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[SoraanTribal]

I'm still not convinced that wasn't Shulk. I don't know how or why he would be in this game, but it sure did seem to look like him, and it's very strange they showed him at the end of the trailer the way they did, as if it had some kind of meaning or purpose.

There's really no story reason at all why it would be Shulk, though. I think the Nopon are just in the game as the cute race - why make a new one when you can have another heropon running around saving the day? That said, the game is called Xenoblade Cross in Japan, so I'm curious if the stories will somehow link up. Not sure how it'd work, but it'd certainly be interesting.

 

[lostinblue]

Great post. I'd be interested to learn in what ballpark the polycounts of XB Wii character models were.

Zenaku gave me some figures a few months ago.

Melia with her default equipment has 2975 polygons while one of her most popular equipment sets adds it up all the way until the 3789 polygons mark.

That's in field and battle - cutscenes use slightly higher poly faces, with deeper mouths and eyelids.

Melia's [cutscene] higher poly face uses 950 polygon - not including the hair or other accessories. The main part, with the forehead, nose and mouth (and eyelids) is 816, a big step up from the 300 the lower-poly version has.

In-game character models seem to have between just under ~3000 to almost ~4000 polygons (due to equipment changes)

Cutscene models I don't know, but it should be roughly 1000 polygons extra as the improvement is mostly facial.

 

[TheBaronOfNA]

There's really no story reason at all why it would be Shulk, though. I think the Nopon are just in the game as the cute race - why make a new one when you can have another heropon running around saving the day? That said, the game is called Xenoblade Cross in Japan, so I'm curious if the stories will somehow link up. Not sure how it'd work, but it'd certainly be interesting.

Actually, with the Xenoblade ending, they could do almost everything and keeping the story connected as

Spoiler

it was a DC Crisis style reboot

 

[ShockingAlberto]

There's really no story reason at all why it would be Shulk, though. I think the Nopon are just in the game as the cute race - why make a new one when you can have another heropon running around saving the day? That said, the game is called Xenoblade Cross in Japan, so I'm curious if the stories will somehow link up. Not sure how it'd work, but it'd certainly be interesting.

I bet Shulk appears as a plot twist (actual huge Xenoblade spoilers)

Spoiler

as the God of that world and can probably help save it, but won't intervene.

 

[Gotdatmoney]

Shulk amiibo gives playable Shulk with all Monado abilities (crosses fingers)

 

[SoraanTribal]

Actually, with the Xenoblade ending, they could do almost everything and keeping the story connected as

Spoiler

it was a DC Crisis style reboot

(Xenoblade Ending Spoilers)

Well, the

Spoiler

ending of Xenoblade makes it look like it ISN'T Earth that was created at the end - it still had the remains of the Bionis on it. But in Xenoblade X, it's actually Earth with the same cities and everything. I suppose it could take place 1000s of years in the future, but then I'm not sure why Shulk would be there.

I bet Shulk appears as a plot twist (actual huge Xenoblade spoilers)

Spoiler

as the God of that world and can probably help save it, but won't intervene.

(Xenoblade Ending Spoilers)

Spoiler

But Shulk gave up his "god" powers at the end of Xenoblade. The world of that game has no gods anymore iirc - I guess Alvis would still have to exist in some form, though since he's the basis for how that universe was formed.

Or what if

Spoiler

Xenoblade X takes place in an alternate universe where Klaus/Zanza never did that experiment which destroyed the universe/created a new one. That earth would later become destroyed and they moved to another planet. Still doesn't explain the Nopons or Shulk look-alike though lol.

 

[lostinblue]

There's really no story reason at all why it would be Shulk, though. I think the Nopon are just in the game as the cute race - why make a new one when you can have another heropon running around saving the day? That said, the game is called Xenoblade Cross in Japan, so I'm curious if the stories will somehow link up. Not sure how it'd work, but it'd certainly be interesting.

I hope they still change the name for something other than adding an "X" to the end.

(unless Xenoblade Chronicles 4 gets to be called Xenoblade Chronicles XXX)

I want a subtitle.


I always felt Monolith subtitle names from the PS2/GC era were badass:

Xenosaga Episode I - Der Wille zur Macht (meaning: The Will to Power)
Xenosaga Episode II - Jenseits von Gut und Böse (meaning: Beyond Good and Evil)
Xenosaga Episode III - Also sprach Zarathustra (meaning: Thus spoke Zarathustra)

Context, those are all Friedrich Nietzsche works.


Best yet, I've felt the names for the Baten Kaitos one were pure awesome made of win:

Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean

And Baten Kaitos Origins real name, bare in mind it's a prequel:

Baten Kaitos II: Beginning of the Wings and the Heir of the Gods


Genius.

Xenoblade Chronicles <Insert Title>


If they want this series to go somewhere the Xenoblade Chronicles part has to start to be used like "The Legend of Zelda" followed by subtitle. Not X, fuck X.

I bet Shulk appears as a plot twist (actual huge Xenoblade spoilers)

Spoiler

as the God of that world and can probably help save it, but won't intervene.

Because

Spoiler

he's too busy banging Fiora

?

 

[SoraanTribal]

I would prefer a subtitle as well unless the "X"/"cross" has plot significance, but we'll have to wait and see about that. I'm bummed that it is releasing in Japan first instead of worldwide release (totally expected though) because it's going to be a long 6+ months of avoiding spoilers.

 

[-Horizon-]

Should've been XenoCross :[

 

[Shadow Hog]

hulk hogan is that you?

But I thought Dickson was Hulk Hogan!

 

[javac]

I would prefer a subtitle as well unless the "X"/"cross" has plot significance, but we'll have to wait and see about that. I'm bummed that it is releasing in Japan first instead of worldwide release (totally expected though) because it's going to be a long 6+ months of avoiding spoilers.

I've been avoiding Xenoblade spoilers since it came!

 

[TheBaronOfNA]

(Xenoblade Ending Spoilers)

Well, the

Spoiler

ending of Xenoblade makes it look like it ISN'T Earth that was created at the end - it still had the remains of the Bionis on it. But in Xenoblade X, it's actually Earth with the same cities and everything. I suppose it could take place 1000s of years in the future, but then I'm not sure why Shulk would be there.

(Xenoblade Ending Spoilers)

Spoiler

But Shulk gave up his "god" powers at the end of Xenoblade. The world of that game has no gods anymore iirc - I guess Alvis would still have to exist in some form, though since he's the basis for how that universe was formed.

Or what if

Spoiler

Xenoblade X takes place in an alternate universe where Klaus/Zanza never did that experiment which destroyed the universe/created a new one. That earth would later become destroyed and they moved to another planet. Still doesn't explain the Nopons or Shulk look-alike though lol.

I was guessing more like

Spoiler

Shulk set up athe/a world to be like earth many years after the end of the first game. Some alien race actually remembers that humans accidentaly killed the universe and they go Convenant on them. Maybe this alien race are actually anti bodies of the universe or something, keeping with the JRPG/Gnostic theme.

 

[Foxy Fox 39]

Game looks fun but man I hate the character designs.

 

[TheBaronOfNA]

Game looks fun but man I hate the character designs.

There is a girl with a bob cut, so they are fine with me...

 

[anaron]

I love Kunihiko Tanaka's art style, but I'll be the first to admit it doesn't seem to translate to 3D very well. Or at the least Monolith Soft has difficulty with it. I think I recall them talking about it back during Xenosaga 1 even?

It feels like I'm looking at a Xenosaga 1 sequel in HD and I love it.

 

[Xianghua]

looks stunning but they don't seem to want to show the character's face lol

 

[Pellegri Testament]

looks stunning but they don't seem to want to show the character's face lol

Which character's face? If you mean the "main" character then it's because you create the character so it will be different for everyone. No reason for them to focus on a premade they have when your character likely won't look the same.

 

[Easy_D]

(Xenoblade Ending Spoilers)

Well, the

Spoiler

ending of Xenoblade makes it look like it ISN'T Earth that was created at the end - it still had the remains of the Bionis on it. But in Xenoblade X, it's actually Earth with the same cities and everything. I suppose it could take place 1000s of years in the future, but then I'm not sure why Shulk would be there.

(Xenoblade Ending Spoilers)

Spoiler

But Shulk gave up his "god" powers at the end of Xenoblade. The world of that game has no gods anymore iirc - I guess Alvis would still have to exist in some form, though since he's the basis for how that universe was formed.

Or what if

Spoiler

Xenoblade X takes place in an alternate universe where Klaus/Zanza never did that experiment which destroyed the universe/created a new one. That earth would later become destroyed and they moved to another planet. Still doesn't explain the Nopons or Shulk look-alike though lol.

I'm still thinking that the end of Xenoblade

Spoiler

Recreated the old universe, but kept the world of Shulk and co intact, reformed as an actual planet and that just so happens to be the planet The ark containing Neo LA crashlands on. This would explain why some rock formations are kinda similar to what we saw in the first game

 

[Shadow Hog]

I'm expecting there's no plot relation to Xenoblade Chronicles whatsoever, that the Nopon are present because they're the Xenoblade series' Moogle equivalents, and that the flash of the Shulk-looking guy in the first reveal trailer was a custom character designed to look like him so they can say "hey guys, yeah this is related to Xenoblade".

This way, if a plot connection actually does happen, I can be surprised.

 

[Malvingt2]

odd.... this is not the same thread that I was on yesterday. A lot had changes..

 

[Easy_D]

Dynamic shadows were patched into HL2. It's not something that has to be in the game from the outset.

HL2 shadows weren't truly dynamic, Valve used some trickery, iirc.

 

[protomouse]

Zenaku gave me some figures a few months ago.

Melia with her default equipment has 2975 polygons while one of her most popular equipment sets adds it up all the way until the 3789 polygons mark.

That's in field and battle - cutscenes use slightly higher poly faces, with deeper mouths and eyelids.

Melia's [cutscene] higher poly face uses 950 polygon - not including the hair or other accessories. The main part, with the forehead, nose and mouth (and eyelids) is 816, a big step up from the 300 the lower-poly version has.

In-game character models seem to have between just under ~3000 to almost ~4000 polygons (due to equipment changes)

Cutscene models I don't know, but it should be roughly 1000 polygons extra as the improvement is mostly facial.

Thanks for that, and to Zenaku ofc. Much obliged.

 

[Easy_D]

It's a monolith rule for a Tetsuya Takahashi JRPG, more so than any other kind of JRPG.

I don't really see how Xenoblade X's character designs are worse than the ones in Xenosaga. But I guess that's opinions for ya.

 

[SoraanTribal]

I'm still thinking that the end of Xenoblade

Spoiler

Recreated the old universe, but kept the world of Shulk and co intact, reformed as an actual planet and that just so happens to be the planet The ark containing Neo LA crashlands on. This would explain why some rock formations are kinda similar to what we saw in the first game

That would actually be really interesting and could explain the Nopon.

Spoiler

We only saw a fraction of the world at the end of Xenoblade after it was re-created, so I suppose it could be set on that world. I'm not expecting that to be the case, but yeah, would be cool in a way. HD Eyrth Sea YESPLEASE.

 

[silva1991]

this is scary as hell

 

[Min0]

Yeah, I think I remember that. Tanaka is one of my favorite character designers, his art is gorgeous. Xenogears, XSaga 1, Key the Metal Idol, etc all have awesome and varied character designs. The 2D art for this is going to be great, I hope they do an art book.

The 3D faces could be better but they are a a hell of a lot better than Xenoblade's. However, I honestly I think the Xenosaga 1 3D faces look better than this game's, or they haven't improved or really changed since then at least.

Sorry but no.

 

[BGBW]

I just noticed that Monado hairclip. Boy am I slow.

 

[B.K.]

I don't have a problem with the faces.

 

[Pellegri Testament]

Ya no, even though I didn't mind the Saga 1 character designs....X makes them look pretty bad. There's no question even when it comes to the eyes.

 

[Smoothice65]

Here is for hoping that the story and gameplay will immensely compensate for the bad mediocre character design.

 

[moolamb]

Anyone else think that Neo LA would have more high-rises? I mean if you're gonna Ark your way out of Earth, you'd probably wanna house as many people as possible...

 

[Yonafunu]

I'm not too bothered by the character faces. It's not like Xenoblade's were top-notch either.

 

[anaron]

I don't have a problem with the faces.

Same. They're the furthest thing from this "horrible" hyperbole being used to describe them,


we should be so lucky to have Tanaka's INFLUENCE

 

[Shahadan]

I really don't like Space Rihanna and the Monado Clip girl.

 

[Min0]

I really don't like Space Rihanna and the Monado Clip girl.

you are crazy.

 

[Nose Master]

I just noticed that Monado hairclip. Boy am I slow.

I didn't notice it until you just mentioned it.

 

[anaron]

I really don't like Space Rihanna and the Monado Clip girl.

 

[aravuus]

you are crazy.

That's just.. Rofl

Here is for hoping that the story and gameplay will immensely compensate for the bad mediocre character design.

You don't sound very optimistic for a person with a Xenoblade avatar lol

I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm more excited about the story too now that Takahashi has said it's not gonna be a (somewhat formulaic) shounen adventure like Xenoblade was. I mean I liked it, but the Gears and Saga stories are much, much more interesting.

 

[Shahadan]

I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm more excited about the story too now that Takahashi has said it's not gonna be a (somewhat formulaic) shounen adventure like Xenoblade was. I mean I liked it, but the Gears and Saga stories are much, much more interesting.

I'd take Xenoblade's story over those any day, honestly.

 

[rjinaz]

Anyone else think that Neo LA would have more high-rises? I mean if you're gonna Ark your way out of Earth, you'd probably wanna house as many people as possible...

Well the city flies around in space. There might be certain, height restrictions because of that. I agree though, single homes like the ones present don't make much sense unless the homes were constructed after the landing and there is less people than what was anticipated.

 

[Pellegri Testament]

I'd take Xenoblade's story over those any day, honestly.

Chances are we're not getting another story like Xenoblade's this time around though. If he's made it known that he wants to go back to his roots when it comes to the story, then expect nothing less/more than god killing and religious ties for the antagonists(we already know this 2nd part is the case because of the e3 trailer).

 

[udivision]

Sorry but no.

You may be proving his point... in terms of not improving much.

 

[Shahadan]

Chances are we're not getting another story like Xenoblade's this time around though. If he's made it known that he wants to go back to his roots when it comes to the story, then expect nothing less/more than god killing and religious ties for the antagonists(we already know this 2nd part is the case because of the e3 trailer).

Yeah the E3 trailer killed all my hopes regarding story :lol:
At least it's nice to know it before playing

 

[KePoW]

Is this a mech-focused game??

I didn't think the first one was (never played it).

 

[SoraanTribal]

Is this a mech-focused game??

I didn't think the first one was (never played it).

Yes it is. Or.. should I say, your characters will have mechs they can use to explore and battle with, but I'd guess you'll be spending a lot of your time on foot for story reasons.

And no, Xenoblade Chronicles wasn't really mech-focused. They were in the story (the villains mainly), but your characters didn't control one.

 

[KePoW]

Yes it is. Or.. should I say, your characters will have mechs they can use to explore and battle with, but I'd guess you'll be spending a lot of your time on foot for story reasons.

And no, Xenoblade Chronicles wasn't really mech-focused. They were in the story (the villains mainly), but your characters didn't control one.

Thanks for the specific info.

For me that's too bad, because I hate playing as mechs.

 

[StarStabbedMoon]

Chances are we're not getting another story like Xenoblade's this time around though. If he's made it known that he wants to go back to his roots when it comes to the story, then expect nothing less/more than god killing and religious ties for the antagonists(we already know this 2nd part is the case because of the e3 trailer).

Spoiler

Given Xenoblade's story, particularly in the second half, I don't think Takahashi ever left his roots.

 

[TheMoon]

Thanks for the specific info.

For me that's too bad, because I hate playing as mechs.

You don't play "as mechs" ...you can pilot them during specific parts of the game. There is enough footage of the game out there to show you what that's like.

 

[Pellegri Testament]

Spoiler

Given Xenoblade's story, particularly in the second half, I don't think Takahashi ever left his roots.

Oh I don't think he did either, just even the final half of the game seemed to lack a little extra when it came to matching the other games.

 

[Zero²]

Wall of Text

Yeah I agree with you, I always thought Kos-mos had one of the most beautiful models of a ps2 game

Spoiler

or Maybe I just have thing for girls with blue hair? haha

I think most people just dislike this look since it was used so much in less refined JRPGs? I personally really like it, again maybe because I'm really used to anime?