Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praise the grandiose and engaging narrative, with relatable characters and surprising twists. Critics such as Daily Star and GameSpew highlight the compelling nature of the story, full of drama and emotional moments. The Digital Fix and Trusted Reviews commend the fantastic storytelling, with significant moments scattered throughout the campaign. The narrative is described as bombastic, dramatic, moving, heartfelt, and tightly written, making it one of the best in the franchise, according to My Nintendo News. On the negative side, some critics mention that the story may seem familiar or juvenile at first, but becomes more enjoyable once accepted, as mentioned by Press Start Australia. GameCrate mentions that while the story is okay, the standout aspects are the characters and the world's atmosphere. Digitally Downloaded points out that the narrative explores themes of conflict between the artificial and the biological, as well as a Nietzschean philosophy of rebelling against 'God', which may not resonate with all players. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is highly praised. The majority of the critics find the story to be very good, engaging, and charming. The narrative is commended for its emotional depth, likable characters, surprising twists, and the additional content in the form of Future Connected. The story is described as tightly written, fully voiced, and one of the best in the genre. The strength and specificity of the game's vision, as well as its balance of linear storytelling and open-world exploration, are also highlighted. The positive reception from the critics solidifies the notion that the story of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is a standout aspect of the game.

The majority of the critics praised the gameplay of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, with many highlighting its positive aspects. App Trigger commends the combat system for being simple yet deep, with different characters having unique combat styles and abilities. Digitally Downloaded mentions that the combat system is dynamic and exciting, heavily inspired by MMOs, with a skill bar and cooldowns for key abilities. They also note the addition of the "foresight" feature, which adds depth and strategy to the combat. The combat system is also described as robust and refined by Daily Star, with quality of life improvements that make the adventure more accessible for new players. However, there are a few criticisms regarding the gameplay. KeenGamer mentions that while the battle system is perfect, the frequency of Shulk's visions of the future can be disruptive. My Nintendo News points out the lack of strategic depth in the new chain attack system. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall consensus among the critics is that the gameplay of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is highly enjoyable and well-executed. The gameplay of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition offers a mix of action and RPG sensibilities, with accessible mechanics and helpful tutorials, as noted by Destructoid. GameCrate highlights the hybrid battle system that requires strategy and thoughtful decision-making. The combat and exploration in the game are also praised by Metro GameCentral, with a unique combat system and a huge game world that offers interesting exploration and side quests. The gameplay loop of exploration, combat, quests, and spending time with the party is well-executed, according to Noisy Pixel. In conclusion, the overall sentiment among the critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the gameplay of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. The combat system is highly praised for its depth, accessibility, and strategic elements. The game offers a massive world to explore, with plenty of things to see and do. The improvements made to the gameplay, such as quality of life tweaks and new gameplay elements, are also appreciated. While there are a few minor criticisms, they do not overshadow the overall consensus that the gameplay of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is highly enjoyable and well-crafted.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praised the enhanced visuals, character models, and textures. App Trigger, Daily Star, DarkStation, Digitally Downloaded, GameCrate, Impulsegamer, KeenGamer, Metro GameCentral, Nintendo Enthusiast, Noisy Pixel, Player 2, Press Start Australia, Screen Rant, Slant Magazine, Stevivor, The Digital Fix, The Games Machine, TheSixthAxis, Trusted Reviews, VG247, Video Chums, Wccftech, and ZTGD all commended the graphical improvements in the Definitive Edition. They mentioned vivid colors, impressive character models, and beautifully designed environments. The game's world was described as breathtaking, epic, and immersive, with stunning vistas and locales. The visual upgrade was seen as a major selling point, making the game look more in-line with newer titles and enhancing the overall experience. However, there were some criticisms raised by a few critics. Destructoid, GameSpew, Gameblog.fr, My Nintendo News, and Worth Playing mentioned limitations in resolution, occasional blurriness, rudimentary textures, limited draw distance, and muddy visuals in handheld mode. Some critics, such as Daily Star and Press Start Australia, also noted a lack of environmental detail and dated environments. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall sentiment remained positive, with the majority of critics still appreciating the graphical enhancements and improvements. In conclusion, the Graphics and Visual Design of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition received high praise from the majority of critics. The enhanced visuals, character models, and textures were widely commended, with many critics noting the game's stunning landscapes and immersive world. While there were some minor criticisms regarding resolution limitations and occasional graphical imperfections, these were overshadowed by the overall positive consensus. The graphical upgrade was seen as a significant improvement over the original version, bringing the game closer to the visual quality of newer titles and enhancing the overall experience for players.

The Sound Design and Music of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the majority of critics. Many critics praised the game's soundtrack, with several describing it as one of the best in any RPG. App Trigger and KeenGamer specifically mentioned the game's exceptional soundtrack, with KeenGamer recommending the Japanese voice acting over the English version. GameCrate and Noisy Pixel highlighted the incredible music, mentioning grand pieces that fit the world and battles, and engaging battle themes featuring electric guitar. The Digital Fix and ZTGD also praised the soundtrack, with The Digital Fix mentioning brilliant jazz-inspired music and ZTGD describing it as a fantastic mix of classical and hard rock. The overall consensus among critics is that the music in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is exceptional, adding depth and enhancing the overall experience of the game. While the majority of critics had positive opinions about the Sound Design and Music of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, there were a few minor criticisms. Trusted Reviews mentioned that the overly British voice acting may be jarring to some, although it is delivered with enough campy conviction to land its narrative touchstones. Video Chums pointed out that while the voice acting is fantastic and the characters have unique personalities, the voice clips repeat too often. These criticisms, however, were relatively minor and did not significantly impact the overall positive reception of the game's sound design and music. In conclusion, the Sound Design and Music of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition received high praise from the majority of critics. The exceptional soundtrack was a standout feature, with critics describing it as one of the best in any RPG. The music was praised for its grand pieces, engaging battle themes, and a mix of genres such as jazz, classical, and hard rock. While there were some minor criticisms, such as the repetitive voice clips and the jarring nature of the British voice acting to some, these did not detract from the overall positive consensus among critics. Overall, the Sound Design and Music of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition were highly regarded and contributed significantly to the game's immersive and enjoyable experience.

The opinions of the critics regarding the voice acting in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition are quite varied. Several critics, such as Daily Star and Nintendo Enthusiast, praise the English voice cast for its charm and heavily British accents. They believe that the voice acting adds depth and personality to the characters, enhancing the overall experience of the game. Additionally, critics like Destructoid and GameCrate appreciate the returning voice actors and solid performances, with GameCrate specifically mentioning the addition of new voice work for the new epilogue. These positive opinions highlight the successful execution of the voice acting in bringing the characters to life. However, not all critics share the same sentiment. Impulsegamer expresses dissatisfaction with the English voice acting, describing it as terrible. They suggest opting for the Japanese voice pack as an alternative. KeenGamer goes a step further and recommends the Japanese voice acting over the English version. Metro GameCentral also has reservations, stating that the voice-acting is an acquired taste, with some actors sounding like they're voicing a kids' cartoon. These negative opinions indicate that the English voice acting may not resonate with all players and could potentially detract from the overall immersion. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards a positive evaluation of the voice acting in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. While there are some criticisms and preferences for the Japanese voice acting, the majority of reviewers appreciate the efforts of the English voice cast. The voice acting is commended for adding charm, depth, and weight to the characters and their interactions. The availability of both English and Japanese voice acting options is seen as a positive aspect, allowing players to choose their preferred language. Despite some reservations and personal preferences, the voice acting in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition generally receives praise and is considered a strong aspect of the game's overall presentation.

In terms of the Technical Performance on the Nintendo Switch, the majority of critics had positive opinions. DarkStation commends the game for running great on the Switch, while GameSpew mentions that there are no distracting framerate drops. Stevivor also praises the smooth performance and barely noticeable loading times. These reviews highlight the overall positive experience of playing Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition on the Nintendo Switch. However, there were some negative aspects mentioned by a few critics. Press Start Australia notes that the game's resolution can be toned down for smooth performance, but this can result in a muddy appearance. TheSixthAxis mentions that the game targets 30fps and mostly achieves it, but the Future Connected epilogue is more prone to frame rate dips. Additionally, VG247 points out that the resolution can vary and drop during busy moments. These criticisms suggest that there are occasional technical issues that impact the overall experience on the Nintendo Switch. Overall, the consensus among critics for the Technical Performance of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition on the Nintendo Switch is generally positive. The game maintains decent performance with no distracting framerate drops, and loading times are minimal. However, there are some minor technical issues such as occasional frame rate dips and varying resolution. Despite these drawbacks, the game runs smoothly and provides an enjoyable experience on the Nintendo Switch.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics highlighted the addition of the epilogue called Future Connected as a major factor that enhances the replayability of the game. App Trigger, Daily Star, GameSpew, Metro GameCentral, Nintendo Enthusiast, Screen Rant, Stevivor, TheGamer, TheSixthAxis, Trusted Reviews, VG247, VGC, Video Chums, and Worth Playing all mentioned the inclusion of Future Connected and its impact on the game's replay value. This new content provides players with something fresh and extends the playtime by 10-25 hours, depending on the critic. The critics also mentioned the optional challenge mode trials, side quests, hidden areas, and side activities that can be discovered upon returning to the game with a more powerful character, adding to the replayability factor. The inclusion of new game modes, such as Casual Mode and Hardcore Mode, and the Fashion Gear feature were also highlighted as additional elements that provide replay value to the game (Nintendo Enthusiast). Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception, a few critics did mention some negatives regarding the replay value of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. Gameblog.fr mentioned the absence of certain features from the previous version, which could potentially impact the replayability for some players. Additionally, Destructoid pointed out that while the game offers a meaty experience with the optional challenge mode trials and the 15-hour epilogue, it may not be enough to entice all players to replay the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition has excellent replay value. The addition of the Future Connected epilogue, along with the optional challenge mode trials, side quests, hidden areas, and side activities, provides players with a substantial amount of new content to explore and enjoy. The critics praised the game for its extended playtime, with some mentioning that it can take around 80 hours to complete the main story and additional content. The inclusion of new game modes and accessibility options, as well as the improvements in visuals and quality-of-life, were also mentioned as factors that contribute to the game's replayability. The overwhelmingly positive reception from the majority of the critics indicates that Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition offers a highly replayable experience for fans of the genre (The Digital Fix, The Games Machine, TheGamer, TheSixthAxis, Video Chums).