In what ought to come as no shock given its title, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is totally the definitive approach to expertise the video game. On the Nintendo Switch, Xenoblade Chronicles has by no means regarded higher, however even when the game’s graphics have significantly improved total, the bottom game beneath the polish is basically what it’s at all times been. For higher, and for worse.
Playing the 2010 title with a recent coat of paint in 2020 is like some sort of wild time capsule to game design of a bygone period. When it was first developed and launched, imitating the favored massively multiplayer on-line role-playing games of the time in a single-player role-game was nonetheless all the fashion, and Xenoblade Chronicles seems to be an ideal instance of this type of pondering. If you don’t thoughts standing round robotically attacking no matter’s in entrance of you whereas generally utilizing skills, the game’s story is as fascinating as ever, however it’s admittedly a giant ask.
The largest addition, and possibly its greatest promoting level, is a wholly new epilogue situation known as Future Connected which takes place years after the occasions of the bottom game. While there are a number of good quality-of-life updates to the title, together with a remastered rating, new character fashions, and upgraded environments, this epilogue is a really new expertise for anybody that has given the earlier variations a go a few times. Helpfully, it may be performed at any level, which implies that people which have performed by way of what got here earlier than can drop into one thing new instantly upon beginning the game.
There are completely different causes to choose up Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition aside from the aforementioned epilogue, together with new issue modes for those who both need to take issues a bit simpler or ramp up the problem in addition to Time Attack Battles and an Event Theatre, however these are actually all simply extras. They are helpful, and good, however certainly not make the precise expertise of taking part in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition much less of a chore, which, for me, it stays.
While I cherished virtually each second that the gameplay paused to ship some bit or story or develop its plot, the precise fight wore on me the longer I did so. In the top, I might solely spend anyplace from 30 minutes to an hour at a time plugging away at it earlier than I had grown a bit bored and wished to maneuver on — which, truthfully, may be one of many advantages of the Nintendo Switch model given the portability of the console. Picking it up after which placing it down after which selecting it up once more has by no means been simpler, and I did so extra occasions than I can simply depend.
Unfortunately for Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, the Nintendo Switch isn’t precisely hurting for Japanese role-playing games, although few can match its breadth and width. If you’ve been curious concerning the title and managed to overlook out on each the Wii and 3DS variations, selecting up the Switch one is virtually a no brainer, even when it does really feel like a little bit of a throwback. If you’ve performed it earlier than and cherished it, possibly Future Connected is a lot sufficient motive to return. But if you’re simply typically excited about games extra broadly, there are most likely higher makes use of of your time. If they’d significantly reworked the fight ultimately, it most likely wouldn’t actually be Xenoblade Chronicles any longer, however I think about I additionally would have had a significantly better time with it.
Rating: three out of 5
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is scheduled to launch for Nintendo Switch on May 29th. A evaluate code was offered by the writer for the aim of this evaluate.
