Just finished Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and man, what a fantastic game.
I bought the game back on December but left it on hold. This summer I started playing it and I'm glad I did.
I confess that in the early stages of the game I was nearly dropping it out, because all the mechanics and the early slow pace of the gameplay and story can easily steer some people of the game. I was on the edge but somehow managed to get pass those starting hours to find a game that has one of the most complex battle system that I ever played, and yet one of the most if not the most satisfying battle system ever.
When you get the hang of blade combos, fusion combos, chain attacks and a good pair of blades, the game manages to shine in an amazing way. It's such a joy in an RPG to see that your timing and notion of everything that pops out on the screen can have a huge impact on defeating a high level boss, something that for example I found Persona 5 lacking.
Building a strategy on the final boss to give him a 2M+ chain attack damage felt damn good.
Then we have the Titans, such wonderful and huge places to explore. So far I've spent about 150 hours in the game and I'm sure that I've missed a ton, because field skills, while a cool mechanic it can also feel a bit of a shore.
When I say that the battle system pushes the game beyond good, it's because in some moments the game can be a little dull, and if not for the amazing battle system and the addiction of keeping playing it, I don't know...
For example - sidequests. Besides the blade quests, which are cool, most of the side-quests fell dull and boring to do. Talk, fetch, defeat monster, deliver item: done.
The other small grip that I had was it the narrative itself. For starts, Rex grew on me through the course of the game, but not enough, and in the end I still think he is a boring leading character. There were many other characters in the group that I always felt like would make a more cool leading character, being the notorious one Zeke.
Also regarding the narrative:
All in all, with some bumps along the way, I think Xenoblade 2 has became one of my favourite JRPG thanks to it's amazing gameplay. A huge huge battle system. Congrats Monolith.
Can't wait for the Torna DLC now.
I bought the game back on December but left it on hold. This summer I started playing it and I'm glad I did.
I confess that in the early stages of the game I was nearly dropping it out, because all the mechanics and the early slow pace of the gameplay and story can easily steer some people of the game. I was on the edge but somehow managed to get pass those starting hours to find a game that has one of the most complex battle system that I ever played, and yet one of the most if not the most satisfying battle system ever.
When you get the hang of blade combos, fusion combos, chain attacks and a good pair of blades, the game manages to shine in an amazing way. It's such a joy in an RPG to see that your timing and notion of everything that pops out on the screen can have a huge impact on defeating a high level boss, something that for example I found Persona 5 lacking.
Building a strategy on the final boss to give him a 2M+ chain attack damage felt damn good.
Then we have the Titans, such wonderful and huge places to explore. So far I've spent about 150 hours in the game and I'm sure that I've missed a ton, because field skills, while a cool mechanic it can also feel a bit of a shore.
When I say that the battle system pushes the game beyond good, it's because in some moments the game can be a little dull, and if not for the amazing battle system and the addiction of keeping playing it, I don't know...
For example - sidequests. Besides the blade quests, which are cool, most of the side-quests fell dull and boring to do. Talk, fetch, defeat monster, deliver item: done.
The other small grip that I had was it the narrative itself. For starts, Rex grew on me through the course of the game, but not enough, and in the end I still think he is a boring leading character. There were many other characters in the group that I always felt like would make a more cool leading character, being the notorious one Zeke.
Also regarding the narrative:
I was left clueless when the game made a full 360 NASA spin on me. From a fantasy story, full of gigantic walking continents, we are now sudden in a galactic space station, because, why not? I understand that this has some connection with Xenoblade 1, but still, it felt like a huge change of scenarios. Too huge if you ask me.
And I didn't really understand in the final moments, if both Mythra and Pyra lost the memories. If yes, then it's a nice touch, if not it's kind of a non-sense.
And I didn't really understand in the final moments, if both Mythra and Pyra lost the memories. If yes, then it's a nice touch, if not it's kind of a non-sense.
All in all, with some bumps along the way, I think Xenoblade 2 has became one of my favourite JRPG thanks to it's amazing gameplay. A huge huge battle system. Congrats Monolith.
Can't wait for the Torna DLC now.
