Xth Forms

[Ren_Geki]

Yet Trilogy was non-canon, and Haseo's Data Drain was completely different to some extent.

[Gemcrim]

Oh sure it makes sense for what the fatass wants to do with her pathetic excuse of a life, not gonna deny that, it's just stupid and shallow looking like you said.

See, if you hate Tabby and/or moe, I can't help you there, I'm pointing out how weird it is it makes sense...

It makes sense for her in that regard, just that she really wasn't involved greatly in any huge events aside from Ovan't disappearence. So in the case Xth forms are limited (only EIGHT *gasp* shown) I don't see why she'd get one, but if it's for everyone... well okay then.

I meant to have those as separate statements so not sure what you're responding to, sorry.

Okay, sorry I misread it. So you could like a game with Tokio as the hero?

I'm willing to give the game a chance, I'm just seeing things I dislike, I could be COMPLETELY wrong in my opinion on things so far, it's just that the manga has a heavy influence as well as some decisions the developers are making that I don't quite agree with, not my call, I will always fault LINK for having Tokio's body get sucked in the game. But I'm able to stand his personality and though very slim he has a chance to redeem himself in my eyes if he doesn't act like a complete moron at all times as he has in the manga. Not saying he should be extremely serious... just don't like the character archetype he's following of spunky young dumbass very much. So I could accept him, but I doubt it.

[Kuukai]

I want to rephrase my previous translation:
By fulfilling certain special conditions, characters can power up ("extend"). Xth form is the most powerful form. In Tokio's case, he apparently awakens in a dungeon called "the Maze of the Final End, and transforms into Xth Form."
Rereading it, it's not 100% clear that there are other extends. It's really ambiguous...

Also, it doesn't say so, but I'm fairly convinced that at least one major change for each Xth Form subtly represents a key aspect of each character. These are my best guesses, based on the pictures and captions. I'm not going to waste time translating the captions because they're all just descriptions of what you see, but if something non-obvious has been pointed out I'll mention it here.

Tabby - Nurse hat. Paw Pad Squad, also her job. I think this one is a given.
Tsukasa - Brighter clothes. Tsukasa's blandness was a huge point of visual symbolism in SIGN. That's my best guess, since the caption specifically mentions his clothes are brighter. It also mentions that his new form "resembles an archmage." (or, if we're talking in-game, "archwarlock")
Mimiru - Bunny ears ("usamimi")? It might just be a coincidence, but they're mentioned in the caption in all katakana like Mimiru's name, which isn't the most common way to write it. That's my best guess even though it's weird as hell. That part of her name has strong significance to her, though, since it comes from Mimika.
Midori - The flower on her sword is mentioned in the caption. Represents how she's actually a new lifeform, maybe?
Blackrose - I just don't know. Why does she have horns?!?!?!
Kite - Not quite sure for him either, but the caption mentions he's been made to look more like an adult.
Haseo - White/black balance. We all saw it happen.
Tokio - He dreamt of being a knight in shining armor, and now he is. I'm going to stop talking about this one now.

On the dataship Grunwhale, you can activate the Akashic Records and enter various rooms modeled after points in the timeline, for example Canard's @Home, and talk with characters. In the Dressing Room, you can obtain and equip titles and accessories. You get titles by fulfilling certain requirements, and you get accessories by trading in certain items. There are three types of accessories: weapon, head, and back.

It makes sense for her in that regard, just that she really wasn't involved greatly in any huge events aside from Ovan't disappearence. So in the case Xth forms are limited (only EIGHT *gasp* shown) I don't see why she'd get one, but if it's for everyone... well okay then.

I'm pretty sure that all party members will get it, based on what is written.

[Master ZED]

Blackrose - I just don't know. Why does she have horns?!?!?!

She's a saboteur and a total ****. Horns are perfect for her, though I think a knife running through her eye would be better.

[GyppyGirl2021]

On the dataship Grunwhale, you can activate the Akashic Records and enter various rooms modeled after points in the timeline, for example Canard's @Home, and talk with characters. In the Dressing Room, you can obtain and equip titles and accessories. You get titles by fulfilling certain requirements, and you get accessories by trading in certain items. There are three types of accessories: weapon, head, and back.

Tales of .hack//? Seriously, LINK is starting to sound more and more like a Tales game by the day. I guess it's Namco's influence on the project.

She's a saboteur and a total ****. Horns are perfect for her, though I think a knife running through her eye would be better.

I think this is pretty much the only part about you that I don't wholly respect. I love BlackRose. >.<

[Master ZED]

She's a saboteur and a total ****. Horns are perfect for her, though I think a knife running through her eye would be better.

I think this is pretty much the only part about you that I don't wholly respect. I love BlackRose. >.<

That can't possibly be the only part.

[Kuukai]

Tales of .hack//? Seriously, LINK is starting to sound more and more like a Tales game by the day. I guess it's Namco's influence on the project.

That isn't really how it works. Namco Tales Studio makes Tales, CC2 makes .hack. The main influence the publisher could have would be in saying "this is what sells in the market, you should do this." But Bandai was doing that long before it merged with Namco. Since Tales has always been pretty popular, I doubt anything's changed much...

EDIT: Also, CC2's Link teaser site was just replaced with a real site for the game. Not much new, except some relatively nice art of Tokio and a little more explanation about the development of the game...

[GyppyGirl2021]

That can't possibly be the only part.

...if you ever read some of my past fanfics, you'll come to understand how I can respect even the most terrible of writers.

Well, okay. There are exceptions. But we're going a little off-topic here, aren't we?

[Master ZED]

...if you ever read some of my past fanfics, you'll come to understand how I can respect even the most terrible of writers.

Well, okay. There are exceptions.

I knew I could get someone to say they hated that thing eventually!

I'm gonna have to write a sixth version once I know where the middle's going... so it's not like a lack of popularity's gonna stop me.

[Advent_Winter]

So, just to basically recap on everything that's passed in this thread. Every character in Tokio's party will recieve an Xth Form, including Tokio himself, somewhere in the mid-point of the game. So the "G.U." Xth form that we all once knew, doesn't really apply to this type of thing in //Link?


Also, wil there be any differences in gameplay, besides the Cross Rengeki cutscenes, after these forms have been achieved? They look cool and flashy, but what's the point of a wardrobe change if you just going to do the same old attacks in it.

[Kuukai]

Everyone has their own conditions to fulfill. Tokio's probably comes at a certain point, but the rest might be somewhat optional. Judging from Tokio's it looks like it still might be a spiritual-ish event where something happens in the character's mind, not just in The World, but it's not the same as Haseo's because for most characters it probably won't involve the Epitaphs, or even the "inner balance" identity that his Xth Form represents...

All the Xth Forms come with new weapons, in some cases a completely different type. How weapons effect gameplay now hasn't really been explained, but it's logical that Kite's bow weapon will function very differently from his twin blades...

EDIT: You can get items to exchange for accessories by chasing Lucky Animals and hitting them a few times.

The last part of the article is about Link Play. It still doesn't seem like there's any direct interaction, though it confirms you can help each other with devices you find. When you start the mode, you decide on a skill setting and dungeon depth. Each floor contains 5 blocks, and you decide on 3 separate routes to take through them. At the end of the each of the three routes in a Link Play dungeon, there's a guardian god called a Schutzherr that you need to defeat. They can switch places with each other during battle.

[|<!73]

There is an update on NB's .hack//Link website. The artwork for the Xth forms are up. They also updated the list. Silabus was added to the character list. He has an Xth form.

http://www.hack.channel.or.jp/link/

[GyppyGirl2021]

Am I the ONLY one who noticed that Silabus was the only updated character that had an Xth form? One question...

WHY!?

Of course, I guess you could ask that of Tabby as well, but still...

...also, he has a pirate hat. I'm sorry, but that just looks stupid. >.< (of course, he does too, but that's beside the point.)

...yes, I made an entire post about Silabus. Because I loved him in G.U. And now they've humiliated him. D:

[hidora]

http://www.hack.channel.or.jp/link/

I have just remembered how I hate flash based sites...
Me and my snail speed dial-up connection ¬¬

Am I the ONLY one who noticed that Silabus was the only updated character that had an Xth form?

Wut?

[Kuukai]

The text mentions he was the second guildmaster of Canard, though, which is amazing in terms of continuity since I think this is the first place since Roots that that's even been uttered in any place official (including in the games, where iirc they kinda just never talked about it, ever).

So, in short, they care about past events more than ever before, but they're still going to do whatever the hell they want...

[hidora]

(including in the games, where iirc they kinda just never talked about it, ever).

On Rebirth, Silabus says that he's the current Guild Master of Canard when he asks Haseo to be the new Guild Master.

And when you go get that "go-search-the-grunties quest" from Death Grunty, Silabus says that his quest to become a Guild Master was different.

Also, on Reminisce (or was it on Redemption?), someone posts a drawing of Silabus and his Grunty (which means he was a Guild Master) on Apkallu.

But I think these are the only moments they say anything about it.

but they're still going to do whatever the hell they want...

And that's the reason of the problems >_>

[GyppyGirl2021]

Didn't they also mention that Kuhn founded Canard in Rebirth? I think that's another implication that Silabus was the second guildmaster, especially since Kuhn had to run off and join Raven and Silabus was pretty much the only candidate for guildmastership after that >.>

[hidora]

Didn't they also mention that Kuhn founded Canard in Rebirth? I think that's another implication that Silabus was the second guildmaster, especially since Kuhn had to run off and join Raven and Silabus was pretty much the only candidate for guildmastership after that >.>

*imagines Gaspard as Guild Master*
Huh... yeah, Silabus REALLY was the only candidate >_>

[Kuukai]

On Rebirth, Silabus says that he's the current Guild Master of Canard when he asks Haseo to be the new Guild Master.

And when you go get that "go-search-the-grunties quest" from Death Grunty, Silabus says that his quest to become a Guild Master was different.

Also, on Reminisce (or was it on Redemption?), someone posts a drawing of Silabus and his Grunty (which means he was a Guild Master) on Apkallu.

But I think these are the only moments they say anything about it.

That's not what I'm talking about. It's clear that Silabus was guildmaster, but no one ever says anything about Kuhn or even there being one before Silabus.

Didn't they also mention that Kuhn founded Canard in Rebirth? I think that's another implication that Silabus was the second guildmaster, especially since Kuhn had to run off and join Raven and Silabus was pretty much the only candidate for guildmastership after that >.>

I'm pretty sure Kuhn's involvement was never mentioned outside of Roots...

[GyppyGirl2021]

Silabus clearly says that they picked the guild name Canard "because it represented Kuhn's dream". I'm pretty sure that implies some Kuhn involvement, outside of Roots.

And it's also made obvious quite a few times over the course of Rebirth that Silabus and Gaspard are friends with Kuhn... it's definitely mentioned that they met thanks to Canard.

Edit: Since I don't want to OT this thread even more, in the same scene, Gaspard refers to Kuhn as "the guild master".