I really like the concept of the protagonist being in debt. I have a feeling I'm going to really dislike the concept of getting rid of that debt.

If the Tales of Graces quest system is anything to go by, we'll be taking jobs at some billboard in the middle of the desert, or at some ancient ruins to do some random quest. At the end, we'll get fed a cut scene. or perhaps the beginning.

I know next to nothing about Tales of Xilla, except from what I read here when it was coming out. I have heard about how due to the time constraints lots of things didn't make it in. From what the trailers are showing it seems like they might be making the main characters take a back seat, which is what made some people dislike Tales of Symphonia 2.

I'm personally confused as to why the Tales series are trying to advertise this like it's something new:

Quote:Tales of Xillia 2 features a new system that lets you make key choices in the game using the L1 or R1 button during specific scenes in the game. By Shawn @ http://www.talesunion.com/news/ludger-ha...-2104.html

In my experience with most Tales games that have come out stateside (I've played about only two Japan exclusive releases), you've always had to make decisions in cut scenes that would effect the game. Some of them would lead to party member betrayals, deaths or even get you one of multiple endings.

Hell you could even end up picking which character the main character would be "romantically interested", in! Which could lead to painfully awkward, or hilarious scenes.

So choices affecting the story isn't new, I guess it must be that huge timer!
Right?
So either the huge timer is to give us a sense of immersion and urgency, or to prevent us from looking on the internet to find out which decision is the best one to take.

Even as a Tales fan I think this new feature probably descended from Final Fantasy 13-2. I don't personally think it's needed at all since most games have done it before this point without this feature.

The story concept as well reminds of Final Fantasy 13-2. In reality this is actually nothing new to the Tales series since Phantasia (It's been a while since I played Phantasia, if I'm wrong feel free to correct me), has done it before.

With Xilla 2 coming out marketing itself in ways that makes it seems similar to Final Fantasy 13-2 for it's targeted audience (the RPG crowd), it might end hurting it's sales. With the consumer fanbase for Fianl Fantasy 13-2 split between liking, and disliking it, some people might write this game off just for having the parallel worlds aspect.

I also don't know very many mediums of entertainment spanning from books, movies, and video games that are actually good when they get involved with parallel worlds. I hope they can pull it off though.

Short version:

• Debt is a good idea, hopefully it's nothing like Tales of Graces F.
• I hope they don't piss off lots people like they did with Symphonia 2.
• Older Tales games have done what this new feature does perfectly.
• Timer is to stop us from going to GameFaqs to cheat, or to give us panic attacks.
• New feature was probably influenced from Final Fantasy 13-2.
• Marketing to make the game sound like Final Fantasy 13-2 might hurt sales.
• Thanks Shawn, for always updating Tales Union.
  

These are my thoughts on the very limited amount of information we have.

What are your impressions or thoughts on the information, or the matters I brought up?

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The new decision system is more being that now you have an immediate choice you have to make (ala FFXIII-2), instead of a pre-determined choice.

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Shawn Collier
Software Engineer | Associate Editor