Tales of Arise
" Dynamic action RPG with fluid combat and stunning graphics but excessive cutscenes disrupt pacing "
Tales of Arise Review
Tales of Arise is a JRPG that successfully blends traditional and modern elements, delivering a visually stunning and emotionally engaging experience. Players appreciate the rich narrative focused on freedom, identity, and redemption, supported by well-developed characters and strong voice acting. The combat system is widely praised for its fluidity, depth, and strategic options, including dynamic combos and the Boost mechanic. Exploration and side quests add to the immersion, although some quests feel repetitive.
Graphically, the game marks a significant improvement in the series, with detailed environments and vibrant art direction. The soundtrack complements the atmosphere well, enhancing key moments. However, criticisms include an overabundance of cutscenes and dialogue that some find excessive, pacing issues especially near the finale, and a final dungeon perceived as a grind-heavy chore. Additionally, intrusive DLC marketing and occasional bugs detract from the overall experience for some players. Despite these flaws, it remains a recommended title for both newcomers and series veterans.
Highlights
Players highly praise the fluid and engaging combat system, noting the variety of character abilities and combo mechanics that keep battles exciting. The graphics and art direction stand out as a major leap forward, with beautiful, detailed environments and character models. The storyline is appreciated for its mature themes and character development, offering a darker and more serious tone than previous entries. Voice acting and soundtrack are also celebrated for enhancing the game's emotional and atmospheric depth.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the heavy reliance on cutscenes and dialogue, which some players find disrupts pacing and engagement. The endgame content, especially the final dungeon, is seen as repetitive and grind-heavy, diminishing enjoyment. Several reviews mention intrusive in-game DLC advertisements that affect immersion negatively. Minor bugs and occasional optimization issues, including crashes and stuttered audio, were reported. Some players also felt the story, while solid, was not groundbreaking and that the combat could become repetitive over time.
Pros
- • Combat system is fluid, dynamic, and strategically rewarding with diverse character abilities.
- • Stunning graphics with detailed environments and vibrant art style.
- • Mature and emotionally engaging storyline with well-developed characters.
- • Excellent voice acting enhances character immersion and narrative depth.
- • Soundtrack complements atmosphere and key story moments effectively.
- • Exploration and side quests add meaningful content and world-building.
- • Multiple difficulty levels accommodate different player skillsets.
Cons
- • Excessive cutscenes and dialogue disrupt pacing and player engagement.
- • Final dungeon is repetitive and grind-heavy, detracting from fun.
- • Intrusive DLC marketing within the game breaks immersion.
- • Occasional bugs and crashes reported, affecting stability.
- • Some story segments and side quests feel less impactful or repetitive.
- • Combat can become repetitive despite variety in combos.
- • Translation issues with typos and rushed localization noted.
Rating Criteria
300 years of tyranny. A mysterious mask. Lost pain and memories. Wield the Blazing Sword and join a mysterious, untouchable girl to fight your oppressors. Experience a tale of liberation, featuring characters with next-gen graphical expressiveness!
