[HayashiTakara]

Originally Posted by Benoit

I wouldn't mind the elemental spirits. What I would mind is making them an important part of the plot, which in Tales of Symphonia seemed like an excuse to insert extra dungeons to lengthen the game without much story.

Please, not much story? how about

Spoiler for ToS / ToS2:

being the beings controlling the mana flow between Sylverant and Tethe'alla. How about being the source of power for the mana canon. Also, how about one of the driving forces behind Sheena's backstory and character development, who's a pivotal character for about 60% of the game. Then there's Odin who's necessary to gain control of the Eternal sword as well as bringing the two worlds together and providing mana to the new world tree. Oh and let us not forget that Martel is the summon spirit of the new world tree.

The summon spirits was the key component to ToS. And in ToS2, the main character himself is a summon spirit.