Xenoblade Chronicles 2

ShadowHearth

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Played a good chunk of this today.

It takes a long time to get going but once it does it's excellent. The combat is still excellent and while it's quite complicated this game does a lot better at explaining how the systems work.... even if it's still handled in a clunky manner.

If thats their "better explaining", then first one was pretty much "**** you, thats why", here is a game, go figure this stuff out.
I am around 7h in and as soon I figure something out, they throw more crap and more different stuff to learn. Combat system for me is still "I have no clue what I am doing".
Still not far in enough, but As I got a healer, I tried figuring how to properly manage combat, then they take away healer and give tank and it went bananas again for me. Looks like massive amount of energy needed to swap blades too.
Another of my gripes is, how world enemies spaced out in the world. I had an exact situation of Wow burning crusade reaver silent bum love countless times. Oh look, I can kill those guys, they are level 10, mid fight a massive bird level 78 lands on my jewels and stomps me in to the ground...

Dont even start on second driver character that you get in group. His voice and constant spaming of on phrase during combat just makes me want to kill puppies. Add to the list "we will defeat them with friendship". My misses next to me was reading a book and just looked at me when that phrase poped up. I would be less embarrassed if she caught me at my pc with pants down doing you know what.

There moght be still a good game underneath, but god, I am too old for this crap and jrpgs should not voice acted. Or this one just dials it up to 11 in cringiness.

Retr0gamer

Xenoblade definitely isn't for everyone!

Im kind on disappointed with how they dialled up the anime with thus game. The first xenoblade was a fantastic hard sci fi story that was surprisingly mature while this.... has you defeating enemies with the power of friendship.

X was garbage in the writing stakes but I just loved the freedom that game gave you.

sligeach

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 debuted at number 16 in the Individual Formats UK chart this week. And number 19 in the All Formats chart.

TitianGerm

sligeach wrote: »

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 debuted at number 16 in the Individual Formats UK chart this week. And number 19 in the All Formats chart.

Probably a place or two higher because of the Argos price error!!

Grassey

Found this handy for explaining the combat system clearly. Seems simple(r) now!!

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xenoblade-chronicles-2-combat-beginners-guide/1100-6455339/

CiDeRmAn

I played it for a time last night.
Felt like a film I have only marginal control over, perhaps that's only early game stuff.
Sure is purdy though!

MilesMorales1

It's not that fun yet, but I'm only 53 minutes in, so I'll give it more time before writing it off.

Retr0gamer

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

I played it for a time last night.
Felt like a film I have only marginal control over, perhaps that's only early game stuff.
Sure is purdy though!

Takes a long time before the game opens up. But when it does you might want more hand holding !

Retr0gamer

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

It's not that fun yet, but I'm only 53 minutes in, so I'll give it more time before writing it off.

Combat only gets good when you have a full party and the areas become non linear. It's a very slow start.

Grassey

CiDeRmAn wrote:

I played it for a time last night. Felt like a film I have only marginal control over, perhaps that's only early game stuff. Sure is purdy though!

Once you get past chapter 2 it's more action, less movie

ShadowHearth

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Takes a long time before the game opens up. But when it does you might want more hand holding !

So it took me now about 10h to get to the point where I have fully functianal 3 member party. That is a long freaking intro.

World of advice to anyone: dont bother doing anything outside of main quest before you get to the point of all 3 members finally in one place.

I finally getting basic grip of combat, and its hectic. I really miss good old turn based jrpgs, where you had time to think. I guess it all have to be more actiony now days.

ERG89

Digital Foundry praise the game itself but not the performance. Managed to snag a copy in Argos Friday to play it over the Christmas....but this game looks like it could have done with some more time in development.

Grassey

ShadowHearth wrote:

I finally getting basic grip of combat, and its hectic. I really miss good old turn based jrpgs, where you had time to think. I guess it all have to be more actiony now days.

I'm finding its not too bad now that I understand it. Ignore the other characters until they flash up for a combo. It's all grand....

Just found out how to disable rumble. Now the game is much more enjoyable!

Sephiroth_dude

Sold out on amazon, 4-6 weeks wait.

MilesMorales1

I think this is growing on me. 3 hours and 34 minutes later.

CastorTroy

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

Sold out on amazon, 4-6 weeks wait.

€49.99 in Smyths if you're looking

ShadowHearth

Grassey wrote: »

I'm finding its not too bad now that I understand it. Ignore the other characters until they flash up for a combo. It's all grand....

Just found out how to disable rumble. Now the game is much more enjoyable!

Damn, I need to do that too. Switch sounds like it's Ford escort from 87, which has more rust then original paint.

I am getting it to combat now and learned how to pull those combos.
Though as I starting getting in to damn game, it finds a way for me just go: thats bull****!!! Most of it to do with that monster level placment.
We all know how long it takes to kill a mob... simple mpb can be pretty much a damn boss. So my party is level 17-18 and I picked a fight with a level 18 bird. Took me ages to chip it down to 3/4. Then another bird level 22 landed on me out of no where and it went all tits up. So all that tome me trying to kill a simple enemy went to drain and my progress was wiped in seconds. Really got pissed off now.

Grassey

Aye, sounds like that ad from a while back. "what noise does ( mammy's car ) daddy's switch make? Brr brrrr buzz buzz brrrrrrrrrrr brrrrrrrrrrr brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!" as it launches itself from your hand as you complete some inadvertent combo/chain button smashy thing

CiDeRmAn

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

I think this is growing on me. 3 hours and 34 minutes later.

Might want to get that checked out.

super_furry

Going to start today. Looks like the Japanese voices with sub-titles is the way to go?

Retr0gamer

super_furry wrote: »

Going to start today. Looks like the Japanese voices with sub-titles is the way to go?

I've no problem with the English dub. It's a bit weird at first but I'm enjoying it. Also Nia's welsh accent is adorable, I've even heard her say 'aye up' a few times. I love all the Scottish and welsh accents throughout, the American accents are the ones that stand out and are the most annoying.

Banjo

Is "aye up" not a geordie thing?
You know what wor geordie lasses be like!

ShadowHearth

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I've no problem with the English dub. It's a bit weird at first but I'm enjoying it. Also Nia's welsh accent is adorable, I've even heard her say 'aye up' a few times. I love all the Scottish and welsh accents throughout, the American accents are the ones that stand out and are the most annoying.

I kind of learned to live with english dub now. Its still in my opinion very miss matched accents for jrpg, and thats coming from somone who just loves ladies who have Scottish accent. :pac:

Tora though... I want to beat him with a blunt object. Nanananananananananananana!


I have to admit, I have some sort of hate/love relationship with this game. There are so many things that annoy me, even things that made me already turn off switch, but I still come back to it.

MilesMorales1

Banjo wrote: »

Is "aye up" not a geordie thing?
You know what wor geordie lasses be like!

It's actually ey up, not aye up. You goddamn heathens.

All I want to know is how overly complicated is the game-play / combat?
Struggling to find any video that explains it well.

Grassey

M!Ck^ wrote: »

All I want to know is how overly complicated is the game-play / combat?
Struggling to find any video that explains it well.

Not very once it's explained. In fact I'd go so far as to say it's pretty simple and elegant. See my post a little further back that has a link to the combat explained.


I hadn't realised how catchy the music is, I've been humming the town tune for Torigoth all morning at my desk.

Retr0gamer

Mitsuda is a genius. So glad he is back doing the soundtrack and not Mitsuda.

As for how complicated it is, I don't find the combat as complicated as some people. By the time you need to understand it you will have learned it and all you need to know is levels really matter. Never go near a monster 5 + levels higher than you. There's a lot less going on in this game than previous since you only have 3 attacks to choose from 4 rather than a whole plethora of attacks that are separately levelled up. Still you can completely change your attack load out by switching blades... or drivers. Cant remember what it's called.

It's all the sub systems that surround it. Stuff like the town building. They aren't complex but there's a lot of them and you tend to forget they exist sometimes.

Saruhashi

"Think you can take me?"

"Don't forget me."

"Yer done!"

...

"Think you can take me?"

"Don't forget me."

"Yer done!"

...

"Think you ca-

Banjo

There was a huge discussion on reddit around the meaning of "don't forget me" because the emphasis on the words makes it sound like they are about to die and it's a plaintive "don't *forget* me!" but the timing suggests it's more of a surprise attack - "don't forget *me*!".
The conclusion was turn it off either way

ShadowHearth

Saruhashi wrote: »

"Think you can take me?"

"Don't forget me."

"Yer done!"

...

"Think you can take me?"

"Don't forget me."

"Yer done!"

...

"Think you ca-

I raise you with:

"Nanananananananaannanaananananananan"