Compare Code Vein II Review vs Tales of Xillia Remastered

The anime-Souls identity, time travel, and build systems help the game stand apart for some reviewers, while others see too much Elden Ring-style structure and familiar genre borrowing to call it truly distinctive.

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

The removal of the original game’s player co-op is widely viewed as a loss. Reviewers who enjoyed Code Vein with friends are especially disappointed that the sequel replaces it with NPC partners.

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

Movement is generally fast enough for an aggressive action RPG, but some reviews describe weightlessness, delayed dodges, or awkward recovery that can clash with precise boss combat.

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

Frame-rate instability is the clearest technical weakness across launch coverage, with drops and stutter reported on consoles and PC. Later patches improve some cases, but not every reviewer finds performance fully fixed.

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.

Dialogue quality is uneven. Some reviewers praise localization and character banter, while others call the script generic, melodramatic, schlocky, or overlong.

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

The game offers side content and optional encounters beyond the main route, but opinions hinge more on repetition within that content than on the raw amount available.

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.

The terminology and number of overlapping systems can be confusing at first, but many reviewers say the mechanics become easier to grasp once the opening explanations are past.

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

Writing is one of the most divisive areas: individual character arcs can be heartfelt and memorable, but generic exposition, anime clichés, and uneven dialogue leave other reviewers cold.

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.

Loading and transition sequences can interrupt the time-travel storytelling flow, especially when objectives chain short scenes and repeated loads together.

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.

The opening is a common weak point: some reviewers appreciate the steady introduction of systems, while others find the early hours slow, tutorial-heavy, or overloaded with jargon.

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.

The sequel is standalone and easier to follow than many Soulslikes, with enough lore and glossary support to ground the world. Some reviewers still find the terminology dense or the broader mythology underdeveloped.

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.

Difficulty varies dramatically by reviewer and build. Partners and exploration can make much of the game approachable or even easy, while early, late, and certain boss encounters can spike into frustration or feel 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.

The lonely post-apocalyptic setting can be absorbing, but technical hiccups, pop-in, and inconsistent performance repeatedly break the sense of immersion.

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

The time-travel structure, partner assimilation, and revised build systems give the sequel genuinely ambitious ideas, even if reviewers disagree on whether execution matches the concepts.

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.

As a sequel, it boldly reworks Code Vein rather than simply repeating it. Reviewers praise several expanded systems, but the missing co-op and uneven execution leave some feeling it learned the wrong lessons from the original.

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

The strongest emotional moments come from bonding with heroes in the past and confronting their corrupted futures. Some reviewers are genuinely moved, while others feel the presentation and thin characterization weaken the intended impact.

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.

The anime-gothic look is distinctive to some reviewers, but others find the whites, golds, character styling, and realistic environments visually mismatched or generic.

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.

The game layers familiar Soulslike rules with flexible Blood Codes, Jails, Formae, partners, and timeline systems. Reviewers often like the ideas individually even when they question how cleanly the whole package fits together.

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

Animation presentation is uneven: some fully animated sequences land well, while static memory scenes and visible presentation quirks undercut dramatic moments.

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.

Clipping, pop-in, equipment glitches, texture-loading quirks, and other bugs recur across platforms. Later patches address some issues, but reviewers still describe a technically rough experience.

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.

The camera is a recurring combat problem, especially when large bosses pin the player near walls or inside cramped arenas and obscure incoming attacks.

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

Combat has substantial build depth through Blood Codes, Formae, Jails, weapons, and partners, and many reviewers enjoy the resulting experimentation. Others find the underlying action inconsistent, overly forgiving, or insufficiently precise for a Soulslike.

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 cast earns substantial praise for memorable heroes and strong personalities, although critics who dislike the anime archetypes find some characters predictable or thinly written.

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.

Many of the game’s strongest ideas are held back by rough execution. Camera problems, technical instability, interface quirks, reused content, and inconsistent combat rules leave several reviewers calling the sequel unpolished.

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 attack-drain-Formae rhythm gives combat its own identity, rewarding players who cycle Ichor generation and special abilities instead of relying only on basic attacks.

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

Haze tying leveling, upgrades, and purchases together creates meaningful tradeoffs for some players, while others dislike having one resource compete across so many progression needs.

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.

Upgrade materials are plentiful enough to support weapon experimentation, and strengthening gear can meaningfully change difficulty. Some reviewers still dislike the resource competition or how quickly upgrades trivialize content.

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.

Blood Codes and gear-driven stats make progression flexible, letting players reshape builds without costly respecs. That freedom is widely praised even when leveling and familiarity systems can encourage sticking with established setups.

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.

Several hero arcs and Lou’s growth give the story emotional lift, but some reviewers find side characters rushed or underdeveloped because the campaign moves them in and out quickly.

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.

Visual quality is inconsistent: broad vistas and stylized characters can look impressive, but muddy textures, dated details, pop-in, and uneven fidelity are common criticisms.

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.

Overall enjoyment is highly mixed. Enthusiastic reviewers find the build experimentation and story hard to put down, while harsher critics describe long stretches as boring, repetitive, or frustrating.

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.

Time-travel decisions can alter character outcomes, world states, and endings, giving choices real narrative payoff even when some environmental consequences feel minor in gameplay.

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.

Pacing tends to start slowly and improve once the world opens up, but long character arcs, exposition sequences, and repeated content can drag later portions back down.

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.

The ruined world can feel haunting and melancholy, especially when music and past-versus-present scenery work together, though not every region sustains that mood.

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.

The time-travel premise and individual hero arcs are often praised, but the broader plot divides reviewers sharply. Supporters find it emotionally engaging; critics see generic dialogue, exposition-heavy delivery, and uneven endings.

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.

Grinding is not a central requirement for every playstyle, though some reviewers note farming materials or experience can quickly overpower content and smooth over difficulty spikes.

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.

Enemy repetition is one of the most consistent complaints. Many reviewers say familiar fodder and recycled bosses appear too often, making dungeons less engaging over a long campaign.

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

Large vistas can look striking, but closer inspection exposes muddy textures, clipping, pop-in, and repeated set dressing. Technical clutter also contributes to performance problems in busier areas.

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.

Exploration can be rewarding when it yields upgrades, side stories, and timeline changes, and some reviewers love wandering the map. Others find large stretches empty, repetitive, or poorly signposted.

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

Partners are a powerful safety net: they draw aggro, deal damage, revive the player, and can be assimilated for buffs. A few reviewers report pathing, blocking, or inconsistent attack behavior that can make them irritating.

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

Full runs commonly stretch into dozens of hours, with thorough playthroughs around the 40–60 hour range in several reviews. Whether that feels substantial or overlong depends heavily on tolerance for repetition.

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.

Technical optimization is the broadest consensus concern. Reviewers repeatedly report stutter, frame-rate drops, texture issues, and uneven performance across PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox, and PC, even as patches make incremental gains.

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.

Music is one of the most consistently praised presentation elements, especially boss themes and emotional orchestration. A few reviewers find it unremarkable or occasionally mismatched to scene tone.

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.

The UI can feel overloaded and visually messy, with at least one review comparing it to an MMO screen packed with too much information.

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.

General sound presentation receives less attention than the music; where discussed, it ranges from lackluster ambient soundscape criticism to solid combat presentation.

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.

The move to an open world creates more freedom and scale, but it is also one of the most disputed changes. Empty stretches, repeated content, invisible barriers, and weak navigation often make the larger format feel less purposeful.

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

Character side quests and timeline follow-ups can deepen relationships and unlock better outcomes, while weaker objectives sometimes feel like chores or navigation exercises.

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.

Bosses are one of the sharpest dividing lines. Standout story fights can be satisfying and visually memorable, but repeated bosses, erratic attack patterns, cramped arenas, hitboxes, and unfair-feeling sequences are frequent complaints.

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.

The post-apocalyptic vampire setting and two-timeline structure give the game strong world-building for many reviewers, even when empty spaces and generic environmental details weaken that promise.

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

Dungeon and level design is frequently criticized for repetitive corridors, cramped combat spaces, and reused layouts, though a smaller group praises the visual range of individual dungeons.

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.

Navigation is a recurring frustration. Reviewers criticize unclear elevation, hidden entrances, map markers, and the absence of a useful mini-map, even though fast travel reduces some of the pain.

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.

Multiple endings, optional hero resolutions, New Game Plus, and flexible builds give clear reasons to replay, especially for players interested in different timeline choices.

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.

Recommendations depend heavily on tolerance for technical flaws and repetition. Fans of anime action RPGs and flexible builds often see worthwhile value, while harsher reviewers advise waiting for patches or choosing stronger genre competitors.

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.

The amount of build information can make menus feel busy and MMO-like, and a few interface decisions are called awkward rather than intuitive.

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

Control feel is inconsistent across reviews and versions. Several launch reviews describe input delay or sluggish recovery, while later patches and some reviewers report noticeably tighter, more responsive handling.

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

Character creation is one of the clearest strengths. Reviewers repeatedly praise the unusually granular cosmetic options and the freedom to revisit appearance choices later.

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.

Voice work is generally well received, with several reviewers praising the English cast and standout character performances even when the script itself draws criticism.

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.

The customizable hunter looks however the player wants, but the silent-protagonist presentation frustrates reviewers who feel it drains chemistry and emotion from major conversations.

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.

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.

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

Checkpoint placement is generally forgiving around difficult encounters, and post-launch updates add more resurrection points to reduce runbacks further.

Crafting is lightly supported and rarely celebrated; where reviewers discuss it directly, it is often described as underdeveloped or unnecessary next to the stronger upgrade and build systems.

Crashes are not the dominant technical complaint, but at least one post-launch report specifically notes that nasty lock-up crashes were fixed.

The motorcycle makes the large map faster to cross, but its handling is repeatedly called clunky, unwieldy, or awkward despite the convenience it provides.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Weapon balance receives scattered criticism, particularly around slower heavy weapons and patch-driven tuning, suggesting some categories feel better supported than others.

Changing the past can alter terrain, settlements, routes, and NPC outcomes in the present. Reviewers like the concept, though some feel the gameplay consequences are subtler than the premise promises.

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 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.

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.

Some objectives and memory sequences become repetitive or over-structured, but stronger character-focused missions and timeline side quests can provide worthwhile payoffs.

Replacing player multiplayer with NPC partners is one of the sequel’s most controversial structural choices. Multiple reviewers call the removal baffling or a step backward from the first game.

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