With each new game in the JRPG genre, there are certain expectations that come with the territory, as spiky-haired protagonists, world-altering plots, and big, eccentric swords are essential items on theJRPGmenu. Though the series had been quiet since 2016, the arrival ofTales of Arisein Q3 of 2021 satisfied each of these prerequisites, unsurprisingly resulting in no small amount of critical praise.
Each new entry in the ‘Tales’series is - with a few exceptions - entirely self-contained, and as such the games are always accessible to new fans.Tales of Ariseis no different, and experiencing Alphen and Shionne’s quest to end the overbearing rule of the Renans on the humble world of Dahna is immensely enjoyable to veterans and newcomers alike. However, while the stories and characters that inhabit each and every game in the series are decidedly different, there are similarities between each one, including the amount of time it takes to see each game’s credits roll.
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The 40-Hour Journey of Tales of Arise
Being the seventeenth entry in the veteran JRPG series, there’s a significant amount of content that precedesTales of Arise. From theblastia-dotted Terca Lumireis inTales of Vesperiato the moon-drenched world of Oraganica in 2008’sTales of Hearts,each journey that the player embarks upon often takes far more than a mere weekend to finish.
While many would expect every JRPG to clock in around the 40-hour mark, it wasn’t until 2003’sTales of Symphoniathat the series exceeded that, demanding around 47 hours to see the story’s conclusion.Tales of Ariseis a little more reasonable with its expectation of 40 hours, which mirrors the length of bothTales of Rebirthand the series’ only Wii outing,Tales of Graces.
Taking the total length of all seventeen entries in the series and deducing the average length per game would equate to 38.5 hours each, which is a mere 90 minutes shy ofArise’sstory length. This is, however, including the shortest in the series, 2007’sTales of Innocenceat 29.5 hours, and longest, the 48.5-hour behemothTales of the Abyss. Thankfully, thestories that take place in theTalesseries are often stellar, so it’s rare that they fail to justify their often hefty runtime. Even a game likeTales of Symphoniawas able to overcome its somewhat overwhelming runtime thanks to an eclectic band of likable characters and a story that never lacks charm.
Focusing on the Story
A significant factor in the quest for completion are collectables, which are dotted around in most entries in the series. Scooping them up along the way will take a little effort and a lot of time, and theabundance of Owls inTales of Arisemeans it too will require more time to reach 100%. Not unlike filling out the collector’s book inTales of Vesperia, which is a side-task that many will want to complete, this will add hours to its total time.
Ultimately, any entry in theTalesseries can take as long as the player desires. WhileTales of Ariseplaces significant emphasis on exploration, if the goal is to just see its story reach a satisfying conclusion, its length is nothing out of the ordinary. 40 hours is what players have come to expect of the series, though it can fluctuate somewhat according to which entry gamers are diving into.
AlongsideFinal FantasyandDragon Quest,the games presented in Bandai Namco’sTalesseries sit atop the mountain of JRPG popularity. Fans can rest assured that the most recent entry theTales of Ariseis yet another great entry in a long line of successes, with a runtime that’s manageable yet substantial.
Tales of Ariseis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
