“Tales of Arise” is an action-packed RPG developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment, released in September 2021. Renowned for its captivating storyline, vibrant characters, and dynamic gameplay, the game has garnered widespread acclaim from players and critics alike. In this comprehensive review, we’ll provide an in-depth walkthrough guide for “Tales of Arise,” covering various aspects of the game, including the storyline, gameplay mechanics, side quests, exploration, and combat strategies. Whether you’re a newcomer to the series or a seasoned RPG enthusiast, this guide will help you navigate the world of “Tales of Arise” and make the most of your gaming experience.
Table of Contents
Introduction to “Tales of Arise”
Setting and Storyline
“Tales of Arise” is set in the world of Dahna, a planet ruled by the technologically advanced Renans. The game follows the journey of Alphen, a Dahnan slave with no memory, and Shionne, a Renan woman cursed with Thorns, as they embark on a quest to overthrow the Renan oppressors and liberate their people. Along the way, they encounter a diverse cast of characters, uncover dark secrets about their world, and ultimately challenge the status quo to bring about change.
Gameplay Overview
The gameplay in “Tales of Arise” combines elements of action RPGs with traditional “Tales” series mechanics. Players explore expansive environments, engage in real-time combat encounters, and progress through a richly detailed storyline filled with twists and turns. The game features a seamless open world, allowing for exploration and discovery, as well as a robust combat system that emphasizes skillful timing, strategy, and teamwork.
Walkthrough Guide
Chapter 1: Liberation
- Objective: Escape from Dahna’s capital city and evade Renan pursuers.
- Key Points: Introduces players to basic movement, combat, and exploration mechanics. Focus on stealth and evasion tactics to avoid detection. Learn about Alphen and Shionne’s abilities and their unique combat styles.
Chapter 2: Visiting Menancia
- Objective: Travel to the lush region of Menancia and seek allies in the fight against the Renans.
- Key Points: Explore the vibrant landscapes of Menancia and interact with its diverse inhabitants. Complete side quests to earn rewards and gain insights into the world’s lore. Encounter new party members and unlock additional combat abilities.
Chapter 3: Uncovering the Past
- Objective: Unravel the mysteries of Alphen’s forgotten past and confront personal demons.
- Key Points: Delve into Alphen’s backstory through flashback sequences and narrative revelations. Navigate through challenging dungeons and solve environmental puzzles to progress. Engage in character-driven conversations that deepen relationships and shape future events.
Chapter 4: Pursuit of Justice
- Objective: Rally allies and resources for a decisive strike against Renan forces.
- Key Points: Strengthen alliances with key characters and factions by completing quests and side missions. Customize party members’ abilities and equipment to optimize combat effectiveness. Participate in large-scale battles and strategic skirmishes against Renan strongholds.
Chapter 5: Clash of Ideals
- Objective: Confront the Renan hierarchy and challenge the oppressive regime.
- Key Points: Navigate through treacherous terrain and overcome formidable obstacles to reach the heart of Renan power. Make difficult moral choices that influence the outcome of the story and character relationships. Prepare for epic boss battles and intense showdowns with powerful adversaries.
Chapter 6: Redemption and Rebirth
- Objective: Resolve lingering conflicts and forge a new future for Dahna and its people.
- Key Points: Wrap up loose ends and tie up character arcs through meaningful interactions and dialogue choices. Explore the aftermath of the conflict and witness the consequences of your actions. Experience a satisfying conclusion that brings closure to the story while leaving room for future adventures.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features
Combat System
“Tales of Arise” features a dynamic and fast-paced combat system that emphasizes real-time action and strategic thinking. Players control a party of characters, each with their own unique abilities and fighting styles, and engage in fast-paced battles against a variety of enemies. Key features of the combat system include:
- Artes and Combos: Execute powerful artes (special attacks) and combos by chaining together different actions and abilities. Experiment with different combinations to discover devastating combos and maximize damage output.
- Boost Strikes: Unleash devastating Boost Strikes by building up the Boost Gauge during combat. Coordinate with party members to execute coordinated attacks that deal massive damage and turn the tide of battle.
- Guarding and Dodging: Master defensive techniques such as guarding and dodging to avoid enemy attacks and counter with precision strikes. Timing and positioning are key to success in combat, especially against tougher foes and bosses.
- Elemental Attributes: Exploit enemy weaknesses and resistances by utilizing elemental attributes and status effects. Customize party members’ equipment and abilities to capitalize on enemy vulnerabilities and gain the upper hand in battle.
Exploration and Side Quests
Beyond the main storyline, “Tales of Arise” offers a rich and expansive world to explore, filled with hidden treasures, secret areas, and side quests to discover. Key features of exploration and side quests include:
- Treasure Hunting: Search for hidden treasure chests scattered throughout the world, containing valuable items, equipment, and resources. Use exploration skills and environmental clues to uncover hidden loot and rare treasures.
- Side Quests and Subplots: Embark on side quests and subplots offered by NPCs throughout the game world. Help local residents with their problems, undertake challenging tasks, and unravel mini-stories that add depth to the game’s lore and characters.
- Character Interactions: Engage in meaningful interactions with party members and NPCs, deepening relationships and unlocking additional dialogue options and story branches. Learn more about each character’s backstory, motivations, and aspirations through heartfelt conversations and character-driven events.
Customization and Progression
“Tales of Arise” offers a robust customization and progression system that allows players to tailor their gameplay experience to suit their preferences and playstyles. Key features of customization and progression include:
- Character Growth: Level up characters by earning experience points (XP) through combat and quest completion. Allocate skill points to unlock new abilities, improve existing skills, and enhance combat proficiency.
- Equipment and Gear: Collect and equip a variety of weapons, armor, accessories, and items to customize characters’ stats and abilities. Experiment with different loadouts and gear combinations to optimize performance for different combat scenarios.
- Cooking and Crafting: Gather ingredients from the environment and defeated enemies to craft consumable items and equipment enhancements. Experiment with cooking recipes to create delicious meals that provide temporary stat boosts and other beneficial effects.
- Skill Trees and Specializations: Progress through character-specific skill trees and specializations, unlocking powerful passive abilities, stat bonuses, and combat techniques. Tailor characters’ skill sets to complement each other and maximize synergy in battle.
Challenges and Endgame Content
Once the main storyline is completed, “Tales of Arise” offers a variety of challenges and endgame content to keep players engaged and entertained. Key features of endgame content include:
- New Game Plus: Start a new playthrough with carryover progress, allowing players to retain levels, skills, equipment, and other unlocked features. Discover new story branches, dialogue options, and hidden secrets on subsequent playthroughs.
- Post-Game Quests and Activities: Embark on post-game quests, challenges, and activities that become available after completing the main storyline. Take on powerful bosses, tackle high-level dungeons, and participate in special events and festivals.
- Character Epilogues: Unlock character-specific epilogues and side stories by fulfilling certain criteria and completing character-specific objectives. Learn more about each character’s fate and future aspirations through heartfelt and emotional epilogue scenes.
- Community and Social Features: Connect with other players through online features such as leaderboards, challenges, and cooperative multiplayer modes. Team up with friends to tackle difficult content, share strategies and tips, and compete for rewards and recognition.
Tips and Strategies
Combat Tips:
- Master the Basics: Practice basic combat mechanics such as attacking, guarding, dodging, and combo chaining to build a solid foundation for more advanced techniques.
- Exploit Weaknesses: Learn enemy patterns and weaknesses to exploit during combat. Utilize elemental attributes, status effects, and Boost Strikes to maximize damage and efficiency.
- Coordinate with Party Members: Coordinate with AI-controlled party members to execute coordinated attacks and chain combos together. Experiment with different party compositions and synergies to find the most effective combinations for different situations.
- Stay Agile: Maintain mobility and agility during combat to evade enemy attacks and position yourself for optimal offense and defense. Use dodges, dashes, and quicksteps to avoid damage and create openings for counterattacks.
- Manage Resources: Monitor party members’ health, mana, and Boost Gauge during combat, and use items, healing artes, and special abilities strategically to maintain survivability and momentum.
Exploration Tips:
- Take Your Time: Take your time to explore each area thoroughly, uncovering hidden treasures, secret passages, and valuable resources. Pay attention to environmental clues and landmarks that may indicate hidden paths or secrets.
- Talk to NPCs: Talk to NPCs in towns, villages, and other locations to gather information, receive quests, and learn more about the world’s lore and backstory. Some NPCs may offer valuable hints, tips, and rewards for completing quests or helping them with tasks.
- Gather Resources: Gather resources such as herbs, ores, and materials from the environment to use in cooking, crafting, and upgrading equipment. Keep an eye out for resource nodes and gathering spots as you explore each area.
- Complete Side Quests: Prioritize completing side quests and subplots to earn rewards, experience points, and other valuable benefits. Side quests often provide additional context, character development, and world-building elements that enhance the overall experience.
- Use Fast Travel: Take advantage of fast travel points and waypoints to quickly navigate between different locations and areas. Unlock new fast travel points as you progress through the game to streamline exploration and backtracking.
Progression Tips:
- Diversify Abilities: Experiment with different abilities, skill trees, and specializations to diversify characters’ capabilities and adapt to different combat scenarios. Balance offensive, defensive, and support abilities to create a well-rounded party composition.
- Upgrade Equipment: Regularly upgrade and enhance characters’ equipment using materials, resources, and crafting components. Prioritize upgrading weapons, armor, and accessories that complement each character’s playstyle and strengths.
- Invest in Skills: Invest skill points wisely in each character’s skill tree to unlock new abilities, passive bonuses, and combat techniques. Prioritize unlocking essential skills and abilities that enhance survivability, damage output, and utility.
- Manage Inventory: Manage inventory space and item usage efficiently to optimize resource management and inventory space. Sell or discard redundant items, consumables, and equipment to free up space for more valuable items and materials.
- Save Strategically: Save your progress frequently, especially before challenging encounters, boss battles, or significant story events. Use multiple save slots to maintain backup saves and avoid potential setbacks or progression blockers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Tales of Arise” offers a rich and immersive gameplay experience filled with engaging storylines, dynamic combat encounters, and expansive exploration opportunities. By following this comprehensive walkthrough guide and implementing the tips and strategies provided, players can navigate the world of “Tales of Arise” with confidence, overcome challenges, and uncover the secrets of Dahna and its inhabitants. Whether you’re a seasoned RPG veteran or a newcomer to the genre, “Tales of Arise” offers something for everyone, with its compelling narrative, diverse characters, and rewarding gameplay mechanics. Embark on an epic journey, forge alliances, and fight for freedom in a world on the brink of revolution.