26. STREETPULSE // June.22.2012
REVIEWS//NEWS//APPS&EXTRAS XBOX360
PS3
Wii
PC
HANDHELD
BY BILLY O’KEEFE, MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE (MCT) WEEK ENDING JUNE 18, 2012
XENOBLADE CHRONICLES
TOP PAID
Platform: Wii/Also available on: PC// From: Monolith Soft/Nintendo // ESRB Rating: Teen (blood, mild language, partial nudity, use of alcohol and tobacco, violence)
FATIGUED GENRE BREAKS OUT WITH BATTLE-TESTED ‘XENOBLADE’
N
o single gaming genre is mired in a longer slump than the Japanese role-playing game, which (scattered exceptions aside, naturally) has been consistently reeling for years. “Xenoblade Chronicles” is the arguable slump buster — a massive adventure that arrives with significant fanfare and, instead of using that hype as a crutch, cashes it in to teach a tired genre some overdue new tricks. It liberally adopts concepts that have propelled Western RPGs forward, but merges them with a flavor and storytelling approach that leaves no doubt where its lineage lies. Crucially, “Chronicles” lays most of it — a monstrous open world, versatile side quests, customizable armor and weaponry run wild — almost immediately at your feet following an opening sequence that’s similarly generous with its combat system. When it doesn’t get in its own way, that combat is stellar. Like an early Bioware RPG (or, for JRPG fans, “Final Fantasy XII”), “Chronicles” combines real-time battlefield awareness and turn-based strategy. You have continuous, direct control over your character’s position, and because the action doesn’t break for
turns, he or she will default to a basic attack against the nearest available enemy unless you dictate otherwise. And you will, because default attacks get you nowhere. Thriving in battle means managing an array of skills, monitoring allies’ statuses and health, and keeping party morale high enough to execute special chain attacks and
(if necessary) revive fallen comrades. With a story that lands comfortably in the 50- to 100hour range (depending on your affinity for exploration, side quests and other electives), “Chronicles” affords plenty of time to get comfortable with combat and master the advanced techniques it gradually introduces. But if there’s one aspect that stands out alongside the system’s depth, it’s how fast it is. There are no random battles in “Chronicles” — many
potential enemies outright ignore you unless you engage them — but as soon as you’re in an enemy’s sights, the action kicks straight into fifth gear. Managing the particulars would be a cakewalk in a turn-based RPG, but it’s an exciting challenge when there’s no breather between snap decisions. Occasionally, the system is
caffeinated to a fault. If nearby enemies sniff a fight, they may jump in, and suddenly four enemies swell to 12. The camera is problematic by default, and it’s a mess when attempting to contain battles this sprawling. The chaos will frequently cost you the fight, especially if those wandering enemies are level 75 creatures that can obliterate your level 16 hide in one hit. (Fortunately, death is merely an inconvenience: Defeated enemies respawn, but “Chronicles” revives you at
the nearest landmark with all items and collected experience points — even from the losing battle — still intact.) Other nagging issues abound. “Chronicles” takes a convenient cue from Western RPGs and lets you warp to landmarks you’ve previously discovered, but the map interface is a hassle to use for general exploration. A passive mechanic that stops a fight to show you an enemy’s future attack is, while clever, disruptive to the combat’s tempo. The story itself is watered down by its immense length, and characters repeat the same annoying catchphrases way too often in battle. Finally, though primarily the Wii’s fault, “Chronicles’” visual presentation leaves something to be desired. It’s visually sufficient, but it’s impossible not to wonder what this world would look like in high definition. But “Chronicles” does too much too well for long-starved JRPG fans to fret over quibbles like these. Though strained, the story nonetheless gratifies with strong, likable characters who embrace rather than sulk toward their destiny. And with so much left up to players to decide — from character relationships to gear customization to the minor but wonderful ability to save anywhere — it’s a treat rather than a chore to carry that story to its conclusion.
iPHONE APPS
01.
Temple Run: Brave (Disney)
Plague Inc. (Ndemic Creations) 03. Catapult King (Chillingo Ltd.) 04. Angry Birds Space (Rovio Mobile Ltd.) 05. WhatsApp Messenger (WhatsApp Inc.) 02.
06. 07.
Camera+ (tap tap tap) Adventure Time - Legends of Ooo: Big Hollow Princess (Cartoon Network)
MyCalendar Mobile (K-Factor Media LLC) 09. “Free Music Download Pro” - Downloader and Player (BSOSoft) 10. Fruit Ninja (Halfbrick Studios) 08.
WEEK ENDING JUNE 18, 2012
TOP FREE
iPHONE APPS
01.
Bag It! (Hidden Variable Studios)
WATCH Disney Channel (Disney) 03. Songza (Songza Media Inc.) 04. Parking Frenzy 2.0 (Games2win) 05. Instagram (Burbn Inc.) 02.
06. 07.
08. 09. 10.
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing (SEGA) Instaframe Photo Frame & Photo Captions for Instagram Free (Imagination Unlimited) Flashlight ? (iHandy Inc.) Madagascar — Join the Circus! (D3PA) Facebook (Facebook Inc.)