The developers at Bandai Namco have a big year ahead of them in 2021 with JRPGs. In June they have the sci-fi RPG Scarlet Nexus created by members of the Tales Studio and of course Tales of Arise in September. Both titles are looking great for JRPG and Tales fans in general. As one of the big three JRPGs in Japan next to Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, the Tales games carved out a niche of their own.
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Their character-driven stories, themes of friendship, and fantasy settings can rival the biggest budget JRPGs on the market. In addition to great casts, the Tales games have some great protagonists. While many seem very similar on the surface, most Tales protagonists have something about them that makes them feel entirely unique.
10 Jude – Tales Of Xillia
Jude is one of two lead protagonists in Tales of Xillia. He’s a young medical student following the footsteps of his mother. As a result, Jude is a kind and caring boy that never hesitates to help others in need. Unfortunately, he also has a habit of getting himself involved in matters that will often get him into trouble.
He’s the most pacifistic protagonist in the Tales series and always regrets his actions after a battle. Sadly, this means that Jude's do-good persona may lead fans into choosing Milla as a lead in their first playthrough. Despite these drawbacks, he becomes very adept at fighting with his fists and is always useful in combat. Furthermore, he's as important to Milla's development as a character as she is to him.
9 Kor – Tales Of Graces R
When it comes to sheer loyalty and friendship, Kor ranks as one of the kindest characters in the series. Despite being an easy-going character, Kor is one of the most determined and focused protagonists in the Tales series.
He’ll defend his friends with a complete disregard for his own well-being and safety. Despite his youth, Kor is a master swordsman. However, he’s a little too quick-tempered and he’s fairly weak in battle compared to some of the supporting cast members. He makes up for this in speedy tactical leadership.
8 Stahn – Tales Of Destiny
As a likable character, Tales of Destiny’s protagonist Stahn is definitely up there as a fan favorite. Stahn becomes the wielder of the magical talking sword known as Dymlos after discovering it on a ship. He was a stowaway intent on becoming a warrior of the world.
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Stahn can be too impulsive and a frustrating character to follow, especially as the decisions he makes often result in predictable scenarios. However, his growth as a young man on his own path of destiny makes for a deeply compelling story.
7 Sorey – Tales Of Zestiria
Sorey is the lead protagonist of Tales of Zestiria and is often accused of being a by-the-numbers Tales hero. To some extent that certainly is true, but he still has some great qualities that make his journey a worthwhile one.
He is a pure-hearted warrior that is selected to be “The Shepard” by Lailah. A Shepard is effectively a warrior monk that is supposed to remain neutral to the plights of men and women. Unfortunately, Sorey’s urgent compulsion to help others in need pulled him in a different direction. His character arc is far more interesting than it first appears.
6 Ludger – Tales Of Xillia 2
As the only silent protagonist in the series, it can appear that Ludger doesn’t have as much character development as other leads in the Tales of series at first glance. He can seem a little cold and uncaring to the player controlling him.
However, Ludger is a character with a great backstory that slowly reveals itself as the game’s narrative drives forward. As for how Ludger behaves, his reactions to important events and characters will depend on the player’s choices.
5 Milla – Tales Of Xillia
The lead female protagonist of Tales of Xillia, Milla is the living embodiment of Maxwell, the “Lord of Spirits.” She is the most interesting protagonist choice in the game, has great character development, and is by far the most capable fighter.
Milla’s development as a character centers on her inability to interact with people and relate to them on a human level. Milla needs to learn to connect with humans and learn more about them, as she holds them in the same regard as the spirits. Milla’s connection to Jude and his role in helping her discover a more human side of her own is what makes Xillia such a great game.
4 Luke – Tales Of The Abyss
As one of the most popular titles in the Tales series, Tales of the Abyss is fondly remembered as having one of the strongest character stories to date. This is because the story centers on Luke, who at the start of the game is one of the most annoying and obnoxious protagonists ever seen in a JRPG.
However, Luke’s story is one finding worth in one’s existence, self-discovery, and his desire to find his own identity. It’s one of the best stories in the Tales franchise and a real treat for fans that stick with Luke as a character.
3 Lloyd – Tales Of Symphonia
For many, Lloyd was their first introduction to a Tales series protagonist. In many ways, he harks back to Stahn as a passionate young man that’s more interested in the ways of the sword than studying.
Lloyd is a very driven and focused character whose wisdom and knowledge developed in the real world rather than a classroom, and this is reflected in Tales of Symphonia’s story as it develops. It’s in the real world that he realizes how cruel humanity can be with its prejudices.
2 Velvet – Tales Of Berseria
Velvet is the first solo female protagonist in the Tales of series and is by far one of the most interesting and complex. With her quest for vengeance taking center stage at the heart of the story, she is also the darkest one yet.
As a character, Velvet appears to only use her acquaintances as means to an end. After a betrayal led to her suffering the loss of her family, she does take some time warming to the other characters. Velvet is also more an anti-hero as opposed to the kind-hearted and idealistic heroes of the past. She's strong, violent, and quick to cross swords with anyone. However, as her hard exterior begins to crack, Velvet's character develops wonderfully over the course of the game’s story.
1 Yuri – Tales Of Vesperia
Before Velvet, Tales of Vesperia’s Yuri introduced a more roguish anti-hero with an aggressive fighting style that went against the grain of the typical Tales protagonist. His sarcastic manner hides a kind-hearted warrior, but he’s also one that isn’t afraid to take matters into his own hands if it means putting an enemy down for good.
In addition to being a more gritty protagonist, Yuri is a character that has already experienced the world, combat, loss, and more. Despite his experiences, however, Yuri still grows as a character as he learns to depend on friendship along the way. He also realizes that his harsh methods are not always the right ones as he bonds with his best friend.