Hot takes

[MasterEn]

The direct connections to XC1 don't come up until pretty late in the game. Even then, none of it is made clear until the last chapter.

What I mean about the main plot is that it all reads good on paper. If you read any summary online, you don't see all the dialogue or character interactions included, so it all sounds really good. It's only when you hear and see the characters being a bunch of b*****ds that the writing falls apart. (And note that you could easily miss Newt and Floren's parts, as both characters are locked away in the gatcha system.)

Poppy is the one character other than Pyra who doesn't act horrible towards others; likewise, she actually develops instead of staying the same anime trope from beginning to end. That, unfortunately, doesn't change the fact that her story starts off pedo baiting and Tora is always there to undermine it all.

The translations of the tutorials isn't the problem. The tutorials are just really bad because the Xenoblade writers suck at technical writing. (This was also an issue in Xenoblade X, especially for the mining system.) You basically have to experiment until you get how the battle system is supposed to work. (Note that almost every review of the game hated on it to the extent that they completely redid it in the prequel.)

Xenoblade 1 is actually a fantastic game and definitely worth playing. It has none of the issues that XC2 has. (Okay, Melia being traumatized at the end of the original release is kind of sad, but that was changed in the Switch version.)

Xenoblade X is a mixed bag. The gameplay is great, the world building is really good, and it does well at incorporating MMO elements into a mostly offline game. However, the writing is really bad, with an incomplete main story (though the Switch version expands it), a lot of repetitive dialogue in story cut scenes, and the playable characters having an idiotically repetitive and underdeveloped sense of humor. Oh, and the worst song in the game is the one that plays the most often. At least the characters aren't hateable when they aren't trying to be funny.

Can't comment on Xenoblade 3 too much since I've played it on and off without finishing. Nobody's confirmed for me if it gets as cringe as XC2 does, so I'm reluctant to put the effort into powering through it.

i'll strike the other games off my list and i'll give the 1st blade game a play at some point. i played through disgaea 5 twice and i didn't not like the same fucking conversation playing out 3 times a chapter for about 14 straight chapters. wasn't so bad the first time through, i took time to level up and do other stuff in real life; but... *sigh* it was annoying the 2nd time around.

 

[Elwiwi]

I don't exactly agree with the other takes listed, but this one is far from shitty.


Nothing.


The good parts:

• The main plot was mostly well thought out if you ignore the playable characters.
• The connections to the previous game were done well.
• Pyra is cute.
• Poppy is a very well developed character if you ignore her terrible origin story.
• Gameplay can be good if you can figure it out yourself (despite the endless tutorials that barely explain it).
• The music is still legit good. The background music at Indol is particularly well done, given how it foreshadows the truth of the place.

The bad:

• Rex is an ***hole by proxy. He never speaks out against anything anyone else does wrong no matter how bad they behave. Likewise, he never apologizes for his behavior towards Mythra. Also gets an ending he did not in any way, shape, or form earn given how little he respects the women in his life.
• Azurda is a sexist b*****d. Shames Mythra for things that she has no control over and he actually knows that, and thinks sexual harassment is a woman's fault.
• Mythra is set up to be mocked as a woman who brings misogyny onto herself. Said mockery doesn't even make sense in in-game logic. (Example: Mythra is mocked for supposedly choosing to dress sexually, yet in-canon she can not change her clothes because they are a fixed aspect of her body that she never chose.)
• Tora should have got his pedo ass beat after he told Rex about his ambitions. Dude doesn't belong anywhere near children, even artificial ones. The rest of the cast just pretends they never heard what he said despite the facts that he makes it clear repeatedly.
• Poppy QT (Hana JK in JP, literally "Flower Grade Schooler") is pedo bait.
• Morag is a discount Nazi. Her whole country is just a fascist-lite lifeless hellhole masquerading as a "normal" country.
• Nia is a dull anime stereotype, namely a tsundere. Spends too much time fretting over her chances with the guy she hates/likes instead of giving a damn about herself. Somehow, cannibalism is the least bothersome thing about her. ("What if he doesn't like me for eating people?" It's Rex, you fool; he's proven over and over to have no f***ing morality.)
• Zeke is a classist SOB. Rich jerk makes a super harsh insult against poor refugees and the rest of the cast just pretends he didn't say it because they're just as horrible.
• Newt is the most disgusting playable character I've seen in any JRPG. Ugly as sin, dresses like a Nazi, obsesses over the fascist-lite army, and literally quotes Hitler. The translators worked hard to censor all the religious stuff in the game, but a f***ing Hitler quote was okay?!
• Floren is just an anti-trans/non-binary joke. The writers of Xenoblade 2 seriously think that people living in their fantastical worlds can handle tons of weird stuff happening around them all the time completely poker faced, but a person not being the gender they thought they were is the biggest shocker they ever witnessed.
• And I want to note that after all this, Nintendo of America decided the one problem with the original script was the references to religion. Over 90% of all mentions of religion are censored in a half-assed way despite a lot of the original names for things being super obvious, yet they were cool with pedos, bigots, and Nazis.

Sorry who are newt and floren I don't remember them

Post automatically merged: Feb 15, 2025

The direct connections to XC1 don't come up until pretty late in the game. Even then, none of it is made clear until the last chapter.

What I mean about the main plot is that it all reads good on paper. If you read any summary online, you don't see all the dialogue or character interactions included, so it all sounds really good. It's only when you hear and see the characters being a bunch of b*****ds that the writing falls apart. (And note that you could easily miss Newt and Floren's parts, as both characters are locked away in the gatcha system.)

Poppy is the one character other than Pyra who doesn't act horrible towards others; likewise, she actually develops instead of staying the same anime trope from beginning to end. That, unfortunately, doesn't change the fact that her story starts off pedo baiting and Tora is always there to undermine it all.

The translations of the tutorials isn't the problem. The tutorials are just really bad because the Xenoblade writers suck at technical writing. (This was also an issue in Xenoblade X, especially for the mining system.) You basically have to experiment until you get how the battle system is supposed to work. (Note that almost every review of the game hated on it to the extent that they completely redid it in the prequel.)

Xenoblade 1 is actually a fantastic game and definitely worth playing. It has none of the issues that XC2 has. (Okay, Melia being traumatized at the end of the original release is kind of sad, but that was changed in the Switch version.)

Xenoblade X is a mixed bag. The gameplay is great, the world building is really good, and it does well at incorporating MMO elements into a mostly offline game. However, the writing is really bad, with an incomplete main story (though the Switch version expands it), a lot of repetitive dialogue in story cut scenes, and the playable characters having an idiotically repetitive and underdeveloped sense of humor. Oh, and the worst song in the game is the one that plays the most often. At least the characters aren't hateable when they aren't trying to be funny.

Can't comment on Xenoblade 3 too much since I've played it on and off without finishing. Nobody's confirmed for me if it gets as cringe as XC2 does, so I'm reluctant to put the effort into powering through it. (Also, the submenu's equipment section UI is such trash that it makes equipment changes aggravating, so that makes playing a bit of a slog.)

My main fear with xenoblade 3 was that it would be like 2 , but its leagues better than 2 ( not that hard )

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Counter strike source is better than 1.6 , you got buffed five seven and dual berreta and an actually good tec9.

I mean as legendary as 1.6 was I think the GoldSource engine is janky as hell for multiplayer games.

Even then I am fed with the spam of De_Dust2 maps the same way I'm bored of 2Fort in Team Fortress and Crossfire in Half-Life (and maybe even Facing Worlds in the Unreal series).

Are old-school FPS fans scared of trying maps they're not used to? I mean many retro Arena Shooters are constantly staying in their comfort zone (unless it's a railgun instagib map to test aiming skill).

 

[Pandaprewmaster325]

I mean as legendary as 1.6 was I think the GoldSource engine is janky as hell for multiplayer games.

Even then I am fed with the spam of De_Dust2 maps the same way I'm bored of 2Fort in Team Fortress and Crossfire in Half-Life (and maybe even Facing Worlds in the Unreal series).

Are old-school FPS fans scared of trying maps they're not used to? I mean many retro Arena Shooters are constantly staying in their comfort zone (unless it's a railgun instagib map to test aiming skill).

I wholeheartedly agree , we have all these cool maps yet every single server sticks to dust 2 , why not try estate or siege? Militia is dope!

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I wholeheartedly agree , we have all these cool maps yet every single server sticks to dust 2 , why not try estate or siege? Militia is dope!

Even the original "Counter Strike" mode (you know, the one the game was intended with) has been eclipsed by defuse/demolition.

The map cs_office is imo as iconic as de_dust2 in term of representation of what CS is about.

I'm not a big expect in CS but this is why I want players to not always stay in their comfort zone and try more variety (but I guess they want to pwn n00bs in a map they know like the back of their hand than risking to get destroyed from not knowing the layout).

Speaking of Counter-Strike, it may be a massive volcanic take but it's not entirely from me, the game is much more casual than most Arena Shooters so people even without a great keyboard skill about movements, could still manage with a decent aim and good enough team instead of relying on almost personal prowess.

Arena Shooters are very punitive, you can carry every weapons the map is giving you so you have to know by heart each respawn and the time of them (especially for armour or other power ups like Quad Damage in Quake III) as well as having full control and using rocket jumps when needed. In CS you have a limited weapon pool chosen from a store (or guns left by dead enemies or allies) so it's closer to Halo or console FPS having two weapons at the same time at most.

Same thing with bhop, while it still exists more or less in CS (being a Quake derivative) it's nerfed like hell and you are almost punished for jumping normally in CS while AFPS are encouraging you to do it.

CS is much more like a tactical team FPS than a pure shooter. Team Fortress also has a team but is much more movement based (even in TF2 despite the huge nerf of bhop despite letting rocket/sticky jumps and the Scout's double jump and how the items are making this game far from competitive friendly).

 

[Pandaprewmaster325]

Even the original "Counter Strike" mode (you know, the one the game was intended with) has been eclipsed by defuse/demolition.

The map cs_office is imo as iconic as de_dust2 in term of representation of what CS is about.

I'm not a big expect in CS but this is why I want players to not always stay in their comfort zone and try more variety (but I guess they want to pwn n00bs in a map they know like the back of their hand than risking to get destroyed from not knowing the layout).

Speaking of Counter-Strike, it may be a massive volcanic take but it's not entirely from me, the game is much more casual than most Arena Shooters so people even without a great keyboard skill about movements, could still manage with a decent aim and good enough team instead of relying on personal prowess.

True I get it can be discomforting to navigate a map you know nothing about while the other player seemingly knows it well but it is worth the effort as you learn more maps you learn more about the game and become overall a better player.

Yup CS while difficult to master isn't as hardcore as arena shooters but it was the cause of their death anyway

Office is a fun map its very close quarters surviving encounters in it is quite hard.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

True I get it can be discomforting to navigate a map you know nothing about while the other player seemingly knows it well but it is worth the effort as you learn more maps you learn more about the game and become overall a better player.

It happens to any newbie in any game involving versus.

Like when you don't know what are the special attacks of a new fighting game while the other can cumulate super over super.

But de_dust2 is basically like going at a restaurant you go often to and asking for the usual without anything else, you know what you like but it can get stale overtime

Yup CS while difficult to master isn't as hardcore as arena shooters but it was the cause of their death anyway

The whole mastery of CS came mostly from team cohesion, knowing how to spend money and the overal aim but I think that aiming in a game where people don't got faster than a normal human isn't the same as a bhoping soldier going at a sport car speed with the help of launchpads, rocket jumping and a much more vertical level design as they have a railgun that could instakill you (or using a rocket to propel you into the air before finishing you with the railgun).

The first thing that shocked me when I played Quake III was how vertical the levels were even compared to TFC and Half-Life.

TF2 is basically a "gateway drug" to Arena FPS even if it's objectively a game more on the "fun" side with wacky items (especially when one is just a sandwich the heavy is eating to replenish his life) rather than a "serious" game (despite the competitive update they added).

Office is a fun map its very close quarters surviving encounters in it is quite hard.

I do like close quarter in CS to tell which is the best at aiming and ambushing.

 

[Pandaprewmaster325]

It happens to any newbie in any game involving versus.

Like when you don't know what are the special attacks of a new fighting game while the other can cumulate super over super.

But de_dust2 is basically like going at a restaurant you go often to and asking for the usual without anything else, you know what you like but it can get stale overtime

The whole mastery of CS came mostly from team cohesion, knowing how to spend money and the overal aim but I think that aiming in a game where people don't got faster than a normal human isn't the same as a bhoping soldier going at a sport car speed with the help of launchpads, rocket jumping and a much more vertical level design as they have a railgun that could instakill you (or using a rocket to propel you into the air before finishing you with the railgun).

The first thing that shocked me when I played Quake III was how vertical the levels were even compared to TFC and Half-Life.

TF2 is basically a "gateway drug" to Arena FPS even if it's objectively a game more on the "fun" side with wacky items (especially when one is just a sandwich the heavy is eating to replenish his life) rather than a "serious" game (despite the competitive update they added).


I do like close quarter in CS to tell which is the best at aiming and ambushing.

True trying out new things keeps it fresh its the same situation with "gaming isn't as fun anymore" when the only games they play are minecraft and call of duty gets boring and stale after a while.

That can make CS frustrating to play you get lopped into a team of people who think they are rambo and not even tell where they planting the bomb....its not just aim its the spray pattern the inaccuracy of shooting while running and more that make CS be levels above COD in gunplay its more methodical than lets say arena shooters which can feel mindless at times.

Close quarters are quite scary one second you are moving slowly and nothing happening you spot the enemy and flash and smokes and stray bullets fly in all directions

 

[miguk miguk]

Sorry who are newt and floren I don't remember them

Post automatically merged: Feb 15, 2025

My main fear with xenoblade 3 was that it would be like 2 , but its leagues better than 2 ( not that hard )

Newt and Floren are part of the set of gatcha characters that you get through total random chance. You can go through the whole game and potentially never meet them. Nonetheless, if you are unlucky, you'll be given them when you are trying to get KOS-MOS or some other more worthwhile character.

My concern with XC3 isn't about how hard it is. My concern is that they got the writing back to the level of quality they had with XC1 and avoided doing anything that will bring it down to the cringeworthy and disgusting level they got to with XC2.

 

[MasterEn]

Newt and Floren are part of the set of gatcha characters that you get through total random chance. You can go through the whole game and potentially never meet them. Nonetheless, if you are unlucky, you'll be given them when you are trying to get KOS-MOS or some other more worthwhile character.

My concern with XC3 isn't about how hard it is. My concern is that they got the writing back to the level of quality they had with XC1 and avoided doing anything that will bring it down to the cringeworthy and disgusting level they got to with XC2.

it seems that the games have different writers, judging by how the quality varies so greatly. if you want the first game's level of quality, you'll need to hope that those writers come back.

 

[Elwiwi]

Newt and Floren are part of the set of gatcha characters that you get through total random chance. You can go through the whole game and potentially never meet them. Nonetheless, if you are unlucky, you'll be given them when you are trying to get KOS-MOS or some other more worthwhile character.

My concern with XC3 isn't about how hard it is. My concern is that they got the writing back to the level of quality they had with XC1 and avoided doing anything that will bring it down to the cringeworthy and disgusting level they got to with XC2.

I meant that is not hard to be better than xenoblade 2.
All the xenoblade ( not played saga and gears ) have that cringe in some shape or form

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Xenoblade is a MMO but in solo? Like FFXII?

I'm not fan of that battle system sorry.

I'd rather have ARPG or pure turn based (ATB is fine) than something too in between.


PS: I think I'll stop following the two hot take threads sorry.

 

[MasterEn]

Xenoblade is a MMO but in solo? Like FFXII?

I'm not fan of that battle system sorry.

I'd rather have ARPG or pure turn based (ATB is fine) than something too in between.


PS: I think I'll stop following the two hot take threads sorry.

it could be like phantasy star online. you can play that solo in addition to multiplayer.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

it could be like phantasy star online. you can play that solo in addition to multiplayer.

Someday I'll try it but I got too many games to do.

 

[MasterEn]

Someday I'll try it but I got too many games to do.

same for me.
so many games, not enough time.

 

[HexGramarye]

persona 3 portable should be eradicated from history

I was gonna say this, but for Reload instead of Portable lol. Persona 3 is pretty good, and when I play it, I always go for Portable, but the series peaked with Persona 2 in my opinion. And the third game is really held back by not having three flawed experiences with distinct highlights, and none being the definitive version.

 

[Elwiwi]

I was gonna say this, but for Reload instead of Portable lol. Persona 3 is pretty good, and when I play it, I always go for Portable, but the series peaked with Persona 2 in my opinion. And the third game is really held back by not having three flawed experiences with distinct highlights, and none being the definitive version.

Persona 2 ?? I thought the series started with 3 like final fantasy vii

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

This is more a hardcore Doom community thing, but I dislike pistol start only runs. The pistol is the only Doom gun that feels super unsatisfying to use, and I don't care for having to scramble to find something better every time while getting mobbed by dozens of Revenants and Hell Knights. A lot of people swear it's the only way to play, but nah, it's not for me.

 

[Antilocal123]

I liked Hello Kitty Island Adventure more than AC: New Horizons.

 

[Raccoonus]

I've thought for a long time that terms like Metroidvania or Souls-like are worthless band-aid terms thought up by people who are bad at naming things and no one should use them. I mean what do you do about people that have never played Metroid, Castlevania or Dark Souls when you use terms like that? Why can't we say labyrinthine platformer or just call Dark Souls a third-person action RPG? I understand trying to make sense to someone who does know what those games are but these terms have no longevity is my point and they're being pushed as official terminology to sell products.

 

[>pitchshifter]

NFS games after HP2 suck. The cars handle like anvils on ice and acceleration is very unsatisfying. I prefer Midnight Club.

 

[Elwiwi]

What makes a

I've thought for a long time that terms like Metroidvania or Souls-like are worthless band-aid terms thought up by people who are bad at naming things and no one should use them. I mean what do you do about people that have never played Metroid, Castlevania or Dark Souls when you use terms like that? Why can't we say labyrinthine platformer or just call Dark Souls a third-person action RPG? I understand trying to make sense to someone who does know what those games are but these terms have no longevity is my point and they're being pushed as official terminology to sell products.

What does a game need to be classified as a souls?

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

I've thought for a long time that terms like Metroidvania or Souls-like are worthless band-aid terms thought up by people who are bad at naming things and no one should use them. I mean what do you do about people that have never played Metroid, Castlevania or Dark Souls when you use terms like that? Why can't we say labyrinthine platformer or just call Dark Souls a third-person action RPG? I understand trying to make sense to someone who does know what those games are but these terms have no longevity is my point and they're being pushed as official terminology to sell products.

If Dark Souls is a Third-Person Action RPG then how do we differentiate it from Onimusha? Or Dragon Age? Or Mass Effect? I get what you mean, the names are very cumbersome. But giving them a broad name is another can of worms. Keep in mind that "Hack and Slash" can refer to Diablo, Devil May Cry, and Dark Souls all at once, all very different games.

 

[Deleted member 884]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a great games, despite what people here say. Who cares about the story and characters' develpment if the gameplay is fantastic?

 

[Jeanfranc]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a great games, despite what people here say. Who cares about the story and characters' develpment if the gameplay is fantastic?

The infamous picture at the end of Xenoblade 3 is so great it makes it all worth it. Monolith I kneel