Console corner
Tales of Arise review
It’s been 20 long years, but finally Tales of Arise has taken a step forward.
Since its release on September10 th, Tales of Arise had sold over one million copies – the fastest-selling entry in the long-running series.
The Tales Series dates all the way back to Tales of Phantasia, released on December 15, 1995, on the Super Famicom (nostalgia alert!) but known to you and Iwhenitarrivedon these shores as the Super Nintendo.
Fast forward 26 years and the hotly-anticipated Tales of Arise has landed on the next generation of consoles promising to breathe new life into Bandai Namco’s action roleplaying game.
Somewhat staggeringly this is the 17 thin the series. But launch was put back a year due to“internal quality issues” and the ability to launch the game on more platforms.
As a big Japanese hit, that marketplace is usually the first to get Tales games. But for the first time in the series Tales Arise had a simultaneous worldwide launch earlier this month.
The game follows a man and a woman from the opposing worlds of Dahna and Rena and their journey to end the R en ans’ oppression of the Dahnan people.
The game is built using Unreal
Engine 4 which continues to be one of the standard bearers for action role-playing game.
The Linear Motion Battle Systemframework is still in place, but in Arise there is a big focus on evading and countering.
The big thing to state early on is that there is no multiplayer mode in Arise. Instead the development team decided to focus on the interactions between characters in combat, as well as the addition of the “Boost Strike” feature which allows multiple party members to perform destructive attacks together under certain conditions. Aesthetic ally, Arise is jaw-droppingly stunningwith graphics which truly make the game world unforgettable.
The added focus on the characters is clear for gamers whether you are a series veteran or new to Tales games. The way they interact, make fun of one another and converse is engrossing and beautifully done.
Action is fast, thrilling and never dull with battles having you on the edge of your seat as you look to use your character’s unique role and abilities to your advantage.
I’m an old hand when it comes to Tales games. But I can imagine newbies may struggle – at first – to get to grips with the combat which can at times be so frenetic it has the potential to overwhelm.
The story is great but a touch confused at times too.
Not only did Tales of Arise come with the pressure of rediscovering the series’s je ne sais quoi, it also had to carry a certain weight of expectation given it is the first major original JRPG on new consoles.
It is perhaps the game’s 5 crowning achievement that it manages to do both, and sets a benchmark for other titles which they will have togo some to match.
Rating: 8.5/10