I would prefer Riviera.

I have been playing Tales of the World and I just moved out from the first town to the second where Stahn Aileron is but I just realized that this game is quest, quest, quest and more quest. Without quest, you wont be able to gain real experience or money. Hence, you wont be able to afford the new upgrades and weapons. And if you dont do enough quest, you go for the main-storyline quest, you wont be able to fight those enemies.

This game spent a lot of time on quests which I think is redundant. You need to do at least 5 useless quest before proceeding and that's time-consuming. Despite the fact that you get to change job and hire new members at the Inn but then, they level just as you do and the higher level heroes will not join you until later of the game and most of them who join you, after you have trained them, you cannot keep them for the next quest as they just leave your party.

Of course the battlefield is now 3D, no longer like the old linear-style Tales battles. You can run about like Star Ocean 2 game but not quite as good, I feel. Personal judgement.

On the contrary, Riviera has puzzle and new joiners who join you permanently, unlike Tales of the World where most NPC only join you for you particular quest. I believe that this storyline is even better than Tales'. I am not biased against Tales series, in fact, I am a fan! I am playing Tales of Eternia now and in that game, I just got to Celestia. But this Tales of the World isnt quite up to the normal Tales standard.

I kind of feel Riviera is the better way to go compared to Tales but your opinion may differ so good luck!

No offense, personal preferences my friend.