Release Date: April 2012
Average Review Score: 92%
Current Progress: Six hours played.
Using the last of the Christmas/Birthday giftcards, I decided to pick up Xenoblade Chronicles. Yes, I'm adding to my backlog, but the fact that this game will inevitably become rare and pricy was too much to resist. Why will it become rare and pricy? Well, Xenoblade Chronicles has quite the interesting backstory.
Originally released in Japan in June of 2010, Xenoblade garnered high reviews - high enough to attract the attention of import gamers in the west. However, Nintendo made no announcements regarding a North American release. Then the game was released in Europe in August of 2010 - with a full English translation! Despite the fact that all they would need to do is essentially print more copies to sell in the US, Nintendo still refused to release it stateside. After a lengthy online petition to have it brought to RPG starved Wii gamers in the USA, Nintendo finally decided to publish the game here, making it available exclusively through it's own website and at GameStop.
After the initial North American printing, it's likely there won't be a reprint. And with the WiiU slated to arrive later this year, chances are GameStop and Nintendo will quickly forget about this beautiful game. So I snatched it up while the snatchin was good. Good thing too - it's already fetching between $60-$100 on Amazon.
So what is Xenoblade Chronicles anyway? Welp, it's a Japanese RPG with an interesting and unique story - a rarity indeed. The game focuses on a race of people who live on the body of a gigantic robot. Centuries ago this robot was in a timeless battle with another robot, they fought for ages until something caused them to freeze in place, and now life flourishes on the one while evil droids invade and attack these people from the other robot. Your main character is the only person in the world who can wield the Xenoblade - a weapon powerful enough to destroy these evil robots. The story revolves around the connection of your character to the mystical sword and why the droids are attacking the peaceful people.
The fighting system occurs in real-time within the world map. No separate battle screen. Following the trend of recent JRPGs, you control only the main character's actions, and sitting idle during a battle will prompt him to simply auto attack. You have different special moves or "arts" that are location sensitive and a unique "Aggro" system that attracts the enemies' attention and attacks on one party member.
I'm about six hours into what is reportedly a 70+ hour experience. Wish me luck, fellow gamers.
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