Xenoblade Chronicles 3D

 3DS
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 367 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 312 out of 367
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 367
  3. Negative: 24 out of 367
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  1. kdkade
    Apr 10, 2015
    10
    Beautiful, artistic, deep, interesting. I never played it on Wii, but for 3DS standards, we just got an amazing, long game with a load of exploration and quests to do. A lot of mechanics to master. A lot of skills and strategies to check out. A lot of cutscenes to watch, a lot of amazing music to listen to... A lot of goodness embedded into that small catridge.

    Game is, long story    Beautiful, artistic, deep, interesting. I never played it on Wii, but for 3DS standards, we just got an amazing, long game with a load of exploration and quests to do. A lot of mechanics to master. A lot of skills and strategies to check out. A lot of cutscenes to watch, a lot of amazing music to listen to... A lot of goodness embedded into that small catridge.

    Game is, long story short, about a conflict between organic and mechanical races, that both live on huge, lifeless giants that used to fight long time ago. The setting of the game juggles epicness, jrpg-like cuteness and... a little bit of shocking, grim atmosphere here and there, since the machines' favourite food are organic races.

    What is amazing about this game is the number of side-quests and their meaning. You actually get access to a map of people you talked to, and upon discovering connection between them they get connected on the grid with specific relation. You can change/enhance that relations by doing different quests, and those sometimes offer you a choice. Upon doing quests more and more of them are coming. Just finding every npc in the game is challenging task.

    Areas you're about to explore are vast, interesting, and filled with strong monsters. Music is amazing, and the battle system is easily the best I've ever seen in jrpg.

    I could go on. The thing is, if you don't have Wii, just go and get this game, it's worth it. I can't think of a single thing that's wrong with it, unless you hate doing a lot of side-quests and reading a lot of equipment/skill details.    … Expand
  2. Sepian
    May 29, 2015
    10
    Not as good as the original, but still one of the best JRPGs you will ever play. If the game wasn't a billion dollars on Wii I'd recommend playing the original, but this is a fine way to enjoy a great game. The port isn't great, but its acceptable. The rating is mostly for the game being ported, and not for the port itself.
  3. luyangyang23
    Apr 25, 2015
    10
    Beautiful, artistic, deep, interesting. I never played it on Wii, but for 3DS standards, we just got an amazing, long game with a load of exploration and quests to do. A lot of mechanics to master. A lot of skills and strategies to check out. A lot of cutscenes to watch, a lot of amazing music to listen to... A lot of goodness embedded into that small catridge.
  4. Sloppystarfish
    Jun 1, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I went into this game expecting a very generic JRPG, and at first, the over-sized weapons and ridiculous art concepts for enemies almost steered me away. I'm glad that I stayed for the ride however, because this is a refreshing game to play. The combat system is extremely fluid and starts off simple, but slowly gets more and more complex and fun as the game goes on and is easily the best thing about this game, AND THE MUSIC... it's nothing short of phenomenal, "Mechanical rhythm" and "Gaur plains" are songs that I can listen to outside of the game and enjoy. The only complaints I have is that the story can become a bit ridiculous at times and there's waaaay too much grinding near the end game, I honestly felt nauseous from the repetitive Mechon grinding I had to do to beat one of the bosses later in the game(it amounted to 5 hours in total, ouch).
    So My overall ratings are
    Music: 9.5, outstanding
    Gameplay: 10, revolutionary
    Story: 7, a bit generic at times
    Fun factor: 8, would be a 10 if not for the late game grinding.    … Expand
  5. pikachuyann
    Dec 11, 2015
    5
    The 3DS port of this game suffers from both the UX problems that the Wii version already had (difficult to browse menus, for example), with the added malus that the developers did not take enough advantage of the touch screen to make it more readable.

    It's a mess to get the right angle for the camera in combat, these combat are clunky with forced mechanics on you (especially against the    The 3DS port of this game suffers from both the UX problems that the Wii version already had (difficult to browse menus, for example), with the added malus that the developers did not take enough advantage of the touch screen to make it more readable.

    It's a mess to get the right angle for the camera in combat, these combat are clunky with forced mechanics on you (especially against the Mechon). These things really hinder the experience.    … Expand
  6. birdman3
    May 6, 2016
    5
    Maybe I didn't have the endurance necessary for this game. After putting 35-40 hours into it, it seemed like the game was still just trying to gain its footing. After having dealt with the repetitive combat for hours and hours, I decided that it wasn't worth doubling my investment in order to finish the game off. One thing that really surprised me (and also intimidated me) was the numberMaybe I didn't have the endurance necessary for this game. After putting 35-40 hours into it, it seemed like the game was still just trying to gain its footing. After having dealt with the repetitive combat for hours and hours, I decided that it wasn't worth doubling my investment in order to finish the game off. One thing that really surprised me (and also intimidated me) was the number of different quests and side projects there were to do in the game. There are seemingly hundreds (thousands?) of quests, but almost all of them are meaningless. Go to a place, find a glowing orb or kill a certain number of creatures. There is no efficient way of tracking these quests either- you have to simply remember when and where you're supposed to perform the quests, or you're forced into searching for them in your menu, which can be tedious. Additionally, there are too many side features in this game that can be very distracting. There's a crafting system, a unit relationship system, conversations unlocked by returning to points in the game once certain conditions have been met, far too many different types of loot, a system for tracking relationships between NPCs, all of which opens up so so so many things to do, but yet none of it feels rewarding. Why should I bother to figure out how to unlock new conversations between my characters? Why would I bother paying attention to how unit synergy builds up between my characters when the buffs they receive are so small? How can I possibly figure out the all of the different debuffs that there are in this game? Frankly, it became far too complicated for me, and I got tired of it. I made it roughly halfway through, and decided I would have more fun playing Fire Emblem or Smash Brothers instead.… Expand
  7. amstans
    May 11, 2015
    10
    I played the original and ended up putting it down. I really love this in 3D as it makes you feel like you are more part of the action. The atmospheres are immersive and the story is deeply emotional. There are enough cut scenes to make a short mini series (with all of the heart-to-hearts!) And the attack system feels so much cleaner than the Wii version. The controls are amazing,I played the original and ended up putting it down. I really love this in 3D as it makes you feel like you are more part of the action. The atmospheres are immersive and the story is deeply emotional. There are enough cut scenes to make a short mini series (with all of the heart-to-hearts!) And the attack system feels so much cleaner than the Wii version. The controls are amazing, especially with the c-stick. It's the only game I've managed to play long enough to kill my batteries!… Expand
  8. krugman25
    May 13, 2015
    10
    Great graphics, complex, challenging and a mature storyline. I have around 20 hours into the game so far. For the standard of a typical Nintendo handheld game, this port is leagues above it. I have seen people being upset that the game wasn't ported to the 3DS because of the c-stick. I highly doubt the decision to not port to the 3DS had a lot less to do the with c-stick and a lot moreGreat graphics, complex, challenging and a mature storyline. I have around 20 hours into the game so far. For the standard of a typical Nintendo handheld game, this port is leagues above it. I have seen people being upset that the game wasn't ported to the 3DS because of the c-stick. I highly doubt the decision to not port to the 3DS had a lot less to do the with c-stick and a lot more to do with how computationally expensive this game is and that it needed the extra CPU core that the N3DS has over the 3DS. Don't be upset about that, just get the N3DS.… Expand
  9. saxo27
    Apr 23, 2015
    9
    Not sure how so many people wrote reviews on day one of this massive game...I am about 25 hours in, level 31. This game is an absolute charm. The world is big (but not in the annoying sandbox version of big), the characters are lively and vibrant, and the battle system is very fun and unique. There is so much to love about this game. For example, let me note the affinity system. It remindsNot sure how so many people wrote reviews on day one of this massive game...I am about 25 hours in, level 31. This game is an absolute charm. The world is big (but not in the annoying sandbox version of big), the characters are lively and vibrant, and the battle system is very fun and unique. There is so much to love about this game. For example, let me note the affinity system. It reminds me of Majora's Mask where you meet people and do things for them. In this instance, a chart develops that shows how everyone is connected and their sentiments towards one another. Very nice touch and adds to the depth of the world building in this game. Now, graphics... If you enjoy 3DS games or have played a few 3DS games, then you know already that graphics really don't matter (for they arn't next gen). This game looks quite good and every zone has its own flare and appeal. Any graphical displeasure will be completely forgotten about as you battle, travel, quest, meet new people, craft gems, run away from level 82 monsters, equip new weapons and armor (that actually change apperance!), get to know your travel-mates, and so on. If you like RPGs, then this game will please you. Enjoy!… Expand
  10. IxSaru
    Aug 21, 2015
    9
    Well I had played this game for 150 hour and I can tell that Its a good game. Amazing story, amazing world, amazing music and regular graphics, but Its a 3ds game, apart of that, the cities are lives, each city has NPC, NPCs with name, with story, that make you a sense about you re not walking for a hollow path, you are in a world where if something happens that affect the life of theWell I had played this game for 150 hour and I can tell that Its a good game. Amazing story, amazing world, amazing music and regular graphics, but Its a 3ds game, apart of that, the cities are lives, each city has NPC, NPCs with name, with story, that make you a sense about you re not walking for a hollow path, you are in a world where if something happens that affect the life of the people. In conclusion a RPG in his definition.… Expand
  11. osmarrm
    Apr 30, 2016
    10
    Un juego verdaderamente hermoso, cuando lo jugué se convirtió en uno de mis juegos favoritos para siempre. Lo recomiendo bastante si, como fue mi caso, aún no haz jugado la versión original de wii. Una obra maestra sin duda a mi parecer, solo que la verdad si fastidia un poco que tenga gráficos, que podrían ser de gamecube, siendo un juego que salio en 2012
  12. o0oXTCo0o
    Apr 27, 2017
    10
    I spent over 100 hours on the Wii Version of Xenoblad Chronicles, so when I picked up the 3DS version i thought that it was going to be a downgrade. Visually, yes it was, but the immersion I felt in the game world and with the characters was even better. I could explore the Bionis on the go and bring a staggeringly huge world with me in my pocket. Fluid gameplay, great voice acting,I spent over 100 hours on the Wii Version of Xenoblad Chronicles, so when I picked up the 3DS version i thought that it was going to be a downgrade. Visually, yes it was, but the immersion I felt in the game world and with the characters was even better. I could explore the Bionis on the go and bring a staggeringly huge world with me in my pocket. Fluid gameplay, great voice acting, beautiful scenery, interesting story. Totally worth a **** if you have some time.… Expand
  13. Billy-Goodfear
    Jan 16, 2018
    9
    Good port to an already classic game. A good way to new players who didn't get the chance to experience its greatness on the wii. Unfortunately it's exclusive to the "new 3ds" models but it's understandable knowing the scope of such port
  14. iMustang
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    After finishing this game, it became one of my favorite of all time. This game consumed over 132 hours of my life out of pure enjoyment, and I still have not 100%'d it yet. It has been a long time, since I think I have played such a perfect game. Every member of the party was perfect and had such amazing character development, the story was engrossing and compelling from beginning to end,After finishing this game, it became one of my favorite of all time. This game consumed over 132 hours of my life out of pure enjoyment, and I still have not 100%'d it yet. It has been a long time, since I think I have played such a perfect game. Every member of the party was perfect and had such amazing character development, the story was engrossing and compelling from beginning to end, the extra content was so fantastic I refused to progress to the next area without doing EVERYTHING possible at the time, and the music gameplay and scenery completed the masterpiece and made this game perfect in every respect. I wouldn't change a single thing about it, and I fully intend to get a 100% file. Truly this game is a mark of perfection.… Expand
  15. VincentStoker
    Apr 11, 2015
    9
    So far I have read many reviews which are complaining/moaning that the games graphics are alot worse than the original/bad textures/character models etc. There is something these people need to bear in mind.....this is a handheld game not a home console game. You cannot fit the full detail of the original into something like this. The game is beautiful by 3DS standards and a very big gameSo far I have read many reviews which are complaining/moaning that the games graphics are alot worse than the original/bad textures/character models etc. There is something these people need to bear in mind.....this is a handheld game not a home console game. You cannot fit the full detail of the original into something like this. The game is beautiful by 3DS standards and a very big game too (3.6GB) I never got the chance to play the original but have been hearing lots about it and I can honestly say it is exceeding my expectations and I have been nothing but impressed. The game plays very well on the new 3DS, the controls work very well and the games runs smooth as can be. The level of detail in the environments is impressive but I would suggest it's best played on the Xl as I don't know if it would look a little cluttered on the smaller system. There is one part of this game which outright deserves a 10 out of 10 and that is the soundtrack, one of the finest I have heard on a game in quite a while.

    Overall this is a top notch rpg with a wealth of options, story, side quests and fun to keep you very well entertained. The voice acting is fun and made me laugh many times at the banter between characters. Definitely worth a purchase if you are an rpg fan, ignore the "bad graphics" reviews and let yourself in for a fun romp!    … Expand
  16. Rtheom
    Apr 12, 2015
    7
    Overall, pretty good so far. Like others, I never played the Wii version since it became the price of 2+ DS games, but I'm glad I got the chance now.

    It seems pretty expansive with a lot going on. I actually wish that I had more time to give this game proper attention, because I feel like there's a lot to be taken in here. I'm curious about the world and I find it neat that they've    Overall, pretty good so far. Like others, I never played the Wii version since it became the price of 2+ DS games, but I'm glad I got the chance now.

    It seems pretty expansive with a lot going on. I actually wish that I had more time to give this game proper attention, because I feel like there's a lot to be taken in here. I'm curious about the world and I find it neat that they've given the townsfolk interactiveness beyond the usual two-phrase statement (although they still have this), but unfortunately there's so much of a web of interaction that I just can't spend the brain power to keep up with it. Not when I only have 20-30 minutes in between things during my day to play. Oh well, not the game's fault, it's mine for slipping further into adulthood.

    My one big complaint is the camera. Half the time I can't see what I'm fighting and having to manually swing the camera around to keep track of things is really getting old. I'd probably rate this game a 9 if it weren't for that, but honestly it may cause me to quit before the end. Perhaps I'm not doing something correctly, or there's an option I haven't found, but it sure is bugging the crud outta me.    … Expand
  17. Gotohellcadz
    Apr 15, 2015
    8
    This game has virtually everything anyone would want in a game: content, gameplay, story, characters, atmosphere and graphics. Had the game just been that must more accessible for newer players this game would be rated higher. But otherwise it's worth a buy for any rpg fan. But that still doesn't mean it's worth buying a whole new system for it, even if the wii port has a ridiculous price.
  18. Kingpinn02
    Sep 12, 2016
    10
    SHORT VERSION: This game is amazing! Every RPG fan should give it a try.

    I never played the Wii version (why spend $65 on it when I can spend $40... plus an extra $200 for a New 3DS). I have two younger brothers that use the Wii U a lot for multiplayer games giving me little time to play a long RPG, and since I really wanted to play, I saved up the money to buy a New 3DS. Much like    SHORT VERSION: This game is amazing! Every RPG fan should give it a try.

    I never played the Wii version (why spend $65 on it when I can spend $40... plus an extra $200 for a New 3DS). I have two younger brothers that use the Wii U a lot for multiplayer games giving me little time to play a long RPG, and since I really wanted to play, I saved up the money to buy a New 3DS. Much like everyone else, I first found out about it through Shulk's inclusion in Super Smash Bros.

    GAMEPLAY: This is my first RPG that isn't turn based. The real time combat is really fun and not that hard to get used to. Shulk's foresight ability allows him to look in to the future and see if an ally is about to get severely wounded allowing you enough time to plan a counter attack. When the party gauge is full, you can perform a chain attack to severely damage your opponents.

    You can't have a review without mentioning the large and breath taking overworld. It's huge and magnificently gorgeous at times. It can take anyone hours to explore.

    STORY: I tried to go in to this game knowing as little as possible. I won't say any detail about the plot other then it's absolutely fantastic with lovable characters. It's serious, funny, sad, and very complex with it's themes.

    FINAL THOUGHTS: This is an amazing game that I recommend to anyone that hasn't played yet. If you already own the Wii version, I've heard from others on the internet that it's basically the same game without any major chamges.    … Expand
  19. DarkLordGig
    Apr 11, 2015
    10
    I am probably going to get a bit of flack for this for sating this but, I never played the Wii version. So this was the only way I could get a chance to play the game without breaking the bank to get the original Wii version. I can saftly say that this is a really good game and I am very glad the nintendo is now giving the very few people who havn't played this game a chance to experienceI am probably going to get a bit of flack for this for sating this but, I never played the Wii version. So this was the only way I could get a chance to play the game without breaking the bank to get the original Wii version. I can saftly say that this is a really good game and I am very glad the nintendo is now giving the very few people who havn't played this game a chance to experience the world.

    This is one of the greatest RPG's ever made, The gameplay is very solid and the visuals look very great on the New 3DS. I like the fact that gaining experience and levels is very easy in this game so you won't have to do to much grinding. The battle system is very inventive, Think of a cross between action oriented combat and strategic MMO gameplay.

    The world is one the most beautiful things about this game, I mean I wasn't expecting the world to this massive in scope, and I was pleasantly surprised. There are some truly beautiful scenes in this game

    All in all this game is definitely worth a purchase    … Expand
  20. Turrican
    Apr 12, 2015
    7
    A Masterpiece on the WII - A blurry experience on the NEW 3DS

    I was seriously exited to play the NEW 3DS Release of Xenoblade but after the first 2 Hours, I can say that it is a bit of a let down. Compared to the Visuals on the Wii, the Graphics are unsharp, blurry and (which is why i bought it again in the first place) the 3D is not very impressive. This is mainly because the whole    A Masterpiece on the WII - A blurry experience on the NEW 3DS

    I was seriously exited to play the NEW 3DS Release of Xenoblade but after the first 2 Hours, I can say that it is a bit of a let down. Compared to the Visuals on the Wii, the Graphics are unsharp, blurry and (which is why i bought it again in the first place) the 3D is not very impressive. This is mainly because the whole World is supposed to fit on a bigger Television and looses much of its appeal on such a small screen.

    While impressiv that such an Openworld Game is available "on the Go" it feels too big at times. Playability is great, the C Stick Movement is a welcome substitue for a Controller and the FPS delivery is solid. Audio Quality didnt suffer much and the Interface was customized for the 3DS / doesnt clutter the upper Display. You can save anytime you want but that is possible on the Wii too.

    Xenoblade itself is still a 10 out of 10 but this Version only gets a 7 out of 10 because of the above mentioned flaws. If you can, play it on the Wii.    … Expand
  21. poyumaps
    Jun 16, 2015
    10
    Although I enjoyed the Wii controls better.

    ITS THE SAME GAME

    If you are complaining about about the new 3ds then go f**k yourself

    Great game 11/10 pepperonies
  22. TemplarGR
    Sep 10, 2016
    0
    One of the most overrated and overhyped games of the last generation, now on the New 3DS!

    This is final fantasy wannabe with mediocre story and bland, boring gameplay. I can understand how this scored highly on the Wii, after all Wii had no good RPGs (or games in general), so in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king and all that. But this doesn't mean that the game was good, it    One of the most overrated and overhyped games of the last generation, now on the New 3DS!

    This is final fantasy wannabe with mediocre story and bland, boring gameplay. I can understand how this scored highly on the Wii, after all Wii had no good RPGs (or games in general), so in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king and all that. But this doesn't mean that the game was good, it wasn't. The only really cool thing about the game was the setting, but a setting can't carry a 80hour slog on its own.

    The port is mediocre, as expected, and requires a New 3DS for no reason. The original 3DS is more than capable of playing this, as evidenced by other games playable on the O3DS, like the Monster Hunters. Nintendo used the lame excuse of "needing more power to run it" in order to sell more consoles. Which is disgusting, but that is Nintendo greed for you.

    The good thing is that we didn't need to play this anyway. Skip it. If you just don't value your life and your time, play it on PC using Dolphin. Thank me later.    … Expand
  23. Valdor
    May 15, 2018
    0
    I'm still confounded by the amount of hype this game got. The combat is a terrible combination of the worst that every F2P Korean MMO has to offer and the story and characters are bland and predictable.

    This game is a prime example of why you should never go quantity over quality. - There's hundreds of sidequests, BUT they're all the same kill x monsters, collect y items, ad infinitum.    I'm still confounded by the amount of hype this game got. The combat is a terrible combination of the worst that every F2P Korean MMO has to offer and the story and characters are bland and predictable.

    This game is a prime example of why you should never go quantity over quality.
    - There's hundreds of sidequests, BUT they're all the same kill x monsters, collect y items, ad infinitum.
    - The world is massive, BUT there's little to no reason to explore any of it. That cranny over there? Has the same items and monsters as everywhere else.
    - The game is long. You'll put in about 80 hours or so to finish the story, BUT it's all due to the horrible pacing and the game's forced marches across it's broad landscapes. It stretches itself incredibly thin in order to claim that long play time. The game really doesn't have any right to be longer than 30 hours with what's in it.

    Your time is better suited to playing anything else, really.    … Expand
  24. Leon_90
    Nov 29, 2016
    0
    Bad gameplay, bad story, bad character, bad world setting, this is one of the worst games I played in my life, going to sell it cuz its such a waste of time and money
  25. goschke
    May 4, 2015
    3
    Fairly good game, but what makes me mad is that it ONLY WORKS ON NEW 3DS! You don't need the C-Stick! You might as well stick with the Wii version because most people don't need it for this system too.
  26. okamimiyazaki
    Sep 3, 2020
    0
    Can't believe the 3DS version is so well received... This is an awful version. Do NOT buy it. Game is great, but the 3DS version looks like complete trash. I'm not even picky about graphics, but this is a blurry mess. Avoid at all costs. Waste of money. Get the Switch.
  27. Dynel
    Apr 29, 2015
    5
    Xenoblade for Wii was a pleasant surprise and a very good and interesting game.

    For the 3DS, not so much. Slapping the fact that you cannot play this in a "old" 3DS console, and that you need to buy the "new" 3DS console just so you can play this game is a demerit. Seems more of a money grab than any other thing. And no, I'm not going to waste 230+taxes dollar on a "new" console that    Xenoblade for Wii was a pleasant surprise and a very good and interesting game.

    For the 3DS, not so much. Slapping the fact that you cannot play this in a "old" 3DS console, and that you need to buy the "new" 3DS console just so you can play this game is a demerit. Seems more of a money grab than any other thing. And no, I'm not going to waste 230+taxes dollar on a "new" console that won't come with a charger while having to sell my "old" console. Then, buy this game...

    yeah... NO.    … Expand
  28. dregojax
    Apr 30, 2015
    9
    Simply put: It's Final fantasy VII with better combat, better story line, better character relation, better world consistency, better character progression and better artistic direction. A new sherif in town. The JRPG reference.
  29. b00lpr0p
    Jan 21, 2019
    3
    Very unbalanced enemies. The combat is full of blablabla which Japanese people use to love, but it's annoying. The combat system doesn't help, it's long and boring. Graphics look worse than a Nintendo DS game.
  30. jcolin
    Jan 8, 2017
    4
    This is a great game, on the wii, however they had to dumb down the graphics even further to run it on a system with "updated hardware". Now it looks like a playstation one game. The wii graphics were already terrible and this really makes the game unplayable. Add an extra small screen in the mix and the thing is just a mess. Bought this as soon as it came out, returned it the next day.
  31. Trey82
    Feb 16, 2020
    4
    To be fair, it isnt a bad game, its just terrible at nearly everything it tries to do.
    Lets start with a summary: Anime cliche, action rpg, english voices, 3d, vast overworld, unique navigation premise, solid battle foundation, high difficulty.
    And then the problems begin in expanding upon all that. Anime cliche - nothing surprising, the plot points are all common sense goodness. The    To be fair, it isnt a bad game, its just terrible at nearly everything it tries to do.
    Lets start with a summary: Anime cliche, action rpg, english voices, 3d, vast overworld, unique navigation premise, solid battle foundation, high difficulty.
    And then the problems begin in expanding upon all that.
    Anime cliche - nothing surprising, the plot points are all common sense goodness. The reason you cant do this, is because of that. The reason your godblade doesnt do this, is because they are doing that. You can see the future, because this thing creates that, and if you've played it, you know the story tells an interesting tale, but still usual anime style. Which is, to say.. entertaining. Creative in ways. But standard.
    Story gets a pass, because 'consistent and yet nothing special' isnt good or bad. Satisfying. :)

    Action RPG ~ thats what the kids are playing, these days. They cant be bothered to go buy god of war and button mash if it doesnt have RPG elements. Superficial rpg elements. You'll never be pushed too hard to deepthink anything in this game. Equipment? Just map the whole area youre in, stay 2 levels above the bad guys and you'll be fine. Gems? Meh. Equipment? Just max out your defensive stats. Which special godblade power should you use in any situation? They'll show you the mechanic to be learned right before you need it. The game is on rails. Even the FF7 remake is a button masher.

    English voices ~ no, I mean english accented. Not just english. har!
    Pleasing to hear, excepting the endless battle chatter repetition. (And no option to turn off post-battle yapping, you'll get tired of that within the first 5 hours)

    3d - not bad, good view distance. Great for what it is, but with hindsight at 20/20.. almost no other games impress to this extent on n3ds. Beautiful world, very scenic. Its just.. its just that it isnt very compelling. After filling out the whole map, exploring all the little hiddenish areas.. it plays like an offline MMO. You'll have some roaming mobs at your level, some overlord level 70ish types, some flyers, some whatevers.. at least the towns are populated reasonably well. And the conversations flow logically and smoothly. Consistent, not good or bad.

    Unique navigation. You are on one of two guys, making your way up and over to find the other guys, just to find that they arent all bad, but are they they? But it is. But its about the over-guys, and then it isnt about them. And its about the godblade. But then it isnt. But it is, again. And then you hit new game +.
    Thats a no-spoilers summary. And it weaves a kinda good tale, if a little underwhelming. Except when it isnt, but the pacing is so.. consistent. But not. Like, it really doesnt rush you to the next objective. You know where its at, and it doesnt 'push' you to get there any faster than you want to get there. And you shouldnt want to get there.
    Because you havent grinded until you are 5 levels higher than everybody else. Its really important that you grind. In most JRPGs you can just barely slide by if you just kill everything on your way.
    Xeno is that odd one out that isnt JUST about grinding for the sake of it, its about being very consistent ~ you will absolutely die if you even tiptoe to the next area without grinding up. Like dark souls levels of 'you arent ready so die'.
    Whch isnt to say that it is hard, it really isnt. So long as you grind.
    It isnt like etrian odyssey where even if you grind to death, you still have to micromanage every single round of every battle, on every stage, with EVERY character type having to fit within the 5 you chose. THAT.. is hard. Xeno is just boring. Consistently.

    Battle foundation.. what can I say about this? Think of it like disgaea. You get some cool skills. Then you get more. Then more. Before you know it there is all this crap you can pick to use!
    Except by 'can use' I mean 'must use'. Which doesnt make the battle system complex, just complicated. Complex is final fantasy tactics telling you that your attack should do 18 damage, but due to the day, the month, the gender of you two combatants, the faith in your religion, the braveness in your soul, the class you chose, the direction you attacked, PLUS the RNG random number generator... AHEM, yeah.
    As where xeno is just.. complicated. You got autoattack, except its useless. You got knife up, knife sideways, knife down, and one works if youre on the side, one from behind, one for hitting multiple enemies, so on and so forth. And its nice and all to have these special attacks, but they arent special. They are mandatory. And you have to eventually start using them in conjunction with everyone else, to beat the special enemies. And the more special enemies. And you cant do much damage to those guys, because.. well, they ate something funny.

    Add those consistencies, the deaths, the absolute tedium of EVERY single battle requiring your attention, and it sucks. Badly paced, cuz youre the pace. Slow down!    … Expand
  32. Shunior
    Apr 4, 2022
    9
    La NEW 3DS XL quedó pequenã para semejante juegazo!
    El juego es fantastico, su historia, banda sonora, gameplay, mecanicas...
    Lo mayor defecto de esa versión esta realmente en en hardware, la resolución es muy baja, ás veces molesta y por ello recomiendo la versíon para la Switch
  33. QDog
    Jun 1, 2015
    10
    I am loving this game. It has been awesome for long flights/travelling. It's good enough that I find myself pulling out my 3DS and playing it at home with headphones on. While the graphics are not the best, the size and scope of the world and length of the campaign/side missions is just amazing for a portable. More of this, PLEASE, Nintendo.
  34. DinoBeam
    Feb 11, 2023
    8
    Some amazing unique fantasy landscapes that big fantasy fans will not want to miss. Fun auto based combat. Cool enemies that sadly repeat in new areas alot. Some bosses you need to grind for, with the last boss being one you will most likely need to turn "casual mode" on for, even if you have a solid team that has gotten you easily though the whole game up the that point [and no they doSome amazing unique fantasy landscapes that big fantasy fans will not want to miss. Fun auto based combat. Cool enemies that sadly repeat in new areas alot. Some bosses you need to grind for, with the last boss being one you will most likely need to turn "casual mode" on for, even if you have a solid team that has gotten you easily though the whole game up the that point [and no they do not let you teleport away to grind for that one]. Half the writing is good, half is extraordinarily cheesy bad anime/ 80's kids cartoon level writing. Lots of plot twists. 8 overall.… Expand
  35. LoneWolfSones
    Jan 9, 2016
    8
    Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is a port of the Wii classic. Its the same story, same characters, and overall same game. This port has a few extras in the form of a model viewer and soundtracks that can be unlocked with play coins. Some concessions were made to get it onto the "New" 3DS. Its presentation isn't quite as clean as the Wii but its story is still worth experiencing. If you own a WiiUXenoblade Chronicles 3D is a port of the Wii classic. Its the same story, same characters, and overall same game. This port has a few extras in the form of a model viewer and soundtracks that can be unlocked with play coins. Some concessions were made to get it onto the "New" 3DS. Its presentation isn't quite as clean as the Wii but its story is still worth experiencing. If you own a WiiU or a Wii I recommend that version instead. If the idea of playing this on the go appeals to you this is a great opportunity to play a great game.

    Its a game that offers over 70 hours of play time with a lot to see and do. The environments and world still are impressive in terms of their scale. If this is your only option to play this game its well worth the investment.    … Expand
  36. GAGMR
    Sep 12, 2016
    9
    Probably the best RPG on the system. I've been playing it for over 30 hours so far & have barely scratched the surface. If you have a New 3DS you should treat yourself to this game.
  37. Tico481
    May 4, 2015
    9
    This game is an amazing experience on the 3DS. Xenoblade Chronicles really sets the bar for what games are capable of on a handheld. This game is HUGE, probably 5 to 6 discs long if compared to a PS1 JRPG. I would say this is one of my favorite games from this console gen, but it's a remake that not a lot of people were able to experience unfortunately. Thankfully it was remade!
  38. DABAWSGAMER22
    Jul 6, 2015
    10
    It is an amazing game it has the most amazing graphics i have ever seen i love the fighting system and i highly encourage you to buy the game. That is all that is needed to say. (:
  39. LukeW
    Jul 9, 2015
    10
    Great game!!! Innovative Gameplay, simple controls (for a JRPG), and excellent story! For anyone who didn't know, thi game needed to be played because the regular 3ds, the 3dsXL, and the 2ds didn't have tthe proccesing power needed to play Xenoblade Chronicles. Again, great game!!!
  40. DeathGodKain
    Jul 28, 2015
    10
    I loved this game through and through I don't know when I'll ever have it in me to play this game again since I sacrificed over 160 hours to finish this game. Not to completion though. I never played the wii version mostly because lately I can never get into home console games.

    My biggest question going into the game was HOW THE IS THERE GOING TO BE A SEQUEL ON EARTH. The answer is    I loved this game through and through I don't know when I'll ever have it in me to play this game again since I sacrificed over 160 hours to finish this game. Not to completion though. I never played the wii version mostly because lately I can never get into home console games.

    My biggest question going into the game was HOW THE IS THERE GOING TO BE A SEQUEL ON EARTH. The answer is simple beat the main story and you'll find out. Though if you really want to know just look it up and don't play through 100's of hours of awesome game play and story. Honestly I'm probably going to forget the experience but i really enjoyed it and I think anyone who bought a new 3ds who has lots of time to invest into this game will enjoy it.

    Don't misunderstand though I'm not saying anywhere that you need to upgrade to a new 3ds. That transition will come in time but right now it's unnecessary for lots of people so don't stress out about it. And by the time you need to upgrade the game will be significantly cheaper so you better pick it up then.

    Also little side note it does help if you just SLIGHTLY spoil yourself nothing major stay away from 7 because honestly to get started you do need a large amount of surprise and intrigue to get into the groove of this game. I'd recommend watching a playthrough of the first 3 or so hours maybe so that you can really become invested without going anywhere near ruining the story.    … Expand
  41. Fredinator2011
    Jan 17, 2016
    10
    Now let me take you back a few years: Xenogears came out on PS1 and I was addicted to it. It was one of the best games I've played and to this day I find myself going back to play it over and over.

    Then Xenosaga came out. Very good game once again. One of my favorites as a matter of fact. Then Xenosaga II came out... What the hell was this piece of sh*t. I hated this game. It was a    Now let me take you back a few years: Xenogears came out on PS1 and I was addicted to it. It was one of the best games I've played and to this day I find myself going back to play it over and over.

    Then Xenosaga came out. Very good game once again. One of my favorites as a matter of fact.

    Then Xenosaga II came out... What the hell was this piece of sh*t. I hated this game. It was a huge grind and a very lackluster story. Everytime I'd play it I would be so bored after 1 hour.

    Finally, Xenoblade Chronicles was announced on 3DS (I never played it on Wii). I lost all hope when I found out another Xeno game was being released.

    But Goddamn

    This game is actually the best game I've ever played. It captures everything a gamer hopes of having in a game. An amazing story, an amazing soundtrack, and amazing visuals. Monolith Soft had a beautiful view of an amazing world and they brought it to life in one, single game. The characters have so much development. Join Shulk, Reyn, Fiora, Dunban, Sharla, Melia, and Riki as they set off on adventure to get revenge on the Mechon for the war. The game captures the aspects of the Mechon really well. Especially Metal Face. Metal Face makes you hate him and you always want to kill him.

    Whenever you think "Man I've been playing for a long time," You realize that you need revenge on the Mechon and that you must keep going. There are amazing plot twists and there is an amazing combat system that is very easy to get used to. When I got this on N3DS I just couldn't put it down and it took me 120 hours to beat in a span of 1 month.

    The game is huge, the world is amazing to travel through, and the fun gameplay will keep you on the game for at least 5 hours everyday

    10/10 its my favorite game of all time    … Expand
  42. WeTechThat
    Oct 22, 2015
    10
    I followed this game's development since the days when people were trying to get it translated for the west. Living in a small town, I never came across a copy of the Wii version. However, with this port, I was finally able to experience the game I had waited years for.

    And it was more than worth it. This is the best JRPG I have ever played. Great characters, great atmosphere and    I followed this game's development since the days when people were trying to get it translated for the west. Living in a small town, I never came across a copy of the Wii version. However, with this port, I was finally able to experience the game I had waited years for.

    And it was more than worth it.

    This is the best JRPG I have ever played. Great characters, great atmosphere and graphics (for its time, they're a bit dated now), and one of the best plots as well as OSTs that can be found in a video game. I'm also a big fan of the combat system, which is centered around timely uses of arts and cooperation with COMPETENT AI TEAMMATES. This port played just fine for me, I had no issues with the new 3DS.

    My one problem with the game was that I had a hard time getting into trying to complete the side-quests. I would always say "I'm going to complete this quest today!" and then end up getting bored and fighting rare monsters for fun.

    In all, this game is a must have for any JRPG fan. 10/10.

    Born into a world of strife, against the odds, do you choose to fight? Get this game and find out.    … Expand
  43. EpicLadySponge
    Jun 23, 2016
    9
    Although this is only playable on New 3DS systems, Xenoblade Chronicles just keeps coming back for more and when it does, we should give it a lot of respect on it. If you have a New Nintendo 3DS or a New Nintendo 3DS XL, don't miss this.
  44. Moti5stars
    Apr 12, 2016
    10
    I loved this one! Is fantastic! Is the first Japanese RPG that I've tried and is my second favourite game though. The story, the characters, the hours of fun and the battles are awesome! I absolutely recommend it!
  45. Lone_Wolf_Sones
    Aug 7, 2016
    8
    Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is a port of the Wii classic. Its the same story, same characters, and overall same game. This port has a few extras in the form of a model viewer and soundtracks that can be unlocked with play coins. Some concessions were made to get it onto the "New" 3DS. Its presentation isn't quite as clean as the Wii but its story is still worth experiencing. If you own a WiiUXenoblade Chronicles 3D is a port of the Wii classic. Its the same story, same characters, and overall same game. This port has a few extras in the form of a model viewer and soundtracks that can be unlocked with play coins. Some concessions were made to get it onto the "New" 3DS. Its presentation isn't quite as clean as the Wii but its story is still worth experiencing. If you own a WiiU or a Wii I recommend that version instead. If the idea of playing this on the go appeals to you this is a great opportunity to play a great game.

    Its a game that offers over 70 hours of play time with a lot to see and do. The environments and world still are impressive in terms of their scale. If this is your only option to play this game its well worth the investment.    … Expand
  46. Daitor
    May 15, 2017
    6
    Nintendo players must be REA-A-A-ALLY hungry for rpgs if they think that this game deserve 10. Well, we all love rpgs for deep story lines, possibilities to make of playable character whatever we want and exploration.
    Let's start with story. It is there, it exists?.. Feels like the story line was written as a placeholder, because game needs a story and no one cares if it's intersting or    Nintendo players must be REA-A-A-ALLY hungry for rpgs if they think that this game deserve 10. Well, we all love rpgs for deep story lines, possibilities to make of playable character whatever we want and exploration.
    Let's start with story. It is there, it exists?.. Feels like the story line was written as a placeholder, because game needs a story and no one cares if it's intersting or not. But, that's the trouble of most nintendo games.
    Levelling. Yeap, you can level your party here. And nope, there's not many routes to do it.
    Exploration. It's nice. The world in which the game takes place is intersting an big enough to spend some time exploring it.
    Also, i'd like to write about battle system. It's great advanatge is in lack of random encounters, so player can pick any enemy he wants to fight and engage it. Another intersting point - positioning. Some attacks cause special effects if used from side or from behind. That makes battles more dynamic.
    In conclusion, the game is fine. It's not very good, it's not bad. It's just fine.    … Expand
  47. Neatqt
    Apr 10, 2019
    9
    Cast: 10/10
    Story: 9/10
    Fun: 9/10
    Gameplay: 10/10

    MUST PLAY
    ---------------------- ~75 Hours Played
  48. Dwoodlander
    Apr 7, 2019
    9
    I have at last finished XC3D and am left with that melancholy lull that only comes from finishing a truly special game. I loved the long hours I spent with XC3D and now consider it to be one of my favorite games of all time. I never owned a Nintendo Wii, so I regrettably missed out on the original all these years. Even after being down-ported graphically, XC3D ages wonderfully in mostI have at last finished XC3D and am left with that melancholy lull that only comes from finishing a truly special game. I loved the long hours I spent with XC3D and now consider it to be one of my favorite games of all time. I never owned a Nintendo Wii, so I regrettably missed out on the original all these years. Even after being down-ported graphically, XC3D ages wonderfully in most respects.

    What I loved:
    -Story, characters, and writing: most characters feel fully fleshed out, emotional and deep; dialogue is well-written with nice British voice-acting; the story is one epic roller-coaster ride with a very unique world setting, which struck a nice balance between being focused and easy to follow while also incorporating lore and overarching conflicts
    -Battle system: the battles were incredibly fun for me. I loved trying out different party formations and playing as each character to change things up. Some of the fights are super epic. Difficulty felt perfectly balanced, generally challenging but never frustrating.
    -Music: I can’t really put into words how great the OST is for this game. I would rank it as good as Nier Automata.
    -Art Style: Graphics are not great, but the art style makes up for this quite well.

    My Only Gripes:
    -Side quests: the side quests are tedious and uninspired. I generally only completed a few here and there. There are so many, yet most of them are meaningless fetch quests or monster hunts.
    -3D: the 3D on this version is there, but it is very subtle. It adds a bit of nice depth, but I felt like it could have been much better implemented.
    -Additional features: the 3DS version has unlockable character models and songs, but that doesn’t really add anything. I wish actual new gameplay elements, areas, or optional bosses were added to make this version more special.    … Expand
  49. Luia_94
    Dec 15, 2018
    9
    Un rpg impresionante, simplemente un imprescindible que se debe jugar (en 3DS o Wii)
  50. AndrewJMD
    Dec 16, 2018
    10
    I saw this game played by a youtube and I instantly knew I had to at least try it for myself, being a huge fan of JRPGs and all. I knew it was very different with the combat system but I was excited to learn the ins-and-outs of it all. As I progressed through the game I found many neat strategies for defeating enemies and winning fights. I ended up grinding to max level, completing everyI saw this game played by a youtube and I instantly knew I had to at least try it for myself, being a huge fan of JRPGs and all. I knew it was very different with the combat system but I was excited to learn the ins-and-outs of it all. As I progressed through the game I found many neat strategies for defeating enemies and winning fights. I ended up grinding to max level, completing every quest, and beating every super boss, and this was the first game I enjoyed doing this. The way it handles the superboss fights with unlocking them after certain points and having each drop gear that helps fight the next one. The final super boss was an insane challenge but so satisfying to complete the fight. Throughout the story, I was constantly guessing what would happen next and I was always surprised to see something new play with the theme of the game and using what I knew to surprise me. The characters and character swapping system was great and allowed really neat combat systems that I personally loved. I would max affinity between everyone so early because I would be constantly wanting to fight. The whole story is beautiful, it takes you through an amazing set of scenery and it really makes you think. it addresses themes of religion but none specifically, it really is an amazing game and I say you must play it.… Expand
  51. new2dsxl
    Sep 6, 2019
    9
    Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is a high-quality port of one of the Wii's most demanding yet brilliant experiences. A sizeable and stunningly diverse world, full of wildlife and fantastical cultures, is admirably recreated for the small screens of the New Nintendo 3DS. Its natural home may be on the TV, but this release gives more gamers an opportunity to set off on a lengthy and dramaticXenoblade Chronicles 3D is a high-quality port of one of the Wii's most demanding yet brilliant experiences. A sizeable and stunningly diverse world, full of wildlife and fantastical cultures, is admirably recreated for the small screens of the New Nintendo 3DS. Its natural home may be on the TV, but this release gives more gamers an opportunity to set off on a lengthy and dramatic adventure. A brilliant portable version of a true classic, fans of RPGs willing to commit themselves to the task of saving Bionis shouldn't hesitate to pick this up - it is, quite simply, the biggest world we've experienced on such small screens.… Expand
  52. Flomo
    Aug 2, 2022
    10
    Super Port , Klasse 3d Grafik und ganz toll die komplette Musik kann freigeschalten werden .
  53. DomMonadoBoi
    Jun 2, 2020
    10
    This is the best video game ever made, only behind the recently released Xenoblade Chronicles definitive edition for the switch. the cast, world, music, combat, and story are phenomenal. A must play, limited only by graphics. this doesn't matter to me considering everything else. This version is portable, and has the collection mode and a 3D effect. I recommend playing it alone,This is the best video game ever made, only behind the recently released Xenoblade Chronicles definitive edition for the switch. the cast, world, music, combat, and story are phenomenal. A must play, limited only by graphics. this doesn't matter to me considering everything else. This version is portable, and has the collection mode and a 3D effect. I recommend playing it alone, uninterrupted, with headphones on to experience it best.… Expand
  54. BurtKocain
    Jan 25, 2021
    7
    Xenoblade Chronicles 3D released in 2015 as something of a pilot for Nintendo's New 3DS and Amiibo lines, both of which never fully lived up to their potential. And while there certainly is something to be said about giving an overlooked Wii game a second chance in full stereoscopic 3D, the visual shortcuts and downgrades of the New 3DS port often beg the question of whether it was worthXenoblade Chronicles 3D released in 2015 as something of a pilot for Nintendo's New 3DS and Amiibo lines, both of which never fully lived up to their potential. And while there certainly is something to be said about giving an overlooked Wii game a second chance in full stereoscopic 3D, the visual shortcuts and downgrades of the New 3DS port often beg the question of whether it was worth attempting in the first place. If the 3DS line is your favorite (or only) series of systems, this is still a decent way to experience one of the best RPGs of the Wii era. Otherwise, the remaster available on Nintendo Switch now makes this version largely obsolete.… Expand
  55. MoofiaBossVal
    Dec 26, 2021
    6
    The actual gameplay is meh. The real time, hybrid MMO hotbar combat is unexciting and boring. You're very dependent on AI party members to do combos or to heal but half the time they're stupid and not using the abilities they should be using at the right time. There are lots of sidequests but they're mediocre "fetch X" quests with no real interesting stories.

    The game's main claim to    The actual gameplay is meh. The real time, hybrid MMO hotbar combat is unexciting and boring. You're very dependent on AI party members to do combos or to heal but half the time they're stupid and not using the abilities they should be using at the right time. There are lots of sidequests but they're mediocre "fetch X" quests with no real interesting stories.

    The game's main claim to fame is its cutscenes. They're very well directed, and help carry an incredibly stereotypical and rather meh JRPG plot by distracting the player with the sheer spectacle of it all. About half of the main cast is likeable, while the other half are deadweight duds. The direction of the English voice acting is very good, though.

    The setting is interesting on paper (what if the world was giants?), but in game you don't really get to see that. You mostly see your typical fantasy RPG environments. That said, the art direction is good enough to make them visually nice to look at.

    Music is a mixed bag. There are some really great tracks, a lot of duds, and then a lot of really bad music that makes you want to mute the game or turn down the volume. Also, during battle, there is a cacophony of voicelines going off. You get used to it but that doesn't make it any less unenjoyable to listen to.    … Expand
  56. Andbrian
    Mar 8, 2023
    10
    Literally my favorite JRPG of all time. I never played the Wii version, so I'm basing this review on the 3DS version. I absolutely loved the story, the soundtrack, the visuals & cutscenes, the gameplay, the voice acting and the equipment/crafting system. There was one boss where the framerate was so bad that it was basically unplayable, but other than that, the entire game ran smoothly.Literally my favorite JRPG of all time. I never played the Wii version, so I'm basing this review on the 3DS version. I absolutely loved the story, the soundtrack, the visuals & cutscenes, the gameplay, the voice acting and the equipment/crafting system. There was one boss where the framerate was so bad that it was basically unplayable, but other than that, the entire game ran smoothly. The c-stick on the New 2DS/3DS can freely control the camera in all directions. Can't recommend it enough, and I'm currently working on Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on Switch!… Expand
  57. Luke_shogun
    Sep 7, 2023
    10
    Muito divertido, a versão do Switch consegue deixar ainda mais mágico, vale muito a pena
  58. metalboy123
    Jul 24, 2023
    10
    I still don't know how they can fit this massive game into the 3DS but here we are. Phenomenal game that everyone needs to experience.
  59. Borderlinez
    Aug 8, 2023
    10
    Xenoblade Chronicles on the 3DS is an absolute masterpiece that delivers an unforgettable experience. As a long-time fan of the original Wii version, I was skeptical about how the game would translate to a handheld console, but I am thrilled to say that it exceeds all expectations.

Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best 3DS Game of 2015
4
#4 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2015
3
#3 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 63 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 63
  3. Negative: 0 out of 63
  1. GamePro Germany
    Aug 12, 2015
    79
    The game has suffered by being ported to the 3Ds. It's still a great game, but I would only recommend the Wii version.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Jul 27, 2015
    80
    A truly huge RPG with nice visuals, enjoyable combat system and a lot to do besides the main storyline. [08/2015, p.78]
  3. RPGamer
    Jun 29, 2015
    90
    Xenoblade Chronicles is a phenomenal RPG that hasn't been given the most extensive port that one would hope for, but is still impressive for being scaled down to a handheld.
    Read full review
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