I loved the story.
Okay now about the combat (that's why we play Tales, right?). The Power Hit system is a very smart mechanic. Rewarding the player for interacting with the RPG mechanics and as long as you're good enough you can totally combo a boss from full health to death in one touch. Power Hits aside, the combat is absolutely fantastic. The fighting game influence that makes Tales what it is is just oozing out with Xillia 2's combat. Sidestepping from 3D fighters, various hit states, OTGs and restands from knockdowns, side switches, moves with reverse hitboxes, fast drop like from platform fighters, Jump Cancelling from anime fighters. So much potential with combos in this game with every character, especially Ludger since he's literally Dante. Xillia 2 in my opinion is the best example of what Tales is, at least in terms of combat.
Okay now about the combat (that's why we play Tales, right?). The Power Hit system is a very smart mechanic. Rewarding the player for interacting with the RPG mechanics and as long as you're good enough you can totally combo a boss from full health to death in one touch. Power Hits aside, the combat is absolutely fantastic. The fighting game influence that makes Tales what it is is just oozing out with Xillia 2's combat. Sidestepping from 3D fighters, various hit states, OTGs and restands from knockdowns, side switches, moves with reverse hitboxes, fast drop like from platform fighters, Jump Cancelling from anime fighters. So much potential with combos in this game with every character, especially Ludger since he's literally Dante. Xillia 2 in my opinion is the best example of what Tales is, at least in terms of combat.