Looking back at the previous generation of consoles and all the big open world games, you’d be surprised to find out that one of the biggest games for its time was actually on the humble little Wii. Xenoblade Chronicles wowed gamers with its incredibly huge and detailed world filled to the brim with interesting locations to explore and iconic characters to meet. It was an incredible feat for its time, it still is, and now we’re here in 2015, with Xenoblade Chronicles X proving once again that it can deliver what is arguably one of the biggest games of this generation.

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The story this time is grim from the get go. Mankind is in a desperate struggle for survival against a mysterious alien race that seems hell-bent on wiping out every single human being. A war rages on between these two species and luckily one ship housing a colony of humans manages to escape just before planet earth is completely destroyed. Sometime later however the aliens manages to catch up with the colony and forces it to crash land on an unknown planet called Mira. With no way to actually get off the planet, the last remaining humans have to make this place their new home and try to rescue as much survivors as they possibly can.

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You create and take on the role of a silent amnesiac (yes, it’s that JRPG trope again) survivor who joins an organization known as BLADE. You, along with the rest of the cast are responsible for mankind’s survival by seeing to their new home, New Los Angeles’ upkeep, fending off against any threats and most importantly, finding survivors. The story revolves around a few key individuals with your main character acting more as an outside view rather than a focal point.

As is the case with silent protagonists, it can become quite awkward in a serious cutscene when the camera cuts to you and all your character can do is nod or make appropriate gestures. Thankfully the cast has some decent characters that are actually pretty well voiced. New to Xenoblade Chronicles X are Affinity missions which further help in fleshing out all of the characters. The story itself starts off extremely slow and doesn’t get interesting till about a half-dozen chapters in. Even then, due to each chapter having strict requirements before you can start it, you’ll be doing a lot of side activities in order to meet them which leave the story feeling really disjointed at times. Overall though, the tale is an intriguing one with a few twists that is bound to keep you hooked.

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As expected, the world of the game is incredibly massive. As a member of BLADE you’re tasked with installing probes all over Mira in order to survey the land and mine for resources called Miranium. Installing probes reveals sectors on your mini-map which is housed on the gamepad and each sector contains a treasure, rare enemy or mission which acts as incentives for exploring. Each sector is huge though, so finding any one of the above actually requires you to run around town in the hope that some NPC might have info pertaining to their general location. This is where the game gets really frustrating.

A lot of the time you’re tasked with finding certain missions or items but you’re only told on which of the 4 continents it’s on. That’s a major problem as each continent is huge and even if you’ve managed to pick the item up along the way, there is no index which could at least tell you which area you found it in. I ended up randomly fast travelling to different locations in the hope of finding the thing I’m looking for. Frustrating as it may be, combat and exploration was fun enough to make the slog feel worthwhile.

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The battle system maintains a similar feel to the original game. Characters will auto attack with either a melee or ranged weapon now and you’ll have the choice of using various abilities that cools down after usage. Some abilities have different effects depending on if you attack the enemy from the side or back and the stagger, topple and break system makes a return as well. You’re now able to break off certain parts of enemies as well which leads to various advantages. The core of the combat remains more or less the same but the new classes and Soul Voice systems are what keep things engaging.

Soul Voices are commands that you and your party shout out to each when certain conditions are triggered. Each Soul Voice requires you to use a specific ability when shouted out and if activated, heals your party and grants certain effects. As a result, battles are much more hands-on and require you to really take note of what your teammates are saying. Your character has about 16 different conditions each with 3 different effects that you can choose from making for some really flexible setups.

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I loved the types of combos you could create. One Soul Voice activates when you start the battle with a melee weapon. If a party member responds to it, the enemy will be staggered immediately, opening them up to a topple attack which I usually follow with a defence debuff, an offense buff and an ability that deals extra damage against toppled enemies. The fact that you can fully customize your character’s Soul Voices is fantastic, but the game goes even further by giving you numerous classes to choose from with a wide variety of abilities, passive skills to set, a huge selection of equipment, an augmentation system and a brilliant new feature called Fashion Gear which allows you to equip gear for their stats while using other gear for your outward appearance so that you never have to choose stats over fashion. Most games would stop at that point, but not Xenoblade, the gaming gift that keeps on giving.

Much later in the game you’ll be given access to mechs called Skells. These mechs, which will be given the ability to fly at a later stage, completely change the way you explore the world, granting you access to new locations and areas previously unreachable by foot. Skells changes up combat as well by giving you equipment specific abilities and introduces a few new mechanics. You’re even able to customize you’re Skell’s gear, change its name and colour. The fact that I can name my Skell Weltall puts the biggest, dumbest smile on my face. It’s been a while since a game has given me this much customization options, and I love it for that.

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The game features a Multiplayer mode too which has you teaming up with friends online to take on specific missions or you can let the online mode take a non-intrusive, passive approach by playing in a shared world with players from all over. You won’t see anyone in real-time though but you can recruit NPC versions of them for a short period. It’s an interesting approach to online and it offers something for both online and single player focused people.

Graphically, this game is stunning. Mira can be both beautiful and menacing at the same time with gorgeous vistas and creatures the size of mountains. The game does suffer from some pretty bad pop-in and low quality textures here and there, but if that is the price to pay for the smooth framerate, then I’ll gladly pay it as the game runs like a dream. The soundtrack however is a mixed bag with composer Hiroyuki Sawano bringing some of his unique flavour to the game. Don’t get me wrong, some tracks are complete masterpieces, but others, especially the ones with vocals, takes some time getting used to. As a complete package though, this game is truly awe-inspiring.

Last Updated: December 17, 2015

Xenoblade Chronicles X
Once you get used to all the mechanics, you’ll find yourself, and even though it can get really frustrating at times, Xenoblade Chronicles X remains engrossing even after dozens of hours of play. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’m really feeling it!
8.5
Xenoblade Chronicles X was reviewed on Nintendo Wii U
84 / 100

74 Comments

  1. I think LG should get RINCE THIS to review this game and an import copy of DOA Extreme. If he truly is a non biased reviewer that is 😛

    Reply

    • Umar

      December 17, 2015 at 15:07

      Isn’t he like a mega fan of both DOAX? I’m pretty sure he loves the game.

      Reply

      • oVg

        December 17, 2015 at 15:09

        Speed running a RPG for a review will be the death of him lol

        Na, get trevor to do DOA 🙂

        Reply

        • Umar

          December 17, 2015 at 15:12

          Urgh, he’s too busy playing that other lame Witcher game.

          Reply

          • oVg

            December 17, 2015 at 15:15

            Bwahahaha he is coming onto 4 months. A JRPG in 4 days will kill him 😛

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 17, 2015 at 15:16

            It might be lame but it’s the only RPG on the market. :/

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:17

            errr….CoD was released not too long ago, duh

          • RinceThis

            December 17, 2015 at 15:16

            You mean MGSV? The one that won… Oh, oppsies.

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:17

            Best action adventure game at the VGAs?

          • RinceThis

            December 17, 2015 at 15:17

            Best nothing on LG

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 17, 2015 at 15:18

            Had to throw Overrated Kojima a bone.

          • RinceThis

            December 17, 2015 at 15:18

            Bwahaha! Damn straight, he would have done harm to himself otherwise.

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:21

            Pshh too many bones were thrown at overrated CD Projekt Red as far as I’m concerned. Gamers sure like casual games these days.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 17, 2015 at 15:22

            Should’ve won best shooter too, that crossbow was the boss.

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:23

            Just because it has shooting elements doesn’t make it a shooter 😛

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 17, 2015 at 15:24

            You can’t just make up the rules as you go along!

          • Hammersteyn

            December 17, 2015 at 15:24

            That;s like saying BLOPS3 is a rpg because it has classes in the MP

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:28

            Lol yeah that’s what we were saying the other day. Things get called RPGs because it has a leveling system

          • RinceThis

            December 17, 2015 at 15:23

            Yeah but you’re only concerned because there were no neon-haired bunny-tailed androgynous protagonists. lol

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:25

            Pssssssh Final Fantasy XV has a dude with black hair. Get with the times!

          • RinceThis

            December 17, 2015 at 15:27

            Are you sure it’s a dude! PS. Where is your score, or do we just assume an automatic 10 because JRPG? 😛

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:28

            lol 8.5

          • Hammersteyn

            December 17, 2015 at 15:29

            *9

          • Hammersteyn

            December 17, 2015 at 15:25

            Because a white haired male whore is such a role model?

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:27

            Ohhhh snap! Geraldo just an Aard to the face!

          • RinceThis

            December 17, 2015 at 15:27

            who said anything about role models?

          • Hammersteyn

            December 17, 2015 at 15:28

            They way he’s hyped I thought people want to be like him, wandering around the wilderness, beating up bandits and struggling day to day with the klap

          • RinceThis

            December 17, 2015 at 15:32

            I’d rather be Geralt than a cliched ‘I’ve lost my memory’ JRPG character that only fall in love with girls/boys that look like they are 10 years old 😛 haha

          • Hammersteyn

            December 17, 2015 at 15:34

            XD

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 17, 2015 at 15:36

            ……YES.

          • Hammersteyn

            December 17, 2015 at 15:23

            Agreed

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:24

            Casuals *spits on the ground*

          • Hammersteyn

            December 17, 2015 at 15:22

            SHURRUP!

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          December 17, 2015 at 15:17

          An in-depth review on boob jiggle and deformation. What would I base that on? O_O

          Reply

          • RinceThis

            December 17, 2015 at 15:18

            jelly?

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 17, 2015 at 15:19

            No, it’ll have to be something realistic. Maybe a real doll.

          • oVg

            December 17, 2015 at 15:19

            Bwahahahaha I see what you did there.

  2. Umar

    December 17, 2015 at 15:06

    • Ottokie

      December 17, 2015 at 15:12

      Almost looks like Renton from Eureka 7 😛

      Reply

      • Umar

        December 17, 2015 at 15:14

        It’s apparently from Gin no Saji, never watched it though.

        Reply

        • Ottokie

          December 17, 2015 at 15:15

          Nope, the Summer season anime has just dropped (finished airing) and I have 100Gb of new seasons to get through before January

          Reply

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:17

            All I caught up on was Charlotte. Can’t keep up any more.

          • Ottokie

            December 17, 2015 at 15:18

            Charlotte’s ending was freaking awesome.

            Also Tokyo ghoul season 3 announced as well 🙂

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:21

            Dat last episode was insane. Going all around the world….holy crapazoid

          • Ottokie

            December 17, 2015 at 15:24

            I was a big MEH in the middle but the ending made up for everything.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 17, 2015 at 15:25

            The MEHddle?

          • Ottokie

            December 17, 2015 at 15:25

            See, you get me

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:29

            Yup, started interesting, got a bit dry, then the time leap twist got me hooked again.

          • Ottokie

            December 17, 2015 at 15:31

            There are some seriously awesome anime this year.

          • Umar

            December 17, 2015 at 15:32

            Dude, I know, I’m struggling to keep up though. Just watching Homouto now and OPM. Need push through with the rest of the anime this year

    • Ottokie

      December 17, 2015 at 15:13

      So this is a GIF only for the seconds indicator on the clock… who was this lazy? xD

      Reply

      • Umar

        December 17, 2015 at 15:14

        It’s totally meta. They were too tired to make a proper gif

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 17, 2015 at 15:22

      Wish I could sleep in till 07:43

      Reply

  3. Ottokie

    December 17, 2015 at 15:11

    I would buy a WiiU just for this game, no jokes O.o

    Reply

  4. RinceThis

    December 17, 2015 at 15:17

    No score?

    Reply

  5. The Grand Admiral Chief

    December 17, 2015 at 15:40

    [When you join the conversation but there are already 69 (hehehe) comments]

    Reply

    • Ottokie

      December 17, 2015 at 15:40

      Now 70 thanks to you, and I am not helping xD

      Reply

      • The Grand Admiral Chief

        December 17, 2015 at 15:41

        Such a naughty boy

        Reply

  6. Kaihaku

    December 17, 2015 at 16:55

    “Don’t get me wrong, some tracks are complete masterpieces, but others, especially the ones with vocals, takes some time getting used to.”

    Yeah… I thought that the OST was magnificent overall but there were two very prevalent tracks that I absolutely hated.

    Reply

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