Nintendo
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - Exploring the adventures of a decade ago
A Wii U classic returns with improvements and enhancements that complete the Xenoblade catalog on Nintendo Switch.
Around 10 years ago, Xenoblade Chronicles X originally debuted on the Wii U, being one of the lesser-known gems of that ill-fated console. Nintendo has been working to bring back several titles from that generation, giving them a second chance thanks to the success of the Switch, which is now in its final stretch. This Monolith Soft game was one of the few that was left on hold, and its arrival not only rescues an excellent experience but also makes it possible to have the entire saga playable on the same platform.
Back on Mira
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is, as the name suggests, a revamped and improved version of the original title. This RPG begins with humanity fleeing Earth after a conflict with alien races in arks that guarantee their survival. One of the escape ships, the White Whale, makes an emergency landing on the planet Mira. There the survivors found their first city, New Los Angeles, and began the task of adapting, exploring the new world, and recovering the remains of their ship, among which their priority are materials as well as capsules with other humans. One of them is the protagonist, a customizable character that will serve as our avatar.
Mira remains a fascinating environment: vast, unpredictable, with unique topography and creatures of all sizes and levels. From the start, Xenoblade Chronicles X has no qualms about throwing enemies at you that can easily exceed your level, forcing you to rethink your routes if you want to survive. Exploration is one of the mainstays of the game. From the start, the open world allows you to place probes to discover resources, unique enemies, and other secrets. These probes also help to power up shops and make it easier to gather useful information.
The exploration of the planet is one of the cornerstones of this title, with a wide-open world from the beginning. Part of this is given thanks to the multiple probes that you can leave in the designated points, being able to discover treasures, bigger enemies, and one or another mystery. The same probes can be specialized, helping you to get more resources to improve the shops in New Los Angeles or to get more information about the surrounding areas. The game has its story missions, divided into chapters, but as a good RPG, part of the fun and exploration is found in its secondary missions, which will be the guide of this game.
The gameplay remains very similar to what we saw in the Wii U version, for better or worse. There are some changes in the way the game is controlled, considering that the original version was played on both the TV and the Wii U screen, with some changes that had to be made to make it run on Switch. In this regard, there are details that make this a game that is better appreciated on a TV than in handheld mode, especially when it comes to text, which is very small on the Switch screen.
Despite the visual advancements and improvements that many characters have received for this release, there are elements such as the character models that look a decade old. It’s not completely bad, but it’s details that are starting to stand out and could have used a touch-up. The visual aspect looks and feels pretty good. If there’s one thing you have to give Monolith Soft credit for, they can create huge open worlds with multiple elements without making them drop frames.
A better quality of life
The Definitive Edition includes improvements that correct several elements that burdened the original. The first differences can be seen in all the menus, so you will be able to change the time in Mira or manage your team whenever you want, without having to move from one side to another. On the other hand, the original camera control also changes and now being much simpler and more intuitive than in the Wii U version.
Meanwhile, combat has been revamped. We now can quickly recharge our skills (or arts) as long as we have the energy to do so. This makes combat faster and more agile. If you are well synchronized with your team, you can activate the turbo mode to speed up your actions.
Finally, we have a revamped online mode, which I wasn’t able to try but which promises to be an MMORPG experience in this JRPG. And, of course, there is a bonus story at the end of everything we play, providing more hours of gameplay for those looking for an excuse to keep exploring Mira.
Xenoblade Chronicles X delivers on multiple fronts. It rescues one of the classics of the Wii U, adding new aspects and allowing you to play the entire franchise on a single console. The story is maintained, and the quality of life adjustments give this work a new air, although, of course, other visual details such as character models are already very noticeable years.
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