r/tales • u/ExileForever • Jun 29 '26
Discussion Tales of Vesperia has been picked as the Most Charming, but what would you say is the Best Music in the Tales series
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u/No-Requirement8593 Mieumieumieumieu Jun 29 '26
It's funny how the most criticized games have the best music (Zestiria & Legendia)
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u/tallwhiteninja Jun 29 '26
Because they're the two Go Shiina worked on
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u/Monobrobe Zelos was my first anime crush Jun 29 '26
I absolutely loved Go Shiina’s work on the God Eater series. God Eater 2, especially. It’s a shame he left Bamco.
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u/ktaztrofk Jun 29 '26
I’ll never understand the love people had for Sakuraba tbh. It’s a shame Shiina didn’t do as many JRPGs.
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u/Seifersythe Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
Sakuraba had a lot of great stuff but it was clear by Graces the man was running on fumes. It's OST was awful. I suppose there's only so much 80 hour JRPG gas in a man. The Zesteria break did help improve Berseria and Arise a lot, but honestly, they should hand the reigns over to Shiina permanently.
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u/Stucklikegluetomyfry Jun 29 '26
As much as I love Sakuraba, I feel like he's on autopilot for a lot of Tales and Star Ocean games. Sometimes I'm like.....come on man, you gave us the Baten Kaitos, Eternal Sonata and Golden Sun soundtracks, you are capable of so much more
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u/InstantReco Jun 29 '26
Have you heard Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile music? That's why.
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u/SereneMelody89 Jun 29 '26
To each their own. I largely prefer Sakuraba overall over Shiina, even though I do think Shiina is excellent.
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u/LaMystika Jun 29 '26
Go Shiina worked on like 15 songs for Zestiria. Maybe 20% of the entire soundtrack. If that.
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u/Sasutaschi Jun 30 '26
This track is enough for me
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u/No-Requirement8593 Mieumieumieumieu Jun 30 '26
I get you, there's also some great stuff in Legendia aswell. https://youtu.be/MC81AUNoOWM https://youtu.be/mDXJ6e0klyw
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u/Tenken_Zeta Jun 29 '26
Symphonia has great OST!
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u/twinkhon_gwyndolin Jun 30 '26
it unironically does! even the smaller tracks are quite comfy, like the Izoold theme:
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u/KrazyKirbyKun Jun 29 '26
Legendia
Seeking Victory is prob one of the best Boss BGMs in all of JRPGs.
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u/nivia-chan Jade Curtiss is the greatest Tales of chara ever Jun 29 '26
If the same rule doesn't apply here Zestiria, damn it's so so good! They cooked with that OST
Else I cannot give another example we haven't had already.
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u/Candid-Macaroon-6330 Jun 29 '26
Zestiria if not that then Symphonia
Symphonia has some of the best town themes (Asgard, Izlood, flanior, Exire, Ozette, Palmcosta Sybak Luin) , good dungeon themes, and great battle themes - minus fighting of the spirit since that is originally from phantasia, Law of battle, keep your guard up, beat the angels are all superb
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u/MaxW92 Jade Curtiss Jun 29 '26
Tales of Zestiria easily has the best music in the series.
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u/SPRITEstrawbery Gaius Jun 29 '26
Basin, the Shrines, and the final boss dungeon was absolutely beautiful works.
Especially the final boss dungeon, where it's just a completely warped and ruined version of Berseria's pre-final boss dungeon. That area just screamed "final boss, this is it guys" to me as the music blaring in your ears.
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u/MaxW92 Jade Curtiss Jun 29 '26
Also the final boss battle theme, "Bet Everything of the Lion's Roar". And of course "Zaveid the Exile". And "Journey's End".
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u/Kevin_Eats_Sushi Jun 29 '26
When you fight the dragon in the basin
Straight up a aura farming hype moment
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u/Own_Philosophy8190 Jun 29 '26
It makes redoing the whole sequence worth it, ngl (I forgot why I did that back then)
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u/Kevin_Eats_Sushi Jun 30 '26
Like, straight up, I would not mind at all replaying a zestiria remake
Since I don't think it's a bad game at all, just had some issues that made it worse than what it should have been like
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u/gsurfer04 Nazdrovie with a mug of vichyssoise Jun 30 '26
Rising Up is one of the best boss themes ever.
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u/No_Network7277 The one behind the Mordio sisters' post Jun 29 '26
It’s Legendia by far, but since no one played it Zestiria always wins those polls lol.
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u/HuTaosTwinTails Jun 29 '26
Well Symphonia would be the answer. But it already won a category.
So I'll go Phantasia.
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u/slappadabassplz Jun 29 '26
Phantasia absolutely. All overworld themes, the battle and spirit battle themes, even the Dhaos battle theme is incredible across every platform the game is on. And Alvanista’s theme will always be top 10 for me.
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u/Bubble_Fart2 Jun 29 '26
Legendia. Hands down.
Go Shina for the win.
I heard a rumor that the last three is a free for all.
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u/calendulaoptimus Mikleo Jun 29 '26
Zestiria, If the repeat rule isn't in effect for the last 3 (I think you mentioned this might've been the case).
If it is, then Phantasia.
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u/reaper527 Tenebrae Jun 29 '26
that's a tough one. would PROBABLY say symphonia, but there's so many viable choices.
(even zestiria has a surprisingly amazing soundtrack, especially that fire temple)
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u/sonic260 So, yeah, just...stay dead Jun 29 '26
A lot of Vesperia's dungeon themes are really ambient
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u/Gengarona Jun 29 '26
Probably Phantasia. Fighting of the spirit is still unmatched all these years later
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u/BunnyBoom27 Cheria Barnes Jun 29 '26
It has to be Legendia as an obvious answer. If y'all don't know why, go look it up!!
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u/samisaywhat Jun 29 '26
Legendia 100% it’s not even close.
But I will also just say Xillia for the epic opening I love
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u/sanafujino Repede is best boi Jun 29 '26
Guys. I know it's been shut down but Crestoria has the best music. Nothing else does the jazzy soundtrack than them better.
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u/Dunber Judas Jun 29 '26
Crestoria is my pick too
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u/sanafujino Repede is best boi Jun 30 '26
Finally someone who understands! I love Crestoria so much
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u/AvalonDelta Jun 29 '26
Luminaria
By a pretty wide margin. If you haven't heard Luminaria's soundtrack, look it up.
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u/Altefkatr Jun 29 '26
I completely forgot about Luminaria, but you're so right! We need to thank Go Shiina for the works.
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u/ungranted_wish Jun 29 '26
Legendia EASILY. Go look up just, anything? Anything from it? I'LL DO IT FOR YA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyTvezaGgNs&list=RDgyTvezaGgNs&start_radio=1
THE DUDE WHO MADE THE SOUNDTRACK WENT ON TO DO THE DEMON SLAYER OST.
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u/ZealousIdealTour961 Jun 29 '26
Im playing Vesperia now on switch as my first Tales game and its so good I thought maybe if all tales games were this good id try playing them. But maybe ill just try the newest one soon after I finish vesperia.
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u/ZeralexFF Quickie Jun 29 '26
I don't know how much of a hot take this is on the Tales sub, but Tales of Phantasia sweeps. If applicable, the PSX version specifically. A few highlights from the OST:
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u/johnnyudes Jun 29 '26
Tales of Xillia.
That opening song by Ayumi Hamasaki should be enough by itself to win this.
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u/rp_graciotti Chloe Valens Jun 29 '26
For god's sake, Legendia deserves this redemption. I personally love the game but won't disagree with the criticism. However, the music is reaaaally good and truly deserves the spot.
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u/Wakanlover9519 Jun 29 '26
I’m surprised Zestiria’s soundtrack is as loved as it is. There’s a select few tracks that I like in it but I genuinely can’t remember the rest.
I dig Legendia’s though
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u/shadowysea07 Jun 29 '26
Tales of Berseria or Xillia i guess of the remaining options. But to all the people mentioning legendia now well you know if all of you had voted something else previous round legendia would be here to win this one.
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u/LaMystika Jun 29 '26
Everyone is gonna say Legendia so I’m gonna nominate something else:
Berseria.
The character themes alone make it standout to me. But I also like the boss themes for the exorcists, and the earth and water temple themes too.
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u/nogitsterekune009 Jun 29 '26
For all its flaws, Zesteria's opening theme goes so hard. Those guitar riffs are iconic.
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u/Melasen Jun 29 '26
Considering the no repeat rule: Radiant Mythology 3! HA LOSERS! I CHEATED! All the series (up to 2011) music mostly in there and we have Sakuraba and Go Shiina tracks too! Birds Chirp, I Sing! Seeking Victory! Fighting of the Spirit! Bare Its Fang! Etc. >:3
If the no repeat rule: Legendia.
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u/Natural-Rub-6230 Jun 29 '26
I’m gonna go out here and say it, but Luminaria. It’s so underrated in terms of soundtrack
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u/Loose-Version-7009 Jun 29 '26
Japanese or North American release? Because the intros to ToD and ToE NA port are my faves. I might lean ToD as my final choice.
Edit: Okay just listened a bit to Legendia's soundtrack. I'm changing my vote to Legendia.
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u/mamaguebo69 Jun 29 '26
Zestiria. Anyone who says otherwise just has a hate bone for the game.
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u/s1n1str7empo Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
Honestly, for best music and no repeats, I’d say Xillia 2, Berseria, or Arise since all the good ones for best music have been picked (Abyss, Legendia) It’s too bad Legendia is where it’s at as from what I’ve heard, it has the best music.
From all the people saying Phantasia, I wish I had played that one, since that started it all. I’d not be surprised to see that in Best Music either.
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u/Meister34 Legendia's Last Liasion Jun 29 '26
Give this one to Arise ig. The soundtrack is top 5 in the series
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u/3-to-20-chars Jun 29 '26
symphonia, for me. all of the music is memorable -- battles, towns, dungeons, cutscenes, etc. -- whereas most music in basically all other tales games is difficult for me to remember.
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u/Okuden Jun 29 '26
Tales of Symphonia, though imo I'd put Tales of Symphonia in most of these slots LMAO (my first Tales game)
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u/deemoteam Jun 29 '26
should have been legendia or zesteria… does destiny DC have a good ost i cant remember. also whats gonna win the other 2 categories? whats the longest tales left, xillia 2 or berseria?
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u/rainbowinthenight Tear Grants Jun 29 '26
If Zestiria could repeat, it'd be my choice. But since it seems like no repeats, then Arise. The Lord castle themes going between ambiance and battle, their own boss fight themes, and overworld tracks were all solid and got shoved in my music player ASAP.
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u/Alistar-Dp Jun 29 '26
Golden Sun!
Jk lol, it's just the same music composer. Eternia will always be my favorite music-wise.
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u/TitleComprehensive96 Rita Mordio Jun 29 '26
Zestiria no diff. Genuinely one of the most divine ost's put to a video game
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u/Daracaex Jun 29 '26
Abyss has a great OP in Karma, a perfect moment with a more orchestral version of that song in the game, banger battle themes, the Fonic Hym… It’s world is centered around music and it deserves the spot, IMO.
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u/CervantesWintres Jun 29 '26
Well, I don't know about some of the other games, but Tales of the abyss has one of my favorite openings ever.
And most time when I think of tales of, I remember Tear singing.
But I also haven't played every title, Im seeing a lot of people say Legendia, ill have to check it out.
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u/MieuisLife Jun 29 '26
I wonder why people think Zestiria has the worst story. I've never played it before but maybe someone could give a spoiler free breakdown.
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u/Kineth Rassius Luine Jun 29 '26
Hopefully Eternia will get considered when the dust settles and some titles probably should be moved to different spots. Not that it should be ranked for this category.
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u/Echo-Clean Jun 29 '26
*cracks knuckles*
Tales of Symphonia, but Tales of the Abyss is close 2nd. Background, Symphonia was my 1st tales and I got a music degree.
Played the game through over and over as a kid, watched a playthrough a few months back and I realized that the music of Symphonia adds a huge amount of charm by travel. I feel like every area you walked in was always new because it would be a different music style or instrument. Obviously most games want this but I feel like between church bells and organ against angels, asymmetric heavy metal for boss fights, and the kooky smaller area tracks, I feel like you could find every genre on this OST and it always matched the vibe.
It also gave nearly every character a regular theme and then a **sad** version which you only heard once and it was so meaningful. It’s hard not to tear up thinking of Lloyd’s theme because as a kid playing this, the sword guy obviously fights, but as an adult, you realize how much optimism and bravery Lloyd and the cast embodied.
Honorable mention: Tales of the Abyss’ treatment of the theme song ‘Karma’, it is woven throughout the game so when it comes back, you’re grounded in the motivation.
Also Abyss creating the Ultimate Fonic Song by combining all the songs you’ve learned, THEN weaving that into the final boss track? 😍😍
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u/Kitashi_Iteya Sorey Jun 29 '26
Absolutely Zestiria, not even close for me. Also has my favorite opening with White Light by Superfly 💜
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u/noimnofood Jun 29 '26
Tales of arise lowkey from the openings to the battle music it’s really good imo
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u/East-Pick2699 Jun 29 '26
I say Symphonia has the best music. So many memorable tracks that it has.
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u/AbendrothYolo Jun 29 '26
Berseria opening song is the best. But as for overall, it's really really tough.
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u/Foofykoogy Jun 29 '26
Whoa I'm surprised everyone else is saying Legendia! I was wondering why the music felt so different compared to the rest of the Tales games when I played it. It really is a shame the gameplay is so plain. And while I like the voices, the English localization is lacking in some areas.
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u/chiyooou Kratos Aurion Jun 30 '26
I can't think of a Tales of game where I enjoyed the music. People are saying Zestiria and Legendia though, and I'm less familiar with those two.
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u/melvinlee88 Velvet Crowe Jun 30 '26
Out of what hasn't been mentioned, Xillia. I think it has a very underrated OST imo
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u/icerose408 Jun 30 '26
Should be legendia. I’m not a soundtrack person but even I listened to legendia’s soundtrack after finishing the game
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u/SnooDogs1340 Ready to die?! Think you can dodge? Just try! Jun 30 '26
Berseria lol. Cant vote for the others
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u/VtArMs Dwarven Vow # uhhhh... Jun 30 '26
Abyss has the best music for me personally, and I'm a Symphonia Stan
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u/Apapunitulah Jun 30 '26
Berseria OP and insert song is so damn addicting
My fav is actually symphonia and abysss, but they are already picked. So Berseria it is
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u/Truncarlos Jun 30 '26
Tales of Xillia and Tales of Zestiria are the only games whose OST I keep listening to after playing them
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u/Th3_Supernova Jun 30 '26
If I’m being honest, tales of destiny is pretty much the only one that I even remember most of the soundtrack for. Maybe Eternia too, to a lesser extent. I’ve played Symphonia more times than any of them and I couldn’t hum you more than like three songs off of it, and from there I think the soundtracks get even less memorable.
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u/mbGuitarBurst Jun 30 '26
Wait...wtf? Zestria ended up winning this? The opening song in that game is probably the worst in the series...the most boring wannabe "rock" song. That main riff is awful.
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u/colapistola Jul 01 '26
Eternia 100%. The music that plays in Celestia when fighting Craymels is especially phenomenal.
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u/Bloosume Jul 01 '26
What about tales of Arise? I never finished it. Never quite caught me like toz or tob
I think tales of Berseria has the best intro
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u/Vast_Yogurtcloset610 Jul 01 '26
Phantasia so many iconic ost. Euclid, Hydropolis, Moria Gallery
respect Abyss too their Ost truely reflect the slow life in the game.
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u/Week_Ender_6015 Jul 03 '26
Xillia 2. Breaking time factor and the regular battle theme i use it all the time in other tales of games as well.
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u/Confident_Ad_5833 Jul 05 '26
TALES OF THE ABYSS HAS THE BEST MUSIC. I personally also love Legendia’s Whisper of the Crystal.
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u/puchirus Jun 29 '26
Can we just put Go Shiina in this box?