Current Events > I HATED the combat system in Xenoblade Chronicles X. Is it worth trying the rest

(+) Yeah! (+)

I picked up the game because it looked cool and I really like the world and everything but the combat. I tried I really did but I just hated it and eventually put the game down.

Now Xenoblade has become a big franchise for Nintendo and I don't want to dismiss it out of hand just because of one experience but is XCX's combat system similar to the others, because if it is it's just going to be a hard pass and I'd like to be aware of that before I spend money.

Yes although simpler, Xenoblade X had the most complex systems imo.

What didn't you like about the combat

Yes and no. XCX's is by far the most freeform, so depending on what you liked and disliked about it you might have radically different feelings about the rest of the series as the similarities exist while at the same time they are pretty different across the board.

Depends on what you hated about it. I'm of the opinion that it's not bad, but it's definitely rough.

I certainly like it more than 2 at any rate.

The combat is very difficult to get a handle on in its entirety, but it is possible and more than worth it for the rest of XCX.

Combat was my least favorite part about XCX and I never got a full understanding of it.

Just look at this "battle".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjyjDLd8q_A

Edit: I think this video does a good job explaining how broken the system is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNuXaTeSNUY

It just felt too chaotic and rhythm-based and what not. Like having to do different moves at different times just to heal or what not just never click with me. It felt like there were 40 different mechanics in play and none of them well-explained.

Compsognathus posted...

It just felt too chaotic and rhythm-based and what not. Like having to do different moves at different times just to heal or what not just never click with me. It felt like there were 40 different mechanics in play and none of them well-explained.

This honestly feels like xcx and xc2. Granted 2 is a bit easier to get into the swing of things without a guide, but it's still eh.

Compsognathus posted...

It just felt too chaotic and rhythm-based and what not. Like having to do different moves at different times just to heal or what not just never click with me. It felt like there were 40 different mechanics in play and none of them well-explained.

That isn't present at all in the other games. So yeah, you are safe on that front.

Minus the not explained bit. XBCX is *vastly* the worst there, but the others are tricky with no explanation as well.

XCX has like 10 mins of Tutorials and tells you to figure out the rest.

It's both great and dumb. I certainly appreciated it at the time

I spent maybe 150 hours before I learned how to use Overdrive

While Xenoblade 2 and 3 have less to work with and more gradually introduce you to mechanics, they still have some kind of rhythm to them with Art animation cancels, so I'm not sure if you'll like the others. It's hard to really tell since each one kinda does things differently.

Xenoblade 1 has the exact same playstyle as X but is simpler, better tutorialization, and slower.

GeminiDeus posted...

Combat was my least favorite part about XCX and I never got a full understanding of it.

Just look at this "battle".

Edit: I think this video does a good job explaining how broken the system is.

Seems like one of those mmorpgs with 5 rows of hot keys, but consolised.

Friends,,

XC2 is one of my favorite games. I might have played 6 times.

I want to play again soon. The chicks are hot, and very cute acting.

X uses a different combat system. but I never played it. Just from what I
have seen.

give 2 a try. Its a fun game. it has good new game plus.

ive only ever played xenoblade 2 and the combat felt like utter nonsense for a good 10-15 hours. it just seems like those games are really bad at presenting them to people

MarcyWarcy posted...

ive only ever played xenoblade 2 and the combat felt like utter nonsense for a good 10-15 hours. it just seems like those games are really bad at presenting them to people

Yeah, I think the only games that actually had good tutorials were 1 and 3, and in the case of 1 there were still some things I didn't understand until late game since all the tutorials were basically thrown at you within like the first hour. X was extremely light with tutorials and 2 had them in bad placements and wouldn't let you review them.

I think one of the other things that fucks with me is how spacing doesn't seem to matter. Like I can have a sword but like I don't actually need to hit them with the sword or even be particularly close. Like the Monster Hunter player in me just doesn't like that. I should have to actually hit them with a sword. Same with like dodging enemy attacks.

Compsognathus posted...

I think one of the other things that fucks with me is how spacing doesn't seem to matter. Like I can have a sword but like I don't actually need to hit them with the sword or even be particularly close. Like the Monster Hunter player in me just doesn't like that. I should have to actually hit them with a sword. Same with like dodging enemy attacks.

Oh yeah, that takes some time to get used to at first. Attacks do not care for range most of the time. Especially enemies.

At the very least XC2 and XC3 have "hit-stop" to each landed attack to make it feel more like you're actually hitting something.

Compsognathus posted...

I think one of the other things that fucks with me is how spacing doesn't seem to matter. Like I can have a sword but like I don't actually need to hit them with the sword or even be particularly close. Like the Monster Hunter player in me just doesn't like that. I should have to actually hit them with a sword. Same with like dodging enemy attacks.

That is also something that is a lot more exclusive to X. The games can play a bit loose with the animations, but X is a wild affair due to the massive size despairity potential causing them to just throw hitting enemies visually out the window in some cases.

They all have similar, not weighty MMO combat, X is just more fast-paced.