The Fantastic 87 Metacritic JRPG with a Stunning Story and Super Lovable Characters (Even Compared to Persona 5)

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JRPGs have become incredibly popular recently, and it’s hard to ignore! While games like Persona 5 Royal and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth are leading the charge, many other fantastic JRPGs are just as captivating and well-made, and deserve more recognition. For example, Tales of Arise, a well-received action-JRPG from 2021, still feels underrated despite all its praise.

Released in 2021, Tales of Arise is the latest installment in the long-running Tales series, which started in 1995 with Tales of Phantasia. Like other classic Japanese RPG franchises such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, the Tales series has changed a lot over the years, and Arise represents its biggest leap forward yet. The game tells the story of characters from two warring planets, Rena and Dahna, and explores themes of politics and social issues, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative. With its engaging gameplay and a large, beautifully crafted world, Tales of Arise is a compelling experience for fans of modern JRPGs.

Tales of Arise Has One of the Best JRPG Casts of the Decade

Tales of Arise’s Main Party

  • Iron Mask/Alphen: A Dahnan amnesiac who starts the game working as a slave. He wears a mysterious mask and is unable to feel pain.
  • Shionne: A Renan woman inflicted with the curse of “thorns,” who teams up with Alphen to rid Dahna of the five Renan lords.
  • Law: A brash and headstrong young Dahnan man who joined Renan law enforcement under duress.
  • Dohalim: A diplomatic Renan ruler on Dahna, Dohalim presides over Elde Menancia and strives for Dahnan and Renan equality.
  • Rinwell: A Dahnan mage who is capable of casting Astral Arts, a discipline generally reserved for Renans.
  • Kisara: A highly competent and revered soldier working under Dohalim, sharing in his vision of equality and peace between Renans and Dahnans.

Over the course of Tales of Arise‘s 60-hour story, players will discover a lot about each character, but a central theme is immediately clear. In the world of Arise, the Renans are the ruling class who control all the resources and keep the Dahnans enslaved, often for unimportant or selfish reasons. This creates a strong conflict between the two groups, and the game’s main characters all have connections to both sides.

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Law, whose parent was a famous rebel against Renan rule, secretly dislikes the Renans despite working for their police force. Meanwhile, Dohalim is a Renan official who sympathizes with and helps the Dahnans, who are being mistreated. This creates a fascinating group dynamic filled with both conflict and the potential for understanding and growth. This kind of unlikely pairing – characters with opposing backgrounds and beliefs – is common in Japanese role-playing games, and it’s a popular choice because it naturally leads to compelling and surprising stories.

One of the strengths of Tales of Arise is how much you enjoy spending time with its characters. Each one has their own unique goals and a detailed history, and their relationships are interesting and often unexpected. The differences in where they come from and who they’re loyal to make their interactions—which are central to the game’s story—even more compelling.

Similar to other games in the Tales series, Tales of Arise includes Skits – short, optional scenes featuring conversations between characters that happen as you play.

Tales of Arise Has a Stunning World and Even Better Combat

The world of Tales of Arise is divided into five distinct regions, each with its own unique charm. From the fiery landscapes of Calaglia to the lush hills of Elde Menancia, the game consistently delivers surprising, memorable, and immersive environments, keeping exploration exciting. While the areas are generally straightforward, there are often rewarding side paths and detours to discover. This more focused design is actually a welcome change, especially compared to many modern RPGs that prioritize massive, sprawling worlds.

The moment-to-moment action in Tales of Arise is excellent. It uses the Linear Motion Battle System (LMBS), a combat style similar to traditional 3D action RPGs, but with a unique twist: characters move primarily in straight lines during battles. This creates a surprisingly familiar feeling for players of 3D fighting games like Tekken and Soulcalibur. It’s a distinctive combat system that successfully blends quick reflexes with strategic thinking.

The last few years have been great for Japanese role-playing games and video games overall, but 2021 is often seen as a quieter year. While there were still excellent games like It Takes Two and the fantastic Returnal, it didn’t have quite the same impact as later years. This might be why many players didn’t immediately recognize how good Tales of Arise was when it came out – it may have been overshadowed by other releases. However, looking back now, it’s clear that Arise is a truly special game and deserves more recognition.

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2026-02-21 16:06