The plot is okay, though several revelations are basically the same from previous games, so the veteran players may be disappointed, as it feels like Xillia's plot brought nothing new to the table, only copying from older games. The pacing is okay, though it is very obvious where the team ran out of time to complete the game and everything is suddenly dropped, with the final dungeon being the next, mandatory location. Though I personally have found something they could have cut and spent on dealing with pacing issues.
I am also one of the people who thinks the shilling Milla gets is horrendously inappropriate, too much and has no place in the game. She has done nothing that I haven't already seen previous Tales characters do, male or female. Now, I have played Tales since Phantasia in the '90s. And I have noticed, over the years, that Namco seems to really love its heroines, which is understandable since they are their creations. But Milla is the epitome of unnecessary shilling that should have been cut out.
Aside from Milla, the characters are pretty decent. Elize is adorable and very sweet, very fittingly childlike and can easily be The Heart of the game that can pull the player in for caring. Holding Rowen's hand when scared? I cared. Alvin, though, really needs to set his priorities straight.
Unfortunately, I found the music of the game to be forgettable 99% of the time. The only part of the soundtrack I remember, is the Opening.
Separating the game into two routes is a nice idea, but unfortunately, aside from a slight diversion here or there, it doesn't do much. 95% of the time, you're playing the same route, with 2.5% of the rest being forced to do the 'Jude' route when you are playing the 'Milla' route and the other 2.5% are the difference. Which really, honestly, only involves a short sequence in the beginning of the fourth arc.
Battle system is interesting, though relies way too heavily on the Link Up system.
Your Grade depending on how many titles you have done (and things you have completed in the game) is not okay for me. I don't want to have to do majority of the game content and get close to 100%, just to carry over decent things for NG+.
Is it a good Tales game? Yes. A good 15th Anniversary title? Definitely not.
Good Tales, Bad Anniversary
The plot is okay, though several revelations are basically the same from previous games, so the veteran players may be disappointed, as it feels like Xillia's plot brought nothing new to the table, only copying from older games. The pacing is okay, though it is very obvious where the team ran out of time to complete the game and everything is suddenly dropped, with the final dungeon being the next, mandatory location. Though I personally have found something they could have cut and spent on dealing with pacing issues.
I am also one of the people who thinks the shilling Milla gets is horrendously inappropriate, too much and has no place in the game. She has done nothing that I haven't already seen previous Tales characters do, male or female. Now, I have played Tales since Phantasia in the '90s. And I have noticed, over the years, that Namco seems to really love its heroines, which is understandable since they are their creations. But Milla is the epitome of unnecessary shilling that should have been cut out.
Aside from Milla, the characters are pretty decent. Elize is adorable and very sweet, very fittingly childlike and can easily be The Heart of the game that can pull the player in for caring. Holding Rowen's hand when scared? I cared. Alvin, though, really needs to set his priorities straight.
Unfortunately, I found the music of the game to be forgettable 99% of the time. The only part of the soundtrack I remember, is the Opening.
Separating the game into two routes is a nice idea, but unfortunately, aside from a slight diversion here or there, it doesn't do much. 95% of the time, you're playing the same route, with 2.5% of the rest being forced to do the 'Jude' route when you are playing the 'Milla' route and the other 2.5% are the difference. Which really, honestly, only involves a short sequence in the beginning of the fourth arc.
Battle system is interesting, though relies way too heavily on the Link Up system.
Your Grade depending on how many titles you have done (and things you have completed in the game) is not okay for me. I don't want to have to do majority of the game content and get close to 100%, just to carry over decent things for NG+.
Is it a good Tales game? Yes. A good 15th Anniversary title? Definitely not.