Xenoblade Chronicles (2010 Video Game) User Reviews

The Beginning of an Epic, Wii, Swan Song.

[BigBadDave · 10/10 · 30 September 2011]

**SPOILER FREE*

The greatest disappointment about Xenoblade Chronicles is that not everyone, who owns a Wii, will get the chance to play it. Due to some bizarre decisions from 'Nintendo of America', Xenoblade Chronicles has not been granted an NA release. This is a crying shame as Xenoblade Chronicles is by far, not only, one of the best Wii games that I have ever played but also one of the best JRPG's that I have ever come across.

The story is your usual fare of 'good vs evil', with that 'ordinary' guy chosen to be the hero; but there are so many twist and turns that you cannot help yourself but feel engrossed by it all. It makes me wonder that this could even but adapted into a successful film series. It does a great job of making you actually care for the characters, which is helped by the British voice cast who do a great job of bringing these individuals to life...for the most part. Sure there are a few instances here and there, but they are so minor you won't even be phased by it.

Xenoblade Chronicles plays very well and eases you into the battle mechanics without being patronising. But there is so much to it, over 80 hours in and I was still learning new techniques and strategies, it really is astounding how much there is to this game.

One criticism this game has been receiving is with its graphics. Everyone knows that the Wii is not a power house console, and it does show with Xenoblade. However the 'style' of this game is beyond incredible. The design of the various towns and battlefields, the looks of the many enemies roaming the grounds that you are exploring, it really shows the attention to detail that the designers used when creating this game, its simply beautiful.

Talking about things being 'beautiful', I can't finish without mentioning the sublime soundtrack that accompanies this game. Epic, inspiring and melodious are words that easily spring to mind. The grand scale of when your are exploring the fields of 'Bionis', the deep mood of when you are discovering 'Mechonis'. Every songs fits every moment perfectly; and lets not forget the final song, 'Beyond the Sky', which would give many Disney Films 'hit songs' a run for their money.

Simply put, if you own a Wii, and are starved for an epic game, then you deserve to pick this game up. If you are a fan of RPGs/JRPGS you really won't be disappointed.

10/10

To all my brethren, over seas, I wish you all the best with your campaign to get this game released in North America. Hopefully NoA can see the error of their ways and treat their fans with the respect you lot deserve.

A very engrossing game for the Nintendo WII system

[Aaron1375 · 9/10 · 14 April 2015]

I had heard about this game for the longest time and being a very huge fan of role playing games I had to have it. Unfortunately, for the longest time it did not even look like it would be released here in North America. Not sure why, as it is a very good game and a type of game the WII for the most part was sorely lacking (RPG games). Sure, Final Fantasy had a release that was pretty good and there was a sort of sequel to the Gamecube hit Tales of Symphonia; however, for the most part the choices for games of this type were few and far between. The best one I had played up until this point was a lesser known game called Arc Rise Fantasia which was also very good with its major flaw being a rather bad voice acting job. Here, you actually get the choice of English or Japanese and I had to pick Japanese due to my experience playing Arc. Unfortunately, if you play this one on the 3DS, you only get the English. The game has some unique things going for it and it is incredibly long. I did not think the WII was even capable of a game of this magnitude. I always thought Final Fantasy Crystal Bearers was so short because the WII was limited as far as power, so this game kind of makes the makers of that game look a bit lazy! This one is not without its flaws though as it took me forever to win, for reasons I cannot fathom a strategy guide was never made and there are some areas that are frustrating, but overall this is a very good RPG released for a system not all that known for them.

The story starts out with two colossal titans fighting. One creature is mechanical, the other biological. They both get their blows in and then cease moving. Years later we are thrown into a battle between humans and robots as the two groups via for position in a place called sword valley! Soon we flash a couple of years over and we are introduced to Shulk who is a smart guy who lives at a place called Colony 9. He is studying a blade known as the Monondo blade which was an essential weapon for the humans during their struggle against the Mechonis during the battle of Sword Valley as it was wielded by a man whose sister Shulk has a thing for. It isn't too long before the temporary peace that was brought about by the battle is over and Shulk soon finds himself wielding the mysterious blade and must go on an adventure that goes way beyond anything I can really explain. You will meet many different people that live on the giant creature known as Bionis and of course, there is something looming in shadows that will threaten all. Granted, there are a few twists and turns along the way.

The game play is all right. I would prefer turn based combat, but it does the hybrid action based turn based. The game is kind of annoying in that you cannot really heal using items so later in the game I felt handcuffed to a female character named Sharla as she is the best healer in the game. I had loads of trouble getting through this one due to the fact it takes a while to grasp some of the things you really need to do to get through this one. I never got the skill tree thing until the very end and I also did not understand the affinity coins! Finally figured it out at the last boss and it is what finally gave me the win. The game needed a strategy guide as there are hundreds of side quests to partake in and loads of difficult enemies to fight and the game uses time and day and night so you could use it to locate people in towns too.

Overall this game was very good. I think it could have been great had they tightened up a bit as it took me well over 140 hours to play through this one. I have heard of people not taking nearly as long to get through this and I think I too could have gotten through this one much faster if only they released, you guessed it...a strategy guide! The characters in this one are very likable and I love that you can use the Japanese voices. My fiancé got this game for the 3Ds and she did not have that option and from what I heard the English voices sound very off to me. The game has a ton in it and will encompass your time and if you can find it and do not have it and like RPG's I suggest you get it! It is hard to find for the WII, but not to hard to get on the 3DS. A great game where the vastness was very surprising as I always thought the WII a rather weak system.

A late gem in the Wii's life, but a gem none the less.

[jamesjbutler-18009 · 9/10 · 8 February 2016]

Xenoblade Chronicles is, like I said in the summary, a fantastic game to own. It is an epic that revolves around the young boy Shulk and his sword, the Monado, as they set out on a quest to avenge their friend. This quest later turns into a larger than life story that will revolve around Shulk's ability of foresight.

The world of Xenoblade is massive. It takes place across the bodies of two gigantic titans. The Bionis, where all living, organic beings originate, and the Mechonis, which is where all mechanical beings originate, were locked in a battle that ended with both titans weakening each other to the point of exhaustion. Life would later spring up on these titans.

The story of Xenoblade starts off at the Battle of Sword Valley. The Homs, basically humans, are fighting off a large force of Mechon, machines that eat Homs. You play as Dunban and hold back a large horde of Mechon using the Monado. The game does a one year time skip, and you're now controlling Shulk. After some normal, peaceful time in Colony 9, a Mechon attack results in Shulk's friend and love interest Fiora's untimely death. This attack is also where Shulk first wields the Monado. Shulk and his friend Reyn depart from the colony and promise to avenge Fiora.

Xenoblade's gameplay is a perfect mix of combat and world exploration. Exploration and side-questing rewards you with experience points. Side quests are entirely optional, you don't need to do any to progress the story. However, it is ideal to do as many as possible in order to be at a safe level. This game doesn't punish you directly for not doing side quests, but you will notice the game becomes more difficult if you do fewer side quests.

Xenoblade's combat system is so deep, but at the same time user friendly. It's complex enough to earn its own review. The combat in Xenoblade draws inspiration from MMO's with attacks that are unique to a certain character that have cool down times. These attacks, known as arts, can inflict status conditions on the enemy. You have your standard ones, such as poison, paralyzation, blaze (which is basically burn), and others.There are also unique statuses. These include break, topple, and daze. An enemy with a break status can be toppled, and a toppled enemy can be dazed. Positioning can also have an influence on damage. Some arts might do more damage if you're behind the enemy. Every character has a unique talent art too. These talent arts can draw aggro, do heavy damage, or allow access to more arts. Shulk's Monado will give him visions of powerful attacks that are coming. This will give players a warning, only give them a certain time to react them. Warning a party member takes one meter from the party gauge. If you have three meters in you party gauge, you can unleash a powerful chain attack.

The scope of Xenoblade is astounding for a Wii title. The environments are all unique. And at a distance, everything looks amazing. Models up close do look muddy, and that's the only reason I don't give this game a 10 out of 10. It does look like an early Gamecube game in terms of close up looks which can sometimes be a tad distracting. The soundtrack is astounding, bringing out emotions of sadness or excitement depending on the scene. The battle themes are iconic, and the world exploring themes are charming. Character development progresses perfectly, and you feel like you've known them way longer than the story 70 hour story. Completionists are staring down a large beast. It will take the upside of 121-130 hours to complete Xenoblade Chronicles.

This is a massive undertaking with a great reward in form of an amazing story, great characters, and rewarding accomplishments. It's a great game to have regardless of your status with JRPGs. If you're a veteran to the genre, you'll be right at home. If you want to get into these types of games, Xenoblade is a friendly startup game.

One of the Best JRPGs in Recent Times

[pikaleegaming · 10/10 · 2 September 2015]

Xenoblade Chronicles is one of the best video games I have ever played. From the characters, the vast worlds, outstanding soundtrack, amazing art direction, and beautiful cut scenes. Though it may not be 1080p, the art direction is stunning, and the world is very detailed. Cut scenes are not pre-generated, but rather it is based off of your current equipment.

Though the characters and plot can be cliché, it is merely a matter of executing the clichés properly. For instance, Reyn is the big, dumb, brute. However, six of the seven characters are developed well. The characters are developed well, with the exception of the character referred to as "Seven" by the Xenoblade fan base. Seven is only there to be a love interest.

The voices of the characters of the different races (Hom, Nopon, High Entia, Machina) are also very different. The homs are tend to be humans, the nopon are fun, goofy, the High Entia are posh, and the machina feel like a foreign species. The voice actors do a good job on bringing out the world and makes it seem real.

The plot is the typical good vs evil, but the hero (Shulk) goes through the world in the form of the Road of Trials. The Road of Trials in the Hero's Journey archetype is done well here, the characters clearly learn from each experience.

The vast environments are very detailed, and non-linear. Some such as Sword Valley (the area where Dunban fought the Mechon) did a good job on being non-linear. The environments are very colorful, and unlike other video games, they include much more than just the color brown. Sword Valley may just be a valley, but it incorporates green into it's color palette very well.

Alongside the vast environments is the outstanding soundtrack. The soundtrack brings out the heroes' journey. In Gaur Plains, the soundtrack to accompany it is "The Beginning of the Journey" type of music. The soundtrack is pleasing to listen to, even without the environments to accompany it.

The pacing is relatively good, however there is only one major difficulty spike, which is near the end. The game has at least 400+ side quests to assist the player in grinding. The quests can reduce the workload and can allow you to learn about the world of Xenoblade. Some side quests are as simple as defeating monsters that you will meet on your way, getting materials from those monsters, getting collectibles. Others include back stories to the mythology of the races, etc.

I highly recommend getting this game whether if it is the Wii or the New 3DS version. Absolutely amazing, and a beautiful game. The world is truly alive and has wonderful replay value. I have invested at least 210 hours into it, and have always enjoyed it.

A Vast, Ambitious, and Breathtaking JRPG

[lmathc · 9/10 · 4 April 2021]

I was late to the party with Xenoblade Chronicles, having just played it for the first time on the Nintendo Switch. After 52+ hours of gameplay, I can confidently say that this is one of the most masterfully created RPGs I've ever played.

Xenoblade Chronicles presents an original story in a beautifully rendered world. The scenery is amazing and the mere scope of the environment is almost too much to handle. This is paired with a phenomenal soundtrack that ranges from gorgeous piano tracks to riveting electric guitar riffs.

Aside from the world, the characters are well-acted and very likeable for the most part. Relations between party members build in a realistic way and each person's arc is compelling.

Finally, the combat system bridges the gap between turn-based and Action-RPG styles in a way that allows for seamless world exploration. While it can seem a bit confusing at first, it becomes very satisfying as battles increase in difficulty.

The downsides are few and far between, but I'd say this game is right on the cusp of being too big for its own good. Map completionists will find themselves spending a significant amount of time running vast distances with relatively little interaction between NPCs, items, or enemies. It's a small gripe, but a sprint button would be a very welcome improvement.

Ultimately, Xenoblade Chronicles will likely have a little something to give pretty much any fan of JRPGs. The story is great, the combat is awesome, and the music ranks up with the best of the best video game OSTs. If you haven't played it yet, do so ASAP.

SO MANY QUESTS!!

[menelarus · 10/10 · 7 October 2022]

To start, xbc is an amazing game that can pull in many players. Yes, it lacks of animations and all sorts of movement, but is was a test game so the budget was limited. It's either a love it or hate it game, with some people saying it is perfect and others thinking that it's the worst game to ever exist. I used to play the game on the Nintendo wii, and recently got the definitive edition and I could see some changes here and there. But the only department they didnt change at all was the stupid number of quests of 480. I get it, it's an easy way to add content into a game but 480 is a bit of an overkill. Not to mention that the majority of them are the exact same: go kill this go kill that, or collect a million orbs from 4 different areas and then come back to me. After a certain amount of playing time it gets a bit boring and slowly starts to lose its meaning. Don't get me wrong, there are some quests that can save the whole picture of the game, but trying to add content into the game in that way was kind of a bad idea. Apart from the only downfall though, it is a great game that can kill time quite efficiently.

Did Any Positive Reviewers Actually Finish The Game?

[aronkay · 6/10 · 8 October 2020]

I wonder if the glowing reviews were made after completing this game or simply after playing it for a few hours.

This game was absolutely amazing and a wonder to behold... Up until the halfway point. The experience of playing it starts off like a breath of fresh air with a beautiful art style, engaging story, unique combat system, very Hollywood-esque voice acting, and probably the best original soundtrack you'll ever listen to (I even have the "You Will Know Our Names" chorus set as my ringtone).

But at a certain point, the experience changes, as the game gets dragged down by repetitive and empty side quests, incompetent AI compounded with a lack of control over your 2 teammates (which is crucial to most battles), and story beats with twists and turns which are more about subverting expectations than they are about making actual sense and being well-earned. And despite my years of experience playing RPGs since childhood, by the halfway point of this game, I just didn't look forward to slogging through what became a stale story with a combat difficulty spike that was simultaneously unfair and unengaging.

It's a real shame. After all the insane glowing reviews about this being one of the most overlooked games of the past 15 years, I was expecting at minimum a satisfying experience to carry me through most of the game. I haven't played the sequels so I can't comment on them, but before I do that, I'll need proof that they are games worth sinking 50+ hours into before I waste such time again.