@DrFinkelsteinCareful! You're not far from one of those places where the game doesn't let you go back and do side quests you left incomplete. I was working on my second play through yesterday (new game plus, so it's much faster).

@VickiL

Explain further if you would... like I can NEVER go back and do sidequests? I'm guessing then maybe the landscape of the world changes or circumstances or something. If I just secured the first "base" from that one mechonis, and opened like the next gate, how close am I to this moment you speak of? So you recommend I go back and do side quests if I want? This doesn't include Colony 9 stuff right?

@DrFinkelstein Some areas get cut off because of plot reasons. I think Colony 9 stuff is almost always safe, because it has Hometown Protection. You may notice that some side quests have a little clock next to them. You already passed one area where side quests were cut off (that is, if you went back to see Juju and started restoring Colony 6; after you move everyone from the camp, unfinished quests from the camp are no longer available). If the side quests are important to you, then yeah, you might want to go back. But be warned! I did a lot of side quests, and my game ended up taking 140+ hours to beat! Even still, you can't do all the quests in one play-through. Sometimes you have to choose between helping person A or person B.

I think the next cut-off place you get is at the end of Mechonis Field. I'm not sure if people are talking about that place yet, but it's relatively soon. Quests with a little clock may become uncompleteable, in certain areas, for plot-related reasons. Quests without a clock are safe.

@VickiL

Ah, okay. I didn't know how the clock signified anything. I appreciate the heads up. Before moving forth I'll glance at the list and see what I have going on. I haven't focused on sidequests in a while... so there should be some stacked up.

I didn't know what the clock meant either. But I'm not hell bent on side quest completion anyway (except maybe Colony 6...).

Reached the second form of the final boss, and he's impossible to beat at my current level. I had a hard enough time scraping by to get to him anyways. And the game won't let me save anymore.

Well, that's that. I'm youtubing the final boss and ending. I just can't fucking grind anymore at this point, I'm at level 77 for christ sake. time to move on to The Last Story. It's a shame Xenoblade had to end like this but I still regard it quite highly, excellent game.

@anon_mastermind

What's your team going into it?

Shulk, Sharla and either Reyn or Riki. I'm thinking Riki would be more useful, he's able to do some healing as well.

The story in this game has so many twists and turns, and comes together beautifully at the end. Truly amazing. Every character is well-developed, likeable and plays an impact in the story. Monolithsoft did such a great job with this one, can't wait to hear about their Wii U project.

@anon_mastermind So, did you watch the end online, or did you beat it? That second form of the last boss...I think I fought it about a dozen times before I got the necessary magical mix of luck and brute force. Can't remember my team, unfortunately.

No, I just watched the ending online. I don't have the free time to grind and redo all of the final sequence.

Yeah, there's definitely a difficulty spike at the end of the game, the last few bosses increase in level quickly. I was prepared for it as I did a lot of side stuff and was sufficiently leveled, but if someone has been playing mostly the story then they'll have a tough time of it. Level 77 is especially tough, the boss is 85 which means that you'd have a tough time even landing blows. That's the problem I have with the game's level mechanics, a few levels make too much of a difference.

Yeah, I guess the developers expected you to at least complete half of the side-quests, or more. I probably only completed a handful throughout the whole game. I didn't have maxed out arts either, for most of them.

@anon_mastermind I never found a lot of the books required to max out the arts, but I was a decently high level from side quests. But I don't have a life, so dropping 145 hours into one game isn't a problem. Still, I was below level 85, and in those last couple boss fights I was so frustrated there were tears in my eyes. I agree that just a couple levels makes way too much difference in this game.

I'e had a lot of time to play this game, particularly because yesterday I've been bed-ridden with horrible back spasms. Yay.....

Anyway, I'm now at the Fallen Arm looking for my friends.

THe story has been interesting indeed... I'm liking this new location too so far. I did a lot of the quests and I've gone a long way with helping Colony 6.

With my characters all around level 55, it seems I still have a ways to go eh?

Do things continue to get better and better? Is this the part that now changes which quests I can still complete?

Any general tips going forth?

You're getting close to more places being locked out, for reasons that should be increasingly obvious to you. I think Mechonis Field is next, after Fallen Arm, but it's been a few months now. Someone has a list of the cut-offs on GameFaqs, but it's got spoilers in it. Only go if you're more interested in doing all you can than being surprised by the story. And, oh boy, are there still some big spoilers to be had, even if you're nearly 3/4 through.

Just keep having fun!

@VickiL

Level 57 on most now. About to head over to the second digit and I presume progress the story. I might look more into some side quests though. I certainly haven't fully explored this area yet though.

Damn it's good to have Fiora back. I've been using her in my team along with Shulk as main and Dunban as assist.

Works well thus far.

I'm trying to help colony 6 but to make the housing the kid tells me I need two things... and then tells me the area the first is in and says to ask others about the second. Well I asked everyone in colony 6, and no one said anything about where to find the other one.

Ug.

Yeah, the in-game ways of finding out where stuff is located is a real pain. What is the item?

I forget. Silver steel or something? Apparently I have none of it and need 2.