Some advice for a new player?

[e11]

I've never played JRPG-style games before, but I've started with the demo, and I notice that enemies respawn when you leave the screen. Obviously, this lends itself to XP farming. Are you actually expected to do that heavily, in order to be able to face higher-level enemies?

Also, circa how long this game? I do know that JRPG's have a reputation for extreme length.

EDIT: Also, do my save games from the demo carry over into the full game, if I buy it?

[The nameless Gamer]

You can clear the game without much grinding. Most battles result in your party losing hit points and chroma points, which don't refill on level-up. As long as you don't skip too much combat or over-rely on ambush takedowns, you shouldn't end up dangerously underleveled for mandatory fights. Your party being 2-3 levels below a boss is in most cases winnable. Leveling in this game is more evening the playing field rather than over-leveling.

The game takes about 30-40 hours to clear.

Not sure about saves from the demo carrying over.

[nightmare1]

Don't count on demo saves probably it not compatible. I don't remember but it's big chance that i remember that demo save not compatible. As for version update it's updates save when version updates.
About leveling - standard bosses have level limit but you can't be more leveled up on that point when you meet him (see explanation later) As for boss where you can replay - those are easy to defeat with 1 hit if you try on first chapter boss when you are on last chapter boss. Also if boss is hard to defeat even if you have 3 - 4 level higher as boss is still hard to defeat.
About over-leveling. There is anti over-leveling system in game. if enemy is on your level you got very low exp for beat him, also if enemy is lover as you - you got 0 exp. So enemies stays -3 to +1 or 2 level higher as you and also sometimes levels it's blocked - enemies stop grow on some level and you also got 0 exp. Also high level enemies is rare event so you can spend 15 minutes and get only 1 enemy what got you exp. So you need spend RT years to get level up. So as i said battle balance is good and even if enemy is lower as 2 levels it's hard to beat and you cost more time and resources to beat enemy and got zero exp. if you enter in zone where enemies is higher as you, you have big chance to lost, but also if you win reward in exp is good.
In easy words if you are in some chapter inside game you can try beat boss with low levels and it's hard but possible. Also you can take time and level up your heroes to level "limit" to this chapter (to level higher you need exp, but from win you got 0 - 10 exp, when need 10000 exp to level up). In that case beat a boss is easier, but still this boss can be hard to defeat if it's programmed into scenario. I don't speak about "special boss" in scenario - i left fun for you inspect those boss itself.

[e11]

One other thing: What is the point of the surrender function? I know there are some minor actions that can be taken while tied up, but they don't seem worth losing out on launching actual attacks, or aiding party members.

What am I overlooking?


EDIT: Also, about the escape/capture mechanics. How do I raise the Capture/Rescue/Struggle stats? And when it comes to using items while escaping, do I need to activate them somehow, or is it enough to have just found them?

[The nameless Gamer]

Originally posted by e11:

One other thing: What is the point of the surrender function? I know there are some minor actions that can be taken while tied up, but they don't seem worth losing out on launching actual attacks, or aiding party members.

What am I overlooking?


EDIT: Also, about the escape/capture mechanics. How do I raise the Capture/Rescue/Struggle stats? And when it comes to using items while escaping, do I need to activate them somehow, or is it enough to have just found them?

The surrender function is for unlocking Game Over dialog and CGs but also can situationally be useful. Certain enemies capture your party and HP/CP is fully restored when that happens. Capture/rescue/struggle are fixed values. Your party does get +1 on rescue/struggle if you have a "Very sharp knife" item in your inventory and there's an accessory you can get from the Chroma Research Center escape challenges which gives the character equipping it an additional +1 to rescue/struggle. There is one accessory which adds +1 to capture for the character equipping it, "spare ropes" was its name I think.
Items found during escape sequences speed up your progress at loosening/removing bonds passively, no active application needed.

[nightmare1]

Spoiler - in some battles when party is captured it's add new CGS, in some part capture is necessary for advance a main quest, and in some situation after capture there no game over and you got some "bonus" play)

[e11]

Oh, and what does the "distraction" rope actually do?

[nightmare1]

Distraction rope increases distraction. As more distraction as more need time to escape as restraints lose slower, because you are distracted and can't concentrate on ropes.
UPD: when you move legs or body to try escape from restraints, distraction rope increases distraction bar. So when you try escape from other restraints this distraction slows down restraints lose bar speed.

[e11]

Related to my original question: Am I just too low level for the final boss? Seles herself is level 49, with the others a bit behind, Chelsea most of all. I have tried the final boss many times, with various different party setups and strategies, but between her huge health pool and the constant unavoidable HP loss the party suffers, I just can't bring her down in time.

I really didn't grind much at all, and I never revisited areas I was previously done with. Do hub areas get new quests once the plot progresses? Should I have been more diligent in fighting plants and bandits? I'm starting to think I'll need to make my way back to the nearest story crystal and grind before the final confrontation.

[The nameless Gamer]

If my memory serves, Elize is level 50, so you aren't too underleveled. If she decides to be trigger-happy with the spell Singularity, you'll lose the fight even overleveled. The stun it applies lasts incredibly long and even when your (subdued) character snaps out of it, 7 ranks of capture are brutal. Stun is also the only condition I believe can't be removed. During the second phase, she will pretty much always use Chroma attacks, so lowering her Magic Attack is what you should do. Eileen's regeneration spell should at least somewhat mitigate the HP loss from the environment each round.

One or two levels under her is not going to get you killed but 4 or 5 is definitely too underleveled, as Elize is one tough final boss.

[nightmare1]

I found in middle game one effective tactics after all boss and modify this tactics for final boss. (trying to remember) Ok. Party - Seles, Liliana, Eileen, Kaie
Seles, Kaie damage boss smokescreen - so boss mostly is blinded confused
Eileen Uses on boss Air bullet, Ghoh's Fear - boss mostly is silenced (i don't remember if final boss is affected silence) and mostly confused so she damage itself and not use ultima. While you are "free"
Liliana uses what she can use) simple attack and prepare for potioning.
Very effective is skill is Liliana's Potioning to restore hp, cp to all members (more cp)
In middle battle when you are sure that confusion and silence not goes down you can use other skills to heal or damage boss. Something like that. And last boss was tight sure.