


Completely free movement and the addition of a responsive dodge roll are immediate game-changers. Tales of Arise is no different, but compared to previous Tales titles, it feels much more. Tales' prime differentiator has always been its battle systems, which embrace combo-based action instead of command or turn based combat. A chance encounter with an equally mysterious young woman called Shionne gives Alphen the opportunity that he's been waiting for, and it's not long until the two of them are fighting back against the baddies. They conquered Alphen's homeworld, Dahna, 300 years ago, and now, their technologically advanced empire siphons elemental energy from both Dahna and its inhabitants. It's a surprisingly sci-fi premise, as the Renans actually hail from a different planet. They're an endearing bunch, and watching them grow bit by bit across this lengthy journey forms the story's backbone.Ī slave to start with, Alphen seeks to break free of his shackles and overthrow his oppressors - a race known as the Renans.

Over the course of what quickly becomes a rather epic adventure, Alphen and his fellow party members go through a lot of character development. If your tired anime trope detector is about to explode, that's perfectly understandable - but Alphen, like the rest of the main cast, deserves a chance. You play as Alphen, a mysterious man trapped in an iron mask, who happens to be suffering from a severe bout of amnesia. A lot of time and effort has been poured into this thing, and as a result, it's the highest quality Tales experience in a long, long while. It shows in the gorgeous new graphics engine, and the game's sheer amount of content, both story-driven and optional. Without a doubt, this is a bigger budget release. In a lot of ways, Tales of Arise is just what the franchise needed.
