[TGS 2019] Tales of Arise, a milestone for the series’ 25th anniversary; story overview of “two stars”

Tales of Arise was first seen at E3 in June. Since then, fans have surely been clamouring for new news. Let’s go through what we know of the game, as provided by Yusuke Tomizawa.

TOArise, with its planned release in 2020, will be celebrating the Tales of series’ 25th year. Great animation, illustrations and unique characters have frequently been the Tales staple, and it will continue in Arise. It still is an RPG, now with an added focus on action, exploration, battle scenes and so forth. 

We have the keywords “two stars”, referring to Dahna and Rena. Dahna was a nature-oriented planet, in contrast to Rena’s more magically inclined, science-oriented planet. Rena occupied Dahna 300 years ago. Arise’s story starts proper once Alphen and Shionne meet. Alphen is a slave with no memories, and the ability to feel no pain. He doesn’t know why he wears the Iron Mask. He meets Shionne, a girl from Rena who gives anyone she touches severe pain. This is the initial dynamic of their relationship.

All humans in this universe possess “Astral Energy”, and Astral Artes work like magic. Renans like Shionne are able to use Astral Artes with their energy. Shionne’s eyes turn blue when she does so. Her Arte has healing properties. Alphen possesses the Torch Flame Sword, a weapon based of Shionne’s power. It can burn human beings, and while Alphen cannot feel pain, he can still die if he gets injured by the sword. It falls to Shionne to heal him to ensure his survival.

There’s still much left to be disclosed in the future. There’s of course, new characters, story, and the bonds among the upcoming cast. 2020 surely can’t come fast enough for us to dive into a brand new Tales world.

Since Berseria’s release in 2016, it would be a 4 year gap between that and Arise. During the planning phase, the team had decided to challenge new technology, hence the use of Unreal Engine 4. They also wished to get new players, those unfamiliar with Tales, for Arise, not just catering to existing fans. The art style also took time to establish. If they had just used Unreal 4’s base, it would’ve been easier, but they wanted to ensure a Tales-like art. Additionally, Arise is intended to be a milestone for the series, celebrating its 25th year. 

The Tales of series had seen many releases between 2002 and 2009, but there’s currently no plan to stick to a specific release schedule. What is ideal is that players will continuously enjoy the games, regardless. Translation/localization is cited as one of the reasons why Arise will be taking a longer time. They’re trying for a worldwide rollout, as previous titles typically had a year gap between the Japanese to western release.

Regarding the Torch Flame Sword, Tomizawa says it’s pretty common for an integration of story and game mechanics. Remember, the sword is also still able to hurt Alphen even if he can’t feel pain. He says that could affect his battle, but no details will be disclosed at this time.

What are you hoping from Tales of Arise? After a quarter of a century, the series is still able to captivate people from all over the world. Tales of Arise is set for a 2020 release, we’ll be looking forward to it!