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McTimmy posted:She has to move like that or otherwise her legs clip through her dress. "Dress"
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Nov 3, 2014 20:54
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Ometeotl posted:"Dress" It's far more respectable than Milla's garb, that's for drat sure.
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Nov 3, 2014 20:58
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Kaboom Dragoon posted:It's far more respectable than Milla's garb, that's for drat sure. They were custom made by her handmaid. Her handmaid does a lot of stuff for her. The four great spirits do stuff for her as well. Slyph for example styles her hair.
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Nov 3, 2014 22:16
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Judge Tesla posted:I guess the game intends you to play as Jude first, then Milla the next time around, though I did the opposite and played as Milla on my first playthrough. From what I've played of the game so far, it feels more like Milla's version of the story is a little truncated, but what they cut out is mostly the very stereotypical Tales stuff that you've seen a billion times, so I'd personally call it the better version of events for anyone who is tired of the Tales series' status quo. Overall, I like Jude, but "inoffensive-and-otherwise-stereotypical JRPG main" isn't a glowing review compared to the option of Milla's fresher perspective on Tales Plot.
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Nov 3, 2014 23:00
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There's just something about Jude that I don't like. I'm not sure what. Maybe it's his voice, or maybe it's just him being a Generic Inoffensive Protagonist. Milla I do like though, for not taking any guff and trying to drown him the second he disregards her command to "shut up". That's someone I can respect.
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Nov 4, 2014 03:19
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MonsterEnvy posted:They were custom made by her handmaid. Her handmaid does a lot of stuff for her. The four great spirits do stuff for her as well. Slyph for example styles her hair. I do love that the group's reaction to learning her handmaid picked her clothes was "This explains so much". 
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Nov 4, 2014 03:28
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I don't really get why people are calling Jude generic. I mean, I'm not a huge fan of him, but he's a lot more lowkey than the average Young Male JRPG Protagonist. He isn't Lloyd Irving or anything.
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Nov 4, 2014 04:38
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Really, the only Tales protagonists that I'd honestly call 100% generic are Cless and Reid. Stahn might also qualify, depending on how endearing you find the fact that he may actually be the stupidest human alive. Basically, once the series hit the PS2 era, Namco suddenly realized that characters were better when they had more than one dimension.
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Nov 4, 2014 04:44
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Even Reid has the fact that he flatout doesn't really want to be there. He's basically a lazy dog in human form. All he wants to do is eat and sleep and gently caress saving the world.
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Nov 4, 2014 04:47
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I wouldn't call him generic, just very flat. But at least he fights with his fists instead of the standard sword, and he's a medical student of all things.
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Nov 4, 2014 05:06
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Jude's better in Xillia 2 when he's not being shoehorned into being more important than the story really wants him to be.
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Nov 4, 2014 05:15
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Feinne posted:Jude's better in Xillia 2 when he's not being shoehorned into being more important than the story really wants him to be. Jude's still not the holder of the "most improved for Xillia 2" title for me, it's Gaius.
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Nov 4, 2014 05:17
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Endorph posted:Even Reid has the fact that he flatout doesn't really want to be there. He's basically a lazy dog in human form. All he wants to do is eat and sleep and gently caress saving the world. He also has the most sarcastic voice known to man.
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Nov 4, 2014 05:22
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Endorph posted:I don't really get why people are calling Jude generic. I mean, I'm not a huge fan of him, but he's a lot more lowkey than the average Young Male JRPG Protagonist. He isn't Lloyd Irving or anything. He's not so much generic, as he's very stereotypical. By that I mean, his development as a character is pretty straightforward, and while I actually -like- the way he develops, his story is more like a character arc in the main plot and when the game focuses it around him, it feels out-of-place. His perspective also seems to focus on more of the anime tropes that Westerners don't like (like the young girls of the party). This isn't to say that Milla's perspective is free of anime tropes, that's impossible, this is a Tales game, I think they are considered the birthplace of anime-styled video game tropes. But Milla's tropes are less common and more to a Westerner's taste. (At least thus far that I've played of the two perspectives, haven't finished them yet.)
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Nov 4, 2014 12:52
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The obligatory Tales revelation that someone's loving with the spirits seems to have come out weirdly early.
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Nov 5, 2014 02:44
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Glazius posted:The obligatory Tales revelation that someone's loving with the spirits seems to have come out weirdly early. It's literally the first line of the game.
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Nov 5, 2014 02:48
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It's not the plot twist anyway. Granted, I don't know what the plot twist is yet, I haven't even gotten the whole party together, if the intro cinematic is any indication. I wish Raven was in this game. I wish Raven was in every game. Raven 4 President.
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Nov 5, 2014 03:53
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Glazius posted:The obligatory Tales revelation that someone's loving with the spirits seems to have come out weirdly early. This is what, the 14th main series game now? Maybe the writers/characters are getting genre-savvy?
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Nov 5, 2014 12:02
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I got rather angry at the game for, well, not committing to having the separate introductions. Yes, the introduction stuff only on the Jude path is largely those standard Tales things, but to replace them the Millia path has...nothing. Absolutely nothing. So when Jude, in a skit, expresses grief over the professor's fate, and I've only played Millia's side of the story to that point, I'm fully aware how out of the loop I am. It kind of set me off at the time and I didn't get very far past it.
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Nov 5, 2014 12:55
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DjinnAndTonic posted:This is what, the 14th main series game now? Maybe the writers/characters are getting genre-savvy? "You know the drill by now, spirits in danger, go save 'em" Hell, we see the
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Nov 5, 2014 13:35
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Gullwhacker posted:So when Jude, in a skit, expresses grief over the professor's fate, and I've only played Millia's side of the story to that point, I'm fully aware how out of the loop I am. It kind of set me off at the time and I didn't get very far past it.
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Nov 5, 2014 14:02
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Wasn't Kresnik a character in a previous Tales game?
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Nov 5, 2014 15:12
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Gullwhacker posted:I got rather angry at the game for, well, not committing to having the separate introductions. Yes, the introduction stuff only on the Jude path is largely those standard Tales things, but to replace them the Millia path has...nothing. Absolutely nothing. So in a game with dual protagonists and divergent storylines, you're angry you didn't see things from another characters perspective when your selected protagonist wasn't present, or even indirectly related, to said events? BottledBodhisvata posted:Wasn't Kresnik a character in a previous Tales game? Could you be thinking of Kratos?
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Nov 5, 2014 16:07
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I think it's that Milla didn't really get any kind of introduction, like Jude does, she just immediately goes into the plot.
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Nov 5, 2014 16:08
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BottledBodhisvata posted:Wasn't Kresnik a character in a previous Tales game? Momomo posted:I think it's that Milla didn't really get any kind of introduction, like Jude does, she just immediately goes into the plot.
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Nov 5, 2014 16:09
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Endorph posted:No. There isn't really much needed for her anyway, though it is admittedly abrupt. The entire reason she went there's pretty cut-and-dry, so there's really nothing to drag it out. Jude actually needed a reason to be there in the first place.
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Nov 5, 2014 16:11
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My complaint with the Milla side is that, despite supposedly having her as the main character, we barely ever get to know her actual thoughts on the situation. There's a ton of information we should technically know as Milla, but it never comes up until it's revealed as some sort of plot twist for the rest of the cast. I don't know why they decided to go with the pickable-main-character thing, but they didn't do a good job at it. Almost as if it was intended to be Jude only all along and the Milla side got shoved in later.
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Nov 5, 2014 16:17
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You could say the same thing about a lot of stuff in this game, though (like the story for instance). It just had a really odd development and things are kind of half baked, I don't really think they shoved her story in later on.
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Nov 5, 2014 16:34
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The game feels like it was designed for you to play Jude's side first, and then to replay it as Milla for a different perspective on a few key scenes. Which is a terrible because you also have to play the entire rest of the game that's mostly the same, and they let you play Milla's route first without warning you. I think it would have worked a lot better to have only one storyline that lets you play as both of them sequentially whenever they split up. Also, Jude is totally the sidekick here (the Watson to Milla's Sherlock), but it's a story that's meant to be told from the sidekick's perspective.
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Nov 5, 2014 18:16
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Clarste posted:The game feels like it was designed for you to play Jude's side first, and then to replay it as Milla for a different perspective on a few key scenes. Which is a terrible because you also have to play the entire rest of the game that's mostly the same, and they let you play Milla's route first without warning you. I think it would have worked a lot better to have only one storyline that lets you play as both of them sequentially whenever they split up. Let me tell you about Whatshisname's Egg. Game, I got it the first ten times, there's no need to go into repetition. (To be fair, it's nowhere close to "Courage is the Magic that" shut the gently caress up goddmmit)
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Nov 5, 2014 18:54
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Omobono posted:Let me tell you about Whatshisname's Egg. Game, I got it the first ten times, there's no need to go into repetition. (To be fair, it's nowhere close to "Courage is the Magic that" shut the gently caress up goddmmit) I remember waiting for the payoff of them constantly talking about Howe's egg, but I can't remember if it ever actually came.
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Nov 5, 2014 19:12
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It serves as a scientific explanation that Spirits exist. It's not really a payoff, it gets explained really early how people realized Spirits existed despite being almost always invisible to humans.
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Nov 5, 2014 20:00
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Bricoleur posted:It serves as a scientific explanation that Spirits exist. It's not really a payoff, it gets explained really early how people realized Spirits existed despite being almost always invisible to humans. If that were simply the case then they wouldn't need to keep bringing it up after the initial explanation. I thought the experiment itself would serve as inspiration for something that happened later.
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Nov 5, 2014 20:52
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No, after that it just serves as a dumb Sherlock Holmes "eliminate the impossible" substitute because Sherlock Holmes doesn't exist in their world.
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Nov 5, 2014 21:15
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I was going to update today, but I feel really dang exhausted so it probably won't happen.
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Nov 9, 2014 04:14
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Sit back, relax, enjoy some crablettes.
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Nov 9, 2014 04:22
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CH3: We're Lucky there's no Breathing Tutorial : Jude's actually a pretty good swimmer. Or maybe the water was just shallow. Or both. But they made it out. I like that they made special "wet" textures for the two of them.  I like that they included the busted door where they entered in this shot.  : So you really have lost the power of the Four Great Spirits. What are you going to do now? There's no way you could destroy that device without their power.  : You have a point. Perhaps if I were to return to Nia Khera... Listen, you've been a great help, Jude. Thank you. You should go home now.  : Wait! : Yeah she wasn't waiting.: Unfortunately, they weren't clear yet. quote:There's a tiny difference here if you're Milla, since you're following her rather than Jude. : Milla!  : How foolish, Jude. You should have gone home like I asked. Guard: You in cahoots with her? : Milla saw an opening to strike, but...  : What?! Haven't you ever wielded a sword before?  : Of course, but I always relied on the Four's power to guide my arm. It feels quite different without their help. Guard: Come quietly or else!  : I can't believe I'm doing this!  So with the power of the Four gone, Milla's lost her magic bullet attack style and doesn't really have anything left. At least under player control she can hit things, although her maximum combo is hardlocked at ONE ATTACK.  : What's gotten into me? : You've saved me again, Jude. Thank you.  : Listen, you'd better get out of Fennmont while you can. : Right. You have my gratitude. : The city entrance is always crawling with police. You'd be safer heading to the seahaven. : Hmm, the seahaven.  : You don't know where it is, do you? This way.  : Oh come on! Lady Milla was not that helpless, and that *MPH HFUMPF*: I'm sorry, but it's rude to interrupt the primary storyteller like that. : That seems a little harsh.: You don't have this guy reporting to you.: I've been in... similar situations. Gag away I guess.: *MPH!!!!*: I'll let you talk if you behave.: I'm sorry to have put you in this situation. : It's okay. Besides, I still owe you for saving me. I'll show you to the seahaven. : Their fates were forever linked that day.: *RRRRFFFFF!!!!!*: Kicking? Really? You earned extra time out, mister! : Hah-choo! If Efreet were here, I'd never have to be drenched like this. : Nobody intercepted them on the way to the seahaven, but... : Huh, what's going on?   : Mr. Eldin? Is that you? Wh-What's going on here?  : Jude Mathis. I have a warrant for your arrest. There's one for her too. I'm authorized to use force if necessary, but I don't want to hurt you. : But wait, just hold on a minute. We may have done a little breaking-and-entering, but that hardly makes us public enemy number one!  :So much for that. It looks like they're not listening. : Mr. Eldin! : I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I have my orders. : Jude, I can't let them capture me.  : Then we'll do it the hard way. Go on, get her!     : All those fireworks really set the civilians panicking! : But Milla noticed something else leaving.: This is goodbye, Jude. Forgive me for all of this.  : And she dashed off while Jude stood there too confused to move! Classic.: Think your next move over carefully, Doc. The more trouble you give us, the harder your sentence.  : It's just that... I just wanted to... : But someone else intervened.   His combat style is NOT normally this fast.  : Wh-Who are you?  : Save the chit-chat for later. Your lovely lady friend's about to set sail, you know. : Wait, but I...  : Listen close, kid. The military issued your warrant, and with the Military Powers Act invoked... You're an X-marked criminal. If they catch you, you'll face… execution! : What, execution?!  : Jude wasn't fast enough for his tastes. : Ah!     : I hope you're sturdier than you look.    Impacts seem a little more... impactful in Xillia. Remember the giant "CLANG" sound that Girl in Red made when Milla knocked her out? Sailor: What's going on here?! : The military's doing drills or something on shore. We were just getting out of their way. Come on. Do you really think a pipsqueak, a pretty girl, and a dashing man like me would be up to no good?  : Umm... : It's Alvin. : Huh? : That's my name. You said that you're Jude, right? : Uh, yes sir. And this is Milla.  :: Hang in there, kid. : The ship was an international civilian voyage, so the Rashugal army had no way of forcing it to stop once it left the harbor.  : That captain needs to lay off a bit. Is he planning to grill us the entire voyage? : What do you expect? We don't have any sort of identification. : Speak for yourselves. : I can't believe we're heading to Auj Oule. : Look. We're leaving Fennmont's spirit clime.   : You said you're a med student? Didn't expect that. : Hey, can I ask you something? Why did you save us? What's in it for you? : Well, cash, of course. : How does saving us make you money? : Simple. I figure you must be in serious trouble if the military's after you. : Now that I've swung to your rescue and impressed you with my derring-do, I can charge you for my services.  : Charge us what? I'm nearly broke. : Same goes for me, I'm afraid. : Seriously? I take more than just cash, you know. Don't you have any precious metals? Jewels? Rich relatives about to croak? : Nothing on me. Everything happened so fast. : I doubt I have anything that would sell for a high price either. : What exactly do you do, Alvin? You look like a soldier, but you sure don't act like one. : Heh! You're on the right track, kid. I'm a mercenary. It's better than being a soldier. We don't have to follow orders. We set our own hours. And we help people... for a price. : Well, it would seem like you helped us for free. : Ah, well. It's a risk of the trade. Maybe I'll find some paying customers in Auj Oule. : Sorry about that.  : Charity work... Wonderful. Are we there yet? : ...... : Nothing else really happened on the trip over. : It's hard to believe we're in a whole different country. Although it feels just like home. : Hmm? Well, this part of Auj Oule is hardly what I'd call exotic. : Huh. Hey, there's a map! Let me check it out for a bit.  : Brave kid, the way he plays it cool. : Decided to make the best of it, has he? He's not as immature as he looks. : Would it kill you to show a little concern? You dragged him into this, right? : He insisted on helping me. I told him again and again to go home, but he wouldn't listen. He's here of his own accord. : Heh, I see. He believes he got himself into this mess, so now he has to put on a brave face. Either way, he's still acting like an adult.  : Hmm... So? You leaving now? : No... Alvin, you must be well versed with a sword. Mercenaries like you must have some battle chops. : Well, yeah, of course. : Could you teach me how to use one? I don't have the Four to back me up anymore. If I can't wield a sword, what's left? : The Four? Not sure I follow. But I'd be more than happy to teach you, if only you had some cash. : So you won't help? : Here, how about we make some moolah while I train you? : What do you mean? : Well... There's got to be some paying customers here in the seahaven, right? Let's take a look around. OK, this is our cue to pick up a sidequest so the game can explain how sidequests (they call them "sub events") work.   Just so we can't miss it, the cutscene ends with us facing a lady with a sidequest for us. Although it's not really a sidequest since we must complete it to proceed. Skit: The Calamity Key  A brief note, Milla got the "Key of Kresnik" item when she lost the Four, but only on her path. : So this must be the key they use to arm it. Do you want something? : Whoa, hold your fire! I come in peace! Can't a mercenary have a friendly chat with his client? : That much is fine. But when you want to chat, you needn't hold your breath and sneak up behind me. : Yeesh, you make me sound so unsavory. : Do you berate poor Jude like this too? : I don't intend to berate anyone. That was never my intention. : Do try to be gentle with him. Boys can be so vulnerable. : That's a surprisingly tender sentiment. : That's what it says on my business card. "The mercenary with a heart of gold." : Those are good words to live by. Although with a motto like that, I can't imagine you'd live very long. : Heh. Not the type to sugarcoat things, are you? Skit: Witness for the Defense  : What are you up to? : Just trying to organize all of my notes for my thesis.  : Nose in the books at a time like this? You sure are studious. : Yeah, probably a waste of time. I'm sure I've already been expelled, being an "X-marked criminal" and all. : Aw, cheer up, kid! If I get a chance, I'll testify to the military and the school on your behalf. Shouldn't be hard to make the case that you're just a poor kid who got sucked into this.  : Thanks.  : But, aren't you a wanted criminal too?  : Ah, that. I guess I did flee along with you. : So if we get captured, I'll testify for you! I'll tell them that you're nowhere near as shady as you look. : Haha, I'll take it as a compliment. : It was time for Milla to really learn how to fight. Lady: Oh, you're mercenaries? Perfect timing. : What kind of request? : Someone's got a problem with monsters, and we get paid to solve their problem. : Ah. So by taking on these jobs, you get the reward and I get the practice. : Right. Everybody wins. Except the monsters. : Okay, hit us with the details. Lady: Some monsters we've never seen before are lurking near a lake west of this seahaven. A lot of people depend on that lake for water, so those monsters have become a real nuisance. I'm looking for someone to exterminate the beasts. : What's the reward? Lady: Cash, of course. : You heard the woman. Thoughts? : Sounds fine to me. Fighting monsters will be good training. Lady: Excellent. Now, these beasts are no pushovers, so please watch yourselves. : About your sword training... The monsters aren't just going to stand there like training dummies, you know. We should go over some basics first. : I appreciate it. : Ready your sword. : It took Milla little time to get the basics down. She's smart.: Well, that'll do.  Notice the thing on her hip? I'll go over the attachment system soon enough. : Shall we go? : Wait, Jude. Take a moment to consider your situation. You don't have to stay with me anymore, you know. : R-Right... : Now that we've crossed the border, it'll be a while before any pursuers from Rashugal get here. : What are you suggesting? : Just that he still has some time to think things over. : Sorry, I'll make up my mind by the time you set off. : Okay, very well. Let's go and complete that request. : You thought you were doing the right thing, and now you're on the run. That's a pretty tough lesson for a kid your age. : Yeah, but I brought it upon myself. : On the way out of town, they ran into a little trouble.  : Mine too! : Wait, you two have orbs, too? Great! We should try Linked Combat. : What's that? : Lilium Orbs are handy things. They let you sense your companions' intent. That's a huge advantage in battle. You can coordinate your thoughts to pull off combination attacks. We call this Linking. : Sounds great, but how do we do it? : Try it and see for yourself. Focus your consciousness into the Lilium Orb!  So now we have another tutorial fight. This covers the main gimmick of the game, Linking. That blue line connecting Jude and Milla is a Link. Jude, as the player character, initiated the link and is the primary partner. Milla is the support partner and provides her partner ability, Bind.  While she's Linked, Milla will use a different AI routine, flanking enemies or guarding your rear. The option to not do this was added in Xillia 2, which refines a great deal of things that were troublesome before. Incidentally, if you watched the Tipping 40s' Tales of Symphonia LP or otherwise remember that Tales games allow four-player coop, the question you might be wondering is "what happens if the character I'm controlling becomes linked by someone else?" IIRC the answer is "LOL sucks to be you."  Milla's partner ability is Bind. It paralyzes the enemy briefly. It triggers randomly and when you stun enemies, with the random part being more likely on "speed-type" enemies like that wolf.  This is what I meant earlier about guarding your rear. They'll automatically attack enemies moving to attack you from behind.  Then there's the combination attacks Alvin mentioned earlier. They're triggered when you fill a segment of the Linked Artes Gauge on the left. The game won't let you fill the next segment until you do, so hammer away.  Incidentally as part of the regular attack chain, you've got a knock'em in the air and knock'em down move like this.  But let's do this.  Your partner teleports into position for these.  Jude and Milla simultaneously launch a blade of wind, creating a deadly x-formation of high-pressure air.  If you hang out in the OSHA thread in GBS you'll know being killed by high-pressure gasses isn't just some game thing. I'm just glad this isn't an M-rated game.  Quick look at Jude's Demon Fist. It's like Demon Fang, but with a fist.  And here's Healer, a short-ranged health nova of sorts. These are ridiculously common in Xillia 2, where EVERYONE who doesn't have a "normal" heal has one by the endgame. In this game only Jude and Alvin have one. Along the way, we run into a sort of forced skit: Skit Video: There's a Town Around Here  : Wanna take a peek? : But we haven't completed our job yet. : Come on, school's out. Your homework doesn't have a due date anymore. : When you accept a request, you can take it at your own pace. : Is that the way it works? : That's the way it works. : The whole reason you took the request was to pay my fee, right? If you see another opportunity to make a few bucks, feel free to make that the priority. : I had been planning to get you paid in Nia Khera. : That so? Well, you're the client! At the end of the day, it's your call. There's a village up the east fork, but we can't get to it at the moment because there's a tree down. SURPRISE!  A quick note about the overworld. There are three kinds of things you can open to get items. Chests (which never respawn and have fixed locations), Bags (which have white icons on the map and sometimes respawn), and Gathering Points (which are blue icons and respawm fairly often).  Here's our other Linked Arte with Jude+Milla, Aerial Fire. Jude punches it up...  ...Milla shoots it down in flames.  : There. Those must be the monsters we're supposed to get rid of. : Indeed. They certainly don't look like the normal fauna for this area. : All right, let's get the job done!  ANOTHER tutorial battle. This is the last one though. Incidentally, Jude's partner ability is Restore, which heals you and stands you up when you get knocked down, as well as having a moderate chance to res you. So when you've fully filled the Linked Artes Gauge, firing off a Linked Arte puts you into Overlimit. While in Overlimit you have unending AC and can't be staggered. Moves still cost TP and you can still take damage though.  The other thing it gives you is the ability to chain Linked Artes. You can keep going until you run out of Gauge or new Artes to Link. You can switch partners in the middle of a chain to get more different Artes, but I generally don't do this because I have a sort of blind spot for doing that.   Incidentally, that's what Wind Blade looks like when cast as opposed to Spirit-Shifted. : You okay? : I can't complain. No better training than an actual battle. : You got that right. Let's head back to Aladhi Seahaven and make a report.  So here's another tutorial, on how shops in this game work. All shops of the same type (food, weapons, armor, items, accessories) in the game have the same inventory. You improve it by raising their experience bar in one of three ways. By buying things from them, by giving them items, or by giving them gald directly.  They'll show you what you can gain access to "soon." Note that their definition of "soon" is similar to that used by Blizzard or Valve.  Every so often they reroll what shops get what bonuses for what items, and sometimes one or more of them get x3 instead of x2. : The return to town and handing in the request were uneventful, but...: Those monsters won't be tinkling in your water supply anymore. Lady: Wonderful. Thank you for your help. : And that's how it's done. More where that came from, too. Lots of people with problems out there, and gald to make 'em go away. : You're a real pro at this, Alvin.   : Hmm, no fever. How are you feeling? : I don't seem to have any strength. : At that moment, Milla's stomach made a super-loud growl. Frrrrr!: Um, have you been eating properly? : I've never eaten. : Ever? : Through Sylph, I drew life from the air. With Undine's power, I received sustenance from the water. : What's she talking about? : I guess the spirits gave her all the energy she needed. Well, now you're going to have to nourish yourself the old-fashioned way. : I see. So this is what you call hunger.  Jude is not amused. : So, should we rest at the inn? Now that you mention it, I could use some grub myself. So before we head to the inn for the tutorial on inns (or rather, pop-up screen on inns), we get the best thing from that sidequest. The Item Sphere, which lets us use auto-item. Any party member on Auto will use auto-items according to the priority list and conditions. It's sort of like Gambits from FFXII.  This means that I probably won't have to constantly open the menu to revive people. : So these ships have spirits channeled into their sails to intensify the winds they catch.What a clever idea. Human spirit artes can be very impressive. Skit Video: Intelligence Work  : That was quite a sigh. : So seriously, you guys are spying for Auj Oule, right? : What? Of course not. : I've never heard of the Military Powers Act being used against anyone other than Auj Oule spies. : Y-You're thinking too much into this! : Why are you so concerned about this? Unless you're spying for Rashugal. : No, no. I was just thinking that if you were spying for Auj Oule... Maybe you could use your connections to score me some high-paying intelligence work. : Sorry to disappoint you. But I assure you, I will pay your fee. You just have to wait a little bit longer. : Fair enough. But even with your "special friend" discount, the interest is piling up. : It was a port, so there was an inn right there.Innkeeper: Welcome!  I love Milla's expression here. Innkeeper: Oh, my apologies, but our cook isn't in yet.  : Can we at least use your kitchen? Innkeeper: Yes, please, help yourself. Your friend looks like she's about to pass out. : My stomach. It really is growling. Heh, and here I thought that was just a silly human expression.  : Jude's like the third-best cook I know. Or so I've heard. I'm not much of a judge.: Hey, not bad. : Not bad? It's good! I quite enjoy ingesting calories with you. Humans should learn to cherish these simple pleasures.  : And apparently she never ate before today, either. Who in the world is she? : She claims she's Maxwell. : That Maxwell? : Yeah. She's apparently a spirit in physical form. : Not just any spirit. The Lord of Spirits, Wielder of the Four Elements, the Eldest Spirit... Maxwell has many names. And now we add Milla to that list? She's supposed to be the Spirit Maxwell? You gotta be kidding me. : Is Maxwell really that mighty? : Of course. That's why this is so hard to swallow. I grew up hearing bedtime stories about Maxwell. : What in the world would a spirit like that be trying to destroy? : Trying to destroy? What're you referring to? : She called it a spyrix, I think. The device from the laboratory. : Hmm. : Maybe I should just ask Milla about it. : I don't know. You have a nasty habit of poking your nose where it doesn't belong. Your accursed curiosity made me a wanted man, too, you know. : ...... : Well, think hard before asking, okay? : Yeah, you're right. : Next morning...Milla-route Exclusive Lines posted:
: Good morning. : Good day, Jude. I was just about to share my plans with Alvin. : What is it? : I'm thinking of returning to Nia Khera. : Is that your hometown? : More accurately, it's where my shrine is. If I go back, I might be able to re-summon the Four. : So, she really is Maxwell. : This is where you come in, Jude. Will you accompany me to Nia Khera? : What? : It's true that you brought your current situation upon yourself, but I bear some of the blame as well. I'll put in a good word for you with the people of Nia Khera. I'm sure they'll look after you. : Wow, you've put a lot of thought into this. : Yes. Remember when you told me I seemed unconcerned? I decided to take that to heart. : Milla, you don't need to practice your swordplay anymore? : No need to concern yourself with my martial abilities. : Well, if nothing else, you know how to swing the pointy end. : Okay, I'll come with you. : Good. You needn't worry. : A little more practice wouldn't hurt, though. : You think so? : Better safe than sorry. Come find me once you're ready to go. : Wait, you're coming with us, Alvin? : Why not? I've come this far. : Hey, Milla? : Hmm? : Thanks. Skit Video: Creeping Suspicion  : She does act a bit nutty, but she looks normal enough. : I think it's true. : When I first met her, Milla had the Four Great Spirits with her.  : What? Get out of here. : No, seriously. Fire-spirit Efreet, water-spirit Undine, wind-spirit Sylph, and earth-spirit Gnome. It was the first time I'd ever seen them in person, but there was no mistaking who they were.  : That's a mighty exclusive club. Can't imagine they hang out with a lot of mortal girls. : Yeah. : Nobody stopped them leaving town.: Ready to hit the road? : Milla, you said it's north of here? : How far? : Less than half a day's flight time, if we could fly using Sylph's power. : Oh, well, I'm afraid my wings are, you know, nonexistent. : I hope we can find a place to rest along the way. : The map showed a village in that direction, so we should be okay. : Either way, we can't just stay here. We must press forward.  : I know. I know. Skit Video: Inside and Outside  : You sure do love that thing. : Don't you? It's one of Fissmauge's finest, custom-made for yours truly. : I don't know much about brands, but it does look good on you. : You gotta be careful about what you wear, kid. It's how the world judges a man. : I'd rather think what's inside is what counts. : Yeah. And this is how what's inside gets projected to the outside. : You don't believe some people shape what's outside in order to conceal the ugliness within? : Heh heh... Well, if you can't see through a false front, isn't that your problem? : So you blame the victims for being deceived.  : If that's really what you believe, Alvin, it tells me all I need to know about what's within. : Man, I sure slipped up this time, huh? Skit Video: Partners in Clime  : That's true. The spirit climes here are much more stable. : What are you talking about? What do you intend to climb? : C-l-i-m-e. Surely the great Lady Maxwell knows all about the subject?  : Don't flatter yourself by assuming I recognize every arbitrary word you humans create. Human arrogance can be so trying. : Milla, do you know what Rieze Maxia is made of? : As if I wouldn't know? The power of spirits composes the entire natural world. : Right. The term "spirit clime" refers to the balance of spirit power. When that power is out of balance, nature can become polarized in one direction. That's why there are unusual spirit climes, like the perpetual night of Fennmont. : I see. Thank you. Now I understand. You're very good at explaining things. : My pleasure. : Oh I see how it is. I guess I'm just an arrogant human compared to lil' ol' innocent Jude. Skit Video: The Four  : That's unexpected coming from you. : I'm just used to having Sylph fly me everywhere. The only time I ever really walked was when I used Undine to travel across water. : I see. : Maybe this is your punishment for treating the Four Great Spirits like your personal servants? : Servants? They may help out now and then, but they're the ones who pester me.  : They're like a bunch of bickering in-laws that never go home. : Did you just call the Four... : Bickering in-laws?! : Well, she's one of the few who could get away with saying that.Skit Video: Alvin's Arsenal  : You've got an eye for good steel. This is one heck of a blade. : Actually, I meant the other one. : Oh, you mean this? : Yeah. I've never seen anything like it. It looks like it channels fire spirits and projects their artes at foes. : Yeah, something like that. : That's incredible. Where'd you get it? : Oh, I see how it is. You're the envious type. : Stare all you want, kid. I ain't giving it up. : You don't have to treat me like a child. : Aw, come on. I'm just yankin' your chain! Skit Video: Of Monster Bondage  : Oh, is that what the technique is called? : Aww, I thought I'd get more of a rise out of you than that. : I'm just tired of your lies and innuendos. Just give it up already. : Oh-ho! And now I'm the one being tied down by your sadistic decrees. Sorry, Jude. I'm not that into bondage play. : But it is true that some people can only experience true intimacy when they're tied and bound. : The conversation takes a surprising turn! Are you speaking from personal experience?  : No, I read it in a book. It was called "Men and Women Beneath the Sheets". : What sort of books are you reading?! : There was a similar comment in "The Aesthetics of Being the Catcher" as well.  : That one's probably about something different.  : Oh? : W-Well, I wouldn't really know. : Sounds like Milla's more into total freedom than tying anyone down. Skit Video: Mercenary Wisdom  : I prefer to call it "powerful". On the battlefield, delicacy will only get you killed. : In real warfare, you need guts first, power second, vigor third and fourth, and instinct fifth. : Hmm. You make a persuasive argument. : Well, yeah. You're talking to a mercenary here. : How long have you been one? : For as long as I can remember. When I was your age, I was already a veteran. Trust me kid, I'm a lot wiser than I look. I've been through enough to earn it. : Since your advice carries the weight of experience, I will remember it well. : ...... : Aw, come on, no reason to bring your spirits down. You do your thing and let me do mine. I'll handle the heavy lifting. : Yeah... Okay. wdarkk fucked around with this message at 07:05 on Nov 10, 2014 |
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Nov 10, 2014 04:11
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Alvin is pretty great.
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Nov 10, 2014 04:25
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: Seriously? I take more than just cash, you know. Don't you have any precious metals? Jewels? Rich relatives about to croak? : Sorry, I left my almost-dead grandpa in my other pair of pants. Oh yeah, facing a totally unknown and apparently dangerous foe with a wimpy kid and a lady who has no idea how to use her pig sticker. Yeah, this is certainly going to go well. : Ha ha, and I wonder - does she have any concept of a bathroom?: ...: ...: Rock paper scissors for who has to explain it?: O-Okay...Milla expressing her thoughts on bondage in a total deadpan got a laugh out of me.
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Nov 10, 2014 05:38
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The last two skit videos don't have their titles on their links. It's so weird seeing Alvin without the perfect attachment on him 24/7.
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Nov 10, 2014 06:03
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