Symphonia was the first Tales game I ever played. I played it years later after it's release but it was really, really good. TBH I only got it because a guy friend of mine loved it and I liked Kratos *shrugs* but I ended up liking all the characters and the storyline so I kept playing.
Then I played TotA which will be my favorite Tales game for a while. I remember I wanted to kill Luke at first but I couldn't. ^^; it has my favorite cast to date.
Then I played Symphonia II and it wasn't bad as people made it out to be. :O Sure it wasn't Symphonia, but I think the game had justice on its own and that it was really, really good. It was one of the few Wii games I enjoyed.
I playes Vesperia too, but it's my least favorite of all hahaha. It was like too fast paced and the cast of characters didn't have that feel I had with other characters. I never beat it.
I played Tales of Graces last year and it was really good ^^; It turned Cheria and Asbel my favorite couple ever.