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[Silent_Ocarina]

I definitely don't think it's empty especially considering how the mech appears to be at least based on this.

This is incorrect. The last two pictures have the same structure circled. The first picture? Well, you're actually on it.

 

[ohlawd]

I can't wait to see an area like Makna Forest in this game

I want an Eryth Sea-like area myself.

It's gonna be super shiny.

 

[ASTROID2]

This is incorrect. The last two pictures have the same structure circled. The first picture? Well, you're actually on it.

I can't wait to jump off that ledge. Weeeeeeee *SPLAT!*. lol

 

[ugoo18]

This is incorrect. The last two pictures have the same structure circled. The first picture? Well, you're actually on it.

The structure is circled to show how tall it is compared to the character. How do you know you're actually on it?

The structure circled in the first one appears to have the same general shape as the others but from a different angle.

 

[Mr. Fix]

How would they not fit in the... "campaign"?

I think I've got too much Borderlands 1/2 stuck in the brain. Though if our characters are generic, I doubt we'd have dialogue/voice acting, and the other 3 players most definitely wouldn't, especially since they'd be optional. I'd rather we actually have an original cast set for the game, much like Xenoblade/mainline FFs/most RPGs with main characters have.

 

[Hattori]

i sitll think this gif is nothing special. just empty barren landscape ditthered shadows and good lightning

Seeing as how the thread's active again, I thought I'd run a theory of mine by the Monolith fans of this site.

I've been obsessing over this game for a while, and at this point, I'm certain this has nothing to do with Xenoblade (aside from being its spiritual successor). The more I watch the trailer, the more I'm convinced that one of the basic premises of the game is that humans have crash-landed or have come to explore and possibly terraform a primitive alien planet.

I've organised my thoughts and evidence presented in the trailer into a (hopefully) tangible analysis below.

Firstly, let's take a look at the gargantuan grey structure that we see throughout the trailer. I've seen many people refer to it as a wall protecting a human colony, with the various protuberances atop it referred to as sentry guns or turrets.

But upon closer examination, they appear to be cranes and pulley systems. I believe this structure to be the ship - a crash-landed ship, to be precise - upon which the humans came, and the cranes and pulleys are used to salvage debris and whatnot.

To edify further, take a look at this screenshot and note the terrain around the ship. There's a clear deformation there indicating something cratered into it.

The second intimation comes from the trailer piece- rather, the first section (spans about twenty-eight seconds before abruptly ending and giving way to the bombastic choir segment). The atmosphere, I feel, that they're trying to convey with that music is one of exploration of uncharted territory (within the context of my theory, a foreign planet). Similar arrangements have been used in various sci-fi and adventure movies, unfortunately, however, nothing specific is coming to mind at the moment.

Another element that lends credence to my speculation is the stark technological contrast being displayed throughout the trailer. We see a myriad of high-tech machinery and weaponry, but nowhere can be seen even the most faintest glimmers of human civilization- no roads, guideposts, or anything indicative of the existence of intelligent beings. Of course, I realize we've only seen one area of the game, and it's subject to change, but this lends more to the "humans exploring foreign planet" portion of my theory.

And finally, the biggest piece of supporting evidence is the concept art of a crashed-landed UFO Monolith released way back when.

Might the scenery in that image have served as the basis for the game? I know it's close to E3 and all, but I thought I'd do it for fun and to get my hype going.

I definitely don't think it's empty especially considering how the mech appears to be at least based on this.

HYPE LEVELS RISING!!! 16 days!

 

[Meelow]

I can't wait to see an area like Makna Forest in this game

This is what I'll do if we see that...

What if it is all in 1 area Old school overworld. I mean they could have some caves and stuff but mainly overworld with mechs.

Than I'll be sad

 

[ohlawd]

No, you can't blame him for that.

I mentioned the x and killzone gifs in the same sentence. Naturally, you'd reach the conclusion I was making a graphical prowess post.

 

[onilink88]

I think I've got too much Borderlands 1/2 stuck in the brain. Though if our characters are generic, I doubt we'd have dialogue/voice acting, and the other 3 players most definitely wouldn't, especially since they're optional. I'd rather we actually have an original cast set for the game, much like Xenoblade/mainline FFs/most RPGs with main characters have.

That's what we're (most likely) getting... Did you read the rest of my post? Perhaps I worded it poorly. But anyways, my point was that online co-op and an original cast (in your words) aren't mutually exclusive.

 

[Hattori]

No, you can't blame him for that.

I mentioned the x and killzone gifs in the same sentence. Naturally, you'd reach the conclusion I was making a graphical prowess post.

yeah I guess but a part of me just wanted to post that pic x)

 

[ugoo18]

I want an Eryth Sea-like area myself.

It's gonna be super shiny.

Eryth sea was beautiful to say the least, random question but the river that flowed through Makna forest was there ever anyway to get to Eryth sea by following that river?

 

[Silent_Ocarina]

The structure is circled to show how tall it is compared to the character. How do you know you're actually on it?

The structure circled in the first one appears to have the same general shape as the others but from a different angle.

This is conjecture, of course.

The position of this mountain indicates (to me, anyway), that you're either on the structure shown in the last two pictures of your image or very close to it.

 

[Vermillion]

I can't wait to jump off that ledge. Weeeeeeee *SPLAT!*. lol

This post makes me wish you could summon the mech to catch you in mid-air, Iron Man style.

Even though I know it's not happening.

 

[Elfforkusu]

i sitll think this gif is nothing special. just empty barren landscape ditthered shadows and good lightning

Based on Xenoblade, the barren landscape assertion is completely asinine.

The only thing that was empty or barren in that game was the massive Eryth Sea ... sea...

 

[Sophia]

Thanks for humoring me, guys/gals.

I've been thinking about a lot of different theories lately. Including the possibility that this may be the third part of the Xeno storyline. Xenogears and Xenosaga were two parts of a three part storyline, and we've never seen any of the third part before. Plus, members of MonolithSoft have said they've wanted to revisit Xenoaga down the line.... I wonder if this is effectively a spiritual successor to both Xenosaga (in story) and Xenoblade (in gameplay.)

Guess I'm just looking through Takahashi's past history for story and gameplay elements. Still, the Xenogears/Xenosaga Episode 1 character designer is on board...

 

[ugoo18]

This is conjecture, of course.





The position of this mountain indicates (to me, anyway), that you're either on the structure shown in the last two pictures of your image or very close to it.

That actually seems pretty accurate especially since the structures that are beneath the mech when it's flying look like the ones in front of the mountain you circled in the first picture.

 

[Mr. Fix]

That's what we're (most likely) getting... Did you read the rest of my post? Perhaps I worded it poorly. But anyways, my point was that online co-op and an original cast (in your words) aren't mutually exclusive.

Oh, I just read it again. If they do have players using a normally AI-controlled character, wouldn't that mean that items/equips for that character could only be handled by the first player/host? I mean, I guess if Player 2 has his own set equipment and specs for say, AI character #1, he could possibly transfer those specs over to the same character in another player's game, but I don't think I've ever seen something like that.

To put it into perspective, it's like if I were to play FF12 (as Basch) with a few friends. Would they just be stepping into the shoes of the Balthier and Fran that I've been using, or is it possible for them to have their set-up of Balthier/Fran temporarily replace mine?

 

[ugoo18]

Can't wait to see a similar video for X

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAYBui5ghJ0

 

[Elfforkusu]

Eryth sea was beautiful to say the least, random question but the river that flowed through Makna forest was there ever anyway to get to Eryth sea by following that river?

The river starts from the waterfall (ostensibly from Eryth Sea, but the source is off the map), and ends in hilarious infinite-fall death.

So, no.

 

[onilink88]

To put it into perspective, it's like if I were to play FF12 (as Basch) with a few friends. Would they just be stepping into the shoes of the Balthier and Fran that I've been using, or is it possible for them to have their set-up of Balthier/Fran temporarily replace mine?

I really wouldn't be able to give you a definitive answer, but I imagine it'd work like the latter instance. What I wanted to mainly convey, though, was that you wouldn't have to worry about X not having its own cast.

 

[Persona86]

It could also be that since the Wii U is starved for software, Nintendo would Localize anything to increase library.

Especially given how...exactly how Many Japanese games have been announced for the Wii U on the third parties front that arent Western catering?

Yeah that too, I'm sure Nintendo have a few more surprises up their sleeves.

 

[Mr. Fix]

I really wouldn't be able to give you a definitive answer, but I imagine it'd work like the latter instance. What I wanted to mainly convey, though, was that you wouldn't have to worry about X not having its own cast.

That's good to know. I probably wouldn't mind either route when it comes to filling in AI shoes.

 

[Persona86]

This post has completely justified the thread bump. Very interesting.

Hopefully we find alien towns.

 

[Persona86]

I hope we see some nice water areas with starry skies.

 

[OryoN]

The more I watch the trailer, the more I'm convinced that one of the basic premises of the game is that humans have crash-landed or have come to explore and possibly terraform a primitive alien planet.

Wow, interestingly, I was thinking something along the very same lines, although, with a bit less to go on. The story I had imagined was;

This planet is home to precious resources which the humans - under corporations - are in search of. The first explorers consisting mainly of scientists and scouts - who discovered the planet - barely survived, and found out, unfortunately, that the planet is also home to extremely dangerous, and territorial creatures. The few survivors sends out becon for help - along with a confirmation that the planet is good for harvest - and your team arrives with full battle-ready gear(Mechs), search & rescue, and mining equipment.

Your daily duty of defending against/kiling creatures, mining, and searching for survivors is interrupted by an urgent incomming message informing you that your current adventure on the planet is about to get a lot more bloody... because word got out that the mother load of all resources is discovered on this planet, and rival corporations - from various colonized planets - are heading toward this new planet for the spoils. All...hell...breaks...loose!

I could be way off, of course, but looking at the setting, and the elements inside, it's tough not to imagine something along those lines.

 

[DJIzana]

I hope we see some nice water areas with starry skies.

That or nice water areas with blue skies too. I'm hoping the world is super big... can't wait to take screenshots too. =)

 

[Fantastical]

If this is not at E3 I'm going to be so mad. Most anticipated Wii U game by a mile. Maybe Retro's game will change that?

 

[Persona86]

That or nice water areas with blue skies too. I'm hoping the world is super big... can't wait to take screenshots too. =)

Yeah the more VARIETY the better!


Please be at Nintendo Direct.

 

[Instro]

You remember Jin and Citan from Gears and Saga, don't you?

Good point.

 

[GiantEnemyGoomba]

If this is not at E3 I'm going to be so mad. Most anticipated Wii U game by a mile. Maybe Retro's game will change that?

Soraya Saga retweeting the Direct announcement confirms it'll be there. Based on the first trailer, it looks pretty far along. I don't see any reason it won't be there.

 

[Sophia]

Wow, interestingly, I was thinking something along the very same lines, although, with a bit less to go on. The story I had imagined was;

This planet is home to precious resources which the humans - under corporations - are in search of. The first explorers consisting mainly of scientists and scouts - who discovered the planet - barely survived, and found out, unfortunately, that the planet is also home to extremely dangerous, and territorial creatures. The few survivors sends out becon for help - along with a confirmation that the planet is good for harvest - and your team arrives with full battle-ready gear(Mechs), search & rescue, and mining equipment.

Your daily duty of defending against/kiling creatures, mining, and searching for survivors is interrupted by an urgent incomming message informing you that your current adventure on the planet is about to get a lot more bloody... because word got out that the mother load of all resources is discovered on this planet, and rival corporations - from various colonized planets - are heading toward this new planet for the spoils. All...hell...breaks...loose!

I could be way off, of course, but looking at the setting, and the elements inside, it's tough not to imagine something along those lines.

You might be way off on some aspects. Some of these things are very different from how Takahashi usually writes his stories. The whole precious resources thing... However other aspects have been done before.

Often his stories have a tragedy early on. The destruction of Lahan, the Gnosis attacking the Woglinde, Colony 9 being attacked, etc.

Soraya Saga retweeting the Direct announcement confirms it'll be there. Based on the first trailer, it looks pretty far along. I don't see any reason it won't be there.

I wonder how much Soraya's been involved. Characterization in writing is one of her strong points.

 

[darkistheway]

Wow, interestingly, I was thinking something along the very same lines, although, with a bit less to go on. The story I had imagined was;

This planet is home to precious resources which the humans - under corporations - are in search of. The first explorers consisting mainly of scientists and scouts - who discovered the planet - barely survived, and found out, unfortunately, that the planet is also home to extremely dangerous, and territorial creatures. The few survivors sends out becon for help - along with a confirmation that the planet is good for harvest - and your team arrives with full battle-ready gear(Mechs), search & rescue, and mining equipment.

Your daily duty of defending against/kiling creatures, mining, and searching for survivors is interrupted by an urgent incomming message informing you that your current adventure on the planet is about to get a lot more bloody... because word got out that the mother load of all resources is discovered on this planet, and rival corporations - from various colonized planets - are heading toward this new planet for the spoils. All...hell...breaks...loose!

I could be way off, of course, but looking at the setting, and the elements inside, it's tough not to imagine something along those lines.

I feel deja vu... Did you post this in the Feb ND thread..?

 

[Reveirg]

Based on the first trailer, it looks pretty far along

Honestly, we don't know that. January 2011's Versus XIII trailer looked pretty much as "far along" as X's trailer, and see what happenned...

If anything, the UI could've been tacked on and the game might not be as far along as we think.

I guess E3 will tell us.

 

[Sheroking]

Honestly, we don't know that. January 2011's Versus XIII trailer looked pretty much as "far along" as X's trailer, and see what happenned...

If anything, the UI could've been tacked on and the game might not be as far along as we think.

I guess E3 will tell us.

Xenoblade was finished three full years ago in June. It's an 100+ person team. They claim they were developing HD technology and techniques before the Wii U.

I think it's looking pretty good.

 

[DJIzana]

Soraya Saga retweeting the Direct announcement confirms it'll be there. Based on the first trailer, it looks pretty far along. I don't see any reason it won't be there.

I wonder why the mini map had a grid as a placeholder though. Going by that... it's a little hard to say.

 

[TalesOfWin]

Good memories with this gif. Still blows my mind somewhat.

Always lol'd when people use the lolkillzoneshadowfall.gif to counter it.

nintendo fans think this game looks better than killzone? lol wtf.

 

[Sheroking]

nintendo fans think this game looks better than killzone? lol wtf.

No, Sony fans think Nintendo fans are saying that and post that shit as a response.

Sometimes those who post the X gif are a little unclear though. I do think it looks very good for current gen stuff.

 

[ohlawd]

nintendo fans think this game looks better than killzone? lol wtf.

Go back the previous page and read up, son.

It'll serve you well before you make a post like that ;o

 

[TalesOfWin]

No, Sony fans think Nintendo fans are saying that and post that shit as a response.

Sometimes those who post the X gif are a little unclear though. I do think it looks very good for current gen stuff.

small gifs will make the game look better. There are no clear screenshots out yet for people to nitpick.

 

[HawthorneKitty]

I'm glad I bought XB at launch too.

But the fuckers at EB ran out of artbooks.

Dammit.

I skipped the first 10 minutes of class just to get the book!

 

[GiantEnemyGoomba]

I wonder why the mini map had a grid as a placeholder though. Going by that... it's a little hard to say.

The minimap looks like Xenoblade's. You just don't see anything on it because the character isn't close to any boundary. The only odd part is that the water doesn't show up, but that's not really an indication of development progress.

 

[ohlawd]

small gifs will make the game look better. There are no clear screenshots out yet for people to nitpick.

y u ignoring me ;_;

I skipped the first 10 minutes of class just to get the book!

Shoulda seen my face when they told me they ran out of artbooks an hour after EB opened.

like what the eff, I didn't know there were people in my area that liked niche games.

 

[GiantEnemyGoomba]

small gifs will make the game look better. There are no clear screenshots out yet for people to nitpick.

You can watch the trailer on a TV through the eShop and it still looks very nice. Plus, there's probably some polishing to do in that regard.

 

[B.K.]

I still can't manage to get excited about the game. I hated Xenoblade and this looks to be more of the same.

 

[HawthorneKitty]

I still can't manage to get excited about the game. I hated Xenoblade and this looks to be more of the same.

It's okay not to like certain games.

 

[Sheroking]

small gifs will make the game look better. There are no clear screenshots out yet for people to nitpick.

There is, however, an HD trailer.

 

[Darryl]

Honestly, we don't know that. January 2011's Versus XIII trailer looked pretty much as "far along" as X's trailer, and see what happenned...

If anything, the UI could've been tacked on and the game might not be as far along as we think.

I guess E3 will tell us.

i don't know why X would suffer the same issues as Versus XIII. that game has its own problems for its own reasons.

nintendo fans think this game looks better than killzone? lol wtf.

i think Mario Galaxy looks better than that KZ gif. nintendo fans tend to not be strong fans of gritty realism and are more impressed by abstract and fantasy.

 

[TDLink]

Honestly, we don't know that. January 2011's Versus XIII trailer looked pretty much as "far along" as X's trailer, and see what happenned...

If anything, the UI could've been tacked on and the game might not be as far along as we think.

I guess E3 will tell us.

Versus XIII is made by Square and they can't get games out without developing them for half a decade or more first.

Monolithsoft is not Square. X definitely looks far along but still a bit rough. To me it seems like a 2014 game. At least, that is what I am guessing.

Excitedly looking forward to the new trailer at E3.

 

[Ryoku]

nintendo fans think this game looks better than killzone? lol wtf.

Yeah, fuck opinions, right?

No, really. While Killzone SF is clearly technically superior, the area shown in that gif of X is most likely all explorable, whereas the city in KZ is literally all simple blocks put together in an effective way.

 

[ohlawd]

Yeah, fuck opinions, right?

No, really. While Killzone SF is clearly technically superior, the area shown in that gif of X is most likely all explorable, whereas the city in KZ is literally all simple blocks put together in an effective way.

But what will Nintendo fans do if KZSF happens to be open world?!

Spoiler

it'll still have that same shitty gunplay we all love dearly