Tales of Arise Reviews

I came away from Tales of Arise with a new appreciation for the Tales series. I loved my time with the endearing cast of characters and the exciting, fast-paced story alongside the energetic and action-packed battles. Tales of Arise is an excellent action RPG, and a fantastic entry point into the series.

Tales of Arise is a great JRPG and the new Beyond the Dawn expansion continues the story in an enjoyable way, especially on Steam Deck.

“Tales of Arise a great step toward the JRPG's evolution and a must-play for fans of the genre.”

With fast paced combat and a gorgeous presentation Tales of Arise marks a clear step forward for the long running JRPG series.

Bandai Namco’s latest blockbuster is a solid action RPG that just...never...ends...

Bandai Namco’s Tales franchise has unwaveringly upheld timeworn visuals and mechanics throughout its storied 25-year history. Anime-inspired art, high fantasy settings, linear motion battle iterations, and character-focused interactions are all synonymous with past entries, but these qualities are both a gift and a curse, establishing the JRPG series as a unique, albeit less successful, alternative to mainstream hits like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Tales of Arise is a significant evolutionary step. Smart gameplay changes, Unreal Engine 4 augmentations, and a mature narrative with an engaging roster of playable characters revitalize the series in ways that can’t be ignored. The latest adventure in the Tales saga more than rises to the occasion.

Combining the best ideas of the past three generations of 3D action JRPGs, stripped of excess and micromanagement, Tales of Arise is one of the most tactile and frenetic action-narrative experiences to come out of Japan in recent memory.

An evil empire, slaves forced into hard labor, a jailbreak of epic proportions… these are some of the key ingredients to any good JRPG’s opening hours, and throw in a dash of main-character-amnesia, then Tales of Arise has stuck the landing and got me hooked. The first game in the long running series since 2016, Tales of Arise is a beautiful, traditional, and downright fun JRPG that brings the “Tales Of” series into the 2020s and continues the JRPG renaissance that we have found ourse...

A successful attempt to modernise and broaden the appeal of the Tales series without completely abandoning its JRPG roots.

Indeed, Tales of Arise is a game designed for long-term Tales franchise fans and those who have never picked up a franchise entry before, where story, combat, and various features come together to deliver a high-quality, highly-detailed JRPG. All of that makes it not just one of the best JRPGs on the market today, but one of the best games hands-down.

Tales of Arise is an excellent JRPG that delivers just about everything you want from the genre: a rich story, intriguing characters, satisfying combat, and an endless amount of lore. The game isn’t able to skirt around the issues that often plague JRPGs, which I feel will make for a higher barrier of entry for newcomers. That said, Fans of the series and those that just love a good JRPG will fall in love with what’s there in Tales of Arise.

Tales of Arise reinvigorates the magic of the long-running series. A franchise that long rested on its established laurels has been refreshingly upgraded and reinvented, resulting in one of the most polished and jaw-dropping JRPGs I've played in a long time. It's an exciting new chapter for the Tales series that won't be soon forgotten.

After nearly half a decade, Tales of Arise was worth the wait as a shining new example of what the series future may hold.

Additionally, the 2D anime character portrait cut-ins that appear during each character’s Mystic Arte, which is their “ultimate attack,” have been replaced with 3D alternatives. While the 3D character models are dynamic during the cut-ins, the 2D portrait is a Tales tradition I would’ve liked to see continue.

Bandai Namco combines excellent writing, stunning anime visuals, and a deep, rewarding combat system to make one of the best JRPGs of the year.

A woman who emits electricity when touched and a man who can't feel pain; what destiny awaits this unlikely pair? Here's Tales of Arise.

Well, it’s finally here. Tales of Arise can finally unleash its full force onto the world, delays notwithstanding. We’ve already done two previews of the game prior, each time eking out out what little we’re allowed to disclose. It’s not much different here, as, after all, the story is arguably why you’re here, but put it this way: with the full game, there is absolutely no more caveats attached to one’s recommendation of this game. With that preamble done, let’s go through it...

Tales of Arise is a genuinely exceptional JRPG that does little wrong. The reworked combat mechanics aren't perfect, but in the grand scheme of things that doesn't matter. Its storytelling, character development, visuals, accessibility, and PC version quality have all been produced to world-class standards. Bandai Namco should be proud, and fans should be thrilled.

Almost perfect if not for the nitty-gritty. If it’s quite there but not enough to push the boundaries, it’s still an awesome game

Tales of Arise combines a wonderful combat loop with engaging party members to create an epic yet personal story.

Tales of Arise heralds a brilliant new dawn for the series and is one of the best RPGs of the last generation.

With Tales of Arise, I think the Tales series is finally ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the heavy hitters of the JRPG genre – Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. This is a masterfully crafted adventure, and the best JRPG I’ve played in a very long time. Combining stunning visuals with a gripping story and the most exciting combat system found in a JRPG yet, this is a must-have for fans of the genre. Its standalone story makes this a great entry point for those looking to get into the Tales series, too. Put simply, Tales of Arise is outstanding.

It takes a little time to warm up to Tales of Arise's main characters (ironic, when two of them wield the powers of hell itself), but once you're over that hump, you're left with a charming JRPG powered by a battle system that never slows down.

For those who thirst for the epic JRPGS of old, Tales of Arise manages to live up to lofty expectations and then some.

Tales of Arise is the best Tales game in over a decade. It’s the advancement the series has needed for quite some time now, such as the far more explorative dungeon designs (as small as they are) and the switch to the Unreal Engine. On top of that, the majority of the cast of characters are compelling enough to keep your attention locked on the story, and the combat reinvigorates the tried and true formula into something special. With that said, there are still plenty of nagging issues. Alphen as a protagonist is dry and makes illogical decisions, there are plenty of JRPG tropes used in frustrating ways, and some of the combat flaws rear their head more than they should have. Fortunately, these pale in comparison to the sixty plus hours you’ll be investing in this newfound adventure. Tales of Arise maintains all the charisma of past Tales games, but wraps it neatly in an inspiring, fresh experience that will leave you wanting more.

Since Scarlet Nexus I’ve been itching for another mature skewing, darker JRPG story to sink my teeth into. I’ve always been a fan of the Tales series and all signs pointed toward Tales of Arise hitting everything on my checklist. Older characters that align closer to my age demographic. A story that explores the grey areas of war, slavery, and revenge. All of this wrapped up in that familiar Tales packaging I’ve loved for the past twenty something plus years.

Longtime fans will be satisfied with this entry after the five-year wait since the last mainline game even though Tales of Arise doesn't feel like it strays too far away from the standard series formula.

Here's a Tales game that gets reactions all across the spectrum, though few would say it's among the finest entries of the series. How it comes across today can only be learned by looking at the review.