Roundup: Every Bit of Tales of Zestiria Information You’ll Need Before January 22nd

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Tales of Zestiria is an upcoming title nearing the end of it’s development by the Tales Studio of Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is the next in a long line of “Tales of” titles, and is the newest mothership title to release on home consoles since Tales of Xillia 2.

Legends tell of a race of divine beings known as Seraphs, whose unseen influence is felt throughout the world. Those with the ability to commune with the Seraphim became known as “Shepherds”, the most pure-hearted of which could even be granted a Seraph’s power. While some would praise these empowered Shepherds as living paragons, others would fear their strength and call them demons.

Sorey is a young human who has spent his entire life in The Divine Forest, a holy place where he lives in harmony with many Seraphim. Enraptured by the legends within an ancient tome, he makes daily excursions into a nearby ruin in the hope of learning more about the Seraphs and their history.

One day, he is trapped by a cave-in alongside a young knight named Alisha, who is investigating a series of natural disasters that have been plaguing the world. When Sorey discovers that the Seraphim may be involved, he resolves to leave his home alongside Alisha and find the truth.

This iteration promises a overhaul of many key systems in the game. The battle system has been revamped to lower the camera, and keep the player in the action in a more direct fashion. Using the Fusionic Chain Linear Motion Battle System, for the first time you’ll be able to enjoy nearly seamless battles against ancient demonic enemies known as Hyoma, with no loading screen in the open world environment.

The story beings as a young man and his friend journey through the ruins near their town, and make some unexpected discoveries. Sorey and Mikleo have known eachother since they were babies and each considers the other their closest friend. Sorey, is a human, but he isn’t any ordinary human. Having lived with the Seraphs (a magical race of beings that ordinary humans cannot see) for his entire life, he has the ability to not only see them, but interact and fuse with them

Mikleo is Sorey’s first companion, and is also the first Seraph introduced to the fans. He joins Sorey’s party as they adventure, and he seems to have somewhat of a rivalry with Sorey. He’s very calm and collected, and seems to know his way around a magic staff. His Affinity is Water.

Alisha is a “royal knight” under the Highland empire. She starts off as a normal human, who can’t see other Seraphs, but early on in the story she forms a pact with Sorey and gains the ability to use certain magics and see Seraphs.

Edna is a young looking child who joins Sorey’s party during the course of the game. She has a short dress and fights using a parasol in combination with her magic spells. Her personality comes through in her very calm expression, however there may be emotions hidden below. Her Affinity is Earth.

Lailah is a beautiful Seraph that joins Sorey’s party to teach him the way of the Shepard. She is a very smart Seraph that forms pacts with most of the party members, and uses a book to launch and cast her attacks. Her Affinity is Fire.

Dezel is a tall male Seraph who hides his face under his large hat. He joins Sorey’s party to enact vengeance upon a Hyoma who killed one of his friends. He is an outlaw to human and Seraph alike, and uses a whip with a pendulum on the end to attack. His Affinity is Wind.

Zaveid is a bare chested Seraph who causes plenty of trouble for Sorey and Dezel. Through some unknown association with Dezel, he eventually joins the party, but still leaves the rest of the group wary of him. He constantly wishes to challenge Sorey to battle, and uses two pistols to attack. His Affinity is Wind.

Rose is a young merchant guild member who joins Sorey’s party. Much like Sorey, she too had the ability to see and interact with Seraphs. At some point before the events of the story, she lost this ability, however since joining Sorey’s party, she has gained the ability to not only see the Seraphs that she travels with, but she can also fuse with them like Sorey does.

The group has many enemies, which range from the obvious to the not so clear.

Renard and Symonne are a pair of enemies that the party comes against on several occasions. Renard is a fox like humanoid Hyouma that eats Seraphs and seems to be pure evil. Symonne is a young Seraph who doesn’t align herself with anyone, but gets in the way of the group for her own reasons.