Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is all set to be an enormous - and likely intimidating - release at the end of the year. Since its announcement it's nestled comfortably on plenty of wishlists, as it'll be the first hefty RPG from Monolith Soft on the Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo is keen to demonstrate, too, how the game continues to progress in development. An interesting tweet highlights visual differences with Rex in a cutscene, for example.
The recent screen also shows increased detail around his outfit. The two trailers in question - from January and then this month's Direct - are also below.
Nintendo Switch Presentation - January
Nintendo Direct - September
It's pretty clear, we think, that the development team has been doing plenty of optimisation and polish through the course of this year; here's hoping the end result delivers the quality we're all hoping to see.
Comments 76
I have no complaints about his face now.
Already got my limited edition and controller preordered; can't wait regardless of what its like. Monolithsoft have already impressed me heavily twice so hoping third time's another charm.
Although that thumbnail just reminded me that I won't be able to play with JP voices. Oh well, small price to pay.
Nice. My hype grows.
@FX102A they aren't offering a download of the JP track??
They promised to clean and polish this game up before release which it looks like very much that they've delivered that promise.
Just makes me think even more that this game was conceived as a 3DS title while XC was being ported there. Always seemed odd that they would port that game to such a a limited install base - New models only - then make XCX on Wii U. And why make XCX on Wii U and this at the same time? I suppose this could have started as a Wii U game, and they were able to upgrade the visuals after they got final Switch hardware, and dropped the power needed for the Gamepad, XCX made real use of the Gamepad.
Glad it's coming to Switch though wherever it originated.
Does this game have a Season Pass yet? All those titans walking around, would be easy to add 1 or 2 more after release I'd bet. Though I'd prefer they didn't.
Looks great !
I don't think it looks better. Just different
I am surprised that people didn't notice the 4 eyebrows on the second picture. XD
@rjejr I'm still hoping for a Xenoblade Chronicles X2! Love the original and with that cliffhanger, ughhh! More over, this game has me really hyped! My only concern is why Nintendo keeps releasing Xenoblade titles right next to my exam schedules! It is like they want me to drop out.
Xenoblade Chorincles X was a modern marvel in optimization, don't think I've ever seen a game push hardware as hard as that did without performance issues. Can't wait for this one on Switch.
Still not a fan of the artstyle, but I guess it's nice to see that they're trying to at least improve what they have. I might still get this at some point solely for the fact that the soundtrack is made by the Chrono Trigger composer.
What I really would like to see Monolith do though is a new Baten Kaitos game. The first one is still one of the finest JRPGs ever made in my opinion and Origins is perfectly solid as well.
Knowing that Yasunori Mitsuda (Composer of Chrono Trigger, Mario Party 1) is gonna be involved makes me even more excited!
I'm pretty sure I won't have a single clue what's going on in this game. I want to get involved, but it looks soooo complicated.
@AlternateButtons Yes, I think it's it just you
@Expa0
Isn't Namco the IP holder for Baiten Kaitos? It would be up to them to make a new game in that series.
Anyway, it's impressive how optimization has helped the visuals. Rex looks better now. Monolith has put a lot of work in this!
@Wexter hmm, never thought about an XCX2. I liked the original so much more I much prefer the idea of XC2. Wouldn't mind that engine getting another go though, it looked great. Maybe a Pokemon Snap sequel? Heck even a mainline Pokemon game.
XCX had several cliffhanger endings I really would have liked to see - who was that on the beach for starters, and what happened to the other ships - but only if they made a more linear game w/ established characters like XC. XCX had a lot of good in it, but the main storyline and our amnesiac protagonist was weak.
@Luna_110 Baten Kaitos Origins was not published by Namco so I'm pretty sure Monolith Soft owns Baten Kaitos now.
Is it just me or does this game look nowhere as graphically enhanced or ambitious as XCX was???
still looking like generic anime fair sadly nowhere near as impressive as XCX
@retro_player_22
Nintendo only published Origins outside Japan. In Japan it was published by Namco, similar to DQ Vii and DQ VIII with Square.
I think its fair to assume that, since we haven't had any news on that IP, the decisions about it are on Namco and not Nintendo.
Here's hoping for 900p...
@DDStuff
Yes, I saw 4 eyebrows of Rex !
@Elanczewski I have no complaints about your avatar.
@Expa0
Baten Kaitos on VC for the win !
I'm thinking of becoming an anime character one day, but I'm a bit worried about having to get my nose surgically removed...
I'm going to love this game. This is clearly in my top 5 for best series.
@LinksMightySword Yes please.
Good to see some visual enhancements.
@pandarino
It has an anime style, yes... but generic? Have you played other JRPG's in the last decade? This game looks incredible compared to most JRPG's, and generic is the last thing that comes to mind. Just look at the world, how amazing it is, how beautiful it is.
This is why they went for a more realistic art style with XCX. Westerners are pretty biased against Japanese artsfyle. But I say good for them. Change it up. Keep it fresh. Don't just stick with the same style and approach every game.
@PlywoodStick Thanks. Sadly this is not my real face.
I still think that the game doesn't(graphically speaking) look impressive, but atleast it looks a little bit better than the first footage Nintendo showed us.
@Elanczewski All that matters is that it resonates with you- a cute, adorable marshmallow on the outside, and a crazy, adorable psychopath on the inside. That's Haru!
"I'm going to nuke the shadows to death with my grenade launcher..... YAAAAAY! Oh, by the way... I HOPE YOU AREN'T CHEATING ON ME. But I know you would never, ever do that. ...RIGHT?"
SO MANY EYEBROWS.
I hope there's dual audio for this, but I doubt it...
@JaxonH I was just talking about the character design. The last 3 JRPGS I played are FFXV, Nier Automata and Persona 5...they all have a much more distinctive personality when it comes to characters.
The environments do look very pretty and inspired though, I hope I can make it past my dislike for the characters ...I generally don't like extremely anime character design (such as Tales of or Kingdom Hearts etc.)
@PlywoodStick That's Kawakami man, that's Kawakami. But she kinda looks like Haru in my avatar.
Im so excited for this... Xenoblade2 in December, NinoKuni2 in January and Secret of Mana in February. I have RPGs coming in a roll - Amazing!
@hippoeater Not to my knowledge though honestly this is something I wish more publishers would do. They say licensing the JP voices can cost so may as well charge extra for those who really want it.
Also whilst I preferred XC to XCX, yes we need an XCX2 just to finish that cliffhanger. Even though I'd much prefer a set and voiced protaganist rather than what we got. It seemed so weird sometimes.
Excellent, I'm definitely glad they improved it.
My body is ready.
Looks fantastic! I thought Xenoblade Chronicles X was pretty good on Wii U, but this looks much more like Xenoblade Chronicles on Wii! As long as it has good characters, good story, and good environments I will be pleased as peaches to see this game myself.
Never played the first one , have to say it's on my list . Looks epic !
Got my preorder in today, can't wait to play this on the 1st of December!
Still won't stop people being put off because of the visual style. Oh well, they're missing out on a fantastic game. Their loss.
@kbshadow I am with you on that. Xenoblade Chronicles was and still is beautiful on the Wii and 3ds and X was just the same but improved and in HD but this just looks like a whole new style I guess
Really good character shaders this time around. Solid technical effort. The actual designs however... and the animations. I just don't know.
Apple polisher!
@Elanczewski ....What. WHAT. WHAAAAAAT!? How could I mistake muh clothes washing mermaid for muh marshmallow psycho!? 😱
The game and graphics look amazing, but the character designs... still worry me They still look kinda generic... I hope I'm just worrying too much and the characters end up just as good and developed as in XC1, but my hopes aren't too high. Regardless, still getting the game, I'm certain it will be at least a good play.
I'm only 15 hours into XCX at the moment but really like the look of XC2. Guess I won't be playing XC2 for a while
Am liking the changes they've made though.
I really hope Xenoblade 2 is more like Xenoblade rather than Xenoblade X
@Curlynob it will be complicated, for sure. I played the first one on New 3DS XL and it took me some time to get familiarized with the battle system.
Had to walk away from the original because the fighting system felt way too chaotic. Like I wasn't really doing anything. Hope this changes in the sequel. I really want to love this game.
@DDStuff Those are not eyebrows but eyelid creases, commonly featured with line art in Japanese drawing styles.
Rex's design is one of the few, if not the only thing I am not hyped about. I just don't like that stupid helmet on his back. I want them to bring back the option to change armor like we had in the first game.
@Expa0 Cannot agree more.
@Luna_110 You're probably right, but I do wish something would happen for that. If nothing else, Baten Kaitos HD remasters would be amazing.
Melia should have been with Shulk!
@Siskan Your Right about the style, I was just being silly when I typed that. This game is still a day one buy for me.
WOW! I didn't realize it during the second direct, but the art looks MUUUCH better now.
I think the world looks great, but the characters not so much. They look like they belong in a different game to me lol
Still keen to pick this up though. I'm looking forward to muting the voices and narrating the game using my own ultra cheesy voice overs! Gonna be awesome!
I'm shocked they didn't censor Pyra's outfit. But I appreciate.
@DDStuff Oh alright. Actually there's still a small error in there. The eyebrows seem to float just a tiny bit in front of the head, so in this angle they appear to partially grow on the eyelids.
I'd wish they would have used similar character designs to the first game, but other than that everything seems really promising.
Looks a lot cleaner. They did great to get this out so early. I still think the main character looks weird. I'll still get the game. Go Monolith!
What? Crap anime on the left and right. You said it improved.
Even just the white under Rex's smaller pupils looks much more expressive and angry. I'm really digging the changes.
Looks amazing .. hoping for a rich story of great depth.Cannot wait for this one .. I really like the character art and graphic direction.. looks great to me.
The graphics look a bit cleaner now and the lighting effects look better, plus Rex's facial expression does indeed look a bit cooler.
I'm looking forward to this more the X, I much prefer these anime style characters over X's more realistic and slightly off looking characters.
I prefered the first one
@DDStuff
It's just another one of those ridiculous eyebrow trends. Next will be double squiggly with a bow in the middle.
Looks so much better. I have XCX but never really got a chance to play it properly so I'm really looking forward to this!
Wow looks really nice
He looks psycho
Im still really feeling it ~
I guess it now looks a bit more human.
Tap here to load 76 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...