Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition, Animal Crossing New Horizons, and Rocket League. Might get back into Grid Autosport aka the best non-Mario Kart racer on the Switch.
I wouldn't mind some more traditional dungeons, in terms of size and scope at least, but I am glad BotW shirked the Zelda "formula" that ALttP started because tbh it was starting to feel a little stale and tired. Start game, go to dungeon, get item to complete dungeon, go to next dungeon, get item to complete that dungeon, linear story, etcetcetc, I was bored with it after TP and SS and I hope they keep the Zelda "formula" in the past and do something different like BotW but maybe not exactly like BotW going forward. It's good to have variety. That said, since we're going back to the same Hyrule, it would be nice to have some new areas to explore to keep the map fresh. They could include a restored Castle Town, underwater exploration, and restored little villages that were spread out across the map of the original game in ruins. Or they could have them be partially restored or not at all but finishing or restoring them, and Castle Town, and Hyrule Castle for that matter, be part of the game's story or some sidequests. There are options. IDK I just do not want a return to the tried and true but at this point tired and stale Zelda "formula." To each their own of course. Also I would have some unbreakable items to make the late game fun. Like in BotW, the Master Sword should have been unbreakable after beating Trial of the Sword. The Hylian Shield should have been a story quest to get and unbreakable, not some throwaway find in a Stalnox dungeon room. IDK I just wish those two items at least were unbreakable, and that the Hylian Shield was more important in the game.
XC:DE for the foreseeable future. I take my time with this game since the story and gameplay are both so wonderfully engaging and masterfully made. Also some Rocket League and AC:NH in between. I'm helping my wife pay off her final expansion and then we're expanding the kids houses. Still looking for a Mudcat in RL if anyone would like to trade with me. 🤔🙂
@King-Demon I feel the same way about 2's combat. Hated it. But I loved the story so much I did play it through twice. Then I dropped off Torna when it became apparent they had made combat I didn't care for worse in the added story. Too bad, because I loved the idea of a prequel story to 2. In any case, my favorite games in the series are 1 and X and how awesome to be able to replay 1 on my Switch. Now if only X could get a port/remaster on Switch as well. As always, I'll happily take XC3 and XCX2.
Why isn't Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition an option? Lol I'll be playing that for many months to come. ❤
Edit: will probably get my daily rounds in on my wife's island in AC:NH, get in the odd few matches in Rocket League (and see if the item shop finally has a smegging Mudcat for sale, unless someone wants to trade me one...), and maybe some MK8DX with the wife and kids. 4 player couch multi-player for the win!
But yeah, mostly XC:DE for the foreseeable future.
Can't this site just stay gaming-related and non-topical? This is escapism for me and I'm sure many others. I come here, and to other Nintendo news sites, to get away from all the negativity and vitriol in the world and in the US especially now. And oh look, big surprise, the comments have become exactly what they always would: people arguing, perpetuating the vitriol, and playing the left/right card. Isn't there some Xenoblade Chronicles news we could be discussing instead of this garbage?
On my own, I'll be playing as much XC:DE as possible, having made it to Guar Plains yesterday after a nice 9 hour first session lol. It's one of my favorite games ever so I intend to thoroughly enjoy the original story all the way through and then get into Future Connected. My wife is still very much beasting on AC:NH, so I'll be looking into our island periodically and helping her with various island-related tasks. Right now she's moving a ton of hybrid flowers to a huge flower garden on our island's western side that runs almost the entire north-south length of the island. To quote Adam Savage from Mythbusters, "If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing." 😂 Happy weekend everyone, and happy gaming!
@NEStalgia Well said, and thank you for the most detailed and informative explanation of the combat mechanics in XC2 that I've heard to date. I remember the tutorials for the orbs and bursts being almost an afterthought, and tbh I may have simply felt a little overwhelmed by everything given the aforementioned complexities of the combat plus all the little intricacies of the Blades themselves, plus all the accessories and augments you can apply to each Blade. It didn't hit the right "energy returned on energy invested" ratio for me to immerse myself deeply enough to enjoy it. That said, I didn't find XC1 to have such confusing combat; it was much more intuitive from the start. I think you may have hit on one of my unintentional "mistakes" as it were from the start: I expected XC2 to play like XC1, and when it didn't, it set my whole experience up for a certain, albeit small, level of disappointment. Again, it's all subjective of course, so there's no wrong game to like. I just wish they would move faster around the enemies in battle and not stop auto-attacking when they do. Just tried playing XCX for the first time in over a year and boy are there so many things in that game I've completely forgotten while playing BotW. The menus go on forever lol.
@NEStalgia @roboshort TBH I don't really have a preference as far as story and emotion goes. XC1 and XC2 have, IMHO, equally great and amazing stories, full of twists and unexpected turns, and full of tons of feels. My biggest gripe with 2 is the combat. Neither game explains the combat well, for a start, but XC1 is more intuitive, IMHO, than 2. Plus, I prefer the arts palette of 1 and X to the limited number of arts you're allowed to have available at a time in 2. Plus, again, and not to beat a dead horse, your character literally stops attacking when you move him/her in battle. That doesn't happen in 1 or X, and in 2, when you're in battle, your character moves like they're trying to run through quicksand. So freaking slow! In 1 and X, when you move to reposition your character to the side or back of an enemy to take advantage of position-specific arts to get critical hits, your character continues attacking while you're moving, and doesn't move so much dreadfully slower than they would normally walk/run while exploring the world, so it doesn't seem so jarring. Those two elements really ruined the combat in 2 for me. I don't hate 2, I played it twice, couldn't really get into T:T-g-C since it was a lesser version of combat I didn't enjoy in the first place (2's) but I am glad the game and its DLC were successful for Nintendo/MonolithSoft, as that's the best way for them to be most likely to continue the series. I just didn't enjoy the combat. I did use some of the orb/burst/whatever mechanics, but again, since nothing is ever deeply explained, I'm sure I didn't make the most of it. But as in all things, there is little accounting for subjective preference. I just prefer a proper arts palette with more than 3 arts, a character that doesn't stop auto-attacking when I reposition them, and the character to move in battle more quickly around the enemy. That's no one's fault, it's just my preference. Here's hoping XC3 and XCX2 are eventually made. 😁
The only game on the list that interests me is XCX. Tied for my favorite game of all time with XC1 and BotW, I'd happily spend another 900 hours roaming its vast and wonderful seamless world. Then we'd have all 3 on one amazing console. That said, I'd also take XC3 and XCX2 before any more ports. But hell, I'd buy XCX again and still buy XC3 and XCX2.
@NEStalgia To each their own, of course, but IMHO XC1 and XCX have vastly superior combat to XC2. I hate the combat in 2. Your character stops auto-attacking when you move to reposition? That makes no sense and it made the combat ponderous and unejoyable. I can't wait to play the original, and the best, game in the series all over again. Again, to each their own, and I'm glad you liked 2. For me, the story of 2 was good but the combat mechanics were literally terrible and battles were more of a chore than anything. Hopefully they stick with the combat from 1 and X in future installments.
I'm wicked excited to replay XC1 on the Switch. The core concept of the console is perfect for huge rpgs like that. I'd also love a port of XCX and a sequel to that game. Whatever they do, I hope they ditch the lame slow cumbersome combat mechanics of XC2. Great story don't get me wrong, and I did enjoy the game for the story and its characters, but the combat was ponderous and got old too fast. I prefer my XC1 and XCX arts pallete and the fact that your character doesn't stop auto-attacking when you reposition him or her to take advantage of position-specific critical hits (like slit edge from the side or back slash from the back). I know there was some of that in XC2, but it felt like Rex was trying to run through mud when he had his weapon out and you tried to move him around the enemy. And he stopped auto-attacking! Which is the dumbest combat mechanic I've ever heard of. OK maybe that was a little over the top, but it's definitely the dumbest combat mechanic in a Xenoblade game and XC2 is by far my least favorite in the series.
@cooldude99 "...like they're supposed to be played..." Huh... Guess my copy of Animal Crossing didn't come with instructions and rules. I say to each their own. Don't want to take advantage of this? That's your choice. But it's a pretty absolutist position to take saying things like this ruin the game. Anything that makes a game enjoyable to the person playing it is good, since ultimately enjoyment is the point of video games. So yeah, to each their own.
Can't wait for this to come out. Honestly, one of my favorite games of all time, and it's really only narrowly edged out by BotW and XCX (the latter of which I'm dying for on Switch!)
XC1 has way better combat than XC2, IMHO. Everything from having more arts and that classic Xenoblade arts palette, to your characters continuing to auto-attack as you reposition them, unlike XC2 where when you move in combat around an enemy they stop auto-attacking(to be better positioned for location-specific arts, like Back Slash from XC1).
Also, I always thought the story of XC1 was more epic and enjoyable than 2. The obviously hyper-sexualized blades in XC2 didn't do that game any favors.
Anyway, can't wait for Xenoblade!
Comments 421
Re: Monolith Soft Celebrates 10 Years Of Xenoblade Chronicles With Some Special Artwork
@KidBoruto
That would be wonderful. Have you heard or seen anything to lead you to believe that's a possibility...?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 20th)
Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition, Animal Crossing New Horizons, and Rocket League. Might get back into Grid Autosport aka the best non-Mario Kart racer on the Switch.
Re: New Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Glitch Lets You Escape Hyrule And Go Beyond The Map's Borders
I wouldn't mind some more traditional dungeons, in terms of size and scope at least, but I am glad BotW shirked the Zelda "formula" that ALttP started because tbh it was starting to feel a little stale and tired. Start game, go to dungeon, get item to complete dungeon, go to next dungeon, get item to complete that dungeon, linear story, etcetcetc, I was bored with it after TP and SS and I hope they keep the Zelda "formula" in the past and do something different like BotW but maybe not exactly like BotW going forward. It's good to have variety. That said, since we're going back to the same Hyrule, it would be nice to have some new areas to explore to keep the map fresh. They could include a restored Castle Town, underwater exploration, and restored little villages that were spread out across the map of the original game in ruins. Or they could have them be partially restored or not at all but finishing or restoring them, and Castle Town, and Hyrule Castle for that matter, be part of the game's story or some sidequests. There are options. IDK I just do not want a return to the tried and true but at this point tired and stale Zelda "formula." To each their own of course. Also I would have some unbreakable items to make the late game fun. Like in BotW, the Master Sword should have been unbreakable after beating Trial of the Sword. The Hylian Shield should have been a story quest to get and unbreakable, not some throwaway find in a Stalnox dungeon room. IDK I just wish those two items at least were unbreakable, and that the Hylian Shield was more important in the game.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 13th)
XC:DE for the foreseeable future. I take my time with this game since the story and gameplay are both so wonderfully engaging and masterfully made.
Also some Rocket League and AC:NH in between. I'm helping my wife pay off her final expansion and then we're expanding the kids houses. Still looking for a Mudcat in RL if anyone would like to trade with me. 🤔🙂
Re: Monolith Soft Celebrates 10 Years Of Xenoblade Chronicles With Some Special Artwork
@King-Demon I feel the same way about 2's combat. Hated it. But I loved the story so much I did play it through twice. Then I dropped off Torna when it became apparent they had made combat I didn't care for worse in the added story. Too bad, because I loved the idea of a prequel story to 2. In any case, my favorite games in the series are 1 and X and how awesome to be able to replay 1 on my Switch. Now if only X could get a port/remaster on Switch as well. As always, I'll happily take XC3 and XCX2.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 6th)
Why isn't Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition an option? Lol I'll be playing that for many months to come. ❤
Edit: will probably get my daily rounds in on my wife's island in AC:NH, get in the odd few matches in Rocket League (and see if the item shop finally has a smegging Mudcat for sale, unless someone wants to trade me one...), and maybe some MK8DX with the wife and kids. 4 player couch multi-player for the win!
But yeah, mostly XC:DE for the foreseeable future.
Re: Nintendo New York Store Windows Smashed During Riots In Manhattan
Can't this site just stay gaming-related and non-topical? This is escapism for me and I'm sure many others. I come here, and to other Nintendo news sites, to get away from all the negativity and vitriol in the world and in the US especially now. And oh look, big surprise, the comments have become exactly what they always would: people arguing, perpetuating the vitriol, and playing the left/right card. Isn't there some Xenoblade Chronicles news we could be discussing instead of this garbage?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 30th)
On my own, I'll be playing as much XC:DE as possible, having made it to Guar Plains yesterday after a nice 9 hour first session lol. It's one of my favorite games ever so I intend to thoroughly enjoy the original story all the way through and then get into Future Connected. My wife is still very much beasting on AC:NH, so I'll be looking into our island periodically and helping her with various island-related tasks. Right now she's moving a ton of hybrid flowers to a huge flower garden on our island's western side that runs almost the entire north-south length of the island. To quote Adam Savage from Mythbusters, "If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing." 😂
Happy weekend everyone, and happy gaming!
Re: Witcher 3 Port Specialist Thinks Devs Can Get More Out Of The Nintendo Switch
I'd be happy with Xenoblade Chronicles X.
Re: Review: Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - A Timely Update Of One Of The Greatest RPGs Ever
@NEStalgia
Well said, and thank you for the most detailed and informative explanation of the combat mechanics in XC2 that I've heard to date. I remember the tutorials for the orbs and bursts being almost an afterthought, and tbh I may have simply felt a little overwhelmed by everything given the aforementioned complexities of the combat plus all the little intricacies of the Blades themselves, plus all the accessories and augments you can apply to each Blade. It didn't hit the right "energy returned on energy invested" ratio for me to immerse myself deeply enough to enjoy it. That said, I didn't find XC1 to have such confusing combat; it was much more intuitive from the start. I think you may have hit on one of my unintentional "mistakes" as it were from the start: I expected XC2 to play like XC1, and when it didn't, it set my whole experience up for a certain, albeit small, level of disappointment. Again, it's all subjective of course, so there's no wrong game to like. I just wish they would move faster around the enemies in battle and not stop auto-attacking when they do.
Just tried playing XCX for the first time in over a year and boy are there so many things in that game I've completely forgotten while playing BotW. The menus go on forever lol.
Re: Review: Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - A Timely Update Of One Of The Greatest RPGs Ever
@NEStalgia @roboshort
TBH I don't really have a preference as far as story and emotion goes. XC1 and XC2 have, IMHO, equally great and amazing stories, full of twists and unexpected turns, and full of tons of feels. My biggest gripe with 2 is the combat. Neither game explains the combat well, for a start, but XC1 is more intuitive, IMHO, than 2. Plus, I prefer the arts palette of 1 and X to the limited number of arts you're allowed to have available at a time in 2. Plus, again, and not to beat a dead horse, your character literally stops attacking when you move him/her in battle. That doesn't happen in 1 or X, and in 2, when you're in battle, your character moves like they're trying to run through quicksand. So freaking slow! In 1 and X, when you move to reposition your character to the side or back of an enemy to take advantage of position-specific arts to get critical hits, your character continues attacking while you're moving, and doesn't move so much dreadfully slower than they would normally walk/run while exploring the world, so it doesn't seem so jarring. Those two elements really ruined the combat in 2 for me. I don't hate 2, I played it twice, couldn't really get into T:T-g-C since it was a lesser version of combat I didn't enjoy in the first place (2's) but I am glad the game and its DLC were successful for Nintendo/MonolithSoft, as that's the best way for them to be most likely to continue the series. I just didn't enjoy the combat. I did use some of the orb/burst/whatever mechanics, but again, since nothing is ever deeply explained, I'm sure I didn't make the most of it. But as in all things, there is little accounting for subjective preference. I just prefer a proper arts palette with more than 3 arts, a character that doesn't stop auto-attacking when I reposition them, and the character to move in battle more quickly around the enemy. That's no one's fault, it's just my preference. Here's hoping XC3 and XCX2 are eventually made. 😁
Re: Feature: Potential Switch Port Round-Up - The Wii U Games That Haven't Come To Switch
The only game on the list that interests me is XCX. Tied for my favorite game of all time with XC1 and BotW, I'd happily spend another 900 hours roaming its vast and wonderful seamless world. Then we'd have all 3 on one amazing console.
That said, I'd also take XC3 and XCX2 before any more ports. But hell, I'd buy XCX again and still buy XC3 and XCX2.
Re: Review: Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - A Timely Update Of One Of The Greatest RPGs Ever
@NEStalgia To each their own, of course, but IMHO XC1 and XCX have vastly superior combat to XC2. I hate the combat in 2. Your character stops auto-attacking when you move to reposition? That makes no sense and it made the combat ponderous and unejoyable. I can't wait to play the original, and the best, game in the series all over again. Again, to each their own, and I'm glad you liked 2. For me, the story of 2 was good but the combat mechanics were literally terrible and battles were more of a chore than anything. Hopefully they stick with the combat from 1 and X in future installments.
Re: Review: Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - A Timely Update Of One Of The Greatest RPGs Ever
@Heavyarms55 Couldn't agree more, well said!
Re: Review: Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - A Timely Update Of One Of The Greatest RPGs Ever
Friday can't get here fast enough!
Re: Monolith Soft Took Care To Avoid Impacting Its New Game While Working On Xenoblade Remaster
I'm wicked excited to replay XC1 on the Switch. The core concept of the console is perfect for huge rpgs like that. I'd also love a port of XCX and a sequel to that game. Whatever they do, I hope they ditch the lame slow cumbersome combat mechanics of XC2. Great story don't get me wrong, and I did enjoy the game for the story and its characters, but the combat was ponderous and got old too fast. I prefer my XC1 and XCX arts pallete and the fact that your character doesn't stop auto-attacking when you reposition him or her to take advantage of position-specific critical hits (like slit edge from the side or back slash from the back). I know there was some of that in XC2, but it felt like Rex was trying to run through mud when he had his weapon out and you tried to move him around the enemy. And he stopped auto-attacking! Which is the dumbest combat mechanic I've ever heard of. OK maybe that was a little over the top, but it's definitely the dumbest combat mechanic in a Xenoblade game and XC2 is by far my least favorite in the series.
Re: Random: Someone's Transformed Their Animal Crossing Island Into Danny DeVito, As You Do
@AlexSora89 Wow! 😂
Re: Video: See Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Main Theme Performed By The Original Musicians
I love watching musicians perform. That was excellent!
Re: Gallery: See How Much Better Xenoblade Chronicles Looks On Switch
I like everything about this game so much more than XC2. Can't wait to play it again!
Re: Yet Another Animal Crossing: New Horizons Item Duplication Glitch Has Been Found
@cooldude99
"...like they're supposed to be played..."
Huh... Guess my copy of Animal Crossing didn't come with instructions and rules.
I say to each their own. Don't want to take advantage of this? That's your choice. But it's a pretty absolutist position to take saying things like this ruin the game.
Anything that makes a game enjoyable to the person playing it is good, since ultimately enjoyment is the point of video games.
So yeah, to each their own.
Re: Video: Nintendo Shares 'All About Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition' Trailer
Can't wait for this to come out. Honestly, one of my favorite games of all time, and it's really only narrowly edged out by BotW and XCX (the latter of which I'm dying for on Switch!)
XC1 has way better combat than XC2, IMHO. Everything from having more arts and that classic Xenoblade arts palette, to your characters continuing to auto-attack as you reposition them, unlike XC2 where when you move in combat around an enemy they stop auto-attacking(to be better positioned for location-specific arts, like Back Slash from XC1).
Also, I always thought the story of XC1 was more epic and enjoyable than 2. The obviously hyper-sexualized blades in XC2 didn't do that game any favors.
Anyway, can't wait for Xenoblade!