With Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition releasing on the Switch just last week, discussion between fans has been at an all time high, and for good reason.
In many people’s eyes, Definitive Edition has allowed the original Xenoblade Chronicles to become the game Monolith Soft always envisioned. After being held back by sub-par hardware twice, once in 2010 on the Wii and once again in 2015 by the New 3DS, the sprawling vistas of the Bionis and Mechonis have never looked as stunning as they have now on the Nintendo Switch. The game’s appearance on the Wii U’s Virtual Console in 2016 didn’t assist much either due to the fact that it was, well, on the Wii U.
Similarly to Monolith Soft’s Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Definitive Edition now enjoys the privilege of soaking in the Switch limelight. It’s no surprise that the original’s localisation debacle had an impact on the game’s western reception with it finally releasing in the US the same year the Wii was laid to rest. Because of this, it’s not shocking that fans of the series are desperate for people to try this game out. For a game that has often been touted as one of the best JRPGs of the modern era, it’s never seemed to garner the success to match. But with it releasing on the Switch better than ever, Xenoblade Chronicles finally has a fighting chance.
That being said, it’s not a shocking revelation that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 wasn’t for everyone. With pre-release controversy regarding the overt sexualisation of the game’s cast, and complaints regarding the slow and arguably overencumbered battle system, players returning from the last installment may be hesitant to afford Definitive Edition the hefty portion of time it requires. Fortunately, for as similar as the two games are, many of the sequel’s most egregious content is either absent or mitigated in this re-release.
First things first, Xenoblade Chronicles is far more modest than its successor. It still is a JRPG, so Shulk can save the world in nothing but his underwear if you want. Although, the presence of sexuality in the original game is a far cry from the absurdity that was present in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Sure, there probably were people whose sole motive for buying Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was Pyra and Mythra’s ‘character design’, but for most people the game’s blatant attempt at pandering did little to nothing.
It wasn’t just the character’s appearances that people had issues with, though. In many ways, Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s cast is an all-star ensemble of Japanese culture’s greatest and most tired tropes, leaning further into the game’s anime inspired artstyle. While Pyra and Mythra’s conflicting personalities serve to create lighthearted conflict between the game’s cast, it’s no doubt that the dichotomy between the shy, gentle type and the brash, overconfident counterpart is one that has been played out several times before. In general, Xenoblade Chronicles treats itself much more seriously than its sequel usually does. It doesn’t pretend to be high class literature, because it knows it’s not, but its story and presentation feels much more original than the anime influenced antics present in its sequel.
More important to the core experience itself is the breakdown between the two games’ closely related combat systems. Between Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s inability to auto-attack while walking, and a sluggish movement speed necessitated by the game’s ever present partner characters, dubbed ‘blades’, it became a common complaint that Xenoblade 2’s combat system felt slow and drawn out. In comparison, Definitive Edition’s combat system feels more sharp and punctual. Characters move around the battlefield with a sense of urgency, attacking as they run. Its more mobile nature better emphasises the importance of positioning and cooperation between your active party members. It’s not just that running around feels faster, but strategising in the midst of battle has benefited too, placing greater value on your ability to make split second decisions.
Although these sentiments would mean nothing if the combat system was as complicated as many players found Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to be. Thankfully, not only is the original’s battle system less complicated than the sequel’s, but the Definitive Edition also boasts some small improvements that iron out some pre-existing kinks.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s battle system was almost structured in several tiers. Auto attacks build up arts, arts build up special attacks, and special attacks build up elemental combos. All these culminate in the mighty chain attack where massive damage can be dished out, but without a proper understanding of the preceding stages, players can easily end up feeling disoriented on what to do. While combat in Definitive Edition never feels quite as technical, it’s certainly more open ended. Combat still revolves around auto attacks and arts, but they’re all present at once making combat feel more open ended and less rigid in many ways.
The presentation of information has also been massively improved. UI elements have been shrunk down and their designs made less distracting. The stream of new information has been minimised, making understanding what’s happening during combat less obtrusive. The lack of Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s blades characters also leaves the battlefield feeling marginally less crowded. Where your active party in 2 essentially consisted of six characters at all times, Definitive Edition’s party of three feels far less claustrophobic. While their absence may rob the experience of the expansive customisation that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 boasted, the absence of blades within Definitive Edition also means the absence of the gacha elements you would acquire them by.
This isn’t meant to make Xenoblade Chronicles 2 sound like a bad game. It’s obvious that the title leans heavily into being a hardcore JRPG. But at the same time, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition leans into the same school of game design with a more accessible approach. Ultimately, it offers a more serious, streamlined and better paced experience than Xenoblade Chronicles 2 delivered on.
So even if Xenoblade Chronicles 2 wasn’t exactly your thing, there’s a good chance Definitive Edition may be the alternative for you.
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