Tales of Xillia Review
When I had first heard of Tales of Xillia, I was extremely hyped for it and hoped that it would someday become an addition to my game collection. The time finally arrived where not only would I be able to buy it, but also buy it in a language I spoke. Was it worth the wait?
Release Date: August 6, 2013 (US) August 9, 2013 (UK)
Genre: JRPG
ESRB Rating: T for Teen – Blood (what…), Mild Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol(what…), Violence.
Platform: PS3
Developer: Namco Tales Studio
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
When talking about any tales game, the first thing that should be brought to anyone’s attention is: The stories can be painfully generic. Xillia does its best to try and break from that mold but fails to deliver in my opinion. I could go into detail as to why it does this, but I’d like to keep this review spoiler free. I can say that unlike the previous tales games, you have 2 main characters and can play the story from each of their perspectives. This would normally be an excellent idea, except for the fact that they made milla’s story more as a newgame+ sort of thing whereas jude’s story leaves you in the dark until the moment they want to reveal things to you.
Moving on to the most appealing part of the game, the battle system. Tales of Xillia will let you link with your allies to perform special actions and skills. The only major downside to linking is that it doesn’t work when trying to link with a human controlled player. The only side effect to linking with your allies is that when you get inflicted with a status ailment, it will spread to your partner as well. Aside from trying to set up tactical advantages, the bots will sometimes use a special move unique to each character. For example Milla will bind enemies in place and Leia can steal from enemies on the ground.
This is where the game starts to get a bit more out of balance. You have a meter of TP which acts like mana in JRPG games. TP will allow you to use artes. When you do certain artes while linked with a companion who also does another arte which is compatible, you will do a linked arte. These linked artes can do massive damage in a small amount of time. The only thing restricting you spamming them is the overlimit gauge. When you fill the gauge every 1/5th of the way, you can do your linked artes. When you fill the entire gauge and perform a linked arte, you will enter your overlimit. While in your overlimit you can spam all the linked artes in the world. You can even chain your linked artes to extend the duration of that overlimit later in the game.
While overlimits are nothing new to the tales games, the fact at how overpowered some of the linked artes and how easily they can be chained raises some balance issues. It’s not nearly as bad as some other tales games but it is definitely something that should be balanced a bit better. Though regardless of the balancing issues for the players, it is still somewhat kept in check by the level 99 cap. Unlike most older tales games which let you hit levels above and beyond 100.
As always, at the end of your first playthrough you can spend accumulated grade to buy new buffs and rewards for your 2nd playthrough. The system to get grade hasn’t changed much since Tales of Graces. For those who don’t know how it works, the short version is that you perform specific actions to receive titles; Titles give you grade. You will unlock a fair amount of grade by simply completing the story mode but it will still require some grinding if you wish to get some really fun ng+ runs.
Pros
– Linked artes are pretty cool
– Most voicing was done well
– New combat system is fun
– Jude isn’t as douchey as other tales games main characters.
– We actually got the idolm@sters dlc (Where is my Miku in Graces F namco?)
– the concept of 2 main characters was great for the idea of linked artes
– Chivalry
Cons
– Milla’s voice
– Certain linked artes are extremely overpowered.
– They leave a huge chunk of gameplay out of a section of milla’s story. It feels like it was designed to be made for newgame+ runs
– Teepo’s voice
– Milla’s voice
– Milla’s voice
– That
– god
– damn
– lisp
– Milla’s voice
– “Go Teepo! Sharing is caring!”
– Milla’s voice
– Did I mention Milla’s voice?
Tales of Xillia is another solid edition to the Tales of series even though it was more rushed than the others. Aside from some linked artes breaking the balance of the game and Milla’s voice breaking the balance of my eardrums. After playing over 200 hours of Xillia I’d say that this is as good a tales game as any other. But if Xillia leaves you begging for more, you can always wait for Xillia 2 coming out next year.
Final Score: 9/10
Posted by Haidaraaaaa under PS3, Video Game Reviews | Permalink
What did you do to get 200 hours? I only got 31 hours.
I played for 200 hours obviously
I like Milla’s voice
Let’s be serious.
What was wrong with her voice? I didn’t see you mention it in your Cons list.
Speaking of the lists, where was Rowans voice in the Pros list?
http://puu.sh/4iGyQ.jpg
I love Milla’s voice. Does it get worse as you go? Being serious.
I think you get more used to it — it doesn’t really deviate much in terms of quality. That said, I feel that while most of the voice acting was superb, the audio encoding was sub-par and degraded the experience to a degree.
I didn’t love it at first but it really grew on me. I think it fits her character pretty well.
I think the “cons” list is missing a certain handmaid.
Ivar may have been annoying but at least he was somewhat relevant to the story, unlike leia.
I will agree on Teepo’s voice, that little bastard. Milla…it could have been worse.
Yeah, Milla’s voice wasn’t that bad compared to Teepo’s, it was alright. (despite the lisp)
What, no complaints about fresh mutton? And if you’re going to complain about Elize, I think her “Don’t worry everyone!” was infinitely more irritating. What difficulty did you play it on?
I fucking love fresh mutton. No matter where you are, you will always have fresh mutton.
Yeah Elize wouldn’t stop spamming that phrase, it was annoying lol.
Dat lisp, as long as you tried not to listen to it, it was ok.
you forgot this pro: Elize
I got used to english Milla but everytime I see a YT video with Miyuki Sawashiro as Milla, I’m shedding manly tears.
pretty much this
Ouch, I had to go check out her Japanese voice after reading this and it’s worlds better. Jude’s voice is worse, though.
You made me go look her up and damn, if you aren’t right. She was Inaba in Kokoro Connect and Fujiko Mine in the recent Lupin shows, Shinku in Rozen Maiden and tons of other awesome shows.
Dammit, Namco, what is your problem with Japanese voices?
Where is our I@m theme in EU ? ; (((((((
I think Xillia peaked in Chapter 3, but was rushed toward the end and so fell kinda flat. The game had lot of polish compared to other Tales games, so the ending was particularly disappointing.
Yeah it was really short for the 1st playthrough compared to other Tales games. You could finish it in a little over a week.
like in everytime, i always hope for voice settings to be both sides but we always get the english one, but they always somehow starts to be ok when you keep playing the tales games, im still curretnly trying for last trophys in this game, i played on milla first now on jude almost at the end :)
The voices can’t be that bad.
Example of bad voices
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-oLBkSxrho
Whoa bro. Whoa.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pD83hmKjr0
No man. THIS is bad. SO4 was heaven in comparison.
I didn’t mind Milla’s voice. Alvin, the handmaid, and those two pink-girls were annoying. Mannnnn I wanted to pimp slap them. Making fun of my Elize.
You didn’t like Alvin’s voice? That’s interesting, I thought it was one of the better ones. I’m kind of sad that I couldn’t have Gintoki voice Alvin, though.
Alvin’s voice was great, in my opinion. As blasphemous as it sounds, I liked his English voice better than #basedSugita’s.
I have to say they did Alvin’s voice really well. It was fitting for him.
got it atm haven’t started it yet, though you didn’t mention tales of symphonias Ultimate weapons that can have infinite damage :( oh well lol looking forward to having some time to play this one :D
I don’t really have to mention them because they are not a part of the main story. These are not anything new either.
http://aselia.wikia.com/wiki/Fell_Arms
http://aselia.wikia.com/wiki/Devil%27s_Arms
http://aselia.wikia.com/wiki/Six_Catalyst_Weapons
>not playing undub version
i don’t think the people who gave the game to us to review would enjoy that
Didn’t you wrote that you bought it?
“The time finally arrived where not only would I be able to buy it, but also buy it in a language I spoke.”
they did, just hdr reviewed it instead of the person that got the game since he bought it anyway
Oh hey you actually did a review. Xillia’s been pretty fun.
Have any of you gotten platinum yet?
I’ll never get the elongated staff trophy
You forgot to mention Teepos voice, Teepos voice, Teepos goddamn Wa-Hey catch phrase and Teepos voice
I don’t have the game in general, but my best friend has it and I’ve played it with her and watched her play, and I absolutely agree with your cons list and your rating in general.
Milla’s voice is just… ugh, it annoyed me so much. I really didn’t want her to open her mouth because of it.
And when fighting, I’d always mock Elize’s voice because she says that one damn line so much that it gets stuck in your head and jfc its annoying.
Anyways, awesome review! :D
I found the land and dungeon so boring. I thought it lacked all the fun side quest and scenery that was what made tales games so immersing.