Xenoblade Chronicles is a game whose fame and fortune is due, as absurd as it may seem, not only to its quality, but also to the lack of trust that was initially placed in it at the time of its release 10 years ago.
Destined to remain forever relegated to only Japan, insistent requests were needed and, as regards the American release, even campaigns by Western fans, eager to play this title by many acclaimed as a masterpiece, so that it finally arrived in Europe in 2011 and in America the year after.
The history of these events is long and interesting, but suffice it to say that, 10 years later, the Xenoblade series (which became Xenoblade Chronicles in the West, for reasons I still don’t fully understand) is more alive and appreciated than ever, like Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is ready to remind us once again.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is not a new game, at least, not really. It is rather a new version (for some a remake, for others a remastered , as they seem to think of Monolith Soft) of the first title that allows us to play and (re) live the adventures of Shulk and his friends and companions just as before. , with the addition of a totally new epilogue, “A common future” .
The subtitle “Definitive Edition” therefore aims to imply that, yes, the game is still the Xenoblade we all love, but it is now in its final version, totally improved and perfected, in order to reach even higher peaks than in the past.
Gorgeous, isn’t it?
Once upon a time there were two titans …
A first time for everyone
In the case of a “remake” so similar to the original that it is not even unanimously considered as such, I think that in the review the fundamental aspect to consider is actually what the new version brings back and how (or if) it improves the basic product.
However, in the case of Xenoblade Chronicles, it must be said that many have not had the opportunity to play its first version on the Nintendo Wii (it was still a niche game of a genre that was also niche on a console that did not aim particularly at the JRPG) or on New Nintendo 3DS (console that not everyone had and, let’s face it, not very suitable for a game as wide-ranging as this one, so focused on the exploration and beauty of its environments), so there will be many who they will approach the Definitive Edition with little or no knowledge of what they will encounter. For this, however, I would like to summarize the main points of the game and the reasons why it is still considered by many to be one of the masterpieces of the genre., if not the videogame medium itself.
The world in which the events of Xenoblade Chronicles take place is different from ours: all living beings live on the lifeless bodies of two enormous creatures, the titans Bionis and Mechanis , which millions of years before the game started had faced each other in a duel.
Over time, various races developed on them, including the Homs, or human beings as we know them, the main inhabitants of Bionis.
Peace, however, was not meant to last.
The inhabitants of Mechanis, of the machines called, in fact, Mechan, began an invasion of the other titan, exterminating all the living beings they encountered. It was only thanks to the intervention of Dunban, the hero of Colony 9, and his mysterious sword Monad that they were repulsed and the Homs were able to return to live peacefully.
A few years later we make the acquaintance of the game’s protagonist, Shulk , a boy from Colony 9 who is interested in machines and engineering and is studying the Monad in order to steal its secrets. His life goes on as normal in the company of his dear friends Reyn and Fiora, Dunban’s sister, but unfortunately it will soon take a bad turn when the Mechanics suddenly invade his colony, bringing death and destruction and breaking the tranquility of his life. daily.
It will be during this attack that Shulk, for the first time, will be forced to wield the Monad, thus discovering that he is the only one able to control it and use its true potential.
Unable to leave the tragedy behind and ignore it, Shulk decides to leave Colony 9 and travel with the Monad in search of truth, vengeance and, above all, the peace that will come from the total elimination of the Mechan threat. This long journey will lead him to visit all of Bionis, and perhaps even further …
Talking more deeply about the history of Xenoblade is practically impossible without making spoilers , as it is a narrative that periodically tends to expand its reach, starting from what could be a generic “shonen manga” incipit to get to a deep story. , touching and strongly philosophical, with well-characterized characters and full of unforgettable moments.
It is a work that has remained in the hearts of many players, especially those who, like me, have found proof in Xenoblade Chronicles that the video game can be a narrative medium, and not just a playful one. Of course, there are certainly concepts that, by now, are no longer as “new” as they used to be, and inevitably not all characters and scenes are as good as others, but if you are looking for a story that is both interesting and profound, a universe with a great world-building but also fascinating on a more superficial level and a cast to have fun with and meet again, then this is absolutely the game for you , also considering the ever-current themes it deals with.
Exploring the body (of the) titan
Xenoblade Chronicles would not have achieved the legendary status it currently has if it weren’t also very enjoyable to play, and in fact even in this aspect the game does nothing but excel.
The Xenoblade system works in a very simple way: we will move with a team of three characters (a leader, controlled by us, and two extras controlled by the CPU) within large areas, sometimes more straight, but in most cases open and full of forks and bifurcations, trying to reach the point required to continue with the plot.
I remember this place more for the times I jumped over the fences than for the scenes that take place here, honestly.
The immensity of the game world, combined with the possibility of getting to practically anywhere you can lay your eyes, makes exploration much more interesting and enjoyable than it may seem at first. While it is possible to always go from point A to point B, where the plot will continue, that would mean giving up a huge part of everything Xenoblade has to offer.
Exploration is not only an aesthetic quirk , although the views that can be discovered in some areas are truly breathtaking, but it is also very important on a practical level. Discovering new areas will give experience points to our team, not to mention that in some of them we may find new side missions or useful tools.
Getting lost for Bionis is therefore a fundamental part of the gaming experience, but it never ends up becoming a self-inflicted torture : thanks to some very convenient map functions (most of which have been added in this Definitive Edition) not only will it always be possible find the quickest path to follow to get to the objective of a mission, but the presence of objects and enemies necessary for the completion of an assignment will also be signaled, as well as the place to find an Empathic Dialogue yet to be seen. The enormous importance and convenience of the PdR (Reference Points) should not be overlooked , special places that, once discovered, will be instantly reachable at almost any time by simply opening the map.
However, Shulk does not live by exploration alone, who unfortunately will encounter numerous enemies in the course of his adventures. On these occasions, of course, it will be necessary to fight and it will be possible to do so through a real-time system, although not completely action. Fans of the more calm and reasoned JRPGs, you can (more or less) breathe a sigh of relief.
As in the past, so now, I still find group assaults very unintuitive and reliable.
The battles in Xenoblade begin when we decide to declare a fight open, after targeting an enemy, or it attacks us of its own free will. During the fight, the various characters will make automatic attacks every certain amount of time, as long as they are at the appropriate distance from their target. In the meantime, we will be able to move freely, trying to put ourselves in the most advantageous positions, and above all use the special techniques of the character we are using.Each of them has a different effect: some are used to do damage, others to inflict altered states, still others to heal themselves or their companions, and so on. Once used, they will need some time to recharge, after which it will be possible to use them again.
Each of our heroes will have their own different way of playing , and it will therefore be possible to choose not only the combination of three units best for our style (and for the enemies we will face), but also to decide which one to use personally, that is presumably the one that best suits the role we love to play. Shulk is a fairly balanced character, capable of playing various roles, although the main one is to use Monad techniques to fight Mechanics and particularly powerful enemies. Reyn is an excellent tank, while Sharla is suitable for treating her companions … in short, there is plenty of choice, even if often the game undeniably tends to recommend the use of the protagonist, which certainly simplifies things a lot.
The combat system works very well overall, requiring much more strategy than reflexes and guaranteeing on the one hand the level of complexity to which the other chapters of the series have accustomed us, full of mechanics linked together to be taken into consideration to fight at the better, but also on the other hand the possibility of always getting by even without having full mastery of it (which unfortunately it is not possible to say in particular about Xenoblade Chronicles X). The balancing action used by the Definitive Edition, combined with the addition of a Casual mode , totally optional and aimed at those who do not want to work too hard and focus on the story, allows anyone to reach the ending without particular frustration.
The heroes of the people
During the game there will be numerous, indeed, numerous secondary missions that we will be able to accept from the equally numerous NPCs. There are various types, from the simplest, which require you to eliminate a certain number of monsters of a certain species or to find a certain material, to the more elaborate ones, with a real storyline that continues even in subsequent missions.
The latter have contributed a lot to the fame of the game, since some of them can for example be solved in different ways, which also change the final result and influence the relations between the NPCs, always observable in the “Diagram understood”.
Based on this, in subsequent titles the Xenoblade team has further invested in creating secondary missions that are mostly interesting and varied, able at least to snatch a smile and not seem like a simple “duty”, especially since they, together with exploration, are the best way to earn Experience Points and be ready to face the powerful bosses of the main story.
Unfortunately, the same does not apply to this Definitive Edition , which despite having made the missions faster and easier thanks to the functions of the location of the objectives mentioned above, has not at all contributed to making them more interesting or at least less tedious.
There are far too many in which we are simply asked to go back and forth hoping that the material we are looking for appears, or that the defeated monster will drop the requested object. As much as I always strive to complete Xenoblade 100%, doing it in this first chapter will unfortunately require a strong effort of will.
A common future
The main attraction, at least for those who have already played the original version of the game, is certainly “A common future” , a new epilogue that takes place a year after the end of the main story and which, according to Director Tetsuya Takahashi, is strongly linked to the future of the series itself. It is therefore a “common future” not only at the narrative level (I will avoid spoilers, of course, but the plot revolves mainly around Melia and the future she will choose for her people), but also metanarrative , because in this story concepts will be introduced , ideas or events that we will need for a possible Xenoblade Chronicles 3, or whatever will happen next with the series.
Or at least, so I expected.
Let’s clarify it immediately: “A common future”, narratively speaking, was quite disappointing.
Mind you, we’re talking about a Monolith product, their “disappointment” is probably an “above average” of other companies. We are faced with an overall pleasant story, which lets itself be played and serves as a pretext for the adventures of the protagonists, but unfortunately lacks everything that makes the other chapters of the series great , and in particular the lack of tension given. from the lack of a real antagonist and from a final battle that has nothing to do with what we are used to.
The narrative of this extra epilogue is almost exclusively focused on its protagonist, Melia , who fortunately receives the space she deserves, proving once again that she is arguably the best character in the original game. I said it.
Here, young Haientia is presented to us even more mature than in the past, as she does her best for herself and her people and looks to the future with renewed confidence.
To accompany her, in addition to her friend Shulk , protagonist of the main story, there are two Nopon, Kino and Nene. The latter cannot count on a previous characterization, and that is why the game also focuses on them, especially through secondary missions and Confidences (the equivalents of Empathic Dialogues, i.e. optional conversations between two characters). Overall, the two are not only funny specks, like all the Nopons, but also pleasant characters in themselves , who managed to conquer me despite the short time available.
Shulk , unfortunately, is the ” bad apple” of the team, who adds very little to the story and seems to be present more out of “necessity” , as a previous protagonist, than because he actually had something to say.
The future we expect
Understanding what we should expect from Monolith Soft for the future is honestly not easy, especially after some confusing statements from the more or less recent past. What is certain is that Xenoblade Chronicles is a series destined to last , with at least another chapter ahead, but it is not to be excluded that a new IP of some kind awaits us first.
The insistence on Melia and on “A common future” as a first look at the future of the series could make us think that the story of a third chapter could involve the young woman in the investigation of these mysterious cracks … that it is the right time for a “union ”Of the cast of the first two chapters?What matters is that the series continues to remain so interesting and interconnected, perhaps even catching up with poor Xenoblade Chronicles X and its cliffhanger ending …
(no, I don’t want to talk about Xenogears and Xenosaga, it hurts too much)
“A common future” is therefore a story that manages to stand up only because it is guided by excellent characters (Shulk aside), but fails when we consider it in the light of the above statements. The connection, hinted at by the title, in reality is not there, nor does it clarify at all what will happen in the future of the series. In general, there are very few “discoveries” that really seem destined to be important in the long term, as the origin of the “King of the fog”, the mysterious antagonist that we will face, is never explained, nor is it ever explained what the opening he came out of is. Sure, this could be the main theme of a possible “Xenoblade Chronicles 3”, but overall the story feels more like a huge tease.that an actual fundamental piece , so it is difficult not to get the impression that it is an addition in extremis to encourage even old fans of the game to buy this “remake”.
Fortunately, at least as regards the gameplay “A common future” does not disappoint, but presents a more of the same than what is already offered in the main story. The differences are minimal, as the explorations take place just like before and even the combat has only slight variations, such as the lack of Shulk’s visions and the replacement of group assaults with those of the Pomspectors : instead of working with a system of chains of techniques as in the past, we will now be able to choose between a powerful attack, one that heals our allies and a third that applies debuffs to enemies. Simpler, therefore, but honestly more immediate, functional and interesting.
Who knows what’s beyond that crack …
However, it is clearly noted that this is a more modern creation, as compared to the original there are numerous improvements in particular with regard to the secondary missions , much more pleasant and interesting, as well as a slightly smaller quantity. There are no more planks of monsters to be exterminated without a real context, but the stories of the NPCs we meet will be more lively and engaging, just as Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has accustomed us to.
However, it is a pity that, for the rest, there are not so many novelties: the new combat system promised before the release, as we have seen, does not present particular differences , especially if we consider that Shulk and Melia are played at the same way, while Nene and Kino replicate the fighting style of Reyn and Sharla respectively (so much so that in the description of a nopon tank technique the subject is “Reyn”, and not “Nene” …). Let’s say that, even in this aspect, “A common future” lacks a bit too much of “laziness” , not fully satisfying the expectations that the comments before the release of the game had given us.
Definitive yes, but necessary?
Summing up, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is, quite simply, what the name suggests, that is, a “definitive” and renewed version of the classic released ten years ago on the Nintendo Wii. It carries all its strengths, but alas, it hasn’t abandoned many of its shortcomings. The innovations are almost exclusively graphic, and in fact the game is absolutely more beautiful to see, as well as balancing the fighting, as well as the addition of some noteworthy quality of life functions .
Among them, I want to reiterate once again that the possibility of seeing at any time where you have to go for each mission, main and secondary, as well as even the fastest path to get there, is absolutely noteworthy , making the game very less frustrating and greatly reducing the time wasted in the past looking for a material whose appearance was totally random. It is just a pity that it is also the only really notable one, or almost.
The Definitive Edition looks especially bad when compared to Xenoblade Chronicles 2 , also released on Nintendo Switch in the now distant 2017, yet much more comfortable and pleasant to play. I particularly feel the lack of the icons above the NPCs , which clearly indicated not only the name, but also if they had something new to say. And to say that, at least in the main game, talking to non-playable characters wasn’t that important, unlike here, where between the Diagram Understanding and the people to be invited to Colony 6 it is often required to interact with anyone you meet, in various moments in history.
They would have been pretty useful, so why not use them here too?
Taking into account the relative insignificance of “A Common Future” and how small the improvements made to the original game are overall, especially in relation to a previous title in the series, I can’t help but wonder if there really was. need to create this new version of the game. On the one hand I understand the need to make it easier for players who are interested in the series too late to recover its first, fundamental chapter, especially if in the future it will be even more necessary for understanding, but on the other hand I find that it was a bit of a wasted opportunity, or in any case that it is an operation that lacks value for anyone who has already played the original version and does not feel an irrepressible need to replay it.
A big world for a small screen
If the experience on New Nintendo 3DS was not enough for you, or even that of Xenoblade Chronicles X on Wii U GamePad, or Xenoblade Chronicles 2… no, not even this Definitive Edition can be played satisfactorily in portable mode.
From the maximum 720p (which is reduced to 504p) that can be reached when playing docked, in portable mode it drops down to 540p (which can further reduce to 378p). The 30 FPS remain more or less stable in both modes, at least.
Technicalities aside (but if you want to know more, I refer you here), the game world is simply too large, too big, and too beautiful to look at for it to perform well on a small screen, and beyond the undeniable loss of quality, it’s also much more difficult to play well. The on-screen action becomes more confusing , which is not the best for a title that, while not as hectic as others, still remains in real time.
In short, the game somehow also works on a laptop, if that’s your only choice, but in any other case it is absolutely advisable to enjoy Bionis on your TV screen.
That’s exactly why, although this is actually the best version of one of my favorite games ever, I don’t feel like promoting this title fully. However, if you have never played the original and, therefore, do not yet know the adventures of Shulk and his friends, then do not be discouraged, but rather, start your exploration of Bionis as soon as possible. You will not regret it.
