While those attacks do not change much, they fill your TP meter, which fuels your ability to perform artes attacks. Artes attacks do change with the game, as you will unlock new ones for each of your party's characters from time to time when reaching a new level. Pressing the artes button and either the left or right stick in a direction will launch the appropriate attack, which you map in the menu. It may seem tedious to set each new attack at first, but you will eventually have more artes than slots; forcing you to manage your active attacks. While Yuri only has attack artes, the other characters in your party have their own sets, including healing and support artes to keep the party on their feet.
In addition to your main attacks, you also learn different skills from leveling and using weapons. Weapons have skills attached to them, which characters gradually learn through completing battles with them equipped. Managing your party's weapons becomes necessary, since you do not want to jump to the best available weapon if you have not yet learned all the skills from your current one. Outside of battle, you have control over their equipment and skills. To make things a little easier, there is a quick equip button that auto-selects the best pieces for each member. While you only control the party leader, typically Yuri, the other members of your party do well enough on their own thanks to a robust battle strategy system.
You can quickly change battle strategies using the left bumper and the d-pad in the pause menu. The battle strategy menu is where you can select the preset strategies for quick use, alter existing strategies, or create your own from scratch. Each strategy lays out exactly what each member of the party will do in battle, with some very detailed instructions for each member. You set everything from the types of enemies each character attacks, to whether or not they use items. The system works extremely well, but is not your only control over your party. You can also manually ask a member to perform an arte move in battle or edit your battle strategy in the pause menu.
There are deeper elements to the combat system, too. Over limit is a meter that builds up during battle, based on both the damage done and taken by your party. When full, any of the party members can activate it to unleash lightning-fast combos on enemies. As the game progresses, you unlock the ability to stack over limits on top of each other, extending the timer on the frantic attacks. Fatal strike is as damning as it sounds, dealing a final blow to normal enemies or a powerful shot to bosses. After landing certain artes attacks, a stylized target closes in on the enemy. To launch the attack, press the right trigger as the target hits the circle on the boss.
As for the actual battle, your character locks onto an enemy based on your current strategy. You do have the ability to switch targets, though if you set up your strategies correctly you will never have to. Though the battle area is a 3D space, your movements are tied to 2D; moving forward or backwards in relation to your target. Holding the left-trigger gives you the ability to free roam in battle, which is a lifesaver in boss battles where dodging attacks is a necessity. The other members of your party move in and back up based on the current strategy settings, meaning that non-attacking enemies are actually listening to you. Your party's post-battle taunts are too repetitive, which is a shame because what is here is entertaining.
While it plays well and looks fantastic, a few issues will prevent some from fully enjoying the game. Vesperia uses save points in cities and dungeons, but allows you to save from the menu when in the world map. Save points are relics at this point, and you should be permitted to save whenever you want. The game is plenty long, but the lack of side quests makes the game feel too linear. You cannot even wander into a dungeon to level-up your party, unless you are at a point in the story that requires you to be there. There is also some typical switch flipping in the dungeons, mostly proving to be an annoyance rather than a puzzle.
Tales Of Vesperia is one that nearly every gamer should check out. While it has some of the typical RPG gripes, the combat, story, and presentation are worth dealing with a little grinding to experience.
