Developer: Monolith Software Inc.
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Switch 2
Tested on: Switch 2
Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition: Switch 2 Edition – Review
Well, that sure was a Nintendo Direct, wasn’t it? While most of the attention of the internet deservedly went to the announcement that Ocarina of Time will be getting a Switch 2 remake in the near future, perhaps the biggest surprise was the reveal of Xenoblade Genesis. And that wasn’t even everything for the Xenoblade fanbase (there are dozens of us!). Ahead of Genesis’ release, the mainline Xenoblade Chronicles Trilogy will be getting Switch 2 Editions as well. The first one of those even shadow-dropped alongside the announcement, with XCX2 targeting July and XCX3 December, respectively. That timeline should give you the opportunity to play through the trilogy ahead of Genesis, but with each entry being a sprawling 100+ hour RPG, there’s no time to waste. Let’s start by returning to the Bionis with Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition! (What a mouthful.)
We’ll be adopting the same approach for this release of Xenoblade Chronicles as we did for Xenoblade Chronicles X Switch 2 Edition in that we’ll start by referring you to our original review, as this is, in essence, the same game, but with extra bells and whistles. Granted, XC1’s bells and whistles are a bit more impressive than those of XCX. While we felt the latter’s Switch 2 Edition was a step up from the Switch 1 version, the internet’s reception was lukewarm, with some rightful criticism aimed at things like pop-in and the way the game handled upscaling. It looks like Monolith listened to those reactions. If we take XCX’s upgrade pack as a benchmark, then XC1’s upgrade pack surpasses it in every way, despite some shortcomings.
This is the fourth time that Nintendo and Monolith have released the original Xenoblade Chronicles, and they have become exceedingly efficient at it. Granted, it’s still not perfect: the Switch 2 version of the game now targets 60fps rather than 30fps and the results are… mixed. When XC1 hits that 60fps, which is still most of the time, it’s buttery smooth. Unfortunately, frame drops are more common than they should be, especially when the action heats up. It’s better than the 30 fps of the original, mind you, but don’t go in expecting to avoid frame drops or stuttering altogether. Those frame drops are especially noticeable during larger battles but are rarely severe enough to impact gameplay. Resolution upscaling is handled significantly better here. It’s not perfect, especially when it comes to distant objects, as these can appear slightly blurry, but we’re really nitpicking here. Perhaps the most surprising thing about this upgrade is just how small the Switch 2 Edition of XC1 is. Once upgraded, the game comes in at just 33 GB. Compare this to Indiana Jones’ 60 GB and FFVII Rebirth’s whopping 90 GB, and you can only conclude that Monolith are wizards. In a world where prices for MicroSD Express cards are ridiculously high, this is a very welcome surprise. A physical version is still forthcoming if you prefer to have XC1 on a cartridge or if you’re just strapped for storage space.
Now, let’s say that you were happy with XC1’s visual performance on the original Switch, or with Boost Mode on the Switch 2. Why would you then upgrade, you ask? Well, unlike the XCX upgrade, there is new content to discover here. The most prominent new addition is the Ether Jet, a brand-new vehicle that allows you to travel the world at much greater speed. Given just how vast XC1’s world is, this is a very welcome addition, and it’s available fairly soon too. Without spoiling anything, you’ll need to complete a side quest that becomes available in Chapter 4. Apart from the obvious advantages that come with being able to zoom around the Bionis, you’ll also find the brand new Nopon GP mode in the game’s pause menu. This is a racing mini-game where you steer your Ether Jet across tracks to collect Ether Ore as fast as possible.
It doesn’t end there in terms of additional content either. Those of you who are here for the story and the characters will be delighted to find that Heart-to-Heart conversations are now fully voiced. If, like us, you’ve been with these characters for the last fifteen years (yes, it really has been that long, and yes, you really are that old) then finally hearing some of the game’s emotionally loaded dialogue is a true delight. The caveat here is the effect that those 15 years have had on the voice cast. From what we understand, all actors have reprised their voice roles, but they sound different, purely because of, well, the ravages of age. It’s not as jarring as it was with Vandham in the XCX epilogue chapter, and honestly, being treated to voiced Heart-to-Hearts is pure fan service. We’re happy that these were included at all, as this wasn’t something that we’d ever expected. Which does bring us to the upgrade pack’s raison d’être: it’s the icing on the cake, but the cake already was delicious in the first place. This doesn’t feel like an absolutely mandatory upgrade, even though the end result is still an improvement and the best way to experience one of the greatest JRPGs of all time.
Conclusion
If you already own XC1, then you likely already know how good a game it is, and the upgrade provides a great opportunity to revisit it. The upgrade pack does feel more like an actual upgrade compared to XCX’s. The fact that we’re scoring this one slightly lower than the Switch 1 version reflects purely what you’re getting here for your €9.99, rather than how good the base game is in and by itself. If you haven’t played XC1 at all, regardless of version, then by all means, take this as your signal to go do so now.
No Comments