I'm a bit of a sucker for that Switch 2 Editions, especially when they are for games that I couldn't get enough of during their original launch. I have already upgraded my copies Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdomand Super Mario Bros. Wonder in their respective Switch 2 versions, but now one of the best JRPGs from 2017 is about to get its own, and I'm willing to throw money at it again. That game is not from Monolith Soft Xenoblade Chronicles 2And while it may not be the highest-rated game in the series, it's a great JRPG that will finally and officially be worth replaying when its Switch 2 version launches on July 30, 2026.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 It wasn't my first game in the series, but it was the first game that hooked me. When it launched in 2017, it quickly became one of those games that could easily take me into the hours after midnight, willingly losing sleep even though I had to wake up early the next day for work. Don't get me wrong – I understand why this is one of the more polarizing entries in the series, and I'm not here to argue against any points of criticism. However, as a JRPG, it's still one of the most memorable games I've ever played, with a world I loved exploring, a cast I really engaged with, and a story that got more rewarding as I got into it. Now, with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Edition, promising to give the game the technical treatment it always deserved, feels like the perfect opportunity to go back and appreciate it all over again.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was already great in 2017
for me, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 It was memorable, first and foremost, because Alrest was such a fascinating world to explore. Entire civilizations live behind giant titans flowing from the endless cloud sea, and each feels different that reaching the other has never been routine. I could be wandering the wide fields of Gormot one minute and exploring the narrow streets and industrial machinery of Mor Arden the next, and I was constantly stopping to look for something hidden from the obvious path.
Place the consoles in the correct order.
get started
Monolith Soft also knew how to make those areas feel much bigger and more dangerous than they initially appeared. High-level enemies will casually wander into places I have no business being, so exploration can go from peaceful to terrifying the moment I see something huge staring in my direction. Finding new landmarks, secret locations, treasures, and paths I'd missed made it worthwhile to return to Old Titans long after the story progressed.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2The Ko Blade system gave me another reason to continue using it. Each driver could carry different blades that changed their weapons, roles, abilities, and elemental options, which meant that putting together a party involved more than just picking three characters I liked. I can spend an embarrassing amount of time rearranging my setup, working through affinity charts, and trying to figure out how to put together an attack without completely ruining whatever was working five minutes ago.
for me, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 It was memorable, first and foremost, because Alrest was such a fascinating world to explore.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2It takes a while to accept the fight to reveal why it's good. Early battles can feel slow, tutorials aren't always particularly helpful, and anyone expecting immediate action may wonder why Rex seems so committed to standing between attacks. Once the driver combos, blade combos, elemental orbs, and chain attacks begin to fit together, though, the battles become more satisfying than they first appear.
The cast also did a lot of heavy lifting. Rex may not be everyone's favorite Xenoblade hero, but his optimism meant next to characters carrying more baggage than he initially realized. Pyra, Mythra, Nia, Tora, Mòrag, and Zeke slowly became a group that I really cared about, which made the later chapters of the story much more difficult than I thought when I started the journey.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 received Generally positive but somewhat polarized reviews at launch, earning a total score of 83 on Metacritic. Critics celebrated its massive world, deep combat, and great music, but heavily criticized its informal tutorials, overly cluttered UI, and controversial anime character designs.
Of course, some character designs, voice direction, comedy, and extreme anime moments were made Xenoblade Chronicles 2 An easy target for criticism. I understand all those complaints, and there are definitely scenes that no one should be walking into the room while I'm watching. Still, the emotional moments landed for me, the soundtrack was great, and the final stretch rewarded the enormous amount of time I put in to get there.
The Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 makes it worth replaying
Holding the biggest thing Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Return was never its ambition. The original Switch struggled to render Alrest as cleanly and intuitively as it deserved, especially when playing in handheld mode. The world built on giant living Titans shouldn't look so blurry that I sometimes feel like I've misplaced my glasses, so the Switch 2 version's visual and performance improvements are doing a lot to tempt me back.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Edition features
- 4K resolution In TV mode
- Full HD resolution In handheld mode
- 60 fps Performance
- Sweet and spicy kutsins During the game
- New rare blade And the accompanying blade search
- New action battle mode Mercenary squad battles included
- New equipment designs For Pyra and Mythra
Honestly, 60 frames per second might be enough by itself. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 There are busy environments, huge enemies, flashy blade specials, and battles that can fill the screen with effects, so doubling the original goal should make practically everyone feel better. Combining that with 4K output on a television and 1080p in handheld mode means the Alrest should finally look as good from the dock as it does in my memory.
The improved cutscenes are another big deal than they might seem. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 The long story is filled with scenes and big action sequences, so the smooth and intense presentation should make its more cinematic moments a lot of fun to replay. I already remember seeing a lot of late-game scenes that were incredible despite the hardware, and I can't wait to see how they look after the upgrade.
The world built on giant living Titans shouldn't look so blurry that I sometimes feel like I've misplaced my glasses, so the Switch 2 version's visual and performance improvements are doing a lot to tempt me back.
Nintendo is also giving returning players something new to actually do instead of relying entirely on technological improvements. A new rare blade comes with another quest, while an action combat mode lets players directly control blades sent on mercenary missions in mercenary squad battles. I've already spent the entire game watching the Blades support their drivers, so getting to control them feels like a very unique bonus mode that might keep the second playthrough from feeling too familiar.
Pyra and Mythra are also getting new equipment designs exclusive to this version. New outfits obviously don't transform a game I've spent dozens of hours playing, but I'll never complain about another reason to change the way party members look. In fact, cosmetics are a huge deal for me in RPGs, simply because I feel like I can immerse myself more when my party looks the way I want it to.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Land is A highly acclaimed standalone action RPG and prequel Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Released by Nintendo and developed by Monolith SoftPlayers take 500 years into the past to explore the tragic events of the Aegis War and the fall of the Torna Kingdom.
Torna: The Golden Country Some attention is also coming. Its digital and physical versions will support 4K and 60 frames per second in TV mode and 1080p and 60 frames per second in handheld mode on the Switch 2, though Expansion Pass owners will need the main game's upgrade pack to access those improvements. considering Torna Already one of the strongest pieces Xenoblade The content is made by Monolith Soft, making the whole story flow more smoothly, making it easier to justify.
Maybe I didn't need much convincing to play Xenoblade Chronicles 2 again It's a game that kept me awake long after I went to bed, and almost nine years later, I still remember its world, music, characters, and greatest story moments. The problem was finding a reason to commit to another big JRPG playthrough when so many new games are already fighting for that time.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2The Switch 2 version is officially giving me that reason. Alrest will look sharper, combat should feel smoother, cutscenes will be cleaner, and there will be new quests and battles waiting for players who already know the journey. I lost a lot of sleep Xenoblade Chronicles 2 In 2017, and once July 30th arrives, it seems I'm making the exact same mistake again.
- issued
-
December 1, 2017
- ESRB
-
T for teenagers due to language, suggestive content, alcohol and tobacco use, violence
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
