Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Reviews
Despite so many missteps, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 remains an enticing experience.
In my last few words of this perhaps suitably long-winded review for such a long-winded game, I want to make something clear. All of my descriptions of these seemingly convoluted mechanics and length might lead some to think that this is a game for ‘experts,” people who have been playing JRPGs for years and thus know what to do. Not necessarily. If you have never played a JRPG, but you have a willingness to experience all that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has to offer with an open mind, you might just fall in love with a whole new genre. After all, that’s what happened when I played my first non-Pokémon JRPG, Xenoblade Chronicles X. I haven’t looked back since.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is overall mostly a quality RPG that has charm and character, while making up for some of the lacking aspects of Xenoblade Chronicles X, but small issues stop it from hitting the heights of Xenoblade Chronicles, sitting in between the two games in this trio series.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 does a lot of things right, but suffers under its own weight and poor design decisions. Despite everything it's the first exclusive jRPG worth owning for the Switch, and with a little more polish it could be one of the best jRPGs of the last few years.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 doesn't captivate like its predecessor namely due to a messy learning curve and a story that doesn't quite draw you in as well. But from a JRPG standpoint, it's still a win for series fans and Nintendo Switch owners.
Despite all of its flaws, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is still a very enjoyable experience. The battle system is as fun as ever, and you will still get that satisfaction from mastering the system and taking down a tough foe. The team at Monolith Soft also stay in top form when it comes to integrating gameplay and world-building.
The evaluation of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is doomed to be polarized. It has many advantages, and can attract a lot of players. Meanwhile, there are plenty of terrible design that cannot be understood in it too, such as lengthy game pace, tedious missions and boring combat. To love or to hate, that is a question.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
XC2 puts forward a strong message of what the Switch is capable of. Providing a full JRPG experience, in tandem with lush visual and audio design both on the go and at home, it sets the bar for future games to grace the system; and it sets it high.
Any fan of the original Xenoblade will find very little to turn them off from this sequel, and to be honest, most JRPG fans in general will walk away with at least a few good memories by the time the credits roll.
In spite of its many flaws, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a fun game with lots of replayability, but a series of mistakes in game design and quests that are not always pointful has made one of the most promising titles of Nintendo Switch a mediocre game.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Monolith Soft creates a solid sequel in the anticipated Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which brings a more streamlined RPG experience to audiences, but the odd design elements do limit it from being a classic.
It sets a precedent for JRPGs on the Switch that I doubt will be topped, unless of course Monolith Soft somehow manages to pump out a Xenoblade Chronicles X 2 before the end of the generation.
Another huge masterpiece that comes to Nintendo Switch after just nine months since its debut. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the JRPG you were waiting for, a great follow up in the Monolith Soft saga.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I enjoyed my time with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 a great deal, but it saddens me that I only enjoyed it a great deal. I honestly can't believe that a studio of Monolith's size and prestige would somehow miss that its narrative is rife with tonal inconsistencies, and leave me wondering whether I was playing something serious.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 tries its hardest to match the grandest of grand RPGs out there on the market, attempting to become Nintendo's own Final Fantasy. In doing so, though, whilst still wonderfully vast in its scale, and gripping in how things play out for the most part, it has lost its way slightly, becoming bogged down by an overly complex pre-battle system, marred by fights that mostly feel too hands-off/automated, and some terrible character visuals and voice work. There is indeed a lot to love about this, yet so much that makes you yearn for something more.
Taken on its own merits, Xenoblade 2 is a fun JRPG with a ton of content, customization and gameplay that any genre fan will enjoy.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an unforgettable delight for the JRPG lover, but only once you master its demanding and deep combat system. With huge maps to explore, exceptional soundtrack and a rich story, Monolith Soft latest production its an unforgettable journey, worth it every hour you spend in this epic new world.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
While Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is easily one of the best RPGs released this year, it sometimes suffers from an embarrassing level of fanservice.
Though it is not without its faults, I enjoyed Xenoblade Chronicles 2 quite a bit. Unfortunately, there is a ton of frustration attached to that enjoyment. If you are a JRPG or Xenoblade fan, then you should be able to overlook its flaws. If not, you may want to check out some videos or borrow it first.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a step back for Xenoblade series. Sequel can't match almost perfect Xenoblade Chronicles in every aspect. From story and characters to the world itself, Xenoblade 2 feels more like a generic jRPG than a Monolith Soft game. And this is truly disappointing.
Review in Russian | Read full review