Tales of Arise Heralds the Continuing Resurrection of the JRPG
We’re living in a Japanese RPG golden age right now
The “Tales” series has been a mainstay in Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) since 1995, with the release of Tales of Phantasia for the Super Famicom. This is a series that has remained relevant in the genre by providing consistent quality since its inception (covering a whopping seventeen games in total — five of those made in just the last decade). It could be argued that the Tales series is forever nipping at the heels of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. With Tales of Arise, it’s closing the gap.
Within the first couple of days after release, Tales of Arise sold more than a million copies, making it the fastest-selling game in the series so far. This commercial success can likely be attributed to the latest game’s increased focus on smooth action gameplay, as well as higher-fidelity graphics than the series has seen before. It is on track to become the highest selling Tales game ever; it’s truly a phenomenal game from start to finish and has everything a top-tier JRPG needs.
Strong characters and worldbuilding
Tales of Arise kicks off with all the classic (and overused) JRPG tropes. You play as a character with amnesia and a mystery past who must rise above almost-insurmountable challenges to defeat the dark lords who rule the land. Along the way, you’ll meet numerous colorful characters who also join your party, as you work towards a common goal and defeat the aforementioned villainous oppressors to free the land. While the setup may sound formulaic — and it is — what sets Tales of Arise apart are the character interactions, and how they intermingle with real-time action gameplay.
I would say that for most JRPGs, the overarching story isn’t the main draw. The characters — and how they develop, interact, and struggle against unwinnable odds — is what draws me into the world. Tales of Arise sold me on its characters right away, thanks for the introduction of the two leads and their blatantly-obvious conflict. There’s Alphen, a sickly-earnest human puppy dog with the inability to feel pain, who wants nothing more than to free his people from their oppressors. He meets Shionne, a cold and distant member of the very same race as the oppressors. She’s cursed, too, unable to touch another human — whoever touches her is inflicted with incredible pain. A man who can’t feel pain and a woman who only causes pain to those around her are brought together despite being on opposite sides of the central conflict. Of course, it’s the perfect setup for a pair of star-crossed lovers.
These two protagonists eventually meet four other characters who each have their own goals and beliefs (which change and develop throughout the story as they face new and unexpected challenges). Everyone in this cast interacts with each other in comical and dramatic ways (whether it’s arguing about their eating habits, gossiping about which party members they have a crush on, or discussing more serious topics like the horrors of slavery, war, and if people can ever move beyond the current cycles of hatred). By the end of my sixty-eight hours with this cast, it actually hurt to know that my time with them was over. I felt I’d seen a new bar set for party member interaction in a JRPG.
Characterization in combat
The combat in Tales of Arise is a product of its time, in the sense that it eschews more traditional turn-based combat for a real-time approach. Granted, the Tales series is known for being more action-focused (since the very beginning), but this iteration features the strongest battle mechanics I’ve seen in the franchise so far. It has all the key elements: you’ll level up to earn more (and more powerful) abilities, and you’ll even uncover bombastic one-hit-kill attacks where two party members come together to pull of a massive/crazy/flashy anime attack, which is a feast for the eyes every time.
Importantly, characterization is never lost during battle, where characters will continue talking to each other. In-battle dialogue continues to push the story forward, too, with some party members even berating each other for missing moves or getting hit — only for their tone to become more supportive later in the game, where they signal their appreciation for each others’ friendship (all while fighting god-like bosses). It’s silly and cheesy, sure, but it’s incredibly entertaining.
Tales of Arise is mandatory for any JRPG fan, even if you consider yourself a lapsed fan. Maybe you haven’t played a JRPG in a while. If that’s you, then Tales of Arise is a good place to dive back in. It follows in the footsteps of excellent JRPGs that have been released over the last couple of years (including Final Fantasy VII Remake and Dragon Quest XI).
In fact, now is a great time for JRPGs in general. Shin Megami Tensei V, Final Fantasy XVI, and Pokemon Legends: Arceus are all on the horizon. Tales of Arise is simply the latest entry into a genre that is finding its feet again.
