XC2 (or XC1 for that matter) have absolutely nothing in common with Octopath besides both being considered "JRPG"s. It is as similar to Octopath as much as BOTW is similar to Octopath. The games won't appeal to the same gamers, so comparing sales figures of both is moot.
XC2 is unique. I never played anything remotely close, and it defies genre conventions. In many ways it's closer to, say, Divinity Original Sin 2 than anything else, and I'll be hard pressed to find a remotely similar combat system anywhere really, the closest being Bioware's Baldur's gate, Dragon age, or I even stretch it and say that the Mass Effect battle system is closer to XC2 than any Octopath Or FFXX.
XC2 is a JRPG because it's from Japan, and the characters, the presentation style, and the Anime cliche's are definitely present. But gameplay-wise it's not even close to your typical JRPG.
You may have already guessed that I love this game, and consider it a true masterpiece. First and foremost (and that's another Bioware trait in their hayday) Monolith consider the gamer INTELLIGENT. So much so that many people (and reviewers!) don't like XC2 because it's really demanding and extremely complex. In this day and age that's a prerogative only indy games sometimes risk, but Triple A titles- I haven't seen such a game since... well... Divinity 2. Coming to think of it, Divinity 2 is in fact indi. So the last triple A game so demanding must be, indeed, the old Bioware classics.
I admit the game took me totally by surprise. I purchased the Switch to play BOTW and Mario Odyssey. If Nintendo as a publisher would have released these games on PC or any other platform, I wouldn't buy a switch. Same was a while back with the Wii. I bought these consoles for the Nintendo IP's , which I hold best in the buisiness. Smartly but annoyingly Nintendo always ties its ip's to its hardware, so there goes.
A year later, THE game for me on the switch is XC2. If I had known, I would have bought the switch only for that game. Now I do, and whatever platform the next Monolith game runs on, I'm getting it.
The game is That good. for me, it's GOTY 2018, because when it was released late in 2017 nobody could appreciate it for what it is. It took everyone I know, including proffesional reviewers, more than two months (or six months for some) to truly grasp what XC2 IS. Show me another (modern) game with such breadth. You can't. There aren't any.
XC2 can't be recommended for everyone. The gamer has to be "deep", as in appreciating Wagner's music, or reading high literature. If you are this kind of person- you are into one of the best (artistic!) treats in your life.
Comments 2
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Has Exceeded Expectations Following Strong Sales Outside Of Japan
@zool hold + and than A to skip
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Has Exceeded Expectations Following Strong Sales Outside Of Japan
XC2 (or XC1 for that matter) have absolutely nothing in common with Octopath besides both being considered "JRPG"s. It is as similar to Octopath as much as BOTW is similar to Octopath. The games won't appeal to the same gamers, so comparing sales figures of both is moot.
XC2 is unique. I never played anything remotely close, and it defies genre conventions. In many ways it's closer to, say, Divinity Original Sin 2 than anything else, and I'll be hard pressed to find a remotely similar combat system anywhere really, the closest being Bioware's Baldur's gate, Dragon age, or I even stretch it and say that the Mass Effect battle system is closer to XC2 than any Octopath Or FFXX.
XC2 is a JRPG because it's from Japan, and the characters, the presentation style, and the Anime cliche's are definitely present. But gameplay-wise it's not even close to your typical JRPG.
You may have already guessed that I love this game, and consider it a true masterpiece. First and foremost (and that's another Bioware trait in their hayday) Monolith consider the gamer INTELLIGENT. So much so that many people (and reviewers!) don't like XC2 because it's really demanding and extremely complex. In this day and age that's a prerogative only indy games sometimes risk, but Triple A titles- I haven't seen such a game since... well... Divinity 2. Coming to think of it, Divinity 2 is in fact indi. So the last triple A game so demanding must be, indeed, the old Bioware classics.
I admit the game took me totally by surprise. I purchased the Switch to play BOTW and Mario Odyssey. If Nintendo as a publisher would have released these games on PC or any other platform, I wouldn't buy a switch. Same was a while back with the Wii. I bought these consoles for the Nintendo IP's , which I hold best in the buisiness. Smartly but annoyingly Nintendo always ties its ip's to its hardware, so there goes.
A year later, THE game for me on the switch is XC2. If I had known, I would have bought the switch only for that game. Now I do, and whatever platform the next Monolith game runs on, I'm getting it.
The game is That good. for me, it's GOTY 2018, because when it was released late in 2017 nobody could appreciate it for what it is. It took everyone I know, including proffesional reviewers, more than two months (or six months for some) to truly grasp what XC2 IS. Show me another (modern) game with such breadth. You can't. There aren't any.
XC2 can't be recommended for everyone. The gamer has to be "deep", as in appreciating Wagner's music, or reading high literature. If you are this kind of person- you are into one of the best (artistic!) treats in your life.