Figured my progress report on the game was kinda due, after staying quiet on it for like... 3 days? I think?
Regardless, beat chapter 36 so far.
Good news: The overall pacing of the second half of the game is much improved from PXZ1's. OVERALL, at least.
Bad news: Marvel Land...
Represents the overall problem with PXZ map design in general, which is making SRW-size maps for characters with FE-size movement and, in some cases, impassable terrain. (In SRW like 90% of units can fly, making terrain only relevant for combative purposes, not traversal.) Make no mistake, the VAST majority of PXZ2's maps are much improved. But there's moments where it feels like the whole game originally intended for its units to have like, 2 whole spaces of movement more. Across everyone. There's chests every once in a while that I have to force myself to get to, ignoring murdering absolutely everything on the map immediately for the sake of grabbing the last remaining trinket. Some scenarios are set up where there's traps up ahead that you'll never reach because all the enemies come to you anyways, or they're set off around the perimeter of the map but not at the actual battle zone.
I can say, without a doubt, that maps that have you moving your group from one end of the map to the other tend to be the universal "problem child" maps in the series. Because of your 4-space movement units who move slow as molasses and don't have routes to the objective designed for them!
...Regardless, the game has a sense of build-up that the first game never had, which I REALLY appreciate. Can't wait to see what happens next... although... [plot spoilers]
Regardless, beat chapter 36 so far.
Good news: The overall pacing of the second half of the game is much improved from PXZ1's. OVERALL, at least.
Bad news: Marvel Land...
Both of them.
I can say, without a doubt, that maps that have you moving your group from one end of the map to the other tend to be the universal "problem child" maps in the series. Because of your 4-space movement units who move slow as molasses and don't have routes to the objective designed for them!
...Regardless, the game has a sense of build-up that the first game never had, which I REALLY appreciate. Can't wait to see what happens next... although... [plot spoilers]
Since Team Shinra has their hands on the Golden Seed now, what's stopping them from abusing all this unlimited MacGuffin power and just getting it unsealed by Valkyrie and Otohime, and just wishing the whole problem away? Is that explained soon? Because that's going to be THE sticking point moving forward, unless it gets resolved. And fast. Only thing I can think of is that Kamuz or someone is stalking them the whole time and just waiting for the team to unseal it for them, only to swoop in and swipe it at the last moment.