TALES OF XILLIA 2 COSTUME UPGRADE

The original Xillia's somewhat random approach to side quests has been replaced with two separate systems that are easier to keep track of, and don't require endless backtracking to places that may or may not bear fruit for you, which was a significant drawback in the first game.

It was simply less stressful to keep track of. I'm glad they tried to change this fundamental aspect of the original, but I definitely preferred the Illium Orb. This approach is very reminiscent of Final Fantasy VI's Esper system, though it's far deeper and requires a high level of micro-management, which isn't always fun when already balancing Tales' existing, deep customization systems. Instead, the Allium Orb allows you to equip special items that slowly teach you more Artes and skills the longer you have them equipped in battle. This time around, much of that is done for you.

TALES OF XILLIA 2 COSTUME UPGRADE

In Xillia, the Illium Orb was how you'd upgrade your character using points earned by leveling up. A major change between Xillia and Xillia 2 - one I'm not completely sold on - is the abandonment of the Illium Orb for something called the Allium Orb. This gives Xillia 2 an extra dose of uniqueness, though you'll undoubtedly find yourself using his blades 99 percent of the time. Ludger even has skills no one else does, including the option to select from three weapon types on the fly mid-fight: blades, war hammers, and guns. I absolutely love mixing things up in battle, using different special abilities called Artes along with more typical attacks. Tales' fighting game-lite, action-oriented combat is the hallmark of the franchise, and while it seems chaotic at first, getting a hang of it is incredibly rewarding. What remains very much the same, thankfully, is Tales of Xillia's combat, which is alive and well in the sequel. There's considerable depth to this system, especially since it unlocks new items and conversation options. The way Ludger works his way through conversations, and who he chooses to pair-up with in battle, can build his affinity with other characters, providing a great reason to carefully navigate Xillia 2's extensive exposition while testing out new match-ups during fights. Xillia 2, on the other hand, is far more linear in its campaign's delivery, instead giving Ludger a litany of decisions to make during conversations and combat alike.

The biggest turn is the deviation away from Xillia's binary campaign progression, which relied a great deal on whether you were playing primarily as Milla or Jude. For as much as Xillia 2 borrows from Xillia, it takes some smart left turns that ultimately keep the experience new, fresh, and on equal footing with the quality of the original. Her morbidly obese cat companion Rollo, on the other hand, is absolutely amazing.

She's essential to the overarching plot, but I always found myself caring about the original cast more, and her subpar voice acting didn't exactly help (nor did Milla's voice actresses' still-disjointed performance, which isn't quite as bad as the original, but still noticeably worse than expert performances from the likes of Alvin's and Rowen's respective actors). Elle, on the other hand, only takes part in the story, and not in combat, which lessened my attachment to her. TheyвЂ™re both admittedly weaker than the main cast from the original game, and while Ludger is interesting, I have no idea why he was designed to be virtually silent. Rounding the group out is Xillia 2's main - and mostly quiet - protagonist, Ludger, and a young, mysterious little girl named Elle. Representing Rieze Maxia are most of the characters you're familiar with from Xillia: Milla, Jude, Leia, Elize, Alvin, Rowen, and others. Xillia 2 thrusts players back into the world of Elympios and Rieze Maxia, two territories once separated by a magical barrier that, for thousands of years, obscured them from each other.

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