You may have been hearing of Xenoblade Chronicles recently. Its a JRPG that excels at creating a unique battle system and… my personal favorite… telling a captivating and extensive story. Recently two Xenoblade characters made it into Nintendo’s hit game ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.’ These characters being Pyra and Mythra. Having just finished the sequel in which they appear (Xenoblade Chronicles 2), and playing around with their unique fighting mechanisms in Smash Ultimate, I figured it would be the perfect time to share this article I wrote last year yet never got around to publishing.

This post is NOT about the game that Mythra and Pyra are in, BUT, is about the game that comes before. Continue reading to hear why you should check out the Xenoblade games and why you should start with Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition!

Last year I played through Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, which is a remaster of the original game which I’ve never played before. I heard the game was exploration and story driven game and so I bought it. I absolutely loved the game even if it took away so much of my time! Also, bear in mind, this was my first introduction to the Xenoblade series and I came into it knowing minimal plot details. Today I want to share with you 5 reasons you should play Xenoblade Chronicles!

Also… no major spoilers today. I want you to enjoy it yourself.

1. No Dud Characters.

Seriously, all of the characters were very interesting. Even Riki, who was my least favorite, still had importance for the story. Other particularly interesting Characters were Melia, as well as a number of NPCs which you never really knew what to expect with. Are they on your side or do they have other motives? What secrets are they keeping from you. These are the questions that kept them interesting.

Also, there were a lot of moments during the cut-scenes, as well as “heart to hearts” areas where each of the characters showed their deep care for the other members of the party, and many NPCs. Even characters we see only for a limited amount of time were fleshed out very well! Shulk and Fiora were by far my favorite characters by far. I found their relationship rather cute, and their character progression, especially for Shulk, was very well done. There was one particular choice that Shulk made in Chapter Eleven that I found particularly interesting, which began to reveal a major turning point for his character. Seriously guys, go buy the game!

2. Amazing Story.

The story really is quite amazing, the essence of it, without really spoiling much, is as follows. There are two biomes on a watery plant, each of which exists on two giants, the Bionis and the Mechonis. Shulk, the main protagonist, lives on the Bionis =finds his colony bombarded by the dangerous Mechons and goes on a quest for vengeance. The story is rather intriguing, and I won’t really go into it, but there are a lot of interesting concepts in it. While I don’t agree with every aspect of the story’s theme (like not needing any god) I loved the emphasis on the importance of making choices and fighting for the future, which is a core aspect of both the story and the gameplay.

3. Plot Twists!

Also, goodness, there is a lot of surprising plot twists. Of course I won’t share them with you since I am trying to keep this spoiler free, but I will say pay attention to every single character and brace yourself for impact. There was only one thing I predicted, and yet, despite being right, I absolutely loved the reveal! I would love to analyze how they pulled off all of these twists! This game is definitely worth replaying!

4. Love The Anime Art Style.

This one is only a pro only for the Definitive Edition on the Nintendo Switch, since the Wii version tried to look more realistic. In part this style was also influence by its sequel, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which leans greatly into anime like visuals. I find this very minor, but I really did enjoy this aspect. The character designs were more Anime inspired than hyper realistic which gave it a unique feel. This did not take away from the emotional moments in the game whatsoever. Honestly, looking at old footage of the original game, I think this was an improvement. Besides, who doesn’t like a little anime flavor from time to time.

5. It’s Long!!

This is a game you will spend hours on! My Nintendo Switch says I beat the entire game, including the bonus story, in 55 hours (Granted, I did so on easy mode to save some time)! Recently, I’ve also dove back into the game with it’s New Game + feature, which is a nice inclusion for those who want to rediscover the world of this game a second time! If you are looking for a game that will take you a while to beat, even if you play it 6 hours a day at times (not proud of that), then this is the game for you. There is a lot to do, for instance you can fight you way through hordes of monsters, or just run past them half the time (especially if you’re on easy mode… if you’re not… you might regret that). You can also find collectibles and gain armor and customizations or you can completely avoid them. The game will be long, but there are ways to keep it shorter. If you are like me, you will find something in the middle.

There is also a really nice post game story to play called ‘Future Connected,’ which is a really great touch that lets you get even more from the game!

Have I convinced you to check out Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition? Also, if you’ve enjoyed a casual video game post like this one, let me know! I’d love to do this kind of content with other game series I love! Here’s looking at you Undertale!

You casual and easily excited gamer,

Kenny!