The only version of Tales of Phantasia in America would be the GBA version which some say is sad and I agree. The game franchise was a cut above most franchises during the time. The game has many features that sets it apart from most RPG. From it's battle system to the character design and voices I say it is a great game to play.
The story is nice for an RPG but I wont get into it much to avoid spoilers. The main character Cless and his best friend Charles go hunting in the woods to return to their village being destroyed and loved ones murdered by a group of evil knights. On the way Cless meets Mint and the three find a tomb were Dhaos an evil entity lies the knight release Dhaos from his prison and are killed by the one they freed. Tornix sends Cless and Mint back in time. I'll stop there to avoid any other spoilers.
The battle system is that of a fighting game which was new in the RPG franchise were it was fast-paced battling( which is sure to be a favorite of the fast-paced lovers) still with its RPG elements. This was the beginning of the Tales battle system. Still it was flawed by only being in a 2-D format it is still a great battle system.
The game offers a unique battle system, challenging puzzles, and mini-games so this game offer a lot for its time. All in all it offer the standards of an RPG and is still fun to play.
The graphics would've been better but considering it being a SNES game the graphics are good for its time. The addictiveness is high for RPG players and possibly fighting game players. The game can be a bit difficult at the start with learning how to use the skills correctly and as it progresses, but can be easy for those who are accustom to the skills system.
So to sum it up Tales of Phantasia is a great SNES game classic which will get a lot of fans( and nostalgia lovers).

great game