It’s been five years since the release of the seventeenth main entry to the Tales of franchise, Tales of Arise! And now we get to play it on the Nintendo Switch 2 with the Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition!
As someone who has consistently played the more recent Tales of titles on the bigger gaming consoles, I have been quite curious as to how the game will translate onto the modern handhelds. Will there be drastic changes? Lag time? Better or poorer graphics/fps?
I would like to point out that I have little experience with Nintendo products, and my most recent handheld gaming experience had been only through a Nintendo Switch Lite, with which I had played my first [Switch] game that was not really the best in certain aspects. Needless to say, the experience was pretty average, and I missed the benefits of peak graphics and smooth gameplay action that I was so used to on bigger gaming platforms (i.e., PlayStation). I have also never played on a Steam Deck or anything similar. This is my first foray into a hefty modern handheld.
So now comes the question: Does the Nintendo Switch 2 live up to the hype to carry such an iconic RPG to life? Well, I can say as a Tales fan that it is a resounding YES.
Dawn Breaks Anew on the NS2
For new fans who have not played a Tales game, Tales of Arise may be a good entry point to enjoy the franchise and its worldbuilding. With its roster of likeable characters, fun sidequests, and touching story, Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn is truly a remarkable RPG for those in the market to try.
Tales of Arise tackles the story of two people from the different worlds of Dahna and Rena: Alphen and Shionne, who are seeking to change and reshape their future. With the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, its post-story DLC Beyond the Dawn is also included, which adds more depth to the bountiful RPG experience that the game already has.
This is my fifth playthrough of Tales of Arise (yes, it is my comfort game), so I am pleased with the myriad of extra content inclusions, especially the new costumes exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 release. After all, it wouldn’t be a Tales game without the iconic customizable clothes and accessories. For longtime Tales fans, the new costumes are a nostalgia shock to my system. Seeing Alphen in Ludger’s ensemble only makes me feel like I am playing the Xillia 2 remaster (Please, I am begging for it!).
As mentioned, this edition comes with a generous package of DLCs with content for ease of gameplay experience. I suggest that newbies to the game take into consideration the inclusion of “Level Boost”. It might take the fun out of grinding and exploring its early battles if you level up with the DLCs in the beginning and still play on a normal difficulty level.
The game is paced well enough, despite starting on Level 50+. I still haven’t unlocked better Artes and skills until I progressed through the story, so I still needed to grind a bit. Did you know that I kept going for that big boss at the beginning, thinking I could already defeat it with my boosted levels? But alas, my calculations were incorrect. I have played this game many times, and I never learned (haha). Always, always unlock your skills panels and artes first.
The instant level up boosts from the extra content did cut my gameplay hours on a normal difficulty level, but since this is already a repeat playthrough for me, having this DLC boost made my experience easier, and I can speed through the more tedious sidequests. The game also has extreme difficulty modes that can be changed anytime if being overpowered too early in the game has become too boring.
Buttery-smooth Gameplay Experience
Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition for the Nintendo Switch 2 brings the action-packed, fantasy RPG to handheld in its pure form without compromising its performance or graphics. I can describe the experience similar to how I originally played on a bigger console. The playing screen may be smaller, but the gameplay and visuals are still the same.
I can say that it is a breath of fresh air to play on a handheld after so long. I see the visuals closer, and I can appreciate the details more intimately on an OLED screen. Of course, the visuals are optimized for a smaller package, so there may be less crisp elements here and there, but the overall look is good.
Frankly, I have my biases when it comes to handheld gadgets, so it has been a surprise that playing with an NS2 took only a little adjustment period. I disliked the grip I had with an NS Lite (I did not play with a grip accessory), so I thought that a similar discomfort would be apparent with an NS2. Thankfully, that was not the case, and I am able to play easily and comfortably.
I juggled playing with all the characters to test if I could maximize my combos as efficiently as I had done with my previous gameplay on bigger consoles. I am happy to report that the experience is A-okay on the Nintendo Switch 2. The gameplay is buttery-smooth, and the visuals are beautiful and clear–perfect for the fantasy RPG immersion that I can bring anywhere.
The same can be said with the Beyond the Dawn DLC. I recommend completing the main game first before diving into the post-game content because there are bonuses you can unlock. The extra content I have used in the main game can still be used in the DLC, by the way, though, Beyond the Dawn may feel like you are restarting the game because of some tutorials in the beginning. You see, the post-game DLC was released three years after the original game, so there’s a sort of refresher given to the returning players. The playtime is quite long, too, so this package is very worthwhile to get.
Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition (Switch 2) Final Verdict – 8/10
Playing Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn is a fun, immersive experience–and releasing this on handheld opens up opportunities to also bring the fun with us on our personal journeys. There might be some inconsistencies in the loading time during transitions, but overall, the gameplay is still efficient on the handheld.
Perhaps the glaring downside to this release is that the Nintendo Switch 2’s battery life still needs a bit of improvement. One does not simply play a Tales game for only 2-3 hours, you know! It’s quite addictive! While I can definitely bring the gadget anywhere, anytime, I have to make sure I have portable chargers on hand for emergencies. Charging time is fast, at least, so if I wanted to continue grinding levels, I can do so after a short period of rest. Still, I find it hard to put the game down; so once it’s charged and ready, it’s back to playing for me!
Honestly, playing Tales of Arise here reminded me of the older Tales of games that I had played on handheld, like the Radiant Mythology series. The nostalgic feeling of refusing to stop playing because I am so immersed in the game is back, and I do hope that more games will be released like this.
Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition is already available on the Nintendo Switch 2.
This review was made via a Switch 2 game code provided by the publisher.