If you were around to browse this site about nine years ago, you may have been privy to the rising support for localization of a game called Xenoblade Chronicles. Back then, the title was just a niche Japanese RPG that Nintendo was extremely hesitant to release outside of the country, but the fans saw something in it that seemed to justify the outcry. As time would have it, this was the right move, as Xenoblade Chronicles turned out to be one of the greatest RPGs of modern times and a key marker in Japanese game development slowly rising out of the rut that it had fallen in at the time.
Since those days, Xenoblade has spawned a couple sequels and become a tentpole franchise in Nintendo’s ongoing release schedule, though the original release has taken on a legendary status that its follow ups had a hard time living up to. Nintendo could’ve done a simple half-baked re-release to give Switch owners an opportunity to play it on the new platform, but instead decided to take things above and beyond for Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. Good news: it lives up to that name. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is unquestionably the greatest way to experience this gaming classic, expertly layering in new elements over the already wonderful foundation to make for a complete must-have release.
Xenoblade Chronicles has a rather unique premise in how the majority of its story takes place on the massive bodies of two titans who fought each other to the death in long-forgotten times. And though that battle may be long since concluded, the primary race living on the sinister Mechonis titan – fittingly named “Mechon” – are still hellbent on wiping out as many of the humanlike Homs as they possibly can over on the body of the Bionis. The story picks up in the middle of a decisive battle between the Homs and Mechon which leads to a shaky stalemate between the two sides, but one that’s doomed to kick loose at any moment.
Our main character, Shulk, is a bright, young Homs researcher who wiles away his days in Colony 9 during this fragile peace studying the mysterious Monado sword, which was somehow wielded by the Bionis itself in the battle that led to its demise. Shulk’s research is soon interrupted, however, when the Mechon return and completely decimate his colony, initiating a personal quest for revenge that sees him taking the Monado for himself to hopefully finish the war once and for all. Shulk is initially joined by his best friend, Reyn, on this journey, but the two slowly amass a small group of friends and allies along the way who have each been affected by the war with the Mechon …….
Source: https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/xenoblade_chronicles_definitive_edition