With Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition launching on Nintendo Switch next month, what better time to take a good long look at some of the game's gorgeous updated scenery?
The official Japanese website for the game has been updated with fresh images of some of the locations you'll be exploring in the HD remaster. You'll find screenshots of Gaur Plain, Colony 9, Satorl Marsh, Bionis’ Interior, Makna Forest, and Eryth Sea waiting for you below (with thanks to Nintendo Everything for compiling them):
Thinking back to the Wii original, the difference is pretty staggering, isn't it?
The game launches on Switch on 29th May and will include a brand new epilogue story. It was also recently confirmed that it won't include any of the extras first introduced in the 3DS port.
Excited to explore these locations on Switch? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
[source nintendo.co.jp, via nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 79
One of my top 5 soundtracks. Cant wait to hear it again....
Stop! I'll start tearing up.
looks stunning. Don't think I can double dip though, last run through took 110 hours.
Side note: I hope Monolith have more of a hand in developing future pokemon titles. Would love to see a more open world environment where pokemon can have proper habitats. That way you could have elemnts of pokemon Snap. Basically, the way animals behaved in BOTW (Monolith also played a hand there) would be a great match for pokemon i think.
Best video game ever. Best video game soundtrack ever. Best voice over actors. One of the best stories in a video game with a truly unexpected ending.
As expected, Satorl Marsh looks amazing.
@Cosats @oats-81 Especially now that the soundtrack has been remastered. I'm as hyped for this as I was back when I first played it on 3DS.
...This will be one of those games where I spend copious amounts of in-game time staring at how stunning some of the environments are, isn't it?
...Is May 29th here yet?
It all looked gorgeous even on 3DS. Of course all this polish would never hurt.
pre-ordered the eu collector's edition!
Can't wait!
Wow 🤩 awesome stuff can’t wait
This is one of those times where I'm really glad I missed a game the first couple of times it was released. Can't wait to experience this!
Super hyped for this. I bought XC2 day one and still haven’t got around to playing it. But now I can play the first game before finally jumping into the sequel.
I wonder if we’ll ever get a remastered Xenoblade Chronicles X on Switch? Really hope so!
@The_Pixel_King I think a remastered Xenoblade X is extremely likely. Nintendo has been pretty keen to port over Wii U games that didn't get as much exposure as they deserved, and Xenoblade X was one of the biggest and best. I doubt they're gonna just let it die with the Wii U.
Holy crap that looks amazing. Actually glad I didn't play the original or 3DS ver.
Some pretty excellent stuff. At a quick look, the only thing that really stood out to me as weak was the white trees in Satorl Marsh, daytime in particular.
I love Jrpgs from time to time, I bought this on the Wii with the red controller and digital sountrack and the game looks great and over time I realised I am more of a handheld gamer, I might pick this up if I ever see it at a good price for a double dip
Can't wait for this game to come out. I played it on the Wii, and I have it for my 3ds, but never finished it. Not a big handheld gamer so looking forward to this on the big screen in HD.
Absolutely gorgeous. It seems Monolith Soft are really going all out with the remake, recreating the assets and even adding in cut content and an epilogue. I can’t wait.
To triple dip or not? Enjoyed this and X tremendously. Hated Xeno 2 however.
I can't wait for this game! I got the Special Edition, but I wish it came with the sound track (even just a digital copy)
Holy... I'm doubledipping, hands down. I have played 3ds version and loved it. This looks gorgeous!
I cannot wait. This game was just begging for a fresh coat of paint. The screenshots make it look gorgeous.
It isn't on this post, but there's an image of Eryth Sea at night, and the sky has been updated with some aurora borealis effects!
Yeah I don't know nothing about this game, but I wanna buy it...
I've already pre-ordered. Tripledip, if you can believe it.
Honestly got the new3DS version mostly for listening to the soundtrack with the 3DS clamshell closed – and for the amiibo functionality. Hope they keep that Shulk amiibo usage in the Switch version.
This is what I've really wanted since getting an HD tv – Wii games just don't look good enough anymore due to the shoddy old resolutions. This is gorgeous.
Beautiful. How we all imagined it would look back in 2011 «if only Nintendo would release a HD console».
Glad I have never played the series, was tempted to get the 3DS version, and passed on the latest Switch game as I had not played this, just had a feeling Nintendo were going to bring this title remastered to the Switch, this will be a nice start to the series for me.
Nice - if this isolation carries on I will definitely need an RPG to tide me over. I never had a 3DS, Wii or Wiimotes, so I've never had a chance to play it. So it's brand spanking new to me.
inb4 some clown comes in and says "I thought Nintendo fans didn't care about graphics..."
@Giygas_95 When you put it like that, I’m very optimistic and hopeful that it’ll happen sooner or later. Thanks for the reply, buddy! 🙂
Absolutely can't wait for this, one of my favourites
Never played a Xenoblade game until I bought Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country. Some review said that the controls are an improvement over previous Xenoblade games. So does this mean the new Definitive Edition's controls are a step backwards?
We need a Endless Ocean sequel or remake in HD too.
Ok wow, this looks really great!
Wish XCX would get that remaster treatment as well...
I just couldnt get to grips with this when it first came out. I didnt get the battle system as all and found it pretty darn hard. Ended up selling it pretty sharpish as i recall. Maybe its because i was pretty young. I may end ul grabbing it again as i really like XC2.
@The_Pixel_King Along those lines, I'm also really hoping we get ports of Super Mario 3D World, Paper Mario Color Splash (as I've never even played it), Wind Waker HD, Twilight Princess HD, Pikmin 3, and (they'd have to rework it, but...) Star Fox Zero.
Tempted but never played it, put off with the long cut scenes. Maybe worth it if they are as good as you all say
Satorl Marsh looks so stunning I can’t wait to check it out again.
@Kidfunkadelic83 XC2’s combat system is harder than XC1’s in my opinion so you shouldn’t have any trouble.
Can’t wait for this
I've tried to get through the game two times without success, but I'm actually pretty excited for this version. The re-orchestrated music (what we've heard of it) is gorgeous, the game itself actually looks like an attractive modern gen title now, and, in general, coming off of XC2, I'm eager to bury myself in another gorgeously realized Monolith Soft world again.
It feels like 29th of May is too far away! 😣
Love the lighting in the Kokora forest village. I tried playing this on my Wii U (using the Wii drive), but stopped halfway through because the jagged edges were killing my eyes after 40 hours (and learning I had another 40 to go).
Now port Xenoblade Chronicles X, and make it truly MULTIPLAYER on Switch. It'd be incredible!
@Giygas_95 Me too, man! 3D World and Wind Waker are my most wanted (no, NEEDED) ports, Wii U or otherwise! But aside from XCX that we already mentioned, I’d also love to see Twilight Princess, Star Fox Zero and Pullblox World on Switch.
And although it’s far from a Wii U exclusive, I really, really want the brilliant Bit.Trip Runner 2 to come to the Switch eShop. It’s sooooo much better than Runner3.
Serious tho i NEED THIS GAME!!
@The_Pixel_King I've been wanting Runner 2 also. I have Runner 3, but I've barely played it for some reason. I'm really surprised it hasn't already happened. I wish we'd also get Bit.Trip Complete on the Switch.
@Giygas_95 We have incredibly similar tastes, man. Speaking of indies, I’m really looking forward to ITTA, Jet Lancer and Ministry of Broadcast. I also picked up In Other Waters last week. It’s a 9.5 game for me. It’s so unique – I adore it!
@The_Pixel_King I haven't played any of those. My favorite indie games are Hyper Light Drifter, Axiom Verge, Katana Zero, and Night in the Woods (which has one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard in a game). I've played a whole lot of other indies, but I can't seem to recall most of them...
@meeto_1
Imagine it being a season pass project to help it thrive, starting with Gen 1. And each 6 months a new expansion.
Looks absolutely gorgeous.
@Inu I was thinking that with Pokemon now on a home console with longer development time the Pokemon are going to have to be introduced Gen by Gen. It would take too long to develop all 800 Pokemon in one go for a new game. Especially if they have to be programmed to have certain habitat behaviours. But seeing the backlash to sword/shield if the Pokemon were released by generation there would be massive pushback.
So looking forward to this!
😍
Could just be the picture sizes but those look better than XC2 to me. XC2 was a pretty fun game for me but never felt like it was that impressive visually (that sharpen filter on mobile especially seemed way overdone).
cant wait! and then i need Xenoblade Chronicles X so much!
Never played it so I will be glad to experience it with the new graphics.
Shaping up to be the best looking game on Switch period!
@Savino Xenoblade chronicles 2 is a great game, you should pick it up. I haven't played the first one, but 2 is in my top 10 games.
Yeah, they look beautiful but what's with the resolution? It looks super sharp.
@meeto_1 My first run of the game also took 110 hours
@JMR_Alden I was obsessed with killing as many of the large beasts as possible and finding all the secret areas. At times I played the game like it some kind of Monster Hunter. That really added a lot of hours to my play through.
@meeto_1 It can happen if TPC is willing to pay for it
Yup, looks glorious. Ever since playing the n3DS version, I've always wanted this to get an HD remake. They nailed the visuals, the new music is great too. 😀
I still wish they had kept the original facial designs and color palettes for the characters, but the updated scenery does indeed look even more gorgeous than it did originally.
@The_Pixel_King @Giygas_95 The problem with XCX getting ported is that the game is so heavily reliant on how the second screen map is integrated into the gameplay that any port would actually be a downgrade on the original no matter how pretty they make it look (even if they properly increased the text size). (Besides, the original already has great-looking HD graphics.) I certainly wouldn't want to play the game without having constant access to my all important map!
@BulbasaurusRex I thought of that, but I guess they'd just have to put the map on a menu screen. It's not ideal, but then neither is Mario Maker 2 in my opinion. Still I'd take it to get the game on Switch. Same for the Zelda HD remasters which obviously didn't use the gamepad originally but still benefitted greatly from it.
I might just have to take a week off when this game comes out and do nothing but play this game!
Oh, and I guess eat and sleep a little too.
@Heavyarms55
I’d plan at least a weekend off, except I likely won’t have to with the layoffs and everything.
Im not complaining. It’s a good time to sit back, relax, and get paid to play video games 😁
In before they have to nerf them to reduce frame drops. I remember how good grass in breath of the wild looked, and then they had to vastly reduce grass detail. :
@JaxonH We so far, the school I work at is reopening as planned this week. But the situation in Japan, while better than elsewhere, does seem to be teetering on a razor edge. It's entirely possible we'll be next.
Still, I don't want to plan for a quarantine. I'd rather just assume thing will be better by the end of May and I'll be using my remaining paid time off. I have 14 days worth and just shy of 4 months in which to use them.
@Heavyarms55
As long as we’re back to work by July 31st when extended unemployment ends. I’ll gladly take the paid time off.
I only wish this happened 2 months from now when Xenoblade, Borderlands, Bioshock and XCOM 2 release.
Looks great, can't wait.
@oats-81 Too bad no soundtrack in the US Collectors Edition.
@JaxonH Yeah, I really wish Xenoblade was the start of May, because that's Golden Week here in Japan and normally I'd be travelling but obviously that's a bad idea right now...
@meeto_1 It's funny, I kinda like games that Monolith soft helps with, more than I like the ones they lead on. (Breath of the Wild for example verses Xenoblade 2) In Xenoblade 2 it felt like they did a great job on things like the expansive lands but not a great job on the little things like not having the camera go nuts in tightly done towns, or making it clear what part of a town you're in so you don't get confused. Oh also those little item spawn points those were total bull compared to how you gathered items in BoTW.
That said I remember thinking for a long time that it'd be hard to update Pokemon's mechanics to something modern and not have it just be garbage like Pokemon Go's fighting mechanics. But Xenoblade 2 actually had a combat style that I could see being adapted to fit Pokemon. Imagine if you could take six pokemon with you and have one travel around with you out of it's ball (could even allow you to ride some of them if you want.) And then you encounter wild Pokemon they'd just straight up attack you and your partner Pokemon. Youd' then use the left stick to run for cover from the wild pokemon, and use the arrow buttons on the joycon to select one of four different attack styles. You could have some less strong moves go faster, and you could have some stronger moves go slower. If you need to swap you'd hit a menu button to pick a different pokemon and then you'd have to wait during the animation for the pokemon coming back and the new one coming out and getting it's bearings to attack the wild one. You could even make it so that your pokemon could get ganged up on by wild ones. The trainer would have health so you'd need to keep an eye on the battle and it'd actually be more like in the anime where the trainers actually are announcing what moves the pokemon should make.
I think it'd probably have to be a spin off game, but they could do a base game where you can play through the first three regions and then later unlock more with DLC or just have them released later.
It'd a big investment, way more than Game Freak normally spends on a Pokemon title, but imagine if you could travel through multiple regions in one game? Heck they wouldn't even need to make it just the first three regions. They could make it Kanto, Alolah, another one.
Still utterly convinced this is mostly texture work. It looks good and I honestly like that that aspect was retained, but undeniably they're mostly retexturing the environments.
@Giygas_95 It still means the superior version is on the Wii U. I suppose it would still expand the game's audience to the many Switch owners who skipped the Wii U, but it's very awkward when a remaster is actually worse than the original version. It would also give a false impression of the game's quality to the reviewers and players who are ignorant of its origins.
@DavidMac I really dont think a lot of the pokemon mechanics have to be scrapped entirely. I think they should just build upon the new hardware and computing available to better realise a world in which pokemon roam free. Cherry picking the ideas seen in XC and BOTW where animal types were only found in certain regions and maybe during certain weather. See them foraging for food. See herd pokemon travel in herds. Throw in a good camera taking system like Zeldas and you have a world that pokemon fans would love to just explore. Discover hidden groves where rarer pokemon reside and also have super strong pokemon out from the beginning. In XC I would love to challenge them get wiped out, strengthen up and try again.
@MysticalOS Did they nerf the grass in BotW? I played it on the WiiU and never noticed anything like that.
@SomeBitTripFan what makes you say that? Is there some giveaway that they are using the same underlying models?
Not that I really care. The original is the most beautiful game I’ve ever played, a testament to the power of art design over “graphics”.
@riki_sidekicks: Just look at screenshots and compare to the original. Many details are spot on, but the whole remaster retains a certain jaggedness to world geometry from the original. My best piece of evidence would be the Satorl trees. That's a Wii/GCN tree if I've ever seen one. The new textures both help and hinder noticing it. Party character models might be new or are still being worked on, some models have some weird detailing or similarly look similarly jagged. Whichever trailer features the initial Mechon attack, the geometry of the carrier is basically exactly the same as far as I could tell and the more rounded enemies Mechon had very clear "sides" if you look along their "curve".
I'm of two minds on the remaster. I like that the exact geometry is preserved, I even love the retained jaggedness. It's very much part of the look of the game to me. I don't like the alterations to many areas' color palates. That said, with the game being a remaster, I really wish it would be done from the ground up. Xenoblade has some of the best environmental design in any game and I wish I could see those environments realized with all the tools and resources possible.
Guys.
Im planning to buy the whole collection, but can you give me advise of wich one to play first. I see there are several standalone versions.
Thanks
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