The Definitive Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles is simply a masterpiece. This new release takes one of the best and most criminally underplayed games of the last generation and drastically improves its visuals. If that’s not enough, the newly-added Future Connected epilogue adds a whole new story that is filled with charming dialogue, unique gameplay, and an intriguing new story.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Developers: Monolith Soft and Nintendo
Price: $60
Platforms: Nintendo Switch (reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a Switch code for review
This review does not contain spoilers for Xenoblade Chronicles or the Future Connected epilogue.
To some, Xenoblade Chronicles is that game that Shulk in Smash Bros. is from. To others, it’s a game that was localized after a hard-fought and passionate online campaign. To me, it was the game that I scoured every nearby and remote EB Games for back in 2013. A game that I got because my incredible friend in Florida found the last copy in the State and shipped it to me. A game that blew me away all those years ago with its deep story, fantastic characters, and an extraordinary soundtrack. With this experience in mind, you can trust me when I say the Definitive Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles is not only a fantastic remaster, but an improvement upon the original already stellar game in every single way. If you own a Switch, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
The story starts simply and escalates into a complex and philosophical narrative that both challenges and embraces JRPG conventions. Essentially, mankind (called Homs) lives on the millennia-old corpse of a giant titan called the Bionis. They are routinely attacked by the Mechon, a seemingly endless army of robots that come from the Mechonis, another huge dead titan that stands across from the Bionis. Though most of the Homs’ weapons are ineffective against the Mechon, the Menado sword is capable of decimating them. A young mechanic named Shulk comes to possess the Monado after his colony is attacked by the Mechon, and a loved one of his is lost in the struggle. Shulk sets off to get revenge on the mysterious “Metal-Face” Mechon that ravaged his colony, but quickly finds himself invested in the history and fate of the Bionis, the Mechonis, and life itself.
I’m avoiding spoilers here, as the story’s twists and turns are some of the most riveting parts of the plot. Halfway through the game, the story is turned on its head, and the characters have to adapt as they learn that the world is much more grey than they may have thought. Shulk in particular grows a great deal throughout the story, going from a reserved and vengeful young man to a more mature and understanding person. Every step of his story, especially once the spoilery seventh party member shows up, is engaging. The rest of the main party is brilliant in their own right though, from the doofy but lovable meathead Reyn to the adorably weird Nopon (or Heropon, more accurately) Riki. Everyone has their own stories that coincide with Shulk’s, leading to a believable group of misfits who become genuinely close by the end. It’s one of the best parties in any RPG, and I’m glad I got to spend a bit more time with some of them in Future Connected.
“Future Connected is intriguing and feels like a natural extension of and a worthy addition to the already-established story.“
Future Connected’s story serves as a great and surprisingly long epilogue that features some excellent character moments all-around. A year after the end of the base game, Shulk and Melia decide to fly up to an island near Alcamoth in order to see if there are people there in need of assistance. Alongside two of Riki’s kids, Kino and Nene, Shulk and Melia discover that not everyone shares their opinions on Machina, Homs, the High Entia, and how things work following the game’s ending. I’m trying to avoid spoilers here too, but it’s a truly enjoyable epilogue. Future Connected is intriguing and feels like a natural extension of and a worthy addition to the already-established story.
The gameplay of Definitive Edition is excellent in both its depth and its ridiculous detail. Combat is a mix of real-time and turn-based. You can freely move around while your character auto-attacks foes, all while you scroll through a taskbar of abilities that require varying amounts of cooldown time after using them. Some attacks are better from certain angles like behind or to the side of your opponent, while others are buffs that work best on a single ally or on a group of allies standing in a row. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but balancing your spacing in relation to allies and enemies while also evaluating situations and using certain skills soon becomes second-nature.
Abilities can be powered up, and passive skills can be unlocked by having characters fight alongside one another to build their Affinity. You can further power-up your characters with equipment and craftable gems that grant stat boosts and other buffs when slotted into pieces of equipment. There are so many intricate systems in every corner of Xenoblade Chronicles that it’s almost impossible to delve into them all. Just know that they’re implemented well and explained thoroughly, so you rarely feel lost in any way.
Outside of battle, the world is an absolute joy to explore. There are tons of side-missions, and almost none of them require you to return to the person who gave them to complete the quest. You can knock off quests and earn rewards easily and quickly, and there are so many quests that you find yourself in an addictive feedback loop of accepting tens of quests and plowing through them again and again. There are lots of secret areas to find in every hub world, which grants you experience and a rather nice view most of the time. If that’s not your thing, fast-travel is incredibly well-implemented and quick to perform, and you even get EXP for finding new fast-travel landmarks. Xenoblade really goes out of its way to make things more efficient and pleasant for you at every turn, and I deeply appreciate it.
“I stopped to admire the view more than a few times, as I was amazed at the phenomenal landscapes and lumbering beasts that consumed the whole screen.“
Future Connected has some of its own tweaks to the gameplay of the base game. Shulk no longer has visions and can’t perform team attacks, making you re-evaluate your strategies from the main game. In exchange for these new obstacles, you’re able to recruit Ponspectors– Nopon warriors who will fight with you in exchange for doing a task or side-quest for them. They have different colors and abilities, adding an entirely new dimension to Xenoblade’s already strong combat.
One of the few minor flaws in the Definitive Edition is the inability to naturally pause in-battle. You have to go to the Switch’s home-screen or press the minus button when a status effect explanation is prompted on-screen. It’s a little silly, since the plus button doesn’t seem to do anything in battle, but it’s more of a strange omission than anything.
Xenoblade Chronicles, even with its rougher visuals back on the Wii, has always been a master of scale. Every cliff and object you see in the distance feels enormous, and more often than not, it can eventually be explored. The world of Xenoblade feels huge as a result; an effect that is amplified by the gorgeous new graphics in the Definitive Edition. I stopped to admire the view more than a few times, as I was amazed at the phenomenal landscapes and lumbering beasts that consumed the whole screen. The Definitive Edition has completely remade the faces of the various characters in the game as well, making it feel like an entirely new and more expressive game.
Finally, we have the music. Very few games have a soundtrack that can rival that of Xenoblade Chronicles, and the Definitive Edition’s newly re-recorded tracks make the gap even wider. From the hyped-up energetic tones of “You Will Know Our Names” to the screeching metal strings of “Mechanical Rhythm,” every single song tells you exactly what the situation is while getting stuck in your head for days afterward. The different overworld themes for both day and night cycles are a nice touch too, especially since you can freely change the time to hear whichever track you prefer.
Also, the English voice-acting is great, both in the main game and the Future Connected epilogue. I’m normally a subs/original voices kind of guy, but the world of Xenoblade feels suited to the wide variety of English accents that the voice actors bring to their characters. Shulk’s voice, in particular, Adam Howden, is incredible in his role. His ability to portray a timid and anxious Shulk as well as a believably enraged Shulk is impressive to say the least. Another highlight is Timothy Watson, the voice of Metalface, who brings a deliciously vile sense of menace to the villainous Mechon.
The Final Word
The Definitive Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles is one of the best games ever made. The story, characters, gameplay, visuals, and music are all top-notch, and there’s a nearly endless amount of content in addition to the story. The new epilogue is a great addition to the package, and the rehauled graphics make the Definitive Edition almost feel native to the Switch. If you own a Nintendo Switch, you need to experience Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition.
MonsterVine Rating: 5 out of 5 – Excellent
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