Thanks for watching! I know this one took a while, thanks for being patient while I completed my move. I really enjoyed playing this game, and while I don't think it's a missing masterpiece, I do think this game deserves more attention than it got. If you've played it let me know. I would be super interested in seeing if I'm not crazy for liking this as much as I did. The next video is already getting footage piled up, but uh.. .if you know of an indie RPG you'd want on my radar now would be the time to let me know... just saying. wink. Edit: I have seen some folks say the GoG version of this game is a little better in terms of bugs, which I can't prove but might be a good place to check.
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga (known as Digital Devil Story: Avatar Tuner in japan) is something I'd honestly like other people to look into. Truth be told I just found your channel and thoroughly loved this video of yours, but judging from the other video titles, tooics and thumbnails, i think SMT: Digital Devil Saga could be an interesting title to look into. Especially since the game's development seems to have directly influenced the Light Novel series the game is originally based on? (also it's actually a duology but I'm explicitly talking about the fkrst game here since I haven't touched the second one yet at all)
Reminds me of Borderlands back when there was no story beyond an excuse to run around shooting things and taking their stuff for hours on end... ... until a load of dinguses complained about the treasure being a tentacle monster and from then on every Borderlands game had to make you stop every five minutes so you can have ZoMG!!1!!!1! zAnY aND WAcKy!!1!!!11!1 StOREE TyME!!1!1111
You're one of those channels I'll watch the video essay from, then 20 minutes later watch it again but pay more attention this time. I really hope you keep at it.
I've been meaning to look more into this companies old library. I find their games endlessly engaging in ways I feel have mostly been left behind by the industry as a whole
Falcom has such a unique approach to game design within the space. I am very glad they exist. Some of the older games like this one have aged very well (all things considered)
Thanks for highlighting the charming aesthetics of this game. I really liked the pics from artbook. Its good to appreciate those tucked away nuggets of lore. Dope review as always
Xanadu Next was super underrated. Falcom managed to take the Diablo formula and actually make it fun instead of mindless number chasing. Glad more people get to check it out. Personally, I found a gamepad more handy for the non-menu parts. It really helps with the positioning. Anyway, great video!
I really never got the Diablo connection here; it's weird to me that it's used so often comparing isometric games. XN isn't a randomized loot-variable game. Mind explaining your mindset here so I can maybe learn something?
I hope you never stop making videos bud, this was beautiful. For anyone else coming across this comment, this video inspired me to play Xanadu Next and it's cozy and fantastic. Reminds me of gaming in "the good old days" and is truly a hidden gem.
The remark about the visuals for 2016 amused me since they are the reason I bought the game a few years ago. It looked so beautiful on the screenshots I had to find out what the game was and boy oh boy did I "soak in the scenery". Glad I did, because Xanadu Next is what lead me to play YS and Trails. I'm very late to the Falcom party but ever since I found them out I just cannot get enough of their games. Also, about an (indie) RPG, to keep with the Falcom trend, "Gurumin: A monstrous adventure" is also a fun title barely anyone talks about.
Great video. This one is truly a gem. I wasn't expecting much out of it, but I played it after finishing all the Ys games and wanted more Falcom-goodness. It has some clunk, but I don't mind that in the face of an immersive, interesting world with internal consistency and a thankful lack of irony and sarcasm. Also, I played on a PS controller and used the touch pad as a mouse for menu management. Using a controller, I never had an issue with accidentally hitting a crate twice.
I only knew about Xanadu from Maj mentioning the series in his Ultima videos. I don't think this game's for me, but thank you for being a part of celebrating it.
I was just listlessly scrolling RUclips over my morning coffee and didn't expect to find such a blast from the past! Xanadu Next was my first purchase when I set up my current Steam account in 2016 or so (it must have been shortly after finishing my degree). I did indeed play it with a wonky mixture of controller and M+KB for the menus and it was such a pleasant experience. The dungeon crawl and exploration without much directed influence from other characters was a treat. I adore looping world design, so it hit just the right spot in that regard. I admittedly don't remember much of the actually played out story near the end, but the gathering (and subsequent reading) of the various texts was great. It made for a great ebb and flow of action and chilling back at home. It's not quite the same style of game, but it reminds of how I would use to chill in Monster Hunter's towns between quests. Considering what came next, I'm almost glad the game's characters look as they do. They are characters alright, but they fit the somber atmosphere more than the eventual full-on colorful anime style would (if you're wondering, the next Xanadu game starts in japanese highschool). This one had me intrigued, the next one had me confused. Falcom's Xanadu series, if you can call it that, is such a strange beast. I still want to eventually give Tokyo Xanadu a try though.
Yeah, this vibe got sorta dropped by Falcom lately, and while I still like their Ys series a lot, I do miss the darker aesthetic this and Brandish had.
beat it about 2 months ago in like 3 sittings honestly it was so much fun, got a zelda, souls vibe if this formula was taken further and polished it would make for an amazing series of games idk how their isn't anything else quite doing what xanadu next did shame really. Great video amigo
Love this game! I'm so excited to see people talking about Falcom games that aren't Ys/Trails. Falcom has so many weird little games. Always happy to hear your very pleasant voice talk about games I've nearly forgotten about
Aw! :3 That is the most ADORABLE little ice cream cone EVER!!!! D: D: D: D: I know, this video was about something else entirely but I couldn't help being intimidated by cuteness ^_^
Oh I actually played this game a couple years ago. I quite liked it, because it felt like a mix between Zelda and ICO. The control schemes are kinda finnicky and the final dungeon is ass backwards long but damn the atmosphere in this game really struck a chord with me. That final ascent up the staircase with the music playing was a great moment. The ending did remind me of Ys II which I played before it. Great video as usual
its more fun than titan quest. The only problem it has is the room keys (grinding) so use cheat engine exclusively for keys. Because the pacing goes to the trash if you constantly run out of keys every 5 minutes.
Yeah, this is one of my favorites. Play it once a year or so. It's got a cool Mediterranean medieval vibe as well, similar to Vagrant Story. Very unusual to see in your fantasy roleplaying.
I've only heard about this game in passing, but now you convinced me that I should get this game because I am one of the so-called non-existence market for this game.
For some reason the speech boxes and weapon leveling system reminds me of Dark Cloud, another simple but enjoyable dungeon crawler. I'm glad gems like this are being preserved on steam.
I loved the game when it came out. Also loved the next game, Tokyo Xanadu... although it's a very different game. I think it's such a niche genre that the Ys series fills that niche and there's not much room for anything else.
@@prettycody As for similar games, maybe the "Brandish" series? The first one was on the Snes, but it received a PSP remake and an english port in 2015 called "Brandish: The Dark Revenant". Also all the Ys games are good, and there's a new one coming out soon.
I've just discovered your channel with this vid, sometimes youtube recommendations really work :) I have this game sitting in my GOG library for a while now, time to give it a go
Great review. I really like your style, would love to see more "forgotten gem" style reviews, whether past or present. There have actually been quite a few overlooked good rpgs from the last couple years.
Honestly, I prefer the 'silent, nameable protagonists'. Call me a filthy heathen full of heterodox views on modern 'roleplaying', but I WANT to be the self insert, fill in the blanks yourself kind of gamer. I want the experience and story to be MY experience and story. Modern gamers lack genuine imagination and gumption in this regard.... Also, I dunno why, but I LOVE the Level Up Lady as a concept/mechanic.
You sold me on the game, it had been wishlisted for years, but I never committed to buying it. And for some reason I never realized it wad a Falcom game, which might have made me buy it sooner.
I hope you enjoy! I had Brandish as one of my favorite games for quite a while, and didn't know it was Falcom until like 5 years ago. I feel like they sneak up on you sometimes.
Thumbnail got my attention, game name caught my eye, content sealed the deal. I’m in, and it just happens to be on sale for $5 right now. Think it was fate.
Xanadu was almost licensed for a western MS-DOS release by Origin Systems, but when they saw the game at Falcom's offices they noticed that it used pirated artwork from Origin's Ultima games and that soured relations between the two companies. Industry legend is that Richard Garriot held a grudge and that other software companies that might want to work with Origin at some point avoided licensing Falcom games to avoid pissing him off.
Faxanadu was probably my first RPG back on the NES. I never knew until recently it was a spin off, and that the same guys made Ys and Trails series. They make great games as far as I’m concerned!
I love Falcom games, so I beat Xanadu Next right after buying it on Steam. It’s an addictive hack & slash romp and super fun, once you get used to the slightly janky controls👍🏻
oh man I wanna play this game now, mostly because I've been watching about the backstory of Xanadu on Basement Brothers and because it looks like a mid PSP game I liked called Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground.
I randomly played this on a whim (even tho it's not my usual type of game) and now it's on of my favourites. Also the soundtrack is peak. Still hoping for a proper sequel one day
I was one of the few people who bought this on launch. I grabbed it on reputation because I had just beat Faxanadu for the first time and wanted more Xanadu/Dragon Slayer. I liked it. I knew it was a PC release of an old game, so the graphics were fine. I remember the menus being kind of a chore, but I could be conflating it with a different Falcom game or games. I haven't been able to get it working on my newer PC, sadly. I'd like to give it another go.
I've had this on my GoG wishlist for several years, just haven't got around to picking it up since i have many dozens of other games to play through as it is. Some day I'll get it, maybe.
Xanadu is a great series! Its in a similar state as Sakura War, where once in a blue moon, a spinoff/sequel gets release out of nowhere. only being fueled by a niche fandom and rare doujins during komiket
I was ten minutes in, learning about this game I’d never heard of… before I realised I have this game wishlisted on Steam already Man, I have good taste 😅
Wow a recent Xanadu Next review? Edit: Also watching this made me remember how good the soundtrack is. I played this a couple years ago and the most similar game to it, imo, was Demon's Souls. Really enjoyed this game as it felt like playing DeS again
Every time Good Old Games has a sale on this one, I swear I’ll buy it… but then I look at my backlog. But after watching this, I think next time, I’ll pull the trigger on it.
@@prettycody true! And I do love the idea. It gives me vibes of Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance and Diablo, by way of Japan. And even without the loot-loop of those other games, that sounds like a good time to me :D
This would absolutely be a game I never heard of, or at the very least, would overlook. You describe it really beautifully though. Wishlisted and might get it in the future. The clunky elements you describe sound attractive somehow. I miss that clunky feel of the early 2000s ps2 era. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but some of those inconvenient systems or controls made every game unique and gave it character. A lot of games feel like they're retreading the same ground, but back then everything felt new or an attempt to innovate. Not to say this is gone now, but it feels less special.
Yeah, the clunky stuff here is definitely clunky, but it does work for me as a whole :). There's definitely a charm to an unpolished games that's hard to replicate when you worry about maximizing engagement, etc. Personally, as a player it can feel kind of cool to run into something a little obtuse or testing of your patience.
Xanadu Next is such a great game.I bought the CD version around 2007 when I was in middle school.And I played it again and again for every 3~5 years lol.I also got a steam copy btw.
Ah good to see the falcom tradition of beating a boss's ass only for them to turn around and say "not bad. I guess I'll let you through" like you didn't just whoop them.
Good video, very much enjoyed the watch. I haven't played this game (yet) but have been familiar with it for some time. I just hate mouse and keyboard for what is really an action game.
ah, I would play this kind game and enjoy my cig + coffee. this graphic remind me of some game back then... well, I'm typing this in qwerty while watching that knight named Dvorak :3
@45:25 That's a great way to put it! And wow, I still find it impressive that great little things go unnoticed as this one. Thanks! I wonder if there are any particular elements present in this game that would benefit a Roguelike game (with infinite replayability)? EDIT: From what I gather, it does seem like a fun game that could be improved by : - 3D or Floor Maps (instead of flat ones). - Map having iconography for things you didn't pick up. - Being able to both swim and "dive"(?) - And better combat. The game is designed as a tanky-slasher, with little to no dodging. I could see a more satisfying system making this top-notch.
Thanks for watching! I know this one took a while, thanks for being patient while I completed my move. I really enjoyed playing this game, and while I don't think it's a missing masterpiece, I do think this game deserves more attention than it got. If you've played it let me know. I would be super interested in seeing if I'm not crazy for liking this as much as I did. The next video is already getting footage piled up, but uh.. .if you know of an indie RPG you'd want on my radar now would be the time to let me know... just saying. wink.
Edit: I have seen some folks say the GoG version of this game is a little better in terms of bugs, which I can't prove but might be a good place to check.
check out false skies super obscure indie rpg very good
Putting my vote in for Ikenfell. Short and sweet RPG with a great OST
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga (known as Digital Devil Story: Avatar Tuner in japan) is something I'd honestly like other people to look into.
Truth be told I just found your channel and thoroughly loved this video of yours, but judging from the other video titles, tooics and thumbnails, i think SMT: Digital Devil Saga could be an interesting title to look into.
Especially since the game's development seems to have directly influenced the Light Novel series the game is originally based on? (also it's actually a duology but I'm explicitly talking about the fkrst game here since I haven't touched the second one yet at all)
I like your video but what kind of zesty ass name is pretty Cody
Not exactly a hidden gem but I'd love to see you cover CrossCode
This actually looks fun. A very steady and classic style of RPG without mountains of unnecessary dialogue. These games are treats.
I had a good time with this one. It's my kind of game. Lemme get in there and fight a goblin. It's my calling.
Seriously. Every game these days wants to be a movie and drag out conversations about nothing.
@Yobama007 nah that's the benefit of the medium. Dialogue doesn't equal movie. Video games are the only true form of interactive storytelling.
YES modern games are yap-heavy with little gameplay
Reminds me of Borderlands back when there was no story beyond an excuse to run around shooting things and taking their stuff for hours on end...
... until a load of dinguses complained about the treasure being a tentacle monster and from then on every Borderlands game had to make you stop every five minutes so you can have ZoMG!!1!!!1! zAnY aND WAcKy!!1!!!11!1 StOREE TyME!!1!1111
I've had this in my steam library for a long time and I think you've convinced me to finally install it.
You'd like it. I always just think that people know it for some reason.
I had this game on my Steam wishlist since 2016. I need to buy it asap and play it.
This comment made me look it up on steam, and it was on sale for 4.49 with only an hour left on the sale.
You're one of those channels I'll watch the video essay from, then 20 minutes later watch it again but pay more attention this time. I really hope you keep at it.
Facts
I've been meaning to look more into this companies old library. I find their games endlessly engaging in ways I feel have mostly been left behind by the industry as a whole
Falcom has such a unique approach to game design within the space. I am very glad they exist. Some of the older games like this one have aged very well (all things considered)
Thanks for highlighting the charming aesthetics of this game. I really liked the pics from artbook. Its good to appreciate those tucked away nuggets of lore. Dope review as always
not many ppl are talking abt this game(or even back then) so thank you!
Xanadu Next was super underrated. Falcom managed to take the Diablo formula and actually make it fun instead of mindless number chasing.
Glad more people get to check it out.
Personally, I found a gamepad more handy for the non-menu parts. It really helps with the positioning.
Anyway, great video!
I really never got the Diablo connection here; it's weird to me that it's used so often comparing isometric games. XN isn't a randomized loot-variable game. Mind explaining your mindset here so I can maybe learn something?
I hope you never stop making videos bud, this was beautiful.
For anyone else coming across this comment, this video inspired me to play Xanadu Next and it's cozy and fantastic. Reminds me of gaming in "the good old days" and is truly a hidden gem.
The remark about the visuals for 2016 amused me since they are the reason I bought the game a few years ago. It looked so beautiful on the screenshots I had to find out what the game was and boy oh boy did I "soak in the scenery". Glad I did, because Xanadu Next is what lead me to play YS and Trails. I'm very late to the Falcom party but ever since I found them out I just cannot get enough of their games.
Also, about an (indie) RPG, to keep with the Falcom trend, "Gurumin: A monstrous adventure" is also a fun title barely anyone talks about.
Faxanadu and Astyanax are the bees knees.
That guy at 2:08 even kinda looks like Astyanax
You sold the hell out of this game for me, the vibe, the graphics all of it. Nice vídeo!
Thanks for going over the Xanadus and Xanadon'ts of this often overlooked game series.
Im only 20 minutes in but listening to you talk about the game is really relaxing and the touches of humor feel are well placed
Thank you. I try and walk the fine line between relaxing and sleep inducing, glad to hear I'm on the right track.
Great video. This one is truly a gem. I wasn't expecting much out of it, but I played it after finishing all the Ys games and wanted more Falcom-goodness. It has some clunk, but I don't mind that in the face of an immersive, interesting world with internal consistency and a thankful lack of irony and sarcasm.
Also, I played on a PS controller and used the touch pad as a mouse for menu management. Using a controller, I never had an issue with accidentally hitting a crate twice.
I only knew about Xanadu from Maj mentioning the series in his Ultima videos. I don't think this game's for me, but thank you for being a part of celebrating it.
Yeah, the original Xanadu straight traced some Ultima manual illustrations. Which is wild.
Hi what games do you recommend?
This is what video essays should be. Great job capturing this games and presenting it both compared to the time it came out and also now.
Thanks! I appreciate that.
Just discovered your channel and I absolutely love your voice, delivery and writing. Big fan of the, like, cozy vibes.
I was just listlessly scrolling RUclips over my morning coffee and didn't expect to find such a blast from the past! Xanadu Next was my first purchase when I set up my current Steam account in 2016 or so (it must have been shortly after finishing my degree). I did indeed play it with a wonky mixture of controller and M+KB for the menus and it was such a pleasant experience. The dungeon crawl and exploration without much directed influence from other characters was a treat. I adore looping world design, so it hit just the right spot in that regard. I admittedly don't remember much of the actually played out story near the end, but the gathering (and subsequent reading) of the various texts was great. It made for a great ebb and flow of action and chilling back at home. It's not quite the same style of game, but it reminds of how I would use to chill in Monster Hunter's towns between quests.
Considering what came next, I'm almost glad the game's characters look as they do. They are characters alright, but they fit the somber atmosphere more than the eventual full-on colorful anime style would (if you're wondering, the next Xanadu game starts in japanese highschool). This one had me intrigued, the next one had me confused. Falcom's Xanadu series, if you can call it that, is such a strange beast. I still want to eventually give Tokyo Xanadu a try though.
Yeah, this vibe got sorta dropped by Falcom lately, and while I still like their Ys series a lot, I do miss the darker aesthetic this and Brandish had.
This guy gets it :) Love to see this game getting more attention recently
The renting RV’s line simultaneously turned me to naught but dust and got me to subscribe
beat it about 2 months ago in like 3 sittings honestly it was so much fun, got a zelda, souls vibe if this formula was taken further and polished it would make for an amazing series of games idk how their isn't anything else quite doing what xanadu next did shame really. Great video amigo
This was a godly video essay. You have a nice relaxing voice and the story actually had me hooked.
Awesome video. I'm doing some research before tackling a playthrough video essay. I like your format. Great work.
Love this game! I'm so excited to see people talking about Falcom games that aren't Ys/Trails. Falcom has so many weird little games. Always happy to hear your very pleasant voice talk about games I've nearly forgotten about
Aw! :3 That is the most ADORABLE little ice cream cone EVER!!!! D: D: D: D:
I know, this video was about something else entirely but I couldn't help being intimidated by cuteness ^_^
Such a beautiful video for a beautiful game. Thanks for making it. I loved every second of it.
Oh I actually played this game a couple years ago. I quite liked it, because it felt like a mix between Zelda and ICO. The control schemes are kinda finnicky and the final dungeon is ass backwards long but damn the atmosphere in this game really struck a chord with me. That final ascent up the staircase with the music playing was a great moment. The ending did remind me of Ys II which I played before it. Great video as usual
The NES faxanadu game is wonderful
Agreed. I originally I had a segment for it in the video, but it was very cool to find out we got a Xanadu game in the states so early on.
great video! always cool to see people discover this deep cut
Fun video! Your flow reviewing is A+
Holy crap i've always loved this game. I'm so happy to hear others love it too!
Whoa love your video man. Keep it up. Gonna watch your other vids as well
This kinda reminds me of Titan Quest, I have to try it! ❤
its more fun than titan quest. The only problem it has is the room keys (grinding) so use cheat engine exclusively for keys. Because the pacing goes to the trash if you constantly run out of keys every 5 minutes.
I loved this game. Thanks for letting me relive it through this video 😊
Yeah, this is one of my favorites. Play it once a year or so. It's got a cool Mediterranean medieval vibe as well, similar to Vagrant Story. Very unusual to see in your fantasy roleplaying.
Highly underrated game. I played it last year and had a blast with it. Wish more games like it would get made.
I need to try this game, glad I found this video 😂
I can't wait to watch this later! So excited! 🥳
You might be shocked to discover your name has been snuck in there.
@@prettycody 😮
I've only heard about this game in passing, but now you convinced me that I should get this game because I am one of the so-called non-existence market for this game.
I finished this recently too! Absolute gem, recommended!
For some reason the speech boxes and weapon leveling system reminds me of Dark Cloud, another simple but enjoyable dungeon crawler. I'm glad gems like this are being preserved on steam.
I loved the game when it came out. Also loved the next game, Tokyo Xanadu... although it's a very different game. I think it's such a niche genre that the Ys series fills that niche and there's not much room for anything else.
I played a bit of Tokyo Xanadu, I hope to play more. I agree though. Xanadu is a tough one to keep putting out when you gotta keep the lights on.
@@prettycody As for similar games, maybe the "Brandish" series? The first one was on the Snes, but it received a PSP remake and an english port in 2015 called "Brandish: The Dark Revenant". Also all the Ys games are good, and there's a new one coming out soon.
Hello fellow 1 person who likes both Next and Tokyo, hope to see you in Kyoto next year.
I've just discovered your channel with this vid, sometimes youtube recommendations really work :)
I have this game sitting in my GOG library for a while now, time to give it a go
Great review. I really like your style, would love to see more "forgotten gem" style reviews, whether past or present. There have actually been quite a few overlooked good rpgs from the last couple years.
Honestly, I prefer the 'silent, nameable protagonists'. Call me a filthy heathen full of heterodox views on modern 'roleplaying', but I WANT to be the self insert, fill in the blanks yourself kind of gamer. I want the experience and story to be MY experience and story.
Modern gamers lack genuine imagination and gumption in this regard....
Also, I dunno why, but I LOVE the Level Up Lady as a concept/mechanic.
You sold me on the game, it had been wishlisted for years, but I never committed to buying it.
And for some reason I never realized it wad a Falcom game, which might have made me buy it sooner.
I hope you enjoy! I had Brandish as one of my favorite games for quite a while, and didn't know it was Falcom until like 5 years ago. I feel like they sneak up on you sometimes.
this is one of those games that has been siting in my library forever. i think its time i play it. I've been neding a game like this. for a while now.
Just bought this, thanks for the rec.
Another good video man really like your stuff.
I played Faxanadu and loved it. I definitely would love to play this game as well
Im a sucker for a love story between goth bride waifu and her ancient world eating dragon husbando 🥲 (great video as usual brother)
Thumbnail got my attention, game name caught my eye, content sealed the deal. I’m in, and it just happens to be on sale for $5 right now. Think it was fate.
Xanadu was almost licensed for a western MS-DOS release by Origin Systems, but when they saw the game at Falcom's offices they noticed that it used pirated artwork from Origin's Ultima games and that soured relations between the two companies. Industry legend is that Richard Garriot held a grudge and that other software companies that might want to work with Origin at some point avoided licensing Falcom games to avoid pissing him off.
Great to see more people recognizing this game!
It's one of the better $15 I've spent in my lifetime.
I had the exact same glitch happen to the sage that you pointed out. It is INCREDIBLY funny
Cool video! Cool subject and cool tempo. Cool cool cool
That's very cool of you to say.
This game has some good soundtrack entries that slap.
Agreed. I've been listening to some of them at work.
An 1 hour review? Lets goooooo
Faxanadu was probably my first RPG back on the NES. I never knew until recently it was a spin off, and that the same guys made Ys and Trails series. They make great games as far as I’m concerned!
I love Falcom games, so I beat Xanadu Next right after buying it on Steam. It’s an addictive hack & slash romp and super fun, once you get used to the slightly janky controls👍🏻
oh man I wanna play this game now, mostly because I've been watching about the backstory of Xanadu on Basement Brothers and because it looks like a mid PSP game I liked called Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground.
I randomly played this on a whim (even tho it's not my usual type of game) and now it's on of my favourites. Also the soundtrack is peak. Still hoping for a proper sequel one day
Faxanadu (Famicom-Xanadu) was also released on NES in official English released developed by Hudson Soft
Totally my kind of game, like NieR Gestalt and Y's III Oath of Felghana
I had this Nintendo game back in the day called Faxanadu. I loved it!! Someone told me it was in the Ultima universe
I'm more into party based dungeon crawlers, but I do wanna give this a try.
I agree, as a big DRPG fan, I feel you there.
great video man i just grabbed the game and subbed
This is one of the best games ever made and i genuinely love it.
Glad to know more about this game!
Nice! Glad you liked it. It's a (janky) fun time.
I was one of the few people who bought this on launch. I grabbed it on reputation because I had just beat Faxanadu for the first time and wanted more Xanadu/Dragon Slayer. I liked it. I knew it was a PC release of an old game, so the graphics were fine. I remember the menus being kind of a chore, but I could be conflating it with a different Falcom game or games. I haven't been able to get it working on my newer PC, sadly. I'd like to give it another go.
I've had this on my GoG wishlist for several years, just haven't got around to picking it up since i have many dozens of other games to play through as it is. Some day I'll get it, maybe.
The PS2 throwback is amazing
Xanadu is a great series! Its in a similar state as Sakura War, where once in a blue moon, a spinoff/sequel gets release out of nowhere. only being fueled by a niche fandom and rare doujins during komiket
Definitely my favorite Falcom game. It's awesome.
I was ten minutes in, learning about this game I’d never heard of…
before I realised I have this game wishlisted on Steam already
Man, I have good taste 😅
See? You get it.
thx for this review game looks great , never wodve found it otherwise
Wow a recent Xanadu Next review?
Edit: Also watching this made me remember how good the soundtrack is. I played this a couple years ago and the most similar game to it, imo, was Demon's Souls. Really enjoyed this game as it felt like playing DeS again
The music of this series is amazing.
Agreed! I have been listening to Trechier Woods' track while I work lately haha.
This is great content, why don't you have more subscribers?!?!
Every time Good Old Games has a sale on this one, I swear I’ll buy it… but then I look at my backlog. But after watching this, I think next time, I’ll pull the trigger on it.
haha, sorry to add to your backlog *but* this one isn't super long. so there's something I guess?
@@prettycody true! And I do love the idea. It gives me vibes of Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance and Diablo, by way of Japan. And even without the loot-loop of those other games, that sounds like a good time to me :D
This would absolutely be a game I never heard of, or at the very least, would overlook. You describe it really beautifully though. Wishlisted and might get it in the future. The clunky elements you describe sound attractive somehow. I miss that clunky feel of the early 2000s ps2 era. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but some of those inconvenient systems or controls made every game unique and gave it character. A lot of games feel like they're retreading the same ground, but back then everything felt new or an attempt to innovate. Not to say this is gone now, but it feels less special.
Yeah, the clunky stuff here is definitely clunky, but it does work for me as a whole :). There's definitely a charm to an unpolished games that's hard to replicate when you worry about maximizing engagement, etc. Personally, as a player it can feel kind of cool to run into something a little obtuse or testing of your patience.
PLayed this game last year. Pretty amazing game, I might reinstall it and give it another go sometime. Was a great game to play for a relaxing weekend
yeah, the length is perfect for a quick playthrough. I hope to revisit this one in the future.
I was shocked when I first played this game, I also accidentally came across it and I love it.
It really makes for a pleasant surprise once it gets going.
pretty good video. helps me sleep at night listening to you, sub!
That I am relaxing enough in tone to fall asleep to is a legit compliment. Glad you enjoyed it.
Played this about 15 years ago on a Nokia NGage handheld. Likely one of the best titles for that system.
Adding Metroidvania progression items to action rpgs is actually a pretty neat idea. Adds depth to a genre that tends to be sorely lacking.
FINALLY XANADU
Yes, I played this, and with the controller, I am also the old, but nonetheless, this is a great game highly recommended, very enjoyable
Xanadu Next is such a great game.I bought the CD version around 2007 when I was in middle school.And I played it again and again for every 3~5 years lol.I also got a steam copy btw.
That's awesome. One of the most unexpected parts of making this video was finding out a bunch of people had such a close connection with Xanadu Next.
Stumbled upon a legit hidden gem!
Ah good to see the falcom tradition of beating a boss's ass only for them to turn around and say "not bad. I guess I'll let you through" like you didn't just whoop them.
Good video, very much enjoyed the watch. I haven't played this game (yet) but have been familiar with it for some time. I just hate mouse and keyboard for what is really an action game.
It is a little odd, especially given how smooth it is for controller outside of item management.
I'm late to the party too and it's one of the best games I've almost never played ever.
Wild to think there's an N-Gage versiom of this game that not only came out first, it's an NA exclusive.
This looks rad. Gonna get it.
I know the artist! Love his work
Man....Xanadu....thats a name I havent heard in 30+ years.
Can't believe AAA made you avoid the ocean in a real game.
ah, I would play this kind game and enjoy my cig + coffee. this graphic remind me of some game back then...
well, I'm typing this in qwerty while watching that knight named Dvorak :3
@45:25 That's a great way to put it! And wow, I still find it impressive that great little things go unnoticed as this one. Thanks!
I wonder if there are any particular elements present in this game that would benefit a Roguelike game (with infinite replayability)?
EDIT: From what I gather, it does seem like a fun game that could be improved by :
- 3D or Floor Maps (instead of flat ones).
- Map having iconography for things you didn't pick up.
- Being able to both swim and "dive"(?)
- And better combat. The game is designed as a tanky-slasher, with little to no dodging. I could see a more satisfying system making this top-notch.