For a fairly young game, it’s surprising how many times Xenoblade Chronicles has been ported to other systems since its 2010 debut – but that speaks to the quality and importance of the Xenoblade series as a whole and how quickly it has become a key part of Nintendo’s output, with new entries crafted for each console the company has released since the Wii.
Following a recent Switch 2 update for Xenoblade Chronicles X, Nintendo has whetted the appetites of Japanese role-playing game fans further by announcing improvements for the remaining three titles in the series, filling in the gaps of this year’s schedule. Pleasingly, there are more than graphical enhancements at play in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
Outside of Bandai Namco’s Tales, Nihon Falcom’s Ys, and Koei Tecmo’s Atelier games, there aren’t too many standout franchises around today that still evoke the beloved PS2-era style of JRPGs – but Xenoblade is one of those series, with at least this first entry demanding to be experienced if it hasn’t been already.
The backdrop is an immediately captivating one, with multiple races living atop the corpses of two previously warring ancient giants from centuries past. Managing difficult times of their own, the human-like Homs try to keep their peaceful days going, fending off the robotic Mechon. It isn’t long before protagonist Shulk’s home at Colony 9 suffers one of its biggest attacks, resulting in lost friends and the beginning of a quest for revenge.
Delightfully refreshing and impressive British voice acting endears each character that forms the group on this journey, and although there are tropes that are par for the course for the genre, the maturer and slightly more realistic slant on proceedings makes the cast easier to warm to than your average JRPG.
The narrative moves at a surprisingly brisk pace, opening to a sprawling world with beautiful landscapes and plenty to see and do if the desire is there. While they can be safely ignored, side quests and collectables can mount up quickly on this adventure across the Bionis and Mechonis titans. Even if many optional ventures are fetch quests of the mundane kind, they offer a reprieve that is often welcomed and allow Shulk and his friends to take in the gorgeous scenery that is better than it has ever looked with this Switch 2 version.
The MMO-like battle system that auto-attacks enemies allows players to concentrate on tactically chaining special arts to get an edge, dazing and toppling foes before using this to the advantage to inflict further damage. Later games may have added more depth, but this slightly simplistic MMO style allows for seamless battles that don’t go overboard with nuances that can make other JRPGs overbearing – and there is still reward under the hood in levelling up and learning abilities for degrees of customisation and character linking, letting players achieve far more if they dig in.
It may seem odd to not be able to switch the controlled party member mid-fight, but there is an appeal to the calmer approach here that has its own merits – and Expert and Casual modes let players to tweak things for an easier or tougher time regardless. Whatever your experience with the genre in general, Xenoblade Chronicles stands among the greatest of them and is approachable for people of all RPG backgrounds.
There was concern about how well the graphical upgrade was going to be after a questionable AI-like “enhancement” in the Switch 2 edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X. On the resolution front, what can safely be claimed is that the disturbing swirly, soupy effect is not present at all in Xenoblade Chronicles’ latest version.
Textures are sharp and highly detailed at 4K, bringing out the best of this stunning world, making Xenoblade Chronicles – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition one of Monolith Soft’s visually finest works. Handheld mode is of an extremely good calibre, even if there is a softness that is evident, although this works to circumvent any aliasing that would otherwise be apparent.
Instead, it is the frame rate that lacks the consistency expected. 60 frames per second are targeted, but there is a tendency for it to drop in certain large-scale battles or in denser environments like jungles. Rather oddly, the menu is fixed at 30fps, resulting in a potentially jarring experience for some.
Given that the gameplay frame rate retains its 60fps target the majority of the time, and the fact that the game looks utterly breathtaking on so many occasions, the dips in performance aren’t enough to drag things down on a personal level; however, it is surprising to see the disparity. Since the previous Switch 2 upgrade for Xenoblade Chronicles X has problems of its own that still haven’t been fixed, it leads one to wonder if a patch will come to address the issues here.
Xenoblade’s Switch 2 edition is more than a graphical remaster, though. After reaching the Refugee Camp in chapter 4, players can take on a simple side quest to acquire Ether Jets – hover vehicles that allow Shulk and his buddies to traverse and explore the lands at high speeds.
Being able to hop on these jets at almost any time changes everything, resulting in faster completion of quests and being able to get much more done in much less time – a boon to anyone looking to bash a few quests out on their mission for 100% completion.
The lack of a sprint option for the party made travelling more tedious than it needed to be in prior versions, but there is no doubt that the Ether Jet immediately becomes one of the most useful items and is especially valuable for returning players that fancy a second playthrough. Score attack and battle races become available as a result of this addition, and new outfits can be unlocked by participating in grand prix events.
The final major update included in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is fully voiced heart-to-heart scenes. These intimate moments between party members can only be viewed at specific locations and only once the two characters in question have achieved a certain affinity level in their relationship. Past iterations of Xenoblade Chronicles meant that these dialogues were text only, but the Switch 2 version has added all-new voice lines for every scene.
It is an incredibly appreciated gesture that comes rather unexpected, even if the years have meant it is obvious that some actors, such as Reyn’s, struggle to match their original vision for their characters.
Ultimately, this is another Nintendo Switch 2 Edition update for the Xenoblade series that doesn’t quite reach the peaks expected due to the imperfect frame rates in menus and heavier gameplay scenarios. Xenoblade Chronicles X’s Switch 2 upgrade had resolution problems that have yet to be patched up, so it sadly may be the case that this game’s fps flaws may remain as they are.
Given how refreshing it is to experience Xenoblade Chronicles in a smoother state for the bulk of the adventure, though, it is difficult to argue against grabbing this update, especially with the extra bells and whistles that are bundled in.
If the good old days of PS2-era JRPGs are still being pined for, Xenoblade Chronicles will satisfy that craving and then some. There aren’t many games of this substance still being produced today, and there is no excuse to not give it a chance with Definitive Edition’s Switch 2 update. While it is disappointing that the 60fps target slips up in heavier situations, the vast majority of the time it delivers a smooth performance that greatly enhances the experience, and the 4K resolution upgrade brings out the best of this beautiful world. The addition of the Ether Jet positively serves to streamline slower parts of exploration and comes especially welcome for handheld questing.
