Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Review

It took some time for me to get into the Xenoblade Chronicles series, but after experiencing the Definitive Edition of the initial game, I was immediately captivated. Given my fondness for JRPGs featuring grand, expansive narratives, I felt compelled to delve deeper into the other titles. In order to adhere to the canonical release sequence, I acted like any committed player would. I acquired a pre-owned Wii U, a copy of Xenoblade Chronicles X, and ventured forth to traverse the expansive world of Mira.

Because I played it some time after its initial debut, numerous discussions with Tetsuya Takahashi, the founder of Monolith Soft, have already taken place. In these talks, they highlighted that while Xenoblade Chronicles was heavily narrative-based, Xenoblade X had a distinct emphasis. Their goal was to test the boundaries of the franchise’s technology, crafting an unprecedented level of exploration and freedom and extracting the maximum potential from the Wii U’s hardware.

Having considered it beforehand, I approached Xenoblade Chronicles X fully aware of what lay ahead.

While it’s true that Xenoblade X doesn’t promise a captivating saga like Shulk’s journey, this doesn’t exempt it from scrutiny. I acknowledged its lack of an epic narrative, but that doesn’t mean I’ll disregard its storyline. It has a narrative and deserves to be evaluated just as critically as any other aspect of the game.

In the initial game, I found myself quite taken with the narrative, but the conclusion left me feeling both satisfied and disappointed – it seemed as though the storyline was purposely left unresolved, hinting at a potential follow-up.

It took me by surprise that ten years down the line, they would launch a remastered version of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. This upgrade significantly enhanced game mechanics, boosted graphics, and simplified exploration, while also introducing fresh narrative elements to address decade-old questions, fill plot gaps, and even make adjustments to certain aspects – effectively allaying any lingering uncertainties I had.

Long-term players of Xenoblade X might find the Definitive Edition’s conclusion less satisfying, but fans of the broader Xeno series? Well, it’s an emotion you really need to witness firsthand.

Without wasting any more time, let’s dive right into my review for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. I can’t help but wonder about the ingenious techniques Monolith Soft must have used to develop such an expansive game on Nintendo systems—it’s not meant as criticism.

The Future Of Earth Is Bleak

In the year 2054, the world of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition finds itself entangled in a conflict between extraterrestrial factions, ultimately leading to the devastation of Earth.

In a bid to rescue some of humankind, we launch spacecrafts, or “Arks,” into the cosmos. Unfortunately, several are destroyed before they can reach orbit. One such Ark, known as the White Whale, is ambushed but miraculously lands relatively safely on the planet Mira. It’s here that our tale unfolds.

Initially, we’ll design a personalizable avatar with a range of customization options, though it may not be as extensive as what one might expect from contemporary character creators. After that, Elma brings us to awareness, revealing that humans have been adapting to life in a city named New Los Angeles over the last two months on a planet called Mira.

Due to our skill at exterminating the indigenous lifeforms on various planets, we receive an invitation to become part of the organization known as BLADE. Their objective is to scout out the planet Mira and prepare it as a potential habitat for humanity.

In our game, the character you control (the avatar) has lost their memory, a plot device used to gradually reveal information about the catastrophic events that caused Earth’s demise and other intricate details related to world-building, as they unfold in the main storyline.

While we get to make decisions about what our character does, we are not the main character of the game. Instead, Elma is the primary figure driving the story forward. We can influence events, pick dialogue options and engage in multiplayer sessions, but our role is more supportive compared to Elma’s central role in the narrative.

I find one significant concern in the storytelling of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, which revolves around the player-created avatar being overly generic and lacking emotional depth. This character seems expressionless, devoid of soul, with a perpetual poker face. The few instances where action is required are fleeting, as the focus swiftly returns to Elma, Lin, or any other key party member.

It’s clear to me that the game allows for character creation and I get how this links to its gameplay mechanics. Yet, numerous Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) featuring silent protagonists have successfully made their characters feel significant and integral to the narrative.

Initially, I pointed out that the storyline in Xenoblade Chronicles X is more realistic compared to other games within the series, yet this doesn’t make it inferior. The game primarily focuses on our struggle for survival on an alien planet, where we come across enigmas, exotic races known as Xeno, and challenges that are reminiscent of what colonization might entail. Occasionally, there are plot twists, but they aren’t overly mind-boggling or groundbreaking.

New Story Content Fills Plot Holes

To put it simply, the initial version of Xeno X raised more questions than it answered, some of which could be left unresolved, but others were essential. Fortunately, the Definitive Edition was released to address this issue. It took me approximately 10 hours to go through the new material, primarily consisting of backstory instead of fresh gameplay elements. However, I found it engaging because I had been eagerly anticipating these answers for years.

The true heart of the game’s narrative lies in its side missions.

I left content with my findings, feeling tranquil, albeit a few aspects caused me to furrow my brow. In the end, I found pleasure in the primary plot, despite it appearing to serve primarily as a key to smoothly traverse Mira further. Essentially, you can wrap up the game within 50-60 hours, but completists might spend over 200 hours uncovering all the game’s aspects.

To anyone who’s a devoted enthusiast of the game Xenoblade Chronicles X, they’d all concur on one point: the core storytelling essence can be found in its side quests. Indeed, they wouldn’t be mistaken about that.

In some instances, prior to embarking on a Primary Quest, the game may ask you to finish a few missions called Affinity Missions. These missions zero in on certain supporting characters and, ultimately, cast our character as the central figure. These Affinity Missions can significantly enhance the world-building of Xenoblade X, occasionally offering theoretical explanations or additional context for the main storyline.

Many secondary characters are richly developed with distinctive personalities and unique traits that significantly enrich the storyline. For instance, Yelv has a compelling backstory that provides valuable insights into human biology, while Neilnail serves as an expert archaeologist who offers hints about our planet’s past and the broader history of the universe, incorporating subtle nods to Xenosaga along the way.

Additionally, you’ll find Common Quests that don’t belong to a specific character yet are rich in backstory. These missions account for approximately 90%, meaning they’re mostly optional. To fully explore all these quests, one would need to invest a substantial amount of time, roughly equating to hundreds of hours.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but acknowledge an unfortunate caveat. While the storyline of these missions is engaging, particularly for those who appreciate lore, the gameplay leaves much to be desired. The repetitive nature of the tasks – collecting items, eliminating targets, and conversing with characters – feels monotonous, as it seldom strays from this formula.

As someone who enjoys completing all aspects of a game (a platinum hunter) and delving deep into its story (a lore enthusiast), I’ve grown used to repetitive tasks. However, I can see how this might become monotonous for those seeking more than just the game’s combat and exploration. Be wary of your request, as some developers might fill their JRPGs with an abundance of minigames in the name of gameplay diversity.

Time To Knock Out Some Indigens

Seeing as we’ve touched on the subject, let’s delve into the gameplay of the Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Notably, all Xenoblade series share a combat system that resembles an MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online).

As I tread through this virtual world, I manage a solitary character at a time. When I stumble upon an adversary in an open space and decide to engage, an automated assault mechanism springs into action. In these moments of combat, I can choose from my selection of abilities on my quick-access bar. Once activated, these powers go into a cooling-off period before they can be used again. This cycle continues until the enemy is vanquished.

The combat system is our favorite; it’s simple to grasp initially, but requires significant skill to fully master. It features multiple interconnected mechanics, such as Soul Voice, a quick-time event during fights that keeps me alert while gaming. Additionally, I had to frequently change my position due to the fact that certain abilities inflict more damage from the side or enemy’s back, while simultaneously managing Aura, Buffs, Debuffs, and other terms common in RPGs.

Mastering the mechanics of Xenoblade X allows you to exploit the game system, creating powerful, niche-specific strategies that overwhelm opponents.

As a seasoned gamer diving into Xenoblade X, I’ve got to admit that there’s a whole lot to grasp. The game doesn’t throw you in the deep end right away though, instead, it introduces tutorials smoothly as new mechanics come up. However, sometimes it can feel like a torrent of information all at once, leaving me momentarily overwhelmed.

After getting comfortable with the fighting mechanics, things become significantly more fun. When it feels like you’re stuck in a rut due to repetition, you’ll find an amazing array of diversity within the character classes instead.

In our game, your character initially belongs to the most potent class for endgame play, but it has the unique ability to transform into 16 distinct classes. As you progress and attain rank 10 in a particular class, you gain access to equip weapons, abilities, and passive skills – an exciting feature that significantly alters your character’s capabilities.

Mastering every art and skill relies on a system that measures performance in percentages. So, if you thoroughly grasp the mechanics of ‘Xenoblade X’, you can exploit the game’s structure and overwhelm enemies using highly customized strategies. Conversely, neglecting it and playing without proper preparation could lead to encountering obstacles further into the game, making your character seem weaker than intended.

In the game “Xenoblade X”, I managed to defeat the final boss on foot, as I had mastered the Overdrive system. This achievement was incredibly satisfying. To be honest, I didn’t have many alternatives since, as a humble citizen, I couldn’t afford to upgrade my Skells. Instead of grinding for money, I delved into understanding different character classes until I discovered the optimal combination, and there you have it – mission accomplished! The progression system in “Xenoblade X” is simply brilliant.

Regarding the Skells, they are colossal mechanical suits operated by humans. In combat, they share a resemblance, yet their advancement methods differ significantly. Unlike characters who progress through gaining experience and leveling up, Skells solely rely on their equipment. This pursuit can become financially draining very quickly.

Initially, when you unleash Skells, they can be significantly more powerful compared to ground-bound characters. However, should you cease enhancing them, they will merely serve as a mode of transport.

Although piloting my Skells and exploring the vast environments was thrilling, the battles within these machines felt rather monotonous and predictable. Instead of intricate strategic maneuvers, it mostly involves using Arts (special abilities) excessively, all the while keeping an eye on our fuel consumption. Indeed, fuel is a significant concern in this high-tech world.

You can outfit your characters with certain items that boost the performance of the Skells, however, I’ve always enjoyed managing them on foot and thus didn’t invest much effort in learning the craft of mech operation.

In this game, combat occurs alongside three artificially intelligent companions, each possessing unique roles based on various classes that your character can choose. They have special abilities denoted as Arts and Skills, which make them capable on their own. However, you’re able to provide guidance for strategic decisions during battles.

Ultimately, with all the figures scattered across the screen and numerous tasks to juggle, I decided it was best for me to concentrate on my construction project while my comrades took care of themselves. After all, I’m the protagonist in my own narrative, even if the game itself doesn’t recognize it.

Exploring The Gigantic Planet Mira

In the downtime from fighting, upgrading characters, and designing character builds, there’s an immense amount of exploration to be done. To put it simply, this is the standout feature that Xenoblade Chronicles X boasts prominently. Although there are no precise measurements or direct comparisons available, the planet Mira is incredibly vast.

This game is reportedly much larger than maps found in games such as Skyrim, GTA V, and even The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – all on the Wii U. It’s so expansive that it’s hard to fully grasp its size without experiencing it firsthand.

Not only is Mira vast, but every corner of it can be discovered, filled with items to gather, battles to engage in, areas to examine, and objectives to accomplish.

The main objective of BLADE is to set up data detectors near Mira for gathering information about the nearby environments. In terms of gameplay, this translates to additional markers in each map section, showing possible activities like searching for hidden treasures, discovering new missions, or encountering a Tyrant, an unusual and powerful monster.

In Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, there’s an abundance of markers to guide you through quests. Even those not being followed show up on your map. This can be helpful, but also challenging as it becomes nearly impossible for humans to focus solely on the main mission while ignoring the indicators on your mini-map.

Initially, a small yellow mark denoted a goal, followed by another as I ventured forward, only for me to rationalize, “another trinket, it can’t hurt.” Before I realized it, I was ensnared in a destructive pattern of “just one more trinket,” which led me far astray from my original objective, delving into unexplored regions and becoming lost in a cave inhabited by monsters significantly stronger than myself.

It seems more likely to me that Mira’s world was designed chiefly to mimic the authentic exploration journey of pioneers discovering a new planet, as opposed to simply serving as a gaming device filled with different artifacts and loot.

I crossed an entire continent swimming.

In Xenoblade X, there are five distinct areas, each characterized by unique ecosystems, plant life, and wildlife. The game’s environments are so well-crafted that I frequently got caught up admiring them and wandering aimlessly, taking in the beauty rather than pushing forward to find better weapons hidden within enemy outposts.

Upon unveiling the secrets of Skells, our scope for discovery broadens significantly. This is not just due to their ability to morph into swift and agile vehicles, but also because they can leap to extraordinary heights, enabling us to traverse previously unreachable vertical landscapes.

It’s quite surprising that the game map lacks invisible barriers at first glance, even in areas reachable only by a flying Skell. I swam across an entire continent, which didn’t take long, about 15 minutes or so, but it was possible. At least I discovered a fast travel point, which will save me some valuable time when the main story requires me to return there.

While I’m deeply moved by the artistic aspects of video games, I can’t ignore the importance of the gameplay experience, particularly when it comes to exploration. Unfortunately, in this case, the execution could use some improvement, much like the way some quests may not meet expectations.

In the course of play, there’s a multitude of valuable finds scattered around, typically offering you cash, XP, and occasionally a few additional items. Accumulatively, consistently seeking out these hidden gems can lead to substantial benefits.

It can be disappointing to invest several minutes delving into a cavern, battling formidable adversaries, just to gather some extraterrestrial scraps as rewards, and gain more experience and wealth yet again.

If you embark on Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, with the aim of discovering a new planet as part of the remaining human race and enjoying its diverse ecosystems, prepare yourself for grandeur. This role-playing game, which is set in a future Earth scenario for humanity, makes it simpler to immerse yourself in the character’s emotionless persona, considering that such an interstellar colonization mission might become reality. Although it’s unlikely that a government would choose me for a space exploration expedition, you get the idea.

If you primarily play Xenoblade X to gather new gear and advance your character, it’s possible that the game’s world may not hold your interest for long and you might focus solely on the main mission. And that’s perfectly fine. For the most part, the game doesn’t force you to delve into the hidden corners of the colossal planet Mira, keeping its awe-inspiring expanse primarily for those who are deeply drawn to exploration or have ample time at their disposal.

Crisp Visual and Stellar Soundtrack

It’s been widely known that the Switch’s hardware is outdated compared to other gaming consoles. However, don’t be fooled by this, as the brilliant minds at Monolith Soft have managed to create an expansive, open-world game without compromising on quality or encountering bugs or other problems, which is truly remarkable.

The “Ultimate Version” enhances the visuals for a sharper, contemporary look. While it may not match the cutting-edge graphics of many AAA games from 2025, it certainly exceeds what’s necessary for a game released in that year.

The frame rate is consistently set at 30 frames per second, yet it seems almost seamless and effortless. I initially thought that soaring with my Skell at maximum altitude would overheat my Switch, but fortunately, that didn’t happen. Some kind of magic must be involved to maintain such smooth gameplay in handheld mode, though it truly does work.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but be amazed by the perfectly matched soundtrack that accompanies my visual journey in Xenoblade X. Hiroyuki Sawano, the brilliant mind behind the scores of hits like Attack on Titan and Solo Leveling, truly outdid himself here. The game boasts a variety of powerful vocal tracks that always seem to hit at just the right moment, making the audio direction nothing short of exceptional. Bravo!

Frequently, I’d find myself involved in a struggle against a cruel ruler, not with the intention of defeating the beast, but rather to listen to its melody.

As a gamer, I found the game’s soundtrack to be an exhilarating fusion of orchestral epics, heavy metal, a dash of electronic beats, and even a hint of rap. The music was not just a complement but a key factor that deepened my immersion into the expansive world of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, ensuring non-stop entertainment throughout my journey.

Closing Comments

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition outshines its original version, offering enhanced gameplay that enhances both exploration and mission variety. The additional story elements, though controversial, provided a satisfying conclusion to the game for me, leaving me eagerly anticipating the future of the Xeno series. However, the lack of expressiveness in our avatar can be somewhat jarring during certain narrative moments. Despite not being my favorite title in the franchise, Xenoblade Chronicles X is an essential play for any JRPG enthusiast.

2025-03-30 16:13