Tales of Arise Review

Spoiler Warning: This review discusses some character arcs and themes that may reveal key plot points. If you haven’t played Tales of Arise yet, proceed with caution.

1. Story and Plot

Narrative: Tales of Arise delivers a gripping and well-written narrative that touches on heavy themes such as slavery, racism, and oppression. The story is incredibly engaging, making it difficult to step away from the game. The tale of Alphen and Shionne as they journey to free the oppressed Dhanans from their Renan overlords is a powerful exploration of these themes. The storyline is not only immersive but also thoughtfully crafted, addressing complex issues with a blend of fantasy and emotional depth.

Characters: Character development in Tales of Arise is exceptional. Rinwell’s character arc stands out as she grapples with her ingrained hatred of the Renans, only to realize through her interactions with Shionne and Dohalim that people should be judged as individuals, not as groups. Dohalim’s journey is also noteworthy; initially freeing the Dhanans under his rule for selfish reasons, he eventually embraces this cause for the right reasons, demonstrating significant growth. These characters, along with the others, evolve meaningfully throughout the game, making them memorable and relatable.

World-Building: The game’s setting is richly detailed, spanning two distinct planets. Dahna, with its diverse landscapes ranging from fiery volcanoes to lush forests and icy tundras, provides a vibrant backdrop for the story. The world is filled with magic, political intrigue, and deep-seated conflicts, creating a compelling environment that enhances the overall narrative.

2. Gameplay

Mechanics: The gameplay is divided into mini-maps that players must explore to gather items, battle enemies, and progress the story. This segmented approach to exploration is something I prefer over open-world designs, as it keeps the experience focused and manageable.

Combat System: The combat in Tales of Arise is action-oriented, taking place in confined arenas where players can execute combos using artes to maximize damage. The combat system is well-designed, offering a balance between strategy and action that keeps battles engaging and challenging.

Exploration: Exploration in Tales of Arise is satisfying without being overwhelming. The game encourages players to collect resources for cooking and crafting without the burden of endless open-world tasks. This approach makes exploration enjoyable rather than tedious.

Quests and Side Activities: The game offers a variety of side quests that contribute to character development and party strength, particularly by increasing the party’s CP, essential for healing and other abilities. These quests are meaningful and integrate well with the main narrative.

3. Graphics and Art Design

Visual Style: The visual style of Tales of Arise is beautifully crafted, with detailed environments and character designs. The anime-style cutscenes are particularly striking, adding a unique flair to the game’s presentation.

Technical Quality: While the graphics may not reach the heights of Final Fantasy XVI, they are still impressive, with well-executed textures, lighting, and animations. The game runs smoothly, and I did not encounter any graphical glitches during my playthrough.

Character and Environment Design: The characters are all well-designed, with each one reflecting their personality and role within the story. The environments are equally well-crafted, enhancing the game’s immersive quality.

4. Sound and Music

Soundtrack: The soundtrack is outstanding, with the opening theme “火花” (Hibana) by Kankaku Piero quickly becoming one of my favorites. The music enhances the game’s emotional impact and helps to create a memorable experience.

Voice Acting: The voice acting, while not the strongest aspect of the game, is solid. It’s an improvement over earlier entries like Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia. The English voice acting is decent, though I often find myself preferring the Japanese voice tracks in games like these.

Sound Effects: The sound effects are phenomenal, adding to the immersion and realism of the combat and magical abilities.

5. User Interface and Controls

UI Design: The user interface is easy to navigate, providing all the necessary information for managing your party and items. It’s intuitive and doesn’t overwhelm the player with unnecessary complexity.

Controls: The controls, however, are a weaker point. I found them to be less intuitive, and even after attempting to adjust the control scheme, I couldn’t find a setup that felt natural. However, the story was compelling enough that I took the time to adjust to the controls.

6. Replayability and Content

Game Length: Tales of Arise offers a substantial length, taking me about 83 hours to complete, including most side quests but not the DLC Beyond the Dawn. This length is typical for the genre and provides a satisfying amount of content.

Replay Value: The game includes a New Game Plus mode, allowing players to carry over their progress into a new playthrough. While this offers some replay value, the main incentive to revisit the game lies in the rich story and characters rather than new content.

Post-Launch Content: The game has a DLC titled Beyond the Dawn, which adds additional content for those looking to extend their experience after completing the main story.

7. Performance and Technical Aspects

Performance: The game performs fantastically on the PS5, with no noticeable issues in frame rate or load times. The overall experience is smooth and polished.

Bugs and Glitches: I did not encounter any bugs or glitches during my playthrough, which speaks to the game’s technical quality.

8. Originality and Innovation

Innovation: Tales of Arise doesn’t necessarily break new ground in terms of innovation. It deals with themes similar to those in Final Fantasy XVI, such as slavery and oppression, but with a lighter tone that makes it more suitable for a younger audience.

Comparison: When compared to other games in the genre, Tales of Arise stands out for its well-crafted story, engaging characters, and balanced gameplay. While it may not offer groundbreaking new features, it excels in delivering a polished and enjoyable experience.

9. Overall Enjoyment

Personal Experience: I thoroughly enjoyed Tales of Arise. It’s the first “Tales of” game I’ve completed since Tales of Symphonia II back in 2008/09. The story, characters, and gameplay all contributed to a satisfying experience that kept me engaged from start to finish.

Target Audience: This game is best suited for players aged 13 and older, particularly those who enjoy JRPGs with deep stories and well-developed characters. If you’re a fan of the genre, Tales of Arise is definitely worth your time.