For a Wii game released in 2012 in North America (2011 in Europe), Xenoblade Chronicles has shown an impressive ability to remain relevant to enthusiastic Nintendo gamers. Its limited run in Nintendo of America's domain took on a controversial tone when retailer GameStop began charging $89.99 for copies, while there were even accusations that 'second-hand' stock was being topped up with reprints — that wasn't definitively proven.
Due to its limited numbers in the region, however, it's remained a high-price item, so gamers in Canada may be interested to know that new copies of the game are back in stock at videogamesplus.ca. It's coming at a premium price, but not on the level that GameStop demanded — its price is $69.99CAD, which is roughly $63USD. Considering the fact that stock is pretty rare for this sought after title, gamers in the region are sure to be tempted; shipping to the U.S. is an option and adds $4.99CAD to the price.
We're big fans of this title, awarding 9/10 in our review. Are any of you in North America, particularly Canada, tempted by this?
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
[source neogaf.com]
Comments 68
not at that price, no
I would rather a superior D4L version instead
For that price? No. Good game or not, I'm not paying $60 for something that should be at least $30 new. Why do people even try to sell it that high?
@Superstick
If people are willing to buy it used for 90, why would you sell yours for 30 or less?
@Superstick simply because its "rare"
Last time I went to GameStop, they actually had dropped the price back down to its original $49.99.
Time to collect, years from now, this game may rise in price as I don't see it being re-released anytime in the near future, how nice would a Wii U remake with online and HD be though?
Gamestop has it listed for $60 now, along with metroid prime trilogy for $50
Ehh, I'll just wait for X to come out for the Wii U
A Wii U HD remake would sell like hotcakes (may even boost system sales), though I know better than to expect that; at least we are getting X. So glad I picked this up at its release, though I would say it's worth the $60-$70 price tag, a huge and amazing game... $90 was still insane, but, even long after release, less than $50 would be a steal, it is worth a full priced game.
This shipment was actually reprinted by Nintendo on Video Game Plus' request and due to the higher printing price per copy, they've had to charge a higher price. At a converted value of approximately £40 and factory sealed, I'd say it's definitely worth it for North American fans. If only the cover was different to the EU release I would have ordered me a copy.
So glad I bough the entire Operation Rainfall either day 1 or within the first week or 2 of them launching. I know that right now Pandora's Tower is cheap, but down the road... all 3 will be pricey. And all 3 are great.
@Maelstrom Metriod Prime Trilogy is only 50$ now!! Now might be the time for me to jump on that. Have all 3 in original form.
Everyone that hasn't gotten it yet, GET IT while it's this cheap! I don't think it'll ever get any cheaper. And it's an incredible game that I really didn't mind spending $80 for. It's in my top 3 favorite games.
@whodatninja Same.
Bought, thanks for the heads up. The favorable USD exchange rate helped, too.
You know, I would love to see this game ported to the 3DS.
@BlackStar9000 really? Collectors? Once we're old, these things will have very little value (as they were so poular that quite a few copies do exist) this is not some rare gem... It is a game that was passed over by many, not all. I have tons of "collectible" crap... I tried selling some of it once, dissappointing to say the least. Thanks ebay for killing collectibles
I have the limited edition version. unopened.
Even while they were making this game I was thinking it was so far along in the Wiis life cycle that they should be making it in HD and then simply down-res it upon releasing, thinking a Wii HD was just around the corner and it would be easier for them to make it in HD and down-res than make it in SD and up-res to an HD version.
Guess I was wrong about that but still hoping for a Wii U version - not HD at this point, but VC - when X releases so I'm not buying this now. I would purchase a digital version from Nintendo - NOT paying Gamestop $50 for a used game so they can keep it all.
I'm 150 hours in. I reached the final point of no return but I'm going to try and finish up as many sidequests as I can first.
@Blackstar9000,
There'd really be no point in doing that, as that's essentially what X is going to be, only 10 times more awesome. If X can come out soon it can be system saving IF marketed right. If it's just marketed as an RPG that happens to be awesome, it won't sell much more than Xenoblade. But if it's advertised as all these huge mechs flying around, like a much deeper Titanfall with Zelda or Final Fantasy elements or something, it could be a huge hit.
@Platypus101 #18
Collectibles are for collecting. Why buy a collectible if you're just going to sell it?
@FX102A How do we know this is legit?
@grimbldoo seriously broke at the time (unemployed for nearly 5 years) so I panicked and tried to make some money off the IDEA they were collectible... Like you said, collectibles are for collecting. The only value they truly have, is the one the collector gives it (FYI: many of my collectibles are stuff I had collected through my school years - 80's thru 90's, they're nice, just not worth much in the open market)
@unrandomsam Well I can only take VGP's word on their Facebook page, which was their explanation for comments on the slightly raised price.
$57.57 US dollars including shipping, very tempting. Local Gamestop (sells opened box) copies for $59 + tax. I need to stop collecting Wii games this is getting expensive. Does anybody know if there charging tax?
It's rare that I say a game is worth paying that much for... but Xenoblade is one case where I think the price is warranted. Fantastic game, and I'm glad there is more stock available in Canada.
The last I saw this it was 20€ new. I wanted to buy it but I was in rush and couldn't afford to lose time, so I didn't.
Worst. Decision. Ever.
Well, lucky for me I got mine at launch (because I felt I had to support the entire Project Rainfall campaign) and now it's signed by the japense voice actor for Dunban! hehe ...now I need to find the dub voice actress for Melia...
@Superstick You should understand that limited prints mostly sell higher than their original costs. Not every game will be cheaper over time
When Gamestop had their Black Friday Sale they had this game plus Metroid Prime Trilogy on sale for $40 each. When I got my package,Trilogy was obviously used. Xenoblade...sigh...NOPE! Still had all its manuals plus Club Nintendo code(which I used to redeem that Luigi statue) and there was still some shrink wrap on it,toward the top of the case. No sign of previous use or anything!
I'll wait a few years when it becomes a Virtual Console title
This game is worth a $100!
Why are ppl expecting the price to drop for this game? Nintendo's notable titles always go up in price after a while and there was a limited print of this.
I just really hope X doesn't become this difficult to buy like this game : (
@AdanVC
No it won't be, Nintendo was very smart building all this hype with xenoblade.
Who ever thought up this marketing tactic up needs to take over the helm of marketing the Wii U like yesterday.
I was just looking to see where to buy this game! I actually have it already, but I was just thinking if anything happened to it, where would I get another one. I already had to go through the headache of finding a new Okami.
I'm a bit of a game collector, so if I want a game, then I don't really mind spending a lot for it, because I'm not going to be pleased until I own it.
...I spent £300 pounds on a single NES cartridge and a similar amount of money on a GBC game. I've never regretted my purchase of any game.
Is it in store, or only online?
I currently live in the United Arab Emirates, where North American Nintendo games are often never re-stocked after initial shipment for titles with unpopular demand. I am so glad I managed to pick up the game the same week it appeared on shelves, as there weren't many copies of it that time either.
The outlet I usually buy from also once had one last, factory-new copy of Metroid Prime: Trilogy in 2011. It was displayed there for months apparently, as nobody seems to appreciate its value around here. I doubt they were even aware how rare this package was. Sucks for them, I guess - I eventually managed to get my hands on it, paying only the standard price for any NTSC Wii game sold locally!
Oddly, I never seen any local retailer selling NTSC copies of the other two "Operation Rainfall" titles. Thankfully, I managed to get both of them off Amazon since they have more prints available, and I got them for a great discount price too!
Just in time!
It might be time to buy my second and maybe even third copy. This game deserves it.
I love Xenoblade Chronicles, my favourite game of all time.
@whodatninja My thoughts exactly! And if I REALLY want to play Xenoblade sometime, I'll just fire up my PC and play it on Dolphin in HD
I already bought my copy a few months ago at EB games for $45 CAD.
However I will say that Xenoblade Chronicles is a pretty darn good, I have yet to finish it.
@misterquin
I'll gladly pay money not to monkey around with inconsistent emulation. It really can disrupt the whole experience and does more often then not. But if someone is poor and can't afford to buy games I guess it's better then nothing.
I live in Canada and I am considering buying it from Video Games Plus. $70 dollars new is still one of the better prices I've seen. Other online retailers, like Amazon, are asking more, and Ebay is primarily filled with used copies for $60+.
I've also never seen it available in stores.
@rumple88 I've got a gaming PC that was over $1200 and a Wii U and a PS3. Trust me- I can buy games. I just prefer to play them in HD than in SD. I understand that not everyone can afford all these things though. And that's okay.
I sorry but I'll still go the Earthbound route with this. What I mean is, even though I hear it's a great game, I still wouldn't pay that much for it. One day it will be released as a download for a resonable price and that's when I'll attack (even if I turn 40 by then). At least I'll have X.
I might have to do this, I wouldn't mind owning a second copy.
@misterquin
So you have the ability to play Xenoblade in HD, interesting. So it not being in HD isn't software limitations and is purely hardware? Very intrigued.
good time for me to buy them all
Seeing as this was one of my favorite rpg's on last generation, I have no problem saying that it is definitely worth the money. Get it while you can!
@ShadJV
XC didn't sell wii's. What makes you think a hd version would sell wii u's?
Agreed above, Xenoblade sells itself, not systems. If they did a full run for the Wii U it would sell to fans of the game and then that would be more or less it, it would fill a very temporary need and the fears of some thinking another overpriced poaching would happen to their wallets and it would fizzle.
$63USD, eh? The current-gen X will most likely be $3USD cheaper.
@FX102A I just came from VGP store. The guy said they had about 10 copies left, good luck to everyone hoping to get it online! (He claims to have no idea why they got them, other than a shipment just showed up with them)
Definitely worth it. I've seen a few copies every now and then and I've considered picking them up to sell online, but I don't want to be one of those people who poach games away from people who actually want them.
$63 is fair for this game considering you should get at least 63 hours in the game (if you're rushing), and each hour is just glorious.
Pulled the trigger this morning after catching the tweet from Nintendolife. For comparison, I'm tracking a used copy on eBay that's set to sell for $65 USD, so this is not a bad deal by any means. Even if the bottom falls out of the collectible market due to (sudden, unlikely) eShop availability I figure I'll get my money's worth from the, you know, 70 hours of entertainment.
Awesome. Just ordered a few minutes ago. I already have 2 copies in mint condition, but both are opened. Grabbed them before Gamestop ever got restock in, back before the price jumped up. After I get this sealed copy I'll probably end up giving one of my opened copies away to a friend for Christmas or something. Would make an excellent gift...
@ShadJV
I fully agree brother!
Thanks for the heads up. Might pick up. I'm hyped for Monolith Soft's X but I never played Xenoblade Chronicles (its a game that went pass me so I never got to purchase it during it's initial run).
Thanks for the heads-up! I was about to buy it used at Gamestop for $59.99 + tax, but always prefer games new. I'm looking forward to receiving my copy shortly
Yay craigslist! $20 Xenoblade!
I would love to get this, but at about $70 (I think it would be) it's still a no-buy for me.
Hopefully I can find a cheaper copy someday, something no more than $50.EDIT: okay, $50 probably won't ever happen, I'm just not sure that I really want to spend that much on this... Seems like the price isn't getting any cheaper though. Hmm... maybe just maybe...
@rumple88 Precisely. The Wii is only capable of outputting a maximum of 480p (with component cables) My PC, on the other hand, can emulate the same games but it's powerful enough to render them in 1080p. It's called the "Dolphin emulator" You should check out some YouTube videos of your favorite Wii/ GameCube games running on Dolphin. They look marvelous. Sometimes about as good as my Wii U depending on the game.
How nice to revisit this thread with the knowledge that XC is coming to 3DS.
Tap here to load 68 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...