Xenoblade Chronicles X

In other words, pick up Xenoblade Chronicles X and clear your schedule, because you have a whole new world to explore.

MonolithSoft has created an entire world to explore and dig into, and they put that world in an RPG that already feels like one of the most important RPGs to date.

Hands-down the best roleplaying game of 2015.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a difficult game to judge. It's completely different from any Japanese RPG we are used to playing and the sheer amount of content is just mind-blowing. There are a few flaws here and there; however, it's just plain incredible that this game runs on the Wii U hardware as it is. The planet Mira is the true star, here: not the story nor the characters, but a whole alien world.

Despite some minor flaws, Xenoblades Chronicles X is a JRPG fan’s dream come true.

I still have not seen nearly all there is to see in Xenoblade Chronicles X even after two months of playing it. [Issue #19 – January/February 2016, p.73]

It takes the well-oiled RPG mechanics of its predecessor and delivers a vast and alien world so meticulously and passionately designed that it’s easy and fun to get lost inside of it.

Monolith Soft shows the western market that JRPGs are far from extinct. The open world is simply stunning, the depth of the combat system will keep you engaged, and there's so much to explore. The story is not as good, and some dialogue not very well written, but the overall experience feels just amazing.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a deep, huge videogame: very rich in content, with extraordinary care to recreate an entire, wonderful ecosystem. A great masterpiece for all RPG fans.

That is because ultimately, in what the game tries to do, it succeeds completely: it creates an incredible, breathtaking, awe-inspiring world that is an absolute joy to run around in, to fight in, to collect in, to look around in, to be in. It may not have done so flawlessly, but Xenoblade Chronicles X gave me one of the finest worlds gaming has to offer, and it populated that world with incredible things to do.

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.

Xenoblade Chronicles X made us feel like we're exploring an uncharted world through an adventure like no other, unique, deep and beautiful. If you like RPGs, this is a game you cannot miss.

If you value a long experience in which great satisfactions come little by little, you should consider getting a Wii U for this game.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is one of the best JRPG in a last years. Deeper progress and combat system, stunning visuals and strong mechanics like Skells makes Xenoblade Chronicles X a truly must-have title for Wii U owners and any JRPG fan.

In one word: colossal. A colossal world, a colossal amount of content, a colossal adventure for Wii U.

An outstanding open-world JRPG, Xenoblade Chronicles X is precisely what the Wii U needed: an ambitious title with hundreds of hours of adventure. The improved combat mechanics, mechs and massive content make it a must buy for the owners of the platform.

It has more than enough to satisfy the hungriest RPG fans: fun exploration, in-depth combat, and a scope that will keep players engaged for a very long time.

If you're willing to put up countless hours to learn, Xenoblade Chronicles X becomes one of the most rewarding experiences on the Wii U.

This is easily the best game on the Wii U. Monolith Software is probably the best developer Nintendo has under their umbrella at the moment, and Xenoblade Chronicles X is without a doubt their crowning achievement.

While those hoping to just pick it up and immediately know what they're doing are likely to be a bit overwhelmed at first, others who are looking for a deep title chock-full of systems and content that have a learning curve will be well taken care of. There are certainly issues, but they get swallowed up by the sheer quality of the base game and its focus on depth.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a landmark achievement in RPGs unmatched in depth, scope and beauty. While it suffers from a few common RPG issues like grind and fetch-quests, the overall quality of the experience far exceeds anything in competitors like recent Final Fantasy or Elder Scrolls titles. If you have the courage, Xenoblade Chronicles X offers a quest hundreds of hours long and rich in unforgettable moments.

A content-rich sci-fi adventure that diverges from its predecessor in unexpected but delightful ways.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is the product of great ambition and a desire to transcend in the current video games industry. This is perhaps the biggest and the most complex title in the Wii U catalog. Even though it has a share of technical flaws, it manages to offer an experience like no one has ever seen.

Breathtaking moments and a great atmosphere are just some of the highlights that you will experience on Mira. The visuals are stunning, the pad is used intelligently. This is by far the best game you will play on Wii U this year.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is the ultimate game about exploring and conquering a hostile alien planet. Its design hitches, though occasionally annoying, simply cannot take away from the triumph that is the planet Mira and its fantastic creatures.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is split up in two parts: with and without mechs, but both are beautiful and rich in variety.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is epic and a really great game, but one that requires the player to approach it in a specific way.

The staggering amount of real estate, the intricate combat system, the engaging narrative, and the sheer number of things to do makes it a real JRPG standout. It’s water in a desert for Wii U owners, and a smashing success that will likely be remembered as one of the system’s finest.

There are immensely satisfying moments for those that choose to stick with this game, but those moments need to be earned. Nothing will come easy, but nothing truly worthwhile ever is.

The story and the world of Xenoblade Chronicles X are both truly massive, as if they gathered all Tetsuya Takahashi's distinct influences. But Monolith Soft still managed to balance the narrative with the gameplay, while upgrading its mechanics. Hence the addition of Skells transcends combat and exploration through a large scale quest that can be freely accomplished alone, or with other pioneers. An inspired, yet original and definitely modern J-RPG.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a boundless exhibition of the relationship between scale and structure, and its myriad of frenzied ideas are willed into cohesion only by the congruence of its supporting systems. Xenoblade Chronicles X may be obsessed with scale (and proudly so), but it doesn't leave the player feeling consumed by it.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is one of the prettier games on Nintendo’s Wii U console, and it’s a standout addition to the platform’s library. Setting aside the learning curve for newcomers and an astute lack of immediate aid from the game itself, the title offers fans a massive world that they’ll easily get lost in.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a worthy successor to the previous title in the series and one of the most ambitious games to be released in the Wii U so far. A monument of content, exploration and complexity, this is a technically staggering work with visually breathtaking landscapes and the potential to spend literally hundreds of hours in its main and secondary missions. A masterpiece of the JRPG genre which is more than certain to gain a place close to the hearts of many who will dedicate themselves to explore this world.

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.

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.

There are moments that make me scratch my head, infuriate me, and even make me cringe, but when I consider the layered mass that is Xenoblade Chronicles X, all I can think of how damn arresting it is.

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.

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.

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.

This is an essential purchase for all Wii U owners who love the JRPG genre.

Lacks the pace and charm of its predecessor, but this awe-inspiring world begs to be explored. [Christmas 2015, p.72]

Even with its short falls Xenoblade Chronicles X is a strong candidate for game of the year on the Wii U and is easily the best RPG. While I’ll stop short of saying you should run out and buy a Wii U just for this title if you already own a Wii U and are a fan of RPGs this is a must have game for your collection.

Xenoblade Chronicles is otherwise great, but the thin main plot and sheer repetition drop the score. [Jan 2016]

The qualities that make Xenoblade Chronicles X such an impressive and unforgettable game are the same things that make it a slog every now and then: its humongous size, dense flora and fauna, and overwhelming depth. All in all, it's easily one of the best role-playing games of 2015.

What Xenoblade Chronicles X sorely lacks is a consistently captivating story.

Once you get used to all the mechanics, you’ll find yourself, and even though it can get really frustrating at times, Xenoblade Chronicles X remains engrossing even after dozens of hours of play. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’m really feeling it!

Xenoblade Chronicles X is not the big step forward that Xenoblade on Wii was. But it does leave a big impression with its phenomenally big environments. It is an excellent JRPG that is challenging and refreshing for players that want something different.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is like the dream of a child: big robots, dinosaurs and aliens come together on a planet filled with wild and beautiful locations. It sounds ridiculous, but it works perfectly. Well, may be not perfect, but Xenoblade Chronicles X sure comes close to that.

An incredible open world, technically impressive and full of customization and options. The word "big" is tiny for Xenoblade Chronicles X, but "fun" is a word so huge on the other hand. The balance of the game is not perfect, with boredom in certain episodes, but it's still a good J-RPG.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a worthy opponent for The Witcher 3, when it comes to the title of RPG of the year. This game radiates love, ambition and passion. The world is beautiful, the combat system is challenging enough and there's so much to explore.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a massive RPG with enough surface area, sub quests, and customization to keep you busy.

We got used to developers promising huge worlds to explore, but there’s no other game where the world is so overwhelmingly vast. I honestly don’t know how much time you have to invest in Xenoblade Chronicles X to see everything this game has to offer. [02/2016, p.60]

What Xenoblade Chronicles X loses because of its outdated visuals, it overcompensates with its content. It is a huge, long-lasting and yet throughout an entertaining title, which relies on combat and character development. [Issue#260]

Monolith Soft has delivered a true epic, and in some ways classic, to the JRPG genre.

It is impossible not to admire and be impressed by Xenoblade Chronicles X, to not have many hours of fun with it, but it’s a hard game to love.

Breast-size slider or not, Xenoblade Chronicles X is a game worthy of every RPG fan's attention.

For the most part, Xenoblade Chronicles X is astounding. For all its faults it’s still an enormous RPG with one of the best worlds you’ll ever explore and an expanded version of its battle system with fights that, while longer, are still a joy to seamlessly hop in and out of.

The game is a slow burn, and you have to work hard for virtually everything you earn, but the payoff is almost always worth it. This is one of the most uncompromising games to come out in years, but it’s reason alone for “hardcore” RPG fans to consider getting a Wii U if they haven’t already.

I found the combat highly engaging and every new ridge I would climb up provided me with such breathtakingly beautiful vistas that I would sit there simply slow panning around to take it all in. But at the same time, undercooked narrative has hurt the really long-term value of the game, and it was just a little too in love with the more arbitrary and irritating quirks of MMO design for its own good.

It’s an odd approach, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a lot of fun with this game.

With its poor pacing, flat, one-dimensional characters and story, and it’s potentially horrendous loot-based progress gating, Xenoblade Chronicles X may not be for everyone. Is it worth playing to get to the end game? In my opinion, absolutely. But, the ride is a frustrating one, filled with slow moments, and few, though grand, redeeming qualities. If you’re looking for awesome western-style gameplay in a giant and unique open world with deep character progression and a badass robot to play with, than look nowhere else. If you’re looking for a more traditional JRPG with a great, meaningful story, similar to previous entries into the Xeno- series, than you will most likely be disappointed in Xenoblade Chronicles X.

A new direction for the series manages to lose what made the original so special.

Massive open-world JRPG with astounding exploration but some pacing and storyline issues.

Xenoblade Chronicles X will likely be a mixed bag to those who step in with very little role-playing skill or knowledge of the series up until this point, so they may want to proceed with caution. Others, however, that absolutely love what Monolith Soft has done so far will enjoy this chapter the most, thanks to its immense gameplay options and fantastic looking world. It's certainly worth a look either way.

Skyscrapers and palm trees of New Los Angeles contrast nicely with dinosaurs - indigenous species of our new home planet. Our end goal? Restoration of humanity. [Issue#204, p.82]

Xenoblade Chronicles X could have been a huge success if Monolith had put forth the same effort for the writing and the pace of their game that they did for the creation of the planet Mira.

A gigantic and amazingly complex game, whose mechanics are absolutely impressive. It’s a deep jrpg, and one with brilliant art direction and a beautiful world. Structurally, though, the game is terrible. It’s one repetitive quest after another, with forced objectives and exploration percentages in order to advance in the main storyline. It’s a flawed and old idea for an open world game, and one that truly needs to become obsolete. If you love games with great mechanics and can ignore the structural problems, you’ll find a great title here. If not, steer clear.

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.

Quotation forthcoming.

X is a grand adventure that satiates your appetite for exploration and combat in ways that few games ever do, but because getting started is half the battle, it’s an experience reserved for dedicated players who have the patience and energy to unearth its greatest treasures.

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.

There's greatness in Xenoblade Chronicles X, but it's a shame that it's too often buried under terrible writing and awkward design decisions. That said, when standing atop a forgotten mountain in a hulking Skell as the sun sets... well, it's easy to forget those issues temporarily. Despite all my complaints, I still had a hundred and ten hours go by in the blink of an eye. Xenoblade can be a great experience and surprisingly absorbing at times, but its extreme rough edges could easily shear the skin off a rhino.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a great game that offers a satisfying combat system and a beautiful world to explore. That said, its story and characters don’t reach the high standards set by the previous title.

Xenoblade Chronicles X has a hard time providing a tale suitable for the massive world and complex systems that occupy it, but even the most fairweather RPG fans will need little convincing to pick up this Japanese addition to the open-world genre.

They may have to fight their way to liking the game instead of it capturing their imagination from the very start. Xenoblade Chronicles X is probably the best RPG on the system, but your mileage, much like your Skell’s, will vary.

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.

I began Xenoblade Chronicles X filled with enthusiasm for its intriguing world and gorgeous visuals. But like the hackneyed songs that play ad nauseum throughout, the gameplay doesn’t have enough depth or entertainment to sustain such a prolonged experience.

The fun in Xenoblade is seemingly never-ending, thanks to an amazing combat system and lots of things to do.

X is a triumph of art over design, the wonder of the world enough to make periods of drudgery worthwhile. [Jan 2016, p.116]

X shines when it comes to combat, exploration, and vehicle systems, making this sequel more engrossing than its predecessor. It’s richness makes it easier to overlook the shortcomings from both the technical limitations of the Wii U and the inconsistent soundtrack.

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.

Despite being a bit too ambitious for its own good, Xenoblade Chronicles X is one of the most impressive Wii U titles ever released. While it may be rough around the edges, players are in for a good, albeit occasionally frustrating, time.

Xenoblade Chronicles X offers a resplendent world, fantastic combat, and transforming mechs, but figuring out how everything fits together isn't always easy.

If you’re looking to lose yourself here is a game that, for better and for worse, will show you the way.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a huge game, but underneath the impressive surface is a game that could benefit from being much smaller. A potentially interesting plot is ruined by uninteresting characters, slow pacing and a bothersome gameplay structure. This should have been the game Wii U owners needed to breathe new life into their console, but it is not the game they deserve.