Oh my gosh, that skit makes so much sense now, especially seeing Mikleo walk up to his right side and surprising him at his left, and Sorey's brief shocked face as he quickly tries to recover with nervous laughter when it's revealed he was watching him the whole time. I'm having an epiphany, and I know I watched that over ten times wondering why it suddenly popped up. I thought it was an added effect to show that of course on the journey people are going to have arguments. It's good to look at it just as them being so close to one another that they don't have to say things in an upfront manner like other people -- even some with close relationships as well -- do. But that really did add another layer when you come to the realization, added on that while Mikleo is upset he doesn't reveal his knowledge about it until its hinderance poses a danger and nearly kills him and Alisha. When Sorey gets confronted he immediately goes to defend him. As for Sorey, as powerful as he is with his resonance and newfound ability to purify hellions, he's still naive, running into bad situations too quickly without thinking much about it. When it comes down to relying on his friends he has to be reminded constantly until he can give into laying his burdens onto them as well. Just handling things by himself would be like traveling alone, which I guess ties into the way he loses his sight of the seraphim while fighting Heldalf prematurely. Or in the case with his blind eye, he needs to let them know when he's struggling instead of keeping it closed up, since that's when it can become detrimental and counterproductive to the reasons he didn't want to say anything. He's so pure and has a good heart but it does take time for him to work through all of his flaws. Simple and saintly as he is though, he still has moments where he's a huge tease (usually with Mikleo) or gets exasperated to the point of near vexation, like the one scene when he's trying to protect Rose from the drake(?) hellion and she starts yelling nonstop and goes "What is wrong with you!?" and "What now!?" Out of good nature, of course, because he just doesn't want her to get hurt and he's already struggling to hold it off. After the danger's passed he greets her and Dezel with smiles and immediately invites them to come with like nothing happened. Or when Edna causes him to get punched because she scared Rose, right after he woke up after worrying about where everybody went. Or with Zaveid and his ulterior motives, where he's oblivious to the direction he's trying to take him in but still knows that it's likely very lecherous. But that's less angry and more like "Oh... here goes this. Again." Or when the seraphim all decide to have arguments in his head, except his reaction is more like "Uh, guys?" Those scenes are a bit of a rarity since you'd have to be on another level to push his buttons, but very enjoyable and help shatter the assumption that because of his amity it's just as easy to step over him like a carpet, or he can't be a troublemaker from time to time (at least not to Zaveid's level of lechery). It makes him feel less polished and more human in terms of characterization and I admire seeing that, since he's meant to be the "saintly" chosen one who's wary of his reactions as to not get wrapped up in malevolence and mess up everything. -- For the protagonist part, the two types I share a lot of interest in as of late are the kind-hearted softie who still has to work through issues to grow into a better person, and the extremely flawed one that you start off rooting for... until you realize that they might not be as good as you thought they were, and you can't steer them away from it. All you can do is watch and hope they learn before it's too late. Both are interesting because of how prevalent you see the rowdy, angsty, stubborn, short-tempered, very immature and potentially insensitive protagonists, usually male. With the expectation that you have to care for protagonists because A. they're your self insert or B. you spend time playing them throughout the entirety of the 40+ hours that you ought to feel that bond, I love for it to be subverted from time to time. The striking issue for the latter is that while you may get the extremely flawed protagonist the writers may not address it, instead parading them as a hero/potential savior throughout the game.
Ahh my comment was long ;;; But overall, this video was amazing and all the points you brought up were very accurate! Games can take up a lot of time to play when you want to go over the things you missed before. Even after 2-3 replays I find myself wondering whether I've forgotten something crucial.
Hi! Thanks for your comment oh my goodness, it really made my day! I know right??? I didn't realise about the skit at first, not until another fan pointed it out on a post I read, and it all became really clear. I just love how it says so much about their relationship, no matter whether you know the context or not. I agree, though, that it's even more interesting with that context. The subtlety of the writing amazes me. I agree, it makes it so interesting for his character that he still has this naivety. I suppose it makes sense, given that this is his first time venturing into the world of humans. I imagine he's always been pretty self-reliant, aside from when he was young and the seraphim had to teach him survival skills and such. It makes a lot of sense that he wouldn't want to have to weigh people down on this journey, especially since he's the one who chose this path. I'm glad his friends are there to make him understand that he can rely on them. And yes, oh my goodness, those parts are some of my favourite things about Sorey. Even though he's kind and cares about his friends, he does have moments of exasperation, just like any human being. It adds so much to his character, since he's not some messiah figure leading the human populace. He's a human too, just one with the power to make change. And of course, it makes interactions between the characters so much more interesting to have that part of him, too. I think those are really interesting types of protagonists too! Personally I'd tend to lean more towards the kind-hearted softie - I just love gentle and troubled characters. Still, flawed heroes create such an interesting dynamic in the game, both with the other characters and the player themselves. As you mentioned though, it's important that a flawed protagonist can be made accountable for their actions, and not just held up as a hero. Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video, and that it was accurate too! I always worry that I've missed a crucial point in my analysis, so it's nice to hear that this video was accurate. And I totally agree, that's part of the reason why I love replaying ToZ - I feel like I see something new every time, and it keeps me in a state where I remember the things that keep me interested in it, and the questions I want to figure out the answers to. It would be nice to have more time to do that of course, haha ^^"
Sorey being a lens fits his journey as Shepard quite well. If we see the differences between what triggers the good ending and the bad along with some of Heldalf's dialogue, it makes more sense. All the four trials along with some parts of his journey had him understanding human nature in some ways like how the swordsmith turned shepard Ashura became a hellion, something we learn in the water trial. This particular example is something I find important which I will get into later. Now in order to get the bad ending, we must simply defeat Heldalf before Javeed joins the party and gives some helpful info. While one might see the bad ending happening only because Sorey never knew about Maotelus, there's more at play here. Remember how Heldalf reacted to Sorey on their first meeting? He points out about his "purity" which I feel like something he was disgusted by. This "purity" this might allude to being ignorant about the world or more specifically, human nature. Hence when Sorey simply beats Heldalf, he expects things to be good as he defeated the Lord of Calamity, his supposed nemesis and manifestation of 'evil." Instead we see that nothing changes and a large Hellion suddenly appears as the story ends. And then to proceed normally to the good ending we need Zaveid and he mentions Maotelus missing. Then Sorey and his team seeks out Heldalf to confirm if he has anything to do with it or not. When they fight, Heldalf mentions things like the true nature of Seraphim, how Malevolence exists withing all along with something the ecstasy of beating up and defeating one's opponent, a feeling that he thinks Sorey possessed. The latter is actually something that alludes to people's ignorant view about evil. Evil isn't something like a bad person who you can simply beat up to defeat and you are good for opposing him. Rather anyone can become evil under the right circumstances. This is probably alluding to Sorey thinking that beating Heldalf will save everything when Malevolence is in fact born from evil nature. This is where the Ashura example comes into play. Sorey was in many ways treading a similar path as the former swordsmith. We learn that Ashura too also was a pure person. But he became so obsessed with quelling Malevolence, at one point he became insane upon realizing everyone can become a potential source for Malevolence and it resulted in him wanting to create a sword that can destroy all. In his theory, simply killing off people will quell Malevolence, which technically is true in a way. Sorey was also quite obsessed with ending Heldalf to save the world until that point so notice the parallels between the two. Plus the most surprising part is when Sorey tells Heldalf that he won't fight for now, we actually see the Lord of Calamity smile upon hearing his words. It's like he was quite satisfied by the Shepards answer. Perhaps he got fed up with annoying self righteous Shepards in the past who never understood human nature and malevolence like Phi or Velvet did and was surprised to see Sorey not repeat the same mistakes.
I don't really know how to respond to this other than to thank you for sharing it! This is such a good insight into the Bad End in a way that I hadn't consciously thought about before!
Oh God 😭😭😭😭 Sorey is one of my favorite characters of all time!! I am soooooo happy!!! Finally I have found a great analysis of Sorey. Thank you so so so much. You earned a new subscriber. Your analysis is soooooo accurate that I was nodding all along T^T I always get really really sad when people start saying that Sorey is “boring” and “bland” and “he doesn’t grow” and “ uninteresting main character”. 😢 That is soooo not true at all! In fact, Sorey is someone who subtly grows throughout the series and we grow with him just as you said, he is like our lens. When Sorey first encountered the war, I felt his growing frustration and sadness. You could feel he is realizing that the world is not as pure as it is at Elysia. We felt him growing there. Also, at the end, when he faced Heldalf all alone, you could see how much he has grown. And Sorey is not your typical protagonist. He is smart, well-mannered, polite, energetic, brave, and full of motivation and enthusiasm. He listens to others and uses his mind and thinks through situations and takes his friends’ advices into deep consideration. He consults them before hand (especially Mikleo) and always works with them. He also is sooooooo innocent and pure and optimistic, I just couldn’t help but liking his character sooooo much. 😭 Honestly speaking, I am really tired of “badass” or “antihero” or “troubled past” characters. All media are full of them nowadays. Or if they wanted to make a typical peaceful enthusiastic character, he would be stupid or typical shonen main character. But Sorey is different and unique. Really unique. And he is one of the main reasons I like Zestiria so much (even if there were some flaws in the games storytelling at some points XD). Sorry for the long comment. I was extremely happy about your video I could not stop writing XD. I will immediately send the video to my sister. She would be really happy as well. And I will check your Mikleo analysis very soon 🙈. My sister also likes Mikleo sooo much so she would fly from happiness XD. Best wishes
Thank you so much for your kind comment! I'm really glad you enjoyed this analysis. Sorey is one of my favourite characters too, mostly because he is so different from the typical shonen protagonist and antihero stereotypes. I totally agree with the points you've listed about him, they're all things which make him so much more interesting and likeable as a character! Thanks again for your comment, I really am flattered! I hope your sister enjoys the video too, and that you enjoy the Mikleo analysis video as well!
Sorey is my least favorite member in the cast and maby in all of the tales games he was just annoying and when he was protecting his friends he either ends up in a fight with the or he just calls them useless and have them walk off I felt there was another way to save people the choosing what people wanted for them However. I felt him change throughout the game as his team grows he starts to believe in his friends and I like that I agree with the part when you say he thinks before acting his reasoning for the things he dose may be dumb but I feel that should be one of the key parts of the game the main characters progress and changes throughout the game
Awesome analysis. I don't like how some people just outright complain about Zestiria is bad because Sorey is a bland main character. I love Sorey and I think he is one of the more calm, analytic and smarter main character compared to other Tales games. He actually have some character development even though it is less obvious because it depends on whether players could relate to him or not. And I agree about Dezel character. I wished his backstory could have been touched upon earlier on since he is my favourite Seraphim.
Thanks! Honestly the flack against Sorey I've heard from some people who have played (and often not enjoyed) Zestiria is largely what made me want to make an analysis video defending him. I really fell in love with him over the course of the game, since he is so different in mannerisms from the other Tales characters I know of. Popular characters like Lloyd and Luke spring to mind - they're interesting characters, sure, but their character arcs are more about growing up. With Sorey having had the upbringing he's had, it makes sense for him to be more analytical and intelligent. Just because he's not quite as impulsive as other Tales leads doesn't mean he isn't interesting in his own right.
I think Sorey is just misunderstood. His innocence and naivete gives off the impression that he's dumb but Sorey is certainly smarter than he appears once you get to know him. Not only that, he's absolutely adorable and just a really, sweet, sweet guy. I fell in love with his character as soon as I saw the anime version of Zestiria and checked out the game as well. ^^
I never knew that Sorey was blind in one of his eyes. I saw him stall a bit in the manga but I assumed it was from being tired after armitized and changing back. I've seen many anime series and Sorey is by far the most innocent, pure, and totally clueless protagonists I've ever seen. And I'm also pretty sure that Sorey would not have gone very far on his journey if Mikleo had not been there for him. I thought it strange that Mikleo seemed to know more about the human world than Sorey did considering that they both lived their whole lives in Elysium and never interacted with other humans before they left.
Yeah, they're pretty subtle about showing it in the game and the manga. When I first played the game I thought the same thing as you, but during the big fight against the plant boss, it became clear. And Mikleo mentions at the start of the game that he's been doing research in preparation for when Sorey finally decides to leave Elysia - I'd imagine he met with Gramps several times to talk about it. With Mikleo being Sorey's closest friend, even in Elysia, Gramps probably knows that Mikleo doesn't want to leave Sorey's side. Because of this, I'd imagine Gramps told Mikleo a long time ago that Sorey would one day want to leave, and that's when Mikleo started researching about the world of humans. Gramps probably taught him a lot about it too. Sorey definitely wouldn't have gotten far without Mikleo, I agree. Even if he pushed onward by himself to Ladylake and became the Shepherd, things probably wouldn't have gone well. He probably would have pushed himself too hard, since his sole source of impulse control (Mikleo) wouldn't be there to stop him from doing stupid things. I don't think he would have enjoyed the journey half as much either.
@@elixirvitaegames Right. Personally, I think that even if Sorey managed to sneak out of Elysia alone, Mikleo would have tracked him down sooner or later. He seems to know Sorey better than Sorey knows himself lol...
I have been playing Zestiria since Day 1 on PS3,PS4 and Steam and I am well versed it it. However upon finding your channel I never made the connection of Sorey being blind in one eye but thanks to Elixir I will never forget this fact. Like the saying goes "You learn something new every day."
This is a really enlightening analysis, and something that allowed me to understand Sorey a little better! Thank you for that 😊 The Unspoken Bond skit was something that I had pondered for a good while. It really unnerved me since it was a skit that showed Sorey and Mikleo's relationship but I couldn't understand at all! I had so many questions, why Mikleo was around Sorey, what did Sorey mean by "getting used to", what they were both referring to. In retrospect, it's quite special and amazing exactly how they know what they other is thinking despite it being so vague, but also frustrating as how a newcomer wouldn't be able to understand it at all. I eventually assumed they were talking about the Shepherd's burden on Sorey, which didn't make sense since it's been a little while after the Sacred Blade ceremony. When I got to the part where it explicitly talks about the toll of Alisha's Squire pact, I still never made the connection. Watching the video made me feel silly missing all the hints XD I never considered the five senses as one of the themes. What I got from Zesty was understanding people, and seeing the truth for yourself. There were a few other ones but I'll just leave them for now XD. While it also pertains to sight, I think your explanation is much better. While Earthen Historias allow the party to see what happened in the past, it's generally is limited to sight. However, the Camlann one is different, where they are, quite literally, living in the past. They experienced the scenes as if they were a part of it, particularly Sorey and Mikleo. At one point, Rose and the others had to remind them how it had already happened for them to not get too caught up in it. It also pertains to Sorey's decision. Although sight seemed to be the main one affected in the story, he had to cut off the entirety of his senses if he wanted to purify the land. I definitely with your analysis of Dezel's arc, I feel that it can be a problem with any lens when handled badly. One of the reasons for Zesty's controversy may also be because of Sorey as a lens. While the audience is able to see Sorey grow and develop as well as understand the world with him, it also may lead to bad developments of the other party members because they aren't able to connect with them well enough, the Pendrago scene in particular. Dezel is a character that like, but not his arc. Don't get me wrong, I really like Dezel, but his arc is extremely messy and, what you have said, basically an info-dump on the audience. Honestly, I never understood the scenes until I read a few translations of the guidebook. We were able to feel the chaos, the sheer suddenness of Symonne's entrance, as well as the panic when Dezel goes berserk, through Sorey, but we weren't given time to organize our thoughts and feel what Dezel was feeling. What the audience was feeling was probably what Sorey was feeling instead. Although with me, I favor the characters over the plot, so I was okay to accept it XD This is SUCH an eye-opening analysis on Zestiria! Honestly, at this point, I'm probably just going to write paragraphs of commentary on all your reviews, so, apologies in advance. I have so much thoughts on Zestiria and is quite nice to see your analysis and have self-debates on it (as weird as that sounds XD). I could continue going on about this but it'd just be endless scrolling at that point. Once again, thank you so much for this wonderful analysis!
What I find interesting about Zestiria's seraphs is that they are not necessarily perfect god-like beings who exist to teach humans right from wrong. Even though they have powers humans don't, the seraphs are still vulnerable and very human like in many other aspects. They are also not necessarily immortal, just long lived since we do see Mikleo age notably when he's reunited with Sorey. Which leads me to believe that they do age, just at a much slower rate than humans due to their longer lifespans.
This analysis is incredible. I learned so much from your video. It was wonderful getting to know so much more about the characters and you've done an incredible job with the editing in this video!
Sorey is my baby, that's all I can say. And it's true, Sorey is a powerful lens... and he makes me want to see all the positive things in the world without denying the negative that is there all the time (including the condemnation and prejudice that's a very human reaction to the negativity). Rose being an assassin-turned-shepherd also provides a balance to the view that people are born good and are destined for goodness. It shows us how "justice" isn't JUST about doing what is right, but about correcting "injustice" and "foul play," which Sorey and Rose approach from the opposite ends of the continuum... Sorey as a "pure" human raised by "pure" seraphim in a seraphim world, and Rose as a "rebel" and "outlaw" in human society partially corrupted by a "corrupt" seraph (Dezel). The catch: No matter how you are born, who raised you, what sins you committed, you can be a hero if you do everything in your power to change the world for the better. So are they simply creatures of destiny? Even the anime end-song by fhana denies the notion that Sorey's choice is a matter of calling. He and Mikleo consciously made their choices, and those choices make us who we are--neither the past, nor our mistakes, nor our shortcomings or anything else. Velvet made choices based on grudges, ill-will, and desire for revenge. She's an archetypal "revenge" protag who can't move on from the past, thereby serving as a FOIL for Rose and Sorey (i.e. "foil" = "contrast" that highlights qualities of the MCs). Sorey can't be like Velvet (which is neither good nor bad)... because he sees the world as a world where we have to coexist no matter how different we are, or no matter how our moral proclivities and ways of being clash. Differences provide balance and spiritual growth. While Sorey need not be involved with the problems of humans as he has fully adjusted to the ways of the seraphim in Elysia far FAR away from the human world, he CHOSE to intervene because he realized his personal happiness also DEPENDS on the fate of the world even if it doesn't care about his existence. Velvet and all the other Tales heroes acted on personal concerns and grudges, ill-feelings and experiences of injustice. Sorey CHOSE to intervene, he was NOT dragged into it by personal motives save to see humans and seraphim coexisting. That's NOT even personal since humans live short lives and the seraphim will outlive all humanity anyway. But Sorey might want that dream for a reason (Mikleo? Only the seraphim/Lailah, Mikleo thought Alisha was the motive, but the drama CDs had Sorey clarifying that.) I also like Sorey's sort of "asexual" quote, "There are as many emotions as there are stars in the sky." Truly, why do we need to define ourselves and others in the same way we always want to define our feelings? How can we be truly heroes if we can't even rise above our own prejudice (gender, cultural, racial, etc.)? I can't be a hero, but Sorey can... I hope we find REAL people like him. ^_^
Sorey seems so open book but he really does have a lot of things he can't bring himself to say. And it's amazing (and understandable lol) that so many of those things are about Mikleo! I'm really glad you agree with my theory about Sorey being a lens. There is so much that can be learnt from Sorey, as you've mentioned. I felt like I really learn a lot whenever I think about him and his feelings about things - about the world, the people, and just his way of thinking. In that sense, the game really does work to show you his way of seeing the world first and foremost, I think. Thanks for the comment! (Also hey, I thought I recognised your name! I think you've actually commented on a few of my fics before lol. I'll make sure to check yours out at some point too!)
Sorey is absolutely adorable, I don't know how anyone can not like him and think he's a bad protagonist. I think maybe its his innocence and naivete that may give off the impression that he's dumb but he's really nothing of the sort. Sorey's honesty and willingness to trust and see good in people his a virtue, but it can sometimes work against him. Which makes him lucky to have a a friend like Mikleo because without him, Sorey probably wouldn't have been able to make it very far on his journey, even with the help of his other friends.
@@Elly3981 I know. The comments of gamers in Daniel Santos's "The Alisha Controversy" as well as those in the Tales polls done by game reviewers (not B-Namco) are just so biased and unfair. Just because Sorey's a good guy who works hard, accepts everyone for who they are, and doesn't seem to be attracted to the opposite sex doesn't mean he's "bland" and the "worst Tales hero ever there was." Some Tales gamers say he's the reason they absolutely hate Zestiria, but I think what you said the other day is true... Fans want a boy x girl ship so bad they lost sight of what Sorey is trying to prove... I think what makes him one of the best (if not the best) Tales heroes is that he can BREAK ALL THE RULES... break expectations on gender, sexuality, religion etc... and still do the "right" thing. Sorey has no "vanity" and "hey I'm, the hero, look at me" complex. He's not ashamed to show he's more intimate with a guy. No other Tales hero tried to do that... they always "go homo" and take a step back for the mainstream audience. They hog all the limelight and outshine everybody else. By the way, Daniel Santos threatened to "block" me from all his videos, thinking I'm spamming him because I'm defending Zestiria in the comments... I raise legit issues in his review, I reply to commentators on issues they raise in his videos and he thinks I'm selling Zestiria? Dear god, how hateful can some people be? In one recent video (May 2020), he starts his review by saying "Oh, it breaks my heart that new Tales fans think Zestiria is representative of Tales games..." He claims old Tales games (along with Berseria) are "better" and wants Zesty fans to believe his bashing is "done out of love for the developers." I told him I tolerated all the verbal abuse and insults from his "fans" because I just want to answer the issues they raised, and it's not spamming if you're clarifying points about Alisha... and the one-sided theories aired by his "fans" on the topic of the review. And here he was, not answering TWO issues I raised with regard to his reviews, and he avoids them by saying I'm "spamming all his videos" and "he'll block me" but then "I'm childish and immature" so he's thinking about it. He thinks he's immune to criticism, he's god, so only he can throw garbage at Zestiria but if you defend, you're "spamming" and you're "childish and immature." I apologize to Elixir Vitae Games for raising these points here... it's just that these things happen in other game reviews... and it's sad because some reviews really "fuel" the hate and "divide" the fandom, but they accuse Zestiria of being the one that's "divisive" and "a black sheep," and they say a lot of things to intimidate fans, rather than make them feel good about the games that they are supposed to be enjoying, right? I didn't play Zestiria to have people tell me I'm a "stupid dumbshit." I played it to have fun. Can't they understand that? Last night, one commentator in Santos's old video kept asking for a discussion, and when I told him I can't reply anymore because the video uploader/Daniel Santos will "block" me, he asked "Who is Daniel Santos?" I think that was an "unintended" insult right there. ^_^ And thanks for the reply, you're new to Tales just like me... but you appreciate Zestiria more. ^_^
@@turquoisemoon3654 I think I have seen that Alisha controversy video by Dan Santos a while back. He reminds me a bit of GamerTurk who does a lot of review videos on the SAO games. People like that think they know everything and that their biased opinions are the only ones that matter. I usually recommend people to check out a game or anime series for themselves before judging them rather than go by what others say, especially on social media. Its been almost six years since Zestiria has been released and you'd think people would get over their disappointment with the game/anime plot not going the way they expected by now, especially in regards to Alisha and Sorey/Alisha pairing. Honestly, I don't think anyone would have question who was the one for Sorey if Mikleo was female and they probably wouldn't have bashed ToZ as much, even with Alisha not being the main heroine. I really believe Hideo Baba could have saved himself a lot of headache if he just made Mikleo a girl. Btw, have you been on Twitter lately? Mika Akira made some new adorable Sorey/Mikleo art and comics that you just have to see! I adore her art style, so simple yet so cute and pretty ^^.
@@Elly3981 Yeah, that would be a relief! I really think I need more fanart to make my day! Thanks for the recommendation! As for these bashers, yeah, that's what I asked him, it's been years... and even the comments in his video were like... you can say what you want but we like Zestiria and it's in our top 3 Tales games... (but he deflates the comment by saying yeah, thanks for enjoying it... but I honestly think it's a terrible game... :() And I also clarified I only speak up when his "fans" call me out... I don't insist on my views without tying it up with the issue that's being discussed. Fans of other Tales games keep advertising their games in Zestiria sites (even "yaoi" sites, would you believe it?) where the fans are asking about Zestiria... but they intrude and say "Hey, buy Vesperia it's the best Tales ever." That's even more unfair... like they're hogging the limelight. Unlike these "real spammers" I never talk trash about a game to insinuate that my fave game is a better buy. I think Dan Santos just wants to knock me down and make people think I'm to be hated like the game. It's been done before... and I feel bad because I used to recommend his reviews.
Very interesting analysis! I love Sorey, he's one of my favourite Tales of protagonists (along with Mikleo, Luke and Lloyd). I've seen people bad mouth him, but I think they just can't see how special and different Sorey is as character. There's nothing generic about him, specially not in the context of the games of his time. He's also very much like Luke in one aspect: the opening song of the game describes him and his experiences to a T, but we only find out about it completely in the end.
People think I think or talk too much about Zestiria and maybe I do... but I can't help but agree with you. I think Sorey's one of the most unique protagonists... he's never generic, his practical philosophy and sense of justice is positive and enlightening, not something you'd find easily in games and fiction where angst and darker, more morbid themes are packaged in such a way to have more entertainment value for audiences who are no longer happy with happy. I find the right balance in Sorey... he's neither too "dark" nor too "light" and spirited as to lose sight of the good in the bad, his bonds with his loved ones, and his dreams. His friendship with Mikleo shows just how deep and beautiful real friendship can be when there's genuine love and respect there that transcend all known social boundaries. And yeah, the ending given him is something Sorey truly deserves...
My main issue with zestiria characters is that they felt really mechanical, like they were just there to fulfill gameplay archetypes and deliver exposition. This has at least helped me understand what the narrative was shooting for a little better. Ty
Really liked the video. One thing though, is there any chance of future videos to have the music lower. At points it was a bit hard to hear you because the music was overpowering.
Thanks, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video!! Also thank you so much for flagging that up, I'll make sure to manage the audio levels better in future videos. Sorry about the inconvenience!!
That's certainly an interesting theory. I didn't really like Sorey to be honest I kinda found him to be a generic mesiah figure in a series that likes to buck that trend, it's little wonder Berseria took great pains to subvert the archetype. It didn't help that I didn't really enjoy the game all that much, restrictive combat mechanics, a slapdash story etc. it just rubbed me the wrong way and that probably made me dislike the characters more. It's is interesting that you got some symbolism out of that losing the eyesite thing, I always so it as nothing more than an excuse to get rid of Alisha so Rose could be shoved into the secondary protagonist role.
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Oh my gosh, that skit makes so much sense now, especially seeing Mikleo walk up to his right side and surprising him at his left, and Sorey's brief shocked face as he quickly tries to recover with nervous laughter when it's revealed he was watching him the whole time. I'm having an epiphany, and I know I watched that over ten times wondering why it suddenly popped up. I thought it was an added effect to show that of course on the journey people are going to have arguments.
It's good to look at it just as them being so close to one another that they don't have to say things in an upfront manner like other people -- even some with close relationships as well -- do. But that really did add another layer when you come to the realization, added on that while Mikleo is upset he doesn't reveal his knowledge about it until its hinderance poses a danger and nearly kills him and Alisha. When Sorey gets confronted he immediately goes to defend him.
As for Sorey, as powerful as he is with his resonance and newfound ability to purify hellions, he's still naive, running into bad situations too quickly without thinking much about it. When it comes down to relying on his friends he has to be reminded constantly until he can give into laying his burdens onto them as well. Just handling things by himself would be like traveling alone, which I guess ties into the way he loses his sight of the seraphim while fighting Heldalf prematurely. Or in the case with his blind eye, he needs to let them know when he's struggling instead of keeping it closed up, since that's when it can become detrimental and counterproductive to the reasons he didn't want to say anything. He's so pure and has a good heart but it does take time for him to work through all of his flaws.
Simple and saintly as he is though, he still has moments where he's a huge tease (usually with Mikleo) or gets exasperated to the point of near vexation, like the one scene when he's trying to protect Rose from the drake(?) hellion and she starts yelling nonstop and goes "What is wrong with you!?" and "What now!?" Out of good nature, of course, because he just doesn't want her to get hurt and he's already struggling to hold it off. After the danger's passed he greets her and Dezel with smiles and immediately invites them to come with like nothing happened.
Or when Edna causes him to get punched because she scared Rose, right after he woke up after worrying about where everybody went. Or with Zaveid and his ulterior motives, where he's oblivious to the direction he's trying to take him in but still knows that it's likely very lecherous. But that's less angry and more like "Oh... here goes this. Again." Or when the seraphim all decide to have arguments in his head, except his reaction is more like "Uh, guys?"
Those scenes are a bit of a rarity since you'd have to be on another level to push his buttons, but very enjoyable and help shatter the assumption that because of his amity it's just as easy to step over him like a carpet, or he can't be a troublemaker from time to time (at least not to Zaveid's level of lechery). It makes him feel less polished and more human in terms of characterization and I admire seeing that, since he's meant to be the "saintly" chosen one who's wary of his reactions as to not get wrapped up in malevolence and mess up everything.
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For the protagonist part, the two types I share a lot of interest in as of late are the kind-hearted softie who still has to work through issues to grow into a better person, and the extremely flawed one that you start off rooting for... until you realize that they might not be as good as you thought they were, and you can't steer them away from it. All you can do is watch and hope they learn before it's too late. Both are interesting because of how prevalent you see the rowdy, angsty, stubborn, short-tempered, very immature and potentially insensitive protagonists, usually male.
With the expectation that you have to care for protagonists because A. they're your self insert or B. you spend time playing them throughout the entirety of the 40+ hours that you ought to feel that bond, I love for it to be subverted from time to time. The striking issue for the latter is that while you may get the extremely flawed protagonist the writers may not address it, instead parading them as a hero/potential savior throughout the game.
Ahh my comment was long ;;;
But overall, this video was amazing and all the points you brought up were very accurate! Games can take up a lot of time to play when you want to go over the things you missed before. Even after 2-3 replays I find myself wondering whether I've forgotten something crucial.
Hi! Thanks for your comment oh my goodness, it really made my day!
I know right??? I didn't realise about the skit at first, not until another fan pointed it out on a post I read, and it all became really clear. I just love how it says so much about their relationship, no matter whether you know the context or not. I agree, though, that it's even more interesting with that context. The subtlety of the writing amazes me.
I agree, it makes it so interesting for his character that he still has this naivety. I suppose it makes sense, given that this is his first time venturing into the world of humans. I imagine he's always been pretty self-reliant, aside from when he was young and the seraphim had to teach him survival skills and such. It makes a lot of sense that he wouldn't want to have to weigh people down on this journey, especially since he's the one who chose this path. I'm glad his friends are there to make him understand that he can rely on them.
And yes, oh my goodness, those parts are some of my favourite things about Sorey. Even though he's kind and cares about his friends, he does have moments of exasperation, just like any human being. It adds so much to his character, since he's not some messiah figure leading the human populace. He's a human too, just one with the power to make change. And of course, it makes interactions between the characters so much more interesting to have that part of him, too.
I think those are really interesting types of protagonists too! Personally I'd tend to lean more towards the kind-hearted softie - I just love gentle and troubled characters. Still, flawed heroes create such an interesting dynamic in the game, both with the other characters and the player themselves. As you mentioned though, it's important that a flawed protagonist can be made accountable for their actions, and not just held up as a hero.
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video, and that it was accurate too! I always worry that I've missed a crucial point in my analysis, so it's nice to hear that this video was accurate. And I totally agree, that's part of the reason why I love replaying ToZ - I feel like I see something new every time, and it keeps me in a state where I remember the things that keep me interested in it, and the questions I want to figure out the answers to. It would be nice to have more time to do that of course, haha ^^"
Sorey being a lens fits his journey as Shepard quite well. If we see the differences between what triggers the good ending and the bad along with some of Heldalf's dialogue, it makes more sense. All the four trials along with some parts of his journey had him understanding human nature in some ways like how the swordsmith turned shepard Ashura became a hellion, something we learn in the water trial. This particular example is something I find important which I will get into later.
Now in order to get the bad ending, we must simply defeat Heldalf before Javeed joins the party and gives some helpful info. While one might see the bad ending happening only because Sorey never knew about Maotelus, there's more at play here. Remember how Heldalf reacted to Sorey on their first meeting? He points out about his "purity" which I feel like something he was disgusted by. This "purity" this might allude to being ignorant about the world or more specifically, human nature.
Hence when Sorey simply beats Heldalf, he expects things to be good as he defeated the Lord of Calamity, his supposed nemesis and manifestation of 'evil." Instead we see that nothing changes and a large Hellion suddenly appears as the story ends.
And then to proceed normally to the good ending we need Zaveid and he mentions Maotelus missing.
Then Sorey and his team seeks out Heldalf to confirm if he has anything to do with it or not. When they fight, Heldalf mentions things like the true nature of Seraphim, how Malevolence exists withing all along with something the ecstasy of beating up and defeating one's opponent, a feeling that he thinks Sorey possessed. The latter is actually something that alludes to people's ignorant view about evil. Evil isn't something like a bad person who you can simply beat up to defeat and you are good for opposing him. Rather anyone can become evil under the right circumstances. This is probably alluding to Sorey thinking that beating Heldalf will save everything when Malevolence is in fact born from evil nature.
This is where the Ashura example comes into play. Sorey was in many ways treading a similar path as the former swordsmith. We learn that Ashura too also was a pure person. But he became so obsessed with quelling Malevolence, at one point he became insane upon realizing everyone can become a potential source for Malevolence and it resulted in him wanting to create a sword that can destroy all. In his theory, simply killing off people will quell Malevolence, which technically is true in a way. Sorey was also quite obsessed with ending Heldalf to save the world until that point so notice the parallels between the two.
Plus the most surprising part is when Sorey tells Heldalf that he won't fight for now, we actually see the Lord of Calamity smile upon hearing his words. It's like he was quite satisfied by the Shepards answer. Perhaps he got fed up with annoying self righteous Shepards in the past who never understood human nature and malevolence like Phi or Velvet did and was surprised to see Sorey not repeat the same mistakes.
I don't really know how to respond to this other than to thank you for sharing it! This is such a good insight into the Bad End in a way that I hadn't consciously thought about before!
Oh God 😭😭😭😭 Sorey is one of my favorite characters of all time!!
I am soooooo happy!!! Finally I have found a great analysis of Sorey. Thank you so so so much. You earned a new subscriber.
Your analysis is soooooo accurate that I was nodding all along T^T
I always get really really sad when people start saying that Sorey is “boring” and “bland” and “he doesn’t grow” and “ uninteresting main character”. 😢
That is soooo not true at all! In fact, Sorey is someone who subtly grows throughout the series and we grow with him just as you said, he is like our lens. When Sorey first encountered the war, I felt his growing frustration and sadness. You could feel he is realizing that the world is not as pure as it is at Elysia. We felt him growing there. Also, at the end, when he faced Heldalf all alone, you could see how much he has grown.
And Sorey is not your typical protagonist. He is smart, well-mannered, polite, energetic, brave, and full of motivation and enthusiasm.
He listens to others and uses his mind and thinks through situations and takes his friends’ advices into deep consideration. He consults them before hand (especially Mikleo) and always works with them.
He also is sooooooo innocent and pure and optimistic, I just couldn’t help but liking his character sooooo much. 😭
Honestly speaking, I am really tired of “badass” or “antihero” or “troubled past” characters. All media are full of them nowadays. Or if they wanted to make a typical peaceful enthusiastic character, he would be stupid or typical shonen main character.
But Sorey is different and unique. Really unique. And he is one of the main reasons I like Zestiria so much (even if there were some flaws in the games storytelling at some points XD).
Sorry for the long comment. I was extremely happy about your video I could not stop writing XD.
I will immediately send the video to my sister. She would be really happy as well. And I will check your Mikleo analysis very soon 🙈. My sister also likes Mikleo sooo much so she would fly from happiness XD.
Best wishes
Thank you so much for your kind comment! I'm really glad you enjoyed this analysis. Sorey is one of my favourite characters too, mostly because he is so different from the typical shonen protagonist and antihero stereotypes. I totally agree with the points you've listed about him, they're all things which make him so much more interesting and likeable as a character!
Thanks again for your comment, I really am flattered! I hope your sister enjoys the video too, and that you enjoy the Mikleo analysis video as well!
Elixir Vitae Games
You are welcome and thank you ^-^
I am looking forward to more of your analysis videos (⌒▽⌒)
Sorey is my least favorite member in the cast and maby in all of the tales games he was just annoying and when he was protecting his friends he either ends up in a fight with the or he just calls them useless and have them walk off I felt there was another way to save people the choosing what people wanted for them However. I felt him change throughout the game as his team grows he starts to believe in his friends and I like that I agree with the part when you say he thinks before acting his reasoning for the things he dose may be dumb but I feel that should be one of the key parts of the game the main characters progress and changes throughout the game
Sorry if any of my comments about him were mean but I’m just sharing my personal thoughts if you don’t like them then I guess that’s that
Awesome analysis. I don't like how some people just outright complain about Zestiria is bad because Sorey is a bland main character. I love Sorey and I think he is one of the more calm, analytic and smarter main character compared to other Tales games. He actually have some character development even though it is less obvious because it depends on whether players could relate to him or not. And I agree about Dezel character. I wished his backstory could have been touched upon earlier on since he is my favourite Seraphim.
Thanks! Honestly the flack against Sorey I've heard from some people who have played (and often not enjoyed) Zestiria is largely what made me want to make an analysis video defending him. I really fell in love with him over the course of the game, since he is so different in mannerisms from the other Tales characters I know of. Popular characters like Lloyd and Luke spring to mind - they're interesting characters, sure, but their character arcs are more about growing up. With Sorey having had the upbringing he's had, it makes sense for him to be more analytical and intelligent. Just because he's not quite as impulsive as other Tales leads doesn't mean he isn't interesting in his own right.
I think Sorey is just misunderstood. His innocence and naivete gives off the impression that he's dumb but Sorey is certainly smarter than he appears once you get to know him. Not only that, he's absolutely adorable and just a really, sweet, sweet guy. I fell in love with his character as soon as I saw the anime version of Zestiria and checked out the game as well. ^^
I never knew that Sorey was blind in one of his eyes. I saw him stall a bit in the manga but I assumed it was from being tired after armitized and changing back. I've seen many anime series and Sorey is by far the most innocent, pure, and totally clueless protagonists I've ever seen. And I'm also pretty sure that Sorey would not have gone very far on his journey if Mikleo had not been there for him. I thought it strange that Mikleo seemed to know more about the human world than Sorey did considering that they both lived their whole lives in Elysium and never interacted with other humans before they left.
Yeah, they're pretty subtle about showing it in the game and the manga. When I first played the game I thought the same thing as you, but during the big fight against the plant boss, it became clear.
And Mikleo mentions at the start of the game that he's been doing research in preparation for when Sorey finally decides to leave Elysia - I'd imagine he met with Gramps several times to talk about it. With Mikleo being Sorey's closest friend, even in Elysia, Gramps probably knows that Mikleo doesn't want to leave Sorey's side. Because of this, I'd imagine Gramps told Mikleo a long time ago that Sorey would one day want to leave, and that's when Mikleo started researching about the world of humans. Gramps probably taught him a lot about it too.
Sorey definitely wouldn't have gotten far without Mikleo, I agree. Even if he pushed onward by himself to Ladylake and became the Shepherd, things probably wouldn't have gone well. He probably would have pushed himself too hard, since his sole source of impulse control (Mikleo) wouldn't be there to stop him from doing stupid things. I don't think he would have enjoyed the journey half as much either.
@@elixirvitaegames Right. Personally, I think that even if Sorey managed to sneak out of Elysia alone, Mikleo would have tracked him down sooner or later. He seems to know Sorey better than Sorey knows himself lol...
I have been playing Zestiria since Day 1 on PS3,PS4 and Steam and I am well versed it it. However upon finding your channel I never made the connection of Sorey being blind in one eye but thanks to Elixir I will never forget this fact. Like the saying goes "You learn something new every day."
This is a really enlightening analysis, and something that allowed me to understand Sorey a little better! Thank you for that 😊
The Unspoken Bond skit was something that I had pondered for a good while. It really unnerved me since it was a skit that showed Sorey and Mikleo's relationship but I couldn't understand at all! I had so many questions, why Mikleo was around Sorey, what did Sorey mean by "getting used to", what they were both referring to. In retrospect, it's quite special and amazing exactly how they know what they other is thinking despite it being so vague, but also frustrating as how a newcomer wouldn't be able to understand it at all. I eventually assumed they were talking about the Shepherd's burden on Sorey, which didn't make sense since it's been a little while after the Sacred Blade ceremony. When I got to the part where it explicitly talks about the toll of Alisha's Squire pact, I still never made the connection. Watching the video made me feel silly missing all the hints XD
I never considered the five senses as one of the themes. What I got from Zesty was understanding people, and seeing the truth for yourself. There were a few other ones but I'll just leave them for now XD. While it also pertains to sight, I think your explanation is much better. While Earthen Historias allow the party to see what happened in the past, it's generally is limited to sight. However, the Camlann one is different, where they are, quite literally, living in the past. They experienced the scenes as if they were a part of it, particularly Sorey and Mikleo. At one point, Rose and the others had to remind them how it had already happened for them to not get too caught up in it. It also pertains to Sorey's decision. Although sight seemed to be the main one affected in the story, he had to cut off the entirety of his senses if he wanted to purify the land.
I definitely with your analysis of Dezel's arc, I feel that it can be a problem with any lens when handled badly. One of the reasons for Zesty's controversy may also be because of Sorey as a lens. While the audience is able to see Sorey grow and develop as well as understand the world with him, it also may lead to bad developments of the other party members because they aren't able to connect with them well enough, the Pendrago scene in particular. Dezel is a character that like, but not his arc. Don't get me wrong, I really like Dezel, but his arc is extremely messy and, what you have said, basically an info-dump on the audience. Honestly, I never understood the scenes until I read a few translations of the guidebook.
We were able to feel the chaos, the sheer suddenness of Symonne's entrance, as well as the panic when Dezel goes berserk, through Sorey, but we weren't given time to organize our thoughts and feel what Dezel was feeling. What the audience was feeling was probably what Sorey was feeling instead. Although with me, I favor the characters over the plot, so I was okay to accept it XD
This is SUCH an eye-opening analysis on Zestiria! Honestly, at this point, I'm probably just going to write paragraphs of commentary on all your reviews, so, apologies in advance. I have so much thoughts on Zestiria and is quite nice to see your analysis and have self-debates on it (as weird as that sounds XD). I could continue going on about this but it'd just be endless scrolling at that point. Once again, thank you so much for this wonderful analysis!
What I find interesting about Zestiria's seraphs is that they are not necessarily perfect god-like beings who exist to teach humans right from wrong. Even though they have powers humans don't, the seraphs are still vulnerable and very human like in many other aspects. They are also not necessarily immortal, just long lived since we do see Mikleo age notably when he's reunited with Sorey. Which leads me to believe that they do age, just at a much slower rate than humans due to their longer lifespans.
This analysis is incredible. I learned so much from your video. It was wonderful getting to know so much more about the characters and you've done an incredible job with the editing in this video!
Thank you!
Sorey is my baby, that's all I can say. And it's true, Sorey is a powerful lens... and he makes me want to see all the positive things in the world without denying the negative that is there all the time (including the condemnation and prejudice that's a very human reaction to the negativity). Rose being an assassin-turned-shepherd also provides a balance to the view that people are born good and are destined for goodness. It shows us how "justice" isn't JUST about doing what is right, but about correcting "injustice" and "foul play," which Sorey and Rose approach from the opposite ends of the continuum... Sorey as a "pure" human raised by "pure" seraphim in a seraphim world, and Rose as a "rebel" and "outlaw" in human society partially corrupted by a "corrupt" seraph (Dezel).
The catch: No matter how you are born, who raised you, what sins you committed, you can be a hero if you do everything in your power to change the world for the better.
So are they simply creatures of destiny? Even the anime end-song by fhana denies the notion that Sorey's choice is a matter of calling. He and Mikleo consciously made their choices, and those choices make us who we are--neither the past, nor our mistakes, nor our shortcomings or anything else. Velvet made choices based on grudges, ill-will, and desire for revenge. She's an archetypal "revenge" protag who can't move on from the past, thereby serving as a FOIL for Rose and Sorey (i.e. "foil" = "contrast" that highlights qualities of the MCs).
Sorey can't be like Velvet (which is neither good nor bad)... because he sees the world as a world where we have to coexist no matter how different we are, or no matter how our moral proclivities and ways of being clash. Differences provide balance and spiritual growth. While Sorey need not be involved with the problems of humans as he has fully adjusted to the ways of the seraphim in Elysia far FAR away from the human world, he CHOSE to intervene because he realized his personal happiness also DEPENDS on the fate of the world even if it doesn't care about his existence. Velvet and all the other Tales heroes acted on personal concerns and grudges, ill-feelings and experiences of injustice. Sorey CHOSE to intervene, he was NOT dragged into it by personal motives save to see humans and seraphim coexisting. That's NOT even personal since humans live short lives and the seraphim will outlive all humanity anyway.
But Sorey might want that dream for a reason (Mikleo? Only the seraphim/Lailah, Mikleo thought Alisha was the motive, but the drama CDs had Sorey clarifying that.)
I also like Sorey's sort of "asexual" quote, "There are as many emotions as there are stars in the sky." Truly, why do we need to define ourselves and others in the same way we always want to define our feelings? How can we be truly heroes if we can't even rise above our own prejudice (gender, cultural, racial, etc.)? I can't be a hero, but Sorey can... I hope we find REAL people like him. ^_^
Sorey seems so open book but he really does have a lot of things he can't bring himself to say. And it's amazing (and understandable lol) that so many of those things are about Mikleo!
I'm really glad you agree with my theory about Sorey being a lens. There is so much that can be learnt from Sorey, as you've mentioned. I felt like I really learn a lot whenever I think about him and his feelings about things - about the world, the people, and just his way of thinking. In that sense, the game really does work to show you his way of seeing the world first and foremost, I think. Thanks for the comment!
(Also hey, I thought I recognised your name! I think you've actually commented on a few of my fics before lol. I'll make sure to check yours out at some point too!)
Sorey is absolutely adorable, I don't know how anyone can not like him and think he's a bad protagonist. I think maybe its his innocence and naivete that may give off the impression that he's dumb but he's really nothing of the sort. Sorey's honesty and willingness to trust and see good in people his a virtue, but it can sometimes work against him. Which makes him lucky to have a a friend like Mikleo because without him, Sorey probably wouldn't have been able to make it very far on his journey, even with the help of his other friends.
@@Elly3981 I know. The comments of gamers in Daniel Santos's "The Alisha Controversy" as well as those in the Tales polls done by game reviewers (not B-Namco) are just so biased and unfair. Just because Sorey's a good guy who works hard, accepts everyone for who they are, and doesn't seem to be attracted to the opposite sex doesn't mean he's "bland" and the "worst Tales hero ever there was." Some Tales gamers say he's the reason they absolutely hate Zestiria, but I think what you said the other day is true... Fans want a boy x girl ship so bad they lost sight of what Sorey is trying to prove...
I think what makes him one of the best (if not the best) Tales heroes is that he can BREAK ALL THE RULES... break expectations on gender, sexuality, religion etc... and still do the "right" thing. Sorey has no "vanity" and "hey I'm, the hero, look at me" complex. He's not ashamed to show he's more intimate with a guy. No other Tales hero tried to do that... they always "go homo" and take a step back for the mainstream audience. They hog all the limelight and outshine everybody else.
By the way, Daniel Santos threatened to "block" me from all his videos, thinking I'm spamming him because I'm defending Zestiria in the comments... I raise legit issues in his review, I reply to commentators on issues they raise in his videos and he thinks I'm selling Zestiria? Dear god, how hateful can some people be? In one recent video (May 2020), he starts his review by saying "Oh, it breaks my heart that new Tales fans think Zestiria is representative of Tales games..." He claims old Tales games (along with Berseria) are "better" and wants Zesty fans to believe his bashing is "done out of love for the developers."
I told him I tolerated all the verbal abuse and insults from his "fans" because I just want to answer the issues they raised, and it's not spamming if you're clarifying points about Alisha... and the one-sided theories aired by his "fans" on the topic of the review. And here he was, not answering TWO issues I raised with regard to his reviews, and he avoids them by saying I'm "spamming all his videos" and "he'll block me" but then "I'm childish and immature" so he's thinking about it.
He thinks he's immune to criticism, he's god, so only he can throw garbage at Zestiria but if you defend, you're "spamming" and you're "childish and immature."
I apologize to Elixir Vitae Games for raising these points here... it's just that these things happen in other game reviews... and it's sad because some reviews really "fuel" the hate and "divide" the fandom, but they accuse Zestiria of being the one that's "divisive" and "a black sheep," and they say a lot of things to intimidate fans, rather than make them feel good about the games that they are supposed to be enjoying, right?
I didn't play Zestiria to have people tell me I'm a "stupid dumbshit." I played it to have fun. Can't they understand that?
Last night, one commentator in Santos's old video kept asking for a discussion, and when I told him I can't reply anymore because the video uploader/Daniel Santos will "block" me, he asked "Who is Daniel Santos?"
I think that was an "unintended" insult right there. ^_^
And thanks for the reply, you're new to Tales just like me... but you appreciate Zestiria more. ^_^
@@turquoisemoon3654 I think I have seen that Alisha controversy video by Dan Santos a while back. He reminds me a bit of GamerTurk who does a lot of review videos on the SAO games. People like that think they know everything and that their biased opinions are the only ones that matter. I usually recommend people to check out a game or anime series for themselves before judging them rather than go by what others say, especially on social media. Its been almost six years since Zestiria has been released and you'd think people would get over their disappointment with the game/anime plot not going the way they expected by now, especially in regards to Alisha and Sorey/Alisha pairing. Honestly, I don't think anyone would have question who was the one for Sorey if Mikleo was female and they probably wouldn't have bashed ToZ as much, even with Alisha not being the main heroine. I really believe Hideo Baba could have saved himself a lot of headache if he just made Mikleo a girl.
Btw, have you been on Twitter lately? Mika Akira made some new adorable Sorey/Mikleo art and comics that you just have to see! I adore her art style, so simple yet so cute and pretty ^^.
@@Elly3981 Yeah, that would be a relief! I really think I need more fanart to make my day! Thanks for the recommendation!
As for these bashers, yeah, that's what I asked him, it's been years... and even the comments in his video were like... you can say what you want but we like Zestiria and it's in our top 3 Tales games... (but he deflates the comment by saying yeah, thanks for enjoying it... but I honestly think it's a terrible game... :()
And I also clarified I only speak up when his "fans" call me out... I don't insist on my views without tying it up with the issue that's being discussed. Fans of other Tales games keep advertising their games in Zestiria sites (even "yaoi" sites, would you believe it?) where the fans are asking about Zestiria... but they intrude and say "Hey, buy Vesperia it's the best Tales ever." That's even more unfair... like they're hogging the limelight. Unlike these "real spammers" I never talk trash about a game to insinuate that my fave game is a better buy.
I think Dan Santos just wants to knock me down and make people think I'm to be hated like the game. It's been done before... and I feel bad because I used to recommend his reviews.
Very interesting analysis! I love Sorey, he's one of my favourite Tales of protagonists (along with Mikleo, Luke and Lloyd).
I've seen people bad mouth him, but I think they just can't see how special and different Sorey is as character. There's nothing generic about him, specially not in the context of the games of his time.
He's also very much like Luke in one aspect: the opening song of the game describes him and his experiences to a T, but we only find out about it completely in the end.
People think I think or talk too much about Zestiria and maybe I do... but I can't help but agree with you. I think Sorey's one of the most unique protagonists... he's never generic, his practical philosophy and sense of justice is positive and enlightening, not something you'd find easily in games and fiction where angst and darker, more morbid themes are packaged in such a way to have more entertainment value for audiences who are no longer happy with happy. I find the right balance in Sorey... he's neither too "dark" nor too "light" and spirited as to lose sight of the good in the bad, his bonds with his loved ones, and his dreams. His friendship with Mikleo shows just how deep and beautiful real friendship can be when there's genuine love and respect there that transcend all known social boundaries. And yeah, the ending given him is something Sorey truly deserves...
My main issue with zestiria characters is that they felt really mechanical, like they were just there to fulfill gameplay archetypes and deliver exposition. This has at least helped me understand what the narrative was shooting for a little better. Ty
When I saw the title, I thought it was some crack theory tying into Tales of Destiny lol. Good analysis.
Definitely have to replay and reassess this game. Your video definitely eye opening (lol no pun intended)
Really liked the video. One thing though, is there any chance of future videos to have the music lower. At points it was a bit hard to hear you because the music was overpowering.
Thanks, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video!! Also thank you so much for flagging that up, I'll make sure to manage the audio levels better in future videos. Sorry about the inconvenience!!
That's certainly an interesting theory. I didn't really like Sorey to be honest I kinda found him to be a generic mesiah figure in a series that likes to buck that trend, it's little wonder Berseria took great pains to subvert the archetype. It didn't help that I didn't really enjoy the game all that much, restrictive combat mechanics, a slapdash story etc. it just rubbed me the wrong way and that probably made me dislike the characters more. It's is interesting that you got some symbolism out of that losing the eyesite thing, I always so it as nothing more than an excuse to get rid of Alisha so Rose could be shoved into the secondary protagonist role.
Sorey is very good character,but Velvet and Yuri are better than he.
My Top:
1st-Velvet
2nd-Yuri
3rd-Sorey