If it weren't for the debt repayment stuff (and possibly character chapters), I feel like this game would go lots faster (even if getting gald is easy). Main Chapters aren't very long. Getting used to Ludger and Jude's newer speed so I could comfortably fight bosses on Hard, plus trying to get more SP. I feel like the Hard mode in this game a little better than Xillia's but I haven't fought enough bosses to make a good judgement of that yet.
I echo the sentiments of those saying that it feels like an Xillia Director's Cut. Instead of outright making a DC, they went and made a new game with a new scenario with a focus on a few new characters which just feels like a DC (and part of the reason why it feels like a DC to me is because it starts in the place where the last game felt extremely rushed, right down to using the final
music in the first "dungeon").
But with that said, I'm incredibly disappointed with what they did with Ludger. The guy barely animates, all he does is grunt or say mmm, uh, ugh, etc. and there are lots of scenes and skits where you expect him to say something but he barely reacts outside of a change in facial expression. It's a shame because outside of that, when he fights things in cutscenes and stuff he looks like a real badass. Conversations are one-sided, and half the time he responds with "... ... ... ..." or "?" It's just
weird. It's an interesting experiment, but it's a failed one, especially for a series whose strengths is partially based on character interaction. The option to turn his voice on should've been there from the start. I don't feel like I'm stepping into his shoes at all, even if that's what Namco wanted me to do.
Also, Jude's pretty good. No issues with the dude, and he's mature.
Anyway, that's enough playing for me until Friday night (blah, I know I won't be able to resist after watching election stuff tomorrow).
Gonna need to plan my way to get the most Grade and organize all this.
