[KuwabaraTheMan]

After being at the point of no return for about a week, I finished this game off at long last (having bought it on launch day).

I was maybe a tad overleveled for the final boss fights, though (Level 79-80). The last hour was a huge blast, and I was really surprised by a lot of plot twists.

I expected that Alvis was going to turn out to be something different, but I didn't expect that. Nor most of the other twists for the final few cutscenes. Poor Melia being friendzoned was absolutely expected, though. It's still sad. :(

Overall, an amazing experience, and one that will stay with me for a long time. With around 130 hours invested into this game, you can bet I won't ever forget it. I think the story and characters came together extremely well, and the combat and exploration was a blast.

Now, get to announcing Xenoblade 2, Nintendo.

[cooljeanius]

So I killed Ancient Daedala and Blizzard Belzagas today. feelsgoodman.jpg.gif.png

Now, get to announcing Xenoblade 2, Nintendo.

Personally I'd prefer Xenoblade: The Prequel or Xenoblade: The Enhanced HD Remake to a straight sequel. There's a lot more material in the game world's past than there is in the future, considering how the game ended. Personally I'd just prefer the Enhanced HD Remake, as they could use the opportunity to fix a few things I've mentioned as complaints in previous posts, and maybe add in deleted areas like Bionis's Shoulder.

[Karsticles]

I'd rather Nintendo buy the rights to Xenogears, and Monolith spends the next generation making Episodes I-VI.

THAT would give the Wii U a kick for gamers.

[Smiles and Cries]

cooljeanius has it right... don't need Xenogears... just have an HD directors cut of Xenoblade with new things added and old stuff fixed

then spend time on what took place in the world before/during the epic battle

[Snacks the sober sea lion]

I haven't played recently, so still at level 54 and Galahad Fortress.

I'm trying to find arts heal crystals, but I'm not finding very good info. All I've heard is Crista Apis, of which I can only find one on all of Valak Mountain, and something called Dark Murakmor in Colony 9 which drops a level 1 crystal. There might be water ether somewhere that has level 3 crystals because I have 2 of them, but I don't have any idea where.

[Karsticles]

Why are you so desperate for Arts Heal crystals? Crystals are pretty minor in their effects until they get to the IV range, and only because you can heat them to V.

[Smiles and Cries]

I did not put in too many hours today hope to pick up the pace tomorrow I did break 110 hours today

[Karsticles]

I did not put in too many hours today hope to pick up the pace tomorrow I did break 110 hours today

I kind of want to watch you play just to figure out what you do all day. At 110 hours I was at the end of the game with every sidequest up to that point done along with every optional fight.

[upandaway]

Finally got around to playing some more and I'm at Sword Valley. I just wanted to say, um, this game is pretty big.

It's a bit really big.

Edit: Forgot to ask, do I need to use all the anti-mechon weapons at the beginning of the area? They're all weaker than my current weapons.

[chaosblade]

Finally got around to playing some more and I'm at Sword Valley. I just wanted to say, um, this game is pretty big. It's a bit really big. Edit: Forgot to ask, do I need to use all the anti-mechon weapons at the beginning of the area? They're all weaker than my current weapons.

Anti-Mechon weapons are weak, but don't require Enchant to damage Mechon. Unless you just don't want Shulk in your party for some reason, Enchanting normal weapons is much better since you get a damage bonus on top of stronger weapons.

And remember ether attacks hurt Mechon normally, so using Melia (and to a lesser extent, Riki) is not a bad idea.

[upandaway]

Anti-Mechon weapons are weak, but don't require Enchant to damage Mechon. Unless you just don't want Shulk in your party for some reason, Enchanting normal weapons is much better since you get a damage bonus on top of stronger weapons. And remember ether attacks hurt Mechon normally, so using Melia (and to a lesser extent, Riki) is not a bad idea.

Okay, so for now I guess I'll get one of them for Dunban and if I feel like going Shulk, I can always switch Dunban's weapon back.

Thanks man.

[Smiles and Cries]

I kind of want to watch you play just to figure out what you do all day. At 110 hours I was at the end of the game with every sidequest up to that point done along with every optional fight.

I'm not as good at not dying as you guys are... but I am not sure if when I allow the screen to pause or hit the home menu if the clock is still not running because I walked away for hours doing other things without shutting off the game - still I would only take 15 hours off if that was the case

but I think the hours are legit... I have hard times with quests I can spend a good 3-4 hours on a search quest for example I this the historian thing where I had to find 4 red lights in this huge place I got stuck a few times even went to a wiki to look it up because I gave up but the guide was still not clear I went the wrong way... because I saw the "!" on the map right where I was standing but did not see it anywhere so this meant it was above or below me so it took lots of exploring to pinpoint where that damn thing was...

I go to the mine to find two of those little dudes who went to play a game found one but searched another hour in the cave and still did not find the second.

then there is a quest to beat a broken mechonis I go to the area fight a huge number of those bots but I could not find this one I guess its a UM I'll have to look it up so this is how I trend through this game

the most shocking thing to me is the story quest with the big ass <!> billboard sign you can see from miles away... just because you can see it does not mean you know how to get to it or you don't have tons of things that can kill you before you even touch it... maybe I suck at the game but yeah I enjoy the challenges

I have to bomb pieces I need to get to move my story forward but I've been getting killed trying to reach them last 10 times I went after them so you add all of this time wasting stuff up I got a good 70% on my quests done - at least the ones I unlocked

another time waster is running from check point to checkpoint without using a warp, I love running around this world :)

did anyone just go back to Prison Island after it was done? there is nothing to be done there but I went back just to look around I can tell be the layouts there is more to the place so the story will return there at some point is my guess also other areas I can see maps for but no paths. And many LOCKED huge ass doors in areas I have no clue what they are for

If I don't hustle I'll hit 150 hours before my first playthrough is done

[Scofield94941]

I know the answer is probably in here and could easily google but how do you level up more after you fill all the circles? It says find a script or something to continue leveling. Where do you find them

[Zornica]

I know the answer is probably in here and could easily google but how do you level up more after you fill all the circles? It says find a script or something to continue leveling. Where do you find them

circles? oO do you mean arts?
if so, you can/should buy art books. nearly every trader has them, starting at colony 9.

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Personally I'd prefer Xenoblade: The Prequel or Xenoblade: The Enhanced HD Remake to a straight sequel. There's a lot more material in the game world's past than there is in the future, considering how the game ended. Personally I'd just prefer the Enhanced HD Remake, as they could use the opportunity to fix a few things I've mentioned as complaints in previous posts, and maybe add in deleted areas like Bionis's Shoulder.

I don't know; it seemed to me like the ending set things up perfectly for a sequel. All the talk about endless other life forms out there to meet seemed to open up a huge amount of possibilities for future developments.

A prequel could be interesting, but it would feel like there couldn't be that many surprises, given how much we learn about the history of the world in this game.

[chaosblade]

Regarding a sequel, I already said (end game spoilers) Miqol is either a Zanza disciple or at least wanted to be. There's your mastermind for the sequel, with the goal of bringing gods (specifically Zanza) back into the world.

Anyway, I don't think the game did well enough worldwide to justify a sequel, unless Takahashi already had more planned. Wouldn't put it past him, but this seemed pretty cut and dry for the most part.

[Smiles and Cries]

crap I cannot read the spoilers :3 let me go play so I can see this ending sooner

[cooljeanius]

So I tried to slip in one battle against Avalanche Abaasy before I left to go back to college, and the guy has Instant Death spike? Good grief, as if being level 120 weren't enough...

Regarding a sequel, I already said (end game spoilers) Miqol is either a Zanza disciple or at least wanted to be.

If that's true, why did he let you take Junks into Bionis to fight Zanza? Doesn't really seem like something a disciple would do...

[Rebel Leader]

crap I cannot read the spoilers :3 let me go play so I can see this ending sooner

Question: Why the hell are you here and not playing? D_D

[gamergirly]

I still have not taken the plastic off this. TOO MANY GAMES

[Karsticles]

I still have not taken the plastic off this. TOO MANY GAMES

I bought Vanquish two Christmases ago. I unwrapped it just so I could feel like I was making progress. :-/

[FlashbladeGAF]

Anybody have a problem with Shulk dying right after finishing a chain attack?

I don't know if its a bug or some stupid armor I'm wearing that doesnt tell me its killing me

[Karsticles]

Anybody have a problem with Shulk dying right after finishing a chain attack? I don't know if its a bug or some stupid armor I'm wearing that doesnt tell me its killing me

Spike Aura?

[Smiles and Cries]

what are the steps to Raising Town Affinities? I read you may not get some quest depending on a towns level and my skill trees are done for the max of 3 lines but if my towns are leveled up, I don't want to spoil it for someone but I need help, I don't understand it but each town has five stars right? I only have one lit up for each.

this would add hours to talk to everyone and find everything

how many playthroughs would be needed to get 100%

[FlashbladeGAF]

Spike Aura?

let me check..


I noticed that when ever my guys land an attack there health goes down

[Smiles and Cries]

those Gems can be less than helpful... someone should teach a Gems class

[Zornica]

what are the steps to Raising Town Affinities? I read you may not get some quest depending on a towns level and my skill trees are done for the max of 3 lines but if my towns are leveled up, I don't want to spoil it for someone but I need help, I don't understand it but each town has five stars right? I only have one lit up for each. this would add hours to talk to everyone and find everything how many playthroughs would be needed to get 100%

you need 2 playthroughs to see everything. the only thing you will miss in a single playthrough are quests with 2 different paths.
Most people forgett about a very important thing when trying to raise the affinty of a town: talking to people. Social links are very important, not only do they open up new quests, they also give background story and some affinty as well. Talk to every npc at LEAST twice in a row, until he stops telling you new stuff.

let me check.. I noticed that when ever my guys land an attack there health goes down

thats a spike aura.
you've got a few options:
Ignore that enemy, craft spike defense gems, seal it with monado "erase??" (that art you learned against the telethia), skill linking (melia got spike defense), or try to stay alive with healing until it is dead.

[crimsonspider89]

Monado Purge and Melia can also get rid of auras with Mind Blast.

[chaosblade]

If that's true, why did he let you take Junks into Bionis to fight Zanza? Doesn't really seem like something a disciple would do...

He didn't think Shulk would win. Probably expected the group to lose to the disciples, not even Zanza himself.

But to be fair, that's the one thing that's a bit of a stretch. Almost everything else about the character leaves some questions about motivations. What's his relationship with Dickson? Is it really a coincidence his initial request happens to be the exact same thing that Dickson (and Zanza) wants? He also must have had a pretty decent of not only what the Monado was, but what Shulk was as well.

If there were to be a sequel that's related, I think that's the direction they would go. But I doubt we'll see sequel at all, aside from maybe a spiritual one that builds on what Xenoblade did.

[Karsticles]

what are the steps to Raising Town Affinities? I read you may not get some quest depending on a towns level and my skill trees are done for the max of 3 lines but if my towns are leveled up, I don't want to spoil it for someone but I need help, I don't understand it but each town has five stars right? I only have one lit up for each. this would add hours to talk to everyone and find everything how many playthroughs would be needed to get 100%

1) Quests
2) Talking to people to build relationships.
3) You can max 5 stars for each village on your first playthrough. At the point you are at right now, I had 3 at 5 stars and 1 at 4 stars.

let me check.. I noticed that when ever my guys land an attack there health goes down

That's the definition of a spike aura. ;-)

those Gems can be less than helpful... someone should teach a Gems class

The OP has a link to a page that teaches you how gems work.

He didn't think Shulk would win. Probably expected the group to lose to the disciples, not even Zanza himself. But to be fair, that's the one thing that's a bit of a stretch. Almost everything else about the character leaves some questions about motivations. What's his relationship with Dickson? Is it really a coincidence his initial request happens to be the exact same thing that Dickson (and Zanza) wants? He also must have had a pretty decent of not only what the Monado was, but what Shulk was as well. If there were to be a sequel that's related, I think that's the direction they would go. But I doubt we'll see sequel at all, aside from maybe a spiritual one that builds on what Xenoblade did.

Or, what if he's on Alvis' side?

[chaosblade]

Or, what if he's on Alvis' side?

Alvis has a side? He was pretty much neutral just letting things run their course. I guess it could fit, but given that not even Zanza seemed to know what was going on there I doubt Miqol would.

And remember that there are two different types of spike damage. Area spikes will damage you on regular intervals even if you're not attacking the enemy. And the other one (damage spike?) will only hurt you when you hit the enemy (there's also topple spike, but it's basically the same thing, but active when an enemy is toppled).

[Karsticles]

Alvis has a side? He was pretty much neutral just letting things run their course. I guess it could fit, but given that not even Zanza seemed to know what was going on there I doubt Miqol would.

No way. Alvis helped Shulk time and time again. He basically saved Shulk's life in Makna Forest and taught him to wield the Monado better. We know he wasn't just serving Zanza when doing all of that. I think Alvis was shopping for a new owner, which is why he says he hopes Shulk is the one who proves he can handle the Monado. If Miqol is a servant of Zanza, why is he the leader of the peace-loving settlement? It makes more sense that he is tired of all the strife as well, and wants Shulk to bring about a new era. I agree there has to be more to Miqol...that laugh!

And remember that there are two different types of spike damage. Area spikes will damage you on regular intervals even if you're not attacking the enemy. And the other one (damage spike?) will only hurt you when you hit the enemy (there's also topple spike, but it's basically the same thing, but active when an enemy is toppled).

Indeed. Topple spikes are the most annoying...

[Jarsonot]

I let my cousin borrow this game, a guy who has never been into RPGs before, and he LOVES it. He's got ~70 hours into it now, has a few areas up to 4 star affinity, colony 6 built up pretty well, etc. and he doesn't have internet!

I've gone over and played with him a few times, giving him pointers on gem crafting and the importance of talking to NPCs and whatnot, so that's helped him out.

But man, it's making me itch to get the game back! He raves about how huge everything is, how there's so much to do, the awesome story, the number of different monsters, how much battles change with different characters, etc.

Great game. It's converted him over to RPGs. =)

(his girlfriend? Not loving it as much, haha)

[FoBiA]

This game is the reason I actually got an account here on NeoGAF. That being said, this is also my first post here on NeoGAF, ha.

Fantastic game. I'm probably just a tad over a 3rd of the way in, maybe? Just hit Frontier Village, so I'm wandering around taking in the scenery for the time being, picking up random quests before I head back out the entrance and knock some out.

[Karsticles]

This game is the reason I actually got an account here on NeoGAF. That being said, this is also my first post here on NeoGAF, ha. Fantastic game. I'm probably just a tad over a 3rd of the way in, maybe? Just hit Frontier Village, so I'm wandering around taking in the scenery for the time being, picking up random quests before I head back out the entrance and knock some out.

Frontier Village drives me nuts. I can't tell the difference between most of the Nopon names, so I wander aimlessly looking for NPCs. -_-

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Frontier Village drives me nuts. I can't tell the difference between most of the Nopon names, so I wander aimlessly looking for NPCs. -_-

Frontier Village is a bit annoying because you can have a much harder time finding specific NPCs due to the layout (and a lot of them wander). Ones that I had long quest chains from I knew where they were, but some ones that I didn't talk to as much drove me nuts.

[ScOULaris]

Frontier Village drives me nuts. I can't tell the difference between most of the Nopon names, so I wander aimlessly looking for NPCs. -_-

Yeah, it's annoying in that regard. But Frontier Village is still fucking awesome. Exploring that vertical tree town was one of my big "wow moments" from this game.

[Karsticles]

Yeah, it's annoying in that regard. But Frontier Village is still fucking awesome. Exploring that vertical tree town was one of my big "wow moments" from this game.

Oh, no doubt. That place is great. Really, it all would have been fine if they included a way to select an NPC to track on your minimap.

[Zornica]

I always found frontier village to be by far the easiest place to find npcs... well, after alcamoth and hidden village ofc. there is a path up to the top on which you pass by 90% of the currently active at that timeframe, without even looking for them. all of them spawn either at 6 or 18 o'clock, there are only 2 exceptions to that rule, and both spawn from the same building. (on the first floor, they spawn at 9 and 21)
I am always puzzled why people find it hard to meet certain npcs there.

A few months ago, I even translated the spawnmaps, to bad nobody seems to be using them...
http://abload.de/gallery.php?key=kFDaUQjJ
(alcamoth and frontier village included)

[Karsticles]

I always found frontier village to be by far the easiest place to find npcs... well, after alcamoth and hidden village ofc. there is a path up to the top on which you pass by 90% of the currently active at that timeframe, without even looking for them. all of them spawn either at 6 or 18 o'clock, there are only 2 exceptions to that rule, and both spawn from the same building. (on the first floor, they spawn at 9 and 21) I am always puzzled why people find it hard to meet certain npcs there. A few months ago, I even translated the spawnmaps, to bad nobody seems to be using them... http://abload.de/gallery.php?key=kFDaUQjJ (alcamoth and frontier village included)

It's like this:
You're looking for a guy named Dabidabi. That must be Floor 4. Damn it, that was Dobadoba. Maybe it was that guy on Floor 2. Crap, that was Debeda. Er, who was I looking for again? Dubidubi or something?

Yeah, you can use a map, but I like to immerse myself in the games I play. Referencing a map every 5 minutes really ruins that experience. No disrespect to your map - it's awesome and very helpful. I wish we had a list of resources in the OP.

[Zornica]

even without looking at the map, I can tell you dabidabi is the guy outside near the lake :P

[Karsticles]

Mechanics question:
If an enemy is suffering Bind, and the highest aggro target is out of range, will the enemy do nothing or attack a second highest aggro target within range?

even without looking at the map, I can tell you dabidabi is the guy outside near the lake :P

I know that too, but you don't know it when you're doing your first series of quests. Like Kuwabara says, once you do a long chain quest you tend to learn who is who. Initially, it's just a bunch of babytalk names.

[cooljeanius]

Indeed. Topple spikes are the most annoying...

Nope, Daze and Instant Death spikes are both more annoying.

[Karsticles]

Nope, Daze and Instant Death spikes are both more annoying.

I disagree.

[DragonGirl]

Aside from menu text I can actually read on my old TV, the one thing I wish Xenoblade had was a map that tracked the movements of named NPCs, not just as anonymous little dots but named the dots. It would have been awesome to bring up a map of the entire area and see where every individual was, with exclamation points next to the ones with pending quests. It would save so much time hunting down NPCs.

[Samyy]

Finally made some progress, got 2 levels, the party is now all 51 ^^. Still switching between quests, UM for perhaps another level before I go to Galahad Fortress because levelling is starting to get tedious.

Also working on the nature section of Colony 6 upgrades, didn't know I could get better crystals through that, I want me some high level agility gems >=o

[Smiles and Cries]

what does the nature section do to your gems?

I just need one ice cabbage but those things are super rare it seems

[Karsticles]

what does the nature section do to your gems? I just need one ice cabbage but those things are super rare it seems

Ice cabbage is really rare. It took me 2 hours of wandering to get it.

The nature section upgrades the gems you receive from the Ether Mines. Some of the best gems in the game can only be gotten that way.

[Smiles and Cries]

shiiiieeet... already reaching 115 hours been all over that mountain only got it once
but I want some high end gems

[olimpia84]

So what the heck am I supposed to do now? My inventory for the parts being dropped by the enemies is full and I can't pick up new stuff. I've tried using some of the materials in the Colony 6 restoration but I can only spend so much before Juju asks me for some weird new materials that I'm sure I'll get down the road.