Bundle Remasters of Tales of Xillia 1 and 2 Together
Since the PlayStation 4 and 5 lacknative PS3 backwards compatibility, PlayStation 3 exclusives are some of the hardest-to-play titles out there. As such, if Bandai Namco is remasteringTales of Xillia, the publisher should bundle the game’s sequel alongside it, so that players don’t have to wait a year or more forTales of Xillia 2to be freed from its PS3 prison as well. Furthermore, the story of both games would feel incomplete if only one of them was ported to modern platforms and the other wasn’t.
Sadly, judging from the alleged title and tentative cover art of the rumoredTales of Xilliare-release, it seems like the remaster will be just that: a spruced-up port of the first game in the duology and nothing more. While this would likely disappoint many fans if this were the case, it wouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, considering the fact thatthe 2023Tales of Symphoniaremasterdidn’t include the game’s sequel,Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, either. Regardless, though, it’d be best if Bandai Namco brought bothTales of Xilliagames to modern platforms simultaneously, whether they’re sold separately or paired together.
Tales of Xillia
WHERE TO PLAY
Tales of Xillia follows Jude Mathis, a clever medical student attending school in the capital city, and Milla Maxwell, a mysterious woman accompanied by four unseen beings. Players will be able to choose either Milla or Jude at the outset of their adventure through the world of Rieze Maxia, where humans and spirits live together in harmony. The kingdom of Rashugal has been experimenting with a powerful device that has been draining the mana from the world. Realizing the harm it is inflicting on the world, Milla and Jude set off on a journey to destroy it and restore the mana back to the world.Dual Raid Linear Motion Battle SystemThe latest version of the most dynamic battle system seen in JRPG gaming that allows players to have an advantage in the battle by using Linked Combat System to link two characters to team up in terms of attack, defence and support. Players can enjoy more tactical battles by changing the party members with backup members even during the battle.
