Xenoblade Chronicles X Review Roundup
The embargo has been lifted on Xenoblade Chronicles X reviews, and as such a bunch of media outlets have posted scores for Nintendo’s upcoming RPG. I absolutely loved the first game and have high hopes for this one as well. Overall, it seems like the game is receiving very favorable critiques.
Since we’re a new site and aren’t privy to prerelease review copies of games, I won’t have the opportunity to play Xenoblade until this Friday like the rest of you. Rest assured, I will eventually post a review of the game, but judging by the size and time required it might take awhile. In the meantime, check out what some of the others are saying about it:
God is a Geek: 9.0/10
I have enjoyed Xenoblade Chronicles X so much that I am planning to start it all over again from the beginning, so I can really take my time with this absolutely gargantuan adventure, and I rarely feel that way about any game, let alone one I’ve been playing almost non-stop for a month. This is an essential purchase for all Wii U owners who love the JRPG genre.
Nevertheless, this is contemporary Japanese RPG-making at its boldest and most imaginative in years. For every cliché – the helium-voiced furry mascot who totters along behind your group, the incongruous, schizophrenic rock-cum-rap soundtrack – there’s an invention that hauls the open-world JRPG into the present, and then another that shunts it breezily into the future. Perhaps the game’s greatest achievement is that, over the course of this journey, you settle into Mira and, in that mystical way of all video game greats, Mira settles into you.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is not so much “deep” as it is complex – a rich spider’s web of interconnected activities that will take hours to fully comprehend. Work is involved in fully grasping this whole show, but once you’ve finally sorted things out and taken advantage of the game’s ginormous virtual manual, there’s a wonderfully absorbing adventure lying in wait.
It’s a game that understands the importance of rewarding players for their personal investment, and it makes sure that, no matter how convoluted its design, no matter how lengthy its tangential content, the payoff is always worth the time and effort.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is epic in scope. Most of the time, it’s better for it; other times, it’s clear that the developers didn’t have a golden thread sewing together all of its various parts. It’s an unconventional JRPG in many ways, most notably in its reliance on gameplay and multiplayer over an involved single player adventure ripe with quality storytelling and climactic plot twists. Its narrative is lacking at times — pulling inspiration from some of the most overused tropes out there — and its presentation is problematic to say the least. All of that aside, the sheer number of ways to custom tailor the experience, the wonderful combat, the inclusion of an astounding multiplayer mode and the compelling, massive world that’s presented make it one of the Wii U’s best games as well as one of 2015’s most complete RPGs. It may not be the follow-up that hardcore Xenoblade Chronicles fans were hoping for, but it’s a worthy sequel all the same — just one that marches to the beat of its own drum. Its unflinching tendency to do things that were not part of its predecessor’s legacy will solidify it as not only its own game, but the best role-playing experience on Wii U.
Xenoblade Chronicles X finds itself in a constant struggle between scale and bloat. When I crested over the game’s first mountaintop and saw a dinosaur drinking from a lake in the valley below, it was amazing — one of those rare video game moments that can be described as “epic” without hyperbole. But the UI is just one example of how X gets in its own way, hiding its beautiful world beneath overly complicated and under-explained systems that just don’t add enough. Monolith Soft has once more created something special under the Xenoblade name; it just happens to have buried that something special under a mountain of annoyances.
My own run through Xenoblade Chronicles X was an unintentional low level run, but I suspect this may have been because of the timing of when I got the game and playing super-extended sessions. Once the game is out and Christmas comes, I’m actually tempted to replay the game at a slower pace to really get the full experience out of it and to see if I avoid the extended grinding sessions (the 8th and 11th chapters of 12 had pretty heavy grinding required for my 1st playthrough). The fact that I plowed that time into the game and want to go back with more information to replay it should say a lot, though; Xenoblade Chronicles X is required playing for anyone with the slightest inclination toward RPGs, and if you need to buy the system then do it. It’s an essential part of the Wii U library..
This is one of the more interesting reviews I’ve done as of late because I know Xenoblade Chronicles X will be divisive. But it truly feels like an MMO world I’ve been living in for several weeks now. The more grimdark theme isn’t quite as charming as the original Xenoblade, but everything else makes up for it.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is a masterpiece for Japanese modern game development and one of the best Wii U games. An incredible open world game with very solid technology and a amazing art direction. The contents are even overwhelming, and this alongside a not-so-focused narrative pace, could scare some player. But book your travel to Mira: you’ll never forget this journey!
This year might not have been the best for Nintendo fans, but thankfully the Big N manages to finish 2015 in style. Xenoblade Chronicles X is a gigantic JRPG which will keep players engaged for more than hundred hours. While they Wii U isn’t the most powerful console of this generation, the game contains a scale and verticality that we’ve never seen before. This allows for some wonderful exploration on foot and with your mechs. The strong and improved combat system, in combination with beautiful locations and a pleasant story result in a JRPG you simply can’t miss.
There’s no such thing as a perfect game, but we believe that, in this case, our score and absolute recommendation is justified. Xenoblade Chronicles X is an amazingly well rounded game. There’s so much to do on the planet Mira, from quick-fire quests to experiencing great adventures alone or with four other players in online mode. And that’s not mentioning customising your base and your Skells. There’s so much to do that we often forget that the future of humanity is in our hands… Time flies when you’re having this much fun.
I played Xenoblade Chronicles X for about 70 hours and didn’t finish it, happily alternating between short sessions and long binges. It’s one of the most accessible JRPGs I’ve ever played, combining some of my favorite parts of games like Monster Hunter with a wonderful world to explore and a lot amount of content to consume. I say consume because a lot of that content is, in the end, repetitive – or tiring because of limiting mechanics. Despite that it’s a fun game, intensely satisfying to succeed at, and stands alone as a superb entry in the pseudo-series that started with Xenoblade Chronicles. An engaging world with interesting things in it, I expect I’ll get another 40 hours out of this game just exploring, seeing the sights, flying my mech, experiencing the story, and picking fights with random monsters. Just to see what happens
Xenoblade Chronicles X embraces the gigantic world found within it and provides gamers with not only beautiful environments, but uniquely designed creatures that inhabit them in yet another gem for the underrated Wii U.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is a genuinely enthralling game. It doesn’t take it easy on you though, and the perseverance and attention required may override the spectacle and beauty found here. Fans of the last game may also struggle with the tonal and technical shift, but if you want to experience one of the most involving, creative and expansive open worlds ever created, Xenoblade Chronicles X is essential.
Xenoblade Chronicles X offers a resplendent world, fantastic combat, and transforming mechs, but figuring out how everything fits together isn’t always easy.
We Got This Covered – 3.5 / 5 Stars
Despite never reaching its true potential Xenoblade Chronicles X is still an amazing gaming accomplishment. No other game can provide such a huge world to explore, and one that is filled with variety throughout. If you’re willing to embark on the lengthy quest that can easily eat up over 100 hours, and can put up with some technical shortcomings, then Xenoblade Chronicles X is worth picking up. Just be ready to grind.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is an ambitious game that succeeds on many fronts, but tapping into its greatness requires patience and perseverance.
This is one of the more interesting reviews I’ve done as of late because I know Xenoblade Chronicles X will be divisive. But it truly feels like an MMO world I’ve been living in for several weeks now. The more grimdark theme isn’t quite as charming as the original Xenoblade, but everything else makes up for it.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is as sprawling, diverse, complex and entrancing as we hoped. It utilises the Wii U’s capabilities not only to produce a beautiful world, but shows how something as simple as a map on the GamePad screen can be invaluable. What’s most impressive is the dynamism and impression of freedom in play – level caps and grinding are naturally part of the equation, yet they’re managed within a structure where even small missions or Affinity quests greatly enhance the narrative and sense of place. To truly experience the story of this human colony and the vast planet Mira requires exploration and patience, and Monolith Soft has found an impressive balance in bringing its vast range of gameplay systems and mechanics together.Occasional bottlenecks are infrequent and easily overcome in the broader experience, and overall Xenoblade Chronicles X delivers a hugely impressive RPG adventure. It’s an enormous accomplishment for Monolith Soft and an irresistible part of the Wii U library.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is epic in scope. Most of the time, it’s better for it; other times, it’s clear that the developers didn’t have a golden thread sewing together all of its various parts.
Attack of the Fanboy – 4.5 / 5 Stars
Xenoblade Chronicles X embraces the gigantic world found within it and provides gamers with not only beautiful environments, but uniquely designed creatures that inhabit them in yet another gem for the underrated Wii U.
Despite some minor flaws, Xenoblades Chronicles X is a JRPG fan’s dream come true.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is an awesome game buried under a mountain of annoyances
Xenoblade Chronicles X has a lot going for it. The incredible world, in-depth combat engine and an amazing soundtrack sets up the foundation for something that could’ve been an absolute classic. However, due to the missteps in quest design and overall progression, it’s a game that can only truly be enjoyed despite itself.
Post Arcade (Financial Post) – 7.5 / 10
Broad and expansive … and sometimes annoying
I don’t usually recommend buying a console for a video game, and when I do, the core game has to be so stellar, so addicting, that the thought of not having the console to play it would drive you mad. I didn’t say that for Rise of the Tomb Raider. I am, however, saying it for Xenoblade Chronicles X.
Deep and satisfying in the early hours, but a tremendously lengthy and tedious grind gradually slows down the fun in the run-up to the conclusion
The best Japanese role-player of the generation and arguably the best open world environment of the year, despite a disappointing story and some arcane systems.
iDigitalTimes – 4/5 (“Best Wii U game of 2015”)
[Source: NeoGAF]
Craig has been covering the video game industry since 1995. His work has been published across a wide spectrum of media sites. He’s currently the Editor-In-Chief of Nintendo Times and contributes to Gaming Age.
