For Anyone Wondering About The Side Quests

[Good Night Owl]

If anyone asks "Do I need to do the side quests?" or "Should I do the side quests?", here is my answer if it helps anyone,

The side quests are obviously optional, however are still important both to the story, and mechanically.

Mechanically you get a lot of upgrades out of some of them, and rare items. IF you see a side quest that has a plus icon, that means it is important. Half way through the game and beyond, many of these quests are also SEQUELS to previous quests, and while I did not pay attention, they might even get that plus sign later on (Although it seems to do it from the initial quest, but again, I am not sure)

Story wise... I don't want to say too much, but... Hmm,

Ever get a bad ending to games? Do you care? How does it make you feel?

If your answer is "Yes", "Crappy", and "Sad", then I suggest you do the side quests. I don't believe this game has multiple endings, but that kind of logic is how I suggest you approach these quests, story wise I mean. These quests have a lot of story implications.

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What mechanics

[C1REX]

Originally posted by 2DaysofSmiles:

What mechanics

Some quests give powerful permanent upgrades like higher max potions limit.

[TunnelKing]

Chocobros

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Originally posted by C1REX:

Originally posted by 2DaysofSmiles:

What mechanics

Some quests give powerful permanent upgrades like higher max potions limit.

Hmm 🤔 but do I have to bring wood 🪵

[iameatingjam]

I did every single side quest. Some were very memorable, especially one involving charon.

[Good Night Owl]

Originally posted by iameatingjam:

I did every single side quest. Some were very memorable, especially one involving charon.

Yeah, every now and then there are some really cool ones. They are kind of spread out though.

[Mashiro]

I always tackled all the side quests before moving on—a long time habit.

[Scarlet Crusade]

I see the side quests in FFXVI very similar to FFXII, personally, where they really ought to just be main quests, they're so integral to the bigger picture that it's strange that they're optional.

[Baklavah]

Originally posted by Mashiro:

I always tackled all the side quests before moving on—a long time habit.

Same. Just something I've been doing too since forever ago... Hell, there are games like Chrono Trigger where you didn't know you'd found a quest, and just ended up seeing something through to the end and got some sweet toys out of it. Specifically the Rainbow Shell. :D

Good times... I miss games like that... Just talking to NPCs and going places would reward you for exploring and trying stuff.

[Xengre]

Originally posted by Baklavah:

Originally posted by Mashiro:

I always tackled all the side quests before moving on—a long time habit.

Same. Just something I've been doing too since forever ago... Hell, there are games like Chrono Trigger where you didn't know you'd found a quest, and just ended up seeing something through to the end and got some sweet toys out of it. Specifically the Rainbow Shell. :D

Good times... I miss games like that... Just talking to NPCs and going places would reward you for exploring and trying stuff.

Xenoblade Chronicles will break that habit.

*Looks at 600+ quest log on Wiki and cries*

Just kidding, despite some of them being repetitive low quality fetch quests they often feature unique encounters, NPC relationships and side stories (like XC first game has a ton of its NPCs share alternate quest lines / recruitment for the town you make and if you pick one you get locked out of the other, or like if you think one person is in the wrong and help the other instead... and also impacting what follow-up quests are available later even).

Plus, the game has a premonition mechanic to help ease the burden of simpler quests letting you know in advance as you explore of upcoming quests that might need something you can fetch along the way saving you time plus remote turn in for a majority of the quests anyways.

Not gonna lie tho... the giant forest tree area, indeed, made me put the game down for a while with its quest chaos...

Xenoblade Chronicles is pretty rewarding for exploring and quests in the first game. Not so much in 2, no idea about 3, and X handles quest system in a completely different way. You might appreciate the first game. The others will depend.

[stav8]

First playthrough do everything. 100% the game and the DLC if you have it. Spend 100 hours on it if you want to

Second Play through you can skip side quests and cut scenes if you so choose because everything carries over on NG+.

This will prepare you for Final Fantasy Mode.
If Final Fantasy Mode is too easy, Arcade Mode has a hidden difficulty called Ultimaniac. This is only accessible through the Arteta Stone and after you have completed a main mission on Final Fantasy mode. This mode is tough.

[Good Night Owl]

Originally posted by stav8:

First playthrough do everything. 100% the game and the DLC if you have it. Spend 100 hours on it if you want to

Second Play through you can skip side quests and cut scenes if you so choose because everything carries over on NG+.

This will prepare you for Final Fantasy Mode.
If Final Fantasy Mode is too easy, Arcade Mode has a hidden difficulty called Ultimaniac. This is only accessible through the Arteta Stone and after you have completed a main mission on Final Fantasy mode. This mode is tough.

I don't think I have the patience to do the trials. Side quests, sure. Only because they mean something to the story, but I skipped all the trials.

[Scarlet Crusade]

Originally posted by stav8:

First playthrough do everything. 100% the game and the DLC if you have it. Spend 100 hours on it if you want to

Second Play through you can skip side quests and cut scenes if you so choose because everything carries over on NG+.

This will prepare you for Final Fantasy Mode.
If Final Fantasy Mode is too easy, Arcade Mode has a hidden difficulty called Ultimaniac. This is only accessible through the Arteta Stone and after you have completed a main mission on Final Fantasy mode. This mode is tough.

Why not just play NG+ on Final Fantasy mode and 100% the game a second time? If you’re wanting to max everything, you’ll need to collect the accessories a second time, and a good amount of them are obtained through side content, not to mention crafting materials for weapons and armor. Adding in a third playthrough, I don’t see a purpose.

[Makena]

As someone who completed all the side quests I would not wish that on anyone else. Some compare them to FFXIV side quests but having done all of the quests from Heavensward, Shadowbringers, Endwalker and partials of ARR, Stormblood and Dawntrail. They simply can not be compared. FFXIV tells you which quests add additional things to the MSQ by labeling them as blue instead of green. All of the quests are labeled the same way with the exception of the DLC quests in XVI so you will get the go plant some seeds quest along with those that tie to the story. Do not make yourself suffer.

[Good Night Owl]

Originally posted by Makena:

As someone who completed all the side quests I would not wish that on anyone else. Some compare them to FFXIV side quests but having done all of the quests from Heavensward, Shadowbringers, Endwalker and partials of ARR, Stormblood and Dawntrail. They simply can not be compared. FFXIV tells you which quests add additional things to the MSQ by labeling them as blue instead of green. All of the quests are labeled the same way with the exception of the DLC quests in XVI so you will get the go plant some seeds quest along with those that tie to the story. Do not make yourself suffer.

It does tell you, though. They have a plus icon on them.