"Tales of Xillia further refines the series and continues to create some of the best games in the JRPG genre"
Positive
- Fast-paced real-time battle system, with the additions of great combination attacks
- Visually impressive all round, from the nice location to the vivid character design
- Great and loveable cast of main characters
- Excellently improved menu and combat presentation
Negative
- Two separate playthroughs required to fully understand the story
Tales of Xillia is the thirteenth core entry in the long-running Tales series. As always, we are treated to a typical fantasy world, with an on-going conflict that escalates out of proportion. But as usual, great and entertaining protagonists take the helm of the stunning looking world and competent story, coupled by some further more healthy improvements that make this JRPG’s combat system as stellar and frantic as its previous PS3 predecessor was.
In the world of Rieze Maxia, humans and spirits coexist in harmony; overseen by the Lord of Spirits, Maxwell. But with the appearance of the secret military weapon, the Lance of Kresnik, that harmony is threatened, and protagonist Jude, a young aspiring medical student stumbles upon the human incarnation of Maxwell, a young girl named Milla, trying to break into the facility. It was this brief encounter that their fates become entwined together, and with the addition of other faithful companions, like the energetic Leia, the little lost Elize and her loveable (or unloveable?) companion Teepo, the tactician Rowen, and the not-so-faithful but equally charming mercenary Alvin, embark on a journey to destroy spyrix, which destroys spirits and its source. The story is interesting and as typical Tales fashion, deeply enters the friendship territory, which ultimately creates a great bond between the protagonists. The primary antagonist group are as great, with Gaius being a great lead with his ambitions. There are usual story stumbles and stereotypical progression, but the story reaches a nice conclusion.
Although if you want to know the whole story, inside and out, the game divides the narration into two playthroughs; one storyline from the Jude’s perspective, and the other, same storyline, from Milla’s perspective. The standard length of a single playthrough is approximately 25-30 hours, and that excludes a hefty amount of short side quests to do, which still overall fall short of the sheer 60+ hours that Tales of Graces offered. Though two playthroughs should suffice to make up that time. The Grade system is back, awarding you with achievements over the course of a playthrough. With the points earned, you can select some options in the New Game+, like double EXP and gold, X5 EXP, have all your items, and plenty of other options for the next playthrough, and most fortunately, you can select the alternative character. There are still plenty of skits to enjoy through the adventure, ranging from serious, story-related once, to more comical ones.
Tales of Xillia uses the now signature real-time battle system, coupled with the over world travelling. Combat has been further improved over the familiar as it might be expected. Combat takes place with 4 out of your 6 great playable characters, ranging from close quarter combatants like Jude and Milla, and long-ranged attackers like Elize and Rowen. Combat is based on regular physical attacks to Artes attacks, which are more powerful and flashy special attacks, and look as cool as ever and fun to use. Even more so with the addition of Special Link Attacks, allowing your character to perform a new, combined Artes with another character. When the meter on the left side of the screen has achieved a certain point, you are prompted for a special attack, if you use a particular move that can be connected with your linked partner. These Specials can deal massive damage, do large scale healing or cast impressive Artes. Also the connected partner will attack with you, and benefit from the same boasts applied on you, but suffer from the same detriments like when one linked and gets petrified, the same happens to the other.
Combat overall remains fun and flashy despite getting repetitive. But the characters are varied enough to keep you entertaining. The great Title system from Tales of Graces f is gone now, replaced by the Lilium Orbs. Every time you level up, you’ll earn GP that can be used on the Orbs. The GP can be allocated to spots in the hexagonal web, which when completing a path, unlocks new Skills and Artes. This system is rather random, since you will be increasing attributes such as Vitality, Dexterity, Agility and so on, but not really knowing what you will be acquiring. And you can have the system randomly level up other characters, but eventually you will unlock the whole orb. Skills can be turned on and off at will from the menu, and mostly act as Passive skills, such as adding resistance to elements, adding miscellaneous conditions and others. Acquired Artes can be added at any time to be used in battle, and with the addition of the use of holding the L1 in battle; there are 16 slots for the plentiful of skills that you will gain by the end of the game.
Exploration is fun and rewarding once again, with plenty of treasure chests, hidden items/small caves and sacks to be found around the map. The over world map is overloaded and packed with monsters to fight if you come in contact, once again avoiding dull and meaningless random encounters. Dungeons are refreshing since the world map becomes a bit dull, whereas dungeons offer a bit of variety. Cooking gives you boost in a set amount of battles, like extra physical attack power/defence, a higher percentage of gald and EXP. And then there are the shops. Unlike most JRPGs where you can buy equipment based on where you are in the game, Tales of Xillia offers something innovatively different. This time, you can donate gald, or several materials you acquire on your travels to increase the prestige of the shop which will in turn immediately grant you better weapons, items, armor, accessories and food, depending on which of the five separate shops you decide to invest in. This is a good idea, where its main downside is that it may make things a little bit unbalanced. You can’t really know if the equipment and weapons are good enough or if overpowering.
Last but not least, there are the ever-popular boss battles, typically facing large beasts, or several human bosses, which generally tend to unleash overwhelming Mystic Artes that can easily blow half your party. Particularly the final boss rendered frustrating by casting a deadly Mystic Artes every moment he can. Your characters can use the Mystic Artes later in the game, by having the side meter at full, and using the limited time allocated before it drops to zero again. The AI characters don’t particularly try to use it though which is the opposite of Graces characters which didn’t give you the chance to do at times. You can dictate strategy for your party, forcing the other AI to prioritize something over something else and whether you want them to use your stock of items. You can alternative partner up to four other human players if you have four controller, but it obviously outstretches the camera, but it surprisingly works fine once again. Also the menu’s appearance has been relatively improved and looks much nicer, and even in combat. Replaying a bit of Tales of Graces f, I couldn’t help but notice how more fluent and presentable Xillia was in motion.
Tales of Xillia is the most visually impressive anime depicted game on the PS3, with stunning in environments and impeccable character design and animation. Cutscenes run using the same game engine, remaining stunning, and this time removing the bubble dialogue format found in the older Tales games. There are still a ton of cutscenes that guide the story, occasionally opting for some anime cutscenes for important events like a huge battle in progress or something that couldn’t have been presented well with the regular setup. There is still a profound lack of blood though. Soundtrack is charming and fitting, just as to be expected from a Tales calibre game. There is only the option for English voice acting in the game, and while most of it is good, Milla’s voice is particular flat compared to the rest of the cast. And there is some annoying delay when NPCs appear in your location.
The latest iteration of the Tales series is still not the pinnacle of what the JRPG genre could offer, but it is nonetheless another successful and exciting entry in the long-running franchise. The story, while not the most interesting, has memorable characters, world and progression, despite the decision of applying two separate perspectives for want would mean a double playthrough. The improved combat’s outstanding and addictive, and whiles the new shop system and the Lilium Orbs don’t work out as well as they could have, it is without a doubt a worth JRPG for all PS3 owners.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Graphics = 8.8
Sound = 8.2
Presentation = 8.5
Gameplay = 8.8
Story = 7.5
Recommendation Level = High
Any JRPG fan would want to get their hands on it. It is a great game, filled with imaginative characters and a great, if not a typical setting
Level of Difficulty = Medium
Varied level of challenge, and the game allows difficulty setting changes from the menu. Even when losing to a boss, the menu opens before the battle, allowing you to tweak difficulty, use items and others.
Hours Played = 40 hours
One campaign should take around 25 hours, and there are some other side-quests to do. Otherwise, you can do the other character’s campaign, with the entire Grade you acquired from the first playthrough.
OVERALL = 84 / 100
Tales of Xillia further refines the series and continues to create some of the best games in the JRPG genre.