#Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Version – Destructoid

As a lot as I’ve beloved each new entry within the mainline Xenoblade Chronicles sequence, there’s one thing particular about Xenoblade Chronicles X. Whereas it’s technically not a spin-off, it’s definitely its personal factor, favoring a extra futuristic sci-fi world and story in comparison with the fantasy setting of the principle sequence.

Practically a decade after initially releasing on the Wii U console close to the top of its lifecycle, Monolith Smooth and Nintendo have launched Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Version, a remastered model of the unique sport modernized to run and look good on the Nintendo Swap, with some new content material in addition.

Usually remasters go in one in every of three instructions: a easy port of an previous sport to a extra trendy system, a port that additionally has some improved visuals, or a whole graphical improve which will additionally add extra content material to the unique sport. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Version falls within the latter class, including a trove of latest options and content material whereas upgrading the graphics for the Swap.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Version (Nintendo Swap)
Developer: Monolith Smooth
Writer: Nintendo
Launched: March 20, 2025
MSRP: $59.99

Regardless of utilizing the Xenoblade Chronicles identify, the story of XCX is totally separate. Someday sooner or later, humanity is compelled to flee Earth after the planet is caught in the course of an intergalactic warfare. As two alien species wage battle in house above Earth, humanity launches a sequence of colony ships as a last-ditch try at survival. One of many ships, the White Whale, efficiently evades the warring species’ however is tracked down by one of many species and shot down years later, inflicting it to crash land on the mysterious alien planet of Mira.

The world of Mira is the place Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Version takes place, and it’s completely huge. For comparability, the overall measurement of Mira is 154 sq. miles which is greater than the world of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at 140. You’ll traverse your complete gargantuan world all through the various story missions that stretch over a number of narratives beginning whereas determining the way you crashlanded on Mira and surveying each nook and cranny of the planet.

Exploration of Mira shouldn’t be solely a core a part of the narrative in XCX: Definitive Version, nevertheless it’s additional amplified by an in-game system referred to as FrontierNav. As you discover Mira yow will discover spots to drop down numerous probes as a part of the FrontierNav system, contributing in the direction of the surveying of the planet but in addition permitting you to accrue numerous supplies together with cash and Miranium which you’ll use to improve your gear.

Whereas aspect quests are sometimes side-dressing in most JRPG’s, in XCX: Definitive Version they’re arguably extra vital than the principle quests. In fact, you don’t must do aspect quests to progress the precise foremost storyline and get by the sport, however the true meat of the storyline together with particulars in regards to the characters, the world of Mira, and what precisely is occurring are principally fleshed out by the aspect quests.

Though XCX: Definitive Version is vastly completely different from the opposite mainline entries within the sequence by way of story, world, and setting, the one massive space of similarity is the fight system. Each in story missions and when traversing the open world, you’ll encounter numerous enemies of various varieties that you’ll have interaction in real-time fight.

You affect the fight by using an arsenal of expertise whereas in fight, together with each melee and ranged. The talents differ from dealing injury to making use of destructive standing results to your enemies or optimistic standing results to your self and allies in addition to therapeutic. At a look, the fight system could sound a bit simplistic, nevertheless it’s removed from it. Many of the expertise have numerous bonuses which might be utilized while you meet sure situations equivalent to attacking an enemy from behind, from the aspect, and so forth. This creates a really dynamic but fluid fight system of maneuvering across the subject to make sure you’re attacking your enemies in probably the most optimum means.

To make issues much more attention-grabbing, the world of Mira is harsh and punishing. For instance, one of many early zones has a large Degree 55 dinosaur trampling round subsequent to numerous Degree 3 and Degree 4 creatures. It’s not simply there for shock issue both; participating in fight with the dinosaur early on while you first attain this zone can be an absolute loss of life sentence. Nevertheless it additional provides to the huge quantity of content material in XCX: Definitive Version. There’s one thing particular about discovering a higher-level enemy early on that you simply bear in mind many hours later while you’re sturdy sufficient to return again and take it on.

Alongside leveling up, there are two different main factors in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Version which might be fairly massive sport changers by way of each gameplay and exploration of Mira. After Chapter 6, you’ll acquire entry to a Skell, a weaponizable mech/exoskeleton that can absolutely offer you Gundam vibes. You possibly can traverse the world of Mira a lot faster in a Skell than on foot, however you too can use them in battle, making fast work of smaller enemies and supplying you with the power to tackle extra hulking enemies with ease. Then, after Chapter 9, you unlock the Flight Module for the Skell, permitting you to fly round for even sooner journey and opening up beforehand inaccessible areas.

If what you’ve learn to this point on this evaluate sounds nice, I’ve excellent news: that is primarily Xenoblade Chronicles X earlier than it acquired the Definitive Version therapy. As an entire, the Definitive Version principally amplifies all the things above in a method or one other, but in addition provides extra content material.

First off, the graphical upgrades are stable throughout the board in XCX: Definitive Version. The shiny plastic-looking character faces from the unique are lengthy gone, changed with sharper and extra outlined fashions. The creature textures and the world have additionally been up to date, in addition to the lighting. Clearly, it’s important to take into account that that is nonetheless the Swap we’re taking part in on, so don’t anticipate PS5 or Xbox X|S-quality graphics, however I’d argue that whereas the unique Xenoblade Chronicles X primarily pushed the Wii U to its limits graphically, the Definitive Version seems to be doing the identical factor on the Swap. There are a number of areas, primarily for the much-larger-than-normal creatures, the place I’ve observed a number of spots of blurry textures that appear to be they both didn’t scale accurately or weren’t up to date from the unique, however this was just a few occasions and was actually solely noticeable after I acquired up shut and private.

Story-wise, the Definitive Version is a significant addition that fleshes out numerous plot threads and character developments all through the development of the sport. One of many few points with the unique Xenoblade Chronicles X is that it had considerably of a cliffhanger ending that appeared to set issues up for a sequel, however a sequel by no means occurred. There’s some further story within the Definitive Version that builds on it however don’t anticipate that concern to be totally resolved. Hopefully this definitive version results in a correct sequel the place we are able to see the cliffhanger discover full decision.

By way of content material, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Version has lots to supply, in addition to many quality-of-life choices that solely make the sport even higher. There are two new characters, Neilnail and Leisel, every of which even have their very own new Skell as nicely. There’s additionally a completely new zone, a floating continent that may solely be accessed by way of flying. The truth is, the zone is constructed particularly for traversal with the flying Skell, providing extra verticality than the opposite zones. This new zone additionally has new creatures, story beats, and even FrontierNav factors to discover and set as much as create an much more environment friendly useful resource era pipeline.

High quality of life has been vastly improved. Mission Merchandise Markers have been added to the map, exhibiting you the place to go to tackle missions and extra importantly the place to farm numerous gadgets required for fetch quests, a serious concern within the unique sport. BLADE Ranges, a separate rating system out of your degree that you simply needed to grind out to entry sure missions has been eliminated, permitting you to entry missions merely based mostly on Degree and Major Story development. You can even now swap social gathering members shortly and simply at any time by way of the menu, fairly than having to trek all the best way again to the principle metropolis like within the unique sport.

Maybe crucial new addition is an all-new cooldown system. Your expertise — referred to as Arts — have their very own particular cooldowns after use. Nonetheless, this new system lets you construct up a separate cooldown meter after which eat it to immediately bypass your Artwork cooldowns and use the Artwork anyway. This provides one other ingredient of gameplay the place you possibly can handle your new cooldown meter to drag off much more lethal assaults based mostly on skirting previous prolonged cooldowns, or executing a clutch heal in a pinch.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Version is how I want all corporations dealt with remastering its video games. Xenoblade Chronicles X was already insanely good, and I’d have been completely nice with only a graphical replace and a port to the Swap. Its huge and immersive world is like no different and exhibits what peak exploration in a sport ought to appear to be, discovering a approach to keep enjoyable, mysterious, and rewarding even after 100 hours.

However as a substitute of going the simple route, Monolith Smooth went the additional mile and added significant new content material and quality-of-life options that truly improved on what was already a masterpiece expertise. The Definitive Version therapy makes Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Version among the finest JRPGs on the Swap, and a must-play for followers of the style.