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Xenoblade Chronicles X is back almost 10 years later from the Wii U for the next generation console, the Nintendo Switch, with its Definitive Edition. Some players might think the Definitive Edition only brought this classic under a new spotlight or added a new coat of paint. But that’s not the case. Monolith Soft made an incredible rework for those who played the original to feel familiarity and novelty. Meanwhile, the new BLADE recruits will get caught up in Mira’s wonders.
First, I must shamefully admit that this is my first Xenoblade rodeo. But I see that as a blessing in disguise. This Definitive Edition made me dive deeply into the series and become hooked. Even if I found many systems overwhelming and hard to follow at first, I had already played five hours non-stop when I noticed. So, if you’re a new BLADE member, trust me, this is the best way to join the Skell crew in Mira.
Humanity Was Almost Doomed
For one reason or another, humans ended up making the Earth uninhabitable, and as a way for humanity not to become extinct all over the planet, they built arcs. Millions of people left Earth in the arcs and embarked on a special expedition. However, humanity ended in the middle of an intergalactic battle between other factions. This war caused the destruction of many arcs and the annihilation of our planet. The surviving arcs wandered through space like the White Whale with no place to return to. Then, the White Whale is attacked by another species and ends up stranded on the planet Mira. Two months later, humanity has settled down and founded a new colony, New Los Angeles.
As a sci-fi lover, this premise was highly appealing to me, as I was a survivor at the birth of a new human settlement on an unknown planet. Also, it’s very tempting that New Los Angeles has enough weapons and technology to defend itself from the alien species, which are not so friendly, to say the least. Here, our main mission will be to find resources that can replace the few we have left, recover parts of our lost ship, and place scanners all over the planet to collect valuable information.
The story easily hooked me; I felt immersed in this new colony’s lore and problems. The secondary quests are also quite engaging, and the only problem I found is that sometimes, a little more guidance was missing to get to the following mission. There was only one problem with the first mission with the probes: I couldn’t advance; I was somewhat stuck until I died, and it fixed itself. Other than that, I didn’t have any major problems.
Re-explore Mira
This planet has a massive map you will have to explore to get materials not only for NLA but also to craft more armor and weapons for you or your Skell. Fortunately, the materials are well-marked in the open world, and the map has several divisions and icons that are easy to identify, but the Follow Ball shows you the best way. Also, the scanners are handy, as they are useful for gathering information and fast travel, or you can modify them later to get minerals or more storage space.
The terrain has a lot of verticality and variation, so I appreciate the incredible mobility of our character. It’s not that we can climb mountains, but we can jump pretty high to climb rocky parts and even swim. The best thing is that there is no fall damage, saving me a lot of time as I just jumped to the base of a canyon or a lake. With these simple skills, you can easily find other biomes, such as swamps, volcanoes, grasslands, etc.
Plus, all the areas feel full of life, with so many creatures interacting around you. There is a feeling that this world is also very organic because the monsters with different levels live together in one area, and they aren’t stuck in high-level areas. Even from the beginning, you can encounter a Tyrant and try your luck at it. I don’t recommend it, though. Once you get the Skell, exploring and moving around will be much easier, and seeing the incredible sky views is impressive. However, getting your Skell is a task for much later in the story, when you reach level 30.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is more about enjoying the journey and allowing you to investigate every corner of Mira. Yet, this is not only from the outside, as New Los Angeles is a fairly developed city with its districts. For example, the administrative area is the home of BLADE, offices, stores, and where to get missions. On the other hand, there is also the commercial district because even if the aliens attack us, you can enjoy shopping. The city was one of my favorite parts, as there are several Affinity missions or Heart-to-Heart conversations to get closer to your teammates. This is a useful way to bond with your peers, as Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition has new characters.
Landscapes and creatures aside, Xenoblade Chronicles X doesn’t have a rival in world-building. See, there are many sci-fi games, or of any other genre for that matter, that either bombard you with lore and details but never encourage you to feel attached to them. Here, however, you genuinely feel like a BLADE member. From choosing your Division to getting your Skell license, even installing probes in every corner feels so immersive. Few games can capture this feeling as flawlessly as X does.
Welcome to the Squad
The combat in Xenoblade Chronicles X is very different from other RPG games. It reminded me more of old-school MMORPGs, where you have a hotbar with several unique mechanics that give Xenoblade Chronicles X dynamic combat. Here, your special attacks, Arts, and, as an MMORPG, you have free will to customize your own “spells” and make your character unique. But what made me feel like I was in an elite squad was that the teammates would ask for your help or for you to use a specific attack, and the color must guide you to know which Art to use and make a party combo to get different effects. It is like staying synchronized with your friends.
For combat, we have the same classes from the original Xenoblade Chronicles X: Ones specialized for balance, others for being a DPS, and others to be like a tank. Players can use any class they prefer and change it at any time. I enjoyed the most randomly changing my class just for fun; sometimes, I felt more like using a mega blaster against a giant creature, and sometimes, using double wielding was more flashy.
A New Iteration of Mira
Many may wonder if getting Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is worth it, especially since some might’ve already played it on the WiiU. As I said before, yes, it is more than worth it.
While the Nintendo Switch is hardware that is already showing its age, I couldn’t believe that it was able to run such a detailed world almost smoothly. I say almost because there were a few frame drops here and there, and I experienced some minor glitches. However, it is nothing as bad as other open-world games that have tried to run on the Switch.
Also, after looking at some comparison footage of the WiiU and this version, I must say the improvements are fantastic. The characters look way better, the colors look incredible, and this gorgeous world looks even better. Of course, this is without talking about the story addition and new QoL features, which are equally great. Overall, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a technical marvel that uses the full potential of the Nintendo Switch and delivers a gratifying experience.
A Flawless Expedition
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is as gigantic as the Tyrants you’ll face in Mira. Initially, I thought that would work against it. Lately, we’ve been used to short games we can consume in small portions. But I was wrong. Xenoblade Chronicles X reminded me of how immersive and memorable long adventures can be. But beyond that, the discovery never ends. Every hour I played was full of new things, and I felt like a BLADE member stepping onto a new planet for the first time.
As a newcomer, this game has made me a Xenoblade fan. While its combat has an old-school feel, it is highly enjoyable. Its exploration mechanics are unmatched, unlike anything I’ve seen in other single-player games. Overall, it is a visual, technical, and gameplay wonder that everyone should experience, especially in its Definitive Edition.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Nintendo Switch Reviewed)
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is an example of a perfect single-player game. It is brimming with content in every corner, and you'll likely discover something new even after 30 hours. If you're a veteran fan, this decade of waiting was more than worth it. But if you're a newcomer, X is the best place to kick off your expedition for the first time.
Pros
- Stunning new graphics
- Dynamic combat
- Combines flawless mechanics of the original game with new features
Cons
- Minor frame rate drops
