Have you heard the Good News about Xenoblade Chronicles X?

Hah, okay. That's probably what I've sounded like to you guys recently, however.

So, I do honestly think this game is something a lot of people here would be interested in. There's some form of online multiplayer. It's open-world, very non-linear, and yet it does have a main story that could be beaten in roughly 40 hours, if that's your style. But with all the side-content, this game is hundreds of hours long. And probably the only good new title for the Wii U this Fall/Winter besides Woolly World. Woolly World is amazing, but y'all probably already know that.

Anyways, back to Xenoblade Chronicles X, here's some points about it in the form of Q&A.

Do I have to play Xenoblade Chronicles to understand this game? Will I miss anything?

No! This is a standalone entry in the series, though it does end on a cliffhanger leading people to believe there might be an X2 in the works. Takahashi has confirmed the team is working on a new game, but no announcement has been made yet.

When does this come out?

December 4th, more than likely right at midnight EST on the eShop.

CENSORSHIP! They took out the bust slider and edited a couple outfits for a character, I can't support it- slippery slope and all.

That's fine. You can buy it used and still use the online features if you want to play. It's nice we live in an era where there's still games that don't require being bought new for a specific code to activate online play. I will say I find the whole thing a bit silly, considering how this is the farthest thing from actual censorship people experience while struggling in the world, but whatever that's my take.

Open-World? But I never know what to do in those games...

The game always has something for you to do in the form of story missions. However, you will miss out on a ton of exp and money by skipping side content. The story does require you do some side content as well. My advice? Set a goal for yourself, and work towards it. Want to explore? Want to get a shiny new weapon? That helps.

Open-World? Is it really? Truly, open? Not linear?

It's linear to a point. You do need to eventually do Story Missions, but people have said that almost everything is unlocked from the get-go. You will have to work a while to get a Skell, but combat is just fine without them anyways.

Main stories kinda suck in Open-World games. Does this one?

No, but that's subjective from what I have heard and seen. While you create your own silent protagonist(well, aside from battle lines and sound effects), the game has many other characters that will be important in this story. Not to mention the fact that each character has Affinity missions where you learn about them and they develop as a character. Honestly? It reminds me of Phantasy Star Online, but with way more story. After all, you're "STUCK ON A DIFFERENT PLANET".

Online Multiplayer? In what form?

Here's a post that explains it better than I could ever hope to.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Xenoblade_Chro ... on_thread/

TL;DR, you can't play the whole campaign online. There are special fights where you can team up with specific friends. There are also 32-member squads that can get event missions(kill X or gather X etc) and you can give drops to other members you may not want. While you will not see each other, it's a form of helping each other out. You can join a friend's squad.

Do I need the optional loading packs if I get a physical copy of the game? How big are they?

No, you don't need them- but Nintendo does recommend at least getting the 2GB one. You can even download them now from the eShop without the game, they are roughly 10GB total.

What controllers are compatible with this game?

The Gamepad itself works just fine. You will have a map and resource management screen there for your probes you place while exploring. Fast travel is also there. If you don't like using the Gamepad for actual gameplay, you can use a Wii U Pro Controller in addition to this. There's also off-TV play if you like that. I imagine you will be able to swap to the resource screen using that and back.

Fay, you're really addicted to a game that hasn't come out. Will you ever shut up about it?

NEVER! I WANT IT IN MY VEINS!

Can I see some of it in action? Got a review? Trailer?

The official NA trailer is here:



Nintendo has also been posting "Survival Guide" stuff, aka going over features on the new planet of Mira. They are entertaining.



GameXplain did the most in-depth review I have seen of this game. Warning, it's about a half-hour long. It also goes over a lot of what I mentioned here.



For fun, here's the OST on Youtube. It'll probably get taken down again, but whatever. The guy who did the music worked on Attack on Titan and Kill La Kill.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 0GOAiNBC6K

The game has Xenoblade on the title. That's all I need to be convinced.

But seriously, I loved Xenoblade Cronicles, and I usually forgot about the story because I was too busy doing random quests and exploring parts of the world that have to nothing to do with the story (or any other side quest)
If this games offer the same, (and it more than does, from what I've read) then I am truly sold. I don't even care about the Skells!

The essence of the story did remind me of Phantasy Star Online too. I LOVED PSO, even if the story was almost non existent (unless you paid attention to the recordings and the side quests, which you could totally ignore.) It's a good thing it'll be out on a Friday, so I can pick it up after work and ignore the rest of the world during the weekend!

Great OP, Fay! It looks like a great game, truly.