LogFAQs > #932384662

#69





Years of release: 2010 (Wii, Japan), 2011 (Wii, EU/AU), 2012 (Wii, NA), 2015 (3DS)
Beaten?: Yes

It's honestly a bit difficult to explain to myself why I kept coming back to Xenoblade Chronicles, because to be totally honest with you, I don't love the combat system in this game. It's fine, but for the most part I found myself bored dealing with battles. The character customization mechanics in this game are really nice, but most fights in this game for most of the runtime came down to me just kind of waiting to attack things, healing when necessary, and just sort of wearing them down. There were probably better strategies that I COULD have used and better plans that I could have employed, but I had a hard time figuring out how to truly maximize combat.

And yet, I kept coming back. For well over 100 hours in this game's lengthy campaign. That's really saying something - I don't spend a lot of time with these big, prestige JRPGs anymore. To some people, #69 (nice) will probably seem criminally low but this is high, for me, for the type of game it is. Xenoblade really got its hooks in me. Maybe it's the stunning landscapes that never get old to run across. Maybe it's the well above average soundtrack. Maybe it's the story, which gets a little ridiculous but remains engaging throughout and takes place in a really cool world, or the characters, who remain exceptionally likeable throughout. Maybe it's the fact that this game has an absolute shitload of content in it and I felt bizarrely compelled to finish off every sidequest the game had to offer before its copious amount ot points of no return which sort of pissed me off but whatever. Maybe it's the fact that I played it on 3DS, and having a game this expansive and beautiful on a portable system really lends itself well to killing a lot of time. Maybe it's the fact that I can play as AN ADORABLE FURRY EGG. Yes, I played as Riki from the moment I got him in my party to the end of the game. Riki is the best. I love Riki.

Anyway, this game did just about everything perfectly except engage me in its combat system! This has been described many times as a single-player MMORPG, and that sounds about right, because let me tell you something, I hate MMORPGs. A lot. The fact that Xenoblade managed to sell me on it regardless is a true testament to how well-crafted this game is in every facet, and the fact that I never wanted to leave this world is a testament to the magic this game has going for it.