"Stay back, the publisher has spoken"

Last July we heard that the next entry in the popular Japanese RPG series Tales of Xillia would be travelling to the West in 2013. While Namco Bandai has not yet provided us with an exact release date, they have instead detailed some of the game's new features, promising a great deal of character immersion and plenty of extra content in the upcoming offering.

According to the press release, the development team has used its accumulated knowledge of 15 years to make sure that the world and characters within it are relatable. The plot will be conveyed through the actions of two different playable characters: Jude and Milla. You can choose to experience the story through either protagonist, encouraging multiple playthroughs, as some events may only occur during one particular character route. In addition to the main storyline, Tales of Xillia will provide you with plenty of mini-quests and sub-plots to complete, as well as the beautiful world of Reize Maxia to tirelessly explore.

Namco Bandai also detailed some of the game's battle options, describing it as "the most dynamic [system] seen in JRPG gaming". While Tales of Xillia 2 was already released late last year in Japan, it looks as though there is plenty of life left in its predecessor, and much to look forward to when it is released in the West later this year.