Having played XB2 first, and played XBDE recently after looking forward to it supposedly being better, it really wasn't much better in my eyes. Sorry -- that's not me trying to hate; I still enjoyed both games for what they were. But both the waifu pandering and objectification was absolutely there in XBDE, even if there wasn't a character as groan-worthy as Tora.
(1) Shulk has two women swooning over him, just as Rex does. It's actually almost the exact same dynamic, with one being unacknowledged and unrequited. In fact, Melia is only really respected in Future Connected.
(2) Sharla and Fiora's designs are just as ridiculously pandering as Pyra/Mythra/late game Nia. Truly -- in a game with extensive equipment appearance options, I struggled throughout to dress Sharla decently. And while it wasn't as difficult to find good options for Fiora, the fact remains that her blatantly pandering outfits are numerous and egregious.
Blades -- other artists' commissioned work -- are the biggest factor separating the quantity of pandering objectification in the two games.
Ok but that is not the topic I personally was talking about.
My problem is with how far it goes into shônen goofiness versus seriousness. Even then, it doesn't acknowledge it openly like 2.
It's a matter of limits.
Also I prefer X over both anyway.
I never really liked the 2 girls liking one character but in 2 it's more than 2 so again, it goes farther.
The future part might not have the thing you're talking about but lean on shônen again too much for its own good as if forgetting what Monolithsoft has been excelling with.
Tl;dr.
2 different topics :
1) sexualisation. I personally usually forget about it more easily if the game doesn't focus on it. It's not 1's strength but 2 just swims in it.
2)
direction/degree of shônen (which is often refered as "too anime" hence the usual "but *** is anime too, which is not the point.
In terms of anime genres, I rather see Monolith Soft stick to making JRPGs that are seinen sci-fi in tone. There are enough shounen JRPGs with ecchi elements in them as it is.
The developers has said they want to make a game that would be rated M / PEGI 18. That wouldn't be out of place for a potential Xenoblade X2.
THIS is exactly what I mean.
I'd be ok with medieval or any other type but please keep the damn excellent Monolith mood, the seriousness like in old ones or X (Xb 1 at least takes the story seriously overall but still lacks that mood overall). I don't mind jokes or light element, but it feels like suddenly the game are made for, who actually I don't know.
That's why I hope we at least have 2 series or new IPs from them if they ever wanted to only dwelve into uninteresting shônen/whatever tropes even more. Anything for people who like to be invested in something meaningful
I don't want fake maturity like blood and gore specifically, just a good serious mood and writing. Please...
