The build-up to this crossroad is amazing. Zelos isn't your friend, he tells you from the start. He's raised in cutthroat aristocracy, his mother was assassinated and his sister, the only person that *he* thinks likes him beyond his status as a chosen, has to live in an abbey isolated from the rest of the world as a punishment for a crime her mother committed. Zelos is extremely optimistic and friendly, but it's his coping mechanism to deal with the awful world around himself - he's never actually been your friend up to that point in the story. He constantly sells you out to Cruxis and the Renegades and nobody notices a thing. When you retrieve the Rheairds for the first time, he sells you out to Cruxis. When you invade the Renegade base, Zelos sells you out to the Renegades. At the Tower of Savlation, Zelos begins to laugh unusually. He sells you out to Cruxis. At Altessa's house, he urges you to eat up because he knows that the food is stuffed full of sedatives. He sells you out to the Renegades, unaware that Mithos is Yggdrasil and equally weighing in on what happens that night; so he actually sold you out to BOTH Cruxis and the Renegades that night, too. Symphonia had an amazing way of incorporating a neutral force. Zelos helps you, and many times he does so beyond the scope of what he should do because he doesn't care; to him, everything is an adventure. It's through the actions of the game that Zelos learns to trust Lloyd and his plan to save the world, and depending on whether or not you reconcile with Kratos in Flanoir, he decides to betray you or not, but he *never* suggests he's your friend. Quite the opposite, he even says from the start that he sides with whoever wins. The whole game he's tiptoeing on a red line between Cruxis and Lloyd because he's not attached to his life. The trigger to get Kratos or Zelos is pretty weird because they both have nothing in common with each other beyond figuring out how to use the Eternal Sword, but I still think they designed the story quite nicely around that condition. In the Kratos route, Zelos loses to his inner demons and has no will to go on. In all other routes, Zelos realizes that Lloyd is trying to create a world where the system of Chosen Ones will be retired and Zelos will be allowed to finally be who he wants to be, not a figurehead of political strong-arming.

"I just wanted a fun, easy life. Nothing more. Nothing less." -Zelos

Hearing this version of his theme really shows how Zelos really feels deep inside his heart.

''I don't know what to tell ya, I'm just a weak, lazy bum.'' ''All I want is a fun, easy life.'' ''That's it.'' ''Nothing more, nothing less.''

Both Kratos and Zelos are so similar from their tragic pasts. :( Both have had a loved one killed from a half-elf and both had internally conflicted with themselves about doing the right thing. Zelos's release were woman, attention, and constant praise . Kratos' release was clinging to Mithos's ideals and letting his son kill him for "punishment." Both characters decided to do the right thing in the end, but I can't help but feel sorry for them :( Zelos parents were forced into marrying and paid little attention to him. His father was cheating on Mylene (his wife) with the mistress (thus Seles was born). Zelos's father passed away after that, causing more distress. Seles' mom, wanting a better life for her and her child (due to being a half-elf), decided to attempt to murder Zelos (because his father's title of the "chosen" got passed on to him when he died). Mylene got caught in this cross-fire and before she died she said "You should have never been born." Seles' mom got executed, Seles got put under house arrest for life, and this whole thing scared Zelos. Making him believe it was his fault for not being able to save his mom, and he hated the "chosen' system for forcing this misery on him. He started to loath the "chosen" system and himself. He also though Seles would be a better chosen them him, deepening his already low self-esteem, but since Meltokio has high social demands he had no choice but to bottle it up (which made the problem even worse). Kratos was forced to kill his wife because of Kvar ( a human ranch master) turning her into a monster, lost his son (Lloyd), felt like he failed as a father towards his only son for something his couldn't control and is generally scared by the experience causing him to get his morals messed up. Believing that dying would be the proper "punishment" for his sins It was very shocking seeing a comic relief character have such a tragic past and I didn't expect Kratos to even be internally hurt. I didn't expect both to be suicidal in the first place for things they could not control. This game really shows realistic reactions to tragic events and how people find ways to "release" their pain.

"Why Zelos? You were our friend!" "Friend huh? Never could get you to trust me though" Ooof

Tales of Symphonia = best one in the series. The music, the feels...man I miss playing this game.

Friend Huh? I never did get you to trust me though

Haven't played this in years, but it's still just as gutting as it was when I first heard it.

You know, in my first playthrough, if I'd realized how I would totally taken this route... But now, in later playthroughs, Zelos has just grown on me so much that I can't do it...

What's with people assuming this only plays down the Kratos path? This music plays regardless during his betrayal. You don't need to kill him to hear this!

This song shows how you can't always judge a book by it's cover.

"I side with the strongest"

The toughest decision of my life was choosing between Kratos and Zelos... like seriously lol.

Zelos.... I trust you...

Anyone else shed a tear to his death?

oh i'm crying now

I side with the strongest

Zelos lives path > Kratos path. Fight me.

Lightning Blade, Super Lightning Blade, Light Spear Cannon

I love this song, and Zelos is my favorite character too :D

The Chosen

I'm still waiting for a Tales character as deep as Zelos. Sadly, it's just not happening. Well, can't expect miracles, I guess xD

Sometimes the funny characters got a lot of serous backstories

I love you too Zelos :D

I don't know what to tell you. I'm just a weak lazy bum. All I want is a fun easy life that's it. Nothing more, nothing less

this is one of the most sad songs i have ever heard ....

It's weird seeing these comments now when the HD release for Symphonia has been announced

this music bring some sad memory from kratos route. Heck the music at Zelos' death is even more heart breaking to hear. was the same for botta's manly sacrifice scene it just pain me to hear those music :(.

I love the Tales games. Tales of Symphonia is by far my favorite out of any of em. The sequel wasn't that good in my opinion but it was okay for a Wii game. The most recent console Tales game we got over here in the USA was Tales of Graces f, which was pretty cool. Tales of Symphonia was my first Tales game when it first came out and I got hooked on the series since then. :D

If they made a remake, they'd probably use the new voice actors. Then I'd cry again. I was never that attached to the new guys.

Everyone who loves Tales of Symphonia as i do,should bis this game remastered for Nintendo Switch ❤❤❤ Its part of my younger days and a true masterpiece ❤❤❤

Zelos>kratos anyone?

This is my first time playing this game , And i just wanna say Fuck this song and Fuck kratos route "Kratos route not Kratos " , Our poor baby Zelos Is Alive Happy And Surrounded by people who cherish him And care for him ,What kind of sick ending is that ,Dying feeling like absolute garbage Thinking that your existence is a mistake And that even your dear sister absolutely hates you , And no one loves you or sees you for who you are And no one trusts you not even the kindest of them all Lloyd, Like who came up with this scenario I just want to talk

You and me both. Alice was my favorite character. Honestly they screwed up in the second game.

You can't really blame him when lloyd kept to be suspicious about him. if someone was going O_O over you shoulder would not you be mad?

Is the *only* time this is used in the game at the end of the Zelos boss battle?

By far. Kratos may be more of a badass and stronger than Zelos but that doesn't make him have the charm Zelos has. Zelos is one of the most memorable characters in the Tales universe. I wish they made a Tales of Symphonia remake, just so I could see him again and laugh at how e harasses Sheena. XD

@KillaCode1 Try Dawn of the New World. Zelos is back!!! :DDDD

What's up with Zelos and why he have angel wings?

Why zelos 😭😭😭

Listening ti this since release

For me it should be the canon true ending ! Zelos's death is tragic and it makes sense to replay Kratos in the end... This is what I don't like about this game, you have many branches of possibilities for the story but some are just not as good as others (especialy the flanoir scene ! The scene with Kratos is amazing and it gives more depth to the story of Lloyd's past)

i prefer kratos over zelos. but i still like zelos. The problem is, i never choose him cause i just love the scene where this theme is played

Zeros-san, I...

KillaCode1 they DID make a remake XD i have it and he harasses BOTH Marta and Sheena along with Alice too it's called Tales of Symphonia Dawn of the new world

Sorry, but no one is better than Kratos

That close to being racist, just for fun.

i always pick kratos and always kill zelos