Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Review — A Monolithic Game

There are three things in life that are certain: death, taxes and Monolith Soft making RPGs that are so ridiculously gargantuan in scope, pushing the limits on inferior hardware. Released in 2015, Xenoblade Chronicles X is often regarded as one of the best RPGs that, sadly, not many people have played.

After being anchored to one of the most controversial consoles in Nintendo’s history, the WiiU, Xenoblade Chronicles X seeks its own freedom with a second time to shine in the spotlight. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition marks a triumphant entrance to the Nintendo Switch. An entrance that’ll have you scratching your head in confusion, to pause and reflect deeply on how this was even a WiiU title?!  

To start, I want to say that I didn’t play the original game. I had all the intentions of wanting to play it, but for some reason now lost to time, I didn’t buy it. I have, however, played Xenoblade, released on the Wii. A title dear to me, which is still one of my favourite JRPGS of all time. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a perfect accompaniment to the Switch and a great remaster of the original game. With the anchor well and truly taken off, Xenoblade X can now be enjoyed by a wider audience, a highlight in the Switch’s vast JRPG library, a point for celebration.

The game’s story takes place in the year 2054. You play as a survivor of the White Whale, a character that you create with little backstory initially. The White Whale has left Earth after two alien races decide to have their intergalactic battles on Earth. In this ensuring battle, they destroy Earth. Sad. Fortunate timing smiles upon the White Whale team, as they make their escape into the far, dark reaches of space.

Giving chase quickly behind you, these inhospitable enemies make life harder as they try to take you out. So, like me on a Saturday night bender, the White Whale is terribly damaged but not broken. Making a hard landing on the mysterious planet named Mira. This sets the backdrop to what will become your epic journey through Xenoblade Chronicles X. A journey with many beautiful vistas, huge, ungodly enemies, and an addictive and robust battle system that helps you get through its 50-to-1000-hour story.

Setting up camp in the White Whale, the remnants of humanity decide to set up this as their site of operations, thus the city of New Los Angeles is born. NLA, which serves as your main hub, is interesting enough. It brings a familiarity to the game as you uncover more of this alien world. Your character isn’t too interesting, however. There are some reveals early in the game that bring some context to your character. But the decision to make the character a mute, barring some dialogue choices, makes them easily forgettable.

Another issue I had with the game was the main story itself. It held my attention throughout. There are some neat little twists and turns in the narrative. It just never ventured too far into the unique and memorable. Unlike the Skells, these huge mechs that you eventually pilot. Mechs that allow you to traverse across the land and up high in the air. This story fails at any attempt to lift off.

Another issue I had with the story is its progression. Story chapters are locked behind mission-specific prerequisites. These can be tied into hitting a minimum level or completing a specific character side quest, which they call affinity missions. More annoying was hitting exploration ‘targets’ by uncovering more of the map.

I can understand the reasoning behind this progression mechanic, but for an open world as inviting and beautiful as Mira, this decision ultimately makes the game feel closed and restricting. Which is at odds with the open and natural expanse of its open world mantra.

I’ve mentioned the open world a bit. Mira has shot up in my list of all-time favourite open worlds to explore. This game is HUGE. It surpassed my expectations of what I thought was an engaging open world. I seriously do not know how Monolith made this game on the WiiU. The fact that this game is 10 years old, but the world is on par, if not larger than, open world behemoths like Tears of the Kingdom, is remarkable.

In fact, I couldn’t help but notice the influences of this game on Zelda’s recent Switch games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Monolith’s influence becomes all too clear as you explore five varied locations, each with their own unique terrain, flora, and fauna. When you see a huge enemy that dwarfs you in size, it’s a sight that not many games can convey properly.

As big and open as the world is, the game runs smoothly, never once being interrupted by graphical or frame rate issues. It plays like a dream. However, as you zoom in, staring closely at the textures and character models, that’s where the WiiU influence starts to be more noticeable.

Character models look very cartoonish and vacant, textures can be blurry, and architecture feels very blocky. With those qualms out of the way, looking at the bigger picture, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition continues to be a very pretty game. I played it docked and on handheld with my OLED Switch. I liked the handheld better as the experience was more contained, and it worked well with my lifestyle. On handheld, I couldn’t see the flaws as easily as I could on the big screen. Luckily, once you’re in the rhythm of playing the game, you barely even notice it.

The battle system plays like Xenoblade Chronicles. If you haven’t played that game, then I would place the battle system familiarity even closer to an MMORPG. Basic attacks are automatic, you are simply in control of what special moves, named Arts, you will use on your enemy. You also control any movements of your character in battle. Close and ranged combat is interchangeable in battle; it is up to you to use it, dependent on managing your cool-down times, as well as any maximising damage to enemy weaknesses. You can have healing, debuff, and aura arts. Each category either affects you, your team or how enemies react to you. These battle options dive even deeper. There is a wealth of choice available to you, and you are constantly being rewarded and enticed to seek what works for you.

You can fit out your team before battle, and use battle points to upgrade your skills. At one point early on, you will choose what type of class you want to specialise in. This, in turn, leads to many different outcomes, all unique to your preferred play style. The amount of flexibility it offers is refreshing, and at times, very overwhelming. Party management is extremely important as you progress through the game, so if you’re like me, who is obsessed with this level of depth and control, you’ll be in heaven.

After a great amount of time, too long in my opinion, you finally open Skells. This almost breaks the game as they are introduced mid-game, changing up your playstyle and once more adding another huge layer of management to the game. I hate the saying, “once you get to this point, the game opens”, and sadly, this rings true in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. It does take a while to get to this point, then it becomes a hell of a lot of fun. Albeit with high risks, especially if your Skell gets destroyed in battle. Just going to live my Gundam dreams in the world of Mira.

Let’s not forget this game and its ungodly love of side quests. There are so many other quests you can take on. Mira is huge in scale, monsters and quests. It’s almost to the point I don’t think you will ever complete them all, but I’m sure the hardcore will. The bulk are quite simple quests like an MMORPG, not providing much story or exposition. There are some key highlights with your crew and their character-specific affinity quests. These quests delve deeper into your relationship with your teammates. offering a more rewarding and rich experience to its storytelling.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a game that is initially overwhelming. It made me a little worried that I wouldn’t quite get it – that it wouldn’t click with me. But I was completely wrong, I learnt the mechanics simply enough, the pacing and introduction are purposefully methodical. Then once you start to understand how it is meant to be played, it digs its claws in you, and next thing you know, those 2 hours you put aside to play your game have turned to 10 hours. It provided me with an experience that I’ll one day I’ll come back to with open arms.

I wish a younger me, without the responsibilities of being an adult, could play this game over a summer break. It’s just one of those games where the scope and addictive gameplay would consume me. To explore things leisurely, get to know each of your characters, complete endless missions, upgrade, explore, repeat and lose myself to the world of Mira without a care for the real world.