With plenty of fan support for the series thanks to Facebook and Namco Bandai campaign support websites where fans share stories and fan images all over the media. With the announcement of Tales of Xillia getting a release outside Japan I get a look at the the awaited Tales of Xillia sequel that is now released in Japan.
This blog will talk about my first impression from watching at least the first hour and a half through Chapter 1 of Tales of Xillia 2.
The game is set with a new tone and a quote for it that says, "Are you prepared to destroy this world for the sake of one girl?"
Tales of Xillia 2 follows from the events from the original game where the game introduces it's new lead protagonist Ludger Will Kresnik, who lives and works with his brother named Julius and his fat cat named Lulu. He works inside a train restaurant and has a 20 Million Gald doubt on his hands. It's not long before the game introduces it's female main character named Elle Mel Mata who is 8 years old and is on the run from a group that shot down her father and she's on a quest to find the Land of Cannon which grants any wish.
Tales of Xillia 2's new addition is dialogue choices during cutscenes where you pick 2 different opitons using the L1 or R1 buttons, most choices reflect on doing different actions or simply making dialogue choices between other characters which is something that J-RPG's haven't done before. You can get dialogue choices in skits as well so it's a nice feel that you can interact with other characters like in Tales of the World Radiant Mythology but however your main character is very silent and relies on dialogue choices that the player makes.
Along the way they will meet the original cast from the original Tales of Xillia like Jude, Milla, Alvin and a few others who will join Ludgar and Elle on their quest which is once again fan service for those who have played the original game. The character design is done this time by Daigo Okumara the designer who has worked on character designs for Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World.
According to trailers, gameplay videos and screenshots of the game, Ludgar will explore each new town and dungeon or new landmarks talking to NPC's, picking up different items and from the original Xillia you can crouch into tight areas into secret areas and also you use the Right Analog stick to look around your environment. You can also use the map to determine where you're going and where the hidden items are which is useful for exploring much easier.
When exploring around each dungeon you'll encounter random monsters where like previous entries they can be triggered by touching a monster on the field. You can also try to touch a monster to surprise them and give you a edge over them by sneaking towards otherwise loud footsteps will alert them of your presence. If you are touched from behind you be put into a disadvantage.
One of the main aspects of Xillia 2 is that Ludger has gotten himself into a 20 Million Gald debt to the recent incidents on the train. Ludger will have to earn the Gald from doing different sidequests in towns or playing the Poker minigame which will help Ludger get through his dept problems alongside spending days, weeks or months fighting monsters up to Level 200.
The battle system in Xillia 2 is called the XDR-LMBS or Cross Double Raid Linear Motion Battle System which is a combination of it's predecessor and Tales of Graces F. you take 4 characters into battle and each character has their own unique abilities known as Artes. It's predecessor used a capacity system where each Arte and physical attacks used up a set number of points and also the TP has also returned as each Arte also drains TP as well. Tales of Xillia 2 has new features added to the battle system, the ability to do quick dodges like in Tales of Graces, the abilities for you and an ally to Link Artes together and also the main character Ludger has the ability to change weapon types from Swords, and a Hammer and you'll be able to change different types of weapons and adjust to it's play style as you see fit, This called the Weapon Shift System. Another addition for Ludgar is that he can transform into a beast to dish out extreme damage to foes and also characters can perform super powerful Mystic Artes to finish off your enemies.
Characters from the first Xillia will also join your party in battle and they do have their unique abilities to help out in battle such as picking up Ludger when he's knocked down, being able to knock back enemies and follow up with a counter attack and so on.
Tales of Xillia 2 also has it's customization settings which you can change character attributes as well as giving them new skills for much later on the game. It takes place in straight forward progression system in some similarities to Final Fantasy XIII.
Tales of Xillia 2's graphics aren't to bad for a PS3 game but if I'm mistaken they are similar to Xillia 1. The character models and Arte are impressive but Ludger and his brother look very menacing when they transform. The Anime cutscenes are outstanding and the game takes a very darker tone to it's setting then other instalments in the series. You can actually see blood on the ground alongside piles of corpses during moments on the train and some characters can knock the bullets out of their bodies. The game is rated CERO: C in Japan which means in the UK I'm expecting to see it's English release with a PEGI: 16 on it. There are planned DLC and preorder customes suchas Emil's outfit for Ludger, Yuri's outfit for Jude and finally Asbel's outfit for Millia for her to do some cross dressing, alongside character outfits from Code Geass Akito The Exiled.
The soundtrack that plays during the opening is Song 4 u which is song by Ayumi Hamasaki the same female singer who has also sung Progress for Tales of Xillia 1.
With Tales of Xillia 1 that's about to make it's English release over in Europe and America I think it's a great idea to support it along side Graces F. Tales of Xillia 2 looks awesome enough that it would be silly not to localize the game for it's international release for Sony's old PS3 System. Hopefully we'll receive more games in the series and hopefully we can convince Namco Bandai to release Innocence and Hearts in English for the DS.
Written by Anthony Hayball (AQWBlaZer91)
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