Tales of Zestiria's Battle System Steps Back in Time

While the cast of Tales of Zestiria may have been leaking each month like a dripping tap, more information on the gameplay has been dry until now. Alas, in the latest issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, details regarding the title's battle system reveal a shift from its most recent incarnation in Tales of Xillia and its sequel to the Style Shift Linear Motion Battle System of Tales of Graces F.

As always, the lingo may sound fancy, but what the heck does it actually mean? Instead of having a button for basic attacks and another for specials – as in most games in the series – this system previously allowed you to switch between two weapons offering two different styles on the same character. However, don't expect to be swapping armaments this time around, as new character descriptions make it clear that each party member uses a singular weapon. As such, we see Zestiria's human characters switching between fast, agile attacks, and more powerful offensives that rip through defences, while the divine characters switch between mid-range weapon-based attacks and long range magic casting.

Are you happy with the battle system switch, or were you hoping to see more of Xillia's linking mechanic? Leave your tactical advice in the comments section below.