Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The first thing Tales of Innocence R has going for it is momentum. This is a fantasy RPG with a third-person perspective and a battle system reworked specifically for PS Vita, so it arrives with more intent than a simple handheld re-release. If you came looking for a refreshed version of the DS game, the added characters, revised scenarios, and altered locations make this feel like a new pass at the material rather than a museum piece.

Combat is where the Vita version makes its clearest case for itself. You can tap characters during a fight to issue commands, an approach that can make party management feel more immediate than digging through commands in a traditional menu. That should particularly suit you if you enjoy staying involved with the whole team instead of treating allies as background support.

There is a useful tension here between accessibility and attention. Touch commands sound simple, but they ask you to keep an eye on more than your own character as battles unfold. When that rhythm clicks, Innocence R should feel more active than a conventional turn-by-turn RPG; if you prefer to focus on one fighter and ignore party direction, the extra involvement may be less compelling.

The two additional playable characters matter because a larger roster gives the remake more room to distinguish itself from its DS predecessor. Alongside the reworked battle system, they make this the version to consider if you want Innocence with more to engage with rather than merely cleaner graphics.

Graphics

The remake replaces the DS-era look with a complete graphical overhaul and adds new 2D anime-style cinematics. On Vita, that combination gives the game a more polished anime RPG face, with dedicated animated scenes providing a welcome contrast to the regular third-person adventure view.

Story

Innocence R does not simply carry its original scenario forward unchanged. Reworked scenarios and locations mean the remake has been willing to revisit how its fantasy journey is arranged, which is the right instinct for a second version of a story-driven RPG.

That makes it more inviting for returning fans than a strictly faithful remake would be. You are not just replaying the same material with better images; the revised content gives familiar ground a reason to be explored again.

New anime-style cinematics and a new opening song also fit the Tales format well. They give the story a more deliberately animated framing, and they make the remake feel like it wants to establish its own version of Innocence rather than live entirely in the DS game’s shadow.

Overall Experience

Tales of Innocence R is a smart remake in the ways that count. It updates the graphics, revises story content and locations, expands the playable cast, and reworks combat for its new hardware. None of those changes is merely decorative; together, they give the Vita edition a clear identity.

The strongest reason to play is the combination of an expanded Tales RPG and more involved party control in battle. If you like anime fantasy adventures where you can actively direct a group instead of waiting for turns to resolve, the touch-command system is the feature most likely to keep you engaged once the opening novelty fades.

It is also the sensible pick for anyone choosing between versions. The DS original remains its foundation, but Innocence R adds enough across gameplay, story revisions, character options, music, cinematics, and visuals to make the remake feel like the fuller edition. Give it a chance if you want a Vita-era Tales experience with genuine revision behind it, not just a fresh coat of paint.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10