Tales of Arise - Review @ Fextralife
- Thread starter Redglyph
- Start date
N
Nereida
Guest
Lovely looking game, might be the next thing I play.
I'm winding now from Pathfinder and catching up on work, but what I'll play next is between Encased and this.
I'm winding now from Pathfinder and catching up on work, but what I'll play next is between Encased and this.
Carnifex
SasqWatch
Sounds very unlike Symphonia, so I'll likely be steering away from this one. I'll be curious to see what people here think of it, should anyone prove bolder than I.
It is pretty with fun combat and interesting characters (although most seem to be a bunch of racists in the beginning - I'm expecting that'll change).
The story pushes you through, and it feels a solid 8/10. I'm about 15-20 hr in, and still in Chapter 2.
Main downsides are that it feels a bit... superficial? I can't quite put my finger on it, but other Tales games felt like they had more depth/systems. Dungeons are poor, in that there's little/no interactivity or interesting mechanics - just small mazes (corridors really) with enemies and a boss.
There's no overworld - all maps connect together. This is OK - overworld was always a bit of a cop-out to avoid having to intricately design a whole world of level art. However, the levels are small and have load screens at each end, which makes the world feel lumpy and compact.
To be fair, the game's lore does go some way to explaining why (for example) the hero has never been to the village that is (almost) literally 100 yards down the road, but it is odd seeing these graphically impressive vistas that show a big world, when each area is so compact. I suspect I've been spoiled by the Xenoblade games.
Sidequests are present, adequate even. The owls are fun, and finding the owl forest gave me a bit of what I was missing previously.
I'm playing back-to-back with Ys 9, and what is telling is that Ys 9 seems to have much more heart and feeling. Arise has *much* better gfx/tech, but Ys (despite a setting which doesn't inspire me) feels full of warmth and joy. Arise feels a bit soulless in comparison.
BUT, I'm still enjoying it, and each party member is genuinely different and unique. There's plenty of play here, and so far I've found new/interesting stuff each time I have played, so as I say, a solid 8. But equally, I'm not seeing the fairy-dust that made Symphonia, Abyss, Vesperia and Xillia so strong.
The story pushes you through, and it feels a solid 8/10. I'm about 15-20 hr in, and still in Chapter 2.
Main downsides are that it feels a bit... superficial? I can't quite put my finger on it, but other Tales games felt like they had more depth/systems. Dungeons are poor, in that there's little/no interactivity or interesting mechanics - just small mazes (corridors really) with enemies and a boss.
There's no overworld - all maps connect together. This is OK - overworld was always a bit of a cop-out to avoid having to intricately design a whole world of level art. However, the levels are small and have load screens at each end, which makes the world feel lumpy and compact.
To be fair, the game's lore does go some way to explaining why (for example) the hero has never been to the village that is (almost) literally 100 yards down the road, but it is odd seeing these graphically impressive vistas that show a big world, when each area is so compact. I suspect I've been spoiled by the Xenoblade games.
Sidequests are present, adequate even. The owls are fun, and finding the owl forest gave me a bit of what I was missing previously.
I'm playing back-to-back with Ys 9, and what is telling is that Ys 9 seems to have much more heart and feeling. Arise has *much* better gfx/tech, but Ys (despite a setting which doesn't inspire me) feels full of warmth and joy. Arise feels a bit soulless in comparison.
BUT, I'm still enjoying it, and each party member is genuinely different and unique. There's plenty of play here, and so far I've found new/interesting stuff each time I have played, so as I say, a solid 8. But equally, I'm not seeing the fairy-dust that made Symphonia, Abyss, Vesperia and Xillia so strong.
That was quick.
Tales of Arise has surpassed 1 million shipments and digital sales, 25 million units for the entire franchise.
Tales of Arise has surpassed 1 million shipments and digital sales, 25 million units for the entire franchise.
Carnifex
SasqWatch
I'm pleased and somewhat astonished that Symphonia performed that well, sometimes I feel like I'm the only person that enjoyed that game. And man, do I wish the last few Tales games were done in the same style.