Tales (universe)

The Tales universe, known as the Tales of universe () in Japan, refers to the series' collection of characters, stages, and properties that hail from NAMCO's series of console role-playing games. Similar to many Japanese role-playing games in a series, most games or media of the series are unrelated to each other beyond certain elements. Widely known for its heavy influence by anime and Japanese culture, the series often makes use of popular manga artists or illustrators, and animated cutscenes produced by Production I.G. The series' popularity in the west is attributed to the release of , and given this, the game represents the Tales series in the Super Smash Flash series. Its symbol is based on the stone compass that can be seen on the back of the logo for the original Tales of Symphonia.
== Franchise description ==
Near 1995, NAMCO created a series of fantasy RPG-video games involving magical lands and creatures. The first game, , was originally released in that year in Japan for the Super Famicom. Later it was ported to the PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, and PlayStation Portable systems. , the third entry, was the first game to have English voices and was the first game to have an anime adaption. , the fourth entry in the series, became the first to be released on the PlayStation 2 when it was released in 2002. The fifth entry, Tales of Symphonia was released in 2003 and is the only game in the series to be released on the Nintendo GameCube.
Celebrating the series tenth anniversary, the eighth entry in the series, , was released in 2005. This was followed by the series' first Mothership Title made for a handheld, Tales of Innocence, in 2007. The tenth Mothership Title in the Series, , was released on the Xbox 360 in 2008 (which is currently the most sold Xbox 360 in Japan), with an enhanced PlayStation 3 port containing new content released in September 2009. The eleventh Mothership Title in the series and the second Mothership Title on a handheld, Tales of Hearts, was released in 2008. The twelfth game of the series, , was initially released on the Wii in December 2009 before being globally released on the PlayStation 3 in March 2010 as Tales of Graces f.
In addition to the main games of the series, there are several "Escort Titles" which are side-stories and spin-off games linked to the series. The first of these titles, , was released for the Game Boy Color in 2000 as a sequel to Tales of Phantasia. The game that most of the sprites in Super Smash Flash comes from is . Five games in the "Tales of the World" subseries have been released for hand-held systems. A Fan Disk for the series, Tales of Fandom Vol.1 was released for the PlayStation in 2002. The second volume, Tales of Fandom Vol.2 was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2007. Currently the fan disks are only released as the last Tales game for that current (console) generation. Tales of the Tempest, released for the Nintendo DS in 2006, is currently the only Escort Title with an original plot and cast. Six games have also been released under the "Tales of Mobile" sub-series, for playing on cell phone systems. The first, Tales of Tactics, was released for the DoCoMo, FOMA, au, and WIN services in 2004. None of these titles are available outside of Japan.
 was released in Japan on the Nintendo DS in 2007. A remake of the game, Innocence R was released on the PlayStation Vita in 2012. Neither version has been released in the west. The first release on seventh-generation consoles, Tales of Vesperia for Xbox 360, was released in Japan and North America in 2008 and in Europe in 2009. A Japan-exclusive PlayStation 3 port was released in 2009 as well. Tales of Hearts was released on the Nintendo DS in 2008. A remake, Hearts R, was released in 2013 in Japan and 2014 in North America and Europe.
, the series' 15th anniversary title, was released in Japan for PlayStation 3 in 2011, and in North America and Europe in 2013. Xillia'​s direct sequel and the fourteenth main title, , was released in 2012 in Japan and 2014 in North America and Europe. The fifteenth main title, , was released in January 2015 in Japan and it was released in North America on October 20, 2015. , the sixteenth main title, was released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in August 2016. , the seventeenth main title, was released for modern consoles in September 2021.
== In the Super Smash Flash series ==
=== In Super Smash Flash ===
As with many franchises in the first Super Smash Flash, the Tales franchise appears as a bonus franchise represented by only one playable character hailing from the game Tales of Symphonia.
==== Character ====
*Lloyd Irving: An irresponsible, and brash young man, but also a gentle idealist who wishes for peace in the world; he is Tales of Symphonia's protagonist. Orphaned as a child, he was adopted and raised by a dwarf, Dirk, just outside the village of Iselia. Lloyd is a person who wants to save the world without sacrificing any lives. Though his intellect is somewhat limited, Lloyd is very strong-hearted and adheres unwavering to his morals of racial equality and altruism. As an unlockable fighter in SSF, Lloyd wields two swords: the fire sword Flamberge, and the ice sword Vorpal Sword. He can perform attacks like Tempest or Rising Falcon, and can also launch small projectiles with the move Demon Fang.
=== In Super Smash Flash 2 ===
The Tales franchise was expanded in Super Smash Flash 2, however the franchise is still represented only by a newcomer and a starter stage.
==== Characters ====
*Lloyd Irving: Lloyd, the protagonist of Tales of Symphonia, debuted in demo v0.1a, being one of the four first playable characters in SSF2. Returning as a starter fighter, Lloyd was one of the few characters that did not received a sprite change or a recolor when he appeared in SSF2 much like the Sonic characters. Lloyd is considered a newcomer instead of a veteran due to him not appearing the main games. Lloyd has a moveset similar to the moveset he had in SSF. In Lloyd's Final Smash, the Falcon's Crest, Lloyd reels back as a glint of light appears in front of him that trap his opponents. If he connects correctly, Lloyd's swords will merge to create the Eternal Sword which is then used to perform a overhead falling slash that sends his opponents flying before splitting back the Eternal Sword into the Material Blade.
===== Enemy =====
*Mithos Yggdrasill: An enemy appearing at the upper middle of the stage, attacking players who attack it first. It also can summon lasers from the ground, or in between the platforms. It can summon spears that rain on the platforms. If the player is hit by the spears, they are knocked up into the other spears, likely KO-ing them.
==== Stage ====
*Tower of Salvation: A tower that appears in the flourishing world and the declining world after the Chosen of Regeneration receives the oracle, it that connects the two worlds Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. It is the place where the Eternal Sword lies. It is a relatively stage with one major main platform alongside two small moving platforms in both sides.
== Media with elements appearing in the Super Smash Flash series ==
The following list consists of media from the Tales universe that appears in Super Smash Flash and Super Smash Flash 2.
=== ===
*The Material Blade and Eternal Sword, both weapons used by Lloyd in SSF and SSF2, originate as weapons from this game.
*Demon Fang, Lloyd's down attack in SSF and neutral special move in SSF2, originates as an arte from this game.
*Beast and Tiger Blade, Lloyd's forward smash and up special move in SSF2, respectively, originate as artes from this game.
*Tales of Symphonia Medley, a medley consisting partially of the song Fighting of the Spirit from this game, plays as Tower of Salvation's main music track in SSF2.
=== ===
*Tempest, Lloyd's up attack in SSF and side special move in SSF2, originates as an arte from this game.
=== ===
*Sword Rain, Lloyd's in SSF and neutral attack in SSF2, originates as an arte from this game.
*Double Demon Fang, a variation of Lloyd's neutral special move in SSF2, originates as an arte from this game.
=== ===
*Lloyd Irving, who debuted in this game as its main protagonist, is an unlockable character in SSF and a starter character in SSF2.
*Sonic Thrust, Demonic Circle, and Rising Falcon, Lloyd's dash attack, down smash, and down special move in SSF2, respectively, originate as artes from this game.
*Falcon's Crest, Lloyd's Final Smash in SSF2, originates as his signature mystic arte from this game.
*Lloyd's second, third, fourth, and fifth costumes in SSF2 are based on his "Nobleman", "Arrgh, Me Hearties", "Beach Boy", and "Unrivaled Blade" costumes, respectively, that appear in this game.
*Lloyd's sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth costumes in SSF2 are based on Genis Sage, Colette Brunel, Kratos Aurion, Raine Sage, and Zelos Wilder, respectively, who debuted in this game.
*Tower of Salvation, which appears as a stage in SSF2, is based on the tower of the same name from this game, with the main antagonist Mithos Yggdrasill appearing as a stage hazard.
*Tales of Symphonia Medley, a rock medley of three remixed songs from this game (Fighting of the Spirit, Full Force, and Final Destination), plays as Tower of Salvation's main music track in SSF2.
*Fatalize, an upbeat remix of the battle theme that plays during the battles against Sheena, Regal, or Abyssion in this game, plays as Tower of Salvation's alternate music track in SSF2.
*The victory theme of Lloyd in SSF2 is a remix of an excerpt of the theme that plays when a battle is won in this game.
*The series symbol for Tales in SSF2 originates as the stone compass in the logo for this game.
=== ===
*The sprites for Lloyd in SSF and SSF2, as well as for Mithos Yggdrasill in SSF2, were ripped from this game.
=== ===
*Lloyd's eleventh costume in SSF2 is based on Emil Castagnier, who first appeared in this game.
== Trivia ==
*The Tales universe is one of two universes to be introduced in the Super Smash Flash series before having a minor role in the official games. It shares this distinction along with .
Category:Super Smash Flash
Category:Super Smash Flash 2
Category:Super Smash Flash series
Category:BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment