Compare Starfield vs Tales of Xillia Remastered

Accessibility is a serious weak spot in the most critical take, with one reviewer saying the limited options leave some players shut out rather than merely inconvenienced.

Modern convenience and accessibility additions are broadly praised, including difficulty settings, remapping, encounter toggles, subtitles, autosave, and clearer navigation. The suite is helpful rather than exhaustive, with at least one reviewer wishing for options such as colorblind modes.

General gameplay draws both praise and disappointment: it offers a huge Bethesda-style RPG framework, but some reviewers find the actual moment-to-moment play bland.

The underlying gameplay hooked the reviewer quickly, with its systems feeling immediately engaging rather than merely functional.

Art direction splits opinion, with NASA-punk praised for a distinctive look in some places and dismissed as bland or ineffective in others.

The colorful anime-inspired art direction has aged well and helps the game retain charm even when individual models, textures, and environments reveal their PS3 origins.

Environmental detail is often praised, especially city detail, planet presentation, and the sense of visual scale.

Environmental detail is a recurring weakness: fields, caves, ports, and connecting areas are often described as bare, repetitive, or low-detail. Strong color and occasional attractive locations soften the criticism but do not erase it.

Onboarding is a weak spot because important systems can be under-explained, leaving players to figure out menus, building, and progression on their own.

Newcomers generally get a friendly entry point through clearer systems and quality-of-life changes, though the Grade Shop appearing immediately can be confusing or overly front-loaded.

Fast travel is convenient but also one of the most repeated complaints, with many reviewers saying it fragments the space fantasy.

Fast travel is a useful convenience that cuts down on manual backtracking once locations have been discovered.

Content volume is a major selling point, with reviewers pointing to many quests, systems, updates, and activities that can keep players busy for a long time.

The remaster loses some original crossover or licensed content, which contributes to the feeling that the package is less complete than it could have been.

Tutorial quality is a complaint when players want more help; several reviews say the game leaves too much unexplained.

Tutorials are consistently regarded as helpful, making layered combat mechanics understandable as they are introduced.

Writing quality is one of the weaker areas for critical reviewers, especially in main-quest dialogue and characterizations.

Character-focused writing is a major strength, with reviewers praising expressive interactions, themes, and emotional arcs. Even more critical takes usually reserve their complaints for familiar tropes or underdeveloped larger ideas rather than the cast writing.

Companions are divisive. Some reviewers enjoy their stories and usefulness, while others complain about chatty behavior, getting stuck, or interrupting the flow.

Linked companions are usually helpful and automate partner abilities smoothly, but one reviewer reports allies wasting resources or positioning poorly against tougher enemies.

The learning curve is steep. Several reviewers say Starfield has many systems and does not explain enough up front.

Combat has a learning curve, but reviewers repeatedly say it becomes intuitive with practice and rewards players who keep experimenting.

Loading screens are one of the most consistent complaints. A few note short load times, but many say frequent transitions and menus make the universe feel chopped up.

Loading is dramatically improved on faster platforms and often described as nearly instant. The base Switch version is the main outlier, where longer loads contribute to a slower overall feel.

Difficulty earns limited praise where late missions test combat skill without feeling unfair.

Several reviewers call out difficulty spikes around the middle of the game. The challenge can be managed, but the curve is not always as smooth as the otherwise approachable systems suggest.

Dialogue is polarizing: one reviewer calls conversation trees best-in-class, while others find the writing flat, generic, or dated.

Skits and party banter are repeatedly praised for humor, chemistry, and characterization. Repeated lines and occasional slow or awkward exchanges are the main drawbacks.

Exploration is the biggest fault line. Some players love the scale and city discovery, while many criticize empty planets, fast-travel dependency, and repeated points of interest.

Exploration benefits from faster movement, marked objectives, treasure indicators, and optional detours, but repetitive fields and backtracking keep it from being a universal strength.

Originality gets some credit for the space RPG ambition, though several reviews also call the formula familiar.

One retrospective view treats Xillia as an unusually distinctive step for the series, crediting it with an identity that stood out in its era.

Polish is better than many expected for a Bethesda-scale RPG, though it does not eliminate bugs, crashes, or rough UI.

The remaster adds welcome polish and refinement, but reviewers still see visible PS3-era rough edges. The overall presentation is cleaner without feeling rebuilt from the ground up.

The economy and resource balance are recurring frustrations, especially around ship costs, resource pricing, inventory clutter, and limited trading fantasy.

The shop-leveling economy is distinctive and can make gathering materials feel purposeful, but some reviewers think universal shop inventories and donation requirements overstreamline shopping or encourage unnecessary grind.

Combat is one of the better-liked systems overall, often described as Bethesda’s strongest gunplay yet, though a few reviewers still find it basic or merely serviceable.

Combat is the clearest strength across the reviews. Linked Artes, character swapping, fast real-time attacks, and build experimentation are repeatedly described as fluid, deep, and fun, though a few reviewers find regular encounters repetitive or simpler than other Tales entries.

The main story is one of the most mixed areas. Some reviewers find it surprisingly interesting or a useful guide, while others call it weak, flat, or forgettable.

The story is generally liked for its emotional themes, political conflict, and character focus, but opinion is not unanimous. Some reviewers find it layered and gripping, while others call parts predictable, underdeveloped, or weaker than the cast.

Atmosphere is uneven. Some players miss the expected Bethesda charm, while others are pulled in by the large sci-fi setting.

The world's mood is split between cozy, colorful charm and criticism that repetitive spaces fail to captivate. Atmosphere depends heavily on how much the art style and cast carry the environment for the player.

Skill trees earn praise for meaningful perks and challenge-based progression that gives builds structure.

The skill-tree-style Lilium Orb offers meaningful build freedom and depth for most reviewers, although one critique finds parts of the progression less satisfying than they first appear.

Frame rate impressions depend on platform. PS5 and PS5 Pro comments range from smoother performance to fluctuating modes that still need work.

PS5 and PC are repeatedly praised for smooth, stable frame rates, often at 60 FPS or better. Switch impressions are substantially weaker, with a 30 FPS cap and dips in busier areas.

The core loop works best for players who enjoy Bethesda-style wandering, looting, and quest chaining, though it can take time to settle in.

The main loop can be engaging when combat and progression are clicking, but repetition becomes noticeable over longer sessions.

Facial animation and conversation presentation feel dated to several reviewers, even when voice work is praised.

Facial animation still looks stiff and dated in the remaster, limiting how modern the presentation feels.

Fans of space RPGs and Mass Effect-style adventures may feel at home, but this is not framed as faithful to an existing Starfield franchise.

The remaster is praised for faithfully preserving what worked in the original while smoothing rough edges rather than rewriting the game.

Overall fun is sharply split. Many players are hooked or having a blast, while others find the game boring, underwhelming, or only fun for a narrow sandbox audience.

The game is widely described as enjoyable, charming, and easy to keep playing, with combat and party chemistry doing most of the work. Even more critical reviews usually still regard the core game as fun.

Companions and character arcs are a relative strength when reviewers spend time with them, though the broader cast is not universally loved.

Character growth is one of the strongest narrative qualities. Reviewers repeatedly praise the way Jude, Milla, Alvin, and the wider party evolve through personal struggles and relationships.

Enemy and security behavior drew sharp complaints, especially where foes seemed easy to exploit or failed to react convincingly.

One reviewer finds enemy AI too passive, reducing the pressure and tactical demand of some fights.

Pacing is uneven. Reviewers describe slow openings, rushed-feeling story beats, and stronger stretches once the game finally clicks.

Pacing is a recurring concern, especially through the middle of the game where cutscenes, formulaic progression, or repeated structure can slow momentum. A few reviewers still find the overall story flow strong.

Progression is a relative strength, with skill trees, outposts, and build growth giving players multiple ways to shape their playstyle.

The Lilium Orb progression system is widely praised for being flexible, rewarding, and constantly engaging. Reviewers like choosing stat, skill, and Arte growth instead of following a rigid path.

Bug frequency varies widely by version and platform, from almost no issues to repeated freezes, broken interactions, and crash-adjacent problems.

Technical issues vary by platform and reviewer. Most are minor or non-game-breaking, but reported problems include subtitle behavior, audio drops, visual glitches, high-frame-rate bugs, and severe pop-in in older-source impressions.

Visuals are usually a strength, with praise for gorgeous graphics and presentation, though some reviewers call the look dated or bland.

Sharper resolution, stronger color, and cleaner presentation make the remaster look noticeably better, especially on PS5 and PC. Reviewers still see dated models, sparse assets, and notably softer image quality on Switch.

World-building is divisive: some admire the sci-fi scale, while others find the vision of humanity and space underwhelming.

One reviewer strongly praises the way political context and skits make Rieze Maxia feel lived-in rather than merely decorative.

The open-world structure disappoints reviewers who expected seamless discovery, with empty terrain and repeated outposts undercutting the sense of a living galaxy.

One reviewer specifically enjoyed the open map structure, side quests, and tucked-away areas, finding that they add to the sense of adventure.

Sound design is a high point in the strongest audio-focused review, especially ship and ambient effects.

Sound design is uneven. Effects and music can be crisp and immersive, but English voice compression, muffled clips, and occasional mixing problems are repeated complaints.

Puzzle design receives limited but strong praise through the lockpicking minigame.

Puzzle and dungeon interactions draw mixed reactions: some reviewers appreciate the occasional environmental tasks, while others criticize the game for lacking substantial traditional puzzles.

Interface design is a regular drawback, especially with maps, menus, and navigation that feel awkward for a game this large.

The interface is cleaner and more usable for some reviewers, while others still find portions dated or awkward, particularly settings buried too deeply in menus.

Side quests and faction quests are among the most praised parts, even when the main story disappoints.

Side quests are commonly described as basic, repetitive, or fetch-heavy. A few have worthwhile narrative context, but their structure rarely matches the quality of the main cast and combat.

Level design criticism focuses on repeated arenas and spaces that do not support the scope of the world.

Level design is one of the most consistent weak points. Reviewers repeatedly call dungeons and field areas linear, samey, or visually repetitive, even when individual locations or gimmicks work well.

Menus and inventory are repeated pain points, with reviewers calling the UI clunky, slow, or shockingly poor for a game with so much item management.

One reviewer specifically praises the character menu as organized and easy to return to between fights.

Voice acting is often praised, sometimes even when the writing or facial presentation gets criticized.

Voice performances are mostly well received, especially the ensemble cast, but audio quality creates a persistent caveat. Milla's English delivery and compressed or muffled voice recordings are singled out more than once.

Character creation earns praise for depth, with reviewers liking how far customization and background setup can go.

Build customization is a standout strength. The Lilium Orb, Artes, skills, equipment, and party-link choices let players shape characters into distinct roles without making the system inaccessible.

DLC and expansion value is mixed. Some reviews like the added content, while others call specific expansions dull or worth waiting on sale for patches.

Bundled costumes and legacy DLC are viewed as a welcome bonus, especially when included without extra cost, although some licensed items could not return.

Platform-specific support is mixed: PS5 features and smoothness are praised, but the physical-disc/download and internet requirements frustrate some buyers.

Platform parity is a weak point. Switch and Switch 2 users do not receive the same frame-rate and visual experience available on PS5 and PC, and reviewers wanted a more capable native Switch 2 version.

Value depends on taste and edition. Fans can get a strong price-to-playtime ratio, while skeptics may find the full-price or DLC value harder to justify.

Value is positive for many reviewers who see a strong JRPG and useful upgrades at a mid-range price. Others think the package asks too much for such a conservative remaster, and premium-edition value draws additional criticism.

Replay value is positive for players who like long RPGs, new game plus, and self-directed builds.

Two protagonists, New Game+, and Grade Shop modifiers give the game real replay potential. The tradeoff is that several reviewers feel Jude and Milla's routes overlap too heavily to justify another full-length run.

Performance varies by hardware and mode, from smooth PS5 impressions to inconsistent PS5 Pro behavior and demanding PC requirements.

Performance is strong on PS5 and PC in most reviews, with smooth play and responsive combat. Switch is the clear exception, where lower image quality, frame-rate limits, and sluggishness receive criticism.

The soundtrack earns strong praise where discussed, with orchestral and sweeping music fitting the space setting well.

The soundtrack is one of the most dependable audiovisual strengths, with energetic battle themes, melodic town music, and orchestral pieces repeatedly singled out for praise.

Animation quality is mixed. Combat can look fluid and energetic, but stiff cutscenes, older facial movement, and dated character animation repeatedly reveal the game's age.

Camera behavior remains somewhat dated, with occasional clunky movement or obstructed views in combat, though not every reviewer finds it troublesome.

The party is one of the most consistently praised parts of the game. Reviewers love the colorful personalities, chemistry, distinct combat roles, and character arcs, with very few complaints about the core cast.

The dual-protagonist choice sounds more consequential than it often feels. Some reviewers enjoy the different viewpoints and replay motivation, but many say Jude and Milla share too much of the same story for the choice to transform the campaign.

One reviewer highlights the game's co-op capability as a meaningful way to share battles with other players.

Crafting, outposts, mods, and ship-building depth stand out, but the same systems can feel under-explained or tedious when resource handling gets in the way.

Stability is inconsistent. Some players report only rare crashes, while others describe freezing, repeated restarts, or crashes serious enough to interrupt progress.

The cast and story land emotionally for many reviewers, with heartfelt character moments, sacrifice, and relationship arcs giving the adventure lasting warmth despite structural weaknesses.

Enemy variety receives mixed feedback: some reviewers enjoy the range of encounters and memorable foes, while others feel the regular enemy pool becomes repetitive.

The gifting comments are positive, but the reviews do not give a detailed family-suitability analysis.

Ship flight and space combat can be fun, especially after updates, but several reviewers say travel still feels limited or merely good enough.

A first run generally lands around the mid-30-hour range, which some find comfortable and others find daunting when considering a second protagonist playthrough.

Grinding is highly context-dependent. Grade Shop modifiers can dramatically reduce repetitive leveling, while achievements, trophies, shop leveling, and some midgame progression can still demand busywork.

Portable play is possible, but one detailed comparison recommends Steam Deck or ROG Ally over the Switch versions because of image quality and performance compromises.

Clearer directional and objective information makes navigation easier to understand at a glance.

Crisp effects and environmental audio help one reviewer feel more immersed in the world and battles.

The dual-protagonist structure and combat ideas are credited as meaningful innovations for the series, even though later reviewers debate how fully those ideas were realized.

One reviewer wanted the game's interesting ideas and lore explored more deeply, finding too much of the world-building left at a surface level.

The added dash and faster traversal noticeably improve movement, making the older world quicker and more pleasant to navigate.

Pausing cutscenes has a specific technical flaw in one review: resuming can cause the voice audio to drop out.

Most reviewers consider this the definitive or easiest modern way to play Xillia thanks to autosave, markers, faster movement, smoother performance, and bundled extras. The central criticism is ambition: several call it barebones, conservative, or essentially an upscaled port, and the absence of Xillia 2 is repeatedly lamented.

Sandbox freedom is one of Starfield’s main attractions for the right player, with reviewers praising the ability to wander, build, survey, and pursue your own goals.

Upgrade systems are mixed: character and replay modifiers can be useful and flexible, but immediate Grade Shop access can undermine the intended progression and sense of earning upgrades.

The REV-8/vehicle addition helps planet traversal, but user reports also connect surface driving with freezes.

Battle effects are praised for looking dramatic and lively, helping combat pop visually.

Weapon balance is only lightly addressed, with one review saying the combat tools get the job done.

Bosses are often a combat highlight and can be memorable, but their quality is uneven; some rely on inflated health, stun-heavy behavior, or disruptive armor mechanics.

New objective, event, and treasure markers are broadly useful, but the map itself can become confusing in multi-level areas where icons overlap or elevation is awkward to read.

Mission design is uneven: some missions and factions are memorable, while others feel short, repetitive, or underdeveloped.

Controls are generally responsive and flexible once learned, especially in combat, but a few reviewers still find the older control and camera conventions clunky.

Jude and Milla are both regarded as compelling leads, with reviewers especially responding to Milla's unusual perspective and the contrast between the two protagonists.

Mods and Creations are a meaningful plus for some reviewers because they can improve rough edges and deepen the experience.

Autosave is one of the most consistently appreciated additions, reducing the risk of lost progress and making long stretches between manual saves far less stressful.