History VideoGame / TalesOfArise

* BittersweetEnding [[spoiler:While the party saves Nazamil from herself, she decides to journey on her own to find her own happiness without having to rely on the party. Without Nazamil to look after, the party goes their separate ways once more, but they know they will see each other and Nazamil again one day, especially with Alphen about to propose to Shionne.]]

** The DLC shows that while relations between the Renans and the Dahnans have improved compared to the main game, there's still a ''lot'' of resentment from both sides. One year of reforms isn't going to wipe away three centuries of prejudice from the Renans or the Dahnans bitterness over being enslaved.

* ThemeSongPowerup: During the final battle, [[spoiler:the first opening song, Hibana, plays as the party becomes invincible and enters permanent overlimit.]]

** Law's playstyle, in a nutshell. His "Awakening" mechanic gives him vastly improved attack speed and damage after dealing enough consecutive attacks to an enemy but deactivates the moment he gets hit and not to mention, Law himself can barely take many hits before he dies. If you can master dodging, the timing of casting Artes to ensure you don't leave yourself open, and more importantly, how to keep that combo counter going high, you can easily destroy regular enemies or knock huge chunks off a boss's health bar with ''just'' Law.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: The DLC shows that while relations between the Renans and the Dahnans have improved compared to the main game, there's still a ''lot'' of resentment from both sides. One year of reforms isn't going to wipe away three centuries of prejudice from the Renans or the Dahnans bitterness over being enslaved.

* FantasticRacism: The Dahnan and Renan feud returns, being a prominant story element of the DLC. With the Renans having been forced to live alongside Dahnans now, both sides are in a tense state, with some Dahnans rejecting co-existence with their former oppressors, and some Renans refusing to "lower themselves" to live alongside Dahnans. Nazamil being half-Dahnan and half-Renan also is explored in depth, as neither side accepts her.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: The DLC shows that while relations between the Renans and the Dahnans have improved, there's still a ''lot'' of resentment from both sides. One year of reforms isn't going to wipe away three centuries of prejudice from the Renans or the Dahnans bitterness over being enslaved.

* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler:Nazamil's father treated her as a living weappon and would regularly beat her. He died because Nazamil ignored his orders to defend him from Vholran.]]

** Following the one month time skip after [[spoiler:defeating Vholran]], the game resumes with giving you playable control of Alphen in the area where you defeated the boss, even though there's no stated reason for him to just be standing around there.

* FantasticRacism: The Dahnan and Renan feud returns, being a prominant story element of the DLC. With the Renan's having been forced to live alongside Dahnan's now, both sides are in a tense state, with some Dahnan's rejecting them, and some Renan's refusing to "lower themselves" to live alongside Dahnans. Nazamil being half-Dahnan and half-Renan also is explored in depth, as neither side accepts her.

* BagOfSpilling: Played with. The party is reset to level 65 and keep only one weapon and armor each. However, beating the final boss of the main game at level 65 or below is completely possible and reasonable (he's level 61), and their weapons are comparable to late-game equipment, although not post-game one. In the end, if you're a completionist, then your party definitely regressed, but for everyone else, they remained the same of became ''stronger''.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: ''Beyond the Dawn'' is set a year after the main game concludes. [[spoiler:While relations between Renans and Dahnans are slowly improving, there's still a lot of lingering resentment and tension between both people. One year of reforms isn't going to erase three centuries worth of prejudice.]]

* BagOfSpilling: Played with. The party is reset to level 65 and keep only one weapon and armor each. However, beating the final boss of the main game at level 65 or below is completely possible and reasonable (he's level 61), and their weapons are comparable to late-game equipment, although not post-game one. In the end, if you're a completionist, then your party definetely regressed, but for everyone else they remained the same of became ''stronger''.

* OldSaveBonus: You can load a clear save or a save from EndgamePlus and receive some money, SP, and CP. If you party was at level 100, you'll get golden, slightly stronger versions of their weapons as well.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: ''Beyond the Dawn'' is set a year after the main game concludes. [[spoiler:While relations between Renans and Dahnans are slowly improving, there's still a lot of lingering resentment and tension between both people. One year of reforms isn't going to erase decades, if not centuries worth of prejudice.]]

In September 2023 (the game's second anniversary), a DownloadableContent titled "Beyond the Dawn" was announced for release in November of the same year. [[PostAdventureAdventure Set one year after the original game]], it sees the playable cast reuniting to deal with a mysterious newcomer Nazamil, a child of a Renan Lord and a Dahnan, who seemingly threatens the new peace created by their actions.

* FamilyOfChoice: This is a common trope in the Tales Series, but it’s especially relevant to this game. Alphen has no known family since [[spoiler: he’s from 300 years ago]]. Shionne is implied to live alone because of her Thorns. Law's mother died of illness when he was young, leaving him with only one remaining relative: his father [[spoiler: Zephyr]], who [[spoiler:is poisoned to death by Ganabelt]]. Kisara is an orphan who grew up with her older brother Migal, who [[spoiler: sacrifices himself to warn Dohalim of the conspiracy in Elde Menancia]]. Rinwell is also an orphan, the last surviving member of her mage clan. Dohalim is likely the only party member whose entire family is still intact, but we don’t learn much about them. So with few, if any, ties to living relatives, these six become each other’s new family. In one skit, Rinwell even assigns roles to each of them: Alphen as the big brother, Shionne the big sister, Kisara the mom, Dohalim the uncle (or grandfather in the Japanese version), herself as the little sister, Hootle as the little brother, and Law as the pet dog.

** When Alphen's memories have come back, he speaks of his experiences [[spoiler:up on Rena, being tested as the Sovereign]] and a great accident that occurred during that time. Dohalim states that this ancient event nearly destroyed everything, taking years and numerous laborers to rebuild, soon leading to:

* WeddingFinale: The CreativeClosingCredits depict the wedding of [[spoiler:Alphen and Shionne]].

* ShownTheirWork: The writers are aware that binary planet systems like Dahna and Rena will by definition be mutually [[TidallyLockedPlanet tidally locked]]. If the writers had gotten this detail wrong, [[spoiler:the WhamShot revealing Rena's [[ShatteredWorld true condition]] would have completely failed.]]

** The origins of both Renans and Dahnans is treated with some gravitas by the narrative, since it turns a lot of the oppression and corrupt system into a mystery.

** After the party obtains the five Master Cores, [[spoiler: one of the Red Women suddenly appears behind them with uncanny movements and a sixth Master Core to represent Darkness, then delivers the real wham shot when gets in Alphen's face and reveals that her eyes are [[BlackEyesOfEvil solid black]], revealing that something neither Dahnan nor Renan is behind everything.]]

LaResistance: Each of the provinces on Dahna, save Ganath Haros, has some form of a Dahnan rebel organization seeking to overthrow their Renan rulers and save their people. Specifically:

* LaResistance: Each of the provinces on Dahna, save Ganath Haros, has some form of a Dahnan rebel organization seeking to overthrow their Renan rulers and save their people. Specifically:
** Calaglia has the Crimson Crows, lead by Zephyr. They want to push the Renans out by liberating small groups of Dahnan people to join their cause, and fight by primarily attacking through guerrilla methods.
** Cyslodia has the Silver Swords, lead by Meneck. They operate in secret, using hideouts and secret tunnels to avoid the Snake Eyes, and prefer to have their members infiltrate key spots in order to pass along information.
** Viscint has the Gold Dust Cats, lead by Migal. They are a collection of people who want to protect the peace Dohalim has created from his more abusive direct subordinates, as well as expose TheConspiracy to oust him. They operate out of a hidden mine in the forest near the capital.
** Mahag Saar has the Dark Wings, lead by Dedyme. Unlike the others, they have already successfully fought back their Renan rulers and claimed back the area, but their brutal methods have made things worse.

* AlienInvasion: While Renans are human, they pretty much did this 300 years ago to Dahna--[[VillainWorld and very successfully.]] [[spoiler:It's eventually revealed the Renans are not so much aliens as much as they are Dahnans capable of Astral Artes, kidnapped by the Helganquil, modified, and made to live in Lenegis; as such, the invasion could be said to be an alien invasion by proxy for the benefit of the Helganquil after the first Spirit Channeling ceremony failed.]]

* DarkerAndEdgier: This game portrays the Dark Wings, [[RecurringCharacter a series-wide recurring group]], in a darker light. Instead of a group of bumbling and usually sympathetic comic reliefs, they are now [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized brutal revolutionists led by a dictator]], Dedyme. They gleefully sacrificed their own people for a shot of revenge against the Renan Lord that they opposed. Ironically, they maintain their bumbling and inept attitude; [[PlayedForDrama they're just inept at making a revolution good and worthwhile, as opposed to the other resistance leaders that are kind and insightful.]] Even if said Renan Lord, Almeidrea, just happens to be [[HateSink one of the most despicable people ever]], [[EvilVersusEvil it doesn't help their stance.]] Their actions instead makes the Mahag Saar arc darker than the previous arcs, and Dedyme and his supporters are [[spoiler:horrifically killed by Almeidrea's Fruit of Helgan.]] Though the group becomes less dark when Baephon's more moderate faction takes over and works with the other resistance groups, although it's a matter of 'becoming much more amicable' rather than reverting to [[PlayedForLaughs how the recurring group is treated series-wide]].

** For Non-Cameo Superbosses there are the rematches with each of the Renan Lords during The Reminiscence Device sidequest which leads up to a brutal BossRush against all four of them at the [[OhCrap same time]] Afterwards there's one last fight against [[spoiler: Zephyr.]]

* DarkerAndEdgier: This game portrays the Dark Wings, [[RecurringCharacter a series-wide recurring group]], in a darker light. Instead of a group of bumbling and usually sympathetic comic reliefs, they are now [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized brutal revolutionists led by a dictator]], Dedyme. They gleefully sacrificed their own people for a shot of revenge against the Renan Lord that they opposed. Ironically, they maintain their bumbling and inept attitude; [[PlayedForDrama they're just inept at making a revolution good and worthwhile, as opposed to the other resistance leaders that are kind and insightful.]] Even if said Renan Lord, Almeidrea, just happens to be [[HateSink one of the most despicable people ever]], [[EvilVersusEvil it doesn't help their stance.]] Their actions instead makes the Mahag Saar arc darker than the previous arcs, and Dedyme and his supporters are [[spoiler:horrifically killed by Almeidrea's Fruit of Helgan.]] Though the group becomes less dark when Baephon's more moderate faction takes over and works with the other resistance groups.

In September 2023 (the game's second anniversary), A DownloadableContent titled "Beyond the Dawn" was announced for release in November of the same year. [[PostAdventureAdventure Set one year after the original game]], it sees the playable cast reuniting to deal with a mysterious newcomer Nazamil, a child of a Renan Lord and a Dahnan, who seemingly threatens the new peace created by their actions.