Xenoblade

[Maxximum]

I feel a little weird saying this, especially since I've been so critical of modern jRPGs with FFXIII at the top of the list, for being painfully linear. Xenoblade almost feels a little TOO BIG. I mean seriously, its gigantic, I spent over ten hours running around colony 9 and upon recently returning to beat the snot out of a lvl 17 unique that handed me my ass several levels and many hours before, I realised that there's not only a ton left to do, but also a load left unexplored. The next area is even BIGGER. Its both awesome and frustrating at the same time since I'm one of those "gotta do it all" kind of gamers.

I'm also really happy that Unique monsters have started to roam around instead of just sitting there and waiting for me come and get them. Makes it all that much more fun when one of those things just pops up from around the corner. Even had one join a fight today, it may have been a little inconvenient to have to high tail it out of there, but it gives the game just a little more spice.

[Lard]

Tried to pick this up today but no dice. And I don't mean I tried picking it up where Dice works. haha

The release date for Canada has officially been changed to tomorrow. I am looking forward to playing this all day Friday.

[Eusis]

Should've just had this "Whenever in stores", because RIGHT before people may be traveling for Easter is a headache. At least it's just a few hour drive for me and not an airplane I need to catch or something.

[Dice]

Tried to pick this up today but no dice. And I don't mean I tried picking it up where Dice works. haha

The release date for Canada has officially been changed to tomorrow. I am looking forward to playing this all day Friday.

Come vissiiitt~! :D

[Lard]

You're only an hour away, I may do that before I head overseas. :D

[Klyde Chroma]

I feel a little weird saying this, especially since I've been so critical of modern jRPGs with FFXIII at the top of the list, for being painfully linear. Xenoblade almost feels a little TOO BIG. I mean seriously, its gigantic, I spent over ten hours running around colony 9 and upon recently returning to beat the snot out of a lvl 17 unique that handed me my ass several levels and many hours before, I realised that there's not only a ton left to do, but also a load left unexplored. The next area is even BIGGER. Its both awesome and frustrating at the same time since I'm one of those "gotta do it all" kind of gamers.

I'm also really happy that Unique monsters have started to roam around instead of just sitting there and waiting for me come and get them. Makes it all that much more fun when one of those things just pops up from around the corner. Even had one join a fight today, it may have been a little inconvenient to have to high tail it out of there, but it gives the game just a little more spice.

I felt the exact same way playing through..... each new environment and quest demanded my attention and would consume WELL beyond the amount of time I would care to give to questing between story advancing segments.... this however was my own fault because I, like you, am a neurotic completionist..... well you put it more nicely as a "gotta do it all"-type gamer...... I'm just freakin' out of my mind..... but that is neither here nor there.... back to the point...

I highly suggest, not getting too caught up in ALL the optional stuff too early.... it will be a VERY long time before your locked out of any areas or miss anything, and those particular instances you can sort of see coming... that aside, I became a wee-bit over-powered for the main story doing all the optional stuff... In hinesight when I got further along I began to realize, had I waited, I'd be venturing back to so many locals for various reasons as I embarked on more questing, that had I not been so nuts about exploration initially I would have saved myself hours and still have accomplished the same amount....

Basically, all I'm suggesting is don't be overtly OCD about everything too early on... remember the games of yesteryear where you'd wait until you got a good leg in and find a nice spot of downtime in the main story to tackle a bunch of optional stuff as opposed to panicking that if you missed something it would be crucial and not available ever again?..... yea, think of it somewhat like that... otherwise you will end like me.... 50 hours in and barely a third of the way through the game-LoL

[Mickeymac92]

I spent over ten hours running around colony 9 and...The next area is even BIGGER.

You sir have officially made my day. :D

[Maxximum]

otherwise you will end like me.... 50 hours in and barely a third of the way through the game-LoL

I'm coming up on twenty hours and only just recently

got Sharla in my party. Story wise, I'm only just past the point where the faced Mechon runs away with Juju while mouthing off about squashing me in Colony 6

I think Ill start pushing the story along a little more.

I spent over ten hours running around colony 9 and...The next area is even BIGGER.

You sir have officially made my day. :D

It really depends on your play style, but its probably possible to spend even more time romping about the first area without running out of things to do. You probably shouldn't use me to gauge these things though, since I have a tendency to grind when given the opportunity, though if I have to be honest, this game threw so much at me that I simply said "screw it, too much, I'm moving on". You'll have to see how it plays out for you though, might be an entirely different story.

[Lard]

Got my copy today. \(^^)/

And a copy of Zone of Enders 2 to boot!

[cj_iwakura]

Kind of ironic that this became GS exclusive when the original push used Amazon as a foundation.

[Fadedsun]

This game crept up on me, but I can't wait to pick it up tomorrow. I still need to finish Kid Icarus and Devil Survivor 2 before I even dip my feet into this adventure.

[neogalahad]

HA preordered today! Cant wait!

[Mickeymac92]

@Maxximum - Sounds like the two would even themselves out, so I'd say it was decent guage. :P

Kind of ironic that this became GS exclusive when the original push used Amazon as a foundation.

I still believe those Amazon pre-orders did jack squat, or at most convinced Nintendo to make it Gamestop exclusive so people wouldn't think it did anything. <_<

[Rockko]

Just received my shipping conformation for overnight from GS. Schedule is clear for tomorrow and beer is in the fridge...

[Eusis]

.I actually imagine it's possible that while Amazon was used to push the initiative, Amazon was actually apathetic about stocking the game at all, while GameStop saw an opportunity and pushed for it