![]() ![]() ![]() I’d normally say that newcomers can jump right into any Tales game, but Xillia 2 gives almost no exposition on who the returning cast members actually are or anything about the world they inhabit, so if you didn’t play the first game, you might be wondering just what the heck is up with a certain magic-wielding schoolgirl and her talking pink-and-purple doll. It’s been a year since the events of the original game, and if you played the first Xillia, you’ll see plenty of familiar faces who’ve done such interesting things in the interim as “grow a beard” or “put on a hat.” The interaction between the various party members also feels like a step up from the first Xillia, and you can unlock special character-specific chapters that shed more light on a given companion-and completing these segments increases your in-game relationship with them, along with their effectiveness in battle. Why structure the game in a way that clearly weakens the overall package? The core tenets of Tales are still here, and since the fast-paced, action-packed battle system remains strong, it never feels like that much of a chore to cobble together the necessary cash to unlock the next story mission-but it also just feels so unnecessary. That’s a shame, because there’s certainly an enjoyable experience to be found in Tales of Xillia 2-the problem is that it’s often hidden beneath so many “paywalls” and other frustrating measures that actively sabotage the adventure at times. Thankfully, the money doled out by Xillia 2’s enemies does seem to take this design decision into account, but the whole thing feels very artificial, and getting constant, harassing calls from the all-too-perky-and-chirpy debt collector-even when you’ve just paid down 15,000 on what you owe-just drives home the point that you’re dealing with an absurd, arbitrary lending system (again, very much like student loans!). If you want to advance, you’ve got no choice but to pony up the cash to your creditors, and after you’ve paid back a set amount, a new main storyline quest opens up-and you’ll rinse and repeat this process (which will certainly hit a little too close to home for some players) throughout the game. ![]() On a more serious note, it’s clear that, for some bizarre reason, Bandai Namco felt compelled to emulate the free-to-play model in the latest entry of their venerable action-RPG franchise-despite the fact that it’s a full-fledged retail product. ![]() That’s right: Tales of Xillia 2 is the first game that accurately simulates the American student-loan process! This debt is so stifling, in fact, that Ludger sets aside a good portion of his money for the payback, which actively prevents him from pursuing many of the things he’d actually like to experience in life. At the start of the game, protagonist Ludger Kresnik finds himself owing a staggering debt to a powerful institution and must spend the bulk of his time paying this organization back, bit by bit. Tales of Xillia 2 has no time for such pretense, however. You know that pirate won’t be handing over his ship until you’ve reached a high enough level to handle those sea harpies that lurk above the ocean waves. You know that guard is only standing on the bridge, arms folded, because the meticulously crafted plot and pacing demand it. Japanese role-playing games are known for their creative ways of keeping the player on the developers’ intended path. ![]()
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