Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World (Wii) is a polarizing direct sequel that attempts to follow up on one of the most beloved JRPGs of all time. While it introduces some fresh mechanics, it struggles to fill the massive shoes of its predecessor, often feeling more like a budget-conscious spin-off than a full-scale "Mothership" title. The "USAundub" Context The original North American Wii release does
include Japanese voice acting—you are locked into the English dub. For many fans, this is a significant drawback because most of the original Tales of Symphonia
cast was replaced with new actors, including iconic characters like Lloyd and Zelos. If you are playing an "undub" fan-patch, you avoid this issue, allowing you to hear the original Japanese performances (like Rie Kugimiya as Marta) that many fans find more natural. Pros: Where the Game Shines Let's Review Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World 9 Aug 2024 —
welcome to my spoiler-free review of the sequel of Tales of Symphonia titled Dawn of the New World. i'm reviewing the PS3 version. Dadozy Gaming Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World Review - IGN 11 May 2012 —
Experiencing the Ultimate Edition: Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World (Wii Undub) tales of symphonia dawn of the new world usaundub wii
For many Tales fans, the Wii era was a bit of a rollercoaster. Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World (DotNW) was a bold direct sequel that attempted to bridge the gap between the beloved Sylvarant and Tethe'alla worlds. While it introduced new mechanics like monster recruitment and refined real-time combat, it also brought a significant change that divided the fanbase: a largely new English voice cast for the returning original heroes.
This is where the USA Undub version for the Wii comes in—often cited as the definitive way to experience Emil and Marta’s journey. Why the Undub Matters
The primary draw of an undub is simple: it restores the original Japanese voice acting while keeping the English menus and subtitles. For Dawn of the New World, this is particularly impactful for a few reasons:
Voiced Skits: Unlike the Western release where skits are often silent, the Japanese audio track includes full voice acting for these charming character interactions. Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Character Consistency: Many fans felt the English performance for the original Symphonia cast (like Lloyd and Colette) lacked the iconic energy of the original actors. The undub restores the legendary Japanese VAs who have voiced these characters across multiple media.
Emotional Depth: While the English dub has its highlights (like Tenebrae’s sarcasm), the Japanese performances for protagonists Emil and Marta are often viewed as more emotionally nuanced, especially during Emil's darker "Ratatosk Mode" transformations. A New Way to Play a Classic Sequel
Beyond the audio, playing the USA-based undub ensures you still get the North American exclusive features. These include the ability to load save data from the original Tales of Symphonia for bonus items and an expanded number of motion control shortcuts (eight instead of the four found in the Japanese version). Key Features of DotNW:
The game runs at a stable 30 FPS on original Wii hardware. Load times are manageable. The Undub patch itself is generally stable, though as with any modified ISO, it requires a soft-modded Wii (Homebrew Channel) or emulation to run. Undub-specific notes
Dolphin Emulator Note: If you are playing this via the Dolphin emulator on PC, the game scales beautifully. You can upscale the resolution to 1080p or 4K, making the cel-shaded art look crisp and modern.
The story takes place two years after the "World Regeneration" of the first game. Instead of a "Chosen One" story, DotNW is a revenge tale. You play as Emil, a timid boy who hates the hero Lloyd Irving for a tragedy that befell his family.
Released in 2008 for the Nintendo Wii, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World (known in Japan as Tales of Symphonia: Ratatosk no Kishi) carries a heavy burden. As a direct sequel to one of the most beloved JRPGs of all time—the GameCube/PS2 classic Tales of Symphonia—expectations were sky-high. However, upon its North American and European release, the game was met with a unique controversy that had nothing to do with gameplay and everything to do with audio.
For many purists, the English dub—while professionally acted—represented a jarring disconnect. Key voice actors from the original game were replaced due to union disputes. Lloyd Irving, originally voiced by Scott Menville, suddenly sounded different. Genis Sage, Collette, and even the newcomer Emil Castagnier received vocal overhauls that split the fanbase.
Enter the "USA Undub" patch for the Wii version. This fan-made modification restores the original Japanese voice track (the seiyuu performances) while keeping the fully translated English text and menus. For years, this has been considered the definitive way to experience Dawn of the New World.
In this article, we will explore what the Undub is, why it matters, how to legally acquire and patch your game, the technical differences between the Wii and PS3 versions, and whether this controversial sequel is worth your time in 2025.