In many ways, Tales the order is defined by binary. It’s one of the longest-running RPG franchises, but somehow no one has heard of it. Its highs are some of the highest in its genre, but it contains some of the worst games I’ve ever played (seriously, never mind. Tales of Zestiria again). It’s a series that tries to reinvent itself with each new game, but it stays in its ways more than any long-running RPG franchise I can think of. with Climbing talesBandai Namco seems to have finally shaken up the series formula in a big way, but it’s defined by its duality more than ever.
So I think it’s great that the game has now found a place on Nintendo’s latest hybrid console, the Switch 2. Oh, the duality!
When I review Climbing tales After its initial release in 2021, I described it as a much-needed evolution for Bandai Namco’s long-running JRPG franchise. The series had spent years perfecting the familiar formula, but Get up felt more like a step forward than another incremental update. Its more cinematic presentation, stronger visual identity, engaging real-time combat system and compelling cast helped it stand out from its predecessors. Tales games, but also within the wider RPG landscape. While some story pacing issues and genre clichés kept it from being a seamless experience, it was nevertheless one of the series’ strongest modern entries and an easy recommendation for dedicated fans and newcomers alike.
A few years later, this ruling remains largely unchanged. Climbing tales continues to be an engaging action RPG with a satisfying combat system that gradually unfolds over dozens of hours. The game’s emphasis on character relationships, expressed through the series’ trademark skits and party interactions, gives the cast a sense of warmth and personality that many RPGs struggle to achieve. Its world may be divided into relatively small, segmented regions rather than a seamless open world, but this design choice allows each space to feel handcrafted and visually distinct. The result is a journey that’s compelling in both gameplay and presentation, even as more recent RPGs hit the market.
The Nintendo Switch 2 version successfully maintains many of these strengths. From a visual standpoint, the game translates very well to Nintendo’s new hardware. Image quality is strong whether playing in dock or handheld mode, and the game’s distinctive art direction continues to do most of the heavy lifting. Climbing tales uses a stylized presentation that combines detailed environments with a clear sharpening and contrast effect. This gives the game an almost outlined quality, creating a thin outline-like appearance around objects and characters. At its best, the visual style resembles a motion picture and helps the game retain its appeal years after its original release.
is one of the biggest advantages of Climbing talesThe design is such that its environments are relatively compact compared to many modern RPGs. Instead of spreading resources across vast open spaces, the developers concentrated the details on smaller maps filled with environmental flourishes, distinctive architecture, and atmospheric touches. The Switch 2 version benefits significantly from this approach. Areas remain rich in visual detail, and the game’s artistic strengths are evident on both large displays and handheld screens. Despite being a few years old, it remains one of the most compelling games in the franchise and still looks impressive on modern hardware.
The performance is somewhat less convincing. While the frame rate generally stays above 30fps, it doesn’t consistently maintain a locked target. The framerate can vary significantly during gameplay, varying between a constant 30fps and an unlocked framerate at certain moments. The result is a presentation that can feel uneven even when the game is technically performing within an acceptable range. A more aggressive frame rate cap will likely improve perceived smoothness and create a more consistent experience overall.
Despite these performance quirks, the Nintendo Switch 2 version remains a solid port of an excellent RPG. It retains the visual ambition, engaging combat, and memorable characters that made the original release such a success, while offering the flexibility of a portable game. For missing players Climbing tales first time, this is still one of the best entry points to the series. For returning fans, the Switch 2 version offers another compelling way to revisit one of the franchise’s most significant and successful inventions.
