Operation Backlog Completion 2024
Apr 022018
 

I didn’t post on Friday because of the holiday, but now I’m back to discuss the impending shutdown of Tales of the Rays.

Tales of the Rays came out in the West last August, and since it actually looked like a Tales game despite being mobile, I was more interested in it than in most mobile games.

It used a simplified version of the Tales combat system, told a new story despite having characters from across the series, and restricted its gacha system to mainly weapons/equipment.

I didn’t get too far, but I intended to go back to it eventually (especially when I learned Mithos had been added as a playable character in Japan).

Unfortunately, it’s shutting down in the west.

Tales of the Rays will be shut down outside of Japan on May 29. From what I understand, it will finish out the first story arc, but there’s still plenty of story content that will never make it to the west. And since it’s an online game, you won’t be able to play it at all once it ends.

It sounds as though not enough people played it to make it worthwhile. The non-intrusive gacha system might have contributed, too. Whatever the reason is, it’s disappointing news.

Some fans did start a petition to keep Tales of the Rays active, if you want to join one final effort to save it. Aside from that, you have until May 29 to play the Tales of the Rays content we did get.

Did you play Tales of the Rays? How do you feel about the global version being shut down?

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Aug 022017
 

Tales of the Rays, the mobile Tales game that actually looks like a Tales game, is now available in the West for iOS and Android devices.

I got it, although since it’s one of those games that requires an Internet connection to play, I haven’t gotten very far yet. However, so far it seems interesting.

A lot of fans wondered how the typical Tales combat system would work with a touchscreen, and Tales of the Rays uses a simplified system that lets you attack using taps and swipes.

It’s too early for me to judge the plot, but there definitely is an original story here. It seems as though the main characters, Ix and Mileena, will be visiting other worlds where past Tales characters live.

My track record with ongoing mobile games isn’t great. I quit Tales of Link, only played a little bit of Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, and recently stopped playing even Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ, because I got tired of all the filler. But who knows! Maybe Tales of the Rays will be the one that holds my attention.

And a Tales of Zestiria event starts tomorrow in Tales of the Rays. Maybe I’ll be ready in time to participate in that.

Have you started Tales of the Rays? If so, what do you think of it so far?

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Jul 032017
 

Tales of the Rays is coming West this summer, and its English website is now open.

We discussed Tales of the Rays once before. Even though it’s a F2P mobile game, it looks like it has the potential to feel like a full Tales game.

Tales of the Rays follows two original characters named Mileena and Ix, as well as characters from across the Tales series.

However, while it has gacha elements, fans who played the Japanese game have said the gacha system is only for upgrades (weapons and Mirror Artes). You can get every character by playing normally.

Screenshots on the website also show Tales-like gameplay, and it has a story by the writer of Tales of Symphonia, Tales of the Abyss, and Arc Rise Fantasia.

In short, although Tales of the Rays is a mobile game, it sounds like it might be worth looking into. It will be out in the West this summer.

Meanwhile, localization has been announced for a ton of visual novels, a PR company might have accidentally confirmed a Western release for Dragon Quest XI, and PlatinumGames may or may not have teased Bayonetta for the Switch. It’s been an exciting few days!

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