Tales of Arise Reviews
For a series that has been around for 30+ years, [Tales of Arise] should have at least taken cues from older JRPGs and just do with a major overhaul and shaking up. As it stands, JRPG fans will just have to settle with an alright-if-not-that-perfect experience.
Tales of Arise is not so much an evolution of the Tales series as it is an awkward game that backs up decent combat with a bland, uninspired story and characters.
Thanks to the game’s rich writing, rarely does it feel that you’re just wandering through one luscious environment after another—like the canopy-level walkways of the Gianne Woodland or steep ivied cliffs of the Aureum Falls—so much as you’re being given glimpses of a land well worth fighting for. Even the variety of your party serves a deeper function, suggesting that one person alone, however strong, cannot break down every obstacle.
Tales of Arise is a lengthy, beautiful RPG adventure, but has messy combat and uneven pacing on occasion.
Tales of Arise lacks the grandiosity and polish befitting of the 25th anniversary. That isn’t to say it’s a bad game. Far from it in fact–but this franchise deserves better now that it’s in the mainstream spotlight.
Dedicated fans of the genre will find exactly what they were looking for here. While its pacing doesn't treat players' time as well it could, Tales of Arise is an enjoyable, memorable action RPG.
Tales of Arise is a classic case of almost is never enough. It nails nearly every open-world JRPG staple; the gameplay, exploration, characters, music and presentation are all top-notch. It’s just a pity that the story wrestles with a litany of issues that keep this entry in the Tales of series from reaching legendary status.
Tales of Arise is a fun game, but one with a bit of tonal disparity to it. One moment, you'll be searching for owls wearing goofy accessories on behalf of the owl king, and then next you'll watch in horror as a town of people is literally liquified before your eyes. As long as you try not to think too much about the stifling and nearly overwhelming amount of horror the characters have been put through, you'll likely feel like you got your money's worth of this very long and winding game. Even with some of its over-the-top plot points, this is definitely one of the better games I've played in 2021 and should be enjoyed by both newcomers to the franchise and veterans alike.
Characters develop in fascinating ways, the story has resonance and is emphatically told, and the stylish, substantial combat make it a fantastic Japanese RPG that is free of the genre’s many trappings.
While it doesn’t end as well as it begins, Tales of Arise told a story I wanted to see through. Even when the plot dipped a bit in the back half, the wonderful cast of characters kept me engaged. Its combat never stopped being a blast either. This is the strongest Tales game in years and definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a new adventure.
As yet another fantastic JRPG from Bandai Namco, Tales of Arise is a great entry in the long-running series - and one that should please players both old and new.
With a beautiful new style, a more adult narrative, wonderful characters, and a modernised tone and feel, Tales of Arise brings the franchise smashing into the current era. It’s still got the tried-and-true Tales flavour, both good and bad, yet innovates with fluid combat that feels fresh. The best and most essential Tales game in well over a decade.
With a plethora of fantastic characters, an intriguing story, and a graphical refresh, Tales of Arise has taken my list of memorable games by storm. In the face of a JRPG market drought, reaching for the latest title from Bandai Namco Studios seems only natural. Especially now that it's been five years since the release of the previous game in the series and the changes made in this installment being a spectacular step forward in the development of the brand.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Tales of Arise is without question a feast for anime lovers and Japano fans of the first hour. The JRPG unabashedly grinds out just about every cliché along the way, but is so wholesome and motivating that it's hard to stay mad at it. The stunning animations by Studio Ufotable are the big visual highlight here and should reconcile any skeptic who might not otherwise enjoy the picturesque graphic style. In general, Tales of Arise is quite traditional in its gameplay and lacks creativity in many parts, but there are no real slip-ups. Apart from the questionable monetization, we are left with a varied and sometimes epic adventure with a motivating gameplay loop and, last but not least, likeable characters.
Review in German | Read full review
Tales of Arise is a triumph in almost every way, delivering a strong narrative, well-developed characters, and combat that feels snappier than ever.
For an adventure game, the graphics and story are pretty interesting, but for an JRPG, the game is lacking in a lot of elements. While it has RPG trappings, it feels far more like an adventure/action game, which is a knock against those looking for some JRPG action. The graphics, story, characters and overall package are very well done. However, it is hard to shake the feeling of the game being far more style over substance, which in general JRPG-ers are not looking for.
Remarkable visual aesthetics and entertaining fighting system but slow in presenting the story, especially at the beginning of the game.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Tales of Arise is a Tales game through and through. It's polished and consistently enjoyable, and it features an excellent combat system. The story and characters are not particularly ambitious or distinct, but they give you a fun world to explore for the 40+ hour runtime. In an era where "safe" JRPGs are uncommon, it's nice to have one that does exactly what it promises. It's not the best or worst of the series, but it is a darn fun Tales title that lives up to the franchise's name.
Overall, it sometimes feels like just moving on from each area to the next, with not much else in-between. Tales of Arise is a beautiful game to look at, but the game goes by too quickly due to the relatively limited side-questing. The last release in the Tales series, Tales of Berseria, offered a lot of gameplay in terms of extra content, and the story was enough to wrench your heart out. Tales of Arise offers a very compelling story but not much else in terms of extra gameplay.