Day two of Trails of Cold Steel part two, and I'd have to say this game is somewhat more difficult than the prior one. It ramps up quite unevenly as well, so you just never quite know when a certain fight will be several factors higher than the previous engagements. Makes you really think before each and every engagement, which of course just makes it all the better for me!!
I'm almost done with gathering party before venturing forth (only Jusis is still "unrecruited") and I have a different impression.
Playing the game on normal and I've noticed quite a few new game's "tricks":
- Nonmagic strikes now miss a lot, both from you and from trashmobs, but seems the game addressed evasion "exploit", there are no EVA boosting equipment to get, not early in the game at least. Means what? Well, the game ain't easy as the first one where I stacked EVA stuff on Rean then pwned almost everything. However equipping speed boosting stuff still works miracles and remains a viable option. Again, earlygame.
- Triple advantage seems impossible with Rean now so don't even bother. Seems however that using Fie while exploring instead (change on her with Alt) and then hitting trashmobs a few times usually does the trick now. Fie was my favorite character in the first game (yes, I suck, I know) but here she's a musthave in the party even if you won't use her actively in combat.
- Alisa remained a great CP battery (Heaven Gift, just don't forget to put gladiator headband on her) but pair her with "newcommer" Sharon (Tea Time), well OMG I know what I'll do if I ever play the game on nightmare. Those two in active party make a ridiculously overpowered combination, not to mention their default inbetween link is level 4!
- Is it just me or Eliott got nerfed hard making Emma now a better support/mage?
- In this game you have enough $ for equipment without grinding, just kill every trashmob on the map at least once. When it respawns, don't bother with it any more.
Other than that I have to say didn't have any problems anywhere, sometimes on bosses a partymember gets KOed but I don't care as it's still a win. And then I stumbled upon a big horned monkeylike boss (a sidequest just before you get to town with Jusis). He speeds up, heals and buffs STR on himself, on top of that has enormous amount of health - not to mention his hit causes faint like 100% chance. I couldn't win him till I returned to the town and bought myself faint preventing necklaces for everyone (had just one Citrus Bottle previously from loot).
A nice challenge I'd say, especially since now I couldn't rely on pumped up evasion. Not yet at least.
EDIT:
LOL
Well, fired up the game, entered Bareahard town (where Jusis is) and what I find in the first shop? EVA+20% jacket.