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Day 03 - Leon Magnus (Tales of Destiny)

Another obvious character if you've known me long enough. Leon has been my favorite Tales character for quite a few years now. Oddly enough, I was first introduced to him (as well as the other Destiny characters) via the PSP game Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology. (another fun fact: that's how Renna was first created). My first impression was more along the lines of "Wow, stop being a stubborn butt and help me already."

Eventually I did play the PSX Tales of Destiny, and that's when I really got to know this Leon character. Warning: I can't seem to talk about Leon without major ToD spoilers.

Leon is a tragic character, and I find myself attached to him because I feel sorry for him. He was raised to be a cold-hearted Swordsmaster and was basically used by his father his whole life (granted his father was not actually himself) and anytime Leon would act against him, his father would threaten the life of the one person he cherishes. His moments with Marian led me to realize that he really wasn't a bad person, and I just found him all the more deep and compelling. It's because of his father's threats on Marian's life that he is forced to betray and fight against Stahn's group after they had traveled and worked together for some time. As far as I know, Leon is the first Tales party member to actually die in the Tales series. His death made him more tragic--although Stahn and friends believed in him in the end, the rest of the world would only remember him as a traitor.

I've seen the ToD PS2 Remake's version of Leon's death, and to be honest I don't like it. The original scene was so sudden and abrupt that at first I was like "No way...he can't be gone." It happened so fast, so unexpectedly. And worse, before the final boss fight in the original, the main antagonist makes Zombie!Leon fight your party. That left me with chills...These older games, before there were cinematics and voice-overs like todays games, really make your imagination all the more wild as you vision beyond those sprites. At least that's how I feel with old school games.

Skip a few years later and we have Tales of Destiny 2, the sequel that never hit North American soil. >:C Not to be confused with the PSX Tales of Destiny II, which has nothing to do with ToD and is actually Tales of Eternia...anywho.

I own but haven't played ToD2 because I unfortunately don't know Japanese lol. But from what I've seen and read, Leon is indeed back from the dead. Although he was revived to be used for evil once again, he refused and was punished by being cast out into the world that still hated and believed him to be a traitor. Basically a world that would not accept him. He doned a mask to hide his identity. A series of events leads him to cross paths with Kyle, Stahn and Rutee's son, who gives him the name Judas. Like his father, Kyle is very friendly and accepting of Judas, and as the adventure begins to unfold, Judas/Leon chooses to aid Kyle, and I believe doing so is his way of trying to make up for his past mistake.

So yeah, I really want to play ToD2, because I really want to see Leon redeem himself. I know he does in the end, but I just want to experience it! Gah! Hopefully this patch still becomes a reality...

Description
Day 03 - Leon Magnus (Tales of Destiny)

Another obvious character if you've known me long enough. Leon has been my favorite Tales character for quite a few years now. Oddly enough, I was first introduced to him (as well as the other Destiny characters) via the PSP game Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology. (another fun fact: that's how Renna was first created). My first impression was more along the lines of "Wow, stop being a stubborn butt and help me already."

Eventually I did play the PSX Tales of Destiny, and that's when I really got to know this Leon character. Warning: I can't seem to talk about Leon without major ToD spoilers.

Leon is a tragic character, and I find myself attached to him because I feel sorry for him. He was raised to be a cold-hearted Swordsmaster and was basically used by his father his whole life (granted his father was not actually himself) and anytime Leon would act against him, his father would threaten the life of the one person he cherishes. His moments with Marian led me to realize that he really wasn't a bad person, and I just found him all the more deep and compelling. It's because of his father's threats on Marian's life that he is forced to betray and fight against Stahn's group after they had traveled and worked together for some time. As far as I know, Leon is the first Tales party member to actually die in the Tales series. His death made him more tragic--although Stahn and friends believed in him in the end, the rest of the world would only remember him as a traitor.

I've seen the ToD PS2 Remake's version of Leon's death, and to be honest I don't like it. The original scene was so sudden and abrupt that at first I was like "No way...he can't be gone." It happened so fast, so unexpectedly. And worse, before the final boss fight in the original, the main antagonist makes Zombie!Leon fight your party. That left me with chills...These older games, before there were cinematics and voice-overs like todays games, really make your imagination all the more wild as you vision beyond those sprites. At least that's how I feel with old school games.

Skip a few years later and we have Tales of Destiny 2, the sequel that never hit North American soil. >:C Not to be confused with the PSX Tales of Destiny II, which has nothing to do with ToD and is actually Tales of Eternia...anywho.

I own but haven't played ToD2 because I unfortunately don't know Japanese lol. But from what I've seen and read, Leon is indeed back from the dead. Although he was revived to be used for evil once again, he refused and was punished by being cast out into the world that still hated and believed him to be a traitor. Basically a world that would not accept him. He doned a mask to hide his identity. A series of events leads him to cross paths with Kyle, Stahn and Rutee's son, who gives him the name Judas. Like his father, Kyle is very friendly and accepting of Judas, and as the adventure begins to unfold, Judas/Leon chooses to aid Kyle, and I believe doing so is his way of trying to make up for his past mistake.

So yeah, I really want to play ToD2, because I really want to see Leon redeem himself. I know he does in the end, but I just want to experience it! Gah! Hopefully this patch still becomes a reality...