[A game review for busy people] Xenoblade Chronicles 3 on the Nintendo Switch

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Jaime's Gaming Grounds

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Published on September 2, 2022 1:23:50 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQUCvWkIVeQ

Game:

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (2022)

Category:

Review

Duration: 2:14

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Quickfire review: A two-minute showcase without frills, just enough information to decide to give it a try or move on.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (XC2) arguably split JRPG fans whether it was a must-play or the game was too tedious and slow-paced (We are not even going to talk about the HUGE amount of fan service that drew the ire of some people). This stemmed from XC2’s methods of leveling up your Blades, further encumbered by a confusing map and navigation design. Safe to say, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (XC3) is a significant improvement in these aspects and more, making it one of the best JRPGs released in recent memory.
The story revolves around two warring countries, where six soldiers from both factions fatefully teamed up to find out the truth about their world. The narrative is supported by a 60 to a whopping 150 hours of JRPG combat and exploration through expansive environments that the series has been known for.
Visually the game is an obvious improvement over XC2’s blurry mess particularly in handheld mode; Monolith Soft surely pushed the boundaries of the Nintendo Switch in XC3. Still, the game ominously highlights the successor of the beloved console should be coming around soon, as the dated hardware is seemingly at its peak.
Gameplay-wise, a stark contrast from its predecessor is the ease of navigating through plot or quest points, with an option to turn on a glowing red beam leading to your next destination marker is now present. On the other hand, combat mechanics that worked in the previous game are back but are incrementally improved. And instead of controlling three protagonists while the others are relegated in bench mode, you control six party members all at the same time. This might sound confusing but it really works well once you tried it.
Significantly the Blades are gone in favor of a job/class system much like an ode to old Final Fantasy games. To ease the grind that was a sore point in XC2, leveling up classes is just a straightforward grind of fighting enemies to gain Class points instead of achieving often bizarre conditions to power up your Blades. Additionally the new Ouroboros mechanic allows two protagonists to merge and form a new stronger being, giving more depth to the battles.

Overall, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the easiest game for someone to get into the series. Not playing the first two will definitely not be a road block to fully enjoy this. This is a journey truly worth experiencing with its gripping story and solid RPG gameplay.

Pros:
- Engaging storyline
- Quality of life and gameplay mechanics are improved from Xenoblade Chronicles 2
- Pushes the Nintendo Switch hardware to its limit with its scope and visuals
- Control six characters in battle all at the same time. Cool!

Cons:
- The Switch’s hardware seems to limit the full potential of the visuals
- Can be too long and “grindy” for non-JRPG fans.

Xenoblade Chronicle 3 is available on the Nintendo Switch.
Price: $59.99 (Physical and E-shop)
Time to complete (main story + some side quests): 60-90 hours

#xenobladechronicles3 #nintendoswitch #gamereview #gaming

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