Essentially, it feels like an additional adventure that's set in the same world that fans have come to adore. Players now control the near-silent Ludger Will Kresnik throughout the journey, who travels with many of the loveable cast from the previous release, with a few fresh faces thrown in. The new affinity system between characters is probably one of the best additions found in the sequel, as it allows you to form deeper bonds of friendship, with personal stories being unlocked bit by bit. While not directly related to the main plot, the character specific side quests provide some of the best narrative in the entire game. Even outside of these quests, the highly developed cast make the typically grand adventure all the more gratifying. Much like the colourful characters, the combat system is a true gem. #TALES OF XILLIA 2 AFFINITY SERIES#Ī combination of fighting genre mechanics and extensive RPG elements is where the series has always excelled, and this release only improves on the formula. Granted, it’s a fairly difficult system to get the hang of, especially if you didn't play the first title, but it's one of the most rewarding that we've come across in a long while. The bare bones concept of combat is to balance offensive and defensive abilities while managing action points, and since fights take place in real time, this is done on the fly by either using standard attacks or Artes to go on the offensive, then switching to more defensive options like sidestepping and blocking while you regenerate your action points. As complicated as this gets, Ludger and his friends are at least slowly introduced to the fighting mechanics, which should give you enough time and experience to get a good grip on things. However, as hinted, it's highly recommended that you have some experience with the first title before diving into this hefty JRPG, as the often complex character progression and equipment systems will seem much easier to wrap your head around if you've already journeyed with prior protagonists Milla and Jude. The brief tutorials and story recaps attempt to introduce each new concept or plot point, but considering how fast and frequently these are thrown at you early on, it can be a difficult amount of information to retain.īut while combat and player statistics may prove to be either confusing or familiar, story progression is handled in a fairly unique and innovative way, and centres around the rather mundane subject of debt. Early on, Ludger is slapped with a mysterious and massive debt, which limits his ability to use the rail roads to get around, instead forcing him to perform story and side quests in order to unlock new areas. It's a great way to steadily make your way through the vast amount of content, while also providing a good, simple, and rewarding sense of progression. Oddly enough, the developer has also found a way to integrate cats into your quest. Finding felines throughout the world grants our heroes the ability to send them on brief quests to find items. Ludger's cat Rollo will also follow you just about everywhere, offering its sassy attitude at regular intervals. Fans of the original will also notice that Ivar is back with his wild puns and goofy personality, and these minor comedic moments help ease the mood in some of the narrative's darker situations. You can even hand a controller over to your real pet cat if you wanted, as co-operative play with up to four local friends is possible, but much like the many other features in this title, it’s a bit overly complex.
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