Tokyo Xanadu is Falcom's Worst Game...
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- Tokyo Xanadu may be one of Falcom's worst games but its still really good in its own right! Today we will talk about how it tries to trick you into thinking its worse than it is and also why you should pick up Tokyo Xanadu on Switch
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Tokyo Xanadu Review
Tokyo Xanadu Switch Review
If that's the worst they can offer, Falcom is truly one of the better companies in the industry
hell yeah
Looking foward to the inevitable video game market crash where "we just can't make games on these huge budgets anymore" and falcom will be unphased by it all asking "you guys get budgets?"
Amen
Yep, ever since I've tried nihon falcom games, their games are the only ones I can finish in just a week straight. Other games, I just stop for weeks or months then come back
@@kei0807-1 personally i take ages to beat them but thats because im a freak who talks to a ton of npcs whenever their dialogue updates
Also youtube soaks up a good chunk of time
well falcom games aren't the best out there, gameplay wise and graphics wise, they're upper mid at best. but it's really in the story-writing where they shine the most, and a great story doesn't need that much budget. which they definitely know and understand, and that's why they are putting it to great use.
*Looks at the thumbnail and looks at the title* WHO DO I BELIEVE?!?!
BELIEVE IN BOTH
Ngl, the retranslation of this game kinda makes me wanna replay it just to see what changed
I've forgotten alot of stuff so I'm very much down for getting it on switch (helps we never got a physical release here in the PAL regions but we are getting one for the switch)
If this is the worst game, and I’ve played it, then Falcom are incapable of making legitimately bad games.
thats cos they're the goats
Never played the game. Almost a decade ago, I stumbled upon an XMB menu theme called Tokyo Xanadu on the Japanese PS Store. It was free, so I downloaded it. This absolutely beautiful and calming music called "All is a Lie" started playing , and I've been obsessed with the song ever since. Maybe one of these days, I'll get into Falcom games.
Falcom music will eventually worm its way into your life sooner or later
Definately recommend Ys8 or Trails in the Sky if you want to toe dip at somepoint (the new trails of daybreak is also a relatively good entry point too)
Tokyo Xanadu also since you already have a connection with it
If I had a nickel for every time the definitive version of an action game was on the Switch with content that was not patched into already existing versions on the PS4 and PC, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird it's happened twice.
Seriously, why is free style switching only in the Switch version of DMC3
It certainly is a bizarre choice on capcoms part, they've been like this with DMC for a bunch of releases tho, DmC Definative Edition and DMC5 Special Edition are both console exclusive for no reason (some nonsense about ray tracing being optimised for the "next gen consoles" is some grade A BS
Although the DMC3 trainer does allow you to enable full weapon and style switching like the switch version (tho the UI isn't designed to show it as well) and even more stuff like making air hike universal to all weapons (not just rebellion, agni and rudra and beowulf) and a few other minor tweeks
You can mod it into PC version.
It was actually my first Falcom game and I loved it.
After playing it I saw Cold Steel 1 on the PS Store and was like "That game reminds me of Xanadu"
I am now a massive Trails fan as a result.
ONE OF US
ONE OF US
ONE OF US
Falcom Fever infects us all eventually
Exactly the same for me
Tokyo Xanadu was my first Falcom game too. I played Trails and Ys as a result of seeing the references in-game.
@@Kraftium Cold Steel 1 was my first Falcom game, and I can say that I'm very much hooked. The entire Cold Steel story helped make the Pandemic more bearable, so I can safely say that Class VII felt like the friends I'd make back in high school. I'm glad I discovered this game on the PS4, and now that I have the Switch version, I will say that the Switch, at least in my opinion, is the best system to play Falcom games, because they're more niche, and with the Switch's portability, you can play on the go anytime you're bored, or just wanna get invested in the story.
Ahhhh Tokyo Xanadu, a reskin of Cold Steel 1 and 2 but as a sorta janky action JRPG. Fun game and a nice palette cleanser from Trails and Ys.
Also Towa dimension hopper!
She's a Ys cameo away from being falcom's cid/anna
eh i think it did Cold Steel 1 better than Cold Steel 1.
@@cius2112 arguably, yes
Towa being an 11 / 10 is the one thing everyone should agree on.
I love my wife so much she's an angel :,)
PUT HER IN YS
@@Kraftium The popular fan theory is that Nayuta Herschel is the great uncle of Towa and that's the link between Nayuta and Trails. All Towa needs to do is be in Ys for Falcom to become Towa Inc.
In the department of being a cute looking character, that score works. But as a character overall, she’s merely Towa from Cold Steel transplanted into this game.
The real 11/10 is Asuka Hiiragi.
@@whitewolf3051 towa is an angel
I will not have this slander
also if anyones getting second place its Sora Ikushima
@@Kraftium So you prefer cuties only? No love for the beautiful ice queen?
I know this is a hot take but Tokyo Xanadu, Ys 8, and Coldsteel 1/2 are peak Falcom for me personally. I can’t really explain it but there’s a certain vibe that the Falcom Vita era games have that just feels so comforting to me. The Vita era also has the best music too.
I have no idea what they did with the youtube algorithm but it's been on fire lately.
The algorithm told me my videos would not get views but I stared at them silently and just kept going >:)
Well said! TX is a fascinating look into where ideas start for young developers and the challenges they face. Kondo has also said that TX2 will be another younger dev playground game.
Does make me curious if that means they've had a bunch more of new devs join them again
I remember when they're team jumped from 40 to 60 people and it was a huge deal
@@Kraftium it may not even be a new influx, as much as letting younger members take the reins. As Trails starts to come to an end, they'll be desperately looking for new ideas. And I know in the past they've used the in game novels in Trails for younger writers to cut their teeth in preparation for larger roles. That's what I think TX2 will be: a playground and teeth cutting exercise to prepare the next generation of Falcom big wigs for post-Trails
Honestly one of my favorites in Falcoms line up
Tokyo Xanadu is basically Ys and Trails combined with modern japan setting, and i really love it (also, Towa is always a W)
Man i hope aksys does patch the other versions of the game cuz i was gonna play this game anyway but if it gets a better translation patch that would be nice since i dont own a switch
Even if aksys don't do it theres still a possiblity that fans might do it for the PC version depending how easy it'll be
Wouldn't be the weirdest thing, someone made a texture pack for ys7 that used the higher res textures from the otherwise worse in every way 2010 chinese port so if they do that they can replace text thats probably in the same format
Hazy Moon is eternally looping in my brain at all times.
This sounds exactly like what i look for in a game. I will for sure play it :)
I definately recommend it
I played this game on the PC, while I was waiting for the translation of Cold Steel III. While I understand the criticism, I do not fully agree with it (although I still agree with a big chunk of it). Yes - The start of the game has indeed what those "standard" types, and I think it's a good choice. Just like you said, after some time you discover it are not at all those cardboard figures you thought they should be. It helps, of course, that I already played some games (and VN's) that had a bit of similar structure.
Personally I liked the pacing you learn new abilities. It's a for a important part tied to the story itself. There must be must trust enough in the MC to allow him (and others) to learn those abilities, and there are some hurdles for that trust (I won't say more because I want to keep this comment spoiler free). That makes it a slow pacing game in that department, and I get that this can feel slow (although I had no problems with that). Anyway - Like other said here, If this is the worst Falcom could make, than it makes them one of the better developers (although I think that old game Gurumin is just less good, although it's excusable because it's a real oldie).
Now there is a better localization for the switch version, I hope they will port that localization to the PC. Anyway - It's great that the sequel for Tokyo Xanadu is on the horizon. I agree that this will probably a LOT better. Maybe they will use the same battle system as used in Trails Through Daybreak. That combination of action and turn based integrated would be perfect.
Side note: I still have some hopes those two older Zwei games get the same treatment as Nayuta. It are fun games and a remaster would be not a bad idea at all...🙂
Oh absolutely, its the weakest title in a collection of excellent games its a great game but when ranking them someones gotta come last. (I like gurumin alot actually)
I can understand from a narrative perspective why the abilities are dished out so slowly but for me that just feels like saying "we made this part bad on purpose" which works when you're doing something poetic and artsy but most of the time I feel like we should "make the game feel good to play tho" the first priority
I love tokyo xanadu but I did have to slog through those first couple of chapters and I've seen several friends drop it because of them but several friends stick through it and love it because of it. Which ultimately is why I made this little video to both gush about the game a little but also warn newcomers about its problems
Funnily enough zwei 2 really doesn't even need a remaster, it already looks like a better version of nayuta by default
Problem is, core gameplay is too dull. I dont remember how far I got. 2-3 chapters? But I just wished combat didnt exist at all and it was atelirt type of game instead. This video inspired me to give it another go. But I will probably play at easiet difficulty or enable one hit kill.
I really love this game my biggest issue is the PC version is a bit bare bones.
The best part was the part where near the end I choose all the characters I didn't like to do the bonds with because I read it as the characters you chose will NOT be available for the final bonding event.
That was a big mistake I will not be repeating...............................
yeah PC has resolution and thats it really
you can force FXAA via your drivers or reshade tho which helps
I actually think it's one of their best games next to Trails.
Their worst game I think is Ys: Memories of Celceta...mostly for the botched ending and the shallow antagonists (Still a very good game though).
celceta does kinda just fall appart at the end but I think people are a little too harsh on it, ys 7 has a great story but the gameplay is far worse than celceta's
@@KraftiumI use to think they were harsh until I saw AboveUps video comparing all three versions of the game. The canon one is sadly subpar story wise. Still love the game
Things I recommend to people who are about to start playing this game:
1) it's paced like a season of an anime, complete with it playing its (skippable) opening movie at the start of each chapter, so be prepared for a bit of a slow burn that then quickly ramps up; you will be able to fully utilize your swapping mechanics when you get your third character by the end of Chapter 2, and keep getting new abilities and modifiers as long as you keep upgrading your gear as new enemy drops come available;
2) yes, the characters seem generic at the start, but they become very fleshed out as new information comes available, recontextualing some of their apparently generic behavior as something that's actually a lot weirder;
3) I *heavily* recommend playing the Labyrinths (read: dungeons) with a focus on trying to do 100% Speedruns with as high a combo meter as possible, since b not only does that get you the best rewards and social stat buffs, the mechanics, enemy placement, and item placement are all immaculately designed to suit that playstyle.
Personally, I describe this game as the exact midpoint between Persona 3 and Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance (which is possibly what it was intended to be the Vita's analog to), or maybe Fate/Stay Night and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
When I started playing this game I felt it was very limited compared to Ys. However, as the chapters progressed it got actually quite good.
The plot is also interesting with some surprises.
So, in my opinion, this game is very good, specially if taking into consideration it was developed by a new developers at Falcom.
Even the "worst" game they do is actually quite good :) and I think more people should give it a try. This one and Nayuta are always ignored.
Story pacing is 9/10! Character side story actually focuses more on the side character background. Imagine the sequel, it would use the latest engine from kuro!
With the Switch port on the horizon, prices have been going down and availability has been going up on used versions of the previous releases of this game, at least here in the US. I was able to pick up the physical PS4 version used for $20 US not long ago. This is the only Falcom game I currently own right now and I look forward to playing it. Now after seeing this video I do hope that if the PS4 version does get the updated translation that there will be an English dub voice along with it? I don’t know if this game is already dubbed on PS4 but I just assumed it wasn’t. Like you said though, it’s not the end of the world for me if the PS4 version doesn’t get what the Switch will get in extra eventually. But can anyone here tell me if a dub voice is in this game? Thanks for this video. As a JRPG fan I do hope that I will like it.
ey I hope you enjoy it
but sadly there is no english dub in any version of TX (it'll be super weird if TX2 gets one)
I think I played this in the interim after TOCS 2 but before TOCS 3.. I remember really loving the gameplay and soundtrack.. It’s almost like a direct cross between YS & Trails with a sorta Persona vibe
I'd say it might have the worst plot, but of all of Falcom's action RPGs it has the best battle system, even better than any Ys game.
YOOO You mentioned the translation problem AND gave me hype for the better translation of the Switch release!! Subebd and thanked bro
eyyy no problem, thanks for sticking around
I started playing it on PS Vita and then switched to the PS4 version, and this game screams "meant to play on portable". Having it on Switch, especially if they polish some of the translational issues is a step in the right direction for exposure. Too bad it's kind of at the late stages of the Switch's life cycle.
Yeah the ps4 version is significantly better but a portable console is definately the intended way to go so it makes this new release super cool
its the "perfect for the switch" meme but actually true
Ironically Tokyo Xanadu eX+ is the only modern Falcom I really want the sequels for hahaha
I plan on getting into Tokyo Xanadu sometime once I'm caught up with Trails! Ys is another Falcom game that I plan on getting into as well.
I hope you enjoy it when you do
which trails game are you on? also have you played/planning on playing nayuta?
@@Kraftium I'm playing through Kuro again now that it's been released in english and will replay Kuro 2 once it's out in english too. I've already completed the Sky trilogy, Zero and Azure, CS 1-4 and Reverie.
Haven't played Nayuta yet, but I know about the twist ending there. Unsure if that will tie into current Trails lore or not.
funny thing is that it may be considered Falcom's worst title to some people (I found it ok), its still so much better than the games being released these days. Also Tokyo Xanadu 2 confirmed i believe.
oh yeah "worst" does not mean "bad" in any sense here
Great video and hell, I liked Tokyo Xanadu EX+ better than the Cold Steel arc. Just couldn't get into the characters there at all. Since its new translation I will probably spring for the Switch copy.
Have it on my PS4, and I am going to buy it on my switch. One of my favorite guilty pleasure games of all time
I’m grabbing the physical version with the soundtrack from the Aksys store. Suspecting this is going to be a pretty limited physical run.
Absolutely loved Tokyo Xanadu on the Vita!!! Dusk diver meets Ys 💯😁
i really enjoyed this game and i plan to play it again soon to get the last trophy for completing the game on “calamity” difficulty
I put about an hour or two into this game several years back and did not like it at all. Seeing this though makes me want to give it another shot and push through the rough early game.
its an uphill battle but I definately believe its worth it
I've always been a little fascinated with this game after seeing it for the first time on the Pslaystation Store. Between the clearly Vita-based graphics and otherwise not super interesting game design, it sorta left a seed of curiosity in my heart. I suppose I built up a bit of a fetish for games clearly made for the Vita being ported to much stronger devices. Seeing your video though, I think I'll actually give the game a shot one of these days.
Oh there is something special about vita games thats cool, they're like like taking games from the PS2 era but cleaned up just enough to feel modern, its good shit we love it
I really enjoyed this game, it was my second Falcom game I played after Trails of Cold Steel 1on the PS Vita. I ended up buying the ex+ version twice on PS4 and PC. The game was very similar to Cold Steel 1 and Persona series due to taking place in a school setting and having a bond/romance system which I started to like after playing Fire Emblem Awakening.
I only played the vita version back in the day. Yeah it was very jank. The final cutscene and credits have no audio!
oh bloody hell thats rough
vita version was especially a bit of a mess
The dungeon design is superb. The combat is tight, and is some of the best action RPG I've played on the PS4 period.
I like how each chapter has its own theme, but is part of a larger story arc.
The social sim aspect of the game does drag out. But let's be honest, excessive dialog and mundane side quests are hardly faults of this game alone. The entire JRPG genre tends to be guilty of that.
This is the game that actually introduced me to Falcom, and they've become my favorite JRPG developer since.
personally I like the more mundane parts
i think its where falcom's writing shines
What dungeon design, it's all linear hallways that look the same.
I really didn't like this game, but it's still super neat! I always wish I liked non-Ys Falcom games more, but even then, they always feel like complete works of art.
Whenever a new Trails game (or whathaveyou) comes out, I'm always like "YOU DESERVE MY MONEY, BUT I KNOW I WONT PLAY YOU VERY MUCH!!"
Have you tried nayuta? its basicly a mixture of ark engine Ys mixed with Zwei and a tiny bit of trails sprinkled in
@@Kraftium ooh, I haven't yet! I keep forgetting about it, but I should really get it.
I also enjoyed Gurumin quite a bit. I'm hoping they make a successor to that some day...
Sadly everyone who suggests making a sequel to gurumin is straped to a chair and forced to listen to bomber girl from the OST for 10 hours :
@@Kraftium aw shucks, that is unfortunate...
Definitely agree with the overall feeling here. Absolutely a 7/10 game, but it hit my vibe, and was an absolute blast my first time through. Looking forward to replaying it with the improved loc.
no better score exists than a 7/10 even if they have less polish they're usually super interesting
I will say this game is prototype gameplay for Ys VIII and prototype graphics for Cold Steel III. It's fun game, nice story and gameplay. Quite like it each chapter always play the opening song feels like you watch the anime, SPIKA songs are great for my taste.
Its definately fun seeing falcom's model quality improve from celceta to cold steel to this to ys8 to cold steel 3 onwards
gameplay I feel is its own beast tho, Ys used a completely different engine to cold steel and TX and still has most of that 7/celceta dna in it just refined and now in full 3d
It definitely is not their worst game overall lol they def got some older games that are were worse. Tokyo Zanadu is an 8/10 to me but i suppose it is one of worst modern games so you get off on technicality lol great game tho
yeah I was gonna put "modern falcom" and I do calrify it early in the vid but wordy titles are really bad for views
(might add an astrix after "worst" tho)
What game are you thinking of specially? Ys V? Ys Strategy?
It has Towa so its one of Falcom best games(Towa is enough to cover up for rest of lackluster things)
Towa carries as per usual
i absolutely loved this game and truly want a sequel
well japan's probably getting one next year so look foward to ... idk early 2026?
I actually really enjoyed what I played of this game, felt like an action persona kind of thing. Will look to pick up the expanded version.
I took a break after chapter two since I thought the game wasbeing kinda cliche and almost boring. I enjoy good stories, characters and play some jrpgs. Should I pick this up again or get the new trails through daybreak?
I'd say go with daybreak but definately get back to it at some time
@@Kraftium ok, thanks for your input. Will do!
To me cliches are only a problem if the game doesn't offer anything interesting in it's storytelling...to that I'd say TX has a great world and story and I cannot wait for the rumored sequel to expand more on it's world (as it was the game that got me into the Falcom Verse).
Falcom is just a good company when one of their worst games is a banger. I think Xanadu next is a better game, but I could see myself replaying this before that again.
Xanadu Next has been sitting in my steam libary for a long while now
I really want to get around to playing some more obscure falcom titles (gurumin, xanadu next, brandish, zwei 1+2 popful mail and gagharv) at some point and cover them on the channel
problem is just finding time
@@Kraftium at least some of those games are on steam. Outside of brandish, popful of mail and the gagharv trilogy. Gurumin is my go to game to pitch Falcom to people because it is under 10 hours and checks all the boxes of a Falcom game.
Hm. Never knew about this game but I may actually try it out now.
Hell yeah we got one
I miss Xanadu Next...
doing this video and getting back into elden ring has had me eyeing up xanadu next ngl
We love oxymorons that actually work, banger vid as usual Falcom Prince.
the falcom prince you say...
Haven’t watched the video yet but I fully agree with intro statement 😅 it’s rough in parts but it’s my guilty pleasure
I leaves the worst first impression but it really does pick up over time
I wonder what kind of game this developer can cook with AAA budget
Great video I liked my own comment
My favorite 7/10 :)
7/10 is the best score a game can recieve tbh
billy hatcher and the giant egg is infinitely more interesting than uncharted 4
@@Kraftium Eh, for me it's it's a 9/10
This game has a Gurumin cameo, so it is impossible for it to be Falcom's worst game *mumble grumble*
You've constantly been cooking high quality vids, Kraft! Excited to see more of them!
Well when you put it that way you make a good point (Towa is also there so honestly its probably the best)
Either way thanks Prila :D look foward to some stupid bullshit thats gonna be in the next one >:)
Playing it now on vita since I got it for “free” don’t know if it’s worth 50 bucks on the switch but I’d rather play it there
Trusted members of the Geofront translation team?
Seems like we're in for some more "bruh moments".
Man, I hope the new localization gets rid of all the memes, chortles, fukkleducks and stuff. It's the only thing keeping me from buying the game right now.
It use to not bug me, but now I see it everywhere! lol
Man, this is an excellent review, but the game is one I just can't get into, for two reasons:
1) I absolutely LOVE Xanadu, and Faxanadu, and Legend of Xanadu 1 and 2, and especially Xanadu Next (low-key one of Falcom's best games IMHO!), and was soooo excited when I heard Falcom was making a new Xanadu... but after playing just a bit of Tokyo Xanadu, I was forced to conclude that it simply IS NOT a Xanadu game. Like, no matter how much Falcom tries to spin it as one, there is nothing even remotely Xanadu about it. And calling it Xanadu is no small statement, since the original 1985 Xanadu is one of the most foundational and inspirational action RPGs in gaming history, arguably more important to the development of the Japanese action RPG genre than even Ys... so slapping the Xanadu name on this honestly just felt like a slap in the face to long-time Falcom fans. I really, really wish they would've called it something else -- anything else! Give it a Trails name, for example, since it clearly has faaaaar more in common with the Trails series than the Xanadu series! Or make it is own thing. Just... don't call it Xanadu. It really is downright insulting to call it Xanadu.
2) I also low-key do not like the Trails series. I find the Trails series to be poorly paced, and the characters and NPCs to be overly tropey, with dialogue overly expository (as in, it sounds like they're saying what they're saying strictly for the benefit of the player most of the time, repeating or detailing things unnecessarily and awkwardly -- it just doesn't sound like the sorts of things actual people would actually say within the world they inhabit). And Tokyo Xanadu, from the few hours I put into it, seems to double down on... all of that. It's even more poorly paced than any of the Trails games, with even more tropey characters, and even more expository and unrealistic dialogue.
It is good to hear that the tropey characters get a bit more fleshed out as you get farther in, but I just... couldn't play anymore. The game was such a huge disappointment, and I wasn't having any fun with it whatsoever.
Definitely not Falcom's finest hour.
I'm glad you were able to glean some enjoyment from it, though! And I hope others can follow suit when the Switch version is released.
I've not touched the xanadu series at all really but I definately want to cover xanadu next on the channel at some point (and gurumin, gagharv, brandish and popful mail)
I've seen a review of the original xanadu and I don't think I would be able to cope (fake gamer I know)
I definately agree with the use of the brand for tokyo xanadu being ... just bizarre and I get why it feels annoying. Alas it has the name now and so my only hope is maybe Tokyo Xanadu 2 is able to reclaim some of the old vibes and gameplay ideas despite being a sequel to TX but I don't actually see that happening (should atleast iron out the problems of the first game, a good bastardisation of a franchises is better than a bad/ok one (atleast imo))
Personally I love the slow pace of the trails series, that mundane writing is my shit, I like the world building and charcaterisation that it brings (granted cold steel didn't really have it as much, still like it but its got alot less of the special sauce that made me love sky)
It is very telling that my favourites in the series (so far) are Sky 3rd and Reverie though, since they're both smaller much more focused stories that really only revolve around 2 or 3 characters, unfortunately they rely on previous games's existence so recommending them to someone who doesn't like the others is tricky
Sad that you're not able to enjoy them, but your reasons are valid
either way thanks for watching and commenting, it means alot
@@Kraftium Oh, I love world-building and characterization as well. Slow-paced stories are the best! I just... honestly, feel like Ys does it better than Trails? Like, if you discount the gameplay, the NPC interactions in most Ys games (particularly Napishtim and Felghana) are shockingly sincere and personal, and really make those games come to life. And previous Legend of Heroes games, too -- the Gagharv Trilogy does the best job I've ever seen from Falcom in that regard (in Japanese, anyway; the English versions leave a lot to be desired due to some of the worst localizations Falcom games have ever received!), but even the first two Legend of Heroes games do an amazing job, for the era especially.
The Trails games certainly try their best, and obviously succeed to some extent or they wouldn't be as popular as they are. I just wish they did... a little better. When I say the games have pacing issues, I don't mean to say that I dislike their slow pace -- I mean to say that they're inconsistently paced. Sometimes, they overdo it with the excessive details and drag things out far longer than is necessary, even for world-building or characterization. Sometimes, they kind of gloss over the finer details and rely on unrealistic exposition to get the player from point A to point B faster than is necessary. And sometimes, they do indeed get it just right. It almost gives me whiplash. ;)
It has a bit of a "fanfic" quality to it, you might say. I believe Falcom's writing staff changed around the early 2010s, just before Cold Steel, and you can really tell that the new writers don't have as good a handle on things as the old writers. But cracks were starting to show even before that IMHO.
I love Falcom, though, warts and all, so I certainly don't mean to be a negative Nancy! I just wish I could enjoy the Trails games as much as everyone else seems to.
This is going to be an odd recommendation, but if you want to see an example of a game with absurdly meticulous world development, incredible pacing, and highly immersive writing very much along the lines of what Falcom attempts but (IMHO) doesn't quite achieve with the Trails games... check out Opoona on the Wii, from 2008. Again, I know how bizarre that sounds, but I think part of why the Trails games didn't impress me much when I played them is because I played Opoona first, and Opoona was just SO much more successful with its world development than Trails.
I've mentioned this in reviews of the game before, but as an example of the depths of Opoona's world development, the game world has its own art history, complete with unique movements like "revolvism" and "standardism." You can see examples of art from each of these movements in courtyards and museums throughout the game, each one bearing a plaque listing the artist's name and the date when it was made. The art and sculptures representing these movements are actually quite artistic, too, and genuinely exemplify the movements in question... which you can learn more about through in-game TV shows that explore the influence and defining characteristics of each movement.
Additionally, you can meet the descendants of most of the artists listed on the various plaques, some of whom have anecdotes about their great grandfathers' exploits and such -- and you can also track down in the overworld the exact spots where certain nature paintings were drawn, as many of them are marked with commemorative picture frames.
Opoona also has realistically proportioned mega-cities, which is something Falcom started to get right in Cold Steel, but I feel didn't quite achieve in the Sky trilogy. I still remember getting to the capital city in the first Trails in the Sky, and being like... this is it? Your hotel literally has 4 rooms available! This capital city is pathetic! ;) Opoona's grand hotel has 40 floors of rooms, IIRC. Most of the doors are locked, but... I mean, that's realistic! That's how you give the illusion of a larger world than what the player can directly interact with. Falcom adopted this strategy as well in later titles, but honestly even achieved it with Ys Seven, where the capital city of Altago clearly has more areas beyond where the player can explore, making its metropolitan status feel very legitimate.
Anyway! This is all a bit of a tangent, but seriously, give Opoona some love sometime. That game doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves. Its localization by Koei isn't superb, but it gets the job done, and the game itself is shockingly polished (I guess not toooo shockingly when you consider it was developed by Arte Piazza, one of the classic Dragon Quest developers), has a Hitoshi Sakimoto + Basiscape soundtrack that's just phenomenal, and has one of the most unique and interesting battle systems I've ever seen in an turn-based ATB system.
Oh, and P.S. Have you ever played Faxanadu on NES? If so, then that's kind of what you can expect from Xanadu Next. Xanadu Next seriously feels like a modern-day 3D update to Faxanadu, and that's just an amazing feeling for a game in the mid-2000s. Absolutely recommended as well, and I think you'll really enjoy it!
I’d still prefer this combat over turn based. If only persona had it I would actually get through the game.
its called turn BASED for a reason dude
The fact that the gameplay feels so terrible to play in a Falcom action title is downright criminal. I'll only give it another chance if the new game revamps the action system
how far did you get in?
@@Kraftium after the dungeon rescuing the little sister
Trails from Azure had its translation issues sadly. Some of the dialogue did not fit the characters, and the weird cuck fanfic towards the end from the chests was pretty crap.
That said Trails from Zero was pretty great so I’ve got some optimism for the updated translation
This game isn't bad i like it so much
I liked it too
just cos its their "worst" game doesn't mean its not a good game
Sold it a few chapters in. Start with the good. Good graphics, extra outfits are nice, performance is good, decent challenge and the soundtrack is decent. Now the bad. Story doesn't get good until the end from what I researched, dungeons are bland corridors that all look the same, character aren't that great and the combat is mediocre. Now one of my huge pet peeves, and why was it not added for the Switch version, that is the lack of auto text option. This is unbelievable, why am I hitting a button after every word spoke? No, never again. Those extra chapters are also hot garbage.
Auto advance for text is in the game you just press r1
Shame you couldnt get into it
who cares, as long as it's fun and you enjoy it that's all that matters.
This whole video is about exactly that
Its just little shilling video + a warning that the game takes a couple of hours to get going
at least Towa carries it haha, just like a certain other game that's coming this year for us
Towa brain rot keeps me going no matter what
Nah. Trails through Daybreak II is Falcom's worst game.
I haven't touched it but its got towa in it so its peak I'm afraid
Super Powered High Schoolers are my favorite.
I honestly like it more than Trails (particularly Cold Steel), the combat isn't perfect, and the story takes a while to get going (but it's faster paced than Trails/Cold Steel), but I think it's one of Nihon Flacom's better games.
Tokyo Xanadu was fun but clearly a tech demo of a game. Way too many boring homogenized movesets (and picking the right "RPS" element for each mission, found that super boring), most movesets revolve around tons of bar management, and I for one really don't care about School Sim stuff when I only like a few of the characters. That said, it's not BAD, it's just... clearly an experiment. Thankfully it led to Ys 8 and 9 so it worked out but yeah.
Also the story should've ended part way through but instead continued for some weird reason, a failing I see in a lot of the Trails (Cold steel) falcom games imo.
Yeah theres some pretty good stuff in there its just burried amongst ... well some less good stuff
and yeah CS was definately dragged out, twas meant to be a trilogy lol
I recently beat Tokyo Xanadu Ex+. I'd give it 6/10. It was good enough to keep playing but I was ready for it to end. The characters are so bland and uninteresting compared to the Trails series. The story is weak-- a Persona knockoff. The combat and platforming feels pretty good but not as good as Ys. If you can get it on PS4 for cheap, and you're a big Falcom fan, it's worth giving a try.
this game serves as a distraction because falcom is planning for the next series after Trails of Daybreak and Ys 10 Nordics.
I played it, and it wasn't half bad
Really hope the "I'm taking an "L" here" is not real, because if that's in there, the rest of the translation can't be trusted.
dw thats from the old translation and is 1 of its "several quirks" still passible and gets the job done but it ain't great
as I mention tho the switch version is getting retranslated by people who did the fan translation so it should be much better
Switch owners are lucky then, hopefully this retranslation patch will be applied to the PC and PS4 versions, though I doubt it will. The bad "translation" is what initially made me stop playing.
@@Negativedemon98 There is someone making a mod for the PC version. They already have a download available but I don't think it is complete?
Cool, I'll check it out sometime
Cold Steel visuals, Ys gameplay
They should remake it for consoles
I mean it has the enhanced version on PS4 and a switch port is out in less than a week
@@Kraftium yeah but I mean in the new engine they’ve been using for daybreak/Ys
I would say Sen III is their worst rather than this.
I had a hard time enjoying that one mostly because it threw us back into a school. That and Muses role in III and IV could have been done with the principle which would have made more sense. I really hate that character lol
@@JaredScott I do not mind going back to school but it was done so horribly. To be honest when I first read the description I assumed he was going to be a student again.
@@SHADOWFRENZY92 I could be coping but I think the theme of III and IV was getting a second chance at the victory and closure that was taken from them at the end of II. Funny enough you could say the same for oroboros.
But there’s a lot of story elements that don’t localize well like the concept of Wa and bhuddist color symbolism. Had to spend an afternoon on Reddit to understand what the heck was going on for both III and IV.
To their credit though the last hour of CS IV chapter 1 might be my favorite segment of the entire franchise
@@JaredScott Could be, the writing is bad so the themes are irrelevant to me. Nothing in III or IV stuck out to me either.
How dare you call it the worst when Cold Steel is sitting right there 🤦🏻♂️
Cold Steel has Tow- oh wait they both do... hmmmmm
This is why I never took this channel seriously.
For me this game is good, because it has multiple ending
I know it sounds corny but how about you give a try to metal slugs new game awakening was it i think. Cuz those series was something that i grew up with and i want to see if they made a good remake or they just ruined it the orginal feeling.
I adore metal slug (especially X and 3) but i'm not touching awakening with a 10ft pole
metal slug tactic's demo was super cool however very different obviously but still very good
I didn't watch the video but, Falcom's worst game is Sen no Kiseki IV.
Like this game good game not bad not good
Not gonna lie. I wouldn't buy this game simply because of the name.
I mean Xanadu Next exists on PC which is significantly less "anime" for a lack of a better term
You're missing out.
I disagree... 4 example Trails of cold steel 1 is rubbish, this is a far better version of it with much more engaging combat and ok story (it's Falcom.. they are no Shakespeare let's be real here!)... then obviously it is not part of an overarching arc (which is what makes trails games relevant) but hands down better than other Falcom games for sure. Also better than Nayuta.. better than dunno Celcetta... Then I played this on vita if this is just nostalgia talking I wouldn't know... it's possible...
Hmmm... With a sequel in the make it could be the start of a new arc. I do not think Falcom would mind to have 3 different series going on, because that would gather a wider audience.
Cold Steel 1 is pretty low down for sure but I see it as 1 part of something larger its like comparing a whole sandwich to just the bread imo but thats just me
I actually think falcom stories and their writing are quite good, they're not nessisarily ground breaking but I feel like charactisation and world building are stuff they do exceptionally well
Also I love Nayuta (granded i was the first and only person to have a review of the psp version for a long while so I may be bias). Celceta is also pretty good even if the plot kinda just falls appart at the end
@@jclosed2516 Falcom having a "3rd pillar" would be nice, especially since sales suggest japanese fans are getting a bit of trials fatigue
I can't take anyone who calls any of the Trails games "rubbish" seriously...and I love Tokyo Xanadu.
@@Kraftium Its westerners and their partial thinking...they can't adopt a holistic mindset and they must seperate between the games as if they're not related.
If they think any of the Trails sequels are great in terms of lore and story, then they have to realize that wouldn't have worked if it wasn't for other games laying the foundations for the sequels...really hate it when people are ungrateful like that just to follow a trend.
*SIGH*
DOOBS NO PLEASE FORGIVE ME
A game worse than Cold Steel? Honestly I'll give it a shot.
Forgive me choopy I am a Cold Steel enjoy
even worse 2 and 3 are my favs
I will play 15 hours of Ys Strategy to repent
CS2 was ok @@Kraftium
@@Choops6969 ok good we're on the same page there
I see alot of people dunking on 2 these days and I'm always confused as to why
@@Choops6969 ok good we're on the same page there
I see alot of people dunking on 2 these days and I'm always confused as to why
I loved cold steel 1 and 3, 2 and 4 were annoying to me 😮💨
😊👍
...The footage of the game already just looks like a Cold Steel mod. ...Considering my very low opinion of Trails material starting with the Cold Steel games... I would consider playing this game, since. It appears to be just a oneoff-ish story with just one sequel for later. Not being a connected series that started great only to end up being the worst. (The Trails games.)
...Yet, I feel paranoid that the later Trails games are going to shoehorn a random connection to this game. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!! WHY IS THERE A IDENTICAL STRANGER OF A COLD STEEL CHARACTER ON THIS GAME!?
Yeah for some reason Towa can dimension hop (shes a ys cameo away from being falcom's version of Cid or Anna)
Theres also in universe merch like figures and arcade games for "magical girl alisa" and "demon prince rean" as well as mishy
but thats as far as it goes, just a few nods like a cold steel 3 trailer playing on a screen within the eletronics store and such
@@Kraftium I truly hope that on the sequel. These continue to be just funny cameos. And not much else.
Bad video.
Title is false. FC is the worst and it aint even close
FC is based, really whimsical, big grandia vibes
i dislike this game ngl
how far did you get in?
@@Kraftium close to the final chapter
fair enough, if you don't like it by then you don't like it lol
shame tho
@@Kraftium it felt like they made it because ys 8 wasnt ready at the time or like u said made by jew staff and we know the new xanadu game is made by mainly the new staff
Fuck the falcom for the 2020's of today, I'll play this instead rather than their 2020 games.
I liked reverie and I'm liking daybreak so far
only played a bit of ys10 but it seemed fun and the party system was starting to get a bit stale so I appricate the change of pace
I dont appreciate them moving to action combat at all in reverie forwards. Trails is supposed to be turn based.
I'm also not a fan of them "modern audiencing" their newer characters in the last 2 trails games.
I haven't played either of them but I saw action and was turned off by it.
I'm currently at the end of trails from zero. Just reached final dungeon
the action combat is really not that, I was worried when they first mentioned it, but its basically just an expanded version of the "hit the enemy to get player advantage" that you see start in trails from zero
also I'm pretty sure the "modern audience" characters you're talking about are actually just common character archtypes we've seen in japan for years, its just people are putting new labels on them to they can be excited/angry depending on which soapbox they want to stand on
Fair enough, I have always been open minded with character archetypes from Japan, but I do agree that people label stuff they want to see in something.
And I'm glad, thanks for that info, I was so worried half the combat would be action instead of turn based.
Bold choice to call it the worst game when the Cold Steel games exist. At least I got through Tokyo Xanadu somewhat fine, Cold Steel made me swear off on Trails entirely because it was just... so bad.
Cold Steel is definately the weakest of the trails games but I still like them espectially 2 and 3. And ESPECIALLY reverie if we're counting that one (reverie and daybreak really feel like a return to form IMO, alot of the soul of early trails returned with them)
I hate Towa
BEGONE WITH YOU
@@Kraftium I like this Towa over Cold Steel Towa, because her interactions with Kou felt more charming, and she felt more actively involved, even though she's not a fighter. Cold Steel Towa didn't really do a lot to stand out. She's not awful, that honor goes to Elise Schwarzer for being the staple annoying imouto caricature, but she's not really all that interesting.
No ur great
daww shucks stop it you