J-RPG fans, mark your calendars! Bandai Namco Entertainment' s Tales of Arise, based on the Tales of saga, will be released in all good stores on September 10, 2021. Originally scheduled for 2020 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, the game has been delayed by a year due to Covid, allowing the development studio to fine-tune it for release on PS5 and Xbox Series.
But what's Tales of Arise all about? Whether you're familiar with the saga or not, here's what to expect: you're plunged into the story of Rena, the celestial planet that rules the world of Dahna with an iron fist. For 300 years, the Renans have enslaved Dahna's population in order to plunder the planet's natural resources. Alphen, a warrior in an iron mask, and Shionne, a young daughter of Rena pursued by her compatriots, will be the actors and witnesses of the Dahnans' fight for freedom. In the course of their adventures, they will cross paths with Rinwell, Law and many other characters who will help them in their fight to regain their freedom.
This opus takes up the DNA of the franchise, while adding numerous improvements, thanks to the"Atmospheric Shader" technology developed by Bandai Namco, which gives the impression that the graphics have been drawn by hand, like a manga. Compared to the other Tales of games, the combat system has also been redesigned, with more direct effects and attacks, to offer a better spectacle, but also better feedback to players, depending on the actions they perform. In short, a must-have for all fans of the genre!
Our test:
Bandai Namco offers us a new opus that's quite grandiose, both in its story and in its graphics, and returns to top form after a long absence. A game that learns from its mistakes, and has indeed learned from the last opuses, with magnificent graphics, entirely revised for the latest generation consoles, and above all on a par with, if not better than, its competitors (cuckoo Final Fantasy VII...).
The game's graphics are incredibly fluid, especially on PS5 and Xbox Series (we tested on both consoles, but also on PS4), offering 60 frames per second on next-gen consoles without ever pushing the envelope. The characters are also very well executed graphically, as are the strikingly beautiful landscapes, with their brilliant colors thanks to the most successful cel-shading.
We also appreciate the story, which is far from Manichean. The people involved are far more complex than we see at the start of the adventure, revealing more and more as the player progresses. The game's deeper story is far more enjoyable than usual. However, the game is a little talkative, almost favoring dialogue over action.
As for combat, Tales of Arise continues to offer a tried-and-tested system that's ever more nervous, but perhaps a little too off-putting, offering very few possibilities in the end. But the possibility of changing character, even during combat, with its specific gameplay, is enough to rekindle the flame and makes this opus a must-have before the holidays.
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Official website
fr.bandainamcoent.eu
