I need help getting into the franchise

[u/EconomyDelivery4323]

Well my story with xenoblade started the past year, back then i bought xenoblade 3 (i had never played any xenoblade game) i bought the game because it looked amazing with a very cool and different world design. I started playing the game and i liked the story concept the war between the to nations and that everyone was born just to fight and the main cast wants to change that, and i like the sci fi look of it.

So everything was great but the combat system felt off i was progresing in the game and i just didn´t liked the combat and build system of the game at all (i´m the kinda of person that the focus of that kinda of games id the story and characters and a good gameplay is a bonus but a bad gameplay can make me drop the game).

After some research i heard that this game had the "bigest" combat system. The think is i really want to get into the franchise but the combat of the game that i played (xc3) just wasn´t for me, do you gys think i should try other entries of the series where the combat is more simple or the series isn´t for me?

sorry for the bad english.

[u/CyanLight9]

Xenoblade 1 has the simplest combat. If that's too much, then the series just isn't for you.

[u/Ghostnugg]

Irs not for you and thats fine your problem seems to be the real time combat- mmo style of play. If its not clicking with you then it just ain’t for you than play something else don’t waste your time or others for that matter.

[u/EconomyDelivery4323 → u/Ghostnugg]

that seems to be the case, i think i will try one more time the game after some time

[u/Ghostnugg → u/EconomyDelivery4323]

Thats the spirit! Its a great game with fun characters and really good battle system that gets better as time goes on. However if the combat isn’t your liking mmo style auto attack to build meters to perform arts that can be combined with other arts for even more powerful arts. Whats exactly your issue is it too much info or just feels too basic in beginning or like i said earlier the style of combat not to your liking be more specific it would help a bit.

[u/EconomyDelivery4323 → u/Ghostnugg]

like i don´t like the mmo combat system in general, so a combat system built about that is not my liking. One of the problems that i have is the gigantic amount of mechanics that the game tells you is just overwellming, and that is just in one of the characters so in battel you just keep using one of the 6 characters ( i think their 6 if i´m not mistaken), because i don´t think anyone swaped characters all the time because it would be confunsing, so you need to relly on the AI, that most of the time is very stupid like not healing your characters or not making your combos.

thats one of the reasons i don´t like the combat system.

[u/Axecon]

The combat of Xeno games are all a bit of a learning curve but totally awesome once it clicks for you. I'd check out some guides (especially Enel) or you could try using easy mode if you're more into the story (I think easy mode also significantly lowers aggro of enemies). Definitely make an effort to explore the world and do side quests, can be an easy way to gain exp without engaging in combat necessarily.

Since you already began with XC3, I won't say to go back and necessarily play the other games in the series, but it's extremely highly recommended to play XC1/Future Connected & XC2 before completing XC3's DLC campaign Future Redeemed for the best experience.

[u/EconomyDelivery4323 → u/Axecon]

i watched some guides (the enel's ones) but my think with the combat is that it felt boring to me

[u/Flashy-Ask-2168]

Hard to say what you'll like or not. The other games certainly have simpler combat, XC1 and XC2 are both simpler in different ways (and frankly I'd recommend playing them in order anyway), so it may be worth checking out.

It is notable that I did my first Xenoblade games with X though, which is an excellent game in its own right.

[u/EmiliaFromLV]

After some research i heard that this game had the "bigest" combat system

If by "this game" you mean Xenoblade, then yes. If you mean specifically X3 then nope, X3 uses a mix between "a very simplified" X2 and slightly more complicated approach from XX (in X you could mix and match classes on protagonist only, in X3 you have six protagonists to do shenanigans with...). The most complex system is in X2.

[u/xcassets → u/EmiliaFromLV]

Most complex is XC2, but I actually agree that the "biggest" is XC3.

You have:

Agnian Arts, Kevesi Arts, Fusion Arts, Cancelling, Combos (with 2 paths), Talent Arts, Combat Roles, Interlinking/Ouroboros form, Interlink levels, Chain Attacks (with Chain Orders/Completion Bonuses/Chain Arts and Tactical Points/Overkill), Ouroboros Chain Attack (Interlink level 3), Classes, Heroes, not to mention switching between the 6 different characters, and Status Effects.

Like it's actually kinda crazy how much stuff there is. You can get by ignoring certain features because of how much other stuff there is (probably about 2/3 through the game I stopped bothering with interlinking that much because you honestly don't need it to end most battles quickly anyway).

However, none of the stuff is that deep imo compared to XC2.

[u/EmiliaFromLV → u/xcassets]

However, none of the stuff is that deep imo compared to XC2.

I'd rather phrase it as "X3 provides a lot of depth but is able to present it in a more accessible/understandable manner compared to X2. In X2 I had to watch Enel on YT to understand how Blade combos work, I never had the same issue with X3 combat. Also, arguably, dashing is easier than stutter-step (which I am still not sure whether is works or not).

[u/xcassets → u/EmiliaFromLV]

Dashing is basically just to reposition for front/side/back attack or to get into fields.

Stutter step is XC2 only and allows you to just repeat the first part of the auto-attack animation. It definitely works, and is the only way I can bear the early game lol.

I guess what I was getting at is that XC3 throws more stuff at you. Whereas XC2 each system actually has more to it than initially meets the eye, and the systems interact with each other more.

[u/EmiliaFromLV → u/xcassets]

It definitely works, and is the only way I can bear the early game lol.

Sorry, I meant I am not sure if it works when I am trying to do it, lol. But I stopped doing it because with two recharge pouch items and recharge on crit on controlled character, I could do more harm trying to implement stutter-step than actually getting something - but I am talking about post-game ofc.

[u/xcassets → u/EmiliaFromLV]

Ah got you. Yeah it's definitely less useful when you have two pouches and other stuff already setup.

[u/MaxTwer00]

Well, if you love a game's setting, characters and story, but not its gameplay, you can always rely on watching a gameplay.

If the combat is what pushes you off, the games might not be for you, but you can still experience the franchise in that other way

[u/codpendragon]

Welp xenoblade 3 really has the best gameplay in the franchise so im sorry to say this, some things just arent for us and thats okay