Some things never really change. Sharks, for example, have existed for millions of years. These creatures have witnessed the birth and extinction of countless species. They endure as time ceaselessly marches forward. A constant in an ever-changing world, they remain the image of ancestors that once patrolled the oceans at a time when dinosaurs walked the earth.
Like sharks, the Japanese role-playing game is essentially a living fossil. The venerable genre has seen others rise from the primordial soup, evolve, wither, and perish. A product of a bygone age, the JRPG still remains very much akin to its early paradigms.
The Tales series epitomizes this abstraction. Refreshingly old-fashioned, the franchise continues to tiptoe toward perfection while many of its peers struggle to reinvent themselves. Tales of Xillia stays true to its roots, providing a largely traditional experience with some unique twists.
This has been a rough week coming off of PAX and something tells me it's going to take a few more days of The Daily Spelunk before we truly get back into the swing of things. Until then, enjoy another set of attempts. Some of you enjoy watching us die miserably, don't you? Conrad and I at least got to show off the optional Worm level this time.
Speaking of PAX, we were blown away by the positive feedback we received from fans of the show. We're incredibly appreciative and the kind words mean a lot. In case you missed it, this is actually our second post-PAX Daily Spelunk -- the prior installment didn't get its own post on Destructoid, so if you aren't subscribed to our YouTube channel, here you are.
It's been heartwarming to see gamers embrace Shantae and developer WayForward as a whole these past few years. Before fans get too lost in the Kickstarter-funded Half-Genie Hero , there's Shantae and the Pirate's Curse for the 3DS eShop, which we got to play at PAX Prime 2013.
Mash through the text, Tony. Mash it!
