Wii U classic returns with refined visuals and sound
By Paul Hunter
Xenoblade Chronicles X, developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo, stands as one of the most expansive and adventurous role-playing games in recent memory. Originally released for the Wii U, it's made its way to the Nintendo Switch with a Definitive Edition that refines and enhances the original experience in numerous ways. Set in the aftermath of humanity's flight from a destroyed Earth, you take on the role of a customizable character exploring the alien world of Mira.
Xenoblade Chronicles X pushes the boundaries of open-world design by offering a gigantic environment that feels alive with countless opportunities for exploration, combat, and interaction. From the towering cities to the wild frontiers, the world of Mira never fails to captivate. Expect at least 60 hours for the main story, and up to 250 hours of content if you're a completionist. Whether you're levelling up, engaging in side quests, or taking on quests with the fate of humanity on the line, there's always something new to discover. Let’s dive into what makes Xenoblade Chronicles X such a standout RPG.
In Xenoblade Chronicles X, humanity finds itself stranded on the distant planet Mira after Earth’s destruction. The game opens with a catastrophic attack on Earth by an unknown alien race, forcing the remaining survivors to flee aboard a massive ship, the White Whale. As the ship crash-lands on Mira, the story begins, setting the stage for your role as a BLADE operative—a member of a group dedicated to exploration, resource collection, and ensuring the survival of humanity on this unfamiliar world.
The game’s central narrative revolves around uncovering the mysteries of Mira. The planet is vast and filled with diverse ecosystems, from lush forests to barren deserts, each home to unique creatures and hazards. As you explore, you’re constantly pushed to gather intel about the planet’s origins and the hostile forces at play. There’s a particular focus on the ancient alien races that once inhabited Mira, whose secrets are critical to understanding the world’s history and the fate of Earth.
At the heart of the story is your character’s involvement with BLADE, whose primary mission is to secure humanity's future. As a newly minted member, you’re thrust into various tasks, from fighting off deadly creatures to uncovering hidden technologies that may help humans thrive on Mira. The story's progression is driven by these missions, but it also delves into the personal stories of your comrades and the complex relationships that form over time. Elma, Lin, and the rest of the crew provide commentary, banter, and emotional weight that keep the story grounded amid the cosmic stakes.
Mira feels alive with unknowns. One moment you're hunting down wildlife for research, and the next you’re pulled into a faction feud or uncovering alien relics buried in ancient ruins. Side quests don’t just fill time—they flesh out the world and its citizens. Some reveal ethical dilemmas, others highlight hope, fear, or even humour in the face of extinction.
Although the core plot unfolds slowly, especially early on, it fits the exploratory tone of the game. This isn’t a rush to the credits. It’s a steady climb through the layers of a mysterious planet, told through interactions, discoveries, and decisions.
From a gameplay perspective, Xenoblade Chronicles X offers a massive open world to explore, and the sense of scale is incredible. There's a lot of freedom, too, as you’re not limited to specific paths or missions; instead, you’re free to roam and tackle objectives in the order you see fit. This freedom encourages exploration, as there’s always something new to discover, whether it’s a new creature, a side quest, or a mysterious location. I vividly recall spending hours simply roaming through Mira’s jungles, stumbling upon a powerful boss creature that I wasn’t ready to face. The thrill of the chase, the uncertainty of not knowing what lurked around the corner, is one of the most exciting parts of the experience.
Turning our attention to the combat, it's fast-paced and dynamic, requiring quick thinking and strategy. You control a party of up to four characters, each with unique abilities and roles. You can easily switch between party members outside of battles, allowing you to play as your desired teammate. The battle system is based on a mix of auto-attacks and abilities, with positioning playing a key role. Timing is essential, especially when activating arts or combos, which can turn the tide of battle in your favour.
One of the most enjoyable aspects is customizing your characters. You can equip different weapons, gear, and arts to fit your playstyle. The skill trees are deep, allowing you to fine-tune your team’s abilities as you progress. I found myself constantly adjusting my loadout to take on tougher enemies, which kept the gameplay feeling fresh.
Your character will eventually pilot a Skell, a giant mecha that opens up a new layer of combat and exploration. It takes a while to earn your licence, but once you’re soaring through Mira in a Skell, everything changes. Combat gains a whole new layer, allowing you to face tougher enemies and reach otherwise inaccessible areas. It’s a hard-earned reward that genuinely shifts how you experience the world. Skell battles felt like an exciting change of pace from the ground-level skirmishes.
The Definitive Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X brings a host of gameplay improvements, including a refined user interface, making it easier to manage your team and monitor status effects during battles. You can also now edit your party members at any time, a huge time saver. One of the most notable changes is the addition of new story content, which introduces new characters that can join your party.
The map and quest systems have also been improved. In the Wii U version, navigating the vast world of Xenoblade Chronicles X could sometimes be confusing due to unclear directions or hard-to-find locations. The Definitive Edition addresses these issues with clearer quest markers, better mapping, and more informative objective descriptions, making exploration simpler and more enjoyable.
From its original Wii U roots, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition makes a strong visual leap. Graphically, Mira remains one of the most ambitious environments in the series. From the coral-like formations of Noctilum to the scorched wastes of Oblivia, each zone feels distinct. The HD treatment sharpens textures, improves lighting, and slightly enhances draw distance, allowing for smoother long-range exploration without the original's abrupt pop-in. Character models also receive subtle polish, making facial expressions more readable in cutscenes.
Audio has also received an upgrade. The Definitive Edition features a new soundtrack arrangements that makes the stirring orchestral scores even more impressive, allowing the music to shine through with greater clarity. From the serene melodies in the peaceful areas to the more intense tracks during battle sequences, the music is exceptional.
As for technical performance, the Definitive Edition runs smoother than the Wii U version, with a stable 30 frames per second with minimal dips, even during Skell battles or heavy weather effects. The faster load times between areas, compared to the original, are also a welcome improvement. Overall, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition presentation is stellar, easily in contention for the best-looking Nintendo Switch game yet.
Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Developer: Monolith Soft
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action Role-Playing
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Xenoblade Chronicles X, developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo, stands as one of the most expansive and adventurous role-playing games in recent memory. Originally released for the Wii U, it's made its way to the Nintendo Switch with a Definitive Edition that refines and enhances the original experience in numerous ways. Set in the aftermath of humanity's flight from a destroyed Earth, you take on the role of a customizable character exploring the alien world of Mira.
Xenoblade Chronicles X pushes the boundaries of open-world design by offering a gigantic environment that feels alive with countless opportunities for exploration, combat, and interaction. From the towering cities to the wild frontiers, the world of Mira never fails to captivate. Expect at least 60 hours for the main story, and up to 250 hours of content if you're a completionist. Whether you're levelling up, engaging in side quests, or taking on quests with the fate of humanity on the line, there's always something new to discover. Let’s dive into what makes Xenoblade Chronicles X such a standout RPG.
In Xenoblade Chronicles X, humanity finds itself stranded on the distant planet Mira after Earth’s destruction. The game opens with a catastrophic attack on Earth by an unknown alien race, forcing the remaining survivors to flee aboard a massive ship, the White Whale. As the ship crash-lands on Mira, the story begins, setting the stage for your role as a BLADE operative—a member of a group dedicated to exploration, resource collection, and ensuring the survival of humanity on this unfamiliar world.
The game’s central narrative revolves around uncovering the mysteries of Mira. The planet is vast and filled with diverse ecosystems, from lush forests to barren deserts, each home to unique creatures and hazards. As you explore, you’re constantly pushed to gather intel about the planet’s origins and the hostile forces at play. There’s a particular focus on the ancient alien races that once inhabited Mira, whose secrets are critical to understanding the world’s history and the fate of Earth.
At the heart of the story is your character’s involvement with BLADE, whose primary mission is to secure humanity's future. As a newly minted member, you’re thrust into various tasks, from fighting off deadly creatures to uncovering hidden technologies that may help humans thrive on Mira. The story's progression is driven by these missions, but it also delves into the personal stories of your comrades and the complex relationships that form over time. Elma, Lin, and the rest of the crew provide commentary, banter, and emotional weight that keep the story grounded amid the cosmic stakes.
Mira feels alive with unknowns. One moment you're hunting down wildlife for research, and the next you’re pulled into a faction feud or uncovering alien relics buried in ancient ruins. Side quests don’t just fill time—they flesh out the world and its citizens. Some reveal ethical dilemmas, others highlight hope, fear, or even humour in the face of extinction.
Although the core plot unfolds slowly, especially early on, it fits the exploratory tone of the game. This isn’t a rush to the credits. It’s a steady climb through the layers of a mysterious planet, told through interactions, discoveries, and decisions.
From a gameplay perspective, Xenoblade Chronicles X offers a massive open world to explore, and the sense of scale is incredible. There's a lot of freedom, too, as you’re not limited to specific paths or missions; instead, you’re free to roam and tackle objectives in the order you see fit. This freedom encourages exploration, as there’s always something new to discover, whether it’s a new creature, a side quest, or a mysterious location. I vividly recall spending hours simply roaming through Mira’s jungles, stumbling upon a powerful boss creature that I wasn’t ready to face. The thrill of the chase, the uncertainty of not knowing what lurked around the corner, is one of the most exciting parts of the experience.
Turning our attention to the combat, it's fast-paced and dynamic, requiring quick thinking and strategy. You control a party of up to four characters, each with unique abilities and roles. You can easily switch between party members outside of battles, allowing you to play as your desired teammate. The battle system is based on a mix of auto-attacks and abilities, with positioning playing a key role. Timing is essential, especially when activating arts or combos, which can turn the tide of battle in your favour.
One of the most enjoyable aspects is customizing your characters. You can equip different weapons, gear, and arts to fit your playstyle. The skill trees are deep, allowing you to fine-tune your team’s abilities as you progress. I found myself constantly adjusting my loadout to take on tougher enemies, which kept the gameplay feeling fresh.
Your character will eventually pilot a Skell, a giant mecha that opens up a new layer of combat and exploration. It takes a while to earn your licence, but once you’re soaring through Mira in a Skell, everything changes. Combat gains a whole new layer, allowing you to face tougher enemies and reach otherwise inaccessible areas. It’s a hard-earned reward that genuinely shifts how you experience the world. Skell battles felt like an exciting change of pace from the ground-level skirmishes.
The Definitive Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X brings a host of gameplay improvements, including a refined user interface, making it easier to manage your team and monitor status effects during battles. You can also now edit your party members at any time, a huge time saver. One of the most notable changes is the addition of new story content, which introduces new characters that can join your party.
The map and quest systems have also been improved. In the Wii U version, navigating the vast world of Xenoblade Chronicles X could sometimes be confusing due to unclear directions or hard-to-find locations. The Definitive Edition addresses these issues with clearer quest markers, better mapping, and more informative objective descriptions, making exploration simpler and more enjoyable.
From its original Wii U roots, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition makes a strong visual leap. Graphically, Mira remains one of the most ambitious environments in the series. From the coral-like formations of Noctilum to the scorched wastes of Oblivia, each zone feels distinct. The HD treatment sharpens textures, improves lighting, and slightly enhances draw distance, allowing for smoother long-range exploration without the original's abrupt pop-in. Character models also receive subtle polish, making facial expressions more readable in cutscenes.
Audio has also received an upgrade. The Definitive Edition features a new soundtrack arrangements that makes the stirring orchestral scores even more impressive, allowing the music to shine through with greater clarity. From the serene melodies in the peaceful areas to the more intense tracks during battle sequences, the music is exceptional.
As for technical performance, the Definitive Edition runs smoother than the Wii U version, with a stable 30 frames per second with minimal dips, even during Skell battles or heavy weather effects. The faster load times between areas, compared to the original, are also a welcome improvement. Overall, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition presentation is stellar, easily in contention for the best-looking Nintendo Switch game yet.
The Verdict
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition doesn’t just revisit one of the most grandiose RPGs on the Wii U—it brings sweeping improvements to an already exceptional game. The remastered presentation, smoother gameplay systems, and thoughtful tweaks make it easier than ever to lose yourself in Mira. Its story takes its time, but it’s filled with character-driven moments and memorable story beats that make the journey worth it. From the combat refinements to the improved UI and streamlined party management, this edition makes it easier than ever to explore its vast open world. For returning fans or newcomers, this is the definitive way to explore one of Xenoblade’s most ambitious entries.Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition details
Platform: Nintendo SwitchDeveloper: Monolith Soft
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action Role-Playing
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.