You need to keep your technical points high to be able to carry out the artes, and this gauge can be filled by using regular attacks. There is also the return of Linked Artes, where characters can pair up to carry out powerful attacks. The battle system is also similar to the first one in that it happens in real time instead of being turn based, with the return of the assault counters and technical points, each of which are used to perform attack moves and perform the arte (magic) attacks. These give a backstory to each of them, showing what they’ve been up to since the original title, and what they are doing when not with Ludger. The most interesting side quests aren’t forced upon you, and are about the individual characters themselves. To get the best equipment you need the gald to buy it, so in some cases it comes down to a case of choosing to buy the items you need or unlocking the next part of the story. There are big side quests with huge payouts that revolve around taking down elite monsters, but to do so you need the right equipment and to be a high level. Most of these side quests are either finding resources or killing a number of beasts, which at first is fun but gets a bit tedious when you have to kill 20 of the same animal to complete a side quest. In Xillia 2 you will have to go to each town’s job boards, take on the side quests and complete them until enough gald – the in game currency – has been earned to move on. It’s also opposite to Xillia 1 which did have side quests but they were completely optional and didn’t hinder progress. In a way its at odds against the story which is about alternate dimensions and a worldwide threat of instability. The game locks out locations, and so the main story, until you earn enough Gald to pay off a certain amount to unlock that area. This does have an impact on the pacing of the game, and a bit of feels like that it was implemented to drag things out. Ludger is burdened with a ridiculously high debt and must make dents in it to make any progress whatsoever. The main addition is the debt system which is introduced fairly on in the story. While Xillia 2 is a direct sequel there are quite a few changes to how the game works.
The voice work continues to be top notch too.
The skits, activated by Select, make a return where the characters speak to each other about different aspects of the world, be it the main quest or just general musings. The way the relationships were portrayed really made the game, and I’m glad to say that the same quality has remained. The majority of them keep the same charm as they had before, especially Alvin and Rowen, while others – like Elize – have matured into stronger people. The majority of the first Xillia cast do make a return in the sequel, all coming into contact with Ludger through different events, and it is good to see those characters return. In turn this affects how other characters see Ludger, and it pays to build a good relationship with all of them as they then give you gifts to help out. In this case the player has a more direct role, choosing Ludger’s responses during cut scenes. It’s quite the change from the Jude and Milla dynamic of the first game as a lot of the story and characterisation came from what they said. Over the course of the story, Elle managed to become my favourite character, probably because she reminded me of my own sibling who was exactly like her at that age. She also has her own motivation for being part of the group, after witnessing quite a horrifying spectacle at the beginning. He is joined by eight year old Elle who is the complete opposite of Ludger and talks a lot, like a child is bound to do. The first major difference is the new protagonist, Ludger, who is a rather silent character. You could get by without doing so but then you’d miss out on a lot of background information. Before you do jump in it is advisable to play the first Xillia because of how many references are made to the events of it. A lot can change in a year, and a lot has in this return to the lands of Riese Maxia and Elympios, as each of the characters deal with the consequences of the first game. This is the second time I’ve entered the world of Xillia, with my first foray coming from the first game which I reviewed last year.
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