Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Preview - On the road in the clouds

braini (61)in #gaming • 7 years ago

The RPG has found its way to the Switch. With Breath of the Wild as a release game, the arrival of Fire Emblem and Disgaea 5 we already know that the hybrid console is more than just suitable for the genre. Monolith Soft has that in mind and now brings us a completely new and huge adventure with Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

A torn world

In Xenoblade Chronicles 2 we enter the world of Alrest and we crawl into the skin of Rex. He has been banished from the paradise Elysium like the rest of mankind. And so he spends his days in Alrest, a world that consists of a sea of clouds and where gigantic beings called Titans 'swim around'. These Titans are for the people, as it were, islands where they live.

For example, various villages and towns have been established on the creatures where people live and work. Rex also lives on a Titan, called Azurda. From this Titan he dives for the daily necessities and sells them to a cute rabbit-like people called the Nopon. And Azurda, or Gramps as Rex calls him, is more than a simple inhabited animal.

He is the buddy and also the mentor of Rex. One day, Rex gets a job that he can not turn down and then begins his biggest adventure so far. He encounters Pyra, which must cost what it costs to Elysium. But there are parties that have provided for Pyra, because it is one of the most powerful weapons in the world; the Aegis.

Promises a lot of depth

The story may sound a bit flat, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. The 'sequel' to the Wii U game Xenoblade Chronicles promises by the new unique world (which is separate from the world in the first part) and its events become quite diverse. The different races with their own customs, standards and values all play a role in the story and make the world deliciously varied.

That is also allowed, because the very elaborate environments in which you walk around are enormous. You will often spend hours on end between the rich flora and fauna that surrounds the villages. From huge gorillas, wolves and birds to strange creations. There is enough variation in the world.

Developer Monolith Soft promises to offer enough depth and variety in the game with this story. And the same applies to the design of the gameplay. This, like the story of the game, seems pretty simple at first sight, but it is not.

Drivers and Blades

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has a real-time fighting system in which a standard attack goes completely by itself. You only need to stand near an opponent to start hitting. It all feels pretty simple. Fortunately, this is a very deliberate choice of Monolith and a good one, because you need your attention in other places during battles.

You have to pay attention to both the enemy and your character (and to the friends who are with you). In all, it is possible that you have to pay attention to six friendly characters. Three Drivers , including yourself, and three Blades . The Drivers , like Rex, fight (and have to be controlled by you if necessary) and the Blades , like Pyra, stand on the sidelines and give their strength to the fighters.

At least, until the Blade combo meter is full. Because at that moment you can release a powerful attack on your opponent. An attack that can be combined with that of the other fighters into an all-devastating Blade or Driver combo. If you use these combos, the enemy will not only be beat faster, but you will also build the relationship between the different Blades and the Drivers.

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Much to do in Alrest!

That relationship is important in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. This ensures that you get Blades XP as it were and rise in level and that you can get more power from them. Just like defeating enemies in itself ensures that you get XP and rises in level. And the higher the level of both the Driver and the Blade, the stronger they are.

Exactly as you are used to most of the RPGs. XP can also be collected in other ways, namely by completing side missions. And there are enough! In Gormott alone, one of the environments you visit in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, you can easily lose three or four hours just by doing side missions.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 preview - Perfect for the winter?

Monolith Soft has already gained a lot of attention in all of these things in this Xenoblade Chronicles 2 preview. The game feels great and has many original elements. The fighting system with Blades and Drivers is very original and the world of Alrest has some nice original elements.

Unfortunately, we have not played this immense game enough to be able to say whether this positive first impression will continue until the end. The impression that we now have of the game is in any case that this is a potential winter gem on the Nintendo Switch. And one to literally lose yourself in many hours!

Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it!

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