"You can't go forward if you keep looking back!"
All assets used on this page are not mine; they are property of Namco Tales Studio/Bandai Namco.This page is purely to discuss a piece of media I love!
The only elements belonging to me, aside from the code for this website and page, is the writing.
Introduction/Q+A
Luke fon Fabre, the main hero of this story. His journey will not be an easy one.
What is Tales of the Abyss?
Originally debuting in Japan in 2005 for the PlayStation 2, Tales of the Abyss was published by Bandai Namco (known simply as Namco at the time) and was developed by the Namco Tales Studio. As the very first Tales series game, Tales of Phantasia, debuted a decade prior, Tales of the Abyss was debuted on this date as a celebration of the franchise's ten-year anniversary. However, the game has crafted quite a legacy in its own right. The game was well-received in Japan upon its release, as well as with North American audiences when the game debuted in 2006. It has since been ported to the Nintendo 3DS system, starting in 2011.
What makes Tales of the Abyss so beloved, especially when compared to other Tales games?
When one thinks of the Tales franchise, they more often than not first think of the legendary Tales of Symphonia, as well as the popular Tales of Vesperia and the newly-remastered Tales of Xillia. However, it is safe to say that since its debut, Tales of the Abyss has certainly crafted a loyal fanbase, with many veteran Tales fans still praising the game. This is greatly in retrospect to the game's overall narrative, namely with the journey of its main protagonist, Luke fon Fabre.
Seven years before the events of the game's main storyline, Luke was kidnapped by an unknown person; though he was safely returned home afterward, he lost all of his memories. In the present, the now seventeen-year-old Luke has spent his time hidden away in his family's manor, next to the palace of his homeland's king (who just so happens to be his uncle). As the Duke's son, Luke is expected to have a wide knowledge of what goes on in his world, yet his sheltered upbringing and the frustration it causes him has made Luke an arrogant yet naive protagonist. When his paths suddenly cross with the mysterious Tear Grants, Luke is unexpectedly introduced to the real world. What follows is a very unconventional hero's journey, one that questions the morality of who we, as the players, know as the "heroes", and if anyone in this wide cast of characters can even change to become better people, regardless of their role in this emotional story.
What is your relationship with Tales of the Abyss and the Tales series in general?
Though I don't doubt that I've somehow heard of Tales of Symphonia before learning about Tales of the Abyss, I unfortunately cannot remember specifically how. As such, the best memory I have is when I was about ten or eleven years old and browsing through YouTube. It was then that I was first introduced to the Grand Fonic Hymn, the song that the main female protagonist Tear is well-known for throughout the game. I was instantly enchanted with this song and its lullaby-like melody, and since then, it has lived inside of my mind, randomly playing throughout the years. In a similar vein, I also adore Azura's song "Lost in Thoughts All Alone" from Fire Emblem Fates, though I have yet to play a game from that specific lineup. After gazing at the Tales series from afar for over a decade, I decided to finally try out one of the games. It only seemed fitting that I selected Tales of the Abyss as my starting journey into the franchise.
I first began playing Tales of the Abyss, via a copy I recieved as a gift for the holidays, the day after Christmas. (I love collecting games in general, but I especially love collecting games that are still in the box! The art for this game is so pretty.) Like many sweeping fantasy adventures, there is a whole world for the player to learn about, and Tales of the Abyss drops you, as the player, right into the abyss of it all. Every Tales game has a certain theme relating to its core narrative; in the case of Tales of the Abyss and the journey of Luke, it is either classified as a role-playing game about finding the meaning of life and/or the meaning of one's own life. That is the question that continues to haunt Luke increasingly so as the game's plot grows more complex. What is he meant to do in his life? Is he able to craft a destiny in his own right? And most of all, does he even deserve to have a fufilling, happy existence, especially with how he's acted?
Welcome to Tales of the Abyss.
The First Concert: An Emotional Melody On Planet Auldrant
First playthrough log first begun in December 2025
Tear Grants, the main heroine of the story. Collected and often fierce, yet retains a compassionate spirit.
Before further reading, please note that this section contains spoilers for the game. Anything super important will be censored, but I still recommend looking at another section of this page unless you have played the game.
Part I: The Score, the Prophecy and the Duke’s Son
In the game's narrative, the world we are introduced to, Auldrant, is made up of elemental particles. These particles, which also appear to exist within the auras of every living thing, are known as "fonons". Aside from the elements of water, fire, earth and air, light and darkness are also classified into their own fonon categories. However, it was not discovered until more recently that a seventh category, sound, existed. While the seventh fonon is well-known for working with the element of sound and thus music, it also relates more directly to the "melody" of the planet's very memories. When great chaos nearly destroyed the world, a compassionate Seventh Fonist known as Yulia Jue, famous for her future sight, discovered the very fate of the world. Her findings were written into the Score, the eternal prophecy of the planet and its inhabitants. Thousands of years later, Yulia Jue remains a renowned figure in the Lorelei religion, with the Order of Lorelei and the organization's military, the Oracle Knights, having great power and rule over the people of Auldrant. There are many, even outside of the Order and the knights, who can work with the many fonons of the world, yet a true Seventh Fonist like Yulia herself is extremely rare.
Admittedly, I am still learning how exactly Auldrant works, especially in terms of fonons. They are far more complex and mysterious than how other pieces of media have used elemental power! I also find it interesting how the element of sound relates not just to melodies, but apparently the "rhythm" of elemental particles, including how the planet's own atoms seem to operate. Naturally, I could very well be incorrect with my perspective, but nevertheless it is fun to try and figure out how these powers exactly work.
As I worked on wrapping my brain around fonons, I was introduced to Luke fon Fabre, the resident hero of the story. Luke, especially at the start of the game, is a very unusual protagonist. Many heroes begin their journeys wanting to help people or to change the world for the better, but at this point, Luke has not adopted that outlook. Luke, at the start of the game, is the seventeen-year-old nephew of the king of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear. His father is the famous Duke of the kingdom, while his mother is the king's sister. Seven years prior, Luke was kidnapped from his home; though he was rescued, all of his memories suddenly vanished. He spent many years not only re-learning who his family and friends were, but also how to speak and even walk.
I found out that Production I.G. did the animation for the cutscenes. I love their work, especially the anime for Kimi Ni Todoke!
In the present day, Luke has grown very, very bored, as well as spoiled rotten. Though he can have anything material in the world, from beautifully crafted swords to delicious meals, the Duke's son lacks true connections, with both the outside world and his family. As such, he has grown into a rather rude and easily annoyed young man. I could see that frustration well in how Luke interacted with everyone in the manor; almost every interaction seemed to make Luke crave the ability to exit the manor even more (though I of course can't blame him; he definitely has one of the more sorrowful backstories I've seen for a protagonist). However, he brightens up whenever his teacher, the Oracle Knight Van, arrives to train him. There is a tutorial during their training session that introduces the player to the basic fighting mechanics; it's pretty fun!
Luke's wish comes true in a very intense way when Tear, the game's main heroine and an Oracle Knight, suddenly appears and tries to kill Van. As Luke tries to stop her, the two suddenly teleport away to Malkuth, Kimlasca's enemy kingdom. Though he's on the road to becoming a fine swordsman, Luke is naturally very out of his element. I would be too if I was suddenly teleported away from all I knew! Thankfully, he figures out how to battle monsters relatively quickly. Despite this, fighting other human beings is another story...
Upon learning that Luke would very well face enemies who wished to kill him, the young man becomes too afraid to fight, fearful about the prospect of having to kill another person in self-defense. The game itself definitely isn't kind to him, and even gives him the title of "Frightful One". However, the text relating to this title gives Luke a lot more grace. Over time, Luke begins to truly grasp the weight of the situation, and vows that if against such a foe, he will fight in order to live. Despite this, Luke tries to be as non-violent as possible, preferring to knock out foes compared to killing them.
I can't with the expressions in this game.
Tear agrees to bring Luke back to Kimlasca, but their journey causes them to meet up with the rest of the party members: Jade Curtiss, the mysterious colonel from Malkuth; Ion, the current Fon Master and the young religious leader of the Order of Lorelei; Anise Tatlin, the energetic Fon Master Guardian; Mieu, an adorable cheagle with a tragic past; Guy Cecil, Luke's loyal bodyguard and best friend; and Princess Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear, the king's daughter who wishes to aid her people. She's also technically engaged to Luke, but thankfully he doesn't share her feelings about marriage. (Yikes)
Luke's adventure takes him all over the two kingdoms, and he begins to learn more about the world and most of all, how much his perspective is warped by his upbringing. Though his perspective begins to broaden, the real problem for Luke is his attitude. Luke does have a good soul, at least in my opinion, yet his childishness (which, to be fair, is not completely his fault, though a major portion is) causes him to lash out.
A lot.
As Luke travels around Auldrant, he soon becomes part of a quest to prevent a war between Malkuth and Kimlasca. However, he is less concerned about actually saving the world than he is about being recognized as a hero. Thus, he becomes even more bossy towards the other party members. However, another part of me plays the devil's advocate: Luke has spent his life confined to his home; of course he's desperate for any chance to gain the freedom he deserves. Sadly, the way he goes about this goal is severely misguided. Ugh. This game, dude.
One of the most frustrating series of events for me to witness was Luke's treatment of Mieu, the adorable baby Cheagle that joins the party as Luke's companion. The sweet-natured cheagle acts as the mascot for the game, as well as a never-ending positive spirit. However, Mieu has been through a lot.
Cheagles can breathe fire, yet in a training session gone horribly awry, Mieu accidentally destroyed the woods belonging to the ligers, who began to devour several cheagles. Though the ligers were defeated (though their deaths definitely not forgotten), Mieu was exiled, and chose to devote his time with the party to help Luke, who saved his life.
Thus, Mieu becomes a permanent party member, and uses his fire power to aid the group. Unfortunately for the little cheagle, Luke initially cannot stand him and treats him like a toy to beat up and yell at. While playing, I tried to give our protagonist some grace, but I grew to dislike Luke a bit with how he tormented Mieu. Yikes.
On the flip side, it is revealed that Tear absolutely adores cute things. She is definitely Mieu's biggest fan!
I can't believe Luke was so mean to this little guy! Just a baby!
Though Mieu is always supportive of Luke, it is very apparent that most party members do not necessarily like the young heir; more accurately, they tolerate him. Jade and Anise care little for Luke, save for what his status can do for their goals. Natalia's relationship with Luke is complex; the two were good friends long ago, yet according to the princess, the Luke she once knew has changed. Ion, the Fon Master, is upbeat and has a big heart, though he can certainly be naive. His sense of understanding allows him to have the patience of a saint, though it is not a constant presence, especially as things begin to look grim.
Have I mentioned how much I love the skits? It really adds even more depth to the party's dynamic!
As for Tear, she is shown to care for Luke's safety upon meeting him, though he definitely butts heads with him. Over time, and upon learning more about his past, Tear makes an effort to be less strict, sympathetic for Luke's amnesia. Out of the human characters, Guy has the most patience for Luke. His outlook reminds me of one of my favorite movie quotes: "Keep moving forward!", from Meet the Robinsons. No matter what, no matter how Luke changes, Guy will always look out for him. It is a loyalty that Luke himself has not realized the importance of just yet.
Traveling through every landscape and discovering new fonic artes are definitely two of my favorite parts of the game, alongside getting to know the cast and world. At the moment, my favorite area is the Cheagle Woods, both for how it looks and its theme song. It's so magical, charming, and bittersweet.
Aside from the dark undertones relating to each of the main characters' stories (most of which are kept under wraps at this point), the first part of Luke's adventure is, for the most part, rather chipper. This confused me, as upon researching the game, I heard it had one of the darkest storylines in the entire Tales franchise.
........
Say, remember how I titled this section "Part I: The Score, the Prophecy and the Duke’s Son"? Remember the prophecy part?
Haha...well, about that...
After Luke finally arrives home, alongside the party, he is asked to become an ambassador for the sake of creating a permanent, new era of peace between Kimlasca and Malkuth. Aside from his journey, a core aspect of why Luke has become the ambassador is because of a fateful prophecy, one written in the Score itself. As the king himself believes Luke is the fabled hero from the Score, he wishes for the young man to once again embark on a journey to Malkuth. Luke agrees, as because of his disappearance, Van has been imprisoned. The conversation they have before departing is what truly makes Luke want to be a hero; according to Van, once they save the kingdoms, Luke's teacher will help him become an Oracle Knight.
The group thus embarks to the mining town of Akzeriuth, now including Natalia in the roster. Though her initial time with the party is rocky, as she has a tendency to be impulsive and a bit haughty, Natalia soon gets along with the group thanks to her selfless and responsible manner. Unfortunately, the same does not happen for Luke; as stated previously, most seem to simply tolerate his presence. His lofty expectations and sharp tongue only seem to drive everyone away, much to the hero's annoyance. It's a sad series of events, to be frank, though they are unfortunately deserved.
At this point of the log, the audience (hello reader!) can definitely tell that I am having some mixed feelings about our hero. Like any protagonist, I, as the player, want to see Luke succeed! However, it is also tough to do so when he treats others with such selfish behaviors. And of course, I then am reminded that this is highly likely due to his upbringing and loss of memories. Yeesh. The fans were not exaggerating when they said this game had such a complicated storyline!
Continuing to the game, Luke's party ends up in Akzeriuth. The poor mining town has definitely seen better days; a terrible miasma has crept up from beneath the planet, poisoning those who live in the town. In order to save the town and bring peace to the two kingdoms, Luke and his allies are tasked with rescuing the civilians and getting rid of the miasma. According to Van, Luke has the power to destroy the miasma entirely, a feat that will surely prove how great of a hero he is. However, Van wishes for Luke to keep this plan a secret. As Luke looks up to his teacher like a father figure, he vows to hide away this plan from the others.
It is a secret that shakes the foundations of Luke's entire world, in more ways than one.
When Van brings Luke to what he believes to be the source of the miasma, he is met with continuous, headache-inducing telepathic messages from Asch the Bloody, a young and violent young general. Thanks to their previous battles, Luke is far from wanting to trust the young soldier, who looks eerily similar to him.
The others soon learn, thanks to Tear and Asch's sudden arrival, that Van plans to destroy the town based on a personal grudge he has with the Score. They try to stop Van from using Luke and Ion as pawns in his game, but they are too late. The pillar holding up the town of Akzeriuth, known as a Sepiroth, these pillars are scattered throughout Auldrant, and are used to hold up the crust of the planet. What lies beneath is a truth kept secret from most of the world.
Van escapes, and Luke and the other party members are rescued by Tear, who uses a fonic hymn to shield the group from the town's collapse. However, those living in Akzeriuth are not as lucky. When the group wakes up beneath the planet's surface, they find that everyone else is dead. There is even an absolutely devastating scene where a young boy calls for help, but as the piece of land he has climbed upon is adrift in the deadly miasma sea, no one can reach him. Before anyone can use artes to try and save him, the earth shakes, and the boy sinks into the poisonous sea.
The group is fortunate that their ship, the Tartarus, has fallen alongside them into the abyss (the titular place!), but the heartbreak of Akzeriuth's fall has left everyone quiet. Upon discussing what occurred, Ion admits to having been tricked by Van, who had him unseal the door leading to Akzerituh's Sepiroth. The group forgives Ion, understanding that he never could have predicted such a phenomenon, but they are less patient with Luke. After all, not only has the young hero kept secrets from them, but Luke has never treated any party member with respect. Worst of all, his unstable powers, taken advantage of by Van, were the cause of Akzeriuth's fall, both directly and indirectly.
A life sheltered and pampered means that Luke is unable to truly accept responsibility, in any manner. As he shouts that what happened could not be his fault, everyone gazes at him with cold looks and chilling words, showcasing the end of their patience. Only Mieu remains by Luke's side as the would-be hero falls prey to his tears.
My goodness, this was not just a tough scene to witness in the game, but in any piece of media I've witnessed in general. Words alone cannot truly describe how utterly haunting this moment is.
Things only grow more somber as the group travels to Yulia City, a futuristic capital located in the planet's abyss and the home of Tear herself. There, Asch appears, furious for Luke's actions at the mining town. It is then and there that Luke learns why Asch looks so much like him, and most devastating of all, why he lacks any childhood memories.
At the age of ten, Asch, once known as Luke fon Fabre, was captured by Van, never to return home again. In his place, Van brought a clone of the boy to Kimlasca, a clone that is the Luke the players have come to know.
Dude. This was one of the most intense plot twists in a JRPG/RPG I've ever seen. At the point of writing this passage, I still have so many questions. Why did Asch never try to return home? Why did he stay with the Oracle Knights, when Van is one? How did he become a general? And most of all, how did he learn about Luke?
Understandably, Luke cannot believe this reality and tries to fight Asch, only to be instantly defeated and knocked out. For the rest of the first part, Luke is replaced by Asch, though the protagonist is able to see through the young general's eyes via their unusual connection. The party, except for Tear, Guy and Mieu, decided to place their trust in Asch as a means of getting back home and learning more about Van.
Part II: How To Save the World
Luke, following his first adventures, is now faced with great existential dread. Who is he meant to be, and what sort of path is he able to forge in life, especially in regards to his past?
The experiences Luke has faced up to this point, including the fateful outcome of the prophecy and what followed with the Akzeriuth journey, has given the young hero a newfound appreciation for those who remain to stay by his side, especially Mieu and Guy. He is also surprised to see that Tear is still open to assisting him on his complicated journey, though, she first wants to know if Luke can truly change.
Luke's response is this:
However, he knows that words alone don't hold a candle to sheer actions. Thus, he decides to cut his hair, a sign of his desire to turn over a new, and hopefully better, leaf. This resolve both surprises and satisifes Tear, though she is adamant that she expects Luke to hold up his promise.
Goodbye, fire-themed anime hair!
Tear reminds Luke that, despite how characters such as Guy and Mieu would be more welcoming of his rejoining the party, others would not. Natalia was caught between a rock and a hard place, and Jade and Anise, who never truly liked Luke in the first place, were especially not fond of him now. Despite that, Luke has now gained a new perspective and understands their feelings. However, at this point in time, Luke's self-worth has been highly diminished. As the viewer, despite his actions, I hope that Luke is able to find that self-worth again.
Soundtrack
Anise Talin, the young mage working with the heroes. Really, really likes money.
Finally! The music section for this music-centric game!
I know it's common for Seventh Fonists, but I can't get enough of Tear's music-related design elements.
If you've been reading this long (or simply read the section on my relationship with the Tales franchise, then you know just how important the music of this game is to me. I could listen to the Grand Fonic Hymn for hours and not get bored; it's that lovely of a melody.
Another melody I really like is the one for the main menu theme. Yes, I know I already embedded a song for this section, but it's too good not to share! Doesn't it perfectly encapsulate the start of a heartwrenching, exhilarating, and mysterious adventure?
Characters
Guy Cecil, Luke's longtime bodyguard, best friend, and older brother figure. Despite his good-natured and loyal personality, he appears to have a sad past...
Oh Tales of the Abyss...oh you and your hauntingly emotionally and morally complex cast of characters.
I have many, many words I want to write about each cast member, but for the sake of the audience I will try to write about just my favorite three...unless I gain another favorite, and then I will add to this section.
Mieu is a character I saw and instantly went "Oh, a cute little mascot character! Knowing me I'll definitely like him." I was right! But gosh, I was definitely not expecting such a sad backstory for such a sweet little animal. Mieu is very much still a baby cheagle; he is learning about the world as he travels (like anyone), is hopelessly naive, and can be very impulsive. Despite this, and despite every bad thing he has faced, Mieu never gives up on his optimistic outlook nor his loyalty to Luke. The young protagonist only realizes just how much Mieu cares for him at his lowest point, and silently appears to vow to treat the little cheagle better.
Tear, compared to Mieu, is more pessimistic, though I certainly do not see her as a Debbie Downer. Rather, Tear is a realist, and a very logical one at that. She seeks the truth first and foremost, though her own loyalties at times, much like Luke's, can cloud her judgement. At only sixteen, Tear is a formidable member of the Oracle Knights, a reality that causes Luke to often call her "cold". It is Tear who first teaches Luke the rule of "kill or be killed" that exists within Auldrant.
However, Luke is very wrong about Tear being a "heartless" person. Rather, she is a very compassionate heroine, and one who believes in second chances. She cares deeply about the safety of others and the entire world, and vows to never rest until true peace can be achieved. In a humorous turn of events, the player learns that Tear is actually rather bashful, and daydreams about meeting her true love like any other. She also adores cute things, especially cheagles.
I find it hard to piece together a simple statement about our main protagonist, likely because he is so complex. From my previous frustrations, I can absolutely see how the audience may think I dislike Luke. That is far from the case! Rather, he has become one of my favorite JRPG/RPG protagonists in a long time because of how complicated and nuanced a character he is.
Watching Luke transform from a close-minded, childish noble to a determined hero is an emotional rollercoaster, and I can't wait to see what lies in store for him and his allies. May they all find happy endings!
Closing Thoughts
I've played many role-playing games, and despite that I continue to find games that absolutely leave me in awe. The themes explored in Tales of the Abyss are elements I have seen before, but never like this. It is one of those amazing pieces of media that truly last forever in the minds of those who have played it, a reason why fans today still look back fondly on their memories with this title. As a newcomer, I absolutely understand why now! It has been such a rollercoaster finally interacting with Tales of the Abyss after admiring it from afar.
