Despite some unexpected obstacles, I've managed to start tearing through Tales of Symphonia in earnest. The plot hasn't really thickened up yet, but there have been curveballs throw in here and there to spice things up.
Interestingly enough, Lloyd, the primary protagonist, has already managed to grow up a fair bit so far. The development has not been that drastic yet, but it's clear that the gears in his head are actually clanking along and setting the stage for bigger and better things. Most RPGs don't really get going this early; yet another bit of Tales-style RPG refreshment.
The combat system is also finally taking off. The Unison Attack system is actually fairly useful and flashy one I figured out what I was doing. Think a real-time version of Chrono Trigger's Dual/Triple Tech system, and you get the idea. To wit: you select techniques or spells, and certain combinations trigger a special combined attack with extra flash and bonus damage.
Crafting (including the traditional cooking mechanic) is straightforward and meaningful. An unusual side-note: Materials (at least in the early game so far) are easily farmed and sell for rather high amounts of cash. This is probably the first game I've played for a while where early drop farming is practical and highly profitable, avoiding a lot of the usual resource pitfalls of RPGs. Combined with the well-done combat mechanics and intelligent encounter designs, we have excellent cash flow going on here.
More ought to be forthcoming; The Harvest Never Rests!
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