End Game and NG+... Why should I?

[Ryu™]

First off, as expected from a new tales game, I absolutely loved it. The combat is fun and engaging (at least on higher difficulties, I played on hard and put it to unknown as soon as I could). But compared to Berseria, why would I start a NG+? Except for "Cool story, I'll do it again" I don't have any reason to. Here's why:

1. Artifacts for NG+ are in effect the moment you acquire them, giving the first playthrough a massive boost. After Zestiria and Berseria, this is the first time I did 100% in the first playthrough.

2. Accessories can be crafted very easily and don't require much thinking about. It's a very simple system compared to Berseria's brutal grinding equipment game. I already have everything I need for every character and don't feel like crafting any more.

3. Lvl 100 is the max. I reached max lvl after doing a bit of grinding in the end dungeon and grinding the last boss in there a few times. With the boosters and enemies over your lvl, you receive so much XP, you reach the top very quickly. Again, compared to Berseria, where you had the Heavenly Steppes and max lvl 200, you could fight your brains out in there and it never got boring.

4. End Game dungeon doesn't offer anything. As I already said, the Heavenly Steppes were packed with enemies, but here, with levels being scaled to and rising with each new area, the lower levels are no fun going back to and in the highest level is just one boss fight, and why should I do that again.

I would love to give it a few more runs in NG+, but I really don't see a single reason to do so. In Berseria I cleared the game 4 times and did 100% (or almost) twice. But here... Why should I? What do others think about this?

[Xengre]

I think, if you enjoyed it but got everything you think you will out of it then time to move on. No need to force yourself to replay a game you've already wrung most of your joy from. The game wont offer much more in NG+ aside from opting to utilize built accessories and SP trees to meaningfully main other characters that you might not have in NG for most/all the run, like Kisara, due to being underwhelming until built up. Alternatively, if you were a huge fan of the characters/game maybe you might come back and run through it again at another time but for now it doesn't sound like there is much merit to it for you.

[CatPerson]

^ Agree with Xengre, basically.

I'm the type of player who's very methodical and slow going through a game, to the point where when I finish, I've "done everything" I care to obsess over and have no motivation to repeat any of it.

Some types of games keep you playing because of simple random loot factors (arpg's ala Diablo), or because you can try different tactics/strategies (city management/strategy etc). This is not one of them.

Mods might rekindle some temporary interest for some reason - like my recent silly obsession re: cloned AI battles - but generally wouldn't be a reason to NG+. Maybe one day a total new playthru (not a NG+) cause it's been a while but otherwise.

Although I was wondering if you would gain more CP during more playthrus, akin to getting more spell slots in FFXV - say, theoretically, you could have 1000's and 1000's of CP - but that's more of a technical curiosity vs. a "I want/need to do it" thing, lol.

Only other thing would be self-challenge runs. Example: Unknown, fresh full story run, no items allowed to be used, ever, restart if you fail. But one would have to be into such things.

[Tiasmoon]

Originally posted by Ryu™:

Again, compared to Berseria, where you had the Heavenly Steppes and max lvl 200, you could fight your brains out in there and it never got boring.

It did for me. I never got close to level 200 in Berseria because of how much of a repetitive grind it became for me. As a result I had to beat True Final boss at a ridiculously low level, heh.

It's just there for those that enjoy the game and want to play it more. Either on a higher difficulty or to replay the story and see what story things they didnt get the first time around. I know some people really enjoy grinding like that, but not everyone does. Personally im glad its not required to 100% the game.

Dont get me wrong, I love a good NG+ or postgame content, but adding artifical filling in the form of +100 levels for no reason isnt a good way to do that. As is, I already feel the extra 20-30 level requirement for doing the Elemental Spirits, is pointless.

Most games also have a very lacking NG+, and it can feel like the NG is incomplete because they added some things to NG+ completion instead.
There's no reward incentive to do NG+ in this game. But that also means you can finish the game as is.. and feel more satisfied, if you accept that.

I'm still replaying the game in NG+ for a bit myself, just to experience unknown (without transfer of anything except outfit and records) and experience what the story and cast is like now that I know more.

[Tyrone Biggums]

NG+ has no downsides but it also doesnt change anything basically its just if you want to replay the game with some modifiers and etc all tales games have em its just a good option

[Ryu™]

Originally posted by Tiasmoon:

Originally posted by Ryu™:

Again, compared to Berseria, where you had the Heavenly Steppes and max lvl 200, you could fight your brains out in there and it never got boring.

It did for me. I never got close to level 200 in Berseria because of how much of a repetitive grind it became for me. As a result I had to beat True Final boss at a ridiculously low level, heh.

I get that, I really do. But I am still missing something similar in Arise. I really want to go do more fighting, be it in an endgame dungeon or in a NG+ where I have the option to scale all the enemies to lvl 100, but I get neither of those and I hate it. I would have played with other characters a bit, because I didn't really get the chance to do that, but now? No reason to.

[CatPerson]

FFXV had a NG+ that didn't scale enemies either. I don't really understand the point of NG+ in these cases, but I don't care about carrying over kill-counts or whatever into a 2nd playthru, either. So I wish they'd at least have had an option to choose whether NG+ would scale enemies (they could start at lvl 80 and be 99 or 100 before half-way, for example).

As is, about the only thing I'd do is carry over outfits, so I could make them all wear Steamy Towels from the start of the game or something, because I'm silly like that.

Which reminds me - do weapon skins like the carrot sword count as carrying over? Or do those only carry over if you take weapons with you. I suppose you could not equip any of the weapons, just the skins, but...

[reign]

you are a thug, i support whatever decision you make you hardcore king

[Tiasmoon]

Originally posted by Ryu™:

I would have played with other characters a bit, because I didn't really get the chance to do that, but now? No reason to.

The main story and optional side content gives plenty of chances to play with the other characters. If you sticked to just one or two, that's a choice you made.

[CatPerson]

Maybe someone will make an enemy lvl-scaler in CheatEngine for this game like they did with FFXV.

I haven't checked for something like that in a while.

[Xengre]

You could always carry over everything except levels (which means no CP carry over btw) and weapons (or just don't use them until you get to where they are acquired, thus keeping skins). In addition set the game to chaos or unknown difficulty. This should cover your needs. If you are looking for really potent post game content, though, you are going to really only find that in Tri-Ace games like the Star Ocean series or Radiata Stories.

[CatPerson]

Nah. I just mean what's the point of a NG+ in cases like this, vs. just starting a brand new scratch playthru on Unknown?

For me NG+ would equal carrying everything over and enemies being 100, so there's a reason to use all that stuff you spend oodles of hours collecting. Just me tho.

I would also take a DLC that contained a couple more lvl-99+ (repeatable) dungeons so you have more to test things/goof off on.

[Xengre]

Originally posted by CatPerson:

Nah. I just mean what's the point of a NG+ in cases like this, vs. just starting a brand new scratch playthru on Unknown?

For me NG+ would equal carrying everything over and enemies being 100, so there's a reason to use all that stuff you spend oodles of hours collecting. Just me tho.

I would also take a DLC that contained a couple more lvl-99+ (repeatable) dungeons so you have more to test things/goof off on.

My post was in response to OP wanting simply more combat with his fleshed out accessories/skill trees and other characters, based on their comment.

Regarding NG+ in this case I am somewhat inclined to agree its value is limited, just like your FFXV example. I found FFXV to be especially bad because level carry over was absolutely enforced so, unlike in Tales of Arise, you could not even carry over skill unlocks/items to save time grinding and doing certain time consuming side content and enjoy more varied builds and playstyles in your level reset run. In Arise you can at least do this and thus make certain characters like Kisara or Dohalim a bit more appreciable in a NG+ run vs how they are in much of a NG run.

That said, yeah... aside from being a super fan that simply wants to consume more of the same game they love or just replaying for the story/characters/world some time later (months/years/etc.) it doesn't really have much value sadly, which is why I've not really played much through on my unknown run either.

It would be could if they had some type of scaling like Borderlands games do for NG+s and stuff, but the equipment/loot system and skill trees would have to be reworked and more progressive to go that route. Perhaps they could even do a NG+ enhanced difficulty type version with all enemies set to level 95-100 and enhanced moves or something but alas they likely will not. As for DLC/post game content if they could do a post game dungeon like Shining Force EXA that would be incredible.

[Pokechao]

NG+ lets you keep all your artes without having to lvl for them again. I recommend it for the battle system if you feel like trying out a different character to main.

Tales games on NG+ pretty much become a single player fighting game(I think thats why I love this series so much considering my two favorite genres are RPG and fighting games.)

[JeremiasOReiDoKuduro]

Originally posted by Tiasmoon:

Originally posted by Ryu™:

Again, compared to Berseria, where you had the Heavenly Steppes and max lvl 200, you could fight your brains out in there and it never got boring.

It did for me. I never got close to level 200 in Berseria because of how much of a repetitive grind it became for me. As a result I had to beat True Final boss at a ridiculously low level, heh.

It's just there for those that enjoy the game and want to play it more. Either on a higher difficulty or to replay the story and see what story things they didnt get the first time around. I know some people really enjoy grinding like that, but not everyone does. Personally im glad its not required to 100% the game.

Dont get me wrong, I love a good NG+ or postgame content, but adding artifical filling in the form of +100 levels for no reason isnt a good way to do that. As is, I already feel the extra 20-30 level requirement for doing the Elemental Spirits, is pointless.

Most games also have a very lacking NG+, and it can feel like the NG is incomplete because they added some things to NG+ completion instead.
There's no reward incentive to do NG+ in this game. But that also means you can finish the game as is.. and feel more satisfied, if you accept that.

I'm still replaying the game in NG+ for a bit myself, just to experience unknown (without transfer of anything except outfit and records) and experience what the story and cast is like now that I know more.

If you are trying NG+ in Unknown, don't your party members die to easily? I've tried this but without one of the levels/equipment/artes it feels kinda impossible

[EbonySeraphim]

If what I'm hearing is true about Unknown mode it's basically a difficulty meant for perfection of your ability to dish out offense (very large HP pool of bosses) while not ever messing up defensively (if you get hit, it will be a KO). I don't really find that amusing because it also pretty much makes healing obsolete and also "one mistake and you're done" takes away joy of the "comeback" feeling you get when you struggle but still clear if the moment you struggle, you are certainly done. I had enough fun doing this mostly playing Law the first playthrough -- it felt bad losing Awakening level 2 or level 3, but I got way better and better at it without fights ending because I took a hit or died.

The OP title asks about the end game, but it seems there are no complaints about the end game specifically -- only NG+. The end-game dungeons are not that interesting and offer no new enemy types (only new bosses), but if you enjoy the combat system a lot, I'd recommend it. Assuming people are clearing the game the first time around the level I was (57), it might seem like the extra time is daunting to get to level 90+ -- it's not. You level up very quickly taking those areas quite directly though I'd recommend maybe getting to level 60~62 to comfortably address the first temple (on Moderate).

NG+ however, you have you have very specific reasons: sort of meaningfully play while controlling another character; stomp a boss or bosses that gave you a hard time the first time. Nothing new happens otherwise.