In the year 2010, at the tail end of the Wii’s lifespan, fledgling developer Monolith Software released a game known as Xenoblade Chronicles. It was a very niche title that acted as a successor to the even more niche Xenosaga series, and was nearly cancelled outright as a result. Only after a rigorous fan campaign did it see a worldwide release, and despite all odds, its inspired setting and heartfelt story just barely scraped together enough sales to warrant a sequel, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in 2017. And thankfully, that game was much, much more successful.
Since then, Xenoblade has grown into a true marvel among Nintendo’s catalogue, receiving a full remake of the original game and even multiple character appearances in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (see our review). At the current day, it’s safe to say that the series has carved itself a sizable spot in gaming culture, and as a clear celebration of that, a new game was made to act as the conclusion of the ongoing story that’s tied the games together: Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
As someone who watched the slow but sure rise of the series, I find myself very pleased with the quality on display here. The graphics and animations are some of the best on the Switch, the story is equal parts epic and heartfelt, and the gameplay proves that even after it found its identity, Xenoblade isn’t afraid to continue innovating. It may have some issues with overcomplicated menu systems and a lack of series mainstay elements, but I’m happy to say that those issues are only minor blemishes on this excellent experience.
The story opens on a grand war between the rival nations of Keves and Agnus, oppressive military powers using their forces to seize what little lifeforce remains in their dying world. In order to keep themselves alive, they must continually fight to steal their opponent’s energy, and as a result, soldiers rarely live ten years beyond their test-tube creation. As he approaches his ninth year, kindhearted and thoughtful Noah begins to deviate from the life of killing he’d been raised under, and in doing so discovers the secret power of the Ouroboros, a mystical artifact that frees him, his two close friends, and three enemy soldiers from the established rules of life and death. Seizing this opportunity, Noah and the likeminded enemy solider Mio try to bring their war-torn friends together, and in doing so begin to discover the true nature of the war, their world, and the forces that govern their reality.
If that all seems a bit complicated, that’s because it is. As is tradition for the series, this is a very intricate tale that deals in a lot of heavy subject matter, and what I’ve mentioned above is only the barest essentials needed to understand the opening chapters. To some, the kind of investment needed to fully understand everything will be a turnoff on its own, and it is true that you might need to rewatch some of the cutscenes to catch things you missed. But if you can get a handle on it all, the narrative on offer here is very rewarding.
What really binds this story together is the excellent cast of characters. Noah, Mio, and the rest of their friends are all very likable and interesting in their own right, and seeing the way they interact creates some of the most satisfying group dynamics I’ve ever seen in a game. Whether it be the bonding of the muscle-bound meatheads Lanz and Sena or the slow but sure development of resident skeptic Taion, everyone feels equally important to ongoing events and remains relevant throughout the 80-hour main campaign. This is especially impressive considering that all eight central party members are introduced at roughly the same time, a move which easily could’ve made them feel confusing and forgettable.
When everything is in motion, scenes have a special significance to them that only grows as the story develops. Each new locale brings with it an interesting perspective on the world and its themes of life and human nature, and the amount of time the story dedicates to these complex issues continually surpassed my expectations. No major character is without their own thoughts and ideals, and with how convincingly those feelings are portrayed, seeing them begin to find hope within their dark and desperate lives is a truly heartwarming experience. In some ways, it even surpasses the stories of previous games in the series, which is truly remarkable given their pedigree.
However, it is those previous entries that dredge up some of the games’ biggest shortcomings. In finding its sense of philosophy and realism, Xenoblade 3 loses something that the previous games thrived on: its sense of wonder. From the very beginning, a large part of what made Xenoblade special was its imaginative world, memorable characters, and unbridled sense adventure and whimsy.
The original Xenoblade Chronicles wasn’t just a story about fate and free will, it also took place on gigantic, continent sized titans with incredible environmental design and diverse, interesting races. When it wasn’t dealing in its more serious elements, there was plenty of time to goof around and simply enjoy the beauty of the setting, even if it didn’t really need to in order to get its story across. That sense of tonal range was a core part of what made everything work, and by effectively axing this side of the series, Xenoblade 3 often feels bogged down in its self-seriousness.
Series staples like the Nopons, a silly race of small furry people that speak in broken English, just don’t fit in with the rest of this narrative. The explorable areas feel remarkably restrained in their layouts, lost of their usually creativity except when reusing iconography from the first two games. For all their merits, even the characters struggle to deviate from familiar series archetypes like the “strong but stupid best friend” and the “short, sassy healer.” Everything feels bent in service of the tone and themes, and for a series that previously thrived on a much wider appeal, that’s a darn shame.
The gameplay, on the other hand, is exactly what I was looking for: something familiar, yet new. Taking cues from games of the 1990s, Xenoblade 3 mixes its staple environment-based combat system with a large selection of “classes” that can be equipped to any character, giving them a new and unique playstyle with its own selection of actions and skills.
Separated into attacking, defending, and healing categories, these add a huge sense of variety to the gameplay. With proper training, actions from one class can be used by another, allowing for special combinations that make you feel smart when you find something particularly devastating. Pair this with an excellent “Chain Attack” system that allows for hugely damaging finishers and the fun and over-the-top “Interlink” powers, and you’ve got a recipe for combat that is both highly customizable and refreshingly open-ended.
Beyond this, the game sports some of the best side content I’ve seen in recent memory. While most quests remain similar to previous games, providing fun but ultimately derivative excuses to fight enemies and gather items, there are a large number of “Hero Quests” that go far beyond what’s expected. Each is given its own focus character with their own story, fully produced cutscenes, and new section of the world to explore. At the end, you will be rewarded with either a significant upgrade to one of your party members or an entirely new party member, complete with their own class that any other character can use.
In most games, I wouldn’t give the side content much thought due to the clear lack of attention the developers paid to it, but this is one of the rare exceptions to that rule. I went out of my way to complete every hero quest I could, and while they did feel somewhat repetitive near the end, that was more due to the sheer amount of content rather than any issues with the quests themselves.
It is worth noting that because very few skills are exempt from the class system, the characters themselves often feel like nothing more than vehicles for whatever actions and skills they have equipped. There is also an overabundance of useful, but unnecessary features such as cooking and gem crafting that overcomplicate gameplay, and descriptions for equipable gear are often confusing or misleading. Taken together, the gameplay here is much like the story: if you put in the time to understand it, you will be rewarded, but adjusting to everything requires a solid understanding of both basic RPG mechanics and the previous games in the series.
To tie everything together, the visuals strike a solid balance between the semi-realistic look of the first game and the anime-infused style of the second. While environments and character designs may not live up to previous games, cutscenes and combat animations have seen a noticeable jump in quality. There are more than 20 HOURS of cutscenes in the main story alone, and yet they somehow maintain a high level of quality throughout, with chapter endings and fight choreography being particularly enjoyable to watch.
Adding to this is yet another incredible soundtrack from series composer ACE. Whether it’s the energetic battle themes, ambient area themes, or surprisingly soothing menu music, everything works the way it needs to while frequently going above and beyond. The inclusion of the flute as a motif is also particularly genius, providing an emotional twinge to any scene its involved in.
Verdict
So is Xenoblade Chronicles 3 an absolute masterpiece, and the new pinnacle that future games in the series will look to? In this reviewer’s opinion, not quite. There are just enough issues in terms of tone and overall design to put a blemish on the experience, and for our money, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is still the best overall package the series has to offer. However, it became clear with this entry that comparing Xenoblade games is a lot like comparing The Legend of Zelda games: you’re free to do it, but each entry is its own beast that deserves consideration on its own merits. And on purely its own merits, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is fantastic.
With a story that’s enjoyable from beginning to end, gameplay that never lets up with its vast quantity of options, and animation almost unrivaled on the console, this is a game that every Switch owner needs to check out. Even if you don’t like RPGs or are worried about the amount of time or effort needed to play, you may find yourself surprised by just how addictive this adventure really is.
