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Tales of Xillia 2 |OT| Destroying Worlds 4 U
- Thread starter Rpgmonkey
- Start date
Aaaaaaaaaaa why didn't I preorder this. Figured I could wait a bit and still get the costume/theme insert code but forgot that this has that mini-novel too. Was that included as preorder pack-in by the retailer like the dvd/illustrated jacket for graces f, or included in every first edition of the game?
Edit - nvm just read OP, will probably order this later this month
Edit - nvm just read OP, will probably order this later this month
She calls regardless. If you have the area unlocked and you pay the full amount they send items to Ludgers' mailbox. I've gotten a sandwich and the 1 Damage skill book so far.
I've never gotten a call after having the next place unlocked. Maybe I've just been too poor. She definitely tends to call based on the amount of money you have. As for the bonuses, I've been conflicted. I've gotten a couple, but paying it off early means that you have to pay more in order to make the next story-required payment to progress, I think. Because last time I did it, next time I had to unlock a place, I had to make it to another milestone first regardless.
He doesn't speak at all? I knew his lines would be limited during the first playthrough, but I didn't knew he wouldn't speak at all. What a weird thing to do for a Tales game.
He makes grunts here and there and says stuff in the middle of battles, but no... no actual full lines of spoken dialogue. I'm curious how that's going to work out once voice overs are unlocked.
Not even in battle? How boring.
RyougaSaotome
Member
It's so weird, and it makes him even more derptastic than he already is. Poor guy.
I grabbed a copy today and while I'm only an hour and a half in, I think it hits the ground running better than ToX ever did. I'm also happy to see that
hasn't made me want to punch myself in the face so far.
Haven't really had the chance to enjoy a real battle yet, but I like the way Ludgar feels right now.
I grabbed a copy today and while I'm only an hour and a half in, I think it hits the ground running better than ToX ever did. I'm also happy to see that
Jude
Haven't really had the chance to enjoy a real battle yet, but I like the way Ludgar feels right now.
He talks in battle.
Ludger is by far the most annoying character because it's clear that he's supposed to have some clear defined characteristics. It's just.... awkward. That's all. It'd be one thing if we can make choices and hear it but there's nothing of the sort until 2nd playthrough.
Dark Schala
Eloquent Princess
Sooo... my usual thing with playing the majority of the game with v. low volume/muted really late at night will pan out for the first playthrough anyway!
But seriously, that sounds like an issue. It didn't strike me as a good thing prior to release because Tales generally revolves around character interactions (especially during skits, and there are decisions in skits, really?), so having a silent protag is out of the ordinary. I would think he'd be serving as a spectator in general but if you guys are saying that there are instances where you expect that he'd be voiced or the scene makes it seem like he was voiced, then it seems like weird character design/scene direction.
I'd expect the scene direction to facilitate/work around Ludger's lack of voicing. There are games with silent protagonists with good scene direction and character interaction. His animations aren't helping or does he not have good animations to begin with?
But seriously, that sounds like an issue. It didn't strike me as a good thing prior to release because Tales generally revolves around character interactions (especially during skits, and there are decisions in skits, really?), so having a silent protag is out of the ordinary. I would think he'd be serving as a spectator in general but if you guys are saying that there are instances where you expect that he'd be voiced or the scene makes it seem like he was voiced, then it seems like weird character design/scene direction.
I'd expect the scene direction to facilitate/work around Ludger's lack of voicing. There are games with silent protagonists with good scene direction and character interaction. His animations aren't helping or does he not have good animations to begin with?
RyougaSaotome
Member
He gets a lot of silent reaction shots where he grunts or you just see the dots in the subtitles. It's very strange and I can't say I'm a fan.
R_thanatos
Member
it wouldn't surprise me ..missable events are something included in every "tales of" game.
this is just an opinion seeing as i haven't got the game yet
So now that I got the bond title with Ludger and Jude, they're like this after every battle
Just got this as well, they literally fist bump a few times then go for this handshake. It's hilarious.
Found the cameo battle theme on YouTube. It's kinda weak.
They totally gave Gaius a DLC Dymlos costume just for this. HADOU MEPUUUUUUUUU
I think it's really interesting that (non-story spoiler)
once you unlock the ship to Ilart port, they give you the dash boots and straight up tell you that you can go all over Leise Maxia and get better equipment and stuff. The dash boots are wonderful for speeding across fields, too! I only went as far as Hamil, but it will apparently let you go plenty further if you want to.
I was flipping through the manual and I noticed a part about taking screenshots. Is this a common feature in PS3 games? I've never seen it before. All you have to do is bring up the XMB, go over to photo, and "save screenshot" is there as an option!
ps3 can do it but it depends on the devs. I don't think a lot of devs choose to use this feature
I was flipping through the manual and I noticed a part about taking screenshots. Is this a common feature in PS3 games? I've never seen it before. All you have to do is bring up the XMB, go over to photo, and "save screenshot" is there as an option!
I didn't even know the option existed. Maybe it's something new?
R_thanatos
Member
Exist on ps3 since at least 2 years ago.
You need a compatible game to do it.
Qore (the psn magazine ) had these for example and so the project diva games.
Good to know that xillia is compatible
Dark Schala
Eloquent Princess
Is it possible to press R3 and fast-travel like in the first Xillia after a certain point?
Whaaaaaaaaat? Awesooooommmmme! I had no idea that other games used this feature. I thought it was only limited to 3D Dot Game Heroes and stuff.
The extent of what you could do on the PS3 is pretty neat if the Devs took advantage of it. IE Soul Calibur V had screenshot/video capture that you could upload directly to youtube.
TheContact
Member
This actually looks really cool. Never heard of 1 though
Seven Force
Banned
Yes. I just got it.
Hahaha, I'm just in the progress of transcribing the staff roll, and guess who is there, slided in as a game design support? Tatsuro Udo! I guess they just can't get game design shit right without him. mrburnsexcellent.gif
Will post again later with the staff roll and some spoiler observations from watching the live game plays so far.
Will post again later with the staff roll and some spoiler observations from watching the live game plays so far.
Interesting.
It's also good to hear that he's still involved with Tales games and hasn't left or gotten laid off. Would have been a pretty big loss for the series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQHYrLDSNw4
Dual Mystic Artes. Spoilers obviously.
Dual Mystic Artes. Spoilers obviously.
REBIRTH CRUSADER! *w*
Dark Schala
Eloquent Princess
Good! Quite happy about that.
Must resist the urge to highlight battle spoilers until I get the game...
But timely, kind of. I rushed through the entire second (Milla) playthrough since the evening and finished it just now (so got the plat again, but w/e), and I'm sorta hoping that there are a few scenes like the ones in Triglaf towards the end of Xillia which made me like a few characters a little more (and I ended up liking Milla a little more in this playthrough). I'm mostly referring to the one in Xillia's late Act 4 where
Alvin and Elise have that little chat on the swingset
Alright, here's the partly transcribed Xillia 2 credits. As expected now all staff related to development is credited as part of Bandai Namco Studios while Bandai Namco Games retains only the boring publisher stuff. The staff size is typical for a DC style game, as usual mostly a subset of the game it builds upon. Former Tales Studio head Eiji Kikuchi is still credited as general manager, so I guess we can assume the Tales team is still a stable unit even within the Bandai Namco building. Kenji Anabuki is separately credited for the hilarious wanted posters. ^^
Now my observations, no actual story spoilers, but maybe you want to experience it yourself first.
Good:
- The story is the best I saw in a Tales game so far, it's
. After Naoki Yamamoto's nice scenario work on Hearts this is another good entry, and I hope he gets to lead the scenarios in the future Tales games as well.
- The choices
.
- Characters are all more likable and well-rounded than in Xillia 1.
- The game design improvements are all for the better. Only the debt system is debatable but works as one has access to all the Xillia 1 areas.
Bad:
- Ludger as a silent character is a complete failure. He clearly has a distinct personality beyond the player's choices but is only allowed to display through his mimics and gestures. Those are quite well done, but the result is that he appears more like a normal character who lost his voice instead a transparent player character. The optional voices
.
- The huge basic design mistakes breaking soloing and multiplayer as part of the battle system have not been touched on at all. I guess people didn't cry loud enough about this...
Summary:
The game is more of a DC than the pre-release hype tried to make one believe. Plenty recycling, but the improved gameplay and especially the great story should make it worth a playthrough. Definitely more recommended than Xillia 1.
Now my observations, no actual story spoilers, but maybe you want to experience it yourself first.
Good:
- The story is the best I saw in a Tales game so far, it's
surprisingly dark and depressing, and not in a hamfisted Abyss way. Instead the scenario setup is exploited to its most extremes
- The choices
make a huge difference, and that's what makes the story work so well. You make the decisions, you get the adequate results. Changed scenes, bonus scenes based on you party composition and several separate endings. Plenty replay value and a horror for those who want to quickly 100% the game
- Characters are all more likable and well-rounded than in Xillia 1.
- The game design improvements are all for the better. Only the debt system is debatable but works as one has access to all the Xillia 1 areas.
Bad:
- Ludger as a silent character is a complete failure. He clearly has a distinct personality beyond the player's choices but is only allowed to display through his mimics and gestures. Those are quite well done, but the result is that he appears more like a normal character who lost his voice instead a transparent player character. The optional voices
only escalate this issue as the scenes are not adapted to the voices, so we get the acting of a silent character and voices on the top of it
- The huge basic design mistakes breaking soloing and multiplayer as part of the battle system have not been touched on at all. I guess people didn't cry loud enough about this...
Summary:
The game is more of a DC than the pre-release hype tried to make one believe. Plenty recycling, but the improved gameplay and especially the great story should make it worth a playthrough. Definitely more recommended than Xillia 1.
You beat the game already? How long did it take?
Director's Cut.
Finished chapter 6... I'm a lot more interested in the story here than ToX's that's for sure. Ludger's dimensional abilities are really fun to use as well.
The game is Japanese only, soo... Japanese subtitles, sure.
Oh, I was wondering because it seemed like a lot of people were importing the title. It lead me to believe the game had a good amount of English/English subtitles.
Well, I have no idea if everybody can understand Japanese. But if anybody is having any trouble, I'd be glad to help.
Shouta
Member
Most people that are playing it in here have pretty solid or high level Japanese under their belts, I think.