Xenoblade Chronicles - Last Story

[env963]

I have been kind of itching to try an RPG again. I am not really a RPG gamer, but all this hype sourround these games have sparked my interest. However i have no idea if i am going to like these.

The list of RPG's I have played and enjoyed include, FF VII - FF X, I loved 7 and 8, but 9 and 10 i thought were okay. I loved panzer dragoon saga! I loved Zelda WAAAAAY back on the NES. But i tried Dragoon Age origins after taking 5+ year break from RPG's and hated it. I think i hated it mostly because it was soooo different from the JRPG's that I was used to playing. I didnt like how I had to create a character. (I want a good story to be told, not for me to make up a story and create my own guy)

A few things, i really had a hard time getting into Metroid Prime, world was too big, and with no direction on what I am supposed to do next, i found myself getting bored. I did manage to get 20 hours into it. I also found Red Dead Redeption boring as well. Boring quest and side quest's were just boring! LOL , currently I am playing heavy rain on the PS3 and loving it. SOOOOOO not sure what to do here. Hate to spend $50 on a game hoping i am going to like it. The last story is around 20 hours? Which sounds more up my alley, but i am looking for some feedback from people who have played these games, jap/europe verisons?

buy or dont buy??

[alienjesus]

Well if you like having direction, I can at least vouch that you won't mind playign through xenoblade. It tells you exactly where to go to move the plot along, it even has an arrow pointing you in the right direction. However, theres lots of sidequests and exploring to do off the beaten track, so if you fancy having a look about thats good too.

I'm only about 12 hours in myself, but the world already seems huge. The game looks to be about 50 hours long if you completely ignore sidequests, and double or triple that easily if you don't, so if you're not up for the long haul you won't like this one. Tbh, the game it most reminds me of is Final Fantasy XII, which amuses me slightly because so many people are calling xenoblade 'the next evolution of RPGs', yet many of those same people piled scorn on FFXII for daring to be a bit different.

I haven't played Last Story, and at the moment, I doubt many people will have on this forum. The games not out until tomorrow in Europe, so you'll need to find someone who's played the japanese version.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

I can get into all kinds of RPGs, but a great JRPG is always a favorite.

So, you want a story-driven game with likeable characters and linear direction? I think Tri-Ace should be up your alley. Most of their games require you to experiment with the gameplay mechanics and really master them, but as far as what to do and how to do it they're always pretty clear. Star Ocean 2, Radiata Stories, and Valkyrie Profile 1 and 2 are some of their best games. Jeanne D'Arc on PSP is excellent and Crisis Core is also wroth your time. I don't know much about DS RPGs, but Chrono Trigger and Radiant Historia should be fun. Illusion of Gaia is all right and The Granstream Saga is good - if you can get past the awful graphics you'll find a short, focused, enjoyable RPG with cool characters and anime scenes throughout.

[ejamer]

Normally I blindly recommend Xenoblade to everyone. It's an amazing game. But one thing you (ie: the OP) said makes me worried... if you found that the world was too big in Metroid Prime or Red Dead Redemption then maybe Xenoblade isn't the right choice for you.

In Xenoblade the world is MASSIVE and you can literally spend hours exploring extra nooks and crannies that are filled with secrets. There is a pretty clear sense of where to go next because you have an arrow showing the direction of and distance to your next objective, and the story sounds like one you might enjoy - but it's still a MASSIVE world to explore. (I'm only a couple of dozen hours in. So far I have spent hours wandering around exploring and just looking to see what's around the next corner, or in that hidden cave, or found on that island in the middle of the lake, etc. instead of actually progressing the story. For me, that's brilliant gameplay. Not sure you'd agree.)

I haven't played The Last Story yet, but get the feeling it might be closer to what you want. All the reviews suggest that it's a smaller/more focused game, where Xenoblade is huge and sprawling.

[Zing]

I found that Metroid Prime was fairly linear. The game literally tells you where to go every step of the way! "No direction"? It was the complete opposite.

[alienjesus]

I found that Metroid Prime was fairly linear. The game literally tells you where to go every step of the way! "No direction"? It was the complete opposite.

You and me were playing different games then

[env963]

If metroid prime told me where to go and i didnt get it. I must be an idiot! LOL I bought a book to tell me where to go, so that helped. But when the world is so big and im not sure were to go next that frustrates me. I dont have a lot of time to game (well an hour a night on average). So this 50 hour+ game with my lack of RPG skills could mean 70+ for me! LOL Not sure i can play it through. But the game looks just amazing! And i really want another stab at the RPG genre. for some reason a game like Skyrim, doesnt interest me. I think i favor JRPG vs the westerns ones. I eagerly await what people have to say about the last story though. 20 hour game is more up my alley and i am hoping its fairly linear with a few side quests to boot. (And the gameplay also looks amazing)

I dont know, if i can someday get xenoblades for $20 ill probably pick it up. But i have this fear its going to be limited here cause its a gamestop exclusive.

[sabrage]

I dont know, if i can someday get xenoblades for $20 ill probably pick it up. But i have this fear its going to be limited here cause its a gamestop exclusive.

Someday you'll look back on this comment and regret it.

[env963]

I dont know, if i can someday get xenoblades for $20 ill probably pick it up. But i have this fear its going to be limited here cause its a gamestop exclusive.

Someday you'll look back on this comment and regret it.

That is what i am afraid of. Might sell 50,000 copies and than fetch $100 ebay prices.

[sabrage]

I have little doubt that the initial printing will sell out... The question is whether Nintendo will give it a reprint à la Radiant Historia. We won't really be able to tell that until we see if the Wii goes on posthumous life support the way the DS did.