Tales of Arise, the latest entry in Bandai Namco's Tales series, is launching this year. The action-RPG was announced in 2019, and a long-awaited showcase has finally shed more light on the highly-anticipated title's story and gameplay.

The Tales series is a JRPG franchise known for real-time combat and stories that explore politics, philosophy and social problems. Tales of Arise looks set to continue this proud tradition, and fans have eagerly awaited further details. Here is everything we know about this upcoming epic.

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Tales of Arise Trailer

After a long wait following the game's announcement, a release date trailer for Tales of Arise was unveiled in April. At the same time, Bandai Namco also unveiled a Gameplay Showcase video that provides a clearer look at Arise and what players can expect when they actually get their hand on it. During Summer Game Fest, Bandai Namco released a second trailer that showcases two new characters and additional plot details.

What Tales of Arise Is About

tales of arise

Tales of Arise's story is unconnected to previous titles, so players new to the franchise are welcome to start here. The game follows Alphen and Shionne from the worlds of Dahna and Rena. For 300 years, Rena has ravaged Dahna and enslaved her people. To free the Dahnans and change their fates, the two heroes form an unlikely alliance. Rena's dominance is owed to technology and astral artes, magical abilities that draw on the astral energy in all living things. Shionne's can manifest as a flaming sword, which she entrusts to Alphen.

The new trailers reveal two more protagonists. The first is Rinwell, a girl with an adorable owl named Hootle and the ability to wield astral artes, a rarity among Dahnans. The second is Law, a martial artist serving a Renan police force called "Bull's Eye." Why he serves his people's oppressors is unknown, but it may be connected to how Dahnans mythologized Rena as a world of the dead and divine. Since he joins the party, one can assume his faith will be somehow shaken.

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Two more playable characters were unveiled in the Summer Game Fest trailer, with additional details revealed on Bandai Namco's website. The first, Dohalim il Qaras, is a Renan noble who doesn't share his peoples' attitudes towards the Dahnans. He fights with a bo staff and astral artes, so it seems likely that he will fill a hybrid role in combat. The second new character is Kisara, a Dahnan soldier accompanying Dohalim. Armed with a hammer and shield, her mastery of offensive and defensive techniques has won respect from even the Renans.

According to producer Yusuke Tomizawa, Arise's main concepts are "inheritance and evolution," representing how the developers have reflected on the series' history while advancing into the future. So far, Arise's story appears to be focused on rebellion, with pain being another recurring element. Shionne is afflicted with the "Curse of Thorns" that harms those who touch her, while Alphen can only hold the flaming sword due to his inability to feel pain.

What We Know About Tales of Arise's Gameplay

Tales games are action-RPGs, with combat based on fighting games, and Arise is no different. Players control one character from a party of four, moving and attacking in real-time while the AI handles the rest. Like the last game, Tales of Berseria, the action takes place in full 3D.

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As with any fighting game, characters can perform special moves, or "artes" as the series calls them. These range from projectiles to mid-air strikes and powerful elemental attacks. Where Tales simplifies things is that these abilities can be mapped to buttons, letting players keep up their momentum without worrying about long inputs. The Gameplay Showcase reveals that players can change their controlled character instantly. Combined with the quicker pace, dodge rolls and flashier attacks, Arise looks to be the fastest Tales yet.

Arise also introduces Boost Attacks and Boost Strikes. Boost Attacks are said to be party-spanning support abilities, while Boost Strikes are special moves that involve multiple characters. Mystic Artes, powerful finishers unique to each party member, will also return. The game's battles are encounter-based, with a fast transition between the overworld and combat space.

The game's art style is rooted in anime, but it's also reminiscent of watercolor paintings. This has been achieved through Bandai Namco's new Atmospheric Shader, which Tomizawa states was designed to convey, "The striking touch of a painting, the wavering light and air...where even the character's breathing is harmonized."

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Arise is not an open-world game, but Alphen's ability to sprint, jump and swim better than previous heroes reveals a greater freedom of movement. The series' traditional titles and cooking system will both return, letting players augment characters with earned accolades and heal their party based on the meals prepared. There may also be more ways to interact with the game's NPCs, as the Showcase demonstrates Shionne healing the wounded.

Finally, the Showcase unveils what seems to be a new upgrade system called the Skill Panel. Battles reward players with SP, which can be spent unlocking new artes, magic and support abilities. This isn't the first time Tales has explored skill tree-like systems, but Arise's looks to be the cleanest so far.

Tales of Arise's Release Date

tales of arise

Tales of Arise is scheduled for a worldwide September 10 release on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. This makes it the first Tales game for next-gen systems. Though originally planned to release in 2020, Arise was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While Bandai Namco assured players that Arise's development was proceeding throughout 2020, it's great to finally see the fruits of the developer's labor.

Keep Reading: Five Tales Games You MUST Play Before Arise