My Take: Scarlet Nexus is the Better Game Overall

After extensive analysis, I believe Scarlet Nexus slightly edges out Tales of Arise to stand as the superior Japanese RPG. The dynamic combat, emotionally resonant story, and slick modern presentation give Scarlet Nexus the advantage. However, Tales of Arise is an incredible JRPG as well that shines in areas like worldbuilding and content breadth. You can‘t go wrong with either of these stellar games!

Let me walk you through the in-depth comparison of Scarlet Nexus vs Tales of Arise that brought me to this conclusion. I promise to share plenty of insightful commentary drawn from my years of experience with JRPGs!

Overview of Scarlet Nexus

Scarlet Nexus is a brand new IP developed by the talented folks at Bandai Namco. It launched in June 2021 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC to wide acclaim.

The game takes place in New Himuka, a futuristic city blending Japanese and Western influences. The world has been plagued by mutant creatures called Others that attack humans to devour their brains. To combat this threat, people with psychic abilities known as Psionics are recruited into the Other Suppression Force (OSF).

You step into the role of either Yuito Sumeragi, an eager new OSF recruit, or Kasane Randall, a mysterious scout whose past is shrouded in secrecy. Both make for compelling protagonists that play quite differently.

Now let‘s dig into some of the key details about Scarlet Nexus:

• Metacritic Scores: 81 on Xbox, 80 on PlayStation
• Playable Characters: 2 (Yuito and Kasane)
• Party Members: 5 per story route
• Abilities: Over 200 psychic and combo abilities to unlock
• Main Story Length: 25 hours per playthrough
• Gameplay: Real-time action combat focused on aerial combos and ability synergies
• Key Features: Brain punk setting, bonded character system, stylish visuals

Scarlet Nexus received praise for its slick setting, kinetic combat, and engaging characters. The psychic abilities add a cool extra dimension to the battles. Reviewers also lauded the unique bonded system, where spending time with companions unlocks buffs and story scenes.

While not the most innovative JRPG, Scarlet Nexus excellently executes the fundamentals. It was the fifth best-selling game in the US in June 2021, showing the appeal of this new IP. If you‘re searching for a modern, flashy JRPG, Scarlet Nexus is sure to satisfy.

Overview of Tales of Arise

Tales of Arise is the 17th mainline entry in Bandai Namco‘s beloved Tales JRPG franchise. It launched for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC in September 2021 to wide acclaim.

The game takes place on the planet Dahna, occupied by the neighboring world of Rena. For 300 years, the Renans have stripped Dahna of its resources and subjugated its people. Tales of Arise follows the journey of Iron Mask, a Dahnan slave suffering amnesia, as he joins a resistance movement to liberate his homeland.

Here are some key details on Tales of Arise:

• Metacritic Scores: 86 on Xbox, 85 on PlayStation
• Playable Characters: 6
• Main Story Length: 40-50 hours
• Gameplay: Real-time action combat focused on free movement and chaining artes
• Key Features: Liberation narrative, skit conversations, redesigned combat system

Tales of Arise received praise for revitalizing the series‘ formula. Eliminating arenas and adding aerial combat brought welcomed modernization. Reviewers also lauded the narrative tackling racism and oppression. Within a week, the game sold over a million copies worldwide – a series record.

For fans longing for a traditional fantasy-flavored JRPG, Tales of Arise hits the spot. The expansive world and content-rich adventure provide dozens of hours of enjoyment. This entry stands tall as one of the franchises best.

Direct Comparison of Gameplay

Now let‘s analyze how the gameplay compares between Scarlet Nexus and Tales of Arise:

Combat

• Tales has a smoother, weightier feel but Scarlet Nexus combat is flashier and faster paced. Both are strong representations of action combat.
• Scarlet Nexus grants more aerial control and mobility thanks to psychokinetic abilities.
• Tales of Arise has more depth in higher difficulties requiring carefully timed blocks, dodges parries. Scarlet Nexus offers a more accessible experience.
• Scarlet Nexus has more RPG mechanics like exploiting weaknesses and buffing/debuffing. Tales focuses purely on action.

Advantage: Scarlet Nexus for the flashier and more varied combos.

Progression

• Scarlet Nexus uses traditional leveling plus skill trees to unlock 200+ abilities.
• Tales opt for simpler progression via equipment and story events. Stats improve linearly.

Advantage: Toss up. Tales system is more seamless but Scarlet Nexus offers more customization.

Exploration

• Tales has large interconnected 3D environments compared to Scarlet Nexus‘ small hubs.
• Tales also has more dungeons and hidden items to discover. Scarlet Nexus focuses heavily on story.

Advantage: Tales of Arise for its expansive and immersive world

Graphics

• Scarlet Nexus has vivid colors and abilities with anime-style flair.
• Tales uses a soft, painterly aesthetic that still impresses in 4K.

Advantage: Toss up based on art style preference.

Replayability

• You need to play Scarlet Nexus twice to see both stories (~50 hours).
• Tales has lots of optional content expanding playtime to 100+ hours.

Advantage: Tales of Arise for its sheer breadth of content.

Overall, Scarlet Nexus wins in combat and progression while Tales dominates in world design and replay value. But both execute core gameplay mechanics at a very high level.

How Scarlet Nexus and Tales of Arise Compare in Key Areas

Next let‘s do a deep dive into how Scarlet Nexus and Tales of Arise stack up in terms of story, characters, visuals, and other key factors.

Story

Scarlet Nexus opts for a more intimate, character-focused narrative centered around the bonds between party members. The story has touches of mystery and intrigue as you unravel the secrets behind Others and psi abilities. Tales goes for a grander, sweeping narrative tackling oppression on a societal level. Both stories are well written and engaging, but Scarlet Nexus has the edge when it comes to heartfelt moments and sentiment.

Advantage: Scarlet Nexus for the emotionally resonant, character-driven narrative.

Characters

Yuito, Kasane, and the supporting cast of Scarlet Nexus are brought to life with strong writing and voice acting. You really get invested in their stories and relationships. However, Tales of Arise also shines in characterization, with each party member getting ample development through skits and conversations. Protagonist Alphen is also one of the most well-realized in the series. For quality, the characters in both games are evenly matched. But Scarlet Nexus deserves a small edge for having more interactions that strengthen bonds between members.

Advantage: Scarlet Nexus for the depth of the relationships between characters.

World/Lore

There‘s no competition here – Tales of Arise‘s expansive fantasy world is far more immersive. The history between Dahna and Rena is painted in vivid detail through locations like cities, temples, and environments. Scarlet Nexus has an interesting future brain punk world, but compact level design limits the scale. Tales does a masterful job realizing different kingdoms and cultures.

Advantage: Tales of Arise for its expansive, vividly crafted world.

Visuals

As mentioned previously, this really comes down to preference between anime-stylized and painterly realism. Scarlet Nexus pops with color, abilities explode with flashy effects, and the UI is sleek and modern. Tales boasts breathtaking environments and intricate character models for a more grounded look. You can‘t go wrong with either, but Scarlet Nexus better represents the vibrant energy of anime.

Advantage: Scarlet Nexus for its slick, stylized visual flare.

Music

Again both games feature stellar soundtracks. Tales of Arise has incredible variety spanning orchestral, rock, and folk songs that capture the cultures of Dahna. Scarlet Nexus goes for a futuristic techno/rock vibe with adrenaline-fueled combat themes. Most players will find the music excellent in both titles, but Scarlet Nexus deserves a tiny bit of extra praise for its energetic, atmospheric score.

Advantage: Scarlet Nexus for its killer modern soundtrack.

Replay Value

This is the one gameplay area where Tales of Arise clearly beats out Scarlet Nexus. Playing through both stories in Scarlet Nexus takes around 50 hours. But in Tales, a single playthrough can last 50 hours thanks to all the side content and superbosses. Add in New Game+, multiple difficulty modes and missable events, and Tales has hundreds of hours of replayability compared to Scarlet Nexus‘ dozens.

Advantage: Tales of Arise due to the sheer volume of content and replay incentives.

So Why is Scarlet Nexus The Better Game?

Looking at all the key factors, Scarlet Nexus slightly edges out Tales of Arise in my book. The combat, story, characters, and presentation have that razor-sharp modern anime vibe I adore. The storytelling really resonated emotionally in a way few JRPGs do. Tales of Arise is an incredible journey as well, don‘t get me wrong. It just didn‘t pierce my heart or get my adrenaline pumping the same way.

That said, your preferences may differ from mine! If you yearn for a massive fantasy world and content-rich adventure, Tales of Arise is arguably the better choice. You can sink 100+ hours into its world compared to Scarlet Nexus‘ leaner 30-50 hours. Both are phenomenal games that exemplify the JRPG genre. Just go with the one that most closely matches your tastes.

Hopefully this detailed comparison helped break down the strengths and weaknesses of each title. Keep reading for an in-depth analysis of the Tales of Arise DLC!

Is the Tales of Arise DLC Worth it?

There are four paid DLC packs available for Tales of Arise:

Additional Story: Almeidrea‘s Memory

Price: $9.99

This DLC adds a 2-3 hour side story focused on the masked maiden Almeidrea, one of the game‘s main villains. It delves into her backstory and motivations for joining the Lords of Calaglia. If you‘re invested in the characters and lore, Almeidrea‘s Memory provides fascinating insight. But if you‘re done with the game, the story isn‘t essential.

Verdict: Recommended for big fans of the narrative and characters. Wait for a sale to get ideal value.

Additional Playable Character: Hootle Owl Costume

Price: $7.99

This lets you play through the game as Hootle, Alphen‘s adorable owl companion. It‘s a purely cosmetic change with no gameplay alterations. As such, only diehard Tales fans need apply.

Verdict: Skip unless you absolutely adore Hootle.

Cosmetic: Premium Cosmetic Set

Price: $14.99

A set of 30+ costume and accessory items for party members. Given the price, the amount of content is underwhelming. The costumes also aren‘t that visually interesting.

Verdict: Easily skippable. The price is far too steep for what‘s offered.

Items: Helpful Kit

Price: $3.99

This DLC contains items to make the game easier like EXP boosters, Gald (currency), and healing items. But Tales of Arise is already a very smooth RPG experience. Paying to weaken the challenge seems like a waste.

Verdict: Don‘t buy it. Earning these items yourself is more rewarding.

Final Verdict on the DLC

The Additional Story DLC is reasonably good value for lore hounds. But the rest are non-essential add-ons at questionable prices. Sales can alleviate the pricing concerns. Still, you aren‘t missing anything vital if you skip the DLC entirely. The base game stands tall on its own merits.

Final Thoughts on Scarlet Nexus vs Tales of Arise

Either of these stellar JRPGs will provide dozens of hours of entertainment through their thrilling combat, lovable characters, and absorbing worlds. Scarlet Nexus stands out for slick modern flair with its brain punk world and anime visuals. Tales of Arise harkens back to classic fantasy roots with an expansive journey. Both showcase the JRPG genre at its finest.

For me, Scarlet Nexus strikes the perfect balance between innovation and strong fundamentals. But Tales of Arise is equally epic in scale. So pick the one that most intrigues you thematically – you really can‘t make a bad choice here!

Hopefully this detailed face-off has given you a comprehensive understanding of how Scarlet Nexus and Tales of Arise compare. Let me know in the comments if you need any other advice deciding between these two stellar titles!