Review of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

In today’s crowded landscape of open-world RPGs, Xenoblade Chronicles X stands out significantly. There’s a thrill in zipping across the sprawling landscapes of the planet Mira with your mech suit—a scale that leaves similar RPGs in the dust. Even though the game’s narrative, which revolves around humanity’s search for a new home, isn’t always gripping, the enhancements in the Definitive Edition give the combat system an extra edge, making it an RPG experience like no other.

As the adventure kicks off, humans are escaping a devastated Earth, caught in the crosshairs of a galactic conflict. The remnants of humanity, aboard the White Whale spaceship, crash-land on Mira. Your task is to retrieve the scattered pieces of this ship, now located in the fledgling city known as New Los Angeles. Although the storyline itself might feel a touch lackluster on its own, especially compared to other Xenoblade entries, it’s partly due to the presence of a main character that lacks distinct personality traits. This absence sometimes robs the narrative of the emotional punch seen in other entries of the series.

Fortunately, it’s the side quests that rescue the story, providing rich worldbuilding and character growth for both the companions in your party and many NPCs. One such quest tackles themes of prejudice against other alien species, offering brilliant insight into how mankind learns to coexist with these extraterrestrial races and forge alliances beyond Earth’s boundaries.

Every task you complete boosts the Affinity levels of your team members, unlocking special Heart-to-Heart moments. These heartfelt scenes delve into the backgrounds of characters, reminiscent of bonding events in games like Persona or The Legend of Heroes. Take Colonel Elma for instance—her tough exterior slowly breaks down as she reveals a fondness for cars and pizza, revealing a more relatable side that’s hidden in the main storyline.

Reaching a high Affinity level unlocks Affinity Missions and substantial rewards for your party members. By completing these missions, your protagonist gains access to unique combat skills, known as Arts, that can’t be acquired through regular leveling. This clever mechanic encourages players to connect with their allies while simultaneously enhancing their strength.

A standout character in the cast is the engineer, Lin. Her Affinity Mission showcases her pivotal role in the survival of the White Whale. Despite her preference for the quieter tasks, she’s well-equipped and prepared to join the fray, wielding both a giant shield and gatling gun when called upon. These personal insights into your squad compensate for the blank-slate hero you play as.

In the Definitive Edition, players enjoy a larger roster of recruitable characters and fresh storylines, all interwoven seamlessly into the main campaign, which runs between 50 to 60 hours. This new content blends perfectly with the game, extending an already vast adventure.

While your own character might not be the most captivating, the open world of Xenoblade Chronicles X is anything but dull. It’s split into five distinct regions, each flaunting unique environments. Primordia, a lush expanse of grassland, contrasts sharply with Cauldros, a volcanic domain. The landscape is peppered with stunning sights that keep the exploratory spirit alive, from the towering Arendt Bridge to the enigmatic Leaning Ring, sticking out from Oblivia’s desert sands.

Our original take on Xenoblade Chronicles X for Wii U praised its immense scale and wealth of side content that could keep players occupied for an extensive period. While the aesthetics could be a bit jarring, the satisfying blend of combat and customization made Mira an exhilarating place to discover back in December 2015.

The realm beyond New LA pulsates with life—both the large and the minuscule. Monsters exhibit varied behavior; some are aggressive while others are indifferent to your presence. For example, a low-level bee might attack on sight, but a towering dinosaur creature might lumber along undisturbed. This ecosystem keeps players on their toes, offering strategic discoveries, like nocturnal creatures that emerge at specific times, which you can comfortably manipulate using the in-game menu.

In contrast to the sometimes sluggish movement in other games, like the slow-paced Cloud in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the pace here is exhilarating. On Mira, you sprint swiftly and leap across expanses as though under lunar gravity, making it easy to cover ground and scale heights effortlessly.

The introduction of Skells ups the ante, offering a new dynamic in navigation and combat. Not only do they amplify your speed, but navigating while in a Skell presents fresh challenges with once-tranquil creatures turning hostile. As the story progresses, your Skell’s capabilities expand, eventually granting you the power to fly—unlocking the planet’s full potential and making the world truly feel like a new home for humanity.

The combat, much like its predecessors in the Xenoblade Chronicles series, is real-time and shares elements with MMO gameplay. Both foes and allies dole out auto-attacks, with a strategic selection of Arts shaping battles. Crafting the perfect sequence of moves, like using an Art that “Topples” an enemy, unlocks a tactical layer that demands attention and skill.

Adding a fresh twist is the Soul Voice feature, a mechanic that builds upon the RPG tendency for characters to shout attack names. When an ally suggests an action, following through not only feels immersive but provides tangible combat benefits, enhancing the already engaging battle system with quirky charm.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition doesn’t just rehash the same material but significantly augments it with thoughtful quality-of-life changes. The addition of the Quick Cooldown bar injects battles with flexibility, letting you bypass cooldowns at critical moments, effectively turning the tide in combat through strategic use.

Perhaps the most impactful adjustment is the ability to switch party members anytime, anywhere. While this might seem basic today, the original required tracking down characters in New LA for each swap—a cumbersome process now streamlined to enhance the experience.

This edition overall curtails grinding pains. Non-active members now earn EXP, removing the need for constant swapping. This change alone significantly smooths gameplay progression, cutting down unnecessary repetition.

Each character has a unique class defining their role, such as Lin’s Shield Trooper, but you can mold your hero into whatever role suits best by exploring diverse class trees. This latitude in character development, mirroring systems found in titles like Fire Emblem, provides opportunities to devise your ideal strategy.

Skell combat mirrors its on-foot equivalent yet ramps up the scale. Equipping customizable Skell weaponry enhances your combat arsenal across Mira, equally preparing you for the planet’s strongest adversaries and offering a satisfying layer of tactical depth for any min-max enthusiast.

Visually, the Definitive Edition polishes the interface and sharpens character graphics, updating the experience for modern expectations. The seamless transition of features like fast travel to a single screen on the Switch ensures a more ergonomic playthrough—eliminating the neck strain once caused by constant back-and-forth with the old Wii U gamepad.

In terms of multiplayer, though not fully explored during my review period, the online features promise to enrich the game’s MMO feel. Avatars of other players might join your squad for missions, potentially revived in the Definitive Edition to round out this vast, engaging RPG landscape.