So far Xillia 2 sounds like a great deal, but sadly the title is hamstrung by two poor development decisions. The false choices even have their place in the game, underlining poor Ludger's lack of power in the face of the massive forces conspiring against him. Most of the choices don't have far-reaching consequences and some of them are the traditional JRPG false choices in which events will run their course no matter what you say, but it's a good start for a company that has traditionally had completely linear storylines. The results of these choices alter everything from the direction of a conversation to character relationships to the game's ending. The most advertised new feature in Xillia is Ludger's ability to make dialogue and storyline choices throughout the game. He's almost ludicrously overpowered against ordinary foes, but he'll still have a tough time against bosses on the game's higher difficulty levels. Playing as Ludger gives you more combat choices than ever before, as he can switch between three weapon sets and has a powerful transformation ability that can wipe out all but the most daunting foes. NPC party members have slightly improved AI, though they're still prone to poor choices like repeatedly using an element against which a foe is strong. When you link up with a partner on the battlefield, you can choose how closely they cling to you, allowing you to link with healers without sacrificing their ability to heal the entire party. Weaker original cast members have been given powerful new abilities, and the character link battle system has been improved. There are various improvements to the game's systems, as well. This extended cast provides much needed comic relief at points, but also learns some hard lessons about idealism versus reality. Although Ludger and Elle are new characters, they merge naturally into the existing cast, and each veteran character has a series of side stories that provide them with satisfying character development. Older cast members are now central geopolitical figures, while the younger ones are discovering their new passions in life. Set a year after the world-changing events of the first game, the veterans on the cast have grown up and are undertaking new challenges. Xillia veterans will find a lot to like about this sequel, though. Without having played Tales of Xillia, you'll be confused by the convoluted history behind current events and blind to the emotional nuance behind your party members' interactions. Sure, there's a Xillia Encyclopedia included, but it's better as a refresher for veterans than a reference for newcomers. To experience the story as intended, you'll need the kind of knowledge of the game's world and characters that can only come from experiencing the first game. Tales of Xillia 2 isn't recommended unless you've already played Tales of Xillia. If this sounds compelling to those of you who normally prefer, say, the Shin Megami Tensei series to Tales, I've got bad news. His tale is well-written and emotionally harrowing, not at all what one would expect from a Tales game but absolutely worth experiencing. Along with the cast of Tales of Xillia and a mysterious little girl named Elle who is on a quest to find her missing father, Ludger travels down an increasingly horrifying rabbit hole in which he must destroy other worlds in order to save his own. He was supposed to be shoveling gruel at a train station cafeteria, but instead he stumbles into a hijacking, discovers that he's inherited a family curse, is blown up, and wakes up saddled with a gigantic debt for his medical treatment. Ludger Kresnik is having an unusually awful first day at work. How else to describe the story of a poor yutz who has inherited world-destroying powers and is repeatedly blackmailed into performing unspeakable acts in order to keep his skin and his family intact? This game goes to some very dark places, particularly for a sequel to a title with a fairly standard power-of-friendship JRPG storyline. Did you think you knew the Tales series? It's a string of colorful anime-style action RPGs with wholesome themes like loyalty, friendship, and overcoming prejudice, right? Well, here comes Tales of Xillia 2, a game whose primary theme appears to be, “life's a bitch”.
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