Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition review: Originally released for Wii U and stuck on the platform for a long time, this wonderful RPG, which focuses on the science fiction side instead of blending fantasy and science fiction genres compared to other games in the series, finally comes to the Switch platform as a remaster and definitive version. Moreover, with many innovations and improved features and visuals that make a difference. Developed by Monolith Soft, this game invites you to a story and universe full of unique characters, exciting battles and told on a massive scale.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Review / Switch
Before I start writing my review, I would like to underline one of the most important elements that makes this game different from the series. This game is a standalone story. This means that any player, an RPG fan, can experience the world offered by this Chronicles X Definitive Edition game completely independently, without the need to have played the games in the franchise before, discover its legends, establish an emotional bond with each character separately, in short, have a full experience. Even if this will be your first Xenoblade Chronicles game. The massively scaled world waiting for you will offer an experience that will span tens of hours, constantly surprising you and discovering new things. Now let me talk about why fans of the series and new RPG fans should definitely play this game.
Gameplay Mechanics
When you start your adventure, you create a unique avatar with limited abilities, offering a wealth of options for customization. However, as you progress through the vastly diverse and fascinating continents of Mira, you will discover new abilities of many different types, and you will experience gameplay that becomes more enjoyable over time by creating eight different party members, each with unique abilities that enhance combat and exploration. At first, the combat and classification system may seem slow; just like in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. However, as I said, this is a huge RPG that will take dozens of hours to complete, so the player should remember that patience is a virtue and know that if they go with the flow, they will definitely be rewarded handsomely. In order to unlock deeper game mechanics, the player should first follow the first two to three hours of gameplay, which will be considered a tutorial, with patience and follow the flow of the story.
Quests in Xenoblade Chronicles X come in a variety of types. Main story quests advance the plot, loyalty quests strengthen your relationships with allies, and hundreds of side quests offer you in-game currency and rewards.
One improvement I noticed in the Definitive Edition is the Follow Ball feature. Originally on the Wii U, this feature only guided players along certain paths, but in the Definitive Edition presentation, it now features a bright red line that points players directly to mission-related items, making story-related missions more accessible.
In the original version on Wii U, the in-game interface was complicated and prevented easy-to-understand access. Definitive Edition has completely overhauled and revamped this. Access is very easy, even during action. Filtering and selection quickly familiarizes the player.
One of my concerns before starting the game was how the Wii U console’s dual and independent screen feature would be integrated into the Switch’s single screen. Because the Wii U offers you a giant map menu on the controller screen, where you can easily fast-travel, mark important points, and easily access filterable menus without closing the game’s main screen. Definitive Edition compensates for this deficiency by designing a great menu interface. You can easily and quickly access map and menu features without feeling deprived of the features offered by the second screen, and without negatively affecting playability.
Evolving Combat System
In this story, the player chooses their roles and responsibilities by joining the BLADE unit, a special task force dedicated to the survival and adaptation of humanity, or rather the remnants of the human race, who have been forced to flee Earth. Whether you are a Pathfinder exploring uncharted territory, an Interceptor protecting the local population from the planet’s vicious predators, a Harrier fighting giant Tyrants, or a Prospector collecting rare resources, each class offers unique advantages, abilities, and gameplay.
The combat system is a dynamic real-time mechanics that requires players to skillfully use both melee and ranged weapons. This really makes every encounter quite enjoyable and a bit challenging. — melee weapons quickly accumulate Tension Points (TP) while also drawing the attention of the enemy they are engaged with directly to you in the party, while ranged weapons attract less attention but in return, TP accumulation is slower.
Once enough XP is accumulated, players enter Overdrive mode, which boosts attacks and reduces cooldowns. Overdrive mode allows players to become devastating machines in long-lasting matches, and requires frequent use of every weapon and its abilities in your arsenal for maximum efficiency. This way, you are not stuck with a favorite weapon and its abilities, but rather experience using the entire arsenal.
Another mechanic of combat encounters is Soul Voice. This feature, which integrates short-term key reactions into the mechanics during combat, can provide additional high damage points and healing bonuses to the entire party when used successfully. The speed at which you respond to timed reactions also positively or negatively affects the size and accuracy of the damage that will be done.
The new Quick Recast feature helps players reduce the cooldown of ARTS abilities by pressing the Y button, allowing for strategic ability use during combat. ARTS is another great mechanic that can give you a big advantage in encounters.
Exploration with Skell Mechanics
As you progress through the story, the most important mechanic that will change the course of the game is access to giant mechs called Skells. These mechs, just like your avatar, can be fully customized and improved. Skells also allow you to fast travel around the map, and the game reaches a much faster flow from this point on. Each Skell has a fuel gauge, a mechanic that reminds players to manage their energy wisely during combat and exploration. The things you can do with Skells are extraordinary but not limitless. Players or party members armed with Skells can defeat Mira’s formidable Tyrants, minibosses with very strong stats, and go head-to-head with them. You can also provide support to your allies. In addition, the game does not end when the player or any party member loses a Skell, you still have the chance to recover it or return to New Los Angeles for repairs.
Fight Together in Multiplayer Mode
Xenoblade Chronicles X is the only game in the series to feature multiplayer. You and up to 31 other online players can team up. There are many online game modes and missions. Completing missions gives you the chance to earn Reward Tickets and BLADE Medals, and upgrade your equipment. Global Nemesis battles require teamwork, providing exciting and long-lasting online gaming experiences.
Switching to Nintendo Switch
The Definitive Edition brings significant changes compared to the original Wii U version. The details of the user interface have been completely revised, which gives the player a much more fluid filtering and choice presentation. Especially in handheld mode, the readability of the text and ability icons has been improved, greatly increasing the ease of use. The game can be played comfortably in both handheld and docked modes.
Story and Universe
The story begins right after a devastating interstellar war that forced humanity to flee Earth by taking refuge in large spaceships. One of these ships, the White Whale, is attacked by the enemy and after sustaining major damage, crash-lands on Mira, beginning its struggle for survival. As the player, you watch everything from a vantage point of view and are involved in the events. In other words, your avatar is not the protagonist/main character of this game.
You observe the story alongside the main character Elma, playing critical roles in the story. Elma is the narrator of this story from the very beginning. Throughout the story, you make choices that can positively or negatively affect your relationships with your avatar and other characters, and that will affect the perception of the characters. These choices only shape your relationships, but do not provide a change in the main storyline or a transition to alternative paths.
The Definitive Edition adds an entirely new explorable area called the Floating Continent, which expands the game world by introducing new story elements and characters. This increases the number of side missions that will give you hours of exploration and rewards.
Mira’s World
Mira opens up to you as a very large-scale world divided into five different continents, offering stunning landscapes. Even after about 40 hours of play, I still encounter enemies I have never encountered before and encounter surprises. From the lush plains of Primordia to the mystical forests of Noctilum, the environment that surrounds you and forms your world is both dangerous and quite fascinating. Traveling in this large-scale world becomes easier and more enjoyable thanks to the Skell mecha. Exploring the beauty and dangers of Mira by exploring from the air will make you excited to enter a Skell at every opportunity.
I can answer the question of who should play this game as follows.
- Those who like the Xenoblade series or mek games
- Fans of open-world RPGs
- Those who love seemingly endless side quests
- Those who appreciate Kunihiko Tanaka’s character designs
- All players who do not want to miss Nintendo Exclusive Titles
To summarize, this definitive version brings a completely new breath to the great RPG of Wii U, freeing it from the limited and backward hardware constraints of its predecessor. It is a magnificent game that successfully invites both old fans and new players to explore the fascinating world of Mira, embark on epic adventures and uncover the secrets behind the fall of humanity, offering over 100 hours of gameplay with side quests.