Gaming Xenoblade 2 - Revisited

[scionae]

Some months ago I did a post regarding Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in which I said that I didn't like the game for his bugs and combat system.

Today I'm here to tell you that I've reached level 99 and I'm in love with this release. I gave it a second chance a week ago and I just couldn't stop playing! I farmed exp, enjoyed the story, destroyed monsters and when I finally was able to understand blade combos, chains and the break combo, I was the happiest person ever.
This is truly a great game, it has some flaws, but no game is perfect. I'm really happy that I gave it a second chance, I don't regret my decision.


And yes, Vale is best blade.

 

[aofelix]

XC2 is possibly my favourite Switch game but flawed.


XC2 drew me in with regards to story, OST, battle system etc. What holds XC2 back is its crappy platforming/movement and the battle system not really taking into account real-time battle positions aka an enemy being able to hit u with his fist from 9489484 metres away or through a boulder.

Amazing game imo.

 

[DarthDub]

The game isn't fun until New Game+. The leveling down feature to farm exp should've been in day one.

 

[aofelix]

The game isn't fun until New Game+. The leveling down feature to farm exp should've been in day one.

Can you explain? Havent done a NG+

 

[DarthDub]

Can you explain? Havent done a NG+

When you go sleep at an inn you can level up your party members with bonus exp that you get from quests. New Game+ allows you to go up and DOWN levels giving you back the bonus exp. Now when you fight an enemy way higher level than you, you get exp boost from it, leveling up more quickly.

 

[MeowMeowMeow]

Some months ago I did a post regarding Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in which I said that I didn't like the game for his bugs and combat system.

Today I'm here to tell you that I've reached level 99 and I'm in love with this release. I gave it a second chance a week ago and I just couldn't stop playing! I farmed exp, enjoyed the story, destroyed monsters and when I finally was able to understand blade combos, chains and the break combo, I was the happiest person ever.
This is truly a great game, it has some flaws, but no game is perfect. I'm really happy that I gave it a second chance, I don't regret my decision.


And yes, Vale is best blade.

this, I also was very dissapointed at the begin, I do love rpg's but the fighting system and navigation was such a pain in the ass for me, but as you play further its get easier and more fun. They should have made it a bit noob friendly at the beginning.

 

[scionae]

When you go sleep at an inn you can level up your party members with bonus exp that you get from quests. New Game+ allows you to go up and DOWN levels giving you back the bonus exp. Now when you fight an enemy way higher level than you, you get exp boost from it, leveling up more quickly.

What is the use of it if my party is already lvl 99? Except from farming ability points owo

 

[MeowMeowMeow]

What is the use of it if my party is already lvl 99? Except from farming ability points owo

Iam not that far yet mate

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Some months ago I did a post regarding Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in which I said that I didn't like the game for his bugs and combat system.

Today I'm here to tell you that I've reached level 99 and I'm in love with this release. I gave it a second chance a week ago and I just couldn't stop playing! I farmed exp, enjoyed the story, destroyed monsters and when I finally was able to understand blade combos, chains and the break combo, I was the happiest person ever.
This is truly a great game, it has some flaws, but no game is perfect. I'm really happy that I gave it a second chance, I don't regret my decision.


And yes, Vale is best blade.

Glad you gave it another chance. Welcome to the group of people who like the game instead of the people who only like the first one.
(No offense to anyone though, it's supposed to be humor.)

 

[scionae]

Glad you gave it another chance. Welcome to the group of people who like the game instead of the people who only like the first one.
(No offense to anyone though, it's supposed to be humor.)

Should I buy a wii and play Xenoblade X tho?

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Should I buy a wii and play Xenoblade X tho?

Well I mean, my hope is they port it to switch and fix the small text issue, but I dunno how hopeful I should be. I mean maybe expect a announcement before the end of the year, and e3 is like almost 2 months away. But if you want I guess if you can find a wii u for cheap. Honestly I would wait and hope they port it to switch. Both of the wii games.

 

[scionae]

Well I mean, my hope is they port it to switch and fix the small text issue, but I dunno how hopeful I should be. I mean maybe expect a announcement before the end of the year, and e3 is like almost 2 months away. But if you want I guess if you can find a wii u for cheap. Honestly I would wait and hope they port it to switch. Both of the wii games.

Kay, thanks for the advice ^^
I'll wait till summer then hehe

 

[NoThisIsStupider]

Should I buy a wii and play Xenoblade X tho?

I've heard a lot of people like X, I personally absolutely hate it. In simpler terms, just because you like XC2 doesn't mean you'll like XCX. XC1 is absolutely amazing though, if you do go for a Wii U to play X, also pick up XC1 on it from the virtual console.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Kay, thanks for the advice ^^
I'll wait till summer then hehe

If you want just don't be mad if I'm wrong. Is just me hoping personally. I think with some tweaks, xenoblade chronicles X would be a good fit on switch. Honestly I stopped playing very prematurly mostly cause the insanely small text and how uneventful the online interactions was.

You can read more on my thoughts in this post i made already.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-goo...nicles-x-would-you-want-a-switch-port.489307/

And if you need to see yourself how bad the text is... microscopic... just imagine that on the tv and you sitting three feet away from it, or even on the gamepad.

 

[MidLevelCrisis]

I had a similar experience with the game as op, where I absolutely couldnt get into it, left it for a while, and then got back to finish the story. However I did not fall in love with it. I enjoyed the story, and exploring the environment, but this game has too many things that annoy me and really distract from the fun for me. I think Xeno X had different issues of the same gravitas, but in the end was a lot more enjoyable for me.

I have really mixed feelings about Xeno 2, I think 3 things really stand out to me.
1 The combat, as "deep" as it some claim it to be, for me it boils down to timers, timed button presses, and only really one optimal action sequence, (break, topple, launch, smash), sure theres some nifty animations for combos and chain attacks, and the cancel mechanic tries to keep you somewhat engaged meanwhile, but it still feels too inactive to me. I personally preferred XenoX for it's similar but more engaged combat, where you could choose to fight in a way where positioning yourself actively during the fight really made a difference, also I enjoyed destroying specific parts of monsters.
2 The blade skill-check dependant progression. I guess I was unlucky to progress through most of the game without blades that had fortitude or some other skill, so when I got halfway through a quest only to find out I can't finish it, it really gets me out of it. I also get annoyed by exploration limitation because I didn't have enough air or jump skill or whatever.
3 The overall menu and management experience was absolutely atrocious. Most of it could have been mended by not having to manually check if you have enough blades with the right skill, and the right slots to set them as active members to pass a skill-checkpoint. I do not see the point of sorting through 100 blades to find a combination to pass the check, manually set them in party slots, and then manually having to revert everything again just to jump up a flippin ladder. Seriously, it cost me 5 minutes each time, sometimes just to find out I still missed 1 skillpoint. Updates to the game have brought some small relief in some areas of the menu and management, but not enough for me.

I am happy a lot of people love the game, I am glad it exists, and I hope they keep making more, but most of all I hope they will make a xeno X2, with the world, creatures, and combat like X, but the music, voice acting, character design story cinematics like Xeno 2. I boot the game from time to time to walk around, and finish some of the blade quests, only missing 2 of them its seems, but it just doesn't have the post game allure I hoped it would have, and the combat system just isn't my cup of tea.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

1 The combat, as "deep" as it some claim it to be, for me it boils down to timers, timed button presses, and only really one optimal action sequence, (break, topple, launch, smash), sure theres some nifty animations for combos and chain attacks, and the cancel mechanic tries to keep you somewhat engaged meanwhile, but it still feels too inactive to me. I personally preferred XenoX for it's similar but more engaged combat, where you could choose to fight in a way where positioning yourself actively during the fight really made a difference, also I enjoyed destroying specific parts of monsters.
2 The blade skill-check dependant progression. I guess I was unlucky to progress through most of the game without blades that had fortitude or some other skill, so when I got halfway through a quest only to find out I can't finish it, it really gets me out of it. I also get annoyed by exploration limitation because I didn't have enough air or jump skill or whatever.
3 The overall menu and management experience was absolutely atrocious. Most of it could have been mended by not having to manually check if you have enough blades with the right skill, and the right slots to set them as active members to pass a skill-checkpoint. I do not see the point of sorting through 100 blades to find a combination to pass the check, manually set them in party slots, and then manually having to revert everything again just to jump up a flippin ladder. Seriously, it cost me 5 minutes each time, sometimes just to find out I still missed 1 skillpoint. Updates to the game have brought some small relief in some areas of the menu and management, but not enough for me.

This is a common complaint about the game which i also agree with. I think the people who still play the game know that already and just deal with it. Yes it's depressing to have explore some huge place and find you need blades with proper skill set to qualify removing a barrier or unlocking a chest or completing a quest, but it does mean that when you progress further into the game, you have something to return to. It would be better if you didn't have to equip the blades with the skill to remove the obstacle, just having them should be enough. (Of course that would mean having level 20+ salvaging mastery for everyone who has it in your party)

I think the first thing people do in the game is not focus on the main story progression and instead just do whatever they want. Sure the game is advertised as open world, but is never really like that from the start of the game. For someone who never play a MMO game in his life and only console rpg, I guess is just me and not that it's wrong but is just how I was trained.

Skill points and affinity in general are bad, not to mention the requirements to unlock specific affinity skills like "Kill this enemy 10 times" Which you would easily not remember out of over 200 types of enemies and how they appear in specific weather conditions and such is bad. "Find a unique enemy and kill it" out of just randomly expecting to find them among the already huge list of forgettable enemies and each blade unique skill like the crafting stuff. Cooking, and other alike need specific materials to cook which you can't just buy at a store, you have to find by scavenging at the glowing points on the map do indeed become a total disaster.

As for combat, I think it's a bit easier to do than the first game. Instead of relying on Shulk and his mighty Monando to do almost everything, other people are actually not dependent on the main character. You don't need to enchant their weapons to just allow them to attack the enemy, even if it's specific type like mechon, you don't need to save your arts gauge just to buff their stat to prevent them from dying every time you see a vision. Don't get me wrong, that stuff is all good in that game, it was fun and unique but it just feels more like not having to watch everyone else's back and only making decisions that benefit everyone and not benefit one while crippling the other. Also the HP potions and that some blades can heal during battle which is also useful.

Then there is poppi which needs a lot of work and time and dedication cause getting points to use on her and parts to build stuff is a lot of work and time playing tiger tiger. Least you don't need to do all that but still a thing. Last is the RNG LOOT CRATE BOXING OF CRYSTAL CORES! Let's face it. All players only want rare blades, and made it the most god awful way of getting them. Instead of actual quest that rewarded players for them, you get them by just using them and stocking up on a huge supply of common ones, and to seal the deal, you have no control over which one you gonna get. That means you cannot make which one goes to which character. Only after you get some blade override item to manually re-assign them that is apparently limited in quantity... well you get the idea.



I least hope that by the end of the updates this will all be fixed somehow, but it doesn't seem likely. If they do fix it, perhaps it would attract more people to play it.

 

[aofelix]

I agree with all the points made tbh.

I think battle wise, they really need to expand on what they've done for the next game. Making things more deliberate and tactical.

From a blade point of view, I think the common blades should not exist. Every blade should be unique.. I'm thinking more along the lines of a Pokemon level of detail for blades.

The skill checkpoints were in theory smart - aka encouraging exploration of old environments. In practice however it was indeed annoying AF. The fact that verticality (or the lack of the skill to do so) limited exploration heavily for those like myself or just cba levelling those skills, is a bit crap.





XC2 is undoubtedly a very flawed game. For everything it kind of fails at, it shows top tier characteristics in other sections. Possibly still my favourite Switch title... !

 

[grossaffe]

The skill checkpoints were in theory smart - aka encouraging exploration of old environments. In practice however it was indeed annoying AF. The fact that verticality (or the lack of the skill to do so) limited exploration heavily for those like myself or just cba levelling those skills, is a bit crap.

The thing is, you don't need skill checkpoints to accomplish the goal of having something to come back to. Having high level enemies guarding an area that can't be snuck past, or story events and side-quest events to open up further exploration of areas worked in the original Xenoblade.

 

[aofelix]

The thing is, you don't need skill checkpoints to accomplish the goal of having something to come back to. Having high level enemies guarding an area that can't be snuck past, or story events and side-quest events to open up further exploration of areas worked in the original Xenoblade.

I agree. I think high level monsters alone would have been great.

The Roc checkpoint specifically annoyed the hell out of me. I traversed for a solid 20-30 minutes trying to find alternative routes only to find its actually locked behind some story BS.

 

[Youkai]

Not sure what I am doing wrong ...

I wanted to enjoy the game and even though I hated that fighting system from the beginning I tried hard ... now I am about 5 hours in the game and would like to go on with the story but damn does this shitty fighting system annoy me -.- why the hell do auto attack instead of manual and why to I only it one opponent when two or more are.basically at the same place ? damn I have a very big sword ... and targeting is bad too, especially on the field with lots of possible opponents my character sometimes doesn't do anything till I notice that the wrong monster us targeted -.-

just died like 10 times from monsters 5 level below me, what can I do except for wait till the skills are charged and use them?



another thing would be that this game is the first rpg ever where you can only have two equupments oO wtf?

And the skill system seems bugged too, one skill from that girl blade says i need to find new areas and even after registering several areas it says 0/12

and all those chests I can not open


Now I am stuck at one point, I need to get stuff for the guy to build that artifacial sword or whatever but either I buy (no money) or dive (no capsules and no money to buy them) for them so yeah what do I do withouth money for either ? can't go on with the story and the monsters in front of town kill me all the time no matter how weak they are .... somehow out of the blue I get 3k dmg at ones some times and thats it for me with my 1k health