I didn't expect to see this so soon, it doesn't seem that long since Xenoblade Chronicles X was released and for me this game on top of Mario Odyssey are really urging me to put cold hard cash down for a Nintendo Switch.
It was around 2011 the first game Xenoblade Chronicles released here in the UK and I preordered after hearing about the buzz the game was receiving. There was also some stiff competition in purchasing the game as America was, at the time, not to receive a release and many people were buying up copies to resell at extortionate prices.
There must be something special about this game... and there was.
To those not familiar with the now established franchise, Xenoblade Chronicles has little to do with the Xenosaga games released on the PS2 many years ago. Something of a spiritual successor, they carry similar themes of human and machine relationships with a focus cultural beliefs.
Xenoblade Chronicles took place upon an enormous Titan called the Bionis that once was a living being trapped in a mortal battle with an opposing Titan called the Mechonis. In the end the titans struck each other with a killing blow and from them their bodies became ecosystems and life forms grew upon them.
For the player this meant that the overworld and the locations you would visit were all parts of the Bionis' body and it led to some amazing locales and discoveries that felt unique and intuitive.
For instance; in the game you can see one of the Mechonis' severed arms far below by the Titan's feet in the water. It's an "ooh" moment but gets even better when later in the game you gain access to this area and can explore it; even being able to climb atop it's fingers.
Such original and interesting world building was key to selling Xenoblade's cinematic story that was an absolute joy to experience.
I was genuinely amazed and aghast at the plot twists in what for me is still one of the most interesting story told in, not only JRPGs, but in gaming in general.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 looks like it's following that same intuitive world building. Instead of two large Titans to explore this time there are multiple flying Titans with cities, towns and homes upon their backs.
The debut trailer shows that we play as Rex who lives on a rather small Titan and gets caught up with a mysterious girl called Pyra and the two help each other to find a place called Elysium; a sort of heaven for Humans that contains amazing power.
The larger Titans civilisations are at war with each other, each one attempting to exert their control over more and more Titans. All with the aim to reach Elysium. Naturally there is one Empire who is intent on doing so by invading the other Titans which makes them the last people you really want in Elysium.
Obviously story details are rather light, (there is a link at the bottom for the debut trailer on YouTube below) but there is a lot of world information revealed and also a rather fleshed out detailing on the battle system which is similar to Xenoblade Chronicles but has some key differences:
Your party are split between Blades and Drivers; with Blades being the primary combatants and Drivers supporting Blades abilities, charging up the Arts and allowing knockdown attacks and healing items to drop from foes.
You can also unlock Drivers using Core Crystals, some seem to be randomised avatars while others are clearly unique appearances, all of them with their own affects on the flow of battle.
There is a lot of information to take in. It does look more convoluted than Xenoblade Chronicles but I'm sure the additions will be introduced gradually permitting the player to naturally grow in ability as they master each new combat element.
I'm loving the art style, the character designs look miles better than what we saw in Xenoblade Chronicles X. It also looks as though it's back to the focus on the cinematic story than just pure exploration but having said that I do look forward to exploring all the nooks and crannies of the Titans.
Now I feel like playing Xenoblade Chronicles...
And I don't have much time to put my money down either! Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is primed for release on the 1st of December!
For more information please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXGTJgXPhm0&t=307s for the full debut trailer. And hopefully you'll be giving it a Thumbs Up!
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