Sometimes you want a game into which you can sink days, if not months, of your time into. And, on Nintendo Switch, few series come close to Xenoblade for a raking RPG with its epic mix of freedom, gripping mech fuelled combat and space opera about humanity trying to find a new home. So, fans will be cheering the move by Nintendo to release Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, a remaster of the 2015 action role-playing epic that first saw action on the Wii U.
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It’s safe to say it’s a title many may have never had hands on time with, which is a crying shame. Xenoblade Chronicles X is an epic that deserves the spotlight, and, thanks to the remaster treatment from Monolith Soft, it gets another day in the sun. And, this Definitive Edition gives it a few nips and tucks to make it truly shine.
A Chronicle
The tale kicks off with what is left of humanity heading to the stars after earth gets caught in the crossfire of an intergalactic war. However, the ship that took them to space, the White Whale, crash lands on Mira. It’s then up to you to find all the missing parts and the ship’s contents to continue mankind’s celestial adventure from the newly settled city of New Los Angeles.
It’s a framework that sets up the epic adventure that follows. However, the lead character is a custom build, and odd choice and a double-edged xenosword. Sure, you get to make your mark creating a lead, but you are also mute and have zero personality.
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And, I feel this blandness takes away a bit from the tale. Especially when compared to Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed and Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The ‘blank slate’ takes away far too much narrative and character impact in exchange for what it gains in its player customisation.
Emotional Heavy Lifting
To their credit, the missions do a lot of world building and fleshing out the cast of characters. They also inject real emotion into the whole package. And, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition never shies away from sensitive subjects.
As you complete missions, you’ll get to unlock heart-to-heart moments with your party members though the Affinity system. In turn, this helps to flesh them out with new lore and backstory. Some missions will also bag you some outstanding unlocks. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition always makes it worth exploring its narrative and emotional chops.
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These unlocks can only be earned through party members Affinity missions. The system is slick, marrying the tale and the rewards together. It never feels like a chore to pursue the story down these ends.
New Content
Worth noting is that that the Definitive Edition does have both new missions and party members you can recruit. Both of these features are very well weaved into the 60-plus hour campaign. You get little rewards every so often, instead of them being dumped at the end or beginning and this all feels natural.
Worth noting also is that Mira, the planet, plays a huge part in the game. The game experience evolves explore its everchanging bio-domes; from grasslands to lava flows. Arguably, the series has also never looked this good as the Definitive Edition gives the visuals a bump to the world, as well as characters and UI as well.
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As you explore each area of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, it hits you that Mira truly is a living, breathing world. Wildlife go about their day-to-day business. Some will want to pick a fight with you, others will just walk on by. It’s a small detail that breathes endless life into the whole thing.
The world also scales very well when action goes from on-foot to the Skells (mechs), which unlock a bit into the story. You can feel the game scale with you. On top of that, the attitude of the wildlife changes. Once gentle giants may now have beef with you in your armoured shell. Eventually, you will question whether it’s worth the walk to the mission maguffin. You just might not want to get bogged down in a fight when the wildlife becomes that bit more aggressive.
Real-Time RPG Combat
Combat is a real time affair, with a dash of MMO about it. Party members auto attack, and you get to dish out damage using powerful attacks call Arts. These Arts can be stacked in attack order, and, depending on the order, you can exploit certain buffs when you nail them.
Like many JRPG titles, your party will call out attacks and enemies. However, in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, these are weaponised and feature their own system in combat.
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Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition also adds a number of quality-of-life changes. The quick cooldown bar now fills slowly, which lets you instantly cool down an Art. This is a big move that can easily see you bouncing back during a tough battle.
Skell combat, again, scales well. You feel like a true powerhouse who will rip through smaller enemies, but find a real fight with bosses. The Art system is based on what weapons you have mounted in the suit. And, switching between them will yield different combos.
Member Menu
Easily the biggest and most welcome change is that you now have a menu where you can swap party members. It’s a big addition to allow you to change when and where you like. Easily the biggest and most welcome change is that you now have a menu where you can swap party members. It’s a big addition to allow you to change when and where you like. It’s a real godsend compared to the original system of having to remember where everyone was then go to them to swap.
Plus, members of your group not in your party will earn XP from battles, seeing them levelling at the same speed. This is another huge addition, as the original had them only earning when in your actual party.
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And on the whole, this highlights what the Definitive Edition does best, streamlines everything and cuts down on the overall grind that the first version suffered from.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition takes what was one of the Wii U best titles even with its little issues, and it totally refines it to a mirror shine; from visuals, combat, new features and new content. It’s all perfectly implemented earning the Definitive Edition title, as this is the best way to play Xenoblade Chronicles X no question about it.
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