Is this Xenogears? For better or worse, no. Xenosaga? Definitely not. Xenoblade? If you've played the first, you'll recognize the combat, collection, and equipment systems, but otherwise, no. Is it an instant classic I expect to replay a dozen times in the coming years? The jury is still out, but it so far feels a bit slow and diffuse to offer a tight, itch-scratching replay experience.
What it is, however, is unmistakably Monolith. A deep, rich setting with good character narrative, mechanics which seek (largely successfully) to remix and expand established concepts, aesthetics polished no less than one would expect of the console. And, if what I've heard of the budget is true, a Monolithic aptitude for doubling and tripling down on the important elements of gameplay, world design, and mainline user experience, with most shortcomings relegated to the auxiliary mechanics and extended content. (Plus, it has action-combat in giant near-infinitely-customizable mecha.)
And it's a big world, and a big concept. Bigger and more open than some dedicated mainstream MMOs, and yet built with an almost exclusively single-player structure. This is the game's most awkward paradox. It's not quite single-player _enough_ to survive translation to a platform without dedicated MMO backing, or for that matter, without visual real-estate for the second screen content. And yet it's not MMO _enough_ to capitalize on the vast quantity of side-content and its own social system as much as the design seems to expect and invite. It's hard to imagine the game re-releasing on a platform other than WiiU without significant community-alienating mechanical and architectural changes motivated exclusively by the platform change rather than any inherent problems with the original game.
So... that makes it innately a bit of a collector's piece; history that is unlikely to be repeated and more than likely to be lost, despite how amazing the game is. And if you're going to collect, and you're going to make the investment in a WiiU for, let's face it, basically just this game, then the price jump to get the full boxed set Special Edition is a small enough fraction of your total outlay to be well worth it.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Exclusive items from our brands
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2020
Platform: Wii U - Special EditionVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2018
Platform: Wii U - Special EditionVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2016
Platform: Wii U - Special EditionVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2016
Platform: Wii U - Special EditionVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Dhale Wacchan
A great buy!
Reviewed in Canada on December 22, 2017Platform: Wii U - Special EditionVerified Purchase
I JL.I
Excelente Producto
Reviewed in Mexico on April 19, 2016Platform: Wii U - Special EditionVerified Purchase
petri dish
Worth Every Penny and More!
Reviewed in Canada on March 23, 2016Platform: Wii U - Special EditionVerified Purchase
Z
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Reviewed in Mexico on April 23, 2016Platform: Wii U - Special EditionVerified Purchase
Marc
Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on August 2, 2016Platform: Wii U - Special EditionVerified Purchase
