Giving Games a 2nd Chance | My Thoughts on Xenoblade Chronicles 2

[@uppernimbus]

I'm so glad you enjoyed Xenoblade 2 in the end, the game is one of my favourites! Loved hearing your thoughts, always fun listening to other people's experiences with the Xenoblade series!

[@nishquikpops]

I LOVED this video! It makes me happy to see people give XC2 a second shot and I'm very happy you did! It's one of my favorite games ever and one of the few games that really increased in my rankings of favorites of all time the more I thought about it. It also has my personal favorite ending of any video game ever. Also I loved the intro haha!

[@jericho7173]

The first 10 hours of XC2 was ruff for me. I didn't get the combat, the tutorials didn't help, The world and the chracters kept me going but I wasn't digging it. Then about a month later I kept playing and 430 hours later I love the game and 100% it.

[@TheTOShow1]

I did the same thing with Octopath Traveler. I put about 10 hours into it and moved on to something else even though I liked OT. The story didn't grab me as much as I would have hoped but the combat, graphics, music, and gameplay was top notch. I'll get back to it this year. I hear the story of OT2 was better so hope to get to that one at some point!

[@cassiodvieira]

The best KZbinr apology out there! I absolutely adore XC2 and it's also my favorite OST in the series.

[@MagillanicaLouM]

This series in general seems to be the punching bag of any Nintendo outside its own core fanbase (at least online). Even speaking as someone not interested in the series much at all, it's a little weird to watching how much crap it gets for no good reason usually lol

[@hector4470]

Which is ridiculous because it is absolutely one of the best RPG series in gaming currently.

[@OxygenC2]

Most western nintendo fans aren't as open to anime in general. Fire emblem except 3 houses is also another nintendo staple that gets a little too much flak than is necessary.

[@-lord1754]

Its even weirder with FE because that series is way older than most of the other series that are highly praised. I wish nintendo fans didnt act like such toddlers lol@@OxygenC2

[@Alban_Blade_Memer]

​​@@-lord1754 for their defense xenoblade and fire emblem are way more time consuming (outside breath of the wild and tears of the kingdom) so I understand why the fanbase aren't really interested in. My bro 100% pikim 4 in 50 h which is at sword valley for xenoblade 1, I just got my skell in xenoblade x, chapter 7 of xenoblade 2 and chapter 6 of xenoblade 3. For fire emblem I'm not that an expert but it took mea lot of time for finishing Azure moon and there is 4 route. I retry sacred stone map few times because I was dumm enough for letting a character die

[@-lord1754]

@@Alban_Blade_Memer Fair enough. I assume you mean more time consuming though not less right

[@monolithsoft_guy]

And now we're awaiting your 1 hour-apology video for why you haven't played Xenoblade Chronicles X, yet! ;P

[@xxxprincethe2nd793]

For a second, I thought this was going to be the worst apology video ever, but then you turned it around real quick and gave a solid review. Great work 😂

[@Rizky-Gumilar]

Xenoblade series is freakin underrated masterpiece. Hope someday Nintendo remake Xenoblade X

[@Alban_Blade_Memer]

One day... Probably after xenoblade IX

[@johnconnor5157]

@@Rizky-Gumilar Dia gamau lo der...

[@TimothyTasi]

This aged very well

[@asprinjuice425]

I'm so glad you decided to give it another chance! It's one of my favorite games and I always love more people getting into it and experiencing it

[@madkaiser4887]

Good video, it's nice to see people giving Xenoblade Chronicles 2, a 2nd chance or even games in general.

[@GeminiSunrise06]

I was relief when you pep up again near the beginning 😅 you got me there. It's so important to give a game a 2nd chance especially when you pick up because of the hype train! I would have missed so many game if i didnt gave them a 2nd or even 3rd chance 😮

[@WarrenGdog28]

Give Trials of Mana a chance

[@GeminiSunrise06]

@@WarrenGdog28 i platinium trials of mana! I enjoyed it a lot! Can't wait for vision of mana.

[@Mustafascerity]

Video appeared in my recommendations and my first impression was "this voice sounds SO similar to Mythra!!!!". As a huge fan of XC2 I really enjoyed hearing your story with the game!

[@qualitea_individual]

Thank you so much!!! A few people have been saying the Mythra thing and it’s honestly beyond an honor, I never would have thought!😂😂

[@orangepotato2112]

You had us in the first half! Well done mate :D

[@rpglife7268]

I having a very similar experience with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 right now. I started playing the game and I put in about 15 hours before dropping it at the same exact point in the story where you did. I was playing directly after finishing Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition. And I loved it so much that I just wanted more. But XC2 was so different and I got so overwhelmed with all the different. Now I picked it up again and I absolutely love it.

[@millasgameroom]

Great video Alex! Much like you I originally put down Xenoblade 2 and didn't get around to it again for a while, but when i did i also loved it! Glad you gave it a second chance!

[@qualitea_individual]

Thank you!!! I’m really glad I did too! Sometimes I just think about this game and honestly kind of just swoon😅

[@yochrisnelson]

I loved this video, as always. You’re sooo damn funny, I was cracking up constantly and I loved the KZbinr apology bit. Also the conversational style worked great, especially if it’s easier to produce on your end. Great stuff! I rarely actually BEAT games as a kid with ADD so I’ve been atoning for my gamer sins left and right. The Ubisoft umbrella (Assassin’s Creed 1&2, WatchDogs, FarCry 3) ended pretty much the way I expected but Luigi’s Mansion and Super Mario Galaxy had to be seen through to the end. Next up, Windwaker & Pokémon Yellow!

[@Sar1386]

Ur hair looks lovely, glad u gave something another go and enjoyed it. It’s always a blessing to open our minds to the possibility of a change of opinion. I will soon start xenoblade chronicles (1), I know between that and fire emblem I have so much to learn but I have to finish Zelda TOTK first so I won’t have too many huge worlds going on at the same time. If any xenoblade or fire emblem fans have any tips I would be so grateful. Take care.😀

[@qualitea_individual]

Thank you so much!! I really hope you enjoy the first game when you start it up! And that the end of ToTK goes smoothly too!

[@angietrif]

I like when you talk about games in this more casual way! There are plenty of reviews out there so do what suits you best and that you enjoy 😊

[@qualitea_individual]

Eeee thank you!! Yeah I really liked doing this one so I think I might end up doing a few more like it!!

[@claudeernestbarcelona2465]

I love that I relate to this so much. I played until Uraya (Chapter 3) and stopped because of reasons we already know but also because I just jumped out of Breath Of The Wild without the game actually satiating me. My mind was having a hard time keeping up with XBC2, all the while, BOTW was calling me to play it more. But, the second time I played it, I finished Chapter 3 and I was so absorbed by what happened then, that I did the same as you: finished the main story and skipped most side contents. Now, XBC2 is my most played game.

[@ryans3199]

I tend to agree with this review. XC2 is a really good game, and personally I kinda think it's also really good for people who don't usually like RPG's, cuz I started out the series with 2 and plan to finish 1 and 3. With that said, the awful tutorial system is a real problem, because there's so many awesome things going into the combat that are just not explained worth a hoot. And this is the kind of game that doesn't do well without tutorials-- which isn't something often said about video games in general. So if you're recommending this game to friends, also tell them to check out Enel's channel on YT because that guy has the best tutorials, hands down.

[@angietrif]

I’m glad you fell in love with the game after all! I tried DE for a few hours and it was just too complex/overwhelming for me. But these stories seem amazing so I might just watch the cutscenes online 😂 Currently in love with FF7 remake, nothing like the feeling of being immersed in a fantastic JRPG 😤

[@alpakafantasy5134]

For me, a long term final fantasy fan, Xenoblade chronicles 2 was my reason I bought a Nintendo Switch. I saw an episode from a let's player on KZbin and when I saw the scene where Pyra and Rex fought together for the first time and Nia helped them and then of course good old gramps saving the day I was so excited and hyped like never before and I quit the LP, bought a Switch and the game became my favourite of all time. There are design choices I had to simply ignore and just focused on the story and characters, music and places in the game. I am happy for you, that you have found your love for the world and characters of Xenoblade chronicles 2. And thank you for sharing your honest thoughts and feelings.

[@pedrobeckup456]

That end of the 1st chapter was really awesome and exciting, besides Rex scream, I felt in the skin that scene, the same Xenoblade 1 did to me. That was enough to me to get really interesting in the game, so I wouldn't stop playing the next chapter which had some mistakes, but I knew it would be worth in the end I ended focusing more on the story and music as you did, but the Torna DLC I ended enjoying everything as I was understanding everything

[@Sigglypuff]

Had a very similar experience to you in regards to XB2. I initially got the game when it launched and played it for about 10-15 hours and dropped it. Came back to it a couple years later and fell in love with it. Easily my favourite of the series. The cast for it are all amazing (cept Tora but we got Poppi out of it so eh). OST also stellar. So many emotional tracks especially in the latter half of the game. Glad to hear your second try changed your opinion on it so much.

[@jeremiahbullfrog226]

Even as a huge Xenoblade fan, even as someone who would say that Xenoblade 2 is was his favorite game on the switch for YEARS, even I would say that Xenoblade 2 is a pretty mixed bag. But it's something that I ultimately love dearly.

[@manuboy214]

So far the only Xenoblade game I haven't played is the first one. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is my favorite switch game. I'm excited to eventually play the first one.

[@infernofoxgaming10]

This is VERY topical for me, as I'm literally giving Xenoblade 2 a second chance right now! Great video, my friend!

[@nickwick35]

I'm in the same boat as you. I binged the hell out of XB: DE and could hardly wait to play 2 and got about 10 hours in and gave up. I need to go back and really understand the combat as that was my biggest gripe as well.

[@jackcusumano]

Interesting to think of how the story of 2 would hit after playing 3 first. For me, I played 2 before 1, and felt like that weirdly was a very satisfying way to experience the story, too. The end of reveal of 2 completely blew me away and took me by surprise, not knowing anything about 1, and 1's conclusion still suprised me as well, even though 2 shows some slight glimpses of it. I think because I played 2 first, I didn't have the expectations you had, so it just instantly hit me as fantastic. It felt like my 2 other favorite RPGs of all time, Chrono Trigger and FFIX. Like, it gave me that feeling in my soul I had not felt since playing those. And not knowing how 1 starts you off right off the bat in a big expansive area, I looooved Argentum Trade Guild. The music is so great, and it felt like you could really sense this really huge exciting world was out there just by the feel of the little marketplace and docked titans around the guild. It was a great teaser for the feel of the world, before you eventually reach Gormott and it really opens up to you. But I think it's totally fair to say it starts too slow. I didn't mind, because in taking its time I got to relish the music and ambiance and characters even longer. I know the first areas, like the sunken vessel and the lower Gormotti forest are pretty linear - but having never played 1 I didn't realize how wide open Xenoblade areas could be, so it felt like a normal RPG area to me. As far as all the QOL stuff like the absolutely flawed tutorials system, I'm sure it'll all be fixed in the inevitable Definitive Edition, which I cannot wait to play. The gacha thing is clearly way more bad than good, but I weirdly didn't outright *hate* it, if only because you at least don't have to spend any real-world money on it. What I *like* about it is the randomness, so you don't just get exactly what blad you want and can't really plan or predict what your party will be 100%. But I've put like 200 hours into the game and still haven't unlocked all the blades. Again, almost certainly the Definitive Edition would fix/nix the gacha system. Also most of the character designs I don't mind, but Dahlia is absurd. I hope they adjust her design in the future. And Pyra and Mythra's designs are great, but proportions and camera angles go a little wild. I actually like Mythra's Smash Bros outfit, which I equipped for most of the game. I agree that some of the designs are a barrier to a lot of potential fans accessing the game, and I totally get it. I also did not really grasp the full mechanics of the battle system until like well into the game, and only got them after watching KZbin videos - but once it clicked with the combos & orbs & all that, it was soooo satisfying. I don't think any other system, even Torna or 3 tops it for me. And I absolutely love the dumb announcer voice. I really missed that in the other games.

[@theinsfrijonds]

Thank you for pointing out that the tutorials are not reviewable! I never realized that about this game. If they do remaster this game on switch 2 they need to have a menu like they have in Xenoblade 3 or Final Fantasy 7 Remake. I think that it would be so excellent if they redid between five and 10 aspects of this game for such a remake. - The collection nodes need to specify the category of item being received. - Field skill challenges need to be unlocked after they are solved - Instead of button challenges for Blade combos only using the B button they should use all of the face buttons XYBA. It would be amazing if all you had to do was press one of those buttons in time with the prompt to get credit, but then you could get more damage for pressing the correct buttons. - it would be helpful if the game notified the player when they haven’t engaged a mechanic in a certain number of hours. Doing something like highlighting the fact that you can switch food or aux cores. There are so many different categories that can be customized in this game! All that plus the game really deserves to be seen at 4K 60 frames per second! The fidelity for the switch version is rather abysmal. That being said, this is really one of the greatest games I’ve ever played, despite its massive flaws! I put over 400 hours in the first play through. Some of it was may be a lamebrain but it would be quite the challenge to 100% this game in 100 hours. The writing for the characters is so nuanced and well thought out. It’s almost never the case that it falls flat. I am disappointed by some of the back stories like Percival’s that are less well fleshed out. One day I want to play the game again and beat all of the bosses. There are some extremely challenging optional ones.

[@KingOppSanti]

Never played the game but I always hear good things about it.

[@TheNintenJosh]

I had a similar experience with Xenoblade 1. The 3ds port was my first venture into the Xenoblade universe. The first time I tried playing it I got stuck early on in gaur plains and put it down for a year. When i picked it back up i started over and beat rhe game in a month. It became my favorite game of all time. Its the game that got me into jrpgs. I agree with everything you said about xenoblade 2. I just happened to love it when i played it even with the flaws. It would've been nice if you obtained the blades in a more significant way. I absolutely HATED the field skills. I just wanted to progress through the game but if you didnt have the right blades you had to rely on the gatcha system. Finding out the connection between 1 and 2 at the time was mind blowing. The story connections made both games even better for me and were my top 2 games. Of course Xenoblade 3 joined them. They all have amazing stories, environments, and characters.

[@qualitea_individual]

Ahh I forgot to mention field skills! I understand what they were trying to do, but I think they either needed to be implemented more or just exclusively optional-it felt so weird to have them pop up at random points in the game where the story was progressing really well and then suddenly FIELD SKILL😂

[@asprinjuice425]

honestly after the start xc1 only really gets good when Dunban comes back lol

[@manuboy214]

I have over 400 hours in the game and still don't have all of the blades. It was my first game on switch and I got it in 2017.

[@Queenofthesevenseas]

Loved the video and I subscribed as well❤ Xenoblade chronicles 2 is ironically my favorite game in the series aside from X actually. While it took a good white for me to actually like Rex👻 it was the rest of the cast and the music that really hooked me into the game. Well that and the overall deep complexity of the combat system. The story was very interesting and hard for me to do any side quests because I wanted to know what happened next… And for me personally while I did like the torna the golden country DLC ( and subsequently new game🤔) I personally would have much preferred to play the golden country before Xenoblade 2 because I honestly felt like Xenoblade 2 would have been just that more impactful had i gotten the opportunity to first have the full scope of what happened before the events of Xenoblade 2 in torna. My biggest complaint with the game is the games way it explains the mechanics to you☠️ and the fact that you can’t review anything after it’s introduced to you. It took me about 4 hours just to fully figure out the combat system 👻 The gotcha mechanics were umm questionable I guess I like the idea however the way you had to go about it was😱 not really fun especially if you wanted to max out your blades. As regards to the fan service seriously 😂 it was not horrible compared to some other games and by no means as bad as things like the porn industry ( witch no one complains about mind you) it was still over the top in certain places. Very much marketing to a certain audience the game was. And if you don’t like or are put off by something that’s fine, just because you personally don’t like something dose not give you the right to dictate to others what they should or should not play. ((The audacity of people who feel they have the right and the responsibility to dictate to shame or condemn others over something they don’t like like is mind blowing…. How dare anyone else tell me what I like or should not like) the social censorship and political correctness mindset of society is scary honestly and not something I will ever tolerate

[@BasicSneedEducation]

It took me a second try to get into XC2 and finish it. I like the game but the first XC is still king.

[@RSanchez111]

That's the big thing about XC2, it just takes so long to get going. It's definitely something they learned to improve in XC3. I only stuck with it because I loved XC1 so much and XC2 really really paid off in the end.

[@yshardcore9791]

What taking to long? The story? I sont get why people struggle with combat in XC2

[@arikari3672]

I remember i tried to pick that game up twice, and never passing the 30 hours mark. Great story but i didn't connect with the whole game. The funny thing is that people recommended to Skip the first because they said that the 2nd was better, i was displeased so i thought to never touch the franchise, then i decided to play the first and it was amazing. So i think is really respectable to quit something, as well as picking something again and discovering you liked it.

[@SuperSavajin]

Going from 3 to 2 and seeing Nia act like she does must be a trip.

[@ShallBePurified]

Congratz on successfully rehabilitating your opinion!

[@qualitea_individual]

Thank you, I couldn’t have done it without everyone’s love and support throughout this trying time🥲

[@BasedReda]

This is the first video I am seeing from you, and this is a great take on a phenomenon I feel is not talked about so much. Multiple of my personal favorite games of all time are games that took a second chance or even a third/fourth after a LONG time to love them, and xenoblade 2 is definitely one of those. I played the first 10 or so hours of XC2 back in mid 2018, and completely dropped it, never interested in getting back into it. It wasn’t until I played XC1 in 2021 that I decided to give the sequel a second chance. This happened to me with a couple of games, like NieR Automata, Persona 3, Yakuza 0, FF7, and FF14, which are all games that mean a good bit to me now. Now, I want to go back and revisit games I dropped and never went back to, like Octopath and A Link Between Worlds exactly like you mentioned lmao. Overall, just a great video, I am excited to see more from you!

[@mohammedkarim6615]

Welcome to the fold Ma'am.

[@JustTheGems]

I feel like I didn't fully understand the whole Xenoblade battle system THING until Torna. At some point I'm sure I'll replay the first two, and I think I'll have a much easier time grasping it. But you're 100% right that the battle system is just not explained well in XB2, and I had to just pretty much brute force my way through it. Loved loved loved the story and characters and aesthetics, though!

[@yshardcore9791]

Try reread tutorial maybe you finally understand the combat instead of trying to brute force. It looks like similar too real time strategy games.

[@NoEscapeGaming]

You teed this up so good hahaha

[@DrGamingPlays]

You almost had me a second at the start of that video. Anyway, I haven't given any of the Xenoblade games a first try despite having them in my collection. They were pledge games at the beginning of the year... though I am leaning towards Remake/Rebirth. I won't have time in one year to start both series.

[@julianjuez]

Glad you gave it a 2nd chance. Mia is my favorite character of all gaming, All IPs.

[@Xsyven]

I have to be in a vcery specific mood to start a big game, and if I force it, it never sticks.

[@Mingodough]

The ultimate second chance game. I first played it and thought it was so slow and kinda unnecessary. But after 2 years I played it again and loved it, it’s after the 20 hour mark I fell in love (which is pretty ridiculous just to be clear) a lot of the initial criticism I had still stood but after that certain story event the story tone shifted and the gameplay expanded way more. It just sucks it takes 20 hours for it to get good when 1 and 3 took far less time

[@angietrif]

There are so many games I wanna give a second chance like Kirby and the forgotten land and Super Mario RPG! I’m usually not into 3D play formers and turned based combat but I feel like I would enjoy them if I gave them more time!

[@yshardcore9791]

Xenoblade feels more like real time strategy games

[@PieStudios]

Xenoblade 2 is so fire, I’m glad you were able to enjoy it after giving it a second try. My only issue with the game is the awful performance. We need a Switch 2 so bad 😭

[@davidk.8686]

Haha, nice Intro! Also the most justified complaints about the game, even though it didn't bother me the first time I played it actually. But in my NewGame+ attempt especially the Chrystal system is annoying to me as well.

[@TrvisXXIII]

The game is addicting, I gave it a chance after ignoring it for years and I can’t put it down

[@davidwilliama.7296]

I haven't played any Xenoblade Chronicles games. I've definitely got some games that everybody seems to love that I dropped. One of those is Red Dead Redemption 2. At the time I played, I was recovering from covid and couldn't focus on anything. The slowness of the first part of the game made me not want to come back to it. I only got an hour or two into it, so I didn't give it much of a chance. I might go back to it at some point. Another one I dropped was Mass Effect. It's my sister's favorite game series and for some reason I just couldn't get into the story and I had some other issues with the gameplay. Again, I didn't give it much of a chance and only played like a few hours. I do want to give it another shot though.

[@j.pearce3981]

7:01 that's what she said LOLOL im gonna have to give this series a try. everyone ever on youtube seems to think it's the best franchise ever. even better than final fantasy?

[@J.P1981]

This game isn't perfect. But it does have some of the strongest story moments that make me tear up to this day. I love this game and this series.

[@angietrif]

What’s the order of the xeno games for you?

[@qualitea_individual]

In terms of how much I love them, I’d go 1, 3, 2! But it’s so close all the way around😅😅 all together, they’re all just phenomenal!

[@Foogi9000]

I came for the booba but i stayed for the depressing existentialist philosophy.

[@kellytamia9152]

Honestly i get why XC2 may not automatically hit for ppl, the extreme fanservice can be a bit much at times, the not so great tutorial may make it frustrating to get through and its not so great audio management and out of sync lip sync can take immersion away but if you genuinely look past all of these issues, XC2 game is amazing story.

[@00pengu7]

I don’t think the pacing is that different from Xenoblade 1 or 3. Each of the games start out by making you feel like such a small part of the world, and then by the end of the first act have a reason for the main character to go on their journey. The following few chapters deal with exploring the world, and finding new party members along the way. Then once you have all of that, they start to actually explain the story and build up to massive lore drops at the very end. I think it’s just the way things are explained in 2 that turns people away more than the other games.

[@mmccord4166]

When are you playing X

[@90shandheldgamer]

That was a really good enagaing intro. Made me laugh with you.

[@Kyle22]

Xenoblade X review?? Also love the haircut!

[@qualitea_individual]

Someday!!! It’s on the list for this year, hopefully I get to it😂

[@isaac3078]

​@@qualitea_individualit's sad you won't be able to experience the online functions. They are not too important but quite fun

[@wadejohnston4305]

Going into this video youd think she committed a murder with how serious she is about it😅. I agree it's a great game that's fairly easy to get the wrong impression of

[@thespianmask]

I opened this video for a hot take/cold take type of thing, and immediately I thought "Wait, is this Mythra's VA?". In any case, I think it's a common sentiment that XC2 has massive pacing issues, and problems telling its actually amazing story. Things don't really pick up until chapter 5, and that's a long time to wait. Another such game I know felt even longer for the MC to actually be compelling is Tales of Berseria. She only got character development 19 HOURS into my playthrough. Wild.

[@jameskozy7254]

The game is great despite its issues. I think the antagonists were the best part of the game. The tragedy of Jin. Amalthus's answer. And Malos's self destruction. I especially think Amalthus is underrated. His storyline and philosophy really makes you ponder things, at least it did for me.

[@qualitea_individual]

10000000% agree

[@yshardcore9791]

​@@qualitea_individual the combats its fun if you familiar with real time strategy games.

[@yshardcore9791]

Story is not a typical jrpg final boss where "God" is evil and tyranny. instead, the Architect actually a chill guy explaining things to the protagonist.

[@mattkim96]

“Whoa, what’s this apology for? Did I miss a scandal, was she cancelled? Or worse, don’t tell me she doesn’t like Xenoblade Chronicles 2 or someth- oh thank god”

[@qualitea_individual]

😂😂😂

[@FriendsAndGamingYT]

6 hours in is not embarrassing, if your not enjoying a game then then whenever you decide to stop that's fine! In fact id say 6 hours is a fair chance to give a game! Though happy to see your second try gave you a new look, I've tried xenoblade chronicles two times now and just does not gel, and it annoys me when I see how much people enjoy it and being on the otherside where you don't like it! I'd like to try red dead redemption 2 again because the story was great, but my god did the system feel dated and open world way to big!

[@relinquishh]

On paper 6 hrs is quite a lot, but in the context of the Xenoblade games it's really not enough to fully grasp what's there. There is so much worldbuilding and plot build up, along with a drip feed of new mechanics that would make it very tough to get a full grasp of what's there without putting in more hours. JRPGs are long games, especially these ones, and 6 hrs in one of these games is not created equal to 6 hrs in a typical shooter, platformer, etc.

[@FriendsAndGamingYT]

@relinquishh fair, but I've not been able to get past the 3 hour mark on the game, I found it simply boring on to play and it failed to engage me. I wasn't enjoying playing it. And perhaps if I did stick to it, I might have eventually started to like it, but the question the is, how long does one need to put into it, because if I played the game for 6 hours and still felt bored playing it, I'd consider that a gigantic waste of time, and I dont think my view would be changed much by the game getting hopefully better at some point during the playing of it.

[@relinquishh]

@FriendsAndGamingYT These games are very story heavy, so if you get further in a bit you may get more invested in the story even if the combat isnt as engaging to you. Imo the original xenoblade, while great, has the simplest and most dated combat mechanics of the 3. Did you play the definitive edition on switch? The original wii version is very dated in a lot of aspects.

[@JoeNayDoh]

"And the Oscar goes to..." lol No idea how you were able to keep a straight face during the intro. I think that some of the hardest games to give a 2nd chance to are ones from a series or franchise you overall enjoy. Like if you end up going back to it and still don't end up liking it, that in someway makes you less of a fan for not loving everything.

[@qualitea_individual]

It was SO difficult!! I definitely filmed it multiple times because I couldn’t stop laughing😅😅

[@bahrunanggara7979]

My first reaction to the First 3 Chapter of XC2 was 1. WHY IS IT STARTING OUT SO CRINGEY 1. HOW DARE THEY TURNED THE SERIES THIS WAY, Xenoblade should not need a FAN SERVICE TO BE GOOD 1. HOW I CAN TO ENDURE THIS UNTIL THE LAST CHAPTER Luckily it gets a little bit better in chapter 4, I started to enjoy it little bit, then when the sixth chapter hits and beyond, I can finally... happily... acknowledge it to be the spiritual successor of XC1. I still think the fan service area was NOT REALLY NEEDED, but I don't have any rights to decide that. I am glad that you also found the Courage to try and finish it again.

[@invisibleBDK]

My story is similar except my opinion moved from it being terrible to it being OK. XC2 was my first Xenoblade, though I played Gears and Saga back in the day. Despite wanting to like it I couldn’t make it past 15 hours in because it was so annoying, cringey and the menu and tutorials so needlessly complex. I sold it. But I did go from there into XC1 and XC3 which I absolutely loved, and then felt obligated to try XC2 again to give it another chance. It was better my second try after being more accustomed to the gameplay, but still easily my least favorite.

[@OtterloopB]

I loved XC2 the most. All the unique blades, the elemental battle system, the humor, the music. It was so fun. Then XC3 comes along and becomes this stoic, militaristic slog. It has its moments, but the militaristic tone is so boring.

[@kohiek]

XC2 combat is really good, but way too hard to learn. With Torna's combat, I felt weaker, but it was more fun. I think XC3 is by far the best combat.

[@Flufferpup]

I got up to poppi too the first time I played, before I ended up stopping. I felt overwhelmed with all the systems that the game was throwing at me, the world wasn't really selling me, and I was already put off by the fanservice which the inclusion of tora did NOT get my hopes high in that regard. Recently though, I decided to start from the beginning, with the first game. I played through that and loved it, which made learning the more complex systems of 2 a little bit easier. With the good will gained through the first game, I decided to stick with it and see what it managed to cook up. I still don't like the fanservice and the gacha system, but the rest of the game was great.

[@facepwnagewtf]

It's funny, the game I actually dropped mid play through was Xenoblade Chronicles 1 while going through valak Mountain (too busy with Skyrim and Skyward Sword). I loved the story, loved the environment, and loved the music, but i just felt the quests and combat weren't evolving in a significant way to really hold my attention at the time. I quit playing then came back about 3 years later to finish it off and really enjoyed it. My main complaint stands as i think the combat and side quests are still the weakest in the trilogy, and personally I think the story never gets more engaging than the Mechon Attack on Colony 9 in the early parts of the game. But, unlike the other 2 mainline Xenoblade games that each have moments of reaching to greater heights than the original, 1 maintains a high bar of quality and never dips in any significant way like if feel 2 and 3 did. The older you get the rarer it becomes to revisit abandoned games mostly due to time constraints, but if I ever do it's for 1 of 2 reasons 1. Something about it stood out in some significant way that I've never seen before, and makes me want to see how it evolves or ends. Which Usually turns out to be a good game. 2. Peer Pressure. 50/50 it turns out good in my experience.

[@murdocnl]

I'm glad I gave the game a second chance too. The character designs are still yikes on bikes.

[@matthewbrown4883]

I bounched off this game the first time too. Rex as protag, and the fanservice for some characters were the main reasons. But when i came back last year to try again i fell in love with it despite the flaws. Fantastic game. Now I love it.

[@yshardcore9791]

What's wrong with Rex as a protag? He more matute than shulk,already work as salvager earning money

[@jusuke1980]

im a cis gay guy, and so the occasional gratuitous fan service in 2 was a bit much, but overall the character design in 2 is my favorite ... aside from Future Redeemed since thats a culmination of all three 😊

[@TheNintenJosh]

Same here. I feel that and I agree

[@Dominicn123]

At first I thought the game was gonna lack substance and have to rely on character designs with huge tits to distract the player, basically one of those visual novels that use some curvy characters as a crutch for a lack of substance lol By the time I finished the game, I didn’t want it to end, I grew to love all the characters and began to appreciate their design despite the proportions, XB2 became my favorite out of the three and am glad the characters are a bit different than 1 & 3 just for unique designs lol

[@Queenofthesevenseas]

While I can comprehend your personal preferences and overall feelings, compared to a lot of other very popular things out their the fan service in XBC2 is by no way near Gratuitous. Of corse that will definitely vary depending on one’s individual upbringing believes and overall view points. When compared to things like the porn industry! The fan service in this game don’t even come close. Just this pirates personal feelings mind you. After all the beautiful things about the freedom of speech is that each individual is completely entitled to their own opinion and overall believes.

[@isaac3078]

I have yet to play it (my backlog is huge and my time is limited until June) but I am very interested in the game especially now because as a gay guy also, I thought the game wasn't for me but I am excited to play it eventually !

[@rhettmitchell]

I’m queer and not into women, so I never really noticed too much of the fanservice, or really cared when I did notice it

[@zleeven]

To me, the game i gave a second chance and ended up loving was re2 the original. I played it when i was a kid and always died on the first screen because of the controls, so i dropped and never played it again until it came out on the psp. It became one of my favorite games of all time to the point that the remake became a total disappointment for its poor handling of main and supporting characters and lack of interesting a and b scenarios. And a game that it does not matter how many chances i give it, i still dont like is tlou. It's my perfect example that a good story can't overcome a mediocre gameplay experience. Legit that game had every issue games of the 7 gen had push to the limit.

[@yshardcore9791]

I'm sorry

[@Monoliftsoft.ninja..]

Xeno 2 is the best jrpg I ever played

[@kareem5916]

I quit the game twice and what really got me through the game was the chuggaconroy let’s play.

[@myles137.]

The english dub completely ruined this game for me the first time. Japanese voice acting brings the immersion to another level.

[@woolcaparmy]

ahha ha hii (:3)

[@statesminds]

Torna the Golden Country makes XBC2 100x better

[@markasscop]

even though I'd still say I'm a fan of this game, there's enough in it that's off-putting enough that I wouldn't at all recommend someone play it to get into the series (unless they're openly a waifu loving otaku or whatever), it's worth a play still but it should be lower priority compared to xenoblade 1 or even 3

[@qualitea_individual]

I know people that have started with 2, but I personally wouldn’t recommend it either! There’s SO much good here, but I think if someone is trying to play the whole series, I would either go in order OR start with 3 and work backwards. I think that made the experience of 2 better for me!

[@markasscop]

@@qualitea_individual totally, though recommending 3 big open world, 70+ hour rpgs is a bit of a tough sell, hence why 2 would be the one I'd single out as not being as much of a priority compared to the others

[@Luigi1010]

Actually I am the target demographic for this game and it was too much for me. I finished the game but because of the scandalous direction Xenoblade 2 took it will always be the worst game of the series for me. That music slaps though

[@RetroRobyn69]

I really wanted to enjoy XC2 but the voice acting just ruined it for me. I’m so glad you were able to go back and enjoy it though!

[@qualitea_individual]

I was going to mention the voice acting, but forgot! It was definitely very hit or miss, but as the story started to get heavier, the voices almost felt like they started to fall into place? It’s hard to explain! But I definitely can understand the voices being tough to get through!

[@RetroRobyn69]

I really enjoyed XC1, and played that after trying and failing with XC2. I’ve not delved into 3 because I felt I’d be missing lots of context 😭 maybe someday I will try with 2 again!

[@pipboysandlightsabers5478]

As a massive fan of the original game I’ve never been able to get into this one. Complete tone change, unappealing character designs, meandering story, combat is on training wheels for most of the time. Just one of the most disappointing games I’ve ever played.

[@guardianfederation5016]

To be honest with XBC 2 I’m not huge fan with support characters and Elma DLC disappointed, and a lot people they do like XBC 2 because of story for me I’m not buying.

[@FutilityFS]

i think i was initially bummed out the most with XC2 was because it felt like a big downgrade from what i experienced with XCX

[@FutilityFS]

but revisiting it it's def a good game

[@Evan.280]

I played Xeno 2 when it releases and just couldn’t enjoy it. The gameplay was fun but the characters and story weren’t it. I beat the game but couldn’t be bothered to play it again

[@Mohammed-ps5ie]

I will unfriend everyone who doesnt like xenoblade series :-)

[@robertoveroyguitar]

I am of the opinion that Xenoblade 2 is good in SPITE of having a terrible protagonist and a lot of cringy and generic anime stuff shoved into it.

[@randomnpc445]

How on _Earth_ is Rex a terrible protagonist? The VA takes a bit to get his footing, sure, (I feel he does a fine job in the later half of the game), and I know some people have a problem with his design, but in terms of his actual character and the events/arcs he experiences through the game he's great.

[@robertoveroyguitar]

@@randomnpc445 for me, it is a lot of things but they are personal taste. -optimistic and bland anime protagonist with no real personality. -too young, too childish. -harem? nah jk, just dislike the dynamic between him and pyra/mythra. -his design is glaringly ugly to me (those clothes!) -his english voice is annoying. keep in mind this is coming from someone that thinks HxH would be better if Gon would become a completely irrelevant character.

[@OxygenC2]

​@@randomnpc445its for people who prefer the John Waynes of fiction. They either can't stand kids or youngish characters who aren't awesome from the get go. Which is understandable, but definitely narrow minded imo.

[@robertoveroyguitar]

@user-su2wk8il4b i can see you like the game by your profile pic and that's fine. i like the game too but as mentioned before, i like it in spite of some stuff that really bugged me. for me xeno 1 and xeno 3 had far more thought-out characters with better interactions between them. xeno 2 leaned way too much on generic anime troupes.

[@infern209x]

@@robertoveroyguitar please quit joking, xenoblade 2 cast is more fleshed out overall than 3's cast or 1's cast, especially 1's, in xenoblade 1 the entire story focused solely on shulk and fiora and the rest was hardly developed, to the point melia needed future connected. also generic anime tropes, you mean like slaying a god isn't a generic jrpg trope? nice try.

[@iridmeilien]

For me it was the worst, still a good game but for me it was too much…I didn’t enjoy it to much. I liked Torna at least 🎉

[@painuchiha2694]

My take on xenoblade 2 Fantastic story…Garbage gameplay 😅 Xeno 3 was such a step up so I’m not worried where the series is going

[@summerwinter89]

xenoblade 2 is a poorly balanced game. corvin is busted. makes the other blades redundant.

[@AndrewTheUltraBoss99]

Tbf it's dlc. Also, you can Simply not use him. Shulk and Fiora are busted too, but it's not like It makes sense for them to be there during the story, they are a bonus

[@Lethargyman]

Xenoblade 2 is the worst game I ever loved

[@MikeDaddyMCS]

Xenoblade 2 is genuinely a slog at the start which is unfortunate because everything past chapter 4 is peak gaming

[@supergamerguy64]

You really got me with the intro. But yeah XC2 is a good game, though it for sure has some shortcomings. The tutorials, the gacha mechanic, the field skills(oof) and some poor line delivery particularly from Rex. However, once you actually get the gameplay, I think it has the best in the series(particularly Torna). The fact XC2 is the best selling of the 3, is a testament to how powerful attractive characters are. It can get customers you otherwise wouldn't. I should know, i played the three Atelier Ryza games, originally just due to liking Ryza/Lila's designs. I have Xenoblade 1 as my favorite(Both in franchise and overall for me). Though I would just rate it in reverse Xenoblade > Xenoblade 2 > Xenoblade 3. I enjoyed 3, but the combat was honestly quite boring to me. Too many party members, means the player's involvement is a lot lower and it made many fights particularly toward the end just an extended time mashing buttons. Also don't like class systems, makes each individual character far more basic. Story wise, also least favorite, it didn't make enough use of prior characters even in Redeemed. As a "finale", fell a bit short. So as an awkward middle child, XC2 is allowed to be more floaty, because most people didn't even expect a sequel to begin with. The fact it happens to have the best designs, is just a bonus.