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LB's Tales of Symphonia Walkthrough - Table of Contents
1. Introduction, Controls and Basics
2. Part I - The Beginning
3. Part II - The Journey
4. Part III - Crossing the Sea
5. Part IV - Tethe'alla
6. Part V - Pacts, Pacts, and More Pacts
7. Part VI - A Scavenger Hunt
8. Part VII - Nearing the End
9. Part VIII - Sidequests
6. LB's Tales of Symphonia Review
7. ***Tales of Symphonia Ad-Free and Printer-Friendly Walkthrough and Strategy Guide***
Introduction
Welcome to Lunabean's "Tales of Symphonia" Walkthrough and Strategy Guide. This guide will take you step by step through the game, ensuring your "Tales of Symphonia" experience is a positive one. Please note, this is how
we made it through the game. As is the nature of huge RPGs like "Tales of Symphonia", there are often many ways to get through different sections of the game, or approaching situations differently can trigger a different sequence of events. We can only give guidance based on our choices. Luckily, changes are not that different, and reading our guide will still point you in the right direction, even if some of the step by steps are out of order. If, for some reason, you are completely at a loss, simply look at our guide, figure out where you strayed, and load the game at a point where you can fix the straying.
This guide focuses on getting you from the beginning to the end of the game. Again, as is the nature of huge RPGs, there are often optional sidequests. We include some throughout the guide, and we have some at the end of the guide, but this guide does not include all sidequests. That would be a huge task and would make for a very expensive guide. It is our job to get you through this game, it's your job to make the game as big as you want to make it.
Gamecube Controls
In Towns or Dungeons
Control Stick - Move
Control Pad - Rotate
A Button - Action
X Button - Use Sorcerer's Ring (in Dungeons)
Y Button - Pulls up Main Menu
Z Button - Start skit
In the Field
Control Stick - Move
Control Pad - Pulls up Map
A Button - Enter
B Button - Cancel/Board Rheaird (later)/Embark EC (later)
X Button - Mount/Dismount Noishe (If you've activated long range mode)
Y Button - Pulls up Main Menu
Z Button - Start skit
L Button/R Button - Rotate the camera left/right
Start/Pause - Toggles world map
In Battle
Control stick - Move character/cursor
Control Pad - Change User Commands
A Button - Attack
B Button - Use your equipped magic or technique skill
C Stick - Equipped magic shortcut
X Button - Guard (Up + X is Jump)
Y Button - Open Battle Menu
Z Button - Start the U. Attack
L Button - Walk to target
R Button - Change target
Start - Pause
Battle System
This game is a real time RPG, meaning the game does not pause to allow you to choose your attack. You just attack. Attacking depends on combat settings. You can choose your combat setting in the "Options Menu" at the beginning of the game, or, select "Tech" from the Menu, choose your character, and hit the "Start" button to change the combat settings. Here's what they mean:
Auto - You do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Let the game's AI take care of everything for you. I played through the game with every character but the one whom I chose to control in battle set to "Auto".
Semi-Auto - You control the character, but the game steps in every so often with an automatic "guard". Also, if you hit "A" in Semi-Auto, you will run toward and attack your targeted enemy. Start the game with the character you choose to battle with in "Semi-Auto" mode. Once you get a hang of it, try Manual.
Manual - You control everything.
As noted, you can (and should) change the character you control in battle. This can be done in one of two ways. Outside of battle, go into your menu and select the character you want to lead your battles with "Y". Exchange them with the character in the number one slot. Next time you battle, this character will lead. If you are in battle and you want to change characters, hit "Y", then hit "Z" to scroll through characters. Hit "B" to back out.
You should also understand the difference between "Strike" (S) and "Tech" (T) characters. If you are a "Strike" character, it means that your character prefers to use long, hard, powerful blows. If you are a "Tech" character, it means your character prefers several small, but weaker, blows. They all even out in the end, but they do come into play when it comes to attacks you want to use. Later in the game you may earn attacks that you cannot use. This means they are meant for the other brand of character. To use them, you must "Forget" some of the skills preferred by the opposing brand. It sounds a lot more difficult than it is. Honestly, I never worried about it. I went with my brand of fighting and I stuck with it. Play around if you want, but it's not necessary.
The HP and LP levels of enemies can be discovered by using the Magic Lens, which is an item that can be purchased at every Item Shop for usually around 10 Gald. Stock up on these as it's quite useful to know what you are facing while in battle.
If your character or another character dies while in battle, all is not lost. First, a certain character will learn to bring people back from the dead, which is quite useful. Also, you can bring back others by using "Life Bottles", which are my favorite items. If another character dies, go into your items menu, point the cursor to yourself (or another character who is alive), select "Life Bottle" from your inventory, then point the cursor to the dead character. This will bring them back in seconds. If you are the one who is dead and you want to continue with this character, simply point to another character who will select the "Life Bottle", then select your own dead self as the one who will drink it. It's much easier said than done.
If you need more help with battle basics, note that the game, itself, provides you with many manuals. Check them out, as they really are quite helpful. Also, check out Nintendo.com's "Tales of Symphonia" site, which has the official Nintendo "Tales of Symphonia" strategy for battle.
Cooking
As someone who is still new to the RPG genre, cooking was initially confusing to me. Read your in game manual...it explains it better than I will. Basically, there are many chefs hidden as objects throughout the game. When you find them (by examining the odd object), they will provide you with a recipe. Recipes have different affects on the characters. Most of them restore certain amounts of TP or HP...others can cure poisonings or paralysis. Any way you look at it, recipes are good.
To cook, go into your menu and select "cooking". Select your character, then select the recipe. If you have the ingredients, cook the meal with "X". The effects will be automatic. Also, the recipe you choose to be under the name of each character will be the recipe that that character will try to cook after each battle, if that character is the leader of the battle. If you have the ingredients and are able to cook the recipe, you will get an option after battle to "cook". Hit "X" if you want to do so.
Recipes we found are noted through the guide.
A Few Words...
Just a few words before you embark on your journey. As noted in the "Battle System" section, this game has wonderful in-game manuals. Check them out, as they explain a lot. All items are explained and defined, and even your "Synopsis" menu does a good job of telling you what to do and where to go. This is a great game as it happily molds to your style of gaming. If you are like me and you're intimidated by RPGs, just give it time, as it will all make sense as you go.
And, with that, good luck. You've selected a great game. Be proud.
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