Originally Posted by io I just picked up Xenoblade and started playing it this weekend. At first I wasn't all the impressed with it, but then I found myself sinking like 3 hours into it each of the last 2 nights. I kept doing "one more quest" or "explore one more area" before stopping and next thing I knew it was an hour or two longer than I meant to play . That's a good sign I think.

Same exact thing happened to me Got to the point where my "Ok, I'll play til 10 sessions." after work turned into "Oh shit, it's 4am."

The way I played Xenoblade was doing all the quests I could before moving on with the story. I can't help it, I must complete them.

This is a long game but I feel the story winding down. 95 hours so far.... haven't plugged this many hours into a game since Persona 4.

Originally Posted by Rodimus The way I played Xenoblade was doing all the quests I could before moving on with the story. I can't help it, I must complete them. This is a long game but I feel the story winding down. 95 hours so far.... haven't plugged this many hours into a game since Persona 4.

I'm the same way. But the lack of achievements/trophies (or at least ones that show up anywhere else but in the game) may allow me to skip out on a few extras. But who am I kidding, I'll probably still do them all anyway .

I do have to say the battle system has me totally confused. I figured out the attack from the side/back stuff for certain attacks, though selecting them in the heat of the battle I find difficult. But now they are throwing chain attacks and something about element effects and colors at me? I couldn't even follow that . It took me a couple hours before I realized chain attacks are triggered manually by pushing down on the D-pad from the Monado. Then there's some sort of 'b' thing with a decreasing ring that you have to push - I still don't know what that does or why it shows up seemingly randomly but I try to push it every time it shows up. Then I got the "seeing the future attack" thing last night and that just got really complicated - I think I did it right, but I couldn't really tell. Then there's the encouragement/revive stuff too. And since I'm just starting out I expect more to be thrown in there! And I find it hard to monitor health bars of all my chars when fighting multiple enemies and there's so much going on (since the bars move around with the characters and get hidden in the action). Some battles they barely get touched but in others, all of a sudden, the other 2 chars are dead and I'm on my own before I even realize anyone is getting hurt.

I was also about 4 hours in before I realized there was a 'jump' button. There was a quest item behind some boxes on a ledge and I kept running around to find a secret path to that ledge when all along all I had to do was jump over the boxes .

But I always love games that let you explore and run into way too powerful enemies that you just can't even begin to handle. I remember DQ XVIII was like that. Too many games now are scripted for you to follow a linear path with gradually increasing difficulty (that matches your levelling up). I was just exploring around Colony 9 last night and had some fish insta-kill me with a 4000 HP bite (when I only have about 1200). I love to see that kind of stuff (occassionally, anyway).

Also, the save system, lack of random battles, and really extensive quick-trip system are all awesome features. Oh, and the quest log is pretty nice, too, though on occasion I'm not sure where to go to find someone (I have that watch to return for example and don't know where that person is).

Advertisement

Register for free to remove this ad

Originally Posted by io Then there's some sort of 'b' thing with a decreasing ring that you have to push - I still don't know what that does or why it shows up seemingly randomly but I try to push it every time it shows up.

I'm not 100% sure what makes it pop, it does seem just random. Hitting it at the right time does 2 things, fills up your chain bar and also it imporves affinity with your team. Next time it pops notice in the bottom right of the screen you'll see the little heart indicater pop up. If you hit just right, right when the circle matches up with the outer edge of the the "B" indicator your affinity goes up much more and with both members.

But the combat system defintly has a lot going on. It's not complicated but there are a ton of little elements. I also felt overwhelmed at the begining, throwing a new element on me right when I felt used to it. Took me a while to really "get it" but even now I feel like I might be missing something.

Just remember: break attack - topple attack - daze attack

Originally Posted by Rodimus Just remember: break attack - topple attack - daze attack

Yeah, they do kind of force this on you with the Mechon attack early on, so I think I got that. I don't think I have a Daze attack just yet though. I did just add (another) 3rd person to my party right before quitting last night, so maybe she has it. Of course my original 3rd person, Fiora, died... Which seemed odd since I had even bought new weapons for her just before this happened - do you get her, or at least someone who uses the same weapons (dual knives), back later?

Originally Posted by Rodimus I'm not 100% sure what makes it pop, it does seem just random. Hitting it at the right time does 2 things, fills up your chain bar and also it imporves affinity with your team. Next time it pops notice in the bottom right of the screen you'll see the little heart indicater pop up. If you hit just right, right when the circle matches up with the outer edge of the the "B" indicator your affinity goes up much more and with both members.

It also increases tension. You'll notice at times the portraits of the characters will flame up, it increases stats and such. Those opportunities to raise it happen whenever you initiate a battle and during battle whenever someone does a critical hit, misses a hit, or dodges.

Also remember that break attacks are pink, topple are green, and daze are yellow. That should help you if you are getting lost when selecting arts.

Originally Posted by io died... Which seemed odd since I had even bought new weapons for her just before this happened - do you get her, or at least someone who uses the same weapons (dual knives), back later?

I'll answer this just by saying "yes".

Originally Posted by Indignate It also increases tension. You'll notice at times the portraits of the characters will flame up, it increases stats and such. Those opportunities to raise it happen whenever you initiate a battle and during battle whenever someone does a critical hit, misses a hit, or dodges. Also remember that break attacks are pink, topple are green, and daze are yellow. That should help you if you are getting lost when selecting arts.

I have a real hard time seeing the colors while fighting - they aren't distinguished from one another well enough IMO. I remember the game telling me something about linking same-colored attacks together (maybe during a chain attack?). But I couldn't tell what they were, really. They all seemed like muted pastel colors to me (and no, I'm not color blind ).

And thanks for the "Yes" answer - I just had a feeling it was something like that.

Originally Posted by io Yeah, they do kind of force this on you with the Mechon attack early on, so I think I got that. I don't think I have a Daze attack just yet though. I did just add (another) 3rd person to my party right before quitting last night, so maybe she has it. Of course my original 3rd person, Fiora, died... Which seemed odd since I had even bought new weapons for her just before this happened - do you get her, or at least someone who uses the same weapons (dual knives), back later?

Yes you do, but by that time the weapons you have now will be obsolete. Shulk and Sharla get daze attacks. You should be getting Shulks soon.

Also if you haven't already try using other characters. Shulk is fun, but I love using all the other characters too.

Originally Posted by Rodimus Yes you do, but by that time the weapons you have now will be obsolete. Shulk and Sharla get daze attacks. You should be getting Shulks soon. Also if you haven't already try using other characters. Shulk is fun, but I love using all the other characters too.

Oh yeah, I figured they would be useless pretty soon - it was just the whole "type" of weapon that I thought it was odd to introduce and then have no one there to use it.

I have only used Shulk so far, as I feel like I am just now starting to figure out how to do so - maybe once I get that nailed down I'll switch it up.

You are insane.

And possibly color-blind.

Chaining same colored attacks occurs during chain attacks. So it's a chain within a chain if that's not confusing enough.

Originally Posted by Indignate You are insane. And possibly color-blind. Chaining same colored attacks occurs during chain attacks. So it's a chain within a chain if that's not confusing enough.

In no part of the game so far has my screen been that bright and colorful. It is much more muted than that. And yet SMG2 (same Wii, same TV input, same settings) is like an exploded candy factory . It is also much easier to sit and study the colors on a static screen like that - much different during game action.

Right, and I also remember the game telling me something about the lines in the attack icons meaning something. But I don't even remember what and also those are much harder to see in-game than on that screen.

Originally Posted by io In no part of the game so far has my screen been that bright and colorful. It is much more muted than that. And yet SMG2 (same Wii, same TV input, same settings) is like an exploded candy factory . It is also much easier to sit and study the colors on a static screen like that - much different during game action. Right, and I also remember the game telling me something about the lines in the attack icons meaning something. But I don't even remember what and also those are much harder to see in-game than on that screen.

Honestly, and weirdly enough, I've had moments where the game blips into a really desaturated version of itself. I thought it was my TV, but it sounds like you may be dealing with something similar. I assure you, though it may not be reflecting it, the game's really vibrant. Wish I had more to go on, but it seemed worth mentioning.

Regardless, if you go into your Arts menu, you can actually use the C button to reorganize your Arts loadout to something you're more comfortable with. Might be worth checking out

I didn't discover that you could keep Chain Attacks going with the same colored Arte until last night (around the 18 hour mark). It's a nice touch to keep it simple yet hidden at the same time. Oh well, back to grinding my characters up to level 30 or so.

Originally Posted by IanKazimer Honestly, and weirdly enough, I've had moments where the game blips into a really desaturated version of itself. I thought it was my TV, but it sounds like you may be dealing with something similar. I assure you, though it may not be reflecting it, the game's really vibrant. Wish I had more to go on, but it seemed worth mentioning. Regardless, if you go into your Arts menu, you can actually use the C button to reorganize your Arts loadout to something you're more comfortable with. Might be worth checking out

Hmmm - will have to look into it more. I thought maybe it was just the areas I've been in (up to the camp right now). But the area around Colony 9, the cave (somewhat expected there), and the big plains area near the camp have all been muted/muddy looking for the most part. Nothing like that screen shot above that's for sure.

And yeah, I think I have to reorganize my Arts because I just got the message about only being able to have 8 loaded at once so I must have learned another one that put me over the limit. It would be really helpful to have all the attack ones in order (front/side/back attacks) as they are all jumbled up now.

Originally Posted by KingBroly I didn't discover that you could keep Chain Attacks going with the same colored Arte until last night (around the 18 hour mark). It's a nice touch to keep it simple yet hidden at the same time. Oh well, back to grinding my characters up to level 30 or so.

It doesn't keep them going, it's just multiplies damage. Affinity between characters is what helps to add another attack to a Chain Attack.

OK, I sorted the color thing out - I can tell the difference. It isn't as vivid as on that screen shot and since were so subtle I didn't even really notice them so when the game started talking about colors I was confused. I mean, I noticed different colors but I just thought they were different icon designs and not the actual link colors. Now I got it figured out.

Now I'm just trying to figure out what the skill links are and what they do. Do they provide the skill from the linked person back to the original person?

I'm still on Bionis' Leg and just keep getting more and more quests. And like I said before, I love seeing the hugely overpowered monsters that are just teasing me by blocking off certain paths and areas. Though I figured out you can run past some of them.

That "Immovable Gonzales", though, looks like a tough one. He's like level 80-something and I'm 23 . And he's just standing there blocking a narrow path. I guess that is for much later! But I love the names. I think I also saw a "Territorial Rotbart" (level 70-something) wandering around in the plains area. I snuck behind some high level Tirkin and got into a bunch of caves full of level 70 things. I got killed by one flier that I didn't see but otherwise was able to run through most of it.

Anyway, I guess there's a story event to be had somewhere, but I keep just exploring and doing quests since a lot of the ones I got from the Camp are showing the stopwatch now which I think means I have to do them before the next story event. I love the quest system with the "you are about to miss this one" warning - why hasn't any other RPG maker ever thought of that before? I'm just a little worried that the quests are kind of bogging me down as I'm sure I'm not even 1/10th into the story yet. But man, that Leg area is so huge - I keep thinking I have it all explored only to find a whole new region within it. And then there's the parts I can't get to yet!

I love the game (about 60 hours in and probably on the last 3rd of the story) but I think the quest log is terrible because often it gives you very little clue of where to go and you can't just select a quest to focus on. I do wish you could give party members some sort of general behavior guidelines because sometimes they don't heal when needed or won't follow up a break with a topple attack, etc. My party is in the low 60s now I am thinking when I get high enough I will go back and kick the crap out of all those 70 & 80 level monsters I desperately tried to avoid in certain areas.

Also, I just saw that apparently they still don't have an actual solid release date on Last Story, it's still just "summer" which blows.

Originally Posted by Erad30 Also, I just saw that apparently they still don't have an actual solid release date on Last Story, it's still just "summer" which blows.

Amazon has been listing July 31st as a release date. Course, we all know those dates don't always get set in stone.

Yeah gamestop had listed the 19th of this month, now it's July 10th. On the brightside it might actually give me time to finish Xenoblade and possibly even a couple other games before it actually hits.