Tales of Hearts Anime Movie Edition

The Tales of Hearts Anime Movie Edition for DS is the other half of one of the most fascinating release strategies in JRPG history. Where the CG Movie Edition went with rendered cutscenes, this Japanese DS version features traditional anime-style animation, and it comes loaded with extras that lean into the broader Tales universe. Two versions of the same game, two different visual identities, both collectible.

This edition's bonus content goes deep. You get a Chat Drama featuring crossover conversations between characters from Hearts, Vesperia, Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2's Emil, Innocence, and Abyss, including fan favorites like Yuri, Guy, and the infamous Barbatos from Destiny 2. There's also footage from Tales of Festival featuring the Hearts stage presentation, the anime opening movie, a promotional video for the Tales series, and details on a Bandai Namco project that was in development at the time.

The Chat Drama alone makes this edition a collector's priority. Those character crossover conversations are exclusive to this package and feature voice work from across the franchise, making it a love letter to long-time Tales fans. The Tales of Festival footage adds another layer of exclusivity, capturing a live event moment in physical form.

For import collectors, the Anime Movie Edition often gets the slight edge in desirability over the CG version because anime-style cutscenes align more closely with what fans expect from a Tales game. Owning both editions side by side is the completionist move, but if you're choosing one, this edition's crossover content and anime presentation make a compelling case.