The sequel also retains the battle system I loved so much in Tales of Xillia, with a couple minor additions. If I have to hear, “Mutton! Fresh Mutton!” one more time. Even some of the sounds are ripped right from the original. The environments were never really that interesting to begin with, so adding a little something extra would’ve gone a long way. It makes sense considering Xillia 2 takes place in the same world, but it would’ve been nice to see more original content. They’re not even built differently, but completely re-used. Disappointingly, about 80% of the game takes place in areas already present in the original game. Throughout Xillia 2 you’ll travel all over Rieze Maxia and Elympios, again. Maybe that could’ve been fixed if Ludger talked more.Īlong with a cast of returning characters, the locations make a return as well. Ludger and Elle just aren’t as interesting or likable as the rest of the cast. While I loved catching up with everyone, it still was a little disappointing not meeting any more new characters. Each character is interesting in their own right and in Xillia 2 you can explore their stories with plenty of side-quests that are specific to each character. Jude is trying to figure out Spyrite technology, Rowen is now working for Gaius as Prime Minister for Reize Maxia, hoping to calm relations between his country and Elympios. I love jumping into a sequel and feeling like these characters have grown older the same way I have. These characters all reprise their roles and feel just as familiar as when you left them. Other than Elle and Ludger, every other member that joins your party is from the original Xillia. Which brings me to the cast, and one of the reasons that Tales of Xillia 2 feels so much like its predecessor. I feel like certain scenes play out awkwardly because for some reason, the developers chose to make him nod or grunt, instead of actually holding a conversation with his friends. However, I must say, Ludger’s silence didn’t go over well with me. The system works surprisingly well and made me wonder why we don’t see it more often in JRPGs. On more than one occasion, I found myself staring at dialog options for longer than I expected, trying to pick the right line for my Ludger. While these choices don’t dramatically change the plot, they do change the scenes enough to feel substantial. Ludger is mostly a silent protagonist (he’ll voice things like “Yeah”, “Oh No” or “Good”) but throughout the entire game the player is making choices on what Ludger should say. On top of there being a lot more going on, from diplomacy and politics, to spirit and human relations, to brother issues, Tales of Xillia 2 keeps you engaged by giving players the power of choice. Some JRPGs fall into slogs where nothing really happens for hours, but in Xillia 2, nearly every chapter comes with a new revelation. Sounds a bit convoluted, doesn’t it? While I don’t think the story in Tales of Xillia 2 is as good as the original, there’s certainly a lot more going on that kept me engaged for my 30+ hour experience. Only then will they be able to enter Canaan. Together, they’ll have to join forces with the Spirius Corporation in order to stop fractured dimensions from stealing the life force from their world. Elle holds the key to Canaan, a mysterious place that supposedly will grant the wish of anyone who enters. Picking up a year after the events of the first game, Tales of Xillia 2 follows the story of Ludger, a young man who gets wrapped up in a multi-dimensional dilemma when he runs into a little girl named Elle.
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