Tales of Arise doesn’t exactly forge new ground in the JRPG genre, but a fast-paced battle system and a well-told story make it easy to pick up, and hard to put down.
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5 (reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Price: $60
Release Date: September 10, 2021
Genre: Japanese RPG
Tales of Arise is the latest entry in Bandai Namco’s long-running Tales series of Japanese RPGs. If that means anything to you, then you probably already know whether or not you want the game. The Tales series is easily the most consistent JRPG franchise from a major publisher, from the inventive Tales of Phantasia back in 1995, up to the refined Tales of Berseria in 2017. Just like its predecessors, Tales of Arise employs a familiar formula to deliver pure JRPG comfort food. And, just like its predecessors, Tales of Arise is excellent.
