Famitsu’s latest online preview (with additional details courtesy of Tale Tale Source) for Tales of Zestiria provides our first direct-feed look at Lailah, as well as details on battle differences between human and Family of Heaven characters.

Lailah (voiced by Miyu Matsuki)

Height: 5’8” (172 cm.)

Weapon: Paper Strips

Character Designer: Mutsumi Inomata

“I’ve been waiting, waiting for the one who is incorruptible and pure of heart, the one who can hear my voice.”

“Oh, to be young! Such friendship I see among you men! That’s what this is, right?”

“Being my blade means I’m entrusting my being to you. You will be the bearer of fate.”

A distant person, Lailah is a fire element member of the Family of Heaven who has a holy sword meant for the legendary doshi. After a certain incident comes to pass, she waits for someone who has the traits necessary to become the doshi. After seeing just what she wants in Slay upon meeting him at a festival, the two enter a marriage contract. As a vessel of the Family of Heaven, Slay is therefore able to use her to calm down Hyoma with a special power. She also functions as an instructor of sorts who’s known for her sharp insights, although she can also get carried away from time to time with some of the bizarre ideas that pop into her mind.

Battle Styles

Characters in Tales of Zestria approach combat different based on whether they’re human or a part of the Family of Heaven. Humans, for instance, specialize in close quarters combat and are good at attacking while on the move. Should they find themselves surrounded by enemies, they can use powerful Arcane Artes to break free. Pressing the O button triggers their speedy techniques, while the X button revolves more around the previously mentioned penetrative Arcane Artes. Human characters are also good for drawing enemy attention away from Family of Heaven party members as they focus on casting their Heaven Echo Artes.

Family of Heaven characters, meanwhile, tend to attack from a greater distance compared to their human counterparts. The O button for them is therefore dedicated to attacks where they can aim from midrange, with X being used for their powerful and far-reaching Heaven Echo Artes. Enemy threats can therefore be reduced by restraining the opposition with initial midrange attacks and then following up with a Heaven Echo Arte from a safe, more distant position.

Two characters so far have some details on how they particularly fight, as well as what sort of Artes they’re equipped with. Mikurio, for instance, builds up spiritual power by fighting at close range initially, which he can then fire off farther away in addition to other longer range techniques he has at his disposal. He can use his Heaven Echo Artes as either projectiles or enclose the enemy with them and as is additionally capable of homing and counterattacks. As a healer, his specializing is in healing individual characters. The Artes that he’s revealed to wield include Splash, Violet High, Twin Flow, Slicing Water (斬水、きりみず), and Reaching Water (達水、たちみず).

Edna, meanwhile, fights with an umbrella at close range. When she opens it up, she can release spiritual energy in the form of things such as a bullets to perform a variety of enemy restraint techniques. Like Mikurio, her Heaven Echo Artes can envelop an area, as well as slow down time. She can also link up with other characters in ways most casters typically can’t. Her Artes are set to include Air Pressure, Rock Lance, Final Embrace, Powder Snow (粉雪), and Sky ( 晴天).

Tales of Zestiria is in development for PlayStation 3.