I haven't played a Tales game since Abyss, so I'm out of the loop. What was it about Xillia that paved the way for more adult themes? Also, I love your art and I'm super excited for Zestiria!
Mild Xillia 2 spoilers for anyone reading this....
Well, for one, it’s the first Tales game I’ve ever seen that actually brings up any character’s sexuality in conversation. In a VERY early skit. Actually, watch the Xillia skits “Of Monster Bondage” and “The Perfect Catalyst” on Youtube. In one, Milla, Jude, and Alvin discuss books titled “Men and Women Beneath the Sheets” and “The Aesthetics of Being the Catcher”. In the second skit, Alvin casually asks Jude if he swings both ways after an offhand remark about Jude not minding if Milla had chosen a male form instead. Jude does not deny it. Teepo also frequently comments on ‘bazongas’ leading to a few moments of hilarity. Xillia has a lot of moments of innuendo from Alvin, Teepo, and Rowen.
There’s plenty of other softer things, like Jude stating preferences (he likes older women), as opposed to the Tales norm of NOT DISCUSSING THESE THINGS AT ALL. Jude also falls a decent way outside the traditional views of ‘masculinity’ and actually has several conversations about it, but manages to be quite ‘strong’ by conventional definitions anyway. I mean, one of his costumes has pink hair clips. He also beats monsters to a pulp with his fists, foregoing even a sword. He’s only 15, but he’s also a highly respected medical student/actual doctor, and scientist.
Xillia 2 has Milla supporting Rowen having worn dresses (though Rowen was going along with a joke, Milla was being very serious). There is a canon AU Jude in a romantic relationship with a male spirit. There’s a lot of innuendo in BOTH games in general, but those are some of the stand-out moments that address sexuality specifically. Also, in comparison to Jude and Milla, Sorey and Mikleo are especially chaste so there really aren’t any moments in Zestiria that I think anyone would find offensive that have to do with Sorey and Mikleo’s relationship. Xillia was practically scandalous by Tales standards (but not really scandalous at all haha), and Zestiria seems perfectly sweet and tame in comparison, from what I’ve seen of it.
Also, thank you, you are so sweet! I’m glad you’ve been enjoying my art ;u; I think Zestiria is going to be pretty great. I’ve been playing Tales of Graces, and Zestiria seems to have been built off of Graces’ engine, in terms of combat, skits, and things like that, which I am really happy about. Graces has my favorite combat by far, though Xillia 2 is a close second for me when playing as Ludger once you’ve earned all three weapon classes for him.
