Compare Tales of Berseria Remastered vs Slitterhead

One PC-focused review went beyond calling the remaster unnecessary and described the commercial proposition as potentially predatory for existing owners.

Unlocking cosmetic rewards without paying extra feels fair and satisfying.

Encounter toggles and Grade Shop XP boosts make grinding far easier to control, a widely appreciated convenience for story-focused or returning players.

Repeated fights can turn progression into a tiresome grind rather than a satisfying buildup.

The supporting party is praised for distinct motivations, chemistry, banter, and storylines that make them more than simple companions to Velvet.

Rarities can have appealing personalities, but limited interactions and underused cast members leave several relationships shallow.

New objective and collectible indicators make the minimap more useful and reduce friction when tracking goals and pickups.

Crowded button prompts, subtle healing feedback, and small grapple indicators can make important information hard to read.

Environments are widely criticized as bland, sparse, low-detail, or dated, especially beside the stronger character models and art direction.

Cramped streets, signs, shops, and rooftop spaces help sell the Hong Kong-inspired setting. Reused locations and simpler assets can weaken that impression.

Encounter toggles, difficulty controls, Grade Shop modifiers, button mapping, and other conveniences give players strong control over how demanding or time-consuming the journey feels, though one review noted the lack of colorblind modes.

Button rebinding helps, but the accessibility options leave room for improvement.

Character and battle animation was praised as smooth and effective, even when other visual elements still showed the game’s age.

Creature transformations can look striking, while stiff human movement and uneven combat animation expose the modest production values.

The combat camera was described as mostly well behaved, helping the fast battle system keep a cohesive flow.

Camera positioning and targeting frequently interfere with hectic fights, especially in cramped spaces.

Collectibles, Katz rewards, treasure, and other field pickups add small reasons to explore otherwise straightforward spaces.

Citizens barely reacting to possession and a lack of meaningful city interaction make the setting feel less alive.

Skits, banter, and party conversations are often funny, warm, and character-rich, though one remaster review noticed awkwardly compressed dialogue timing.

Conversations occasionally build intrigue, but weak lines, awkward exchanges, and extensive text can make story delivery drag.

Minigames, battle arenas, collectibles, exploration rewards, and other side activities help break up the main loop and give the package welcome variety.

A mixture of fighting, investigation, and exploration supplies occasional variety, but it does not consistently overcome repetition.

Character growth is one of Berseria’s strongest qualities, especially Velvet’s arc and the way major party members evolve across the story.

Some players grow attached to the cast, but others find character development thin or disconnected from the central mystery.

Some reviewers think the game teaches its mechanics well, while others find the explanations confusing or insufficient for the combat’s complexity.

Tutorials can explain the basics, yet their length and delivery sometimes slow the opening without making the complicated systems comfortable.

The revenge story repeatedly lands with real emotional force; reviewers describe tears, goosebumps, poignancy, and a strong attachment to Velvet’s journey.

Tragic situations and bonds with the Rarities can land emotionally, but thin presentation keeps some players at a distance.

Modern versions generally load faster, with several reviewers calling the improvements noticeable or nicely brisk.

Loading times are considered ordinary rather than a notable strength or problem.

The revenge story is the clearest consensus strength, praised for its darker perspective, twists, emotional weight, and willingness to center morally gray characters.

The nonlinear mystery attracts players who enjoy piecing together strange events. Others find its delivery confusing, slow, or insufficiently resolved.

The 20% movement-speed boost is one of the most appreciated QoL changes, though some reviewers still find traversal floaty, sluggish, or detached from the world.

Body hopping makes traversal quick and enjoyable, while conventional movement and some rooftop maneuvers can feel stiff.

The story’s moral ambiguity, revenge themes, free-will questions, and philosophical framing give reviewers more to think about than a typical straightforward hero narrative.

The mystery offers intriguing supernatural ideas and background details, although their explanation can feel muddled.

Quality-of-life tweaks add welcome smoothness, but dated assets, unresolved rough edges, and the small scale of the update keep the remaster from feeling comprehensively polished.

Rough animation, uneven interfaces, and awkward systems give the game an unfinished feel despite its strong creative identity.

Progression has useful depth through equipment, Grade Shop options, and evolving combat choices, but some reviewers feel growth is muted because the game can be too easy or bonuses too incremental.

Finding Rarities and building their abilities can make progression rewarding. Mandatory searches and repeat missions can also interrupt that sense of growth.

Story pacing is often strong, but repetitive dungeons and backtracking can interrupt emotional highs; the remaster’s faster travel helps without eliminating the issue.

Long chases, slow dialogue, and repeated missions interrupt the momentum, even when the central mystery remains interesting.

Even reviewers who criticize the remaster often still call Berseria itself fun, entertaining, or a must-play first experience.

Its eccentric ideas and body-swapping fights can be highly entertaining, but repetitive action and awkward execution drain the fun for many.

The visual picture is mixed: the anime style still looks appealing and some remaster versions are crisp, but many reviewers see only minor upgrades and Switch can look noticeably worse.

Stylized monsters and lighting have admirers, but dated human models and uneven detail attract frequent criticism.

Characterization and emotional writing are often excellent, especially around Velvet and the party, but a few reviewers criticize tropey sections, weaker villains, or missed thematic opportunities.

The writing has intriguing concepts and occasional emotional payoffs, but awkward dialogue, confusing exposition, and uneven resolution divide players.

Strong art and music can bring Midgand to life, but pop-in and dated environmental presentation can noticeably break immersion.

The city and unusual perspective can draw players in, while unreactive citizens and sparse presentation sometimes break the spell.

Exploration is often dragged down by backtracking, long corridors, repetitive dungeons, and repeated fights, although faster movement and encounter toggles improve it in the remaster.

Possession makes rooftop exploration and hidden discoveries enjoyable for some. Others find the small, recycled areas and unclear navigation tiring.

Earlier and less restrictive travel tools are a meaningful improvement, though some reviewers still found warping limited or awkwardly structured.

Hopping between nearby bodies makes crossing streets much faster than walking.

Combat can be approachable at first yet overwhelming as systems stack up; reviewers disagree on whether the tutorials and gradual introductions make that complexity manageable.

Learning the abilities and directional parry system can take an irritating amount of adjustment.

The Soul system’s give-and-take creates an enjoyable resource rhythm when earning and spending Souls is working well.

Using blood, healing pools, and disposable bodies creates useful tactical choices, though managing them during chaotic battles can become cumbersome.

The revenge plot’s violence, mature themes, and occasional revealing costumes make this a less family-friendly Tales entry than the series’ lighter adventures.

Graphic body horror and adult situations make this a poor fit for family play or playing around children.

Arte and combo customization gives combat meaningful flexibility, letting players experiment with large move sets and different strings.

Character-specific growth and shared passives have useful tactical value, though the trees do not provide the depth some players want.

Battle effects and flashy ultimate attacks add energy and spectacle to the real-time combat.

Human-to-monster transformation scenes provide especially impressive visual spectacle.

Party and enemy AI drew criticism for being basic, with players often expected to do most of the meaningful work themselves.

Enemies and civilians can behave mechanically, weakening both encounters and the illusion of a living city.

The opening combat hours can feel overwhelming as Artes and interconnected systems arrive before every player feels comfortable with them.

The opening takes time to reach its best ideas, with lengthy instruction and early confusion testing patience.

Velvet’s power is a recurring balance problem in the more critical combat takes, where her Break Soul loop can make other party members feel unnecessary.

Different combat roles encourage combinations, but certain Rarities feel much stronger or more versatile than others.

Facial models can still look stiff, one of several presentation details that make the game’s older technical foundation visible.

Stiff, limited facial expression makes dialogue and emotional scenes feel dated.

The cast is the most consistently praised element after the story, with strong chemistry, memorable personalities, and unusually compelling anti-hero dynamics.

Rarities bring distinct weapons and abilities that encourage experimentation. Their differences help freshen combat even when the underlying moves remain limited.

Combat is the biggest point of disagreement: many reviewers love its speed, combo freedom, and risk-reward systems, while others find it button-mashy, overcomplicated, poorly balanced, or repetitive.

Body switching and complementary abilities produce exciting fights for some players. Others find the attacks weightless, parrying awkward, and repeated encounters exhausting.

Enemy variety is a recurring weakness in dungeons, with repeated foes and samey encounter waves undercutting otherwise lively combat.

The grotesque enemies look memorable, yet too many encounters recycle similar creatures and behaviors.

Technical polish varies sharply by platform. PS5 reports are often smooth, while Switch reviews repeatedly mention pop-in, flicker, shimmering, and other visual glitches.

Several players encounter glitches, though others report relatively clean runs. Small technical problems add to the uneven finish.

Performance is strong on PS5 in several reviews, but Switch impressions are much less consistent, with 30fps caps and occasional dips drawing criticism.

Some report steady performance, while others notice frame drops or uneven animation, particularly on less powerful hardware.

The anti-hero revenge structure and morally gray party help Berseria stand apart from the brighter, more traditional hero stories associated with the series.

Its spirit-possession premise and eccentric genre mixture stand out, even among players who dislike the execution.

One review specifically criticized repeated tasks and story padding for making the adventure feel longer than its central conflict needed.

A few different activities break up the fighting, but the repeated chase-and-battle formula is a major complaint.

Berseria’s darker, morally gray tone is a standout strength, giving the familiar Tales formula a more mature and emotionally charged identity.

Dense nighttime streets and an unusual, unsettling tone are frequent highlights, although some find the mood less effective than the premise suggests.

Gear and ability systems can support steady growth, but several critics see them as shallow, overly menu-heavy, or unnecessary because combat can be trivialized.

Upgrading different Rarities supports useful builds and stronger combinations, although the system is generally more conventional than the possession mechanic.

Berseria’s anti-hero lead, darker story, and freer combat represented meaningful departures from older Tales conventions that several reviewers still appreciate.

Possession creates inventive tactical and traversal possibilities, even if the surrounding action does not always fulfill their promise.

Companion AI is a weak spot, with basic behavior and unreliable healing leaving the player to handle much of the important decision-making.

Partners can provide useful distractions, but passive or unreliable behavior often leaves too much work to the controlled character.

Difficulty can swing too far toward easy when Grade Shop bonuses or Velvet’s strongest loops are used, while harder settings do a better job exposing the combat’s strategic depth.

Some enjoy the demanding timing and tactical pressure; others find the challenge frustrating or uneven rather than rewarding.

The anime and watercolor-inspired art direction continues to hold up well, with reviewers praising its style even when textures and environments look dated.

The neon city and grotesque monsters give the game a distinctive identity. Appreciation for its strange style often survives complaints about dated presentation.

Portable Berseria is a major selling point for some reviewers, but Switch-specific image quality, 30fps limits, and one severe input-lag report make handheld recommendations platform-sensitive.

Steam Deck experiences range from very playable to noticeably compromised. Players sensitive to performance dips may find the handheld version less comfortable.

One reviewer felt the long combat-exploration-upgrade cycle stopped introducing enough new systems to stay fresh through the full runtime.

The hunt, chase, and fight cycle is engaging when possession clicks. Frequent recycling makes the same structure feel tedious to less invested players.

Soul management, Break Souls, combo trees, and character-specific systems can create satisfying tactical depth, though some critics think the systems do not always harmonize.

Possession is the standout mechanic, letting players change bodies for traversal, investigation, and fighting. Its imaginative uses are more convincing than some of the systems built around it.

Voice work is a major strength, especially the performances behind Velvet and the main cast, though one reviewer strongly preferred Japanese audio over the English dub.

The limited voice work can sound good when present, but largely unvoiced dialogue weakens presentation and character connection.

Most versions feel smooth and responsive in combat, but one Switch review reported severe input lag that made both fighting and exploration unwieldy.

Responsiveness varies with the action: quick possession changes can feel effective, while attacks, parries, and other inputs sometimes feel awkward.

Costumes and cosmetic options are fun and plentiful, but deeper build customization can feel limited or inflexible in places.

Unlockable outfits and masks offer an appealing reason to revisit missions and personalize the cast.

The darker story includes death, killing, child-directed violence, and revealing costumes, making it a more mature Tales entry than some reviewers expected.

The disturbing imagery and mature subject matter make this unsuitable for young children.

Velvet is overwhelmingly praised as a distinctive, compelling anti-heroine whose anger, vulnerability, and growth give the story its identity.

Night Owl’s evolving outlook and morally contradictory use of human hosts provide an engaging perspective on the story.

Menu impressions are mixed: new item indicators can help, but build management, DLC claiming, and some older interfaces are still cumbersome.

Some find the menus stylish and easy to navigate; others encounter enough input lag to make routine selection irritating.

A physical release with extra presentation value was specifically appreciated by a longtime Tales fan.

The distinctive game and the American Day One edition appeal to physical collectors.

New objective markers, collectible icons, and minimap changes are genuinely useful, although a few reviewers found them inconsistent or absent when most needed.

The absence of a useful map or consistent waypoints makes unfamiliar streets and hidden objectives frustrating to navigate.

Boss opinions were split: several reviewers enjoyed the stronger encounters, while another found boss battles uninspired.

Boss encounters can reward coordinated possession and parrying, but repeated fights and frustrating chase sequences divide players.

Dungeon puzzles are usually considered simple or underdeveloped, with only occasional later sections standing out positively.

Possession puzzles offer clever diversions for some, while straightforward tracking and weakly developed challenges disappoint others.

New icons and clearer indicators improve navigation and inventory clarity, but older build menus can still feel convoluted.

Stylish interface design has admirers, but clutter, sluggish elements, and awkward presentation reduce usability for others.

Audio opinions are mixed: battle effects can be excellent, but some remaster versions have distracting menu mixing or unusually loud effects.

City chatter and strong sound work help the atmosphere, while sparse ambience and weak impact sounds disappoint others.

Midgand’s moral conflicts, regional stories, and changing societies give the setting a stronger sense of history and consequence than its plain environments suggest.

The dense Kowloon-inspired city and supernatural premise create an appealing world, though thin interaction and uneven storytelling limit its depth.

Dungeon design is one of the clearest weaknesses, repeatedly described as linear, bland, maze-like, repetitive, or too long.

Vertical routes and compact districts make possession useful, but familiar layouts and constrained spaces can feel repetitive.

Repeated objectives and forced backtracking can turn progression into a routine trek through already visited maps.

Investigation, stealth, and combat occasionally produce memorable missions. Repeated routes, long pursuits, and mandatory revisits often weaken their execution.

One repeat player felt the magic faded on subsequent runs and explicitly recommended experiencing Berseria once rather than replaying it repeatedly.

New characters and discoveries can make revisits worthwhile. Replaying familiar missions is much less appealing when it becomes compulsory.

Bringing Berseria to Switch and Xbox expands access, but missing upgrade paths, sparse PC options, screenshot restrictions, and no native Switch 2 version disappointed some reviewers.

HDR presentation is praised for making the neon visuals pop, including on a handheld screen.

Value depends heavily on ownership: newcomers often get the best package with bundled DLC and QoL upgrades, while existing PS4/PC owners repeatedly see little reason to pay again.

The asking price feels reasonable to players drawn to its individuality, while others recommend a discount because of repetition and limited polish.

Autosave is a welcome modern convenience that reduces the risk of lost progress and makes the long RPG easier to play casually.

Keeping discoveries after leaving a mission makes cleanup and repeated exploration considerably more convenient.

The soundtrack divides reviewers more than the story or voice acting: some rank it highly, while others call most of it average or forgettable outside standout themes.

The soundtrack is one of the most consistently praised strengths, blending eerie textures, energetic battle music, and stylish menu tracks. A few listeners find it subdued or unappealing.

PS5 performance is usually smooth, while PC and especially Switch reports are more variable; the harshest Switch review described serious input-lag and image-quality problems.

Modest graphics can help the game run smoothly on some systems, but optimization and technical consistency are uneven across reported experiences.

Achievement cleanup is considered manageable, with persistent discoveries making full completion less demanding.

Reviewers who clicked with the battle system found fights fast, satisfying, and highly engaging, with especially strong moment-to-moment action.

Casting actors of Asian descent is appreciated as a thoughtful choice for this setting.

An unconventional mix of everyday people gives the cast personality beyond a standard action-game lineup.

Some checkpoints sit far enough back to make failed encounters unnecessarily tiresome to replay.

Returning to earlier conversations with new answers creates a clever payoff for the time-travel mystery.

Local battle multiplayer is welcomed as a useful extra, though it is described as serviceable rather than essential.

Memories, upgrades, and cosmetic rewards can make searching satisfying. Hidden pickups also frustrate players who dislike combing familiar maps without useful hints.

Busy encounters, uncertain targeting, and hard-to-read attack cues can obscure an otherwise promising combat system.

The ending can leave an unfinished impression rather than a fully satisfying resolution.

Local battle co-op is functional and welcome for players who want to share fights, but it is not presented as a major reason to buy.

Equipment enhancement earned praise for making dropped materials useful and giving gear management a satisfying purpose between battles.

Being able to skip drawn-out dialogue scenes is a welcome convenience.

One detailed review found the endgame side content rushed, typo-heavy, and noticeably less polished than the main story.

Despite its darker tone, Berseria still feels recognizably Tales, retaining the series’ charm, party chemistry, visual identity, and action-RPG character.

Moving as a spirit between hosts turns vertical travel into an enjoyable way to reach rooftops and explore.

The relatively compact adventure suits players who want a focused game, although forced revisits make it feel stretched to others.

Awkward dialogue raises an uncertain suspicion of AI writing or poor translation for one discussion; AI use is not established.

Hints can help with hidden Rarities and progression, but vague guidance leaves some players searching or consulting outside help.

The disturbing premise creates unease for some, but many find little sustained fear in its action-heavy encounters.

Absurd story turns and limb-loss moments can be amusing, adding an eccentric streak to the grim presentation.

Earning costumes through play is appreciated because these rewards do not require spending real money.

A distinctive, divisive debut with strong ideas and uneven delivery. Enthusiasts value its personality, while detractors struggle with repetition, combat, and rough presentation.

Limited physical availability in Europe can delay access for buyers who want a boxed copy.

Possession-based rooftop routes can be exhilarating, but imprecise traversal and awkward positioning sometimes frustrate platforming challenges.

Recruiting Rarities unlocks appealing abilities, but hiding essential recruits in earlier missions creates frustrating searches and progression barriers.

The dominant complaint is that this feels more like a port or convenience-focused rerelease than a transformative remaster. The QoL work is useful, but many existing owners see too little reason to rebuy.

Switching among available bodies enables flexible approaches, though scripted investigations and small areas limit that freedom.

Possession can make infiltration intriguing, but simplistic encounters and underdeveloped stealth rules often squander the idea.

Grotesque transformations and dismemberment can enrich the creature spectacle, but their appeal depends on tolerance for graphic imagery. Some also find the action less viscerally impactful than expected.

Blood weapons give the cast distinct styles, but weak ranged options and limited combinations make some choices less satisfying.

The lack of PS4 save transfer was called a missed opportunity for returning players considering the remaster.

Bundled DLC is one of the remaster’s clearest wins: most reviewers liked getting the original costumes and extras included, especially for newcomers.

Awkward translation, typos, and grammatical problems undermine the dialogue presentation.

The action-focused game disappoints some trailer-driven horror expectations, while another account appreciates that its different direction was communicated early.

Battle multiplayer was described as serviceable but superfluous: usable for shared play, yet far from central to the experience.

Berseria is notably linear rather than truly open, and a couple of reviewers felt the zones were smaller or more constrained than they first appeared.

Recovering a severed arm can be an entertaining combat flourish, although one player finds the extra prompt unnecessary.

One review specifically lamented the absence of a meaningful side-quest system alongside the game’s uninspired dungeon structure.