Bandai-Namco was able to release some new information regarding the next title in the long-running Tales series, Tales of Berseria.
Most of the information doesn't go into particular story details, but several trailers for the game have been released that show off new gameplay info, in particular, the combat and exploration portions for Berseria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znjfmu3g_GM The exploration footage showcases the main protagonist of Berseria, Velvet, exploring a beach-like area, complete with cliffsides, hidden treasures, and chests to find. We also get a Japanese cutscene between Velvet and some the other protagonists, whose names have been revealed in all new English screenshots on the Tales of website. All of the exploration is in a gorgeous cel-shaded aesthetic.
Combat, however, received a lot more attention. Combat allows four characters fighting in real-time, with the ability to switch out characters on the fly being shown as well. The combat is also combo-based, with characters each using different skills to chain up hits and dish out more damage against enemies. Combos can also be chained with multiple characters, so the ability to switch out a character or two will give the player momentum and extra attack bonuses, as well as help fill up their 'soul meter' faster for an all-out special attack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kmthiyby_M Outside of E3, some other news regarding Tales of Berseria has also been revealed. According to Gematsu, the latest issue of the Japanese magazine Weekly Jump introduces two new characters into the game, some new gameplay modes as well as DLC packs. The characters include Shigure Rangetsu, a swordsman and the older brother of Rokurou, one of the party members, and Melchior, a priest who is the senior advisor to the "Savior Artorius," a character within the game. Cooking makes a return to Berseria, while a new item called Katz Boxes, mysterious treasure chests, have been added to the game. Finally, a mini- card game featuring the Tales of series characters will be featured.
The DLC package includes three costume packs, a Summer costume set with three different colors, a Pirate costume pack, and a Japanese-style costume pack, which are all priced at ¥300-¥400, or roughly $2.99-$3.99 a piece.
Tales of Berseria is scheduled for a 2017 release for both the PC and the PlayStation 4.
