So, Chapter 13.
To start Alois was a bit annoying in how much he was pushed, but I came around on him and I got endeared to him more as he had more meaningful dialogue and his presence was allowed to simmer and less in-your-face and overshadowing of your MC. I understand he was a big shot to such an extent that it makes sense, but having your character in-on-it to such an extent made it a problem
maybe it was the fucking (((Localizers))) fucking up again. Ares Prime was cool, if a bit underwhelming as a reward since the side content overlevels you to such a degree that it makes him obsolete on arrival no matter how fun it is to have a fully loaded out Ares with smooth animations. I'm interested in what it's actual personality and end goal is like, but Takahashi is saving that for the next game since it's clear that things are nowhere near over for NLA.**
The other new party members are fine, Qlurians are expanded upon with NeilNail from the big nothing that was Celica and it's nice to have
Ga Jiarg with some expansion to his character both from barks and Heart-to-Hearts. Lysel mostly exists for the jet plane and has a cool suit, I could not care much for her story with her nigger/jeet friend because it's not that unique or interesting nor is the drama strong enough to compensate. The new mech is cool, the jet mode is very convenient to traverse with and a programming marvel considering how smoothly it is integrated with the rest of the game.
On the actual plot it's difficult to put to words my grievances and praises, which is probably because a decade later Monolith's current vision no longer aligns with the older blueprint of the game and either lost interest in those threads or wanted to
prioritize retrofitting the whole story to actually matter to the rest of the franchise. There's good scenes and moments here, interesting conceits to high concepts, but some of what made this entry unique to the rest of the franchise is sacrificed in the process.
Conduit and Samaarian lore, Universal unconscious, Klaus managing to fuck over even more people and actual literal heaven is cool but I wish they hadn't sacrificed much of the harder sci-fi, Xeno race interaction and Mira wasn't fucked over as hard. Basically almost all the world-building introduced in side-content is forgotten or trashed and I think that's a shame even if most things make sense and can be inferred without too many mental gymnastics provided considering the new world-building
More objectively speaking, NLA and general dialogue is a lot less reactive to the circumstances to the events of Chapter 13 beyond recruitment chatter and it's a shame, part of what made NLA feel fun is that many NPCs, even inconsequential ones, usually had new reactions of barks regarding side missions and main plot events.
I wanted to see the Tree Prone react to having to delay their holy tree to grow again, Nopon caravans lose their shit or disappear entirely, Professor B panicking/being surprised or that Orphean politician handling the next exodus. Imagine the last month of Persona 3 but everything is still the same with peppy music and shit. Void is
confusing as a villain and lacks the charisma to make up for it while also having the more interesting bits of characterization backloaded to the end. Character writing is built on for the main cast is good and they do have moments to shine, though this is a weird end-point for most of their arcs.
I suppose part of that is that it feels as if the story is saying NLA's nowhere near close to being done while the whole thing is serving as an epilogue.
One thing I appreciate is that it genuinely succeeds in making
Mira's destruction a sad event by having you run around all continents and the final area both encourages exploration in a new, visually distinct and offers unique gameplay scenario that also gives party members one last word in. Final boss
was cool even if fully engaging with the final area means crippling the boss completely.
>>1097002
>longsword
I've been intentionally avoiding to use it since I want to try different things this time around and True Stream Edge/Round slash is just too easy to fall into. At least Sniper rifle is viable now due to Howling soul being the ultimate support art for attackers.
>>1097101
Fair, though I find the later game more rewarding when Cross grows from basic bitch with nothing to the ultimate killing machine and part of the experience.