We’ve almost got every Wii-U exclusive on the Switch except The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD. Until recently, the other outlier was Monolith Soft’s Xenoblade Chronicles X, a game that effectively served as my white whale from one Nintendo console I never owned. Thankfully, there’s been a massive shift in the years that followed, with Nintendo’s Switch becoming a staple in my life.
Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition includes many visual and behind-the-scenes changes to deliver one of the biggest games I’ve ever played. The character models look incredible and no longer have dead eyes (the one thing I’ve noticed from watching content on YouTube). There are also changes to resolution, dual audio, active party swapping, new content, removal of BLADE levels, and much more.
Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition is a momentous achievement for Monolith Soft
After an alien invasion forces humanity to abandon Earth, survivors escape aboard massive arks searching for a new home. One such ark, the White Whale, crash-lands on the mysterious planet Mira. Months after the initial settlers begin establishing a foothold, a BLADE operative named Elma discovers the player’s stasis pod. From there, the journey unfolds—integrating into this unfamiliar world, assisting other settlers, growing through new experiences, and uncovering the mysteries surrounding Mira and its inhabitants. In short, it’s a momentous achievement for Monolith Soft.
The story is more fragmented than other Xenoblade entries, focusing on world-building rather than the character-driven storytelling the numbered games provide. Side missions often offer meaningful insight into Mira’s ecosystem, diverse alien species, and the struggles of humanity’s survival being stuck between two warring alien species. Still, the main narrative feels less personal compared to previous Xenoblade titles. In nearly my 100-hour playthrough, I found many story cutscenes feeling disjointed despite looking and feeling high-budget, yet the side quests were where much of the narrative’s meat flourished.
Combat Continues To Be A Highlight
The battle system in Xenoblade Chronicles X builds upon the mechanics of its predecessor while introducing new layers of complexity. It features real-time action with auto-attacks and an array of Arts—special abilities players can strategically activate. The combat encourages synergy between teammates, positioning tactics, and skill management.
The Quick Cooldown bar appears under your Arts, which has been updated alongside much of the UI. The meter allows you to use Arts, and as long as the meter remains, you can ignore the cooldown your Arts has by pressing the Y button. Activating the Art via Quick Cooldown is great in the pinch, but those that require TP still require TP. Thankfully, Quick Cooldown is restored after each battle and with attacks, making it a worthwhile tool.
Skells, large controllable mechs, introduce a new dynamic to combat, allowing players to fight enemies on a much larger scale. However, Skell combat is notably different from on-foot battles, featuring fuel consumption and different Art sets. While they offer immense power, managing their resources effectively is crucial, as running out of fuel can leave players vulnerable.
You can also access high-powered weaponry, including ranged cannons, energy swords, and missile launchers. Skells also come equipped with shields and evasion maneuvers, making them durable. Overdrive is a combat mechanic that enhances attack output and is available in both on-foot and Skell combat. Still, its effects and activation vary depending on whether the player is piloting a Skell or fighting on foot. While Skells provide immense power, they are not invulnerable. If a Skell is destroyed, the player may be forced to eject, returning to on-foot combat, adding a risk-reward element to their usage. However, be warned because some wildly powerful enemies on Mira become more manageable in battle when fighting with a Skell.
Welcome to New Los Angeles
New Los Angeles (NLA) is humanity’s primary settlement on Mira and the central hub for the game’s activities. The city is divided into several districts, including the Commercial District, Residential District, Industrial District, and Administrative District. Each area has its distinct function, from housing shops and research labs to government buildings and BLADE headquarters.
NLA is where players accept missions, purchase new equipment, and develop their Skells. The city evolves, with new businesses opening up and additional NPCs arriving as players progress. The presence of alien species within NLA also adds to the game’s world-building, as humanity forms alliances and navigates tensions with extraterrestrial factions.
While NLA provides a sense of civilization amidst the wilds of Mira, its design can feel somewhat sterile. The city lacks the lived-in feel of other RPG hubs, with NPC interactions often feeling static. Additionally, the soundtrack within NLA, featuring vocal-heavy tracks, has been a divisive aspect among players, as its repetitive nature can be either energizing or grating, depending on preference.
Mira’s Vast Open World Teeming With Life
When you’re not in New Los Angeles, you’ll be out in Mira. Exploration is still a hotbed of activity and where I had the most fun. Scanning and surveying Mira now offers new rewards based on how much you’ve accomplished. Usually, this means earning Reward Tickets or Energy Clips to increase your Quick Cooldown meter.
The BLADE Level mechanic has been eliminated in Definitive Edition. BLADE Level was a progression system that determined a player’s overall rank and standing within the organization. By completing missions, exploring new areas, and contributing to the growth of New Los Angeles, players increased their BLADE Level, unlocking various benefits such as new equipment, additional Skell upgrades, and access to advanced missions.
Doing away with gated progression, particularily with treasures, is a massive benefit to incoming players. While this gives you much more freedom in interacting with the world, some players might not enjoy this change as it can be seen as a way to rein your exploration into more manageable sections. Similarly, Division Points have been abolished, so you no longer need to use them to improve your standing.
You’ll also notice that the visuals, particularly the character models, resemble those found in the other Xenoblade titles. Generally, the cast looks far better, and the improved UI helps keep you on track with what you’re doing. I also noticed that the textures are visually improved, which is more noticeable when in handheld mode (my preferred method of play).
I was always concerned Mira would be a daunting place to explore; somehow, it feels that way. It’s no secret the world Monolith Soft built with Xenoblade Chronicles X was always massive in scale, moreso once you’re using a Skell to move across the map. However, that concern faded once I understood that while there’s a lot of content you can engage with, the quests are separated, so you can filter out the boring stuff and focus on the quests to expand your understanding of Mira and its inhabitants.
A massive game like Xenoblade Chronicles X utilizes a consistent 30 frames per second in handheld mode and mostly maintains the frame rate in docked mode. However, as we near the end of an impressive eight-year run for the Switch hardware, it becomes apparent that this game would greatly benefit from a Switch 2 port to emphasize how incredible this world can look.
Verdict
Xenoblade Chronicles X is an ambitious and sprawling RPG that excels in exploration, world-building, and strategic combat. It offers one of the most impressive open-world experiences bolstered by deep customization and engaging mechanics. However, its fragmented storytelling prevents it from achieving the same narrative impact as its siblings.
For players who enjoy vast open-world exploration and deep RPG systems, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a rewarding experience. However, those looking for a more structured, character-driven story may find its approach less compelling. Despite its flaws, it remains a unique and memorable entry in the Xenoblade series, particularly for those willing to immerse themselves in its vast world and intricate mechanics.
[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]
Reviewed on: Switch
