Can you beat the game without using Monaco? Also, can you go back later?

[Risenzealot]

Just wondering if it's possible to beat the game without using Monaco? It sucks because I actually like the character but I'm not crazy about having to go back to search and try finding all the feet. I'm loving the story and would like to move on.

With that said, I wouldn't mind doing it near the end if need be. I'm also wondering for those who have beat the game if there is a clear mark of no return? Can you always come back to finish up things you missed such as collecting feet for Monaco or finding the lost Gestrels?

[Orzeker]

You can keep going until the end no problem, you can even backtrack after the final boss.

[Leopanther]

Yes, you can always go back and do stuff. Only exception is if you start a new game+ cause that warns you it completely replaces your current save file.

And you can just use whoever you want in your party. There's rarely situation where you're forced to use a specific char for a battle, but for the most part its optional stuff.

[Shin Happens]

You can beat the game with any character you like. I never used Monoco, because I did not like how he plays in the game.

Before the final mission (it's obvious when you reach that point) you can either fully explore the world as long as you like (only in Act III can you even reach all the places that were formerly out of reach) or you do the final mission, beat the story, and then in the main menu, when you say "continue" you will be reset to just before the final missions and can finish up.

My recommendation is to finish all the optional levels and other things before the final mission. a) it can give you crazy XP b) you get super great pictos and weapons and c) the ending of the game will give you more of a closure this way. But just in case you missed something the game will allow you to finish everything after the main story.

[genadiyrool]

there is only one section aside from tutorials where you forced to use Monaco/Sciel/Lune as a mandatory party. that section is short and not very difficult

be sure to lvl up Verso and Maelle though

[Risenzealot]

Thanks everyone for the answers. Makes me feel much less anxiety over who to use lol.

[Harland Higgins]

If you want a lot of his powers you can go to the endless tower and get them from there with him in the party, beats having to hunt down a lot of the enemies

[unripe mango]

there is an optional fight where you will have to use all characters, though there is a strategy floating around to just oneshot the boss and skip mechanics.

[Cypherous]

Originally posted by unripe mango:

there is an optional fight where you will have to use all characters, though there is a strategy floating around to just oneshot the boss and skip mechanics.

Yeah i was super over levelled when i found that dungeon and even on the characters i hated it was still a breeze

But yeah you can avoid using monoco, he is a cool character but i dislike the blue mage archtype in general its just annoying, especially with that wheel of bonus stuff, i also ditched sciel the second it was humanly possible, not a fan of her combat style either, so i was basically Lune, Maelle and main guy

[Brocknoth]

Honestly filling out Monoco's skill list isn't difficult. On the world map you'll find formations of enemies that include enemies from prior areas. You don't have to back track all the way to Flying Waters for example to get the enemies there. Just locate a formation that has them.

He's a great member of the team. Likely the most versatile character in the game like most blue mages before him.

[zefyris]

^what Brocknoth said. Lots of the enemies from prior dungeons that would give you abilities are on the world map directly.

[NSReverse]

For the story? Yes, you can. For my first run, I only used Verso, Lune and Maelle