Er. I'd rather them not play a game like Xenogears in the next ER. I was LTTP on it, since I first played it when it was released on PSN, and I didn't like it much (in addition, I didn't like the Xenosaga games either... but it's weird that I like Xenoblade). It seems like Xenogears was one of those "you had to be there to get the full impact of it" sort of game.
I'd prefer something more unknown, or maybe a horror game.
I kind of want to try Chrono Cross now as I never have before.
Is the battle system somewhat fast? Slow battles are kind of a deal breaker for me.
Um. Kinda. There are no random encounters and you can run from enemies, bosses, and the final boss if they feel like they aren't ready.
The battles are turn-based, not using an ATB bar at all, so you have opportunities to take as long as you want to select a command.
For special attacks or techs, you have to equip these things called "elements" on your party members. Think of them as materia that has various levels (they are ranked in 8 different levels, much like the spells in earlier Final Fantasy games), and you can either find them on the field or buy them. So you use the elements to attack, heal your party, consume items (stuff like "potion-like" items are now elements which you must equip), be character abilities, etc.
All elements have their own elemental properties: red, blue, yellow, green, white, and black. The elements can oppose each other (red = fire, blue = water, yellow = earth, green = wind, white = holy, black = dark). Not to mention that every character has their own innate ability that affects special techs they get, which type of elements they can use well, or what they're naturally weak against. For example, Serge (the main character) is a white element. His special skill techs are going to be of the light element, his equipped white elements' attacks or healing properties will be stronger once used, and he will be weak to dark magic.
Elements will also have a "field" effect. It keeps track of which elements are used (up to about 3 at a time) in battle. If the field is one colour, then that colour element will be enhanced in the battle at that time, and elements of the opposite colour will be weakened.
There's also a stamina bar. Each character has 7 stamina at the beginning of the battle. When the character attacks or uses an element, the stamina decreases. You can recover stamina throughout the battle or by defending. If the stamina is in negative, then they have to wait until the stamina is no longer negative.
I think the system is pretty neat, and it's easy to get your ass in hot water if you aren't keeping track of it.
