Tales of Arise

Tales of Arise is the latest upcoming original title for the Tales of Series that was first announced during the Microsoft Press Conference during E3 2019. The information on the game itself was actually leaked online a couple of days prior to the actual E3 announcement. It will be the 17th mothership title (the old classification of the games) in the entire series, with a planned worldwide release in 2020, but was delayed to 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and in order to ensure the best quality for its development. Previously only for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC Digital, it was later announced that the game will also be available for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

The game is being considered by many as the next evolution of Tales, featuring better graphics with the use of Unreal Engine 4, Minoru Iwamoto as sole character designer and art director, and a goal of showing the Tales of series' evolution, but still be recognizable as a Tales game. The game's main goal is to embrace both evolution and tradition for the series. Developed by Bandai Namco Studios, Inc., the game is being made by both veterans and new staff, going as far from those who have worked on Tales of Phantasia and those who have worked on Tales of Graces.

The game has been confirmed to be a stand-alone and not be connected to any existing Tales game. With the goal of "reviving" the series, the team is pushing the game to evolve, even if it means breaking certain traditions such as the whole acronym naming of the games (Tales of Phantasia = TOP, etc.). The game also allegedly started development with codename "Arise" which in the end stuck around as the game's formal name despite other proposals.


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  • Name:
    • Tales of Arise (テイルズ オブ アライズ, teiruzu obu araizu)
  • Name Origin:
    • "Arise"
  • Developer:
    • BANDAI NAMCO Studios, Inc.
  • Publisher:
    • Bandai Namco Entertainment
  • Genre:
    • An RPG that tells the dawn of the heart; 心の黎明を告げるRPG (kokoro no reimei wo tsugeru RPG)
  • Character Design and Art Direction:
    • Minoru Iwamoto
  • Music:
    • Motoi Sakuraba
  • Animation:
    • ufotable
  • Opening Theme:
    • HIBANA by Kankaku Piero (JP, English version for US/EU)

Japan

  • Release Date: September 9, 2021
  • Platform: PlayStation 4
  • Rating: CERO C

  • Release Date: September 9, 2021
  • Platform: PlayStation 5
  • Rating: CERO C

  • Release Date: September 9, 2021
  • Platform: Xbox One/Xbox Series X (Digital)
  • Rating: CERO C

  • Release Date: September 10, 2021
  • Platform: PC Digital (via STEAM)
  • Rating: CERO C

 North America

  • Release Date: September 10, 2021
  • Platform: PlayStation 4
  • Rating: ESRB Teen

  • Release Date: September 10, 2021
  • Platform: PlayStation 5
  • Rating: ESRB Teen

  • Release Date: September 10, 2021
  • Platform: Xbox One/Xbox Series X
  • Rating: ESRB Teen

  • Release Date: September 10, 2021
  • Platform: PC Digital (via STEAM)
  • Rating: ESRB Teen

 Europe

  • Release Date: September 10, 2021
  • Platform: PlayStation 4
  • Rating: PEGI 12/USK 12

  • Release Date: September 10, 2021
  • Platform: PlayStation 5
  • Rating: PEGI 12/USK 12

  • Release Date: September 10, 2021
  • Platform: Xbox One/Xbox Series X
  • Rating: PEGI 12/USK 12

  • Release Date: September 10, 2021
  • Platform: PC Digital (via STEAM)
  • Rating: PEGI 12/USK 12

Main Characters

Alphen
A slave from the planet Dahna
with no memories

Shionne
A cursed girl on the run
from the planet Rena

Rinwell
A Dahnan mage capable
of Astral Artes

Law
A Dahnan young man
working for the Renans

Dohalim
A well-mannered Renan noble
well-versed in the arts

Kisara
A powerful Dahnan soldier
highly regarded even by the Renans

Others

Mysterious Swordsman
A mysterious man
seemingly after Alphen

Zephyr
The respected leader of
the Crimson Crows resistance force

Balseph
The power-hungry
ruler of Calaglia

Official Story Description

Official Story Description

On the planet Dahna, reverence has always been given to Rena, the planet in the sky, as a land of the righteous and divine. Stories handed down for generations became truth and masked reality for the people of Dahna.

For 300 years, Rena has ruled over Dahna, pillaging the planet of its resources and stripping people of their dignity and freedom.

Our tale begins with two people, born on different worlds, each looking to change their fate and create a new future.

Featuring a new cast of characters, updated combat, and classic Tales of gameplay mechanics, experience the next chapter in the world-famous Tale of series, Tales of Arise.

Setting

Setting

The worlds of Dahna and Rena

The planet Dahna was once a rich world filled with nature. 300 years ago, it was suddenly invaded by Rena, the neighboring planet, and its peace abruptly ended. The Renans destroyed the culture and lives of its people, taking over control of the planet. Astral Energy, said to reside in all things in Dahna, is also being farmed away by the Renans, causing dramatic changes in the planet’s climate.

The powerful planet Rena, once said to be home to the gods and where the dead will end up to rest, forced the inhabitants of Dahna to submit before its advanced technologies, soldiers and demons. Dahna’s land was then divided by walls built by the Renans, with each division ruled by a representative Renan lord. Alphen and the others will set off on a journey to overthrow these lords and destroy the walls separating the regions in order to liberate Dahna.

Orbus Calaglia

Known simply as Calaglia, the city of eternal flame and ashes, filled with fire Astral Energy. Calaglia is a barren land full of rocks and sand. Flame blow up from the ground, and smoke blocks the sunlight. The place is surrounded by huge machinery for fuel refinement, which is mainly run by manpower. Dahnans living here are forced into slave labor to harvest fire Astral Energy, with cores embedded in their arms and are called the “Embedded”. The Renans, on the other hand, whose eyes glow whenever they used Astral Artes, were mockingly called “Bright Eyes” by the Dahnans. Calaglia is governed by its Lord, Balseph.

Cyslodia

Known as the land of brilliance, Cyslodia is a harsh country where it snows continuously. It shines with artificial light made possible by the effort of Dahnan slaves. The secret police group Snake Eyes are mainly here, tipping off and capturing rebels to strengthen Rena’s rule. The Dahnans living here have become afraid of telling tales, as they cannot challenge Rena’s rule. This is where Alphen and the others encounter Law, a member of the Snake Eyes despite being Dahnan.

Resistance

 

Amongst the Dahnans are various groups of people in each region who rebel against the Renans. They attempt to work with Alphen, who now wields the Blazing Sword. The problem with the resistance organizations is that their actions worsen the oppression from the Renans, hence not all Dahnans agree with their methods. So far, known resistance groups include the Crimson Crows, led by Zephyr, and the Silver Swords, which Rinwell is apparently a part of.

Elde Menancia

The region of Elde Menancia is a luxurious and diverse region within Dahna, with its capital of Viscint. The region is a fertile land covered in lush greenery where a pleasant breeze flows through and where Dahnans and Renans live together in harmony. Here, no slaves are whipped, no one is killed by soldiers, and no one experiences hardship – it seems to show the ideal relationship between the two races. Here players will meet Kisara and Dohalim, the last two characters to join Alphen, Shionne, Rinwell and Law in their quest to free Dahna from Renan oppression.

Full Story Summary

Not yet available.

Battle System

Battle System

Linear Motion Battle System

Although announced that the game will feature a variant of the Linear Motion Battle System, very few is known regarding how the game will adapt the system. So far, it has been confirmed though that battles will not be seemless like how Tales of Zestiria tried to accomplish.

Tales of Arise is now available at the following shops (Note: Please keep in mind that we may receive a commission when you click on our links and make a purchase. This, however, has no bearing on our reviews and comparisons.):

US: North America: EU: Europe: