So Tales of Arise, I'm about halfway through the game and it's definitely a good game however I still do prefer Tales of Berseria as I find that I prefer the relatively unscrupulous group of characters over a group of virtuous busybodies and while the group in Arise isn't one of those groups it's not exactly as dubious as Berseria's group. As for the story it's more science fantasy than regular fantasy or regular science fiction where there are two planets in a binary orbit (at least I think that's the term, I know two stars in one solar system are a binary system,) one called Dahna and one called Rena, and prior to the start of the game Rena invades Dahna. and enslaves the local populace so 300 years later our main character Alphen (although at this point he can't remember his name and just goes by Iron Mask, yes this is a light spoiler but you fine out his name about an hour or two into the game) is working as a slave before getting caught up in a resistance movement's attack on a convoy transporting something (or someone in this case) where we meet Shionne our female lead and shit happens resulting in Alphen pulling a flaming sword out of Shionne's tits (ok not her tits per se, her chest but I like my version more) which he can actually use due to his inability to feel pain. As far as calls to adventure go this one is actually pretty good, it keeps Shionne mysterious whilst also giving Alphen a good motivation to take up the sword and try and change things.

 

As for the combat it's a lot better than in previous Tales games, much more action oriented and the artes (skills) are combo extenders more than anything else and help you inflict a state on the enemy called break in this state two party members (regardless of whether they're active in the battle or not) team to perform a super attack that can oneshot the enemy and if it's aimed correctly can kill every enemy in the battle as well. There are also special skills that each party member has that can be used to gain and advantage against certain types of foe for example Shionne, being a marksman, can down flying enemies making it easier for other party members like Alphen who are stuck on the ground to deal with or another member you recruit later can break armoured enemies' armour making them easier to kill as well. The combat rewards smart use of these abilities with easier encounters where you can avoid taking large amounts of damage and potentially even inflict large amounts yourself.

 

As for the other aspects of the game, the graphics are good the music is decent if somewhat forgettable and the voice acting is good but can have it's fair amount of cheddar although I do like Shionne's voice actor. Also it managed to subvert my expectations in regards to Alphen's origins so some major spoilers here, you have been warned:

 

 

Overall I've been enjoying the game so far and I definitely think it's one of the better Tales games I've played.

The above is my current first choice team as of my 10th season in charge of Chester and as you can see it's a very strong team (although it has changed somewhat since I took this image, more on that later) I will admit to using the in game editor to boost some of my players but since the goal pf this Chester save was to keep 11 players together until they retire from the national leagues to the premier league the boosting them was necessary however I did make 4 of them world class (Griffiths, Waters, Aziakonou and Murray) just for their loyalty in the three of their cases and because the 4th was my first ever signing. But anyway I think this team is the team I've enjoyed managing the most in a FM game just edging out my FM2019 Arsenal team it's a genuine joy to watch this team play and it's a genuine force on the pitch but I'll take you through the team, mainly the starting 11 but some of the subs as well.

 

GK: Russ Griffiths. One of the four recipients of the boost, he's been my number 1 for 10 seasons now and was even England number 1 for a few seasons as well up until he decided to retire from international duty was part of the England team that won them their first world cup since 66. Incredibly solid keeper and him combined with the defence means it takes an absolute banger or a set piece for me to concede.

 

LB: Mads Lerche-Hjort. My first choice left back (although as of this entry he's out for two months with a torn hamstring) defensively solid but his crossing could be much better than it currently is. But he does allow my LCM and LW to bomb forward and get into positions to influence the match. Part of my Viking back five (defenders + goalie,) but so far is the only one to force his way into the starting lineup so far.

 

LCB: Yannick Aziakonou. I call him the great wall of Chester, been my first choice CB since I signed him on a free and was Togo's mainstay defender until he retired from international duty. He's an absolute monster of a defender and is so dominant to the point where other teams don't bother trying to play long against me his physicality, marking and pace allow him to dominate even the burliest of strikers and make sure my team keeps a cleansheet. He's so dominant in fact that's telling when he's not in the team as I concede more shots and his backups can struggle with some strikers. Love this big burly monster of a defender.

 

RCB: Sam Leivesley. My other first choice centre back and Aziakonou's longest serving partner, injuries have caused him to get dropped but he always manages to fight his way back into the first choice lineup. Whereas Aziakonou is a massive beast Leivesley is smaller and more technical as befitting my ball playing centre back (Aziakonou has a good pass on him as well, he's just better suited to the role of regular centre back) but he's still capable of putting those crunching tactics in and covering the RB slot when my RB bombs up the pitch. Was also part of the team that won England that world cup.

 

RB: Matty Waters. Two times (possible three as I've not gotten to the awards season yet) Ballon D'Or winner and I think the first defender to win it since Cannavaro (in this game at least) has stamina for days once playing every minute of every single match of my league two season (that's 46 league matches plus eight or so cup matches) and routinely bombs up and down that right side for the full 90 minutes. On top of his inhuman stamina he's also got a pinpoint cross on him meaning his crosses find the striker, the inside forwards, the CAM and the other full back every time as if he's got a laser designator strapped to his boot. Like Griffiths and Leivesly he was in that world cup winning squad.

 

LCM: Shogo Nakagawa. Japanese wonderkid I signed, stepped up when my original first choice LCM got injured and plays well enough to keep him out. A amazing playmaker with a good workrate and a killer shot. Has formed an almost Xavi-Iniesta level of understanding with his midfield partner and he's set to only get better. I've seen him dominate the midfield against PSG and Bayern Munich at the age of 19 he's just that good.

 

RCM: Akira Mizuno. Currently the best CM in the world in my game and ahs earned himself the third captain position (normally unimportant but given the age of my current captain and vice captain basically marks him to replace one of them) and like Nakagawa dominates the midfield and it's not just his passing that's excellent he's got a good tackle on him and reads the game really well and covers for Waters when the latter is bombing up the pitch. The quality in midfield takes a dramatic drop whenever he's not playing and he's been first choice since joining at the age of 16 (for 8  in game years as of this post) which is no mean feat and like Aouar in my Arsenal save from FM19 has a habit of taking games I'm not winning by the balls and making something happen either with a thundercunt of a shot of his own or by setting up another player to score. Also is the most popular shirt, topping shirt sales every year.

 

LW: Adrian Di Santo. Was first choice when I took this shot, has since been dropped for poor performances but I'll go over him anyway. I bought him because he was set to be better than Armstrong and could play left wing which was necessary as I wanted to move Tripp to a more central role. He's good and a good goalscorer but still needs some polish and some experience in the prem first I think.

 

CAM: Ollie Tripp. My first wonderkid, first choice since he joined and has held down that left wing position for nearly his entire time at the club. 10 seasons on and he's still a mainstay in the team and has only gotten better as the seasons passed, he's part of the upcoming Scottish footballing Ubermensch in my game along with Armstrong and a few academy players. More on him here. Only thing he's missing is a Ballon D'Or but considering the type of player he is and the players that are currently around in this game he's unlikely to get it.

 

RW: Rafael Augusto. Was originally a LW but I had to retrain him as a RW because he was not getting into the first team as a LW and he really deserves his spot in the team. I bought him on a scout's recommendation and because I knew he could be retrained. He's become an important fixture of my attack since joining and has popped up with some important goals created from his excellent movement and excellent dribbling he also works really well with Mizuno and Waters on that right hand side creating a triangle of torment for the opposition team. Managed to turf out one of the old guard in his second season with the club as well.

 

ST: Dean Armstrong. I've said everything I wanted to say about him here but I will give an update, he scored over fifty goals in the league in the previous season. Yes that's right over FIFTY goals in one league season, not even Thierry Henry the best striker the premier league has ever seen managed over thirty goals in one season. He's not started the current season as strongly but his movement and goalscoring ability puts the fear of god into defenders and while they're trying to stop him from scoring (and not all of them are successful, I've seen him score whilst having two massive centre backs marking him) they're leaving gaps for his teammates to score and that's invaluable.

 

As for the bench there's Luciano Pena, my current first choice CAM after I dropped Di Santo and moved Tripp back to LW, he's a creative force even if he's not a goalscorer and helps make the attack far more fluid. Then there's Kazuhisa Muto, my second Japanese player and the player that got my team a £85million a year deal with an Asian drinks company, very versatile player and has come up in some key moments. Iwan Murray is one of the four who received the boost and has only recently been knocked off his perch as first choice CAM, it's his endurance that lets him down everything else about him is almost perfect for that role. Finally on the bench there's Alex Jones another recipient of editing but this time to just turn him from English to American purely because of his name, Mizuno's original centre mid partner before Nakagawa knocked him out the team still an amazing player and capable of controlling midfield with a good enough partner just got injured at an unfortunate time.

 

Finally two others:

 

Tyrell Hamilton, the current captain and my replacement for my original striker who left for Crystal Palace at the end of my first season. Has been thoroughly dethroned by not just Armstrong but Beyahia and Di Santo as well but he's still a very capable striker if a bit selfish.

 

Kai Colley, the future. He's an academy product who's taken the step up to the senior team after Tripp and a long list of others (including Jones) a very good CM who can play as a defender as well would have been sent out on lone again but he impressed me in his previous loan spell so I decided to give him a chance and in the matches he's played he's done well.

 

So yeah that's my current Chester team, like I said it's the most fun team I've had in FM and I think this team could give the team I had after 10 seasons at Arsenal in FM19 a serious run for its money and that's no small feat as that team was near perfect. I've also got a talented young Japanese left back coming in at the end of the season as well so that in addition to the Korean RW I've got coming in as well brings the Asian representation in this team up to four Japanese players and two South Koreans, I have some serious yellow fever in this game.