History VideoGame / TalesOfTheAbyss

* ColorCodedEyes: Luke has brighter blue eyes than Ashe. In the original UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 this was maintained for the [[spoiler:post-credits scene]]. However in the anime adaption it was not, and the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS has a reduced color scale.

* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Abyss'' followed the much LighterAndSofter ''VideoGame/TalesOfLegendia'' and more idealistic ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' series. (Including ''Phantasia'', which received a UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance release months before ''Abyss'' was.) The game's WhamEpisode involves [[spoiler:Luke being tricked into causing a mining town full of people suffering from Miasma-poisoning into the Qliphoth. Those who didn't die in the initial fall then ''sank into the mud'' and died. Nothing quite like that happens (unless you include the mass-Suicide of the Replicas) later, but almost all the characters wind up losing someone important to them or going through hell to earn their happy ending... and they got a GainaxEnding]]. Plus the characters themselves. [[spoiler: ''Jade'' is the only one who doesn't go through some kind of traumatic event. And given that Jade kind of created a HumanoidAbomination and nearly killed himself when he was younger...yeah]].

* RegionalBonus: The North American release included some extras the original Japanese version didn't have. The UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS version is based on the North American version as a result and is the first time Japanese players have access to them.

** The UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS version varies on how updated it is depending on region. In the Americas, it's pretty much the same game with modified graphics. For Europeans, Australians, or New Zealanders who imported the North American version due to having English as their main language or, in Europe's case outside the British Isles, having studied it as a second language, it would be the same case, though non-importers get to place it for the first time. The updates are a different experience to the Japanese than people from the United States and Canada -- the above was such a step up that the upcoming 3DS version is a localisation of the ''American'' version.

* {{Video Game 3D Leap}}: While ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' was the first game in the series to have 3D battles, ''Abyss'' added free-range 3D running. The UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS version takes this a step further and adds stereoscopic 3D graphics.

* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: The part just before the Absorption Gate dungeon has "Ending" written all over it, you apparently kill the God-Generals, the Absorption Gate itself seems like TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon... And then, when you're watching the supposedly final cutscene, you see a completely new area of the dungeon, ''with a treasure chest in it'', just to make it clear that you're going to be able to go there. There's actually a bit of {{Foreshadowing}} if you look carefully - if you bring up the map in the Qlipoth, there's this area in a corner of the map that appears to have not sank into it. When you go there, you find that it's got a landmark that you can't enter yet. Even more apparent in the [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS 3DS]] version, since the the map can be perpetually open on the bottom screen.

* AnAesop: ''People can change'', not only on an individual level (e.g. Luke), but the ultimate conflict between the heroes and the BigBad is over whether [[spoiler:society can adapt to a world [[ScrewDestiny without the score]]]] or whether it is doomed to fall back into its previous ways.

* BlamedForBeingRailroaded: [[spoiler:Luke spends the first portion of the game being a whiny, self-absorbed burden on the party (even if he does hold his own in battle). When his actions result in what amounts to an entire town being massacred, he's uniformly blamed by his party members, and ''continues'' to insist that it wasn't his fault (which is ''technically'' true as he was the "gun" in this situation). To be fair, it kind of is his fault. But to be fairer, [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption there's no other way things could have possibly gone for the player]] or, for that matter, for Luke as no one gave him a good enough reason to avoid it (see BrokenAesop for details).]]

* BrokenAesop: In the events leading up to [[spoiler:Akzeriuth]], the party, especially Tear, warn Luke that he needs to think for himself and not blindly rush into things solely on others' authority. Except they give no reason why he should distrust [[spoiler:Van]] other than because they say so despite having plenty of time to tell him the truth.

''Tales of the Abyss'' is the eighth mainline entry in the ''VideoGame/TalesSeries''. The game was released on December 15th, 2005 in Japan on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, marking the series' 10th anniversary. It received an international release on October 10th, 2006 in North America.

The game was originally released for the [=PS2=], and a port for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS was released internationally. It was released in Europe on November 25th, 2011, marking the first time Europe gets to officially play it. The [=3DS=] version was released in North America on February 14th, 2012.

* ObviousBeta: Surprisingly, the ''initial'' release in Japan. Because it was rushed to come out at the end of 2005, it had an abnormal amount of cut content. Among them, Guy and Natalia's second mystic artes as well as cut-ins for the mystic artes used by the cameo team. (Yet, ironically, they still use them.)

* TwistingTheProphecy: Trying to accomplish this on a worldwide scale is the EvilPlan of BigBad [[spoiler:Van Grants]]. The Score is an ancient prophecy that has always proven true, but what most people do not know is that the end of The Score also predicts the end of the world. Thus, the villain's plan is to bring about the end of the world himself but use Fomicry (a dangerous technique that can copy any matter - including people) to create a new world populated by clones right as the old one dies. The problem is, the villain's role in the apocalypse, and the clones themselves, are ''also'' accounted for in The Score -- [[SelfFulfillingProphecy thus, it's arguable that his actions are exactly what was predicted in the first place]], which is why the heroes try to stop him and opt for a hard ScrewDestiny solution, which the villain himself is convinced won't work. And so, though both sides want the same goal, one has to kill the other.

The game has an AnimatedAdaptation produced by Creator/{{Sunrise}}. The first episode aired on October 3, 2008 on TOKYO MX; in addition, another channel had an hour long special the following day, showing both the first and second episode. The anime adaptation was released on October 11, 2011 by Bandai Entertainment in North America, albeit sub-only, even though the video game has an English dub. You can watch the episodes in the official [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKC75qCSd0hsOLjL3Dfj9IO5SZ_MmDeLn Tales of Youtube Channel]].

The game has an AnimatedAdaptation produced by Creator/{{Sunrise}}. The first episode aired on October 3, 2008 on TOKYO MX; in addition, another channel had an hour long special the following day, showing both the first and second episode. The anime adaptation was released on October 11, 2011 by Bandai Entertainment in North America, albeit sub-only, even though the video game has an English dub. You can watch the episodes in the official [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEyzL6wHMP8&list=PLKC75qCSd0huiamUPVYpr3oybmysMM4PK Tales of Youtube Channel]].

* PowerLimiter: Jade has 2. The [[AppliedPhlebotinum fon slot seal]] Largo used on him early-on in the game to even out his level with the other characters, and through an [[GuideDangIt easy to miss sidequest]], you learn that [[spoiler:his glasses prevent the fonons gathered in his eyes from destroying himself and whatever happens to be nearby.]] The first one justifies his [[LevelUp leveling up]] as him slowly breaking the seal by himself, which is described as breaking a lock whose combination is constantly changing while underwater wrapped in chains and weights. It's implied that he's actually grown stronger over the course of the story, as the skit where he finally breaks the seal doesn't appear until around level 50; Jade was level 45 when the seal was applied.
* PreferableImpersonator

* AkashicRecords: The Score, which predicts everything from national histories to what an individual person is going to do that day. Additionally, Sync has a Mystic Arte called Akashic Torment[[labelnote:*]]Which can be seen as {{foreshadowing}} that he's [[spoiler:a [[CloningBlues failed clone]] of Ion, and was likely intended to read the Score in his place]].[[/labelnote]].

* ChangelingFantasy: [[PlayingWithATrope Played With]], [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]], and ultimately [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]. [[spoiler:As the [[CloningBlues replica]] of the real Luke fon Fabre, Luke is essentially a "[[ChangelingTale changeling child]]" left in place of the "real" one. He [[HeroicBSOD doesn't handle it well]] and it leaves him with crippling [[HeroicSelfDeprecation self esteem issues]] all on top of the one closest to being his parent (in [[ParentalSubstitute actions]] and being responsible for his creation) being the BigBad. It's subverted when his "fake" parents accept him as their own son despite his origins; though Luke struggles to accept himself as a Fabre long into the latter parts of the game.]]

* CloningBlues: Every way you can stretch it.

* LetsYouAndHimFight: Subverted in that, although Asch is working towards the same goal as the party, he hates Luke personally, and would gladly kill him if given the opportunity. To be fair, [[CloningBlues he has every reason to]], thought it isn't the reason you think...

** Same goes for [[spoiler:Sync. Once his mask is broken]] (if that ''can'' be called an injury) and his [[spoiler:identity is revealed]] he goes on a spiel about [[spoiler:CloningBlues]] and promptly ''jumps into the abyss''. Keep in mind, he was kicking everyone's collective ''ass'' up to that point.

* ReplacementGoldfish: Take your pick in a game that centers around CloningBlues.

* YoungerThanTheyLook: [[spoiler:Luke]] looks (and is genetically) 15-17, has the mind of a 13 year old BrattyHalfPint, and is [[CloningBlues chronologically 7 years old]].

* OffModel: When [[spoiler:Malkuth and Kimlasca go to war, there's a fairly lengthy [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4NdMKTukdg cutscene]] showing the bloodshed.]] The problem? All of the soldiers are ''ridiculously'' off model, something that never occurs before or after that moment.

* BonusBoss: In the BonusDungeon, there are [[spoiler:clones of the God-Generals and Replicantis]], the Sword Dancer, and in the Devil's Arms sidequest, [[spoiler:Nebilim]]. Oh, and there's the Tales Cameo Team, as well.

The game was originally released for the [=PS2=], and a port for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS was released internationally. It was released in Europe on November 25th, 2011, marking the first time the Old Continent gets to officially play it. The [=3DS=] version was released in North America on February 14th, 2012.

* BladeOnAStick: Jade uses a spear and variations thereof as his primary weapon. Also, in the anime, it's shown that the tip of Tear's staff is sharp enough to pierce flesh.

* {{Bishounen}}: Majority of the male cast fit this trope.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** Early in the game, Luke takes an apple from a merchant in Engave and eats it, due to not having an understanding of how bartering works because of his sheltered upbringing. While Tear covers for it and pays for it, when the mayor is informed that food supplies are missing, Luke and Tear are immedietly taken by the townsfolks and accused of stealing the towns food supplies because of Luke doing so earlier. Jade and Ion clear it by by invesitgating it and finding the real culprit, but the two are still looked at suspiciously as a result
** The antagonists attempt to cause a FalseFlagOperation by having their troops dress up as both soldiers from both factions and have them attack the other with suicide bombers. The heroes don't fall for it, and neither do the leaders of either faction. Jade points out that no sane military would use suicide bombers as a tactic; it's a massive waste of resources and soldiers. Even when Natalia seems to fall for it, she looks into the issue first before jumping the gun; it doesn't take much convincing for her to see that the entire thing was a set-up.
** A PlayedForLaughs example during the optional HotSpringsEpisode. Jade decides to be a troll and push Guy into the girls bath to rile them up. The girls are startled by it like you would expect, making it appear the UnprovokedPervertPayback trope will be in play. The girls instead calm down almost right away and tell Guy not to apologize because they understand he suffers from [[CannotTalkToWomen gynophobia]] and would not have entered on his own free will.

* TruthInTelevision: When Tear confronts Luke about how [[spoiler:his fonons are separating, Luke admits that he didn't want anyone to know because he thought that everyone would treat him differently.]] If you think about it this is like [[spoiler:people with terminal illnesses.]]