A visual update to a wonderful JRPG
Xenoblade Chronicles was an absolute diamond in the rough when it migrated from Japan to North America on the Wii back in 2012. The world is set on the backdrop of two eternal beings who battled for centuries. The Mechonis was a mechanical being and the Bionis was an organic one. They fought to a stalemate, eventually killing one another, only to be preserved for as long as the world remembers.
The story centers around a small town built near the foot of the Bionis. This is Colony 9. It is home to a group of Homs (who are the game’s version of humans.) One year before the start of the game, the Homs managed to fight back an assault by the robotic Mechons. Key to this battle was the presence of a sword unlike any other weapon ever seen – the Monado.
Regular weapons were minimally effective against the Mechons, but the Monado seemed to be designed specifically to fight the robotic warriors. Wielding the Monado took a heavy physical toll. Only the experienced swordsman named Dunban had been able to wield it, and it left him partially crippled.
When the story opens, we play as Shulk. He is an optimistic and friendly tinkerer who has a natural talent for fixing mechanical problems and a curiosity to match. He is scouring the area around Colony 9 for leftover technological treasures. Players also visit with Dunban, meet his sister Fiora and Shulk’s bulky best friend, Reyn.
Shulk’s story is launched into high gear when the sirens begin to wail. The unthinkable is happening. Colony 9 is under attack. The Mechon have returned. This is where the game provides a dynamic all its own. Shulk, never a warrior in his past, can wield the Monado, and he is able to do so in ways no other Hom has ever done.
One of the most compelling aspects of Xenoblade Chronicles getting an update is the music. The soundtrack was full of ear worms. We would routinely just leave the game up on a menu or selection screen just to hum along. Like all great JJRPG’s, the songs have various character themes and pieces that accelerate with combat and provide space during cut scenes. While the story seemed to expand to the point of confusion in places, the music never did. Every song mapped to either the emotions of the Homs or the cold, brutal style of the Mechons.
Xenoblade Chronicles has had a strange run as a franchise. It has two sequels, neither of which are set with the characters or even the same universe as the original. As for the Wii game, it received a port to the 3DS before getting the new “Definitive Edition” in 2020. From a conent perspective, the new version contains upgrades, graphical improvements, and a DLC epilogue that centers around the playable character, Melia. (Many fans felt she was underused or underrepresented in the original.)
The gameplay is every bit as fun as the original. There are several party-based dynamics that come in to play depending on which characters are in combat. Shulk also has a fascinating dynamic. He can see the future through the Monado and once he has a vision, a timer begins. The player has only that much time to prevent whatever tragedy Shulk has foreseen. That adds a level of tension in the middle of the game’s already entertaining turn-based combat.
The story gets a little out of hand, but there are dozens on dozens of side missions. The cast of characters expand from Homs to other organic and even mechanical creatures. Shulk and his crew explore both “gods” over the course of the story with some incredibly detailed environments and constantly changing combat strategies.
Xenoblade Chronicles was one of the first games in years where I invested over 100 hours. I’ve already invested more than that just enjoying the level grind in the Definitive Edition. It’s an interesting story set in a unique environment. The characters are sympathetic and entertaining, even if some of them may be annoying over time.
This game remains one of my favorite RPGs, if not one of my favorite video games over the past 20 years. The original was worth the investment and the Definitive Edition provides enhanced and expanded content. Definitely one worth exploring.