for a story where controlling the future
is a critical plot device it's pretty
ironic that xenoblade chronicles has
never managed to get its timing right
until now after this enormous JRPGs
unfortunate 2012 debut in the final days
of the Wiis lifecycle and a low res port
to the 3ds that didn't do it justice at
long last it can shine on a console in
its prime and the result is an
improvement as massive as the Titan
bionis itself and that's before we even
get into any of the definitive editions
numerous improvements
[Music]
the most noteworthy upgrade is apparent
the second new boot xenoblade chronicles
definitive edition up it's been given an
incredible facelift finally shulk looks
like the dorky firebrand we know from
super smash bros ultimate instead of a
blurry piece of concept dark
environments which were already
unforgettable in low resolution now take
on a whole new life in HD some textures
haven't been given the same love and are
still low res but it's such a large
upgrade over previous versions overall
that is hard to complain about any edges
left rough even nearly a decade later
the premise of Xenoblade Chronicles and
the weirdness of the world that takes
place in maintains its charm after your
hometown is attacked by the robotic
people eating mech on you and your
friends set out on a quest for revenge
on an unforgettable Odyssey that has you
journeying across the titan corpses that
serve as the setting the world is
remarkably weird and unique and areas
are diverse and include dense jungles
creepy swamps and metal labyrinths just
to name a few
you'll even travel inside a creatures
body and fight the monsters inside it
like a twisted episode of The Magic
School Bus like a lot of JRPGs the story
goes to some really really weird places
that are as confusing as they are
preposterous but it owns its own
absurdity so well that it works even
when people keep reax planing the same
concept in a dozen different cutscenes
so I can use this power to change the
future will change what happens will
change the future together
but we can change our destinies
the future huh I wonder if they can
change the future the definitive edition
of xenoblade chronicles adds an all-new
story chapter called future connected
which takes place a year after the
events in the main story it's great to
have more time with Shulkin friends but
the standalone adventure which can be
played entirely separately from the
campaign doesn't really add a whole lot
you spend a lot of time with Millia one
of the weaker characters from the main
campaign and two new highly irritating
now pawn named keno and naming the core
Xenoblade experience remains intact here
but it's sadly not a major selling point
for this remaster still it just feels
great to be back with Xenoblade
Chronicles memorable cast of characters
whether it's the lovable meathead Rhine
or the stoic and inscrutable dun bond
each one shines even when the wonky
riding or grinding stretches of gameplay
otherwise bogged down the adventure the
story is squarely focused on shulk's
quest for revenge and the war against
the MEK on but it also takes the time to
reintroduce and develop its supporting
characters there are entire chapters
dedicated to fleshing out and resolving
their major arcs of course characters
can still get on your nerves by
literally never shutting the hell up
before during and after combat you'll
hear the same tired lines way too often
thankfully you can turn combat dialogue
off but it feels like maybe there should
be a middle ground between no combat
dialogue at all and having all the
characters scream at you uninterrupted
for the 100-plus hours it takes to
complete the campaign
gameplay remains largely the same though
it's been improved in some minor ways
characters now have health bars which is
awesome and also kind of crazy that this
wasn't a thing already the map UI has a
detailed Waypoint guiding you towards
your objectives instead of a via Carol
and quest items are marked with a
helpful exclamation point so you know
which ones you should pick up instead of
having to run toward every glowing blue
orb menus have also been improved a lot
what was once an incomprehensible series
of blurry rectangular menus have now
been overhauled into a much more modern
and functional UI which is a godsend
considering how much time you'll spend
in them customizing your character's
abilities upgrading equipment and
changing your outfits while those
improvements are great this remaster
doesn't go far enough
elsewhere opting to maintain a lot of
outdated mechanics the affinity coin and
skill tree system for example remains an
obtuse and bizarre way to buff
characters based on social links soaking
up far more attention than it seems
worth I'm all for staying true to the
original what it makes sense to do so
but the wii era RPG design could benefit
from more of a refresh
combat itself is still just as tactical
and addictive as ever he uses an action
based battle system where your character
attacks automatically within range of an
enemy but movement and the more powerful
special abilities called arts are
controlled by you combat can grow a
little dull at times due to the fact
that the campaign requires a significant
amount of grinding but the fact that it
manages to remain at all entertaining
with such a long runtime is impressive
in its own right
Xenoblade Chronicles definitive edition
is to remaster this respected JRPG
deserves even when it feels like it
doesn't go far enough in places the new
future connected story chapter isn't
particularly inspired but the impressive
graphical overhaul and welcome quality
of life improvements make this the best
version of Xenoblade Chronicles we've
ever had
for more watch our review of the Wii U
version of Xenoblade Chronicles and for
other recent RPGs check out our reviews
of fallout 76 wastelanders and mountain
blade and for everything else
stick with IGN