In the world of JRPG’s and Anime, sequels are an ever present fear for some fans. This is most prominent when it comes to sequels of a particular series in which the fan base is deeply entrenched. Tales of is very much a series in which fans are entrenched deeply, with the games themselves lending nods to previous titles in the way of referencing characters or straight up bringing back fan favourites for a full cameo in some rare cases. Tales of Xillia 2 doesn’t do a generic sequel, instead opting to take what was established in the original game, with enough detail and throwback to the first game without it intruding on the main story of this one, and running with it. The part that will surprise most is that it does not only deliver on this risk, but it delivers spectacularly!
Allow me to dial it back; you are now in control of Ludger Kresnik, a man of terrifying silence (for story and joke purposes) who lives with his older brother Julius Kresnik. Julius works for the Spirius Corporation in the centre of Trigleph, the capital city of Elympios. For those of you who didn’t play the first game, what I am about to speak will sound crazy, so here is a short crash course on game one. Milla Maxwell is a goddess; she came down to Rieza Maxia to fix a problem known as the Lance of Kreswnik. After a long bit of game in between the lance went off anyway and ripped a massive hole in the sky revealing that the sky wasn’t a sky, but a phenomenon known as the Schism, separating the flourishing world of Rieza Maxia, home of Spirits and Artes, from the withered Elympios which relies more heavily on technology as we might see it on earth today. These two worlds are connected, where more of the first game took place and we ended up having to fight Gaius and his sword that can cut time and space. After we won, Jude, the protagonist from the first game, took on the responsibility of finding a way to allow Elympions and Rieza Maxians to live in harmony with spirits and technology.
This is basically where our story begins; Ludger is on his way to the train station to start his new job as a barrier attendant when he runs into Jude. He is on his way to the station as well, which you can choose to accompany him there at which point you will run into Elle, the girl you see from the opening cutscene and her pocket watch, and here is where the game starts to present more of itself too you. You get a taste at how different this game will be from its predecessor. The joy of a wordless (mostly) protagonist is that you can make all his choices in spoken dialogue. The game does this fairly well but it is sometimes very jarring when you make a choice and then the characters react as if they had something to react from. It’s sometimes like there was a clear cut where Ludger was speaking, and they reacted to his speech, but until you finish the game once and turn on the feature it doesn’t register well all the time.
On your way you meet the entire previous cast of the last game including the two main Antagonists in Muzet, Milla’s sister and another spirit, and the powerful Erston (Gaius) who is the King of Rieza Maxia, who will fight alongside you in a slightly more enhanced version of the battle system named – Cross Double-Raid Linear Motion Battle System (XDR-LMBS). Essentially it is a slightly overhauled version of the system in Tales of Xillia, which didn’t have the word cross in it! This system isn’t just a fancy name, it is also enhances the way the battle system works, allowing more complicated combo’s to be pulled off. This means that during the Over Limit state during battle, you can perform Linked Artes with the person you have linked to your character, but also change your link to another character and continue the chain. This action increases damage output as much as anything else, diversifying how you do damage, and with what elements and/or characters.
Outside of specials, the new system also introduces a form of element abuse. Attacking a creature with its weaker element puts them in a state that allows for increased damage against all elements. Attacking with different elements changes the marked element on the enemy and increases the timer left for damage output. Of everything else happening with the system it is almost completely identical to Tales of Xillia. The battle system for the first game was fantastic, in this instalment the game goes above and beyond enough to separate itself from its predecessor, making it a smoother experience than the first.
A new system in this game is the Debt, which is new just for Tales of Xillia 2, albeit not welcome! For example, you are lumbered with a whopping 20,000,000 Gald Debt right at the start of the game, meaning the wonderfully vibrant but annoying Nova will call you with disquieting frequency to pester you for your hard earned monster slaughtered Gald. There are pre-set amounts to pay, and when you get a certain amount over that limit she will force you, with a smile, to hand over your earnings. Eventually you will be forced to pay in segments as the game progresses, but overall it’s not terrible, just annoying on occasion. Tales of Xillia 2 does have a great story however, deepening your connection to the characters from the previous game, while smoothly giving you a thorough detail on Ludgers unique situation. The game doesn’t speed past it and when the twist hits you, it hits you hard! Tales of Xillia 2 possesses a truly brilliant story and is very well told.
It isn’t even like they only focus on this one aspect story wise, each character has their own “Arc” as it were, told episodically over the course of the game, bringing each character over a great journey showing their individual growth in many unique ways. Skits are as lively as ever, clearly segmented into categories so you know what kind of skit you will view. Some skits are story based, continuing conversations that were had during the previous cutscene or fight. Other skits are usually filed under etc. or event, meaning you will learn deeper about characters or see what kind of mischief Muzet is getting up too. One of the more unique ways it does this is with the Fractured Dimensions, the story of which would include small spoilers, they are essentially dimensions of the world we are in that could be referred to as “What if” worlds. This divergence bringing more depth to each characters story in one way or another, each dimension you enter expands on each characters story and development.
This is what captures fans in these games; it’s the characters and their developments. Ludger however does take the win here, despite the fact that he doesn’t say much; he does have a great story as the main character, a fantastic combat style and a brilliant accomplice in Elle and Rollo the cat. Honestly though, I will admit I had my worries about this being a sequel, but this is how you do it right, enough of a back-story from the previous game without ramming it down your throat. A smooth transition in perfectly with the worldly goings on in the main story quest. I cannot help but admit that this game is brilliant, even if the debt system is frustrating as hell at the start; the game plays well, fights well, has minimal loading times and is gorgeous to look at. Tales of Xillia 2 captured me and didn’t let go until the very end! I guess the wait now begins for the brand new entry Tales of Zestiria to bring a brand new style and flash to the Tales series innovative JRPG style.