Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (2020) [Switch]

“Next time you have a vision, you tell us. We bear the burden together, as a team.”

-Reyn, Xenoblade Chronicles

For such a massive game, Xenoblade Chronicles succeeds because it does the little things right. 

This remains true for the new Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (“XBCDE”) for the Nintendo Switch, which is an updated and improved version of the original Xenoblade Chronicles for the Nintendo Wii. 

Nintendo consoles haven’t been the go-to for RPGs since the days of the Super Nintendo. The Wii was no exception to this fact, as the console’s motion control gimmick lent itself far better to family-friendly sports and party games than to hardcore number-crunching RPG grinding. 

However, each of Nintendo’s consoles over the past two decades have had some gems for RPG fans. One such classic during the Wii era was Xenoblade Chronicles. 

Although sales figures are hard to track down for the original Xenoblade game, it’s safe to say that it’s underappreciated in the RPG realm. It rarely gets mentioned in conversations about the best RPG titles. It appears that its sales on the Wii were lukewarm, although subsequent releases in the series have improved on the numbers, culminating in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 for the Switch. 

Xenoblade Chronicles straddles the line between traditional turn-based JRPGs and modern open-world Western RPGs like Skyrim. Its combat system allows free movement, but skills replenish based on timers not unlike Final Fantasy’s Active Time Battle system. Although Xenoblade Chronicles is far more linear than Skyrim – a game it preceded by over a year – its world is massive and ripe for exploration. 

Basically, everything that made the original Xenoblade Chronicles is present in XBCDE. The remastered version simply improves on all aspects of the original.  

Xenoblade Chronicles is massive in all aspects of the game. The main plot takes somewhere around 70 hours to complete. There are sidequests to be found in every nook and cranny of the expansive areas. There is a new game plus mode, in case players can’t get enough of the game after completing it for the first time.

And the character customization is nearly limitless. First, there are skill trees – each playable character has several different branches, each with its own benefits. Next, there are “arts” – these are the various abilities that characters use in combat, ranging from buffs and healing spells to physical attacks. Each character’s arts can be upgraded via a point system. 

Then there’s the equipment menu. Equipment is plentiful in the game, and balancing the positives and negatives of each new piece of equipment takes some thinking. The equipment upgrade system is even deeper, with armor and weapons having slots for placement of “gems” that bestow various benefits. Gems are crafted using a complex system involving crystals that are collected from enemies throughout the game.

Put another way, XBCDE has all the depth that RPG fans could want. Combinations of skills, equipment, arts, and powerups create a rabbit hole that can absorb a detail-oriented player for hours. XBCDE improves on the Wii version by giving players the option of spending experience points on skills and arts rather than leveling up. Players can even redirect previously spent points to other areas, meaning that characters aren’t locked into any particular progression. If a character’s build isn’t working, simply redirect the points to other skills. 

XBCDE’s story is an intriguing and creative tale of conflict between the inhabitants of two adjacent worlds. The “Homs” – basically humans – call Bionis home, while the Mechons reside on Mechonis. The two planets are actually massive god-like beings locked in an eternal struggle. As the story opens, we learn that the Mechons have attempted to invade Bionis. They were defeated by a hero, Dunban, wielding a mysterious ancient sword – the Monado. Although Dunban was able to stave off the Mechon attack, wielding the Monado left him wounded and weakened. 

The hero of XBCDE is Shulk, a young weaponsmith who spends his time studying ancient technology, including the Monado. Players quickly learn that Shulk is able to wield the Monado. The people of Bionis are lucky that a new hero appeared to take Dunban’s place, since the Mechons are again on the offensive. 

The plot that follows is full of twists and turns, with memorable characters and settings spread throughout. 

 Visuals: 8/10

The visual presentation of the original Xenoblade Chronicles was held back by the hardware limitations of the Wii. Thus, XBCDE is Xenoblade Chronicles how it always was meant to be. The massive environments are impressively rendered and convey the sense of scope intended by the developers. Players are treated to picturesque vistas early in the game, when the party finds itself high above the starting town of Colony 9. 

Character models are improved as well, although some may question the decision to take the designs in a more “anime-influenced” direction. 

Overall, the graphics are bright, colorful, and a little cartoony – but it’s perfect for the game. I would go so far as to say that XBCDE stands up to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in the graphical department. 

Audio: 6/10

XBCDE gets high marks for its strong score and pleasant sound effects. Navigating the game’s many menus remains enjoyable throughout the game, in part because of the sounds that accompany equipping armor and upgrading skills.

The score is appropriately grandiose, with songs evoking Ennio Morricone’s work in various Western films to accompany the wide-open spaces of Bionis. Foreboding tracks likewise add to the ambiance of the caves and dungeons throughout. 

The voice acting is surprisingly strong. The characters have British accents, a decision made by the developers when it was decided that the English localization would be targeted to Europe rather than the United States. The cutscene dialogue is engaging, improved by the work of the voiceover artists.

However, XBCDE loses points for repetitive sounds. The characters are constantly talking in combat. Each character shouts the name of the art that he or she is using at a given time. These audio cues come in handy because they allow the player to track what the two AI-controlled party members are doing throughout a fight. Many arts rely on combos with other characters for maximum effectiveness, meaning it’s important to keep an ear on what the party is doing. However, the shouting can get quite annoying. 

The catchphrases spouted by the characters after combat are even more grating. Although it’s initially inoffensive, the post-combat babbling gets old fast. How many times will you be able to hear Reyn say “Let’s not lose our heads, though!” before it starts to grate on your nerves? If you intend to play through the entirety of XBCDE, you absolutely will find out the answer to that question. 

Gameplay: 8/10

The combat system in XBCDE may alienate traditionalists who hunger for turn-based combat in their RPGs. However, the real-time action combat style is innovative and fluid. 

The various other gameplay systems in XBCDE are perfectly serviceable. Exploration is fun because character movement is quick and responsive. However, a platformer this is not. Although Shulk can jump, the jump movement is floaty and imprecise. Luckily, there are relatively few areas that require well-placed jumps. 

The menus are a breeze to navigate, even with the aforementioned depth of options available to the player. 

XBCDE’s real strength, though, is in the combat. Combat is fast-paced and exciting. Players cycle through arts in real time, selecting attacks that provide a tactical advantage at a given time. As one example, Shulk learns an art early in the game that inflicts the “Break” status on enemies. Reyn can then follow up with an art that causes the “Topple” status on an enemy already suffering from Break. Finally, Fiora can Daze a Toppled enemy. Thus, utilizing arts in the proper combinations can have powerful effects. Chain attacks – which freeze time and allow each character in the party to use an art – are a highly important method of finishing difficult fights.  

Boss fights can be challenging because there is little room for error. Selection of the wrong art at a given time can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Nonetheless, the fast pace and strategic nature of combat makes it far more engaging than traditional turn-based systems. 

XBCDE improves on the combat system of the original game, particularly in that it provides greater clarity in when the time is right to launch certain attacks. It also adds a visual targeting system that eliminates much of the confusion of the original game – extremely valuable when the party is in combat with multiple enemies. 

Accessibility: 4/10

This game tends to be opaque, particularly to players who are unfamiliar with the genre. Experienced RPG players will quickly get the hang of the character progression and customization system. However, even RPG pros will experience a learning curve with the combat system. 

XBCDE does a good job of easing players into combat, considering how unique it is. Even so, I found myself learning new combat strategies and quirks 20 and 30 hours into the game. 

The depth of customization options can be overwhelming as well. Crafting gems is practically a game unto itself. The necessary components for effective gem crafting are scattered throughout the massive world. Many specific gems are only available from certain NPCs at certain times. It can get overwhelming, but it’s a good feeling when you achieve the optimal build for your character and start mowing down enemies that were previously a challenge. 

Challenge: 8/10

XBCDE can be tough. Players will need to continually search for the optimal gear and keep up with character improvement by way of spending skill points. Each new area brings additional challenges, with tougher enemies and deeper strategies required to proceed. Many enemies encountered throughout the game will be quite literally impossible to defeat on the first meeting. Some of the earliest areas are populated with monsters that are 80 levels above the party. Shulk’s attacks do no damage to these enemies. 

Perhaps the game’s biggest challenge, though, is its longevity. Thorough players are looking at close to 100 hours of playtime to complete the main story. 

 Replayability: 7/10

XBCDE is so vast that starting the game over after completing it will provide an experience that’s almost like a brand new game. That said, you don’t need to replay XBCDE to get your money’s worth. As mentioned above, even a moderately thorough playthrough will require a significant time commitment. 

Uniqueness: 7/10

The combat in XBCDE is truly unique, a combination of turn-based strategy and action that suits the game perfectly. Although the RPG elements of XBCDE will be familiar to many players, and the open-world elements are all the rage in modern gaming, this experience is unlike any other game (with the exceptions of Xenoblade Chronicles X and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, of course). 

XBCDE loses some uniqueness points because it’s basically a shot-for-shot remake of the original. The remaster is absolutely improved and, as the title implies, should be considered the definitive edition of the game. Nonetheless, the fact remains that nothing in this game can be considered truly unique when it’s simply an improved version of a game from 2011. 

My Personal Grade: 9/10

XBCDE is close to a perfect game, from my perspective. As I get older and look for games that are shorter and easier to pick up and play, Xenoblade Chronicles nonetheless was able to catch and hold my attention throughout its lengthy story. 

The remastered version is a joy to play, whether you’re a fan of the original or new to the series. The Switch allows the developers to achieve their vision with improved graphics, cleaner menus, and clearer combat. 

Although XBCDE is massive in story and scope, all of the little things work. It makes for a truly classic game. Hopefully, this re-release also introduces players to the great Xenoblade franchise, which deserves to be mentioned among the great RPGs. 

Aggregated Score: 7.1

The Law Mage is a writer, lawyer, and indie game developer with an affinity for print media, vinyl records, and retro games. Check out his various creative works at https://linktr.ee/chetstead.

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