Xenoblade Chronicles 2

The overall depth of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and how well it all ties together is astounding. Though higher expectations mean it is less of a stunning revelation than the first game, Monolith Soft has risen up tall to meet those expectations and delivered spectacularly in every area. 2017 has been one of the greatest years in RPG history; Xenoblade Chronicles 2 caps that off in mesmerising fashion by being one of the finest titles of the year.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the best JRPG in years. The strategy combat has improved compared with previous instalments, it features a deep story and a huge world full of content. This is one of the best games that 2017 has offered.

If you are willing to be patient and put the time in, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers a huge world with lots of blades, places to explore, and people to help.

Though its mechanics are not always well explained, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers a timeless tale of adventure and an incredibly deep battle system.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is one of the finest JRPGs of the generation and perhaps of all time.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is one of those RPGs that I didn't want to end. Luckily, there is enough post-game content to satisfy players looking to sink 100s of hours into more adventures with Rex and the party.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a JRPG masterpiece. It feels derivative at times and does not always inspire the same shock and awe like the first Xenoblade Chronicles did 6 years ago but it flows better, not to mention it's longer, meatier and more focused.

If I were to rank the Xenoblade games then I would say Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a step below the original yet a more rewarding experience than Xenoblade Chronicles X. Either way you look at it, what's here is a memorable and impressively epic tale filled with optimism and that's just what the world needs now.

With its breathtaking environments, fantastic soundtrack, rich battle system and solid cast of characters, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a worthy successor to one of the best RPGs of the last decade.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is one of the best JRPG that we've seen in a while due to its superb art design, its OST and a great story. A must have.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is exactly what we expected it to be: a magnificent and elaborate game, full of secrets waiting to be unlocked. The joys of exploring play a role as crucial as the writing, which is able to create a deep and original plot. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a masterpiece: another exclusive for Nintendo Switch that you simply can’t miss.

With a story of boundless optimism, dozens of huge, living worlds to investigate and one of the most satisfying battle systems seen in a Japanese roleplaying games in years, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a charming and engrossing long-form adventure.

If you are looking for an epic adventure that will take hours to complete, then Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a must-have! Despite some rather unjustified flaws, it is a game with a satisfying story and cast, wonderful level design, a memorable soundtrack and a deep -yet easy to pick- battle system. A must-have for all Switch owners and a glimpse of the Switch’s bright future ahead.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a game that will resonate with you deeply if you have a wanderer’s heart and the patience to understand the game’s many intricacies.

Monolith Soft has crafted a game in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 that takes the very best of JRPG elements and mixes it with some of the open world massiveness we’ve seen in titles like Horizon: Zero Dawn and Breath of the Wild this year.

With the gorgeous world and the team based battle system as a foundation, Monolith and Nintendo created an epic fantasy J-RPG. Not everything is perfect, but once you start exploring the fascinating and dangerous terra incognita with its breathtaking vistas, bizarre creatures and touching stories, it is almost impossible to get away.

Being the first JRPG developed exclusively for Switch, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a fantastic game that shows us what the console is capable of. It offers a refined formula from what we saw in previous games and merges it with a fantastic and deep story, majestic and immense worlds and a fabulous soundtrack. Albeit it has some graphical issues that show the limits of the system and how it suffers to maintain an optimal performance, the title is surely one of the greatest games that you can play on Switch and one that will keep you hooked for more than a hundred hours.

The combination of engrossing story, fabulous music, expansive world, and complex yet rewarding battle system make XC2 one hell of a grand adventure.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the third and final gem on the Nintendo Switch crown for this 2017, after Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey: it tells a moving story with easy to love characters and, most of all, mixes a great combat system with an amazing sense of discovery.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an excellent JRPG with a truly extravagant open world begging to be explored. Its in-depth battle system and impressively paced narrative help to deliver a smooth experience, despite its massive run-time. The Nintendo Switch has yet another jewel in its exclusive library, cementing itself as a system never to be underestimated. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Alrest is calling.

Though I would have appreciated an in-game help guide to keep the inner workings of battles in check, I genuinely enjoyed its complex intricacies once I got the hang of it.

With its amazing story and deep combat system Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers an excellent sequel to what probably is the best jrpg of the past two console generations.

The dynamics and versatility of the combat system are remarkable.

Monolith Soft delivers again one of the best RPGs of the year. A must-have you cannot miss if you like the genre, even if it’s just a tiny bit.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 suffers from some technical issues and takes a really long time to kick it into high gear, but when it does, it manages to become a sublime RPG, standing toe to toe with the behemoths of the genre.

It would take thousands of words to touch on how special this game is really.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 applies an energetic signature and wax seal to a wonderful year for the Nintendo Switch, and for JRPGs in general. Between the amount of time it takes to get used to the game and getting through everything it has to offer, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a worthy investment for series fans and newcomers.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 gets bolder in every direction, with a colorful character design backed by a caricatural tone to mask the gravity of the purpose underneath, a denser world deployed vertically, that literally breathes life through atmospheric compositions and folklore. Some ideas deserved more development, but most concepts are organically integrated, the versatile talents of the Blades sharpening the whole gameplay. A way to cut deeper into this huge adventure enriched by the variety and random nature of such symbiotic support creations, while its slight impression of déjà vu only comes from the essential elements scavenged to forge the saga's most refined iteration. Nothing disappears, everything transforms indeed.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on the Switch won't disappoint series fans, especially those that love the Wii original (or even experienced it on New 3DS). It's a new cast and world, with some fresh mechanics and ideas, but much is still familiar. The story has high points, the world and its varied Titan lands is intriguing, and it draws you in for many dozens of hours. It's Monolith Soft doing what it does best, albeit without shaking off the occasional flaws of the series. It's ultimately an important part of an incredible launch year for the Switch - a reminder that while system concepts change some things are constant. This is another Xenoblade gem, and a must-have for the most dedicated of adventurers.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 doesn't disappoint: endowed with a massive longevity, characterized by a living and fascinating world and blessed by a fabulous narration, the game is an unmissable JRPG. Despite some technical hesitation and certain glitches in the gameplay, it's impossible to remain indifferent to a job of such scale and quality.

It’s masterfully put together with incredible cutscenes, a charming cast, a thrilling battle system, and an exceptional soundtrack. Technical performance issues and a troublesome method in acquiring new Blades blemish the experience a little, but no JRPG fan should give this a pass.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the true successor to the original. Monolith has once again demonstrated how refining and innovating RPG elements in a world crafted with quality can continue to push the genre. Like previous entries, a potentially steep learning curve may put off some onlookers, but even the tutorials are welcoming and improved. Not to mention it has one of the greatest soundtracks out there. I would highly recommend this game to anyone regardless of whether they own a Switch or not.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a phenomenal RPG. It's a truly incredible piece of work that builds and expands on the series' staples, while turning into a unique and heartfelt adventure all of its own.

Another bull's-eye shot for the Nintendo Switch. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 closes the nearly-perfect year for Nintendo's hybrid console with a bunch of gorgeous fireworks.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a delightful and fantastic JRPG experience. A long story full of adventure, character, charm, and whimsy will keep you playing for dozens of hours without breaking a sweat.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the latest great exclusive for Nintendo Switch; a huge, deep Japanese RPG, which sometimes feels "too generic". We love the titan made world and its complex battle system, but sometimes we lose track of the main story.

An uneven start makes way for another Monolith monster full of life, loot and madness. [Jan 2018, p.58]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an unforgettable delight for the JRPG lover, but only once you master its demanding and deep combat system. With huge maps to explore, exceptional soundtrack and a rich story, Monolith Soft latest production its an unforgettable journey, worthy of every hour you spend in this epic new world.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a great game to finish off the Switch's stellar first year, and offers a massive adventure that will scratch the itch felt by both MMO and JRPG fans.

Nintendo Switch can finally boast a great JRPG within its remarkable roster. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a game that every fan of the genre should play. There are some minor flaws, such as the great chaos ensuing during some battles, but the combat system is deep and rewarding, and the story and the characters are great. Well done, Monolith Soft, well done.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an essential JRPG for fans of the genre. If you own a Switch and have enjoyed JRPGs in the past, then you should get it, absolutely. In a year which had games like Tales of Berseria and Persona 5, it just might be the best JRPG of 2017, and that’s saying something.

An highly enjoyable variation on a template we already know. We had the right to be worried that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is going to be just a cash grab, because it’s been just two years since XCX, but the developers managed to build another huge, wonderful world and endow the game with its own identity. [01/2018, p.58]

All in all, Monolith Soft has achieved something here that is obviously related to their past work, but manages to feel very, very different. Reinvention is a task that vexes the best of developers; to do it in the time frame this game was delivered in is frankly astonishing. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is flawed, as tragically as the heroes and villains it portrays. But I’ve grown to love them, nonetheless. Maybe you will, too.

A very good role-playing game and one that not only is a proud addition to the Xeno series but also adds another great game to the library of the already buoyant Switch. That said, the discrepancy in performance between the docked and portable versions of the game is somewhat unfortunate and may limit your enjoyment.

It’s been an extremely long time since I’ve played an RPG that’s scratched an adventure itch in a classic sense. Even the other two Chronicles games didn’t capture me the same way this one does. It could be the setup, the character, the world, or some odd combination of a world in the clouds, but regardless it works for me. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 feels like a classic RPG from days past, when the original PlayStation seemed to spew one out every other week, and that’s a good thing.

Without being the game of the year, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 manages to offer enough good things to be a very decent JRPG game that is worth the attention of any Nintendo Switch owner, in spite of a few shortcomings like the awful clipping and framerate drops.

Chronicles is a JRPG with the size of an MMORPG, in a world that feels lively. The game does not explain itself too well and many of the characters are a bit uncomfortable to look at, but other than that this game is amazing.

While it’s definitely got its flaws, and it doesn’t quite reach the same exceptional standards as its predecessor, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is definitely worth playing. With robust, customizable combat, fun characters and an interesting story, and huge environments to explore, it’s one of the best games on the Switch and an excellent RPG.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a beast. Epic locations, charming characters, great story, stunning graphics, incredible complexity… It's one of the best J-RPG in last years. However, It's also full of frustations, some ot them would be irritating, even for an experimented gamer.

We’ve had Breath of the Wild, we got Skyrim, and Disgaea 5, but for many JRPG fans, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will be the first really exciting release on the Switch. And I’m here to say that it’s been worth the wait for the follow up to the Wii’s original classic.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 gives you a massive world to explore with a lovely cast of characters that come together brilliantly, but it suffers on the technical side of things.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a standout RPG that manages to keep its story, combat, and exploration interesting over the course of at least 70 hours of adventure through an impressively varied and rich world. Getting from place to place can be confusing, but outside of that and a multi-hour progression roadblock near the end this is an excellent game full of tough, memorable battles and a positive message.

You could theoretically play Xenoblade Chronicles 2 for months and not only find more things to do, but likely still enjoy doing them. It’s a robust, well-crafted, and enjoyably addictive ride that JRPG fans, and even some WRPG diehards, should enjoy.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 didn't impress me as much as I expected... until I passed the forty hour mark and this game almost turned into the philosophical masterpiece its predecessor is.

If you like JRPGs with neat worlds and systems that reward combat and planning, you'll be able to spend a lot of hours in Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

Despite some rough patches, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a worthy addition to any Switch owner's library, especially if you have a predilection for RPGs and enjoyed either of the previous entries in the series. [Issue #32 – March/April 2018, p. 75]

Extensive and massive JRPG. Although with a rather cliché story and characters, it comes with a beautiful world and a fighting system growing more and more complex with every hour played. [Issue#282]

It feels like the developer has come to an apex of open-world design, and while the game makes some missteps along the way in its story and characterisation, it all makes up for it in the exploration of the world. [Issue#196, p.82]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is overall mostly a quality RPG that has charm and character, while making up for some of the lacking aspects of Xenoblade Chronicles X, but small issues stop it from hitting the heights of Xenoblade Chronicles, sitting in between the two games in this trio series. It retains all the great stuff about exploring beautiful and large unique areas, but forgot to take in the advancements made in map design from Xenoblade Chronicles X. It does take a while to find its feet, but once it starts going and you click with the combat, it’s an RPG that engulfs you in its long, amusing adventure for many hours, one that finished up Nintendo’s 2017 with another great Switch game.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an exquisite game that will surely satisfy the fans with its enormous lifespan, visual style and abundant possibilities. That said, the game starts rather slowly and its user interface could certainly be friendlier, which can only lead to the hope that such situations will be corrected soon through downloadable updates.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 certainly isn’t a title for those looking for a quick to play RPG or an easy to learn experience, but for anyone willing to invest the time there’s a gem underneath that just needs to be buffed out.

For as much as the game asks of its players it gives just as much back if not more in return. In every aspect, you can see the love and care that went into it, be it the charming characters, inventive world, or carefully contextualized story. Pure fantasy is at its best when it desperately and genuinely wants to transport its audience to a place that is so very different yet immediately relatable. To do that, it must in some ways believe in the magic it’s trying to sell. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 absolutely believes and is all the better for it.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a rough diamond that is both demanding and delightful, but one that raises the bar for portable RPGs higher than ever before.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a solidly enjoyable JRPG that is hurt by not having the style of the original or the ambition of its spin-off. Genre fans will find a lot to like here, and those who enjoyed Xenoblade 1 for its exploration and gameplay will find Xenoblade 2 to be a worthy follow-up. Comparisons to the original are unavoidable, and Xenoblade 2 takes longer to warm up than the original, and it never reaches the same heights. Taken on its own merits, Xenoblade 2 is a fun JRPG with a ton of content, customization and gameplay that any genre fan will enjoy.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 won't be for everyone. Its very nature means it's nowhere near as accessible as the likes of Super Mario Odyssey, or even The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – a very different sort of RPG. For fans of the genre though, it's a belter, and for anyone willing to give it a shot, it's an excellent introduction to the form.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an RPG that demands mastery of every element contained within. You need to focus in order to absorb the dense story, the escalating combat systems and the endless sea of upgrade menus. Like an advanced math class, there are dire consequences to skipping even a single lesson. However, buried under this formidable outer shell is a heartfelt story that hooks you early and doesn’t let go.

What Xenoblade Chronicles 2 does bring to the table far outweighs the negatives, with an huge, enthralling world to explore, monsters to attack and a living, breathing habitat. The world doesn’t simply exist to service the needs of the player, and instead focuses on a cohesive, engaging world to explore and discover. The added bonus of being able to take the game on the go is a huge plus, with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 managing to scale down well for short bursts of gameplay when you’re trying to manage the wealth of systems and mechanics within it.

With Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the Nintendo Switch wraps up its first year with one of the biggest games in recent memory; JRPG fans have yet another epic game to enjoy before we head into 2018.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a real gem for the Switch. But there are some downsides. In handheld modus there are framedrops and the game suffers from the limited capacity of the console. Still, the 100 hours of gameplay are more than worth it.

So I enjoyed my time with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 a great deal, but it saddens me that I ONLY enjoyed it a great deal. I honestly can’t believe that a studio of Monolith’s size and prestige would somehow miss that its narrative is rife with tonal inconsistencies, and leave me wondering whether I was playing something serious, or a shift by Nintendo and Monolith to capitalise on the recent success of Compile Heart’s Hyperdimension Neptunia.

To the delight of many, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is less X and more traditional Xenoblade.

The evaluation of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is doomed to be polarizing. It has many advantages, and can attract a lot of players. Meanwhile, there are plenty of terrible designs that cannot be understood in it too, such as lengthy game pace, tedious missions and boring combat. To love or to hate, that is the question.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers an epic journey with a great cast of characters on the go for your Nintendo Switch, but some may find a handful of glaring flaws and system complexity a slightly high barrier to entry.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2's sluggish combat and adherence to low-brow, leery anime writing detracts from the joy to be found in exploring its magnificent world.

enoblade 2 may remind you of a host of older console RPGs ranging from Grandia to Tales of Symphonia, and in the end it even circles back around to touch on other Xeno games. Ultimately, though, Xenoblade 2 is its own thing, and that's something rare and precious these days outside of the indie gaming space. Cherish this weird little creature, warts and all.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a sprawling RPG with numerous interconnected pieces, so no part of the experience is isolated. It takes about 100 hours to finish, and not all of that time feels well spent, with bloated quests and repetitive combat. On the other hand, the vast world and intricate upgrades are a joy to dive into. Everything evens out in the end, but the wild swings between its highs and lows make it impossible for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to maintain altitude above its peers.

The slog is real, but worth it for hard core JRPG fans.

A fight with an ordinary enemy whose level is slightly higher can drag on for minutes, especially if you’re fighting it alone. The combat itself is also rife with problems: sometimes main character even fails to draw his weapon, or locks onto a far-off enemy, while another already is eviscerating him in close combat. [Issue#226, p.64]

Though roaming the game's beautiful open worlds is bound to amuse more or less anyone for a few hours, the Xenoblade games will mostly appeal to the kind of JRPG player who enjoys the genre for its challenge and complexity rather than stories. In this light Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is somewhat surpassed by its more ambitious and polished Wii U predecessor.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a good, but not great. The combat is fun, the music is phenomenal and the huge and lush world of Alrest is a joy to venture through. But with all that said, the game is plagued by a messy UI system, almost nonexistent map, weird blade acquiring system, terrible and sometimes mediocre plot. It really looks like the game tried its best not be Xenoblade Chronicles X, and was less concerned with building on it’s predecessor.

Even with a phenomenal world, though, the story feels boilerplate and can be downright frustrating at times, having nonsensical, poorly-established events. The combat can also be aggravating as the AI has a hard time properly comprehending their surroundings and failing to stick to a given role. It doesn’t help there’s a strong RNG element to obtaining Blades, meaning you could be stuck with a bad hand for quite some time. Still, with all of these complaints, it’s hard to put it down. With an absurd amount of content, there’s no denying there’s an addicting and alluring quality to Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which makes it all the more disappointing it turned out the way it did. It had the potential to be one of the best RPGs of the year, but instead it ends up being just above average.

It doesn't quite match the out-of-nowhere brilliance of the first game, not is it as bold as the daring, but flawed, follow-up. Still, those seeking a game large and enveloping enough to carry them through the holiday season and beyond will find that particular box well and truly ticked. [Issue#314, p.108]

A wondrous game lies in there somewhere. But like those viscous cloud seas in Alrest, it’s too often too difficult to swim through.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 tries its hardest to match the grandest of grand RPGs out there on the market, attempting to become Nintendo's own Final Fantasy. In doing so, though, whilst still wonderfully vast in its scale, and gripping in how things play out for the most part, it has lost its way slightly, becoming bogged down by an overly complex pre-battle system, marred by fights that mostly feel too hands-off/automated, and some terrible character visuals and voice work. There is indeed a lot to love about this, yet so much that makes you yearn for something more.

In some ways a backwards step from its immediate predecessor, but this is still a fascinatingly complex Japanese role-player with the best open world since Breath Of The Wild.

Despite its many issues, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 stands out with a deep combat system, compelling storyline, and an endearing cast of characters. Just try not to get overwhelmed and give up in those first hours.

A wide-sweeping game with an ambitious story, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers up an intriguing world to explore. Unfortunately, confusing map markers and a padded-out combat system make actually exploring more of a chore than is necessary.

It's equal parts pleasing and frustrating, but the struggle to keep up with everything thrown your way is more of a hurdle than a roadblock. It will be a tough pill to swallow for people who aren't accustomed to the typical cliches found in many Japanese RPGs, and its often clumsy nature keeps it from being the next groundbreaking Switch game. But Xenoblade 2 is worth pursuing if you've got enough patience to let it blossom.

As a long-time fan of the Xeno series, I found Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to be a disappointment. A little balance testing, some reduced system bloat, and a little more effort in presentation could have made it an RPG to remember. If you played Xenoblade Chronicles 2 with a cheat device or walkthrough it would probably improve the experience, because you could bypass all the boring grinding and rough difficulty spikes. As it is now, the game is kind of a mess. An addicting mess, yes, but still a mess.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 isn’t a bad game by any means, but it’s one that only die-hard JRPG fans will love.