Xenoblade Chronicles X is a game I always wanted to adore. Being part of one of my favorite game series of all time, boasting a spectacular open world, and being home to a (mostly) captivating narrative, the sci-fi romp was always, on paper, destined for greatness. The reality of the Wii U release, however, wasn't so perfect, with more than a few frustrations in the way to dampen the overall experience, but finally, with Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, I can love Monolith Soft's unique JRPG the way I always wanted to. Be warned, while vague, there may be some implied spoilers ahead for Definitive Edition's new content.
Back in 2015, the Wii U JRPG invited us all to the mysterious planet of Mira – the new home of the last few survivors of Earth, which was destroyed after being caught in the middle of an alien war. Mira itself – a stunning open world expanse with five distinct biomes – was (and is) a technical marvel, full of secrets to uncover and creatures to fight, alongside a plethora of party members to meet, all with their own side stories. However, there was an unfortunate amount of clunkiness that slowed everything down. Changing party members meant seeking out the exact places on the map that particular individuals were found in order to manually ask them to join you. The day and night cycle, crucial to encounter certain enemies and progress some missions, could only be altered by visiting specific spots like benches.
