Of May 28 to June 2 2025, Artellium has half-opened its doors. For the space of a breath, a breach has opened, fragile and luminous, offering a few chosen ones their first steps in Arise, THE RPG long-awaited Cross The AgesIt was a short prelude, but one vibrant with intensity. The first explorers surveyed lands that were still young, where every whisper of the wind, every shard of rock seemed laden with promise.
The game mechanics, still in their raw state, have revealed only their secrets sparingly, awakening curiosity, strategy, and wonder. And at the heart of this nascent experience, one certainty has emerged: this world is only just beginning to breathe, and already, it's calling.
The first steps on Artellium
From the very beginning, Arise sets the tone. A sumptuous, almost cinematic cutscene opens each session like opening an ancient tome. The universe is revealed in all its splendor, a captivating artistic direction, driven by the power of technology. of Unreal Engine 5. Artellium then unfolds its majestic landscapes, between ruins bathed in light and forests in the hues of the Rift. With an attention to detail that leaves no doubt, the soul of Cross The Ages beats here, more alive than ever.
For this Pre-Alpha phase 1, it is alongside Malik that players have begun their journey. A character who has not yet revealed the secret of his place in the lore, but who could be immediately shaped: hair color, hairstyle, visual details... from the start, the game invites everyone to appropriate his reflection in this nascent world. A discreet, but significant, nod which proves that even at this early stage, Arise is already planning immersion through identity.
Arise's already solid gameplay promises more surprises for the sequel.
Gameplay-wise, Arise lived up to expectations. The gameplay, fluid and responsive (despite a few minor hiccups), shone with its precision. There was no latency to report, even during co-op sessions with up to four players. Each encounter was characterized by increasing intensity, a crescendo of action and skill, in which the diversity of enemies encountered required adaptation.
But it was in the heart of the dungeon that the experience reached its peak. There, in the deep shadows, awaited the formidable Ascaross, the raw embodiment of savagery. Massive, armored, and bestial, with flaming horns and incandescent gaze, he dominated the arena like a mythical guardian.
To defeat him, strategy, timing, and perfect coordination were required. Nothing could be left to chance… And for those who succeeded in defeating him, the gates finally opened… revealing the coveted reward, a pact sealed between the player and the rich universe that is Arise.
An addictive reward loop!
At the end of each dungeon, like a rite of passage, a victory chest awaited the valiant fighters. Nestled somewhere in the Land, the Wrought housed a loot system and revealed its richness. Each crystal contained a flamboyant elemental weapon, ranging in rarity from the humble common to the elusive mythic, and ranging from tier 1 to the legendary tier 7. Each pull became a hope. Upon opening this chest, a shower of crystals gushed forth.
Arise rewarded the perseverance, resilience, and curiosity of the most dedicated players by reaching character level 10. They thus obtained a rare artifact, the Arise Token. A symbol, a key. This token, with its certain future value, will open the doors to Static assets in the in-game store upon the game's official launch. A concrete link between this first immersion and the world of Artellium in the making.
A land rich in promise
Even though a good number of features remain locked, Arise has, in just a few days, captured everyone's imagination and piqued interest in its discovery. Across the lands of the Land, players explored a lush setting, dotted with mysterious places with closed doors, silent forges, sleepy crafting stations, still-deserted fishing areas, alchemy workshops, and forgotten glades. So many promises, frozen in time, ready to be awakened during future testing phases.
And everywhere, like knowing messengers, the Ravix were there. Small, mischievous figures, brandishing their WIP (“Work In Progress”) signs, they came to tenderly remind us that what we were treading on was only a fragment, the preludes of a world in full gestation.
The community, the engine of success for Artellium
The interest was immediate. Some players even relentlessly ran dungeons, turning their nights into veritable odysseys. The collective frenzy gave rise to a certainty: the formula holds. The fluidity of the gameplay, the combat, the generosity of the loot, the synergy in cooperation… all the ingredients of a successful game are present.
And above all, a unanimous impression: it was too short!! A frustrating, but revealing lack. The kind of lack that arises when magic happens... A clear sign that Cross The Ages has managed to captivate its community with Arise, from the very first minutes.
Arise, A first stone masterfully laid
Behind this beta is the imprint of a team. A passionate collective shaping Arise with rigor, patience, and vision. No exaggerated promises, no rush. Only a methodical journey, where each stone is carefully laid. This desire to build in stages, to refine and perfect every corner, every feature, deserves to be commended.
Congratulations to the entire CTA team. Because beyond the game, you're building a universe. Vibrant, coherent, and sustainable. A world crafted by hand, true to the ambition we've shared since the beginning...
From May 28 to June 2, 2025, Cross The Ages took on a bold and ambitious challenge: to bring Arise to life and prove once again that the world of Artellium is not just a backdrop... but a reality to be experienced. And this is just the beginning...
