Falcom
I remember back in 2014 when I was keeping my optic out for any rumor I could get hold aboutPersona 5 . Having seen the tease trailers of the biz , I was so delirious to see it finally release in 2015 . That year passed without it set up . WhenPersona 5was released in Japan in September 2016 , the wait for its April 2017 external release was excruciating . During that time , there was another secret plan that pick up my attention : Tokyo Xanadu . Its core gameplay revolved around a slice - of - biography school setting and keep crawling . Sound familiar ?
I was already a big rooter of developer Falcom ’s games like the Trails and Ys serial , so I calculate I would make for this to hold me over untilPersona 5 . This was during a time when Japanese and international loss date were staggered due to onetime localization processes . Nowadays , the entire world can receive game likeFinal Fantasy VII Rebirthon the same release twenty-four hour period . Tokyo Xanaduwas unblock in Japan in 2015 forPS Vita , but did n’t releaseinternationally until 2017 , a few months afterPersona 5 . Its enhanced port , Tokyo Xanadu eX+,released later that same year for microcomputer and PS4 .
Falcom
Still , I made prison term forTokyo Xanadu eX+back in 2017 and found it to be a fun action RPG and societal sim that has a few unparalleled quirks that set it aside from the serial publication that it ’s inspired by . With a Nintendo Switch port out now , it ’s the complete metre to hold back out the RPG while you wait forPersona 6details .
A flattering imitation
Tokyo Xanadu ’s story feels awfully familiar . It takes place in a fictional territorial dominion of Tokyo called Morimiya City . Our main protagonist , Kou , chases after his classmate , Asuka , as she walk into a strange portal . On the other side , Kou realizes he ’s in a nightmarish dimension fill with dangerous teras , and discover that Asuka is a especial agentive role tasked with closedown down portals . Awakening to his Persona — I mean — Soul equipment , he can now fight alongside her .
WhileTokyo Xanadu ’s curtain raising hours are satisfy with common anime tropes and follow a similar fade - of - life gameplay structure , it stand up out in a few ways . Falcom ’s Trails series is known for its incredible human beings - building , and it ’s show through the small of detail , such as NPC duologue . The same apply toTokyo Xanadu . As the plot progresses , the same NPCs will have completely different dialogue depending on where players are in the floor .
For illustration , there ’s a unseasoned painter that Kou contact who ooze confidence , but as he gets to jazz her , she unwrap she experience a mortifying event during college . After winning the metropolis ’s portraiture contest , she ’s able to find her composure . As the plot of ground shape up , so do the tale of even NPCs , which makes Morimiya City feel more immersive .
Tokyo Xanaduhas a much more linear and traditional RPG story advance , broken down into several chapters . I value this approach as it does n’t require as much activity micromanaging as Persona . Tokyo Xanaduhas adhere episodes too , which function the same as Persona ’s Confidants and Social Links . Kou can hang out with his party members so as to get to know them well while at the same time induce them warm by learning raw abilities . Those who delight the social sim aspect of Persona wo n’t neglect out on them here inTokyo Xanadu .
A heavy conflict between the base interpretation and theeX+edition is that the latter adds side story episode . These are short playable chapters that do n’t involve Kou , but rather two or more company member who unremarkably finish up take a misstep to a dungeon and defeating a miniskirt - boss .
One of the unsighted bit that Persona has with its family relationship simulation elements is that there are very rarely ever moments where other party members interact with each other without the protagonist ’s bearing . Tokyo Xanadudoes something different with its side story so that not everything focalize on the chief protagonist , provide player to see new sides of other characters .
Into the dungeon
Tokyo Xanaduuses a real - clip action organisation similar to that of Dynasty warrior . The hack - and - gash combat is quite straightforward ; I enjoy being capable to wassail in a power fantasy by ruin Wave of enemies . Of course , higher difficultness levels command me to be more patient before charging at monsters . Perfect circumvent becomes unbelievably significant to avoid being wiped out . I in person bask how I can just focus on the narration without having a hard boss occlude me .
Dungeon design isTokyo Xanadu ’s weakest component , as they consist of bland corridors . However , the trek through the game ’s donjon are made bearable by the excellent soundtrack meet with tense piano Francis Scott Key and vesicate electric guitar . The leaden dungeon pattern actually works in its favor , in some fashion . They ’re crafted in a way of life that rent players zip through them . By factoring in fourth dimension spent , legal injury take , treasure find , and foe clear , players take in a varsity letter grade at the end of the dungeon . The stripped - down design allow for some faster action at law that befit its combat .
As for the Switch embrasure , performance is consistent with very little hiccup and surprisingly short burden times . This port also comes with a revamped localisation from Aksys Games — and it ’s obtrusive because the original script had so many example of the word , “ laugh softly , ” to indicate laugh . gratefully , I did n’t see as many of those this time around .
The Nintendo Switch is no stranger to former port , this one included , butTokyo Xanadu eX+is a enceinte game to play during theconsole ’s crepuscule old age . So long after its initial firing , it still stand out among a embarrassment of Persona - inspired RPGs with its real - time action , speedrunning centering , and world - edifice . If you ’re looking to revisit high schooling in Japan once again , Tokyo Xanaduis a form deserving accept .
Tokyo Xanadu eX+is now useable on Nintendo Switch .
