Summary
Developer – Monolith Soft
Publisher – Nintendo
Platforms – Nintendo Switch 2 (Reviewed)
Review copy given by publisher
Monolith Soft and Nintendo have released the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition bringing yet another version of the game to life. The game originally released in 2010 for Nintendo Wii. Fast forward to 2026, we now have the game for modern platforms with plenty of enhancements.
I’m here to provide my thoughts on the new edition of Xenoblade Chronicles and the overall game.
Xenoblade Chronicles takes place on the frozen bodies of two warring titans, the Bionis and the Mechonis. The people of the Bionis including the Homs are at war with the Mechon, a race of the Mechonis.
Shulk discovers his ability to hold the Monado and has prepared to get revenge with his friends including Reyn, Sharla, Dunban, Riki, Melia, and others. You don’t meet everyone at first but as the story progresses you get introduced to them and learn their backstory.
Shulk’s desire to get revenge begins when Metal Face aka Mumkhar. Egil kidnaps Fiora. This is what really sets the tone for the entire game. He also learns that the Monado can predict the future and see events that could happen, but he can still change the outcome ahead of time.
The Monado is the only weapon that can do significant damage on the Mechons and there are plenty of upgrades you’ll unlock for the sword.
What’s New With Switch 2 Edition
When Nintendo releases a Switch 2 Edition of a game it usually means more content. Aside from the 4K resolution and 60fps upgrade, you can now traverse the Bionis and Mechonis at high speed on the Ether Jet. You can also get additional equipment made for riding the Ether Jet. This was a neat addition to the game that doesn’t hurt any of the gameplay. It just adds more fun.
Gameplay Impressions
Xenoblade Chronicles from the start does a great job at teaching you how the game mechanics work. As you progress, you earn more Arts for all characters that come with abilities. If you are someone not used to JRPG’s like this, don’t worry, you’ll be a pro in no time.
I am personally so accustomed to having to button mash. With Xenoblade, the playable character, Shulk in this case will automatically hit the enemy with his sword. However, you have to choose which “special attack” you want to use.
While auto-attacks seem nice, Xenoblade Chronicles is more about positioning. It’s ideal to have the enemy focus on another member of the party so you can use something like Back Slash to deal double damage when hitting an enemy.
Fighting is fun in Xenoblade once you get the hang of it. You’ll also be able to do a chain with your party and if you have good synergy with your party, the chain combo will be even higher.
Overall, the gameplay is a fun time and never a time where there is frustration. Yes, there are times where things get challenging but that makes things even better sometimes.
There are also tons of options for equipment within Xenoblade from cosmetic outfits to weapons and armor that actually make an impact on how you handle a fight. There is so much to explore and unlock for all your party members. It’s an easy to learn equipment system.
Aside from the main story you can easily get lost in side quests across all different regions of the Bionis and Mechonis. Gameplay almost feels endless if you are a completionist.
Performance and Lighting Are Impressive
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition not only adds new content to Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition. It added enhancements to the overall performance of the game that takes advantage of the Switch 2 console. The lighting in many areas is noticeably better than its previous versions. The skyboxes look stunning and the picture above doesn’t do it justice when you are playing on a 4K OLED TV.
Xenoblade isn’t too demanding of a game. So my experience of its performance was perfect. It’s extremely smooth running at 60 frames per second.
Everything about my experience with this game on Switch 2 was flawless from Handheld Mode to TV Mode.
Music Is Iconic
What I think could get overlooked about Xenoblade is its fantastic music all around whether you are exploring the Bionis or fighting enemies. It creates the tone for whichever situation you are in and Monolith Soft perfected it in this game.
Other audio features such as sound effects when fighting enemies or just background noise is great. The only part about Xenoblade that I found was a weird fit was the voice acting. This was an area I thought the game could improve on, but it works for now.
Verdict
Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition is no question a top tier RPG and we knew that before going into this. The Switch 2 Edition enhances the quality of your experience with a smooth 60 frames per second with up to 4K resolution supported. The little additional content is the cherry on top, adding even more fun without taking away from what makes the game special. You could say to an extent the game can be overwhelming with content.
This is a must play game on the Nintendo Switch 2 and we can’t wait to experience the rest of the trilogy later this year on this console.
