11 TALES OF ARISE
A tale of two planets
Format PS4 ETA 2020 Pub Bandai Namco Dev Bandai Namco Studios
The first in the Tales JRPG series to be developed exclusively for this generation of hardware looks suitably stunning. The series has always excelled at presenting strange, unique worlds – each game usually being a fresh story in a brand-new setting.
This particular tale is all about two planets, Dahna and Rena, near to each other within a solar system. The people of Dahna have revered Rena for generations, worshipping it as a divine realm where the dead live. But this myth is rooted in a big lie. The people of Rena have their own culture, and knowingly take advantage of their neighbouring planet, pillaging it for resources and erasing Dahna’s own history. The two protagonists, one from each planet, share the desire to change the fates of their homes and
create better lives for everyone. But only together can they wield the power to bring about that change.
The gameplay revolves around exploring these areas and getting involved in the sort of action RPG fights we’ve come to expect from the series, but it looks like now they’re more dynamic than ever, with the two heroes slashing, shooting, and rolling away from some fearsome creatures. As for the settings… A huge, regal city covered in bunting; a mountain entrenched in harsh falling snow; lush grassland; and arid desert – the fidelity of the environments are like Tales has never been before, perhaps a result of the team embracing the benefits of Unreal Engine.
Tales Of Arise looks set to be an epic adventure, and a fresh and exciting reinvention of the series.