The Hermit
Member
Xenoblade 1 had great artstyle but bad graphics.
For some reason this game feels between Xenoblade X and Xenoblade graphically.
... But Ace is back and that's all that matters.
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Xenoblade 2 Announced (Not XCX, new sequel to XB, ACE music, 2017)
- Thread starter Cerium
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Xenoblade 1 had great artstyle but bad graphics.
For some reason this game feels between Xenoblade X and Xenoblade graphically.
... But Ace is back and that's all that matters.
Vincent Grayson
Member
I'd wager they're expecting *late* 2017 in Japan, and it won't make that date. 2018 at the earliest in US.
Yea I gotta say I'm not feeling these generic anime character designs either, the MC (?) especially. Xenoblade 1 had great character designs with lots of personality imo, the only problem was the weak Wii hardware. They should get that character designer back.
Otherwise the game looks nice. Can't wait to learn more about it. Especially curious about wether we'll see the cast from XC1 somewhere and what's the deal with the sorta Monado looking Sword is.
Otherwise the game looks nice. Can't wait to learn more about it. Especially curious about wether we'll see the cast from XC1 somewhere and what's the deal with the sorta Monado looking Sword is.
SlaughterX
Banned
The image looks really soft... looks like it could be easily done on the Wii U...
The_Darkest_Red
Member
No way this comes out in 2017.
I don't like the character design but that isn't going to stop me from playing the sequel to one of the best RPGs I've ever played. Hell, if I could deal with XCX characters I don't think anything could phase me.
I don't like the character design but that isn't going to stop me from playing the sequel to one of the best RPGs I've ever played. Hell, if I could deal with XCX characters I don't think anything could phase me.
How is that shocking?
Xenoblade became my favorite game of all time, outright, dethroning Ocarina of Time's very respectable 12 year run at the top.
I'm not totally in love with the anime-esque faces, but they'll grow on me.
Not worried about the main character either. I'm sure we'll be able to change his pants.
And given Xenoblade's prior customization options, make something equally horrendous and ridiculous.
Johannsson
Member
love this arpg!
Akhe
Member
You will play it. I know you just playing hard to get. Save your money = D
nintendoman58
Member
My goodness.
People are going to be pointing at the character designs of this game and ignore literally everything else about it that ends up being good aren't they?
The salt from all these anime whiners is hilarious. It's like seeing anything remotely anime is your trigger warning. Well sucks for all of you.
I'm most likely going to end up enjoying it.
People are going to be pointing at the character designs of this game and ignore literally everything else about it that ends up being good aren't they?
The salt from all these anime whiners is hilarious. It's like seeing anything remotely anime is your trigger warning. Well sucks for all of you.
I'm most likely going to end up enjoying it.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
I'm not joking. My tolerance for this style of character design is borderline zero. I couldn't stomach XCX (but that was in part due to the game design too) and sold it. Nothing about this trailer appeals to me at all.
MONKEY PAW
Nothing too crazy about this opinion, Xenoblade Chronicles hands down was one of my favorite gaming experiences of all time, my game for that generation & in my top 5 JRPGs of all time.
You will play it, and you will like it. Nay, you will love it.
Jawmuncher
Member
Odd that they didn't go back to a more common look like th first Xenoblade. But at least it's not the odd faces of XCX. Regardless all I hope is this is more story focused. XCX killed me with its reliance on "do stuff" and explore.
Have you played Tales of Graces? That game had the most obnoxious characters/art style but the combat system is without a doubt the best Tales offered to date.
Most skipped it because of the atrocious art designs so it's not strange people are upset about the sudden art change here.
Diddy Kong
Banned
No way this comes out in NA in 2017.
EdwardTivrusky
Member
I'd prefer XCX2 but i'm still down for this and although the trouser design is a bit off it won't stop me enjoying the game. Will i lose track of the time in this game or will there be a constant reminder? 
oneofthose
Banned
Anime art style = atrocious?
Gaf never lets me down. Yeah the game should look realistic. maybe have the character modeled after hollywood actors that would be great.
Gaf never lets me down. Yeah the game should look realistic. maybe have the character modeled after hollywood actors that would be great.
RPGCrazied
Member
Wow. Total shock. Sequel to the Wii game? That is awesome news. Didn't see any familiar faces in the trailer, but assume they will be in the game.
So hyped!
So hyped!
nintendoman58
Member
UtterlyPerplexed
Member
Right, because there's absolutely no middle ground or nuance. It must either be this or that extreme. Why do people keep making these kind of silly posts?
And I don't even think this art style is anything extreme. It's not irredeemably hideous and it's more in the realms of the generic Tales-like art style. But to me personally, and to a lot of other people, the type of anime art style they opted for is uninspiring and disappointing, especially after what I feel was a sweet spot in the first Xenoblade (which is still anime, by the way).
I mean, I think the style is...fine. Nothing amazing or anything but it's nothing offensive either. I'm surprised at the number of people who are completely repulsed by it - but them the breaks.
That being said, I'm of the opinion that Xenoblade has never really had its own unique style when it comes to character designs. This game just seems to be cribbing off Tales as opposed to other JRPGs.
Nothing wrong with that if the designs are good. The lead is a bit hit and miss, but I think the two female characters shown look fine.
That being said, I'm of the opinion that Xenoblade has never really had its own unique style when it comes to character designs. This game just seems to be cribbing off Tales as opposed to other JRPGs.
Nothing wrong with that if the designs are good. The lead is a bit hit and miss, but I think the two female characters shown look fine.
I'm really surprised by the change of art direction. Since I switched to playing Xenoblade on Dolphin, I wasn't able to continue on my Wii, since it just looked so vastly superior. I really thought 2 would be essentially that. The few lines of dialogue were so standard anime I facepalmed. Kind of turned off by the change in style, but I'll remain open to it. 1 is an amazing game, after all.
I mean, of course it's fine. Most people probably feel that way since there's a dissonance between it being Xenoblade 2 and not looking like it at all. It's a bit off-putting. I don't get why they changed that drastically. There was nothing special about the art direction of 1, but it worked really well with the open world it was put in.
I mean, of course it's fine. Most people probably feel that way since there's a dissonance between it being Xenoblade 2 and not looking like it at all. It's a bit off-putting. I don't get why they changed that drastically. There was nothing special about the art direction of 1, but it worked really well with the open world it was put in.
sir_bumble_bee
Member
Same, not sure where these complaints are coming from, the game looks excellent. And to think that there's even a possibility of playing this game later this year.
The dialogue did have me a little worried, but as you say, remaining open.
I don't disagree with any of that. Nor will I begrudge anyone who's turned off by the style - different strokes and all that. I was just a little surprised by the number of people who voiced their concerns, that's all.
RPGCrazied
Member
This would be a great time to HD the first game right? Hire someone to do it cause I'm sure Monolith is busy.
Replaying the Wii game just hasn't aged well graphically.
Replaying the Wii game just hasn't aged well graphically.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
"Anime" doesn't fucking mean anything other than animated. The Western implications of "anime" can mean a thousand different things due to the huge breadth of Japanese influenced art across all visual mediums.
My issue isn't that it's "hur hurr animeee", it's that it aesthetically so far has nothing in common with Xenoblade. Xenoblade was technically dated but had for most part a very coherent, cohesive artistic direction in the use of tones, colours, styles, and proportions for its characters, creatures, vistas, setpieces, and world. Xenoblade Chronicles X adopted its own style, and fair enough because change is fine, and I didn't like that.
This looks nothing like Xenoblade at all except maybe hints of scope in the environment. Obvious there's a huge draw in how the game plays since ultimately that's what drew me to Xenoblade in the first place, but when I'm playing a narrative driven, character heavy video game it's not in the least bit unreasonable to wish to feel some kind of interest and investment in the advertised cast. It's ludicrous to think that in a game innevitably loaded with dialogue and characterisation that these things don't matter at all.
In the same way that I've been turned away from countless games from all over the world because they're narrative/character driven and I've been aggressively put off by the chosen art and design style, so too am I feeling this for Xenoblade 2. Obviously I'm going to keep my mind open but the content shown so far looks intensely unappealing to me. Tales also looks the same. I'm actively deterred by the chosen art direction, and mentally automatically put up blocks of disinterest in wanting to engage with the cast and their adventure.
Xenoblade might have had low poly, low texture resolution characters but the art was on point. The dialogue was fantastic too, as was the dub. Xenoblade has such great grounded sci-fi fantasy direction to almost everything; the right amount of whimsical adventure with a sense of believability and seriousness.
If this wasn't branded Xenoblade 2 I wouldn't recognise it as Xenoblade at all. And I don't think it's unfair to voice that disappointment.
My issue isn't that it's "hur hurr animeee", it's that it aesthetically so far has nothing in common with Xenoblade. Xenoblade was technically dated but had for most part a very coherent, cohesive artistic direction in the use of tones, colours, styles, and proportions for its characters, creatures, vistas, setpieces, and world. Xenoblade Chronicles X adopted its own style, and fair enough because change is fine, and I didn't like that.
This looks nothing like Xenoblade at all except maybe hints of scope in the environment. Obvious there's a huge draw in how the game plays since ultimately that's what drew me to Xenoblade in the first place, but when I'm playing a narrative driven, character heavy video game it's not in the least bit unreasonable to wish to feel some kind of interest and investment in the advertised cast. It's ludicrous to think that in a game innevitably loaded with dialogue and characterisation that these things don't matter at all.
In the same way that I've been turned away from countless games from all over the world because they're narrative/character driven and I've been aggressively put off by the chosen art and design style, so too am I feeling this for Xenoblade 2. Obviously I'm going to keep my mind open but the content shown so far looks intensely unappealing to me. Tales also looks the same. I'm actively deterred by the chosen art direction, and mentally automatically put up blocks of disinterest in wanting to engage with the cast and their adventure.
Xenoblade might have had low poly, low texture resolution characters but the art was on point. The dialogue was fantastic too, as was the dub. Xenoblade has such great grounded sci-fi fantasy direction to almost everything; the right amount of whimsical adventure with a sense of believability and seriousness.
If this wasn't branded Xenoblade 2 I wouldn't recognise it as Xenoblade at all. And I don't think it's unfair to voice that disappointment.
Monolith games always looked "anime", down to their first game. This is not the issue here.
I'd recommend playing it on Dolphin, TBH. It goes a long way to make the game look really good, albeit textures are a bit lacking. However, it clears up about 70% of what makes the Wii title look bad.
RPGCrazied
Member
I might can now that I have a better PC, but my DVD drive can't read Wii discs.
Don't forget that there are HD texture packs for the game, so it can end up looking truly good on Dolphin. The characters are still meh, but that's a minor problem compared to the rest.
Couldn't have said it better.
In comparision, this is Xenosaga III character CG renders:
Anime yet not as generic as your everyday shonen art found in Xenoblade 2 with the big eyes and weird deformed look they got going.
Other games like say good old Breath of Fire got a unique "anime" art that still look excellent today:
Just my two cents.
I would triple-dip for sure.
SoraanTribal
Member
I wonder if this is actually a sequel to the original or spiritual sequel.
All signs are pointing to direct sequel, bypassing Xenoblade X entirely.
RPGCrazied
Member
No it won't. Expect a delay. And it certainly won't in NA. Mid 2018, mark it down.
SoraanTribal
Member
If it IS a direct a sequel, I'm curious if any of the other characters will make an appearance or if it's gonna be set far into the future and everyone is dead.
Your bringing up Xenosaga III reminded me of the really jarring character design changes between Xenosaga I and II (III was a kind of hybrid between I and II I thought).
Does Takahashi / Monolithsoft just not like using the same character designers for games in a series, even direct sequels?
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