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[TheMoon]

Developed by: MonolithSoft
Published by: Nintendo
Platform: Wii U
Release Dates: April 29, 2015 (JP) / December 4, 2015 (NA/PAL)
Genre: RPG
Multiplayer: Yes, 32-player passive online squads, 4-player co-op squad quests
Voice Chat: No
Text Chat: Yes (USB Keyboard supported, also supports the usual touch screen keyboard)
Off-TV Play: Yes
Supported controllers on Wii U: Wii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller, USB Keyboard
Miiverse Integration: Yes
eShop download file size: (space required to download 22.7GB // (final file size after install 19GB
Add-on DLC: Yes (7 packs available as a 2,000 yen (cheaper) bundle or separately), more details here.

• Spoilers belong in spoiler tags! Spoilery images shall be posted as links only, no embeds. If you want in-depth spoiler discussions, there is now a dedicated spoiler-thread for the game so the Import OT can remain "safe."
• Don't be a douche or you'll get kicked by a moose. Err what? Be nice, okay?

I'll keep this short. Aliens decided to have a war on our front porch and burned our house down in the process. Then it's basically Battlestar Galactica without the sort of happy ending and they're still after us once we crash/settle on Planet Mira.

Humanity is trying to make a new home on Mira but many life pods with people in them are scattered all over the planet. BLADE, the military organization is out to rescue as many as they can. You are one of them. Elma frees your from your sleep pod and recruits you. The adventure starts. Welcome to Jurassic Park.

Combat

The base game is a clear evolution of the original Xenoblade on Wii from five years ago. The combat is still a menu from which you select Arts which then go on a cooldown timer until you can use them again, MMO-style. New in XenobladeX are additional layers of depth like a greater focus on positioning and destroying limbs of certain enemies to gain the upper hand in battle and the SOUL VOICE mechanic.

Soul Voice is a system that has your allies shout stuff at you during battle and if you comply and cast a certain Art in response, you benefit from various effects and also heal yourself. Speaking of which, you cannot heal other party members in this game, health is managed via Soul Voice exclusively (you can heal yourself though, as I understand). You can customize what types of Soul Voice cries will occur during battle, kind of like a tactics planning menu.​

Kizuna Quests

Kizuna (Affinity) Quests are back. Talk to people, help them with their problems, improve relationships between them and you. It's back in full force. Including the gigantic web that looks like you're trying to unfold a conspiracy or catch a serial killer. There seem to be deeper Kizuna Quests this time, too.

Scroll down to the FAQ part for spoiler-free explanations of how the various types of sidequests work.​

DOLLS

DOLLS are those fancy robots you've been seeing in all the gifts (we just learned that they will be called SKELLS - from exoskeleton - in the West).
They come in various weight classes with various transformation types. While they are quite expensive, they are also fully customizable with all sorts of specific weapons, insane colors and new modules that add features such as the ability of flight. Thankfully you can insure them and get three free repairs before you have to shell out your hard-earned in-game cash. For more, watch the DOLL presentation linked at in the Links section of this OP, it's too much (awesomeness) to cover here in text form.​

Unions

You can join Unions to take on their respective sidequests and help out NLA and BLADE with some stuff because you're nice. You can freely switch around between them. Your liaisons in these Unions are special companions that you can recruit to your party, too.​

Devices & Collectopedia

Devices are the successor to the gems from Xenoblade. You can add these things to your gear to improve stats and stuff. Another thing making a return from the previous game is the Collectopedia which catalogs all the stuff you pick up along the way and nets you some neat rewards for completing it.​

Game Structure

The game progresses nonlinearly based on what you decided to do and how you want to play since the world is completely open and seamless from the get-go. So go nuts. Do whatcha want (but don't eat Tatsu, even if he looks super tasty)!
​

ONLINE FEATURES
Recruit system

You can recruit the main characters of other players in your 32 person squad and add them to your party temporarily. Once you're done with them, the XP they earned while they were with you will transfer over to their owner's game.​

Squads

The passive online squads are groups of 32 players that are either random or you can pick/create a squad of your choosing. In these squads you can

• offer loot to other squad members
• leave messages in the world for your squadmates
• collaborate on completing multi-tiered Squad Missions
• upon completion of one of the currently active Squad Missions, you unlock Squad Quests
• Squad Quests can be played with up to four human players via online co-op (also with A.I.!)
• Completing Squad Quests advances Planet Mira research which in turn unlocks World Enemies, special battles against gigantic dangerous monsters that you can also take on cooperatively.

Reputation System

Just like in the solo/offline game, you are part of one of the Unions in NLA. When playing online, whichever Union you're part of will earn points based on your quest progress for that Union and this will contribute to global rankings for those Unions. Rep yo set!​

I'm super worried for some reason that this game has "no" story (focus)?

Relax. All player reports so far have shown that these worries are completely unfounded (as if that was really in doubt). The silent protagonist and recruit system does not result in a game without an epic story or side characters. There's plenty of that in this game.
​

So how about those sidequests? Tell me about sidequests!

Well, in the end, every RPG is like that . Every quest, including story quests, comes down to "kill monster X" or "go to location Y", etc. and that doesn't change in XenobladeX. But context is key and the Kizuna/Affinity quests are really good in that regard.

The Kizuna Quests are all fully voice acted, have cutscenes and have pretty high production values overall. On par with the story quests, I'd say. The stories mainly focus on character development and expanding on the game's lore. I would say that if you beat the game without doing any Kizuna Quests (which is impossible btw, as some story quests require you to finish specific Kizuna Quests), you would've gotten an "incomplete" story, if that makes sense. You will want to seek them out and complete them all .

Btw there are also Normal Quests, which is sort of between Kizuna Quests and Simple Quests. Normal Quests are activated by talking with NPCs with a quest marker above their head, so kinda like in the original Xenoblade. They're not voice acted, but (usually) tell cute little stories. Lots of text in these quests. The Simple Quests are accepted from the quest board and they're the sort of filler quests you come to expect from MMOs. Just "Gather 3 of this item" or "Talk to this NPC" or "Kill 5 of this monster" kind of quests. I don't know if they're endlessly generated but it wouldn't surprise me if they were.

And here's how StreetsAhead learned to re-love the game due to particular sidequests (no spoilers)

I was a little down on the game 2 days ago, but I've swung right back around. Some of the quest design is blergh, but it's no worse than Xenoblade was (at least at this point). What turned me around was a quest involving a human who hates the other "aliens". It's a simple little story, really, but it's nice and really sells the concept of the game. There is a lot more world-building and character expanding done in the normal quests and affinity quests compared to Xenoblade. You actually do feel like you're having an effect on the world by clearing them.

​

I heard you can download something to make loads better? What's the 411 on that?

Yes but this is only relevant if you own the disc version (!) to bring it in line with the eShop version. You have the option to download the following data packs to improve load times and have assets stream in faster. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED YOU INSTALL THESE!

Basic Data Pack (2 GB) – Effect: Large
A data pack containing terrain data that will allow faster loading while in the city and the game’s various fields. This data pack is required for other Data Packs to work.
Enemy Data Pack (2.7 GB) – Effect: Medium
Installs enemy data to the HDD, If the Basic Data Pack is also downloaded, it further speed up load times while out in the field.
Player Data Pack (3.6 GB) – Effect: Medium
Will install data regarding the armor and graphics of the player. If the Basic Data Pack is also downloaded, it will speed up loading in the city and when equipping changes in the shops in New Los Angeles.
Doll Data Pack (1.7 GB) – Effect: Medium
Will install data regarding the Doll mechs. If the Basic Data Pack is also downloaded, it will speed up read times when Dolls appear. You will get faster loading times while in the city and in the fields.

Is it related to Xenoblade story wise or maybe other Xeno games?

Short answer: No. Long answer: Here.

Yes. The surface story is basically Chapter 1/2 of Takahashis xeno story. It heavily mirrors the events shown in Xenogears intro fmv, that took place thousands of years before gears. The themes so far seem to be centered around the concept of the logos, and surpassing it, which gives us everything from Jesus to Jung to try and narrow down, and knowing takahashi, it will prbably involve just about every possible reference.

Direct sequel to Xenoblade? Yes and No.

Story wise... No, Xenoblade X is an actual Xeno game, while Xenoblade, while incredibly good, and with an appropriately deep story for having the xeno prefix... Clearly Isnt one of the 6 chapters Takahashi envisioned back with Xenogears.

The game will have nods, and teaser references, and maybe even be worked in with some side lore easter eggs, but no, its not a direct story sequel at all.

Gameplay wise though, its absolutely a spiritual sequel to Xenoblade.

Can I customize the HUD?

Yes, similar to how it was in Xenoblade.
Here's a translated screen of the HUD options screen:

Not sure if this has been covered already but I translated this from Hamayama's stream for those who were interested in removing HUD elements.

I think almost everything except arts palette and party status on the top left can be cleared away. I'm actually quite keen to play without minimap seeing as we'll have a gamepad map anyway.

Can I redesign my character later on?

Yes, you can completely change your custom character during the game (incl. their sex). You're not stuck with anything. This option becomes available at some point in the game (not too far in, if I understood it right).
​

There are a lot of systems in this game, can I have an overview?

Some nice people have listed off all (?) the things you can sink your teeth into. [Here] | [Here] | [Here] and [Here] and StreetsAhead tries to squash fears of the game being too complex with this post.
​

I got the DLC but where do I find the new quests?

In case anyone is wondering, the Support DLC quests are accessed from the menu in BLADE home that you get your Union Salary from. The character quests you get from the Quest Board in the BLADE Area.

Plus some more details:

DLC is out, downloading now.

Before purchase they warn you that:
*The Support DLC Quests (the non-character ones) can only be played post Chapter 2.
*The quests to add H.B. and Ielv can only be accessed after Chapter 3.
*The quest to add Akusena can only be accessed after Chapter 4.
*The quest to add Bose can only be accessed after Chapter 5.

EDIT: DL is 2mb.

Anything I else I should know going in? Are there wikis yet?

Hasemo to the rescue:

2 important tips:
1. Wikis: Wiki one, Wiki two. Collection quests are terrible and they often don't give you any tips where to find the items, so these wikis are very useful. The first one lists items by zone, so it's really great. That said, for some quest items 2ch seems to be the best source of information. So many "where to find X" threads.

2. Save each time before starting a Kizuna Quest. Some of them require rare drops, one that I took just now required having 20% of the whole planet explored - sometimes you just realize that you don't want have the time for the quest and just want to progress the story, but with Kizuna Quests when you accept them, it's already too late.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162171571&postcount=942 (very detailed, talks about everything!)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162172441&postcount=944 (a bit more about classes)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162427120&postcount=1310 (cool bits about the character creator)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162411805&postcount=1271 (detailed early-game impressions from Streets, 3h in)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162619468&postcount=1636 (^follow up (15h in) impressions from Streets)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162410872&postcount=1262 (something about the co-op quests)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162479179&postcount=1401 (more general impressions)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162578167&postcount=1568 (covers everything, player who finished the story)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162657505&postcount=1671 (specifically Off-TV play-only impressions)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162671632&postcount=1678 (story finished (no spoilers), likes and dislikes)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162987820&postcount=1995 (random short impressions, 20h in)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=162875401&postcount=1934 (detailed "game complete" impressions after 120h)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=164902092&postcount=2655 ("game complete" thoughts from Bebpo, see prior posts for details)
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=165458651&postcount=2730 (very extensive 100% complete impressions from gessenkou/caaaaw)

Iwata Asks: Xenoblade X

Iwata Asks (English)
Iwata Asks (Japanese)

Links:
Official Website (Japanese)
NOA's Xenoblade Chronicles X Showcase (April 24, 2015)
Nintendo Treehouse Live with Xenoblade Chronicles X (April 24, 2015)
April 2015 Story Trailer w/ English Subs
Soundtrack Teaser
Xenoblade Chronicles X - Twitter & Website updates thread
XenobladeX Japanese Miiverse Community
Gessenkou/CAAAAAAAAAAAW's Xenoblade X info compilation project
Xenoblade X Spoiler Thread <--- go here to talk about spoilers, please

Presentations with English subs:
Overview/Exploration (February 2015)
Battle (March 2015)
DOLL / Network (April 2015)

XenobladeX Website Short Story Translations:
24 Hour Happy People
Forging B.L.A.D.E.

Miiverse putting in dat work

Post your NNID and I will collect it here. If you all want to hang out in a Squad, I can put that info here too if you want.
Keiician
RyougaSaotome
falcomfan
expel83
InternHertz
johntv84
Gessenkou
mikey928
jateveec
kubasu
RagingAvatar
emishaj
kamennootoko
keimion
tei1515

***OT will be updated as needed. Let me know if you want anything added specifically***

PS: Sorry for the stupid subtitle.

 

[moolamb]

This is whaaaat you've been waaaaaiting fooooor~~~

 

[Samurai_Heart]

Have fun with your Dolls everyone here, we'll be here near Christmas with our Skells XP
And nicely made OT Moon =)

 

[theSlacker]

The faces are ugly and the music sucks.

Spoiler

:3

 

[tonyh24613]

30 hours into the game.

 

[RPGCrazied]

Awesome thread, looks like an awesome game, and yet still no release date for NA/EU. *weep*

 

[kuroneko0509]

Nice one, Moon...
EDIT: ignore me... lol

 

[Nintendojitsu]

 

[radio_apeshot]

Has it been stated why there is no fall damage? And why can you jump so high?

Less gravity on planet Mira?

I really wish there is some in-game explanation to this. I know fall damage would limit exploration but.. I kind of like it being there.

 

[Mauricio_Magus]

God I can't wait for this game.

 

[Phazon]

30 hours into the game.

Damn, that's so cool

Can't wait to cruise with my friends through Mira ^^

 

[KingSnake]

Nice OP!

I will check back this thread ... later this year.

Spoiler

Who am I kidding, I will be here day and night ...

 

[ranmafan]

Very excited! got the data packs already installed, and my copy has been shipped out already. should have it first thing in the morning. Will make for a very nice Japanese holiday for me.

 

[kuroneko0509]

Has it been stated why there is no fall damage? And why can you jump so high?

Less gravity on planet Mira?

I really wish there is some in-game explanation to this. I know fall damage would limit exploration but.. I kind of like it being there.

There is iinm, but that's related to a spoiler actually

 

[LAA]

Looking forward to the game, but I still have to say I'm concerned about the story... I just hope it's good. From what I've seen so far, it seems the story is essentially a ship/colony landing on some planets, and then just the hardships of surviving there. I'm really hoping theres some twists and etc. along the way as Xenoblade had. I just hope they've purposely been holding off from showing the main story, otherwise I'm just thinking "What story"

That and Xenoblade 1's world being two dead giants was very unique and cool, so it feels like a demotion going from that to a normal planet again, but it does seem the planet is much more massive, which will surely be mindblowing as even the first's world as massive as it was.

Hope it delivers!

 

[Fandangox]

Soon...

But how soon?

 

[Litri]

I said I won't be following the import thread a while ago but it seems I just can't avoid it, xD

 

[Hasemo]

The digital version is live!
For people playing the Japanese version, add my NNID for some squad action: Keiician

My character:

And now back to the game.

 

[Fandangox]

I'm really hoping theres some twists and etc.

 

[TheMoon]

Looking forward to the game, but I still have to say I'm concerned about the story... I just hope it's good. From what I've seen so far, it seems the story is essentially a ship/colony landing on some planets, and then just the hardships of surviving there. I'm really hoping theres some twists and etc. along the way as Xenoblade had. I just hope they've purposely been holding off from showing the main story, otherwise I'm just thinking "What story"

You should, like, watch the story trailer I linked in the OP maybe...

There's a ton of stuff going on. Even if you just watched the presentations you should know that.

 

[zoobzone]

is the eShop download size 22.7GB? I downloaded this morning and it was only 19GB, did I miss anything?

 

[Brick]

The digital version is live!
For people playing the Japanese version, add my NNID for some squad action: Keiician

My character:

And now back to the game.

Squall?

 

[Varion]

The digital version is live!

Oh god it is, I thought I was going to be waiting a few more hours. There go my chances of doing anything productive today.

Got it all preloaded all ready to go, so...goooooooooooo.

 

[Raide]

is the eShop download size 22.7GB? I downloaded this morning and it was only 19GB, did I miss anything?

Maybe includes the download packs?

 

[RPGCrazied]

Not that I'm going to do it, but can you make a Japanese eShop account and get the digital version on a NA Wii U? If only the text was in English...

 

[TheMoon]

is the eShop download size 22.7GB? I downloaded this morning and it was only 19GB, did I miss anything?

Please clarify, is it CURRENTLY only occupying 19GB? Then that is the final install size. The 22.7GB is what it says on the eShop which normally is the space you need free to download it because it will unpack a zip file and this needs more space to download & install than it will take up in the end.

The digital version is live!
For people playing the Japanese version, add my NNID for some squad action: Keiician

My character:

And now back to the game.

I added an NNID exchange thing to the bottom of the OP. I'll add people who post their NNIDs to that list.

Not that I'm going to do it, but can you make a Japanese eShop account and get the digital version on a NA Wii U? If only the text was in English...

No. Everything is region locked.

 

[RS4-]

Need this in english so badly

 

[RyougaSaotome]

RyougaSaotome is my NNID

85% finished downloading. Prob won't play until tomorrow.

 

[RPGCrazied]

No. Everything is region locked.

Oh ok, there goes that idea. Back to waiting. lol

 

[Aostia]

I'm really feeling it!

 

[chadboban]

Character creations rolling in on Miiverse

 

[Bulzeeb]

Squall?

was about to ask the same thing because that really looks like squall a few years older hahaha

 

[shaki123]

Maybe you should link the Treehouse / USA direct as well, since it's about the (Japanese version of the) game.

 

[RPGCrazied]

Anyone else hope we get a release date before E3? And at E3 have a playable English demo on the show floor, then release it by August. That would be best.

 

[zoobzone]

Please clarify, is it CURRENTLY only occupying 19GB? Then that is the final install size. The 22.7GB is what it says on the eShop which normally is the space you need free to download it because it will unpack a zip file and this needs more space to download & install than it will take up in the end.

Yeah its fully downloaded

 

[ranmafan]

If anyone wants to add me for the online stuff, my nnid is falcomfan

 

[Smellycat]

I am glad you are able to change your character's appearance after certain missions.

 

[random25]

That face art.

 

[RPGCrazied]

I am glad you are able to change your character's appearance after certain missions.

I'm going to rock a new hairstyle at regular intervals.

 

[Sakura]

Was gonna pick this up, but wouldn't be able to play until the middle of May.
If I do get it then, I will check back here and see if people are still playing!

 

[AntiFacebook]

Would have imported this game if it wasn't for the stupid region lock.

 

[TheMoon]

Yeah its fully downloaded
[IM]http://iforce.co.nz/i/auxz0jfi.hgq.jpg[/IMG]

Right, then that's what I said in there. 19GB is the final size and you need 22.7GB for the download due to the unzip/installation process needing that extra space.

Was gonna pick this up, but wouldn't be able to play until the middle of May.
If I do get it then, I will check back here and see if people are still playing!

ha ...ha.. ha ...

 

[LAA]

The digital version is live!
For people playing the Japanese version, add my NNID for some squad action: Keiician

My character:

And now back to the game.

Graphics look awesome!

You should, like, watch the story trailer I linked in the OP maybe...

There's a ton of stuff going on. Even if you just watched the presentations you should know that.

I have watched it, I believe I've watched all the trailers...maybe not the treehouse stuff, but I believe I've seen the trailers.

Hopefully the story will be good and I'll enjoy it, maybe it's just a matter of taste with this being compared to the first, just... I'm not really seeing any glimpses of mysteries or things to play on for to find answers to, the plot the trailers seems to be showing seems to be just defending the colony on the planet. Is that all I can expect to happen, eliminating threats? That with the news about this story potentially being shorter than the first, and it's more the quest's stories that have become more developed also has me concerned.
I just hope theres something "bigger happening" outside of this plot presented so far and it's not being shown for obvious reasons. Like with the first, there were the mysteries of the monado, bionis, mechonis, mechons, even existence itself to uncover, to name but a few things.

As I say, I hope it surprises me and I enjoy it, just expressing the concerns I have, I'll likely enjoy it just for the gameplay alone if the story doesnt end up impressing anyway.

 

[pinkurocket]

Aaaahahaha beautiful link in the topic title. And great to see Tatsu host the OP.
I'm jealous of the people able to play this game right now!

 

[jdevil99]

As much as I want to import, I want my first time through to be in English so I can take in in the story. Usually I'll manage my way through imports and do a replay later but I'll have some patience this time, game seems to amazing not to.

Also, anyone know if New Los Angeles is the only real town in the game and everything else is just exploring wild and varied wilderness? I'm not going to enjoy it any less, but I haven't seen signs of other settlements in any footage and now that people are playing it, I figure someone can answer.

 

[TheMoon]

Aaaahahaha beautiful link in the topic title. And great to see Tatsu host the OP.
I'm jealous of the people able to play this game right now!

XD

Also, anyone know if New Los Angeles is the only real town in the game and everything else is just exploring wild and varied wilderness? I'm not going to enjoy it any less, but I haven't seen signs of other settlements in any footage and now that people are playing it, I figure someone can answer.

There are smaller settlements and villages but no NLA-sized cities since that is your home base.

 

[chadboban]

Miiverse is a great source of screens if anyone is interested.

Edit: Yes, as The Moon has said. Be weary of spoilers.

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/titles/14866558073650090735/14866558073650090748

 

[TheMoon]

Miiverse is a great source of screens if anyone is interested.

https://miiverse.nintendo.net/titles/14866558073650090735/14866558073650090748

Of course be warned of spoilers and locations you maybe don't want to see yet that aren't technically considered spoilers maybe.

 

[kubus]

Hype!!!
Thanks for the OT TheMoon, some very useful information and links in there.

Please hurry up amazon :'(

 

[plank]

Any browser screens?