The Tales series’ trademark skits (‘optional’, but only for those who loathe fun and exposition) remain wildly entertaining and are absolutely an essential part of the experience. Its handling of serious subject matter aside, Tales of Xillia 2 is just damned funny. Tales of Xillia 2 isn’t a masterpiece, but it does deserve some praise. JRPGs aren’t often lauded for strong writing. So, too, are the side chapters for each of the party members that deeply enrich both the characters and the world around them.
The ethical quandary of destroying an entire world and its citizens, almost identical to your own, under the potentially false pretence of your world being the true one is handled really well. Part of the game revolves around Ludger destroying ‘fractured dimensions’ which allegedly threaten his ‘prime’ dimension.
Tales of Xillia 2 deals with some heavy themes.
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Problem is that the game seems more focused on ‘getting the gang back together’ the playable characters in Xillia 2 include the same six from the first game, plus two of the villains-Gaius and Muzét-and Ludger himself. Ludger bums around a bit before bumping into Xillia 1 hero Jude, at which point Ludger gets wrapped up in events that are supposedly centred around him and a kid-Elle-that he just kind of ‘found’. Rieze Maxia and Elympios are trying to sort out some serious political, cultural, and economic issues while racial tension, distrust, and general bigotry are rampant. The plot kicks off one year from the events of the previous game. This roadblock is especially indefensible when a mission to kill an enemy that has been slaughtered countless times before is locked until enough random objects are delivered and other monsters defeated. The debt issue as an artificial game lengthener is compounded when the primary money making avenues also try to pad things. Harder and more rewarding jobs require-more like force-the player to grind smaller jobs and hunt elite monsters. There is a hitch: the bounty/mission system introduced to help the player gain money (and useful items) has its own points system. Because Ludger is in massive debt, he has travel restrictions imposed. This serves as the progress limiter or ‘invisible wall’. Boss battles are a welcome challenge, and the coliseum at Xian Du is a nice test until New Game+ and the EX Dungeon come into play.Įarly in the game, Ludger gets saddled with a 20 million gald debt. The downside is that most ordinary encounters can be won simply by pressing the X button-or even by standing still and not pressing a single button. Which is not a bad thing-the awkwardly named ‘Dual Raid Linear Motion Battle System’ is quite entertaining to play. Other than Ludger’s adjustments, the battle system is largely unchanged from Tales of Xillia. But Ludger is ultimately bland and passive, only the central character out of freak chance and a chronic inability to say ‘no’ (or anything). His fighting style-which allows him to switch between dual blades, dual pistols, and a sledgehammer-adds an extra layer of complexity and versatility to an already refined real-time action battle system. What little of his personality we do see is endearing. Ludger is a disappointment because his potential is so clear. It’s just that his dialogue-apart from the unvoiced, player-chosen and remarkably eloquent options-consists mostly of grunts and single word responses. He awkwardly hearkens back to the days of silent protagonists, except that he does occasionally speak. As a character-as the main character-Ludger is a wreck. Personal distaste for must-lose battles aside, I would much rather sit down to play a videogame and actually play, rather than sit through 10+ minute opening cut scenes that have zero relevance to me at that stage of the game.ĭiscerning players will notice right away that leading man Ludger Kresnick is… essentially mute. Instead, the player is thrust into battle against Elijah Wood from Sin City with a stripped-back interface and absolutely no instructions. Unlike nearly every JRPG-indeed, most videogames in general- Tales of Xillia 2 does not open with a cut scene. But like many younger siblings, Tales of Xillia 2 does have its own personal touches (and might just grow up to be a better videogame). It’s not just ‘the second game’ it’s a full-blown, somewhat startlingly derivative sequel. Before I’m lynched for stating the blindingly obvious, let me explain: Tales of Xillia 2 is the clingy, hyper-dependent sibling that tries to emulate the older sibling’s every action.
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