Hi all, I hope there is some interest in this somewhat "misunderstood" action JRPG - and yes, I do explain that in my video! Please note that I had to downscale the frame rate of my footage (clips) to 25fps - so if the clips look not quite smooth to you, then that's the likely cause. Thanks, as always, for your support. 🙋🏻❤
I really appreciate your focus on the connection between you and the game rather than comparing it to other games. That feeling of excitement and adventure and connection is really what keeps me coming back to these sorts of games and it's deeply personal even if the game can be enjoyed in a casual way
Your passion for video games at your age is inspiring. I hope I can hold such a strong interest in something when I get old. Dementia runs in the family and my father recently passed away from it. As studies have shown the more contributing factors to delaying the onset of it is retaining frequent social interactions through life, and stimulating your brain daily with activities, I think video games is a wonderful way to combat this. Take care, and please keep making these videos.
Everytime a new video of yours pops up on my subs, it makes my day Britta. I've said before, it really is like cosying up in your front room with a good friend for a great little chat. I love hearing about your latest games and all your thoughts on them. Lots of love from the UK.
Long time watcher, first time commenter, love your content Britta! So glad you did this video, hugely underrated game I think. It doesnt do any one thing better than other falcom games, but the game is greater than the sum of its parts. Really loved the game on vita, and really enjoying it on the switch, hope more people can appreciate it! Thanks!
I'm so pleased to see your comment (before toddling off to bed! 😄) - it's good to know there are other people out there who appreciate the game as I do.
This is my favorite review/showcase of the game so far. I am very much looking forward to getting this game later down the line. First I just need to get through Cat Quest III, Fantasy Life, Sonic X Shadow Generations and Ys X Nordics. My wallet is gonna be very sad these coming months xD
Very nice review, Britta! I have had the PS4 CE since probably 2018; I picked it up knowing that it mostly stood alone, unlike the YS and Trails series. Like many games I've picked up as an adult, life responsibilities have taken priority, and it hasn't ever made it to the front of the line, so to speak. Given how highly it seems to be remembered by those who played it, I should probably bump it up towards the top!
I got the CE back in 2019 for like 24 dollars or something like that on Amazon which surprised me honestly! Lol Then I remember my best friend asking me had I ever played it and when I told him that I got it and was playing it at the time,his response was,that he was on the fence about it because he didn't know if it would be as good as Trails. I wonder how many people actually looked at this game like that and totally just overlooked it. I am hoping this rerelease will give it the shine it definitely deserves.
@@UpsetN3RD Yes, you're right - I remember the PS4 CE was sold off incredibly cheaply back then! As to people constantly asking "is it as good as Trails" .. well, I try to answer that a bit. I do get a bit annoyed by this 'expectation' that now that people finally realise how good Trails is, they think everything should now be of that scope and quality. That's unrealistic, simply not possible. A game can still be good and enjoyable, though - fortunately, many of my followers here are discerning enough to realise that! 😃
You have convinced me to get the game! It looks great. I have neglected my switch a bit recently but I think this game might get me back on it again. Amazing video as per usual!
I'm always happy to see Falcom feature in any video. I'm even happier to see my boy Tokyo Xanadu mentioned. I expected to like that game, I didn't expect to love it as much as I do. And I believe we're getting a sequel!
Thanks for another lovely video! I was tempted by that soundtrack to pick up this exact same edition--it'll be my first time playing Tokyo Xanadu, and the first of all my Falcom games that I own a physical copy of! I'm glad my first one could be this special release. Your comments about the localization make perfect sense to me. When the text itself isn't distracting, you can get really immersed in the story. Manga lettering is the same way. Most readers will never notice the high degree of work that went into some of the most beautifully lettered series, but to be honest, that's exactly what the professionals are hoping to achieve. Lastly, regarding the scene where Hiiragi reads in English, you are right that the Japanese text is a translation of what she's just read. It's interesting that the text itself is in standard Japanese, rather than a romaji transliteration, though! Maybe that was because they could only fit a limited number of characters in the text box?
I understand what you mean about manga lettering. I used to work a lot with typography as a web designer, so I can see the amount of intricate work that goes into lettering, and I also see people specifically credited for this work in the book end credits. And thanks for that insight into the Hiiragi/Japanese text issue! 👍🏻
A cozy way to start my day. And so nostalgic too! The graphics are kind of comforting honestly & I remember my cousin getting this game on Vita years ago. Time does fly. Thanks for being here with us!
Hello Britta very good review as usual! I got the ps4 us version of this game since some time it is I'm by backlog. Once Iam done with Trails into Reverie, this is next.
I hear a lot of people have it in their backlog! 😃 Once we have more details about the New Project Tokyo Xanadu, I bet there'll be a scramble to play/finish this one. 😉
i loved this video and am so glad you are able to share your love for this game!! also exciting to know i wasnt the only one who enjoyed it on vita and i plan to buy again haha
I remember seeing the title of this game but never really interested in it, but your videos convinced me to try it, playing the game on switch to get a similar experience to the vita one seems very chill! I'm still in my trails crossbell playthrough but I might try this one before cold steel! Good video
This game has my favourite video game OST of all time! I could go on about how much I love Takahiro Unisuga's music in general and yeah that cover art is so beautiful
@@Food4Dogs he still works there but isn't making music. he's the webmaster of Falcom's website(s) a new composer, Shuntaro Koguchi, has sort of replaced Unisuga's role in the Sound Team since 2020 (Reverie) also Unisuga has worked on most Falcom OSTs since 2005/2006 (Xanadu Next/Sky SC). though yeah Ys 8 has a lot of his most popular/acclaimed songs, such as Sunshine Coastline
One of my favorite games from Falcom that I think is not as appreciated as it should be. I frequently put it in conversation with Persona 5 because of the social elements and metaphorical manifestations of emotions, and I think at a core gameplay level, I enjoy Tokyo Xanadu more. As you said, just running around the world or specific stages is fun because of the fluid movement as well as the killer soundtrack. Thank you for contextualizing the game within Falcom's larger corpus!
I had figured that neither this nor Persona would be my cup of tea... then you reminded me that this is a Falcom game with a Falcom soundtrack! Maybe this one is worth another look. :)
Great game Britta, i took.a chance on this few years ago when it was on sale, played quite a bit but never finished it, i often think of getting back into, at the minute Trails has its claws in me
Had never heard about this game previous to this video. And gotta say: just added to my backlog. Watching half of the video, I was like: "seems too Persona-ish", I'm gonna comment asking about Britt's impressions regarding similarities. Then you just answered 3 or 4 min later. P5 is one of my favorite games of all time. Also my first Persona game. After that I was in love and played P3P (which is also amazing) and a couple months ago played P3-Reloaded which was also a blast. I love the dungeon crawling aspect as well as the turn-based combat (love turn based and tactics RPG). But what really sold me persona was the 'slice of life' and the character development aspect. Their traumas feel deep, and their bonding on solving each other issues together feels really well written to me. Later on I was gonna comment asking if the game is like a 'comfort game' to you, 'cause the way you were talking about it. But you promptly proceed to read my mind again and say just that haha TX sure holds a cozy place in your heart. Your review gives me the impression that's exactly what I'll get with Tokyo Xanado. A self contained adventure with well written characters and nice script but never trying to be more that it set itself to be BUT try to enter a bit in your heart. I really don't need an epic adventure every time, but rather a good balance with gameplay and characters that with troubles that feel real. Characters I will care about. Your insights are just the best. Heartfelt on point accurate and aiming every important aspect. Keep up the good work!
I definitely made sure to pick this one up, though I was motivated to do so via FOMO. I'm excited to move into this, maybe as a sort of palate-cleanser from all the Trails that I have been playing. I loved your assessment and information you've provided here!
I really enjoyed what I played of the original on my Japanese Vita. I plan on either getting this version on Switch or Steam Deck. I really want to see it through to the end, because I really like Falcom RPGs (Ys VIII was my gateway).
Thank you for the great video. I think the graphic is brilliant, not less being a ten-year-old game. The clips you’ve shared hook me up, love the high-school conversations. Unfortunately I’m not a fan of dungeon crawling, this is not a must-play for me. Maybe I’d pick it up some other time.
I played this in the Steam version, really enjoyed it what with the anime tropes and the way other falcom series got referenced. I liked the character interactions outside of Kou as well, that we got some events he is not part of, so you get the feeling they have more of a personal life. The npcs as always update their dialogue after story beats. I loved that they were also able to have general Japanese tropes like a shopping street family, or idol culture, etc. The only thing I was sorry for was that I could not do the platforming at the very very extraboss at the end - where the platforms flicker in and out in rhythm (after you've got the first epilogue) so I had to give up the game there.
Great comment, many good points, thanks! Yea, I agree ... having a tricky platforming sequence right at the end is egregious. 😰 I can only (with many, endless retries) manage that with clenched teeth on the PS4 (due to controller).
I enjoyed Tokyo Xanadu, but it's funny how the vast majority of Falcom games are actually all in one series. Tokyo Xanadu? Trails in the Sky? Both are Dragon Slayer series spinoff games. Ys is the major series they have that isn't a Dragon Slayer descended game. (Tokyo Xanadu is a spinoff of the Second mainline DS game, Trails is a spinoff of a spinoff of the 7th mainline DS game.) They have other random games that are unrelated, but they usually only get a few games here and there and not a big series. The even more fun part is one game getting advertised in the other as if it were a game actually released in that world. I guess that's not much different than Atlus though and their Megami Tensei series.
Yeah, it's pretty wild. I noticed that Dragon Slayer on the Turbografx had the subtitle "The Legend of Heroes", which of course connects it to the Trails series- I then tried to trace the lineage to figure out how it went, and I think I have a basic idea now (your summary also sums it up pretty well), but it still makes my head spin. And then there's Ys, which is close to the Dragon Slayer lineage in spirit, whereas the Trails series plays very differently from the other DSes, apparently? On a related topic, it's hard to believe Tokyo Xanadu and Faxanadu are from the same franchise- or sub-series, even!
@@3dmarth Yeah, The first two Legend of Heroes games still had the Dragon Slayer moniker on them. Those are the two in the series I haven't played yet. The 3rd through 5th game though are actually very similar to Trails in the Sky, except kind of more primitive. The whole "two teenagers wandering around the world to get experience and hanging out with guest allies" schtick is solidly a trope used in those 3 games. One of my favorites in the series, Dragon Slayer 4, The Drasle family, released as Legacy of the Wizard here, didn't seem to get much in the way of sequels unfortunately. There's entire subseries that haven't gotten many translations though, like the Lord Monarch subseries.
@@3dmarth Oh yeah, as far as playing differently, most of the Dragon Slayer games have entirely different playstyles, the first game was an action roguelike game, Drasle Family was a side scrolling platformer rpg, while Lord Monarch was a realtime strategy game. It's an even more diverse series than final fantasy.
I've never heard of this game before but it does sound and look pretty cool. The first thing I thought when I saw the school and heard about developing bonds with friends and the wider community was Persona, which is fast, fast becoming my favourite franchise so this game could be just the thing for me if it takes inspiration from Persona.
If you enjoy that side of Persona games, then yes, you probably will like it in Xanadu. It doesn't 'ape' Persona but has a similar way of giving you short yet deeper insights into various characters.
love xanadu, was my first falcom game (vita version) and its so cozy for me. ive since played many ys and trails games and going back to xanadu on switch makes more sense given its pedigree. ive bought this game 4x by now 🤣😭
i remember playing this on pc bcause can't afford PS vita. it using falcom old engine when they for the first time developing 3d game in 2015. quite dope how now they alrdy developing new engine for newest game and upcoming squel for tokyo xanadu,
Hi Britta :)I love the vita version. It became my fav vita game. It's weird, it shouldn't be that good. We had all those elements in other jpgs. But it works, the story combat and the whole thing.
My husband collected the Ys games but always skipped this game. He love Dynasty Warriors series, so this game is not in his radar. Me on the other hand loves these types of game. Went to look at my unplayed games that I'll soon play, and yup this game is in there. I'll probably pick up the switch one too. Lol I have many games that are on the PS4/5 and also on the switch. Love collecting games.
Falcom has other action RPG's though. Like Gurumin and the Zwei games (though the 3rd game kinda got turned into a Trails game for more sales, but it's essentially Zwei in game structure, mechanics, etc).
Yes (Gurumin is also on other platforms, like the 3DS, where I played it) - but! Zwei is not available on consoles (it's PC only, afaik). Sadly. I'd love to have it on console. There's another famous action RPG by Falcom, languishing on PC ... I'll be covering that in my next video as well.
I have preordered this game simply because it is a falcom game. Sadly, my copy still hasn't shipped yet. I have finally reached chapter 3 of Trails to Azure though. I can't wait to play Tokyo Xanadu and they also announced a sequel already. I also really want to play all of the nasuverse VNs, but can't buy them yet. Oh, but there is a cute Otome VN which will be my first in the genre. It is based off of the Manga where the MC gets reincarnated as the villainess and then the prince form the neighboring country proposes to her after her fiancee breaks up with her. I read a bit of the manga and it was really cute. I think you might like it. It just came out today on the eshop. I hope I can buy it later. Why is food so expensive?
Oh, one of those from the sub-genre "Villainess otome"? I saw The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom appear on the eshop. I don't know the developer/publisher, OperaHouse.
@@Food4Dogs To be honest, I don't really know any developers. But I just want to get it so I can look at Prince Aquasteed in full color. Despite how stupid his name is. Although I could just read the manga too, I guess. But yeah, Tokyo Xanadu. I hope my copy gets shipped soon. I know basically nothing about the game at all. I just hope I have fun with it. I had a great time with Harvestella so far too. But that game gave me a gun. I love gun. In games. Having a fantasy game and then you just wield a shotgun is the funniest thing ever. I don't know if you played it, but it is a really fun game. I like it. I need to play it more. I have only reached chapter 4 so far. I am just very, very slow.
@@phoenixdown1947 Ah, I'm on ch. 3 with the Switch version right now. 😀 It's so lovely on the Vita - I'll talk a bit more about that in the next video.
Great, another game I was vaguely aware of and now want more then anything! 😂. I accept your rebuttal but this looks to me like Persona with real time combat, which is great for me. Apologies if I missed it but do you switch between characters during combat or before initiating? This one is going on the list for sure.
I think you'll find that there are quite a few differences to Persona 😁. You switch team members on the fly during combat. You only ever take 3 into a dungeon, so the trick is to pick the ones most suitable. But in the end, it's very flexible bc all playable characters can use almost any of the elements for their combat gear (typical Falcom/Trails style weapons) from a certain point on. So, equipping them optimally for the enemies is important.
@@Food4Dogs Thank you. Yes I’m sure there are. I still consider myself a wide eyed newbie in the JRPG maze so my comparisons are a bit basic for now. I’m hooked on the genre though even if I need to play something different in between to decompress a bit 😄.
I’ve been wanting to play this game for such a long time now lol. It’s literally the only game I can think of that’s never been on promotion. I can’t justify spending paying $60 for an old game. It’s the only game I can think of that’s never been on discount or promotion and I don’t know why. Even persona 3 remake has been on promotion already lol.
Liam, what region are you in? I've seen TX on heavy discount over the years on my Playstation store. In fact, I hear from many peoplel who bought it that way and then put it in their backlog.
This whole game is just the prototype of Trails through daybreak XRC is Arkride solutions The eclipse is similar to what The Genesi cause And it's a cut & dry story by the end
I got this on sale during a PS+ sale for £10. I'd always wanted a physical but it went out of print and even the Imported copies on sale on amazon were £90 so I couldn't justify it. I've yet to play it because I want to go through some of the Trails games first so I don't miss any references.
Hi all,
I hope there is some interest in this somewhat "misunderstood" action JRPG - and yes, I do explain that in my video!
Please note that I had to downscale the frame rate of my footage (clips) to 25fps - so if the clips look not quite smooth to you, then that's the likely cause.
Thanks, as always, for your support. 🙋🏻❤
I really appreciate your focus on the connection between you and the game rather than comparing it to other games. That feeling of excitement and adventure and connection is really what keeps me coming back to these sorts of games and it's deeply personal even if the game can be enjoyed in a casual way
Thank you.
Any day where Britta uploads a new video is a happy day! 🎉🎉🎉
Your passion for video games at your age is inspiring. I hope I can hold such a strong interest in something when I get old.
Dementia runs in the family and my father recently passed away from it. As studies have shown the more contributing factors to delaying the onset of it is retaining frequent social interactions through life, and stimulating your brain daily with activities, I think video games is a wonderful way to combat this.
Take care, and please keep making these videos.
Everytime a new video of yours pops up on my subs, it makes my day Britta. I've said before, it really is like cosying up in your front room with a good friend for a great little chat. I love hearing about your latest games and all your thoughts on them. Lots of love from the UK.
Long time watcher, first time commenter, love your content Britta! So glad you did this video, hugely underrated game I think. It doesnt do any one thing better than other falcom games, but the game is greater than the sum of its parts. Really loved the game on vita, and really enjoying it on the switch, hope more people can appreciate it! Thanks!
I'm so pleased to see your comment (before toddling off to bed! 😄) - it's good to know there are other people out there who appreciate the game as I do.
Your videos are a blessing in my life. Thank you Britta.
This is my favorite review/showcase of the game so far. I am very much looking forward to getting this game later down the line. First I just need to get through Cat Quest III, Fantasy Life, Sonic X Shadow Generations and Ys X Nordics. My wallet is gonna be very sad these coming months xD
Are you playing the JP edition of Ys X Nordics?
And Fantasy Life ... one of my all-time favourites on 3DS! So excited for the follow-up game. 😎
Very nice review, Britta!
I have had the PS4 CE since probably 2018; I picked it up knowing that it mostly stood alone, unlike the YS and Trails series.
Like many games I've picked up as an adult, life responsibilities have taken priority, and it hasn't ever made it to the front of the line, so to speak.
Given how highly it seems to be remembered by those who played it, I should probably bump it up towards the top!
I'll be doing another video, focusing mainly on the PS4 edition.
I got the CE back in 2019 for like 24 dollars or something like that on Amazon which surprised me honestly! Lol
Then I remember my best friend asking me had I ever played it and when I told him that I got it and was playing it at the time,his response was,that he was on the fence about it because he didn't know if it would be as good as Trails. I wonder how many people actually looked at this game like that and totally just overlooked it. I am hoping this rerelease will give it the shine it definitely deserves.
@@UpsetN3RD Yes, you're right - I remember the PS4 CE was sold off incredibly cheaply back then!
As to people constantly asking "is it as good as Trails" .. well, I try to answer that a bit. I do get a bit annoyed by this 'expectation' that now that people finally realise how good Trails is, they think everything should now be of that scope and quality. That's unrealistic, simply not possible. A game can still be good and enjoyable, though - fortunately, many of my followers here are discerning enough to realise that! 😃
You have convinced me to get the game! It looks great. I have neglected my switch a bit recently but I think this game might get me back on it again. Amazing video as per usual!
I'm always happy to see Falcom feature in any video. I'm even happier to see my boy Tokyo Xanadu mentioned. I expected to like that game, I didn't expect to love it as much as I do. And I believe we're getting a sequel!
We are. There is more TX coverage to come!
Thanks for another lovely video! I was tempted by that soundtrack to pick up this exact same edition--it'll be my first time playing Tokyo Xanadu, and the first of all my Falcom games that I own a physical copy of! I'm glad my first one could be this special release.
Your comments about the localization make perfect sense to me. When the text itself isn't distracting, you can get really immersed in the story. Manga lettering is the same way. Most readers will never notice the high degree of work that went into some of the most beautifully lettered series, but to be honest, that's exactly what the professionals are hoping to achieve.
Lastly, regarding the scene where Hiiragi reads in English, you are right that the Japanese text is a translation of what she's just read. It's interesting that the text itself is in standard Japanese, rather than a romaji transliteration, though! Maybe that was because they could only fit a limited number of characters in the text box?
I understand what you mean about manga lettering. I used to work a lot with typography as a web designer, so I can see the amount of intricate work that goes into lettering, and I also see people specifically credited for this work in the book end credits.
And thanks for that insight into the Hiiragi/Japanese text issue! 👍🏻
I had this game for years and never played as I got into the Trails series... Time to dust it off! Thanks for the great video!
A cozy way to start my day. And so nostalgic too! The graphics are kind of comforting honestly & I remember my cousin getting this game on Vita years ago. Time does fly. Thanks for being here with us!
Good to see you Britta. looking well 😊
Hello Britta very good review as usual! I got the ps4 us version of this game since some time it is I'm by backlog. Once Iam done with Trails into Reverie, this is next.
I hear a lot of people have it in their backlog! 😃
Once we have more details about the New Project Tokyo Xanadu, I bet there'll be a scramble to play/finish this one. 😉
i loved this video and am so glad you are able to share your love for this game!! also exciting to know i wasnt the only one who enjoyed it on vita and i plan to buy again haha
I remember seeing the title of this game but never really interested in it, but your videos convinced me to try it, playing the game on switch to get a similar experience to the vita one seems very chill! I'm still in my trails crossbell playthrough but I might try this one before cold steel! Good video
all the best to us all!
This was such a well put together video.
This game has my favourite video game OST of all time! I could go on about how much I love Takahiro Unisuga's music in general
and yeah that cover art is so beautiful
And he did Ys VIII, too, I think.
Didn't he leave Falcom a few years ago?
@@Food4Dogs he still works there but isn't making music. he's the webmaster of Falcom's website(s)
a new composer, Shuntaro Koguchi, has sort of replaced Unisuga's role in the Sound Team since 2020 (Reverie)
also Unisuga has worked on most Falcom OSTs since 2005/2006 (Xanadu Next/Sky SC). though yeah Ys 8 has a lot of his most popular/acclaimed songs, such as Sunshine Coastline
Ah, I see - thanks for that background!
One of my favorite games from Falcom that I think is not as appreciated as it should be. I frequently put it in conversation with Persona 5 because of the social elements and metaphorical manifestations of emotions, and I think at a core gameplay level, I enjoy Tokyo Xanadu more. As you said, just running around the world or specific stages is fun because of the fluid movement as well as the killer soundtrack.
Thank you for contextualizing the game within Falcom's larger corpus!
I'm really excited to see what they will do with the Tokyo Xanadu sequel.
You seem to be doing much better Britta. I remember when you had your fall. It’s good to see.
Yep - appreciate you remembering that. ♥️
I had figured that neither this nor Persona would be my cup of tea... then you reminded me that this is a Falcom game with a Falcom soundtrack!
Maybe this one is worth another look. :)
Great game Britta, i took.a chance on this few years ago when it was on sale, played quite a bit but never finished it, i often think of getting back into, at the minute Trails has its claws in me
Had never heard about this game previous to this video. And gotta say: just added to my backlog.
Watching half of the video, I was like: "seems too Persona-ish", I'm gonna comment asking about Britt's impressions regarding similarities. Then you just answered 3 or 4 min later.
P5 is one of my favorite games of all time. Also my first Persona game. After that I was in love and played P3P (which is also amazing) and a couple months ago played P3-Reloaded which was also a blast. I love the dungeon crawling aspect as well as the turn-based combat (love turn based and tactics RPG). But what really sold me persona was the 'slice of life' and the character development aspect. Their traumas feel deep, and their bonding on solving each other issues together feels really well written to me.
Later on I was gonna comment asking if the game is like a 'comfort game' to you, 'cause the way you were talking about it. But you promptly proceed to read my mind again and say just that haha TX sure holds a cozy place in your heart.
Your review gives me the impression that's exactly what I'll get with Tokyo Xanado. A self contained adventure with well written characters and nice script but never trying to be more that it set itself to be BUT try to enter a bit in your heart. I really don't need an epic adventure every time, but rather a good balance with gameplay and characters that with troubles that feel real. Characters I will care about.
Your insights are just the best. Heartfelt on point accurate and aiming every important aspect. Keep up the good work!
Happy to hear I was able to read your mind. 😉
I'll be talking a bit more about the whole P4 vs TX angle in the follow-up video.
getting interested in the world of Falcom, and there's not a whole lot of info on the Xanadu series, so this has good timing for me
Played this after finishing Trails into Reverie and loved it!
Happy to hear it!
I definitely made sure to pick this one up, though I was motivated to do so via FOMO. I'm excited to move into this, maybe as a sort of palate-cleanser from all the Trails that I have been playing. I loved your assessment and information you've provided here!
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it in due course. 👍🏻
I really enjoyed what I played of the original on my Japanese Vita. I plan on either getting this version on Switch or Steam Deck. I really want to see it through to the end, because I really like Falcom RPGs (Ys VIII was my gateway).
Thank you for the great video. I think the graphic is brilliant, not less being a ten-year-old game. The clips you’ve shared hook me up, love the high-school conversations.
Unfortunately I’m not a fan of dungeon crawling, this is not a must-play for me. Maybe I’d pick it up some other time.
I absolutely loved this game! I got it on the PS4. Such a underrated game
I played this in the Steam version, really enjoyed it what with the anime tropes and the way other falcom series got referenced. I liked the character interactions outside of Kou as well, that we got some events he is not part of, so you get the feeling they have more of a personal life. The npcs as always update their dialogue after story beats. I loved that they were also able to have general Japanese tropes like a shopping street family, or idol culture, etc. The only thing I was sorry for was that I could not do the platforming at the very very extraboss at the end - where the platforms flicker in and out in rhythm (after you've got the first epilogue) so I had to give up the game there.
Great comment, many good points, thanks!
Yea, I agree ... having a tricky platforming sequence right at the end is egregious. 😰 I can only (with many, endless retries) manage that with clenched teeth on the PS4 (due to controller).
had this in my shopping cart already, but there are so many games i got this year and also a V-pet 😂 The game looks very interesting
Oh man, this video has completely sold me!!! This game looks so good!!!
😀 glad you took the time to check it out.
I can’t wait to try this game.
I enjoyed Tokyo Xanadu, but it's funny how the vast majority of Falcom games are actually all in one series. Tokyo Xanadu? Trails in the Sky? Both are Dragon Slayer series spinoff games. Ys is the major series they have that isn't a Dragon Slayer descended game. (Tokyo Xanadu is a spinoff of the Second mainline DS game, Trails is a spinoff of a spinoff of the 7th mainline DS game.) They have other random games that are unrelated, but they usually only get a few games here and there and not a big series. The even more fun part is one game getting advertised in the other as if it were a game actually released in that world.
I guess that's not much different than Atlus though and their Megami Tensei series.
Yea, these established series like to self-reference and be all 'meta'. 😃
Yeah, it's pretty wild. I noticed that Dragon Slayer on the Turbografx had the subtitle "The Legend of Heroes", which of course connects it to the Trails series- I then tried to trace the lineage to figure out how it went, and I think I have a basic idea now (your summary also sums it up pretty well), but it still makes my head spin.
And then there's Ys, which is close to the Dragon Slayer lineage in spirit, whereas the Trails series plays very differently from the other DSes, apparently?
On a related topic, it's hard to believe Tokyo Xanadu and Faxanadu are from the same franchise- or sub-series, even!
@@3dmarth Yeah, The first two Legend of Heroes games still had the Dragon Slayer moniker on them. Those are the two in the series I haven't played yet. The 3rd through 5th game though are actually very similar to Trails in the Sky, except kind of more primitive. The whole "two teenagers wandering around the world to get experience and hanging out with guest allies" schtick is solidly a trope used in those 3 games.
One of my favorites in the series, Dragon Slayer 4, The Drasle family, released as Legacy of the Wizard here, didn't seem to get much in the way of sequels unfortunately. There's entire subseries that haven't gotten many translations though, like the Lord Monarch subseries.
@@3dmarth Oh yeah, as far as playing differently, most of the Dragon Slayer games have entirely different playstyles, the first game was an action roguelike game, Drasle Family was a side scrolling platformer rpg, while Lord Monarch was a realtime strategy game. It's an even more diverse series than final fantasy.
I've never heard of this game before but it does sound and look pretty cool. The first thing I thought when I saw the school and heard about developing bonds with friends and the wider community was Persona, which is fast, fast becoming my favourite franchise so this game could be just the thing for me if it takes inspiration from Persona.
If you enjoy that side of Persona games, then yes, you probably will like it in Xanadu. It doesn't 'ape' Persona but has a similar way of giving you short yet deeper insights into various characters.
love xanadu, was my first falcom game (vita version) and its so cozy for me. ive since played many ys and trails games and going back to xanadu on switch makes more sense given its pedigree. ive bought this game 4x by now 🤣😭
Nice video
i remember playing this on pc bcause can't afford PS vita. it using falcom old engine when they for the first time developing 3d game in 2015. quite dope how now they alrdy developing new engine for newest game and upcoming squel for tokyo xanadu,
Hi Britta :)I love the vita version. It became my fav vita game. It's weird, it shouldn't be that good. We had all those elements in other jpgs. But it works, the story combat and the whole thing.
Hi, thank you - that's a great way to describe it! 👍🏻
My husband collected the Ys games but always skipped this game. He love Dynasty Warriors series, so this game is not in his radar. Me on the other hand loves these types of game. Went to look at my unplayed games that I'll soon play, and yup this game is in there. I'll probably pick up the switch one too. Lol I have many games that are on the PS4/5 and also on the switch. Love collecting games.
Falcom has other action RPG's though. Like Gurumin and the Zwei games (though the 3rd game kinda got turned into a Trails game for more sales, but it's essentially Zwei in game structure, mechanics, etc).
Yes (Gurumin is also on other platforms, like the 3DS, where I played it) - but! Zwei is not available on consoles (it's PC only, afaik). Sadly. I'd love to have it on console.
There's another famous action RPG by Falcom, languishing on PC ... I'll be covering that in my next video as well.
Always wanted to play this game might have to now with the new version.
I have preordered this game simply because it is a falcom game. Sadly, my copy still hasn't shipped yet. I have finally reached chapter 3 of Trails to Azure though. I can't wait to play Tokyo Xanadu and they also announced a sequel already. I also really want to play all of the nasuverse VNs, but can't buy them yet. Oh, but there is a cute Otome VN which will be my first in the genre. It is based off of the Manga where the MC gets reincarnated as the villainess and then the prince form the neighboring country proposes to her after her fiancee breaks up with her. I read a bit of the manga and it was really cute. I think you might like it. It just came out today on the eshop. I hope I can buy it later. Why is food so expensive?
Oh, one of those from the sub-genre "Villainess otome"?
I saw The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom appear on the eshop. I don't know the developer/publisher, OperaHouse.
@@Food4Dogs To be honest, I don't really know any developers. But I just want to get it so I can look at Prince Aquasteed in full color. Despite how stupid his name is. Although I could just read the manga too, I guess. But yeah, Tokyo Xanadu. I hope my copy gets shipped soon. I know basically nothing about the game at all. I just hope I have fun with it. I had a great time with Harvestella so far too. But that game gave me a gun. I love gun. In games. Having a fantasy game and then you just wield a shotgun is the funniest thing ever. I don't know if you played it, but it is a really fun game. I like it. I need to play it more. I have only reached chapter 4 so far. I am just very, very slow.
Yes, I'm still playing Harvestella in between other things. I really like it.
im playing this right now in my vita , im at chapter 3 at the moment.
@@phoenixdown1947 Ah, I'm on ch. 3 with the Switch version right now. 😀
It's so lovely on the Vita - I'll talk a bit more about that in the next video.
Great, another game I was vaguely aware of and now want more then anything! 😂. I accept your rebuttal but this looks to me like Persona with real time combat, which is great for me. Apologies if I missed it but do you switch between characters during combat or before initiating? This one is going on the list for sure.
I think you'll find that there are quite a few differences to Persona 😁.
You switch team members on the fly during combat.
You only ever take 3 into a dungeon, so the trick is to pick the ones most suitable. But in the end, it's very flexible bc all playable characters can use almost any of the elements for their combat gear (typical Falcom/Trails style weapons) from a certain point on. So, equipping them optimally for the enemies is important.
@@Food4Dogs Thank you. Yes I’m sure there are. I still consider myself a wide eyed newbie in the JRPG maze so my comparisons are a bit basic for now. I’m hooked on the genre though even if I need to play something different in between to decompress a bit 😄.
Oh yes - JRPGs are my main genre, but I play all sorts of other games as well! 👍
Morimaru is so cute!
I’ve been wanting to play this game for such a long time now lol. It’s literally the only game I can think of that’s never been on promotion. I can’t justify spending paying $60 for an old game. It’s the only game I can think of that’s never been on discount or promotion and I don’t know why. Even persona 3 remake has been on promotion already lol.
$60 will get you limited edition with 9 in. figure, soundtrack, and such for the PS4.
Liam, what region are you in? I've seen TX on heavy discount over the years on my Playstation store. In fact, I hear from many peoplel who bought it that way and then put it in their backlog.
I see it go pretty gosh darn cheap on fanatical from time to time, check them out!
Her finisher is very similar to jusis s craft
Interesting. I'll take another look at Jusis in Cold Steel to check that!
This whole game is just the prototype of Trails through daybreak
XRC is Arkride solutions
The eclipse is similar to what The Genesi cause
And it's a cut & dry story by the end
The vita is still the best handheld ever created. It is a shame it died.
TX was kinda shit but Shiori and Rion and really carried the game, but when ex dropped it made me appreciate it a lot more with the added content
I got this on sale during a PS+ sale for £10. I'd always wanted a physical but it went out of print and even the Imported copies on sale on amazon were £90 so I couldn't justify it. I've yet to play it because I want to go through some of the Trails games first so I don't miss any references.
You don't need to worry - Xanadu is *completely* self-contained. No connection with Trails games.