Xenoblade Chronicles for Wii Reviews

During the last days of the Nintendo Wii, it became more difficult for me to find games as remarkable as its first releases. It would only beDuring the last days of the Nintendo Wii, it became more difficult for me to find games as remarkable as its first releases. It would only be right for Nintendo to end the Wii’s career on a high note. Xenoblade Chronicles did just that. It’s a JRPG that gave me one of my greatest experiences I have ever had playing a video game. When it comes to the story, graphics, and game play, Xenoblade Chronicles exceeded my expectations.
The story of this fantasy and sci-fi hybrid game revolves around the legend of a duel between titans. They were Mechonis and Bionis. After this battle ended, civilizations were made on the bodies of these titans. However, the individuals from both titans still continue to battle each other to continue the legacy. Fast forward to current day and we meet the main protagonist, Shulk. When his homeland is attack by mechon, the inhabitants of Mechonis, the orphaned boy is forced to travel to Mechonis and into the unknown outreaches of enemy territory. In order to defeat his robotic foes, Shulk is granted the use of the legendary sword, the Monado, which bestows upon him the unusual power to see visions of the future. As Shulk progresses through his quest, he meets new allies, discovers extravagant locations of the world, and is given more insight on the origins of the Monado, and the history of Bionis and Mechonis. This game provided an enjoyable cast, memorable moments that were action packed, tragic, and humorous, and plot twists in the game that became even more interesting the more I progressed. The best part is the game is long enough where it does not shirk on any details.
Speaking of how long Xenoblade Chronicles is, it surprised me with how much was fit into the game. This includes the expansive environment that it had to offer. The details of the graphics are unbelievable when it comes to how much a Wii can handle. Unlike a good handful of Nintendo games, Xenoblade Chronicles strays away from a cartoony style and handles it with a more realistic approach. I found so much excitement out of exploring the game just so I could find different places to look at. Notable examples are the Satorl Marsh on Bionis, a foggy but shimmering swamp with ancient ruins, and the central factory in Mechonis, the expansive field of massive machinery. Compared to other games on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, I noticed the graphics are not as polished. The closer I looked, the more pixilated the graphics began to appear. This over-analysis, however, did not deter my fun experience. I still consider it remarkable how much effort was given into making this detailed creation.
I mentioned how multi-dimensional the game can be when it came to the graphics, but the game play is really where the game’s expansive nature is found. The basics are simple. You control up to three characters in game. As you progress, you can switch off these characters with others in your party. There are locations to travel to and people to talk to in order to progress. This can involve widespread exploration and puzzle solving. I did find it confusing on where to travel to since the environment is rather massive. With the game being so big, it is difficult to find where to go. The real aspect of the game play, however, is found in its battles. I found myself changing my methods of battle not only for the sake of progression, but also for the fun in the variety it offered. It only became an even greater experience when I realized there were so many ways to expand my many abilities such as raising affinity, changing my move set, and challenging harder monsters. If this already sounds like enough game play, then you will be surprised with how much more this game offers. There are over 400 side quests to tackle, offering new abilities and stories in game. I quickly found it overwhelming at times when it comes to how big the game can really be. I am an impatient person, but knowing that a lot can come out of the extra time given in the game, it was fun to get as far as I could. The only other problem I had with the game play is some sign of lagging when there is a lot of activity happening in battles. Battling a lot, however, helped me get used to it. I aim to play through this game again to see if I can fully complete the game. If you ever missed anything the first time you played like I did, then there is a lot of value in replaying this game.
While Xenoblade Chronicles may have its problems being a large game with its lag and unpolished graphics, they are so small compared to the praise I have. This game went above and beyond my expectations with its compelling story, incredible environment, and variety in game play. There is so much this game has to offer without becoming repetitive. I give this game an A.… Expand