quote:
Xenoblade 2 consistently displays a frustrating lack of respect for the player’s time. Everything takes significantly longer than it needs to, in part because the game contains such an overwhelming number of features. It can take dozens of minutes to navigate the clunky menus, sort through all of the characters’ upgrades, and manage a collection of Pokémon-like Blades. The mini-map is vague and often feels like it’s withholding information. There are no larger maps to be found, so you’ll have to rely upon UI markers to figure out where you need to go. Battles are long and tedious, and many of them dragged on even after I’d fully learned how the combat system worked. The otherwise satisfying battle combos became much less interesting after I had to repeat them on every bullet-spongey trash mob in my path.

quote:
It will be a tough pill to swallow for people who aren't accustomed to the typical cliches found in many Japanese RPG

I think that quote is what this game comes down to. If you like long games with hours of customization and seemingly endless exploration with little direction then you'll love the game. If not, then the game isnt for you.

I love reading the reviews where people complain about the time it takes to do things, then over-expansive customization, and the long team battles.

That's the equivalent of complaining about close quarters gun fights, and lack of respect for true firearm marksman techniques in call of duty.

This post was edited on 12/1/17 at 10:27 am

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Posted by Freauxzen

Utah

Member since Feb 2006

37535 posts

Posted on 12/1/17 at 10:32 am to Breesus

quote:
Is it bad that i look at every negative in this review as a positive and a reason i like the game?

Well this is how I read this:

quote:
Xenoblade 2 consistently displays a frustrating lack of respect for the player’s time. Everything takes significantly longer than it needs to, in part because the game contains such an overwhelming number of features.

Lots of Customization

quote:
The mini-map is vague and often feels like it’s withholding information. There are no larger maps to be found, so you’ll have to rely upon UI markers to figure out where you need to go.

This is wrong, as I watched a video review where they click into a larger map with lots of points visible.

quote:
Battles are long and tedious, and many of them dragged on even after I’d fully learned how the combat system worked.

He learned how it worked, but probably didn't execute well enough. A hallmark of the the Xenoblade games is that even a Level 20 character against a group of level 17-19 creatures can be a difficult battle if you aren't careful. They can and will wipe you. In these games you either have to be "Careful and Overleveled," the way you might have treated RPGs on the SNES, always ere on the side of caution and gain a few levels before going to the next area. Or "Careful and Skilled," either of those can shrink the time it takes in combat. Notice the word careful....no matter how good I got there's no answer for a level 25 or 30 creature coming into a fight and bringing the pain.

I actually really like the power curve in the Xenoblade games, it isn't for everyone but I find it to be the most controllable that I've seen in any game....unless you try to complete every sidequest prior to the end of the game, then and only then does it get out of whack.

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Posted by DelU249