10 Page Famitsu Article

http://operationrainfall.com/2015/01/28/new-details-revealed-xenoblade-chronicles-x/

Famitsu just put out a 10 page article, which also includes new characters and an interview with Takahashi.  Some of the highlights:

   

• Mira is 400km2, which is 5 times the size of Xenoblade’s world
     
  
• Takahashi’s final check play time was over 300 hours
     
  
• “Union” Sound; something like factions for quests
     
  
• There are 8 of them, and you can join any of them, and change them depending on your goal
     
  
• They are: PATH FINDER, COLEPEDIAN, INTER CEPTOR, LAND BANK, AVALANCE, ARMS, TESTAMENT, COMPANION
     
  
• Nagi (Takayuki Sugou): Former Captain of the White Whale and current Military Chief in the Autonomous Government of New Los Angeles
     
  
• Guin (Yuichi Nakamura): Worked in the same division as Elma and Irina on Earth; was their subordinate
     
  
• Many options for player avatar customization
     
  
• Kunihiko Tanaka did the preset avatar designs
     
  
• Some famous voices actors providing their voice as options for the avatar, will be announced on the Xenoblade homepage later
     
  
• GamePad shows character locations, quest locations
     
  
• Warp to previously visited areas on the GamePad
     
  
• The use of ‘X [Cross]’ has implications for the online functionality
     
  
• Not a standard online game, more ‘loosely connected’
     
  
• About 90 songs in the game
     
  
• Xenoblade had 1 vocal song at the end, but Xenoblade X has many vocal songs (many for an RPG)
     
  
• Sawano involved in all aspects of music
     
  
• Battles are faster paced, more-actiony than Xenobalde
     
  
• Differentiates close and distant attacks
     
  
• There will be no healers
     
  
• Healing done with new system called ‘Soul Voice’
     
  
• 4-player party
     
  
• You control 1 character, the AI controls the rest
     
  
• More unique monsters and equipment than Xenoblade
     
  
• Xenoblade was a traditional RPG, whereas Xenoblade X is an open world RPG
     
  
• Xenoblade was linear despite having big world
     
  
• Xenoblade X you will get quests from different places and have more freedom
  

Other translation found here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WDBYfaVE4R1r5D0YSUKCyx3StF1PQy-b2tqv7gfBYyA/pub

Scans: http://nintendoeverything.com/scans-roundup-xenoblade-chronicles-x-zelda-majoras-mask-3d-and-more/

Thoughts? The game definitely seems more open world than the original Xenoblade, whether you are excited for that kind of thing or not. I'm still quite eager to give this game a shot.

Spoiler:

^ Hahah, I saw the "TESTAMENT" thing and did a double-take. X3 So hype!!

^ that was my first thought too. Wonder what the quest chain(s) entail myself.

Probably nothing to do with explosive terraforming (i.e. opening access to new areas or altering already existing ones by blowing shit up sky high) I've just imagined, but I try to hold onto this kind of first thoughts - they often contrast with what actually ends up happening in a hilarious manner (and present fanfic opportunities too).

Man, I usually like to wait until a game is out before I start getting excited about the characters, but this is like seeing a present hidden in a closet before it's time to open it.

I must say, Guin is totally giving off an Allen vibe, and I am okay with that. He even has a crush on one of his coworkers.