foxuzamaki
Doesn't read OPs, especially not his own
Skells/Dolls were the 1st to really make me feel like i was piloting a mecha with a controller.
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Xenoblade Chronicles 2 previews
- Thread starter MomoQca
- Start date
agree they were wonderful to both ride and fly. skells and how fast you're able to run across the land made this game a joy to explore. I also loved that you could just auto run to anywhere and view the enviorment at your lieasure something I really misssed when I played Breath of the wild recently.
Celica's race was definitely originally planned to have greater importance. The artbook says that the Neilnail mechs fought only in the Time Attack missions are of Qlurian origin plus there's some concept art of a character called Neilnail with features similar to Celica's. Also there was that mention in the final chapter of the Lifehold barrier using tech from the Qlu system. Celica herself also has a lot of concept art sketches, vs the optional characters like Phog, Frye, Hope, etc who only have renders and definitely feel like they were added later as relatively low effort ways to diversify/increase content.
Phog and Frye ended up being two of my favorite characters though haha.
Be glad you didn't get to that point, because it would have been a huge letdown. You have to do tedious missions before getting to that point, and when you finally do get your Skell, you can't even fly, you can only drive one. They also break so easily, and then you have to go through the tedious process of repairing it. It didn't take long before i just used them for transport, and left them behind when i needed to battle. I'm sure there was an easier way, but by that time, i was so letdown by this game, which felt like an endless string of sidemissions. I just couldn't be arsed anymore. They really should have named this game differently, because Xenoblade was one of my favorite games, and by far my favorite RPG. It's a shame because there are so many wonderful places in the game i couldn't bring myself to visit, just because i was completely put off by the core concept, moving back and forth to NLA, lacking a sense of accomplishment. They should release some DLC for it, with the same locations and even the same characters for all i care, but with an actual story that lets you progress through it, and not with an endless string of side quests that "try" to tell a story. A prequel maybe. Save all the great work that went into the game engine and assets... i don't know. But it was a bad idea to let X ride the talicoat of the Xenoblade name. Because it's something completely different and if you're not into this type of thing, and were expecting something like the first game, it's an utter disappointment.
Next game is a fantasy RPG.
I want a redo of Xenogears/Xenosaga that gets all six episodes before X-2, but X-2 would be pretty good too.
James Scott
Banned
The issue with XCX is the way progression is handled. You're forced to do certain objectives before progressing with the main story line which doesn't feel particularly good. Especially the beginning when you're forced to explore a lot before being able to continue.
The reason I'm still excited for what Monolith is working on is that it's super ambitious and it achieves an insane amount of technical progress from one generation to the next. Movement and traversal are all around improved. Feels like 3-4 sequels ahead by the time you get the skells. The flight test will forever be one of the most memorable experiences in gaming I'll ever have. The world feels hand crafted and massive...it's just the main campaign which suffered a lot.
It is weird that a first glance XC2 looks like something that would come in between XC1 and XCX, but hopefully they're taking what they learned from XCX and applying it to the really strong first campaign.
I don't fault anyone that doesn't have much experience with Xenoblade being apprehensive. They've done a terrible job showcasing the game with this latest footage being so poorly streamed that you can barely see anything. But the first one was applauded for being one of the best JRPGs of that generation for a reason...despite looking like this:
The ugly UI likely won't be a huge issue since it's only in battles and I'm pretty sure XCX allowed extensive customization on that front and 5 months of optimization should be enough for the frame rate lest it gets pushed back.
Designs won't be changing, though. I think the art style matches the tech better than the two previous games even if the clothing for the main two isn't ideal.
I guess we'll see. Maybe it will be the first Monolith soft Xenoblade game to launch as a technical mess. Maybe the 3 or so years wasn't enough to develop the game. Hopefully not. I guess we'll have to wait to see if Nintendo can show the game off better.
The reason I'm still excited for what Monolith is working on is that it's super ambitious and it achieves an insane amount of technical progress from one generation to the next. Movement and traversal are all around improved. Feels like 3-4 sequels ahead by the time you get the skells. The flight test will forever be one of the most memorable experiences in gaming I'll ever have. The world feels hand crafted and massive...it's just the main campaign which suffered a lot.
It is weird that a first glance XC2 looks like something that would come in between XC1 and XCX, but hopefully they're taking what they learned from XCX and applying it to the really strong first campaign.
I don't fault anyone that doesn't have much experience with Xenoblade being apprehensive. They've done a terrible job showcasing the game with this latest footage being so poorly streamed that you can barely see anything. But the first one was applauded for being one of the best JRPGs of that generation for a reason...despite looking like this:
The ugly UI likely won't be a huge issue since it's only in battles and I'm pretty sure XCX allowed extensive customization on that front and 5 months of optimization should be enough for the frame rate lest it gets pushed back.
Designs won't be changing, though. I think the art style matches the tech better than the two previous games even if the clothing for the main two isn't ideal.
I guess we'll see. Maybe it will be the first Monolith soft Xenoblade game to launch as a technical mess. Maybe the 3 or so years wasn't enough to develop the game. Hopefully not. I guess we'll have to wait to see if Nintendo can show the game off better.
Crap I legit forgot that thread.
And that was just a couple of days ago lol
X-2 after that one then!
Thanks for the link! A lot of interesting stuff pointed out in there.
This game looks like it will be very good, but Nintendo is absolutely failing to sell it properly and do it justice in its appearances. What's the premise? I know that the game takes place on giant sky whales and that people in the world are connected in some way, with Blades and Drivers, but what is going on? Prior to Xenoblade X we had a clear premise, that humans escaped Earth during an alien attack and crash landed on hostile foreign planet. That sounds awesome and gives me a good sense of what to expect in the game, while not at all spoiling the core world building elements, mims/all the different alien races. I've watched everything and still don't have an idea of what is happening in the world of Xenoblade 2 and why I should care. At this point I feel like Nintendo is holding their cards to close to the chest and in doing so are making the game less appealing than it would be with better pr.
Neuromancer
Member
Me too but I never finished either one. I feel deeply ashamed.
Shit.
Finished the video and it looks like equipment still doesn't show up on characters. I'm out if that's the case. One of the best parts of the last 2 games and almost necessary in this one with how weak the character designs are. Really disappointing if that's how it ends up.
Xenoblade surprised and became one of my top 10 games of the last decade, but X was such a mess. This is not instilling much hope that they can meet the bar set by the first game.
Finished the video and it looks like equipment still doesn't show up on characters. I'm out if that's the case. One of the best parts of the last 2 games and almost necessary in this one with how weak the character designs are. Really disappointing if that's how it ends up.
Xenoblade surprised and became one of my top 10 games of the last decade, but X was such a mess. This is not instilling much hope that they can meet the bar set by the first game.
Yeah hopefully we can get an answer about the equipment soon, it's a bit of a deal breaker for me too. I really cannot stand the main character's design.
Elfforkusu
Member
It's been in every recent monolithsoft game, including the monolithsoft-adjacent BotW. So it'd be a strange omission in the final version...
(I'm more concerned by the framerate)
I'm also concerned for this, but it seems like if it were in the game we would have seen even a hint of it by now. Maybe that's what was cut out to get the game to market? Maybe there's some kind of deal with the new character designer? I don't know. I'm just very concerned.
whyamihere
Banned
I honestly couldn't imagine character design being a deal breaker if the original game was one of my favorites.
Looks like a Xenoblade hud for a Xenoblade battle system in a Xenoblade game.
If you've played one you probably already know what you're in for.
This doesn't make any sense since the character design is different from the original game characters. The characters tell the story. Unless you liked the original game for anything else but the story.
Watching this again a few more times I'm pretty content that the battle system should at least be better than the first game. They basically went back to it and took a different direction, which is okay but I wish they kept the speed of X honestly. Obviously playing it will be the best way to judge it, but I at least like how all the arts charge with the dormant blades. I can't believe they added another step to Break->Topple->Daze(now Launch) with Smash, it sort of undoes the fact that you don't have to rely on the AI simply by equipping blades with those skills. I guess it was to balance that out? They want the AI to be relied on for something? *shrugs* At least you can give them both blades with break abilities I guess, and you can manage the rest now if you need to. And every art being one or two buttons away is fantastic.
Hopefully there's at least some alternative outfits available from early on as well if there's no armor changes, X did that best with fashion armor.
Right. Especially if this really is going to have an international launch. I thought the first trailer was okay, but the second had rather poorly mixed in clips of the voice acting (in English, which is the most watched version) and that doesn't help. I don't think this really needed two long battle demos either. One of them should've gone into some of the other things you can do with NPCs, preferably the E3 demo since that looks like it was earlier on. At this point this won't reach anyone but those already interested despite the bad main character design.
Hopefully there's at least some alternative outfits available from early on as well if there's no armor changes, X did that best with fashion armor.
Right. Especially if this really is going to have an international launch. I thought the first trailer was okay, but the second had rather poorly mixed in clips of the voice acting (in English, which is the most watched version) and that doesn't help. I don't think this really needed two long battle demos either. One of them should've gone into some of the other things you can do with NPCs, preferably the E3 demo since that looks like it was earlier on. At this point this won't reach anyone but those already interested despite the bad main character design.
Almond
Member
I admit I'm a little disappointed we're not getting X-2 instead of this (because X is the game that actually needs a sequel), but I'm still super excited for a new Xeno game. This isn't Chronicles, this isn't X. It's its own unique thing.
That's pretty much how I feel about X as well.
Hey! Me too! Is it that hard to like both games? Is it that hard to judge two completely different types of games individually instead of going to back to one game?
It's not looking good, so that's why I'm leaning towards we might be getting special costumes you unlock like in older Xeno games, instead of armor that changes your appearance. Because I can't see them scrapping it after 10+ years.
Dark Cloud
Member
We'll get Amiibo that can change your characters clothing.
whyamihere
Banned
A game is a game. Unless the only thing you care about when you play Xenoblade is the story (which, why?) then I don't really understand how that could be a deal breaker if you loved the first one and this looks effectively similar.
There are plenty of games I've loved where I've disliked the character design. I don't think I've ever not purchased something I was into because I didn't like the way the characters looked.
I'm pretty nervous the release is going to be botched.
Dark Cloud
Member
It's in line with the first game.
DecoReturns
Member
More in line with the original.
ThisIsMyDogKyle
Banned
far far more in line with the original.
whyamihere
Banned
I didn't realize so many people wanted a sequel to X tbh.
Ok my bad. Must have missed/forgot that part. Which is strange since i remember details like Elma is a cat lady, Gwin was best friends with Irina's brother and Lin drives a mercedes in the games final cutscene.
Speaking of the Skells. There is a small part of me that wishes the "blades" in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 would be Iron man style mech suits with personalities rather then what we have.
Although i'm still really excited to see how the actual version of XC2 turns out.
Dark Cloud
Member
Yeah, I mentioned it earlier. I love both games and I know how XCX ended, but XC was what I was pining for more after that game.
Saying "I won't buy this game over character designs" even though the whole game itself falls in line with the original game you love seems so weird to me. I look at these characters and I don't see what's so "horrific" about them and why they're such an "abomination". They look like animeish characters. Ok so they don't have the most normal clothes, but that didn't stop me from playing FFX over their weird looking clothing.
If Tidus stopped me from playing FFX I would've missed one of my favorite games of all time.
I'll be interested to see what the storytelling is like in this one. Basically I want to know was the first game just a fluke from that perspective?
I expect very little from JRPG stories, but on that (admittedly weak) scale, I'd give the first game a 8/10 for story. Loved it, was engaged with the characters and cared about them. The basic scenario about the two titans was a fascinating premise. The opening sections establishing the main character, his town and then his quest were all on point, and the ending was wacky as shit to the point that it was enjoyable. Lost points for terrible villains and being a bit overlong, with too much shouting at the enemy scenes.
XCX, on the other hand, was a 2/10. I couldn't stand it, any of it. Couldn't stand the non-existant player character when Elma should have been the protag, could't stand Lyn and Tatsu, couldn't stand how dull your missions were, could stand how the audio mix totally fucked up your briefings... I just hated it from start to finish.
So is this going to be a return to the glory days of XC or back to XCX. I hate to say it but from what I've seen I'm not optimistic, despite having a voiced protag again.
At least I'm not bothered by the character designs, though they're not great.
I expect very little from JRPG stories, but on that (admittedly weak) scale, I'd give the first game a 8/10 for story. Loved it, was engaged with the characters and cared about them. The basic scenario about the two titans was a fascinating premise. The opening sections establishing the main character, his town and then his quest were all on point, and the ending was wacky as shit to the point that it was enjoyable. Lost points for terrible villains and being a bit overlong, with too much shouting at the enemy scenes.
XCX, on the other hand, was a 2/10. I couldn't stand it, any of it. Couldn't stand the non-existant player character when Elma should have been the protag, could't stand Lyn and Tatsu, couldn't stand how dull your missions were, could stand how the audio mix totally fucked up your briefings... I just hated it from start to finish.
So is this going to be a return to the glory days of XC or back to XCX. I hate to say it but from what I've seen I'm not optimistic, despite having a voiced protag again.
At least I'm not bothered by the character designs, though they're not great.
Almond
Member
Chronicles ended perfectly/naturally. It didn't need a sequel. X on the other hand ended with a ton of things intentionally left unanswered and teased, and a massive sequel bait ending.
X just screams "Episode 1". It was such a detailed and interesting world they set with a bunch of characters and plot points that can be deeply expanded upon. It's very unlike Monolithsoft to leave so many things blatantly unanswered like that without at least a sequel in mind.
whyamihere
Banned
I guess, not every game needs a directly related sequel? Like, just because one Tales or Final Fantasy game is a contained story, doesn't mean I don't want a spiritual sequel. And I'm down for something that capture the spirit of XC more than XCX tbh.
BakedTanooki
Member
Was there ever anything mentioned by the developer, about a possible X sequel?
I absolutely need it in my life.
Hope it will come after Chronicles 2.
I love both Xenoblade games equally, each for their own reasons.
I absolutely need it in my life.
Hope it will come after Chronicles 2.
I love both Xenoblade games equally, each for their own reasons.
Yea I don't think this game is coming out this year.
They are making a fantasy action RPG next.
Spyder_Monkey
Banned
It's gotten about the same as Odyssey and that game is coming out in two months. That's not an issue.
family_guy
Member
Mario doesn't need marketing. It sells itself. This game needs it badly.
Oh it definitely is. T_T
Mario's also been played by like half of the gaming press worldwide, whereas this is the first time I've seen any Xenoblade 2 previews at all and it doesn't look like there were many. I'd say Namco's been handling Ni No Kuni 2's marketing a fair bit better if we need a more relevant example because Xenoblade 2 was never going to be getting the same level of press as a Mario platformer. Anyone saying they've gotten anywhere near the same level of marketing hasn't been paying attention.
Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrm. The problem isn't Monolithsoft's effort. I think the game will be really good.
Game doesn't seem to have the same impact as earlier entries. I don't know if it's marketing or Monolith's fault. This does feel rushed though.
foxuzamaki
Doesn't read OPs, especially not his own
They aren't gonna drop a Mario without marketing,your gonna see it explode when it hits September and October
Same is gonna happen with XB2 to a lesser extent
foxuzamaki
Doesn't read OPs, especially not his own
It has about as much impact as the original xb
You probably only think that because we just heard about this game at the start of the year.