[darkjak951]

Is....is this real life? Nintendo....actually....listened to their fanbase? Anyway, you guys looking forward to this?

[Kaori]

I'm glad that Nintendo actually listened. I'll be getting this, for sure. The Wii doesn't have very many games I'm interested in, so it'll be nice to finally get another Wii game. Haven't gotten a Wii game since 2009.

[Conn]

Will be pre-ordering this as soon as I can. Been excited for this for a while, and the almost certainly low print run only amplifies my desire.

Now if only Nintendo can keep this up and give us the other EU-only games.

[Peklo]

I got this in September. I played it for maybe... 20 to 30 hours? I didn't burn out on it, just drifted to other things. Might as well relate my initial impressions from back then. The context was "games you never thought would be good."

Quote

no really

i didn't feel anything at all about xenoblade during its development. the most i managed was to lazily watch a pre-release trailer, which left a pretty sour taste in my mouth and prompted me to dismiss the game forevermore. it looked like the same boring, trite nonsense bad jrpgs are made of (even some good ones). so there i am, having put any burgeoning potential interest behind me when i come across a magazine review of it, just last friday. it is glowing in adoration as shit, and i am DEEPLY AFFECTED, even against my normal disposition toward such things. first thing i do when i get home that weekend is hop online and buy the game off some chap auctioning it online, and today i got to play it for the first time.

holy hell

this is a pretty good game, guys! at least based on a couple of hours' first impressions. miscellaneous things in its favour:

• the hyper-gorgeous title screen
  
• british va cast that doesn't cross the line over to farcical faux-cockney territory; people sound like people
  
• the world's design concept: two inconceivably colossal titans -- one organic, one mechanical -- duel in the beginning of time, eventually slaying one another - civilization takes form on their erect, towering carcasses
  
• monsters are visible in the field, and battles happen where you encounter them, not on a separate screen. most enemies do not attack you on sight, barring the rare, strong exceptions
  
• the environments are ridiculously huge, grandiose geographical vistas, where it feels good just to run around and see what kind of view lies behind the next turn
  
• the game rewards exploration and finding new locations with tangible boons, i.e. experience points
  
• equipment alters your character's appearance
  
• no save points - just save anywhere at all at your leisure
  
• day-to-night cycles that affect the present population in towns, discoverable loot and monsters in the field, besides just looking plain fantastic
  
• so far no area-to-area loading at all. you can run straight from the town square to the rolling hills to fight monsters, and it is seamless
  
• draw distance seemingly has no limits
  
• positioning matters in battle. the main dude has skills that only work when the enemy is attacked from the rear or the side, as an example. teamwork comes into play as to be able to get behind an enemy, its attention needs to be fixed on someone else. this is just the first thing the game stresses, i'm sure more strategies lie ahead
  
• i found level 70+ enemies just chilling on a relatively nearby shore to the game's starting town. also found a hidden aquatic cave where monsters nested

how the hell is this from the makers of xeno-anything-else

Most of that still rings true after extended play. I think I need to stress the world design once more: it is fucking fantastic.

[Conn]

What I am most surprised by, Peklo, is that you still read gaming magazines

[Peklo]

Just the one. It's by far the best one in my country, and a long-runner at that. I'd be sad to see it go, honestly.

[darkjak951]

The whole idea of the world being placed on top of towering giant(s) is just an awesome concept. I will probably enjoy the British VA too, will be a nice change of pace. Its also the #1 most popular game on gamestop right now unsurprisingly, and it could probably turn out to be a best seller here, which hopefully means a sequel(unless if it isn't open for one at the end).

[Conn]

Peklo: I'm so used to gaming magazines being garbage here that I didn't even consider Finland might have some worthwhile ones, haha. My bad.

In any case, Peklo's impressions really just reinforce all the good I've heard about the game and I really can't wait to play it.