It’s been a long time coming but Xenoblade Chronicles is almost here for the Nintendo Switch, with the Definitive Edition launching on May 29th. Monolith Soft’s classic RPG has been praised since the Wii days but the Switch version packs more than just better graphics. Let’s take a look at 15 things you should know before buying Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition.
Setting and Characters
The story of Xenoblade Chronicles is far removed from titles in the franchise like Xenogears and Xenosaga. Following a cataclysmic battle between the two Titans, Bionis and Mechonis, their husks have served as homes for their descendants. Organic life, like humans, reside on Bionis while machine life, namely the Machina, reside on Mechonis. The story follows Shulk, a scientist who’s studying the Monado which grants its wielder the ability to see the future. After his home in Colony 9 is attacked, Shulk and his friend Reyn set out for revenge. They encounter other characters along the way like Sharla, a medic and sniper; Melia, a magic user; Riki, the so-called Heropon; and many more as they venture across Bionis and Mechonis.
Arts, Chain Attacks and Visions
Combat in Xenoblade Chronicles can be tough to get a grasp on at first. Taking place in real-time, characters will automatically attack enemies in range – the goal is to keep track of different conditions and determine the right time to use Arts, which can either be Battle Arts available on cooldown or Talent Arts, which become available after a set number of attacks. As you fight, the Party Gauge builds up and lets you unleash chain attacks for tons of damage when completely full. Other aspects like the Tension gauge, which affects critical hit chance, and the aggro ring, which affects how much aggro a party member draws, are also important.
Then there’s the Vision system. Using the Monado, Shulk will see the future including dangerous attacks. In this way, it’s possible to protect a teammate, stop the enemy’s attack or even alert the teammate so that they can use an Art to avoid damage. Though it takes some time to pick up, the combat system is satisfying while packing tons of nuance and strategy.
Affinity System
Another key part of the game is the Affinity system. Along with tracking the Affinity between party members, it also affects how different towns and named NPCs view the party. If …….
Source: https://gamingbolt.com/xenoblade-chronicles-definitive-edition-15-things-you-should-know