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Shionne, on the other hand, is a gunslinger that attacks enemies from range and also uses her Astral abilities to heal allies. For example, Law deals heavy damage by getting up close and landing physical attacks. While you can certainly get past a good amount of enemies in Tales of Arise by just mindlessly flinging attacks, you’ll be much more efficient once you dig into the game’s multiple systems.Įach of the playable characters have their own unique role in combat. In action games, it’s easy to just button-mash and pray for the best, especially early on. The combat system in Tales of Arise is immensely deep in terms of strategy. There’s a limited circular space, and players can freely roam the area, dishing out damage to foes and supporting allies. As players navigate the overworld, they may pursue or be pursued by an array of different enemies, triggering a combat sequence.
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TALES OF ARISE SERIES
Tales of Arise continues the series tradition of real-time combat. The game does an excellent job at fleshing each of them out, giving everybody satisfying character arcs throughout the game. With such a long, strenuous history between the people of Dahna and Rena, many of our characters see themselves as boxed in, with their destinies already decided. The theme of identity extends to the other characters in Tales of Arise as well. Over the course of the game, we see Alphen grapple with his past and what it could mean for his future. When this mask breaks, he’s left with no choice but to live under his true identity.
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Alphen begins the story as “Iron Mask,” with his face completely hidden from the world at all times. I also loved what the story has to say about identity. This dynamic is only amplified as you progress through the game, as other characters, hailing from both Dahna and Rena, will join the party. I tend to grow tired of the optional conversations with party members in JRPGs, but the characters in Tales of Arise always had something interesting to say. The two characters often speak with each other about issues at hand, providing unique perspectives that are influenced by their upbringing. As a Renan on Dahna, Shionne has some great interactions with not only Alphen, but the other characters met during the story. With astronomically different backgrounds, both characters embark on a journey to redefine their own destinies.įrom the beginning, Alphen and Shionne are two fascinating characters. Our story follows the life of Alphen and Shionne, a newly escaped slave and a daughter of Rena, respectively. This parasitic relationship has bred some harsh animosity between the people of both planets. For centuries, the Renans have stripped Dahna of its valuable resources, and forced many of its people into slavery. Tales of Arise centers on the planet of Dahna, which is ruled over by the people of Rena, a neighboring planet. Fortunately, Tales of Arise lives up to expectations and delivers a thoroughly satisfying JRPG experience from beginning to end.
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With such a reputation, there’s plenty of pressure resting on the shoulders of its latest iteration, Tales of Arise. Often featuring massive worlds, an extensive roster of characters, and some deep lore, the games pack just about everything you’d look for in the genre. The Tales series has been delivering high-quality JRPG experiences since the mid 1990s.
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