LogFAQs > #985757482

#14. Xenoblade Chronicles X (2015)
Total Points: 18
List Appearances: 9
First Place Votes: 1
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Writeup provided by MacArrowny
X is a very special game to me. Before it came out, I'd tried a few open world games (GTA5, Oblivion, and a number of others), and none of them really did anything for me. Their worlds were uninteresting, and exploring them never seemed particularly fun. X is different. The world is way more vibrant than any of those, and it feels like there's a reason to explore here too. The map is divided into over 100 hexagons, each of which has various missions to do, and you can tell when you've completed a hex. This system made me feel like I always had something to do when I was going out into the world to explore. On top of that, the world itself is beautiful. It's separated out into distinct regions, and all of them are super pretty. Felt like they really wanted to make the game pop, and though its fidelity isn't the best, its design is probably better than any other open world game. On top of that, you start out exploring on foot, then get to drive your Skell (big mech) around, then get to fly with your Skell. The progression of movement abilities totally changes how each area feels to explore as you go. One of the classic things that makes Xenoblade games great is running into extra powerful monsters while exploring, and that's extra the case here, since it has the Tyrant system, where there are tons of super powerful monsters scattered everywhere, and the game's a true open world, unlike the other XBs, so you can run into them at any time. Beating all the Tyrants was incredibly fun, as was completing all the open world stuff. Not many games have sucked me in like this one.

The rest of the game doesn't excel quite as much, but it's still fun. Combat is okay, and it's fun to break to the extent that you can wipe out enemies in a single turn with your Skells (mechs that you pilot). The main story and characters are okay, but the story goal of uniting all the alien races on the planet is awesome, and it's super cool to see NLA grow as you play. The side quests are fantastic, especially the ones you do for party members, of which there are 18. Affinity Missions, the quests you do for them, are all high quality, and there are a ton. Recruiting Mia in particular is an epic quest that takes dozens of hours off and on throughout the game and felt awesome the whole time. And lastly, the music is amazing. XBX's OST is a contender for one of the best in gaming, and really features Hiroyuki Sawano at his wildest. There's a huge variety of tracks, from peaceful ambiance to rocking vocal tunes. Uncontrollable and Don't Worry are my favorites, but I like pretty much all of them, even NLA's music. It's a hell of an experience, and I'd absolutely love for Monolith to put out another game in this style.