Yeah, I had a lot of opinions on this game. Buy Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition: • Yes, You Should Buy Xe... The Last Story Review: • The Last Story Review ...
I have the feeling I am currently the last human on earth to actually having really enjoyed this game on a point that I still remember it even today. Luckly I didn't experienced any type of bug during the gameplay (wich probably is the most reason for me to not consider this game a flop and going to ruin my experience) but the things that my head can't process are all the other critiques that everyone is having on this game besides Elena's short dialogues and the obvious recycling of the other half of the towers that kinda upsetted me, but not on a point to breack the disc in half . I really enjoyed the gameplay even if a little floppy, the amazing aesthetics, the different combat styles, the multiple ways of dealing with some bosses and even the boring climbing part wich I find justified by Elena's countdown to find shortcuts, getting skilled in battles and learning the tower layout to climb it faster in the process. The game penalizes you in many ways, I agree on that statement, but sometimes is the hardship that makes the game enjoyable... or probably nobody would be still playing Dark Souls by now if that wouldn't have the case besides being a masochist XD Regarding the recycling of the other games like "Shadow of The Colossus" and "The Legend of Zelda" systems I personally don't see anything wrong with it, most games use others popular games ideas (nowdays more than ever) but is up to them to make it look better or, on better occasions, adding a side of "twist" on it. I'm in no position to critique the review as in the end he has done a fairly decent job to explain the holes in the game but I wouldn't go that far to call it an uninspired project as I kinda feel attached to it and I personally rate this game unique in some ways even today. I'm mostly sad that the game ended up on the Wii right after his inevitable downfall. Welp I talked too much, and you have been reading this boring comment for far too long... get up and go do something productive like counting the grass or get some sun jeez! P.S. (Btw I seriously hated the water tower in more ways that I could ever explain in one single comment, that's one grudge off my conscience at least...)
You're definitely not the last human on earth who remembers this game. I love it, its amazing. I don't know how often I replayed the game, I was kinda obsessed. Still know that these yellow flowers grow at around 5am in the first tower and Elena makes a bookmark out of it. And I agree, the water towers are so god damn annoying. Sorry for my English, I'm from Germany.
Playing this game on PC with Dolphin is definitely the way to go. Some parts are kind of confusing emulating wiimote movements but once you figure it out, it makes for a great experience.
I couldn't load into the towers either, but after going to another tower - grabbing a piece of flesh, and then going to the dusk/dawn tower it loaded fine.
You can map the pro controller in Dolphin and use it to play the game instead of having to use the motion controls. It's much easier, and much more fun in my opinion.
Judging from the video, I wonder if you ended the game at level 7 affinity for a few reasons: - wondering if you made diamond rings and other jewellery for her - wondering if you let Elena turn back into a monster The extra jewellery I found really helped. I averaged raising affinity by one notch each tower. And every time she turns into a monster her affinity drops. I usually returned to the observatory to feed Elena and give her presents each time I broke a chain.
Her turning into a monster doesn't drop the affinity gauge much at all since you have to give her flesh to turn her back at that point. I had her change 11 times in a row for a cutscene for 100% and the affinity gauge didn't drop once. You just want to spam chat whenever going to and from bed, and choosing unique dialogue options to raise it without spending tons of money.
I think you're doing the game a bit of a disservice by saying that it copied the structure of SotC. Pandora's Tower may have a similar focus on bosses, but that's not a feature otherwise unique to SotC and the damsel in distress sideplot is just a really common trope in general. In contrast to that, the two games messages are very different. Also: "Each master contains some gimmick that requires using the chain in a unique way much like each colossus required the player to use the game's physics and climbing in a specific way" (3:38) that's no mimicry... that's just utilizing game mechanics
Also the glitch sucks. It really does. I wound up reliably getting around the glitch doing this: - every time I wanted to give Elena gifts, I'd save, then select "don't continue." Then I'd start my file again and immediately go to the dawn/dusk towers (without talking to Elena). It was relatively pain free (it added about 30 seconds each save), and it worked consistently.
I never saw a problem with going back and forth between the tower and the girl, so far you hit a checkpoint with a shortcut you are good to go and the level design helps with that, the timer is long enough to find those checkpoints and shortcuts. 2. My only problem with the combat is how floaty it is other than that, the combination of chain and weapon is fine..I wasn't expecting god of war standards but it works. 3. I like the minimalistic nature of the story, it lets you focus on the now i.e he and the girl and the impact of that situation and not a grand spectrum.. remember this is a love story not a political one. 4.The puzzles are fine but some are hard to read the result of your action and that because of the camera. Don't mind the repetition of some puzzles for it is also a learning curve like the combat. 5.And people mistake backtracking as good back and forth a level but backtracking is lack of progression..if going back will give me progress and not "oh I forgot an item" but actually,"I opened a door back there" then it isn't backtracking. My main issues are the camera, the combat impact and puzzle can be hard to read All in all this game is heavily underrated..an 8/10 Anyway keep it up..you got yourself a subscriber.
God I'm sorry to hear about the bug experience, that really sucks :( I played this game for the first time in 2021 with my roommate, passing the controller between us, and we loved it. We never let the gauge go beyond 2/3, and giving gifts and talking to Elena every time we returned from a tower trip was more than enough to get us the S ending. In hindsight though, I can definitely agree with the issues you presented. Backtracking is excessive at times, and having to stop whatever you're doing to feed Elena breaks the flow and pace too. Great review!
Get Dolphin emulator on your PC or Android then get the game from file at romsget.io and you can enjoy the game and it will look better than it did on the wii.
It sucks that the North American version has such game-breaking problems, and I can understand how something like that can ruin the pacing, player-freedom and overall enjoyment of the game. I don't know whether the blame lies with Nintendo, X-Seed, or Ganbarion themselves, but it's such a disservice to both the game and its consumers across the pond. That being said, my experience with Pandora's Tower was really positive, and I got my first ending feeling quite satisfied with the overall experience (baring in mind I'm from England). Ending S was relatively doable for me, even on a first playthrough, which I'm assuming wasn't as viable an option for the NA version based on what you've said. There were some rare gift items and whatnot that made the affinity-raising less grindy, and while the melee combat was a bit useless, I do appreciate the fact that they included pause combos, which is something you usually only see in high-tier action games like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta. Maybe in a similar game by the same developers, they could put mechanics like that to better use. If I were to personally rank each game, this is how I'd do it. 3. The Last Story. My most anticipated game of the bunch, but also my least favourite and the most disappointing of the bunch. Had the potential to be something greater than what we got. 2. Pandora's Tower. Had no real expectations going in, but was surprised by its dark tone and emotional story with just a handful of characters. I enjoyed the gameplay for the most part and the unique uses of the chain, even if repetition could set in from time to time. 1. Xenoblade Chronicles. My least anticipated game of the bunch, which ended up being both my favourite instead, and my favourite game of all time.
Note that the bug only happens if you decide to go back to the last two towers, if you finish them i one sitting (which is very easy as dungeons are very short) You'll be fine. But it does suck if you do not know about the bug.
I fking loved this game back when it came out. I finished it in the first week and was really happy to get the perfect ending without knowing what the requirements are. Planning to revisit it again :)
A bit shallow to have a mechanic based around affection be tied mostly to material gifts. I know it's an action videogame so it doesn't have much choice for affinity raising, but it sounds a little disappointing nonetheless... the future of these two and their world is hanging on how many frickin potted plants he gifts her!!
I think you spent too long in the dungeons and that's why you had low affinity. I rarely let the meter drop below 2 thirds because I think that lowers your affinity. I really like the game
I'd like to know how the hell Aeron's family managed to get any offspring considering an ancient curse kept threatening to transform any of the new mothers into monstrosities. Imagine being from the same village and knowing about that family's troubles, who in their right mind would ever fall in love with such people? I suppose the curse had some occasional breaks.
I remember way, way back in the day in a North American Nintendo Direct. Seeing Pandora’s Tower, I had always been curious about this game. I re-remembered this game and found your review! Thank you for it, such a shame for the North American version of this game. There is such a horrible game breaking bug! Wow, never knew about it.
I beat the game yesterday And I really love the whole thing But I got ending A were they both kill themselves But the piece of wood you get at the last hour if you give it back to Elena it raises the affinity by two bars And depending on the shop do you get it saves all the progress so you can easily skip it to get to the best ending
Honestly I agree right when he said the chain was the best weapon. It takes so much time to kill enemies with the chain that it’s no wonder he had to backtrack so much.
