Tales of Symphonia

Alright, we've reached the end of the road for this guide! It's been a journey, and I'm really glad you decided to follow along. This is Alexander P. Kleinheider, also known as vinheim, and I poured a lot of love into this walkthrough because, honestly, Tales of Symphonia is one of the best RPGs out there. It stands tall with series like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Xenosaga, and I truly hope you enjoyed reading this guide as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Just a few quick notes before we sign off:

• I wrote this guide for free because I genuinely love this game. If you're expecting flowery language to describe every little scene trigger, you might be a bit disappointed. This guide is already massive, and keeping things straightforward helps manage that size.
• You won't find explanations for basic battle mechanics, the main menu, or saving here. The in-game tutorials and the manual do a fantastic job covering those fundamentals, so I figured I'd let them handle it.
• Abbreviations are a lifesaver when writing a guide this big. They keep things concise and, frankly, make the text look cleaner.
• This isn't the only guide out there, and I'm not forcing you to use mine. However, if you do check out others, be prepared for potential spoilers that could ruin the surprise of the story.
• Speaking of spoilers, they're a big deal. I played through this game myself without reading any spoilers first, and experiencing all the story's twists and turns as they happened was incredible. I really don't want to take that away from you.

With all that said, let's wrap this up! I hope you enjoyed the guide, and remember, it's designed to be spoiler-free so you can experience the game's story without worry.

Contact Rules

I'm usually hanging out on Twitch and YouTube, so feel free to drop by and say hi when I'm live! It's always great to see familiar faces.

• twitch.tv/vinheiim
• youtube.com/c/vinheimk

Hey there! So you're diving into Tales of Symphonia, huh? Awesome choice! This section is all about getting you comfortable with the game's nitty-gritty: how to actually play it and a little taste of the story to set the mood. Think of it as your friendly cheat sheet before you really get going.

2.1] Story Snippet

The game kicks off with a bit of lore that sets the stage. Imagine a world once sustained by a giant tree, the source of all mana. Sadly, a war shattered this balance, and a hero had to sacrifice their life to take the tree's place. The goddess, heartbroken, vanished, leaving behind angels with a make-or-break mission: wake her up. If she sleeps, the world is doomed. So, the angels find the Chosen One to journey to a heavenly tower, marking the start of the world's regeneration. Pretty epic, right?

2.2] Controls Breakdown

Alright, let's get down to business with the controls. Knowing these will make your journey SO much smoother.

Menu Controls

• Control Stick / D-pad: Move the cursor around menus.
• A Button: Confirm your selection. This is your best friend for pretty much everything.
• B Button: Cancel out of things or go back.
• C Stick: Handy for scrolling through pages, especially in longer lists.
• L/R Buttons: These are your quick-switchers. In menus, they'll swap between character tabs (like Tech, Status, EX Skill, Equip) or item types.
• Start: Tapping this will toggle item stats when you're looking at items, or character stats when you're on the main menu.

Field Map Controls

• Control Stick: This is how you move your main character around the world map.
• D-pad: Quick access to open the world map.
• A Button: Use this to enter towns, dungeons, or other points of interest.
• B Button: Cancel actions, or use it to board the Rheaird (your flying mount) or get on/off the EC (an important vehicle later).
• X Button: Hop on or off Noishe, your trusty companion.
• Y Button: Opens up the main menu, where you can access everything else.
• Z Button: Triggers a skit! These are little conversations that add flavor to the story and characters.
• L/R Buttons: Spin the camera around your character to get a better view of your surroundings.
• Start: Toggles the world map display.

Town/Dungeon Map Controls

• Control Stick: Move your character around within towns and dungeons.
• D-pad: While standing still, you can use this to rotate your character in 45-degree increments. Useful for getting the right angle!
• A Button: The action button! Use it to talk to people, examine objects, and interact with the environment.
• X Button: Activate your Sorcerer's Ring. This is a key tool for solving puzzles and interacting with certain objects.
• Y Button: Opens the main menu, just like on the field map.
• Z Button: Start a skit. Keep an eye out for these!

Battle Controls

• Control Stick: Move your character around the battlefield or select items from a menu.
• D-pad: Select strategic Orders for your party members.
• A Button: Basic Attack. Get in there!
• B Button: Perform Magic or Techniques. This is where your special moves come in.
• C Stick: Set up shortcuts for your Magic and Techniques for quick access. Super handy!
• X Button: Guard yourself or cancel a magic/technique you've started.
• Y Button: Opens the Battle Menu, where you can use items or change strategies mid-fight.
• Z Button: Unleash a powerful Unison Attack! This requires specific conditions, so keep an eye out for when you can use it.
• L Button: Delay your magic or technique. Sometimes timing is everything.
• R Button: Change your target. Hold it down to cycle through enemies or select a specific one.
• Start: Pause the battle. Take a breather and plan your next move.

2.3] Status Effects

You'll run into various status effects throughout your adventure, just like in most RPGs. While Tales of Symphonia might have fewer than some games (looking at you, Final Fantasy!), it's still super important to know what they are, how to cure them, and how to prevent them. This section is your go-to guide for understanding what ailments you might face and how to deal with them. Stay healthy out there!

Effect: When a character is afflicted with Death (KO), they are knocked out and cannot perform any actions. Their HP turns red, and their current HP becomes 0. The character remains incapacitated unless revived.

Continuance: The Death (KO) status persists until it is removed. This includes remaining active even when outside of battle and carrying over into subsequent battles.

Removal Methods:

• Life Bottle
• Resurrection

Preventative Methods:

• Revive
• Revive Ring (potentially)

Appearance: The inflicted character will lie on the ground, their HP displayed in red with a value of 0.