A Nintendo community
by the fans!
           
  Forum main
 + 
Xeno-Shame
Editorial by 
(Editor)
January 25, 2014, 22:29
 
Hail to thee, O Xenoblade!
The game we all hold dear
For thou art full of countless quests
And treasures, hopes and cheer

A game we all saw to the end
The story now complete
We sing your praises far and wide
You truly are elite.


Wait, did I say we have all beaten the game? *cough*
Well, I did pour around thirty hours into it. That's about the length of an average Zelda game, so I definitely got my money's worth, right? RIGHT?

The truth is, I love Xenoblade. I was one of the people who imported the game from Europe back before the rainfall operated on it, officially birthing it from Gamestop's North American womb.
Heck, I even possibly gave North America its first Reyn Time reference in the form of comic GOLD. A reference I knew would fall on deaf ears, yet one that was important to all of humanity.

GOLD, I tells ya!

Yes, I loved Xenoblade so much that I even championed it on the 22nd episode of the Negative World Podcast. I had nothing but wonderful things to say about the game. The huge, exploration-heavy Japanese RPG. The wonder of wonders. The miracle of miracles!

This is where the game is kept in my house.

Unfortunately, not long after my stellar performance on the Podcast, Shulk and company came across a humongous, vertical forest city populated by little bouncy anime mascots. That's when the sheer enormity of the game made my mind snap. That was when the Dark Times began. THAT was when I stopped playing Xenoblade Chronicles.

This photo was taken the exact instant I stopped playing.

Over the time that followed, I have often been reminded of my failure to continue the game. Due to this failure, I have secretly hoped that Monolith Soft's upcoming Wii U game, “X” isn't a direct sequel to Xenoblade! How awful is that?
Similarly, if you were to take a look at my 3DS Puzzle Swap collection, you will notice that the Xenoblade Puzzle hasn't been given much love. Yes, I gave more attention to the Concentration Training puzzle, and I have never touched that game in my life.

I still ended up with more pieces than I had hoped for. Seen here, with Prawn Mario.

This is my cry for help. A few days ago I attempted the impossible: To return to a giant JRPG after a two year respite. I now have no clue how the fighting mechanics work, though I once recall having mastery over all of its intricacies. Now I simply mash the buttons and hope for success. From mastery to mashery.

I must admit, I forgot some other things about the game...

What have I done? Has the sheer immensity of this game been its downfall in my eyes? That same immensity that once had me shouting from the rooftops?
I yearn to play this game again, and I'm willing to bet there are a few others in the same boat. I dare not start the game anew since I am still quite familiar with the story, and I don't have the time to devote to retreading old ground. I simply require a refresher course on the game's battle mechanics. I am ready for that course!

Who shall join me?

I pledge to beat you, Xenoblade!
I shall right an awful wrong
Two years of ignoring you
Is simply far too long.

I shall give your rightful due
This is an honest vow
Never before has it been
Such Reyn time as is now.


URL to share (right click and copy)
01/25/14, 22:29   Edited:  01/25/14, 22:28
 
Why not sign up for a (free) account?
 
@r_hjort

Yeah... in my experience with the game, there was only a handful of instances when gems wouldn't help me out - and it was literally one maybe two levels that would make all the difference in your overall defence/attack ability.

Also, the gem system needed work - it was complicated and took a while to understand the whole picture on how to use gems more effectively for each party member. Add to the fact that the game was seriously missing a "Best equip" option was like a double edged sword: Do I go with the most powerful weapon? Or do I step it back two levels and use the weapon with two extra slots?

Serious playing time is put into preparing your party and organizing - some players here who just want to finish the game may become frustrated and overwelmed.

There are definitly many different ways in playing this game ....


Posted by 
 on: 01/26/14, 19:42
@Smerd
Not sure if the gem system itself needs work (even though there is obviously room for improvement) as much as the way it's presented and explained. I suppose that goes for everything in the game, since every little thing is a part of one system that is connected to all the other systems in some way; It can feel like rocket science before you see how it's all connected, and as you say, anyone who doesn't want to learn the ins and outs of the game and rather would see the end credits is going to have problems from time to time. I love that there are no best equip options, though. I think that's a testament to how deep the game is, that what is best for you at the moment depends on your play style as much as the opponents' strength and abilities.

Posted by 
 on: 01/26/14, 21:05
Maybe it's time I start playing Xenoblade. I bought it on release, but never actually even opened it.

Posted by 
 on: 01/26/14, 22:01
I'm not sure this game was really intended for 100% completion. I think the large variety of sidequests, the huge Collectopedia, and the long list of achievements are to allow many options on how to gain levels, skills, equipment, and items. It's impossible to do everything in one playthrough anyway since a few sidequests have a choice between one outcome or another. Plus, the limited inventory means that you can not have one of each piece of equipment and item, and some items and quests are missable entirely. The New Game Plus doesn't even let you keep all your stuff. I'm not going to say it's a flaw because it works well for normal playthroughs, providing variety for exploring and getting stronger.

@chrisbg99 I completed it. I got it at launch and it was about the only game I played for a few months.

Posted by 
 on: 01/26/14, 23:14   Edited:  01/26/14, 23:15
ploot said:
Does anybody know a good place to brush up on the battle system?

Also, who else is in the same boat?

Even when I dumped tons of hours into it, I still felt like I was mashing most of the time. If I can find a tutorial, I'd be up for re-tackling this game with you wayward souls.

Posted by 
 on: 01/27/14, 03:30
@rebonack
Join usssssssssss!

I spent some time running around, killing lower level creatures until I reacquainted myself with the battle system. I'm back on the warpath!
I've now made it to Eryth Sea. Man, this game never fails to impress! I just wish it was in HD. The game deserves to be!

@Deerock69
Get back to it!! You can do itttttttt!

Posted by 
 on: 01/27/14, 03:35   Edited:  01/27/14, 03:36
@rebonack



Posted by 
 on: 01/27/14, 03:36
I'm going to start it over tonight. I just recently jumped back in to about a three month hiatus on Shin Megami Tensei IV, and the reason I stopped (basically felt like I had played my way into a dead-end, DREADING the thought of starting over), magically melted away as I journeyed forth. THAT kind of hiatus feels like it was WORTH it! I'll happily start this one over, though, just to get re-acquainted with the characters.

PARTY ON!

Posted by 
 on: 01/27/14, 03:47
Been wanting to jump on it today but instead I did some packing and worked on the podcast. New episode should release tonight... I think.

Posted by 
 on: 01/27/14, 03:58
Xenoblade is my next time-suck, but I'm deep in the middle of a huge game right now...grrrr...

Posted by 
 on: 01/27/14, 16:42
@ludist210

Which one?

Posted by 
 on: 01/27/14, 21:03
@DrFinkelstein

Star Ocean: The Last Hope International. I'm going for the Platinum trophy because a lot of people said it's impossible, so I'm doing it to prove it's not that bad...and wow, it's hard, but it's do-able. The hardest part (all 900 battle trophies) is the time suck, and this is the playthrough that's going to take me the longest. But I'm about 75% done with them in this playthrough (593/822 that I can earn in this go, and I'll need to get 78 more with Faize in my subsequent playthrough), but the rest of them could take a good chunk of time...especially Edge and Arumat's. Each need to kill 30,000 enemies minimum.

So yeah, time suck. I'm over 150 hours in, and I've only been playing...two months? I've technically beat the game, but I've got a lot left to do.

Posted by 
 on: 01/27/14, 21:17   Edited:  01/28/14, 00:03
@ludist210 Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, "Is this really worth it?"

Posted by 
 on: 01/27/14, 21:31
@Mop it up

Yeah I have. But I'm actually enjoying the grind, so...if I get bored with it, I'll put it down for a while.

Posted by 
 on: 01/27/14, 21:32   Edited:  01/27/14, 21:32
@ludist210
Xenoblade is the same wat. You play it for a month solid and then will probably take a break or two down the line for the rest of the playthrough.

Posted by 
 on: 01/27/14, 23:34
@Smerd

..Why would the biggest RPG on the Wii NOT have a Beastiary? That, haha, that makes no sense.

DrFinkelstein said:
@Mr_Mustache

Sooo much goodness coming your way.

Its been WELL over a year since I've played it. Period.

Posted by 
 on: 01/28/14, 03:22   Edited:  01/28/14, 03:24
Mr_Mustache said:
@Smerd

..Why would the biggest RPG on the Wii NOT have a Beastiary? That, haha, that makes no sense.


The developers did comment that that is what they wanted to put in and regret it now but I think time restraints prevented them from doing so...
If they keep their word - the Wii U sequel will have one.

Posted by 
 on: 01/28/14, 05:35
@Smerd

Its just weird, and seems almost like an oversight. Tales of Symphonia and Arc Rise Fantastia had EXTENSIVE beastiaries (PACKED with info), not to mention Dokapon Kingdom!! Its like a beautiful million dollar car not having Air Conditioning!

Posted by 
 on: 01/28/14, 22:34
I am now busy exploring the Eryth Sea and doing sidequests given to me by High Entia. They seem to be timed, so I need to focus on these before continuing the story. My only problem is, in order to explore properly I need to swim everywhere... And that's frickin' slooowwwwww.

The absence of a beastiary in this game IS very, very strange.

Posted by 
 on: 01/28/14, 22:55
@ploot
That Area is one of my favorites in the game but having to swim everywhere is really boring. I don't even think swimming is slower than walking, it just that nothing changes when you are swimming so you look like you are barely moving.

Posted by 
 on: 01/29/14, 01:52
  Forum main
 +