Beyond augmenting your character and using affinity shards to build rapport with companions, Tokyo offers a number of recreational pursuits that mirror the myriad of options in actual real-life location. Exhibition is rooted in a free-time, which like the name implies is far more relaxed than the constantly ticking clock in Atlus’ franchise. Although a story of a rag tag bunch of teens teaming up to fight a metaphysical foe might have been done before, there’s genuine charm to be found in the game’s storytelling and mobile-phone driven dialog.Īnd if the preceding paragraph made you think of the Persona series, then you’re not far off the mark, at least during Xanadu’s sunlit hours. Similarly, Asuka seems reserved, but gradually Xanadu reveals the motivations behind her disposition. Kou Tokisaka is a relatable lead, occasionally regarded as slightly aloof but demonstrating a warm demeanor to those around him. The only real failing stems from the game’s conclusion, which attempts to wrap things up too quickly, sullying the enjoyment cultivated from the previous fifty+ hours of play.īut even with its problematic ending, I plan on playing through the title again when Tokyo Xanadu eX+ hits PlayStation 4 and PC. By developing an affable entourage of main characters and secondaries, as well as a succession of crises that emerge with each chapter, Tokyo Xanadu’s slower speed allows for some satisfying development. And while the story takes it time to get up to speed, the episodic format proves effective, gradually introducing new characters by way of title card. Eventually, the game’s plotline transcends the mystical, weaving in religion and transcontinental meddling as well as a bit of ecological warning into its exposition. And even though the storyline indicates that a very limited number of people can see this alterative reality known as an Eclipse, a growing number of the Xanadu cast is also privy to the power. Like many games, the unusual incident serves as Tokisaka’s entry into a secretive underworld, and without spoiling any part of the plot, he soon learns that he can wield a same power. Once on the other side of the fissure, Kou witnesses a mysterious labyrinth, as the seemingly susceptible young women summons a giant weapon that annihilates a horde of encroaching enemies. Just as the things are about to turn ugly, a crimson-colored crack opens, pulling in the ruffians, Hiiragi and even Tokisaka. With the young women’s safety in jeopardy, the lead follows. While eager to head home and receive some rest before the next school day at the Morimiya Academy, he witnesses a classmate named Asuka Hiiragi accosted by a pair of street thugs. Players first meet the game’s protagonist, Kou Tokisaka, as he’s leaving a late shift at one of his numerous part-time jobs. Initially, Xanadu’s plot might appear to move too sluggishly. But a skillful blend of high school recreation simulation, social bonding, dungeon exploration, and real-time combat congeals into an experience poised to bring enjoyment to fans of Japanese born-gaming. The title might not quite be as gratifying as Falcom’s Ys or Trails in the Sky series and bears no significant semblance to the studio’s lapsed Xanadu series. Pleasingly, the Tachikawa City-based studio’s latest game, Tokyo Xanadu upholds that near-spotless track record on this side of the Pacific. With a legacy spanning thirty-five years and nearly a hundred titles, the studio hasn’t had a single disappoint, with even tepid launches turning into successes and most efforts enjoying popularity for an uncharacteristically prolonged period. But after speaking with Nihon Falcom President Toshihiro Kondo, I learned that the developer has an unblemished track record in Japan. Notably, The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion and Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch– the first two entries in the Gagharv Trilogy were released out of order, with both PSP titles suffered from a slipshod localization, and subsequently suffering from middling sales. In the West, Nihon Falcom’s output is tarnished with the rare blemish.
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