Re: Tales Series - Da Official Thread

[SanAndreasX]

This is the first time I've sat down with Tales of Destiny myself. I'm kind of kicking myself that I didn't get it back in 1998. I also have Destiny II waiting to be played, what I've played of it it was a big step up from Phantasia and Destiny. I have my Phantasia GBA cartridge, but I'd love to see them release that on Wii U VC.

I have Xillia 2's CE on preorder.

[pspiddy]

I'm finally at Milla's 4th chapter in Xillia. I've been trying to use a missable sub-event guide but after a long break I'm kind of lost. Where would that trophy ding? Also, how long is the 4th chapter? I don't want to get into finishing the story and then be playing the damn thing for 5 hours straight. (nothing against the game, I just hate being zombified after playing for too long)

It's disappointing Xillia 2 CE doesn't have an artbook. I wonder if that means there isn't much new content.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

You need 90 for the trophy. There's 99 (97 or 98 in Millas i think) It wont ding until you're nearing the endgame. You can check progress in the stats (game not character) menu. Each of the chapters is about the same length the games like 50-60 hours at most total. Unless you're grinding for max level then it will take a lot longer

[pspiddy]

Exactly what I needed to know. Gracias^^

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

np

As for new content apparently that is one of the complaints people had against it. I think it reuses some areas from the first game. They do take place in the same world though so i dont really have an issue as long as its not obnoxious about it. We'll see tommorow.

The game does have 3 new party members in addition to the cast from the first. Muzet, Gaius and Ludger (Ludger is the new character and protagonist in 2). That should make combat more interesting.

[BretBaber]

I'm right at the end too. Of course the first boss that kicked my ass would be the last one. Kay, do you know of a place that is best to upgrade weapons, armor, items, etc... right before the end? I want to get the most bang for my buck. Every place I seem to check just does the normal amount of upgrade points.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

The best place to grind for that stuff is the Magnus Zero that however is only unlocked after beating the game. The Area before the final dungeon are probably your best bet for that. The fields in Elympios. Crank up the difficulty too it increases item drop rates.

As for the final battle if you can get Leia to steal from Muzet and/or Gaius it can be a huge help. The fight can drag on really long cause of the life bottles. Just link with Leia and spam Milla's flare bomb after you break their stance.

[BretBaber]

What I mean is what store is the best to buy from? I know they sometimes offer you 3x point upgrades and was wondering if there is any store right before the last boss that offers something like that?

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

That stuff is random and the bonuses only apply when you give them materials it changes every few hours in game time. Also every store in the game is the same their inventories are just based on their respective levels. Fully upgrading the item store will give you the ability to buy every healing item available in the game even stuff like omega elixirs. its pricy though

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

I played about 13 hours today >_> Needless to say i loved it. A LOT of areas are recycled from the first game, but combat is completely overhauled. Everyone has more artes. Elize got a HUGE offensive boost though it cost a bit of her healing potency to make up for that though pretty much EVERY member has an arte that heals.

It's set up different Ludger is basically the player avatar you pick what he says and does the choices are pretty frequent and can really affect the story too. You get settled with a debt in the beginning of the game and in order to progress the main story you have to do sidequests to get enough to make a payment. It reminds me of the first No More Heroes. They are pretty simple tasks like kill x of a certain enemy but you can basically just wander around everywhere while youre doing this. it also does away with shop leveling inventories are dependant on where you are in the story and what towns you visited

The main story locks you into a certain path, and sets your party for you. I both love and hate that last part. The new story is great though same type of humor. The entire cast from the first game is back. Being able to interact with the skits is pretty cool too

[SanAndreasX]

I still need to pick up my CE I reserved. I had class yesterday.

[pspiddy]

I don't know how you guys feel about this: I turned down the difficulty because I really just want to finish up Xillia and the charm of the battle system became a little repetitive. I love the game and the battle system. I just felt I had experienced it enough. And the fact that it has that option should be standard in all RPGs. I think Bravely Default has a similar option? I haven't booted that up but I'm pretty sure I read about something like that.

Also, and I may be alone in this, but one of the reasons I like the game so much is because of how the battle system reminds me of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Maybe there's some overlap in the design team? Sorry for going all Dreamcast on you guys

[BretBaber]

I finished the game on normal, but didn't know an option like that existed. I definitely would have wanted to switch to an easier setting, but the OCD in me probably would have fought and won that battle.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

I actually switch the difficulty depending on whether i feel over/underleveled. Moderate is basically my standard setting. This comes in handy in 2 cause that can happen quite a bit considering it basically encourages you to take everything at your own pace.

You also unlock a very hard setting after beating it. That usually isnt reccomended unless you use xp modifiers in the grade shop.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

I just got Gaius today, and holy hell is he amazing. Pretty much exactly like youd expect the final boss of the first game to play like. Completely wrecks shit

[pspiddy]

I opened up the temporal rift around midnight last night and did who knows how many sub events before I passed out. I'm about to boot up now and I realise how fucked off my sub event strategy was from the onset.

First I found a list of missable sub events. Then I made sure not to miss those sub events. That's great except for everything that I didn't do during normal playthrough is basically sending me through the whole game again. I'm glad I love the dialogue and the battle system otherwise I'd give up. (specifically treasuers, those damned hidden treasures)

If 2 is the same way, at least I now know what not to do.

Oh, and I fought a couple of the NMs (notorious monsters or whatever they're called here) and those battles are pretty epic.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

In 2 theres A LOT of sidequests that are missable, but they either all show up on the job board or as ! on the world map.

Also 2 has tons of those giant monster battles. They are the easiest way to pay off the debt each chapter, and they are all pretty great

[pspiddy]

I hate myself right now. I need 2 sub events (1 is the NM quest) for 90 and 1 mysterious jewel. Now I'm using guides for both and it is really frustrating. It's pretty lame/stupid/shitty that the jewels and treasures don't show on the map this late in the game.

All of the shops are on a x2 multiplier so I'm thinking I may try and max those out with all the crap I have from running around. I'd like to wait for a x3, but x2 on all of them seems to good to pass up.

[pspiddy]

Also 2 has tons of those giant monster battles. They are the easiest way to pay off the debt each chapter, and they are all pretty great

I'm going through all of the NM stuff and it is crazy fun. I mean, it's just plain exciting. So if what you're saying is true for the whole game, I can't wait to get 2.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

There's TONS of them 1-4 unlock during the downtime before each and every chapter. I've beaten 19 of them currently. They all have their own little gimmicks too. Once you hit their weak point with certain elements enough they go down and become weak to everything. Hitting it isnt always easy though

The boss fights at the end of each chapter are pretty great too combat in general is just better in 2 than it was in one

[pspiddy]

The Magnus dungeon is cool. I have no idea if it's like the Lost Woods or what but I seemed to be porting around at random. I was too busy trying to get crazy physical combos with Leia to actually pay attention to where I was going

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

You'll get where you're going eventually its sort of like the lost woods but you cant really get lost you'll reach all the checkpoints eventually. The boss gets you a gold trophy and unlocks the devil's arms power which is great for new game+ just equip them on everyone from the start.

[BretBaber]

I have equipment that is stronger than the devil's arms, are they in fact stronger or do the stats lie?

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

once you beat the magnus zero's boss they unlock and grow in stats for each kill you get with them. theres an option in ng+ to keep them unlocked with their power and in your inventory

[pspiddy]

Ah, I get it. The weps are like the blood sword in SotN; more kills = more power. And the dungeon is prepping for that. That's actually pretty neat. Does it carry over to 2? Bad question. What carries over to 2? (I think you've mentioned it before. Sorry for ADD and laziness)

Also, I'm highly disappointed in both Kay and Bret; Their dirty little minds found "Mushroom Rock" in FF funny but, apparently, don't see the same humor in Leia using her "extended staff" to preform multiple-hit physical combos. Le sigh.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

You didnt mention the elongated staff though.

The only thing that actually carries over to 2 is the dlc any costumes you bought for one are available in 2.

You get bonus add-ons for having a save file from 1, clearing 1 and having a save file from Graces.

Devil's arms in 2 are replaced by weapons called "Sealed [Title of a Previous Tales Game]" I have no idea how to unlock them yet but they do look pretty bad ass. Especially Gaius's. They arent overly hard to acquire either



I really love 2 so far for the most part its been really amazing. The plot twist involving who Elle's father is is probably one of the best mindfucks Tales has ever done.

There was one plotline involving an overly stereotypically gay Aska (giant bird spirit) and Jude which was hella weird, but i can let that slide cause the rest is so great.

[BretBaber]

Now you're making me want to get 2. Damn no time life!

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

I beat it tonight. The ending was pretty sad. Took about 60 hours its around the same length as the first game.

I loved most of the game but the final dungeon is dogshit. It's two maze-like rooms full of dead-ends that are marked like actual paths on the map. The brightside is it is really really short. Beating it unlocks a bunch of post game content. A short bonus chapter which ties up some lose ends and gives Jude and Milla a couple of broken artes, a bunch of job board quests, a dungeon like the Magnus Zero, and it brings back all the elite monsters you beat as EX versions with huge boosts in the rewards. It also gives you two costumes and a 4th tier transformation for Ludger and 1,000,000 gald

[pspiddy]

Just read Tales of Zestria is slated stateside for Spring '15.

[SanAndreasX]

So I'm about four hours into Zestiria, and I gotta say I'm really enjoying it. The world is much more open than the words in Graces and Xillia and I like the new combat system. It's a bit cut scene heavy though, but not on the level of Metal Gear Solid.

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