The ‘Tales’ series is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and Bandai Namco is set to debut a refresh of sorts with Tales of Arise. As the 17th overall entry in the long-running JRPGs, ‘Arise’ boasts the series’ most high-profile release in years, featuring vibrant anime-inspired visuals, a fast-paced new battle system, as well as an expanded level of interactivity just shy of an open world. Underway by a team comprised of veteran devs and series newcomers, the experience was crafted from the ground up to deliver a signature Tales experience for a wider audience of players.

As Tales of Arise represents a fresh approach for the series and the title has experienced its fair share of delays, anticipation is undeniably high for the action-packed new RPG. However, how has the hype stood with critics? Well according to emerging reviews, Tales of Arise has earned quite a lovely reception, with praise directed at its stunning eye-candy visuals and strong combat gameplay. However, some outlets say the experience may not quite stack up with more traditional Tales entries of the past.

• ​​Eurogamer – “Emerges A Triumph”

“​​There are missteps and a few bumps along the way, but this soft reboot of a long-running series emerges a triumph.”

• ​​GameSpot – 70/100

“​Taken as a whole, Tales of Arise is a very good RPG, boasting beautiful visuals, a wonderful cast of characters, and engaging combat mechanics–but its flaws (and that odious DLC) are also difficult to ignore. If you’re looking for a lengthy, charming, and engaging JRPG to play on your shiny new console or PC gaming rig, Tales of Arise is certainly a fine choice. Just don’t go into it expecting an all-time classic.”

• ​​Metro GameCentral – 80/100

​”A successful attempt to modernise and broaden the appeal of the Tales series without completely abandoning its JRPG roots.”

• ​​PCGamesN – 90/100

​​”Bandai Namco combines excellent writing, stunning anime visuals, and a deep, rewarding combat system to make one of the best JRPGs of the year.”

• ​​Push Square – 90/100

“​Tales of Arise went above and beyond our expectations. With its picturesque landscapes instilling a real sense of adventure, it’s easily one of the strongest, most cohesive Tales games to date. Dramatic cutscenes and memorable character moments help sell an intriguing story, while a satisfying combat system becomes more and more engaging as your party powers up. A fantastic, modernised journey with all the rewarding qualities of a classic JRPG.”

Tales of Arise releases September 10th for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. What do you think? Are you thinking of assembling for Tales of Arise? How do you think it stacks up with previous entries in the series? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day!

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