The Tales series has always been like a comfort food for me when it comes to JRPGs. Anytime a new title is released, it serves as a warm reminder of why I fell in love with the genre. Tales of Xillia, initially released in 2011 for the PlayStation 3 in Japan, was meant to be a celebration of the series, highlighting all the aspects that make it great, while also shaking things up a bit by fine-tuning the battle system and introducing a dual-protagonist storyline. It had big ideas, trying to modernize the series while staying true to its roots. Now, over a decade later, Tales of Xillia Remastered brings that experience to current consoles, inviting both returning players and newcomers to see how well it holds up.

A Familiar Journey

The story of Tales of Xillia follows two protagonists, Jude Mathis and Milla Maxwell, who join forces after a chance meeting at a research facility experimenting with a mysterious weapon called the Lance of Kresnik. Jude is a medical student searching for his missing professor. He is optimistic and hopeful, in stark contrast to Milla. Milla is a mysterious woman who claims to be the incarnation of Maxwell, the Lord of Spirits. Milla begins the story cold, with little empathy for others’ suffering, and is driven solely to succeed in her mission to destroy the Lance of Kresnik. From here, the two begin a journey together with many twists and turns, picking up new party members along the way.

For its time, this dual-protagonist structure was an ambitious choice for the series. You could choose to play through the campaign from Jude’s perspective or Milla’s, each offering a slightly different viewpoint on the story. It was a clever idea that added replayability and some depth to the narrative. However, returning to it now in the remaster, that novelty doesn’t quite hold the same weight. The two routes are very similar, with only a few moments where their paths diverge, so the differences feel negligible. It is still an interesting concept, but not one that dramatically changes how you experience the story.

There are still moments of genuine emotion scattered throughout the story, and the character interactions help carry it across the finish line, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that Tales of Xillia plays things too safe. It doesn’t take the risks or deliver the narrative highs that define the best entries in the genre. The moral questions it raises about humanity’s relationship with spirits and the balance between science and faith are intriguing but underdeveloped. There’s a strong foundation here that never quite reaches its potential, leaving the overall narrative as just serviceable rather than revolutionary.

Where Tales of Xillia still succeeds is in the strength of its cast. The Tales series has always had a colorful cast of characters to interact with and play as, and Xillia has a couple that really stand out. Characters like Alvin and Jude still have personal arcs that resonate with me just as much as they did back in the initial release. The banter and skits that play out between the party remain charming and lend the story some humor and characterization that the series is so well known for. Even if the plot itself doesn’t always soar, the characters are easy to root for, and the chemistry between them gives the story a heart that hasn’t lost any charm over time.

One Battle After Another

The Tales series has long lived and died by the strength of its combat. Tales of Xillia Remastered reminds us why its system felt so fresh in 2013, even if later entries have, in my opinion, since surpassed it. The battle system had evolved into something faster and more reactive, encouraging player movement and coordination through its link mechanic. Linking with allies provided an additional strategic option in fights, especially in boss fights. The remaster’s smoother frame rate enhances the flow of combat. Animations feel more immediate, and the input response is more consistent. It is still a thrill to dart across the battlefield as Jude, chaining martial arts after pulling off a snap pivot, or summoning elemental energy through Milla’s various spells, which can melt enemies when mastered. The design encourages experimentation without overcomplicating its systems, creating a rhythm that feels approachable yet rewarding.

However, the excitement does not last forever. After extended play, the repetition begins to show. Regular encounters lose their tension once strategies become routine. Enemy variety is limited, and the AI, while serviceable, often fails to adapt to tougher opponents. Teammates still waste resources or wander out of position, and while the command settings offer some relief, they do not eliminate the occasional frustration. Boss battles remain the highlight of the combat loop, though they fluctuate in quality. Some are memorable showpieces, demanding coordination and patience, while others rely on inflated health bars or stun-heavy patterns that stall the action. Some will also randomly throw up hyper armor in battle, which can seem overtly punishing and slow down the game. The underlying mechanics remain solid overall, and I still think Xillia has some of the best combat in the series. I wish the regular encounters pushed you more to make them more rewarding. Tales of Xillia’s battle system is enjoyable, but it no longer feels as deep or demanding as it did at launch.

A New Coat of Paint

Visually, Tales of Xillia Remastered is a faithful update rather than a complete overhaul. Character models have been sharpened up, and the game runs at a solid 60 FPS on the PS5. There is a stiffness to the animations and facial expressions that no amount of polish can fully hide, however. The world itself, while colorful, does start to show its age, with the stretches between towns being quite barebones as well. There is a repetitiveness to their design that makes them feel a little samey to explore after a while. That being said, there is still a nostalgic charm to it all. The environments might not be breathtaking, but they are cozy and have distinct themes that give them just enough personality.

Voice acting and music continue to shine as some of Tales of Xillia’s best offerings. The English cast delivers excellent performances, particularly from Matthew Mercer as Alvin, my personal favorite character in the game, who helps bring the characters’ personalities and personal struggles to the forefront. The soundtrack, composed by Motoi Sakuraba, remains a highlight, blending beautiful orchestral pieces with energetic battle themes. The remastered audio allows the music to pack emotional punches during high-stakes story segments and goes a long way towards giving each new town its own unique vibe.

Where Tales of Xillia Remastered really shows its age is in its pacing. Like many JRPGs of its time, it follows a structure of traveling from town to dungeon, solving a local problem, and moving on to the next region. It’s a loop that still works, but really feels formulaic and, again, repetitive. The remaster doesn’t add any new content or significant rebalancing to alleviate this repetition, so the middle stretch of the adventure can drag. 

A Respectable Return

After my time with Tales of Xillia Remastered, I found myself exactly where I expected to be: satisfied and content. It remains a good game with good ideas, held together by charm and a fun battle system. It does not reach the narrative strength of Tales of the Abyss or the spectacle of Tales of Arise, but it captures an identity all its own. What makes Xillia worth revisiting is not in those qualities, though. It represents a moment when the Tales series began to shift toward faster action and broader themes, unsure of how far to go. It tries and succeeds in some parts, making it a title worth revisiting.

For fans, this remaster is a welcome return. It respects the original without rewriting it, and gives players a reason to look back on it fondly. For newcomers, it offers a chance for those who may have missed Tales of Xillia at its initial launch to experience it in the best possible light. No surprises are waiting in its familiar paths, but perhaps that is the point. Tales of Xillia Remastered is less about discovery and more about remembering how the journey used to feel.

Disclaimer: Bandai Namco provided a PlayStation 5 copy of Tales of Xillia Remastered for review purposes.