I am finally getting a Playstation 4 this week, so I hope to play some more games and able to write more as time goes on. One of the games I’m looking forward to get my hands on is Tales of Zesteria. If you don’t know about it, the Tales Of series is similar to Final Fantasy, in that each game is different from the other but the mechanics are similar. Each game is an anime and RPG fans dream come true, bringing together Japanese voice overs, animated cut scenes, fast paced battles and a dramatic story. They have been releasing titles since the SNES, and the last one played was Tales of Xillia. 
Another entry in the series, titled Tales Of The Abyss, has a character named Luke fon Fabre. His story impacted me because of the change you see him undergo from start to finish. He’s a young boy who is stuck in a mansion after being kidnapped by the MalKuth Empire (aka the bad guys). He starts off as the typical spoiled brat who hasn’t seen the outside world, but that quickly changes when Tear Grants enters his life. She tries to assassinate his mentor and trainer Van, but is instead transported out of the area by Luke’s power to save his master.
After meeting up with several other party members, figuring out that they need to help Fon Master Ion restore balance to the war that is at hand and fighting against the leaders of the Malkuth Empire, Luke is tricked. The main enemy of the game, his own master Van, activates a hidden power inside Luke that destroys an entire city and many lives are lost Not only that, but his own friends don’t trust him nor can they deal with his selfish attitude anymore.
Willing To Change
He then discovers that one of the God-Generals (six baddies of the Malkuth army) named Asch, is actually the real Luke! He’s actually a clone, and only created to activate something that may destroy all life. Not being able to handle this turn of events, he begins to lose his mind but after seeing that Tear and his best friend, Guy, still care about him he makes a decision.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Not only does he cut his hair as a symbol of wanting to change who he is, you actually slowly see him doing it. What I personally don’t like about many heroes in games is that they are perfect. There’s nothing wrong with them, and they don’t grow as the game progresses. It’s as if all the events that happen don’t phase them at all, which of course in real life isn’t true. We all go through new seasons in life, and they do alter our thinking, actions and even relationships.
A year later, he returns to his coming of age ceremony (20 years old) and tells Tear that he had a promise to keep her. It’s not known if it’s Luke, Asch or a combination of the two but either way, he’s alive!
I see a lot of myself in Luke, going through life thinking it’s one way when it’s really another. Living how we “think” it should be, when many times it’s tough, not easy, and full of decisions to make. I never wanted to be responsible for so much, I was happy playing my video games and not having to get a job or pay bills. Luke is the same, as he could have stayed locked up in his manor after the disaster in Akzeriuth that killed many, or step out and make a difference. I’m glad he chose the second option, because it gives me courage to know that I’m not the only one who feels like I would rather not face my fears and challenges.
Courage comes when you make that next step that your scared to make. What we all need to remember is that God is with us when we go forward, so long as we ask Him for direction.
3 Commit your actions to the Lord,
and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
