Tales of Arise Reviews
If there’s one thing that Tales of Arise teaches its players, it’s that a little empathy goes a long way. It’s a lesson that would serve all of us well in today’s deeply divided and highly politicized landscape as well.
A new benchmark has been set for the franchise with Tales of Arise, demonstrating how refinement and dedication can raise a game to the level of its rivals.
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.
Bandai Namco promised that "now is the time for change," and Tales of Arise legitimately feels like a game that's trying to bring change to Japanese RPGs. It's strong characters, epic story, engrossing battle system, and lush visuals are only marred by a disappointing final act, and those areas of the game where the team refused to let go of outdated ideas and conventions. If the Tales team can find it in themselves to push things just a little further, then this might truly be the spark that sets off a revolution in a genre that's needed a regime change for so long now.
Tales of Arise will make fans of the franchise fall in love with its charismatic characters, a colorful addictive combat and many hours of fun.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Tales of Arise is the best game in the series so far and I’m so happy with how the developers managed to modernize one my favorite series. With Tales of Arise I feel the series can finally go into the mainstream and get the respect it deserves. It does almost everything right; the story is handled well, the gameplay is amazing, the pacing is on point, the music will tingle your heart strings and the game systems will keep you coming back for more.
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.
Tales of Arise, the 17th edition of tales of the series, has made changes that have set the series on the right track. Storytelling and game characters, along with eye-catching visual effects, are among the positive points of the game.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Bandai Namco has been on a roll with its Japanese releases this year, starting with the very stylish Scarlet Nexus a couple of months ago. Tales of Arise is yet another hit in the series that you’ll want to add to your JRPG library, and one that is very likely to keep you entertained for weeks, if not months, to come.
Tales of Arise is a great J-RPG. With a great scenario much more complex than it seems, and touching characters. The seductive design is also at the rendezvous, as is the gameplay in combat, very nervous and close to a beat 'em all, and an RPG aspect a little behind but convincing. And if the PS5 version does not benefit from a most insane optimization, it was a real pleasure to play this Tales of Arise. If the J-RPG is your cam, you should not miss out.
Review in French | Read full review
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.
This is a ridiculously good JRPG that will entertain you for upward of 50 hours as you explore the breathtaking environments of Dahna. If you’re looking for an addictive JRPG to sink your teeth into, Tales of Arise comes very highly recommended.
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.
Tales of Arise is positioned as one of the best Tales of the whole saga. A great story with a frenetic combat system and a wonderful artwork. One of this year's must-haves.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
Tales of Arise is a fascinating JRPG that builds on the series' legacy. The new episode captivates with charismatic characters and their fun interactions, even though the plot and themes aren't very creative. Combat is more electrifying than ever with a system that lets you fight on the ground and in the air, with plenty of stylish moves. Plus, there's plenty to do in its vast world, and the visuals are exceptional. Behind the qualities, there are some recurring problems in the series (such as visual chaos in some battles), as well as the very timid use of the new exploration mechanics. Not only that, the general structure of the game is the same as the last titles, being far from the promised revolution. Despite all that, Tales of Arise turns out to be a great JRPG for both novices and veterans alike.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Tales of Arise captivates players from the very first minute. I was particularly taken with the cutscenes and the soundtrack. Personally, I found very long sessions tiring, because there isn't that much action, where you have to be very attentive, like in a shooter. But that's very subjective and doesn't have to be the case for everyone. The video game is definitely not only a recommendation for connoisseurs, but also suitable for complete newcomers. Once you have completed the first 10 hours, Tales of Arise gets really interesting. The beginning actually drags a bit, but it's not boring either. The combat system is easy to learn and the skill tree is self-explanatory. During matches it can get confusing, but with a few good combos you can manage that. If the enemies become too easy, your comrades will complain and you won't need to farm anymore. All in all, Tales of Arise remains a clear buy recommendation, even though only English and Japanese are supported. You don't need any prior knowledge of the Tales series and can jump right in.
Review in German | Read full review
Bandai Namco introduced a new part of the Tales series, one of the most famous JRPG game series. This part contains a beautiful story, wonderful characters, fast and easy-to-understand gameplay, with a variety of tasks and activities, which gave a distinct flavor to the game. Personally for me Tales of Arise is one of the best Tales games of all time.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Tales of Arise is one of the best JRPG games of this year with its smooth PC version, great story and gameplay.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
When it’s all said and done, Tales of Arise features a likeable cast of characters, compelling story and one of my new favorite combat engines, not just in the Tales series but in all the JRPGs I’ve played so far and if not for the pacing issues and the PC port’s technical issues, it could have set the bar for JRPGs to follow.