I really tried to give this game a fair try, but I couldn't do it. I still remember exactly why I stopped playing it. I was laying on the floor while a 5 minute long cutscene was playing, waiting for gameplay to start again, and I realized that the gameplay I was waiting for was not worth my time. The gameplay is uninteresting, the cutscenes are long and boring, the characters aren't engaging, the voice acting is grating (yes I know why), and sometimes you get sniped from across the map by an enemy that is 60 levels higher than you. After 10 hours of play, I put the game down and never looked back. The only thing that I really did like about the game is the world design, but that wasn't enough to keep me around. Least favorite game I have ever played.

There are 3 games that really made me fall in love with the medium of video game's and this one is in that category. It should be illegal with how good this game. Besides Rex's dumbass design for the first 3/4 of this game, there is almost no flaws.

I can understand the combat being hard to understand, but once you do it is probably one of the best combat systems I have ever played. The soundtrack is my second favorite ost of all time right behind Persona 5. The characters are definitely the best in the series with the Aegis, Zeke, and Nia definitely highlighting the group. And the story is also the best in the series and is just so tasty. The villain's are absolutely sensational with Jin headlining some of the best conflict in the game.

There are multiple cutscenes in this game that bring me to tears and others that make me laugh so hard. It is such a wonderfully constructed game that has some of the most memorable moments in any media. I can't fucking wait to replay this game this year.

I can never decide how much slack I want to give this game, but I've DNFd it twice, and I'm only likely to give it a third chance because of how much I'm enjoying the rest of the Xeno series. It abandons almost everything that made me fall in love with Xenoblade 1 and replaces most of it with characters I don't enjoy and women wearing not enough clothes (not that Xenoblade 1 is entirely innocent of that itself, but even Seven's design pales in comparison to Pyra and Mythra's outfits). All that said, it DOES have some really good stuff to offer on its own, and I DO plan to give it a third chance

And thus, boy met girl...

This is a game with many problems. The game has cringe fan service and designs, it is really bad at teaching you how to play it and the voice acting is all over the place. It has some... questionable moments with its characters and is steeped in Japanese clichés that I don't find enjoyment in at all.

...

And it is also a beautifully charming game. It's awkward and imperfect and yet I love it. I have far less problems with one and three and yet this is the one I always come back to time and time again. I love it despite its flaws and it has become one of my favourite games of all time. I feel like this game is unique in the fact that I love it so deeply despite its flaws... it makes it a special game to me because I clearly vibe with it in a way I can't quite describe. I can feel the passion it's creators had when making it and I belive they created something truly special with this game.

Don't let the toxic discourse surrounding this game online prevent you from giving it a shot. Don't let people gaslight you if the flaws it has are to much for you to enjoy the end product. Play it and make your own decision about it. No matter how you feel at the end I'm sure you'll find something to enjoy here.

Ps it has Nia in it, that enough is a reason to give it a 11/10 in my eyes 🤣

Maybe these comes off as incredibly biased, maybe it comes as pedantic, or even as nonsense. But I believe Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to be a perfectly imperfect sequel to the original Xenoblade Chronicles. The fans are not wrong, there's a charm in it, a soul that makes all of Xenoblade 2 feel like the creation of an ambitious teenager with unsurmounted passion.

If I had to define Xenoblade 2 in a word, I'd probably say scale. It's a game that tries to be everything, or at least a lot, keyword tries. It takes itself seriously except when it doesn't; it has both very weird and "anime" writing, but also some of the most mature and best written stories in any videogame; it tries to have a very deep combat, except it fails to deliver meaningful tutorials; it creates a weird mix of seemingly inconsequential mechanics and ideas that combine one another and eventually end up clicking. When they do, I believe this game becomes a beast of its own.

When I first played this game, I dropped it eventually because I was frustrated with the roadblock bosses. I thought the only way out was to grind levels to my characters, which ended up proving rather unsuccesful for the most part since the game expects you to take more less care of your party setup and to understand the combat system. I think this was for the better, as the time I came back to the game, with an open mind, I ended up quickly grasping the combat system, both thanks to youtube tutorials(which I agree shouldn't be necessary in this case) and an added sense of patience. I learnt how each of the progression systems worked, how equipment mattered a lot, how each blade had distinct progression trees I could unlock to create new strategies for each combat and that I was being blind to 90% of what made the game what it was. It was without saying, an experience, I don't think a game has ever felt so satisfying to me as when I did my first drive combo, or my first full burst on a chain attack. It's this click, this moment, that shows how much soul Xenoblade 2 has.

I think Xenoblade 2 simply has that charm of old games, of making a lot out of very little, of being perfectly imperfect. That is not to say that I think Xenoblade 2 is a great game just because it has convoluted mechanics, don't get me wrong here. All I'm saying is that Xenoblade 2 has convoluted mechanics that end up giving the whole product more charm, this completely ignoring all of its more notable strengths, like world building, music, story and characters.


The Alrest is a sight to look at. Each Titan boasts different and coherent environments, cultures, and stories, creating a world that feels alive and realistic. The sheer scale of the game world is inspiring, with each area offering unique visual and thematic elements from a graphical perspective that serve to elevate and communicate lore in a very seamless way. From the greenish fields of Gormott to the rough and mechanical landscapes of Mor Ardain, the world-building is carefully crafted. The lore of Alrest even hides deeper implications, why do the Titans exist? what about the mysterious Cloud Sea? why is there a giant tree in the middle of nowhere? Almost every question one can ask itself at the start of the game is answered regarding the game world.

The soundtrack of Xenoblade Chronicles in general has no rival. But I believe 2's shines a bit brighter than the rest. Composed by Yasunori Mitsuda and ACE, the music enhances literally every aspect of the game perfectly, but also creates iconic and masterful songs like "The Tomorrow With You". It manages, again, to mix serene themes for exploring cities or titans, and the incredibly orchestral and amazing battle themes. Each combat track feels like they're giving their all as if its the last song of the game. The soundtrack also plays with the concept of leitmotifs perfectly, playing with the concepts and relating them to plot elements carefully and masterfully.

The narrative of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is both epic and deeply personal. It follows the journey of Rex and Pyra, a mysterious Blade with a hidden past, as they seek Elysium, a paradise where there's enough land for everyone to live. The story is filled with twists and great villains, balancing grand fights and actions with more seamless and small character relevant moments. It handles themes of acceptance, growth , human-kind nature and also mature topics like suicide or the possible existence of God, creating a narrative that while starting slow and setting the ground with great foreshadowing , it keeps the player engaged and ends up reaching some of the best climaxes in any game.

In the end, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 thrives on its imperfections and complexities, delivering an experience that's both engaging and immensely rewarding. The game's world-building, music, story, and characters come together to create an adventure that feels truly alive and brimming with soul. It’s not a perfect game by any means, but it’s these very flaws and intricate details that give it a unique charm and lasting appeal. And if you manage to ignore them , or to overcome them, by investing the time and effort necessary, I believe for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to be an unforgettable journey that'll have made everything worth it by the end. Standing out as incredibly unique in the genre.

While I don't think this is the objectively best entry in the series (that title goes to Xenoblade 3), it is my favourite despite the flaws. To get the issues out of the way, tonally it is a mess at times (chapter 4!!!). The sexualisation and objectification of Pyra and Mythra, along with other female characters through design and the very rare camera angle is a problem. This is especially the case when a cornerstone of Rex and Pyra + Mythra's relationship is that he views them as people rather than a weapon or object to be obtained. It is quite conflicting in its message for the sake "fan service" and sales. If this is a deterrent to play for some, then that is more than reasonable. But, to argue that is all this game has to offer is viewing it in bad faith. Tora sucks and I will not elaborate but he is forgotten about past the highly problematic chapter 4 which is a blessing. Thankfully, Poppi is the focus of their duo and is an absolute sweetheart. The voice direction and hence acting is hit or miss early on (besides Malos who kills it the whole way through) but the VAs get more comfortable in their roles as the game goes on which leaves it at decent to good in some parts. There are some quality of life issues in the UI and menus with blade equipping for field skills but that is only minor.

With the major negatives accounted for, wow does this game have a lot going for. An excellent cast of party members and antagonists that examine the struggle to find purpose in a world that constantly reinforces nihilism. What drives someone to their breaking point and how do they come back from that? Can they even? Jin, Malos, Pyra, Mythra, The Architect, Amalthus, Nia, Morag and Zeke all reflect different perspectives on this idea as well as highlighting others in conjunction with unmentioned characters. However the one that brings all this together is the main man Rex. His optimistic world view shines a light on everyone and he is the perfect protagonist for such a story.

The soundtrack is the peak of the series, the world building is rich and full of depth to explore and the gameplay inspires creativity in an incredibly satisfying manner. Finally, the narrative presents so many revelations and has countless details informing character motives and their many layers that even upon a replay you might not catch it all. There are many great parts in the first 4 chapters but from chapter 5 onwards, this game is a roller coaster of emotions and a masterclass in story telling. 10/10 on what it does right and in my heart, but those flaws are hard to ignore.

This game is actually really good when you don't have a bitch in your ear telling you it sucks.

Seriously though, this masterpiece in storytelling is one of the best games I have ever played. It is possibly my second favorite numbered Xenoblade game (over 1 and under 3), and that says a lot. Honestly I don't have the energy to write a full review defending this game, just be aware that it really is not the absolutely horrible shit people will say it is. Many reasons to love this game, and playing it to the end at least once will make you understand why.

This is a game with some VERY obvious flaws. Field skills are a pain in the ass, there are many obvious irritations like merc missions and and pouch items, and of course many of the female character designs are hmmmm.

But if I’m being totally honest, none of that matters to me in the moment. Exploring the absolutely gorgeous world of Alrest, fighting Unique Monsters way above my level with the sublime combat system, listening to the heavenly soundtrack and, above all else, experiencing probably my favourite story in gaming and one of my favourites of all time. Every party member - even Tora - is enjoyable and lovable, the villain lineup is superb, the twists are crazy, and the stand out moments (Chapter 7 climax ahem) floor me every time.

I’m still flip flopping between this and XC3, but if I had to choose I would be happy in saying this is my favourite game of all time, and maybe my favourite work of art ever made. Not much has come close to making me feel the way I do about this game.

Maybe these comes off as incredibly biased, maybe it comes as pedantic, or even as nonsense. But I believe Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to be a perfectly imperfect sequel to the original Xenoblade Chronicles. The fans are not wrong, there's a charm in it, a soul that makes all of Xenoblade 2 feel like the creation of an ambitious teenager with unsurmounted passion.

If I had to define Xenoblade 2 in a word, I'd probably say scale. It's a game that tries to be everything, or at least a lot, keyword tries. It takes itself seriously except when it doesn't; it has both very weird and "anime" writing, but also some of the most mature and best written stories in any videogame; it tries to have a very deep combat, except it fails to deliver meaningful tutorials; it creates a weird mix of seemingly inconsequential mechanics and ideas that combine one another and eventually end up clicking. When they do, I believe this game becomes a beast of its own.

When I first played this game, I dropped it eventually because I was frustrated with the roadblock bosses. I thought the only way out was to grind levels to my characters, which ended up proving rather unsuccesful for the most part since the game expects you to take more less care of your party setup and to understand the combat system. I think this was for the better, as the time I came back to the game, with an open mind, I ended up quickly grasping the combat system, both thanks to youtube tutorials(which I agree shouldn't be necessary in this case) and an added sense of patience. I learnt how each of the progression systems worked, how equipment mattered a lot, how each blade had distinct progression trees I could unlock to create new strategies for each combat and that I was being blind to 90% of what made the game what it was. It was without saying, an experience, I don't think a game has ever felt so satisfying to me as when I did my first drive combo, or my first full burst on a chain attack. It's this click, this moment, that shows how much soul Xenoblade 2 has.

I think Xenoblade 2 simply has that charm of old games, of making a lot out of very little, of being perfectly imperfect. That is not to say that I think Xenoblade 2 is a great game just because it has convoluted mechanics, don't get me wrong here. All I'm saying is that Xenoblade 2 has convoluted mechanics that end up giving the whole product more charm, this completely ignoring all of its more notable strengths, like world building, music, story and characters.


The Alrest is a sight to look at. Each Titan boasts different and coherent environments, cultures, and stories, creating a world that feels alive and realistic. The sheer scale of the game world is inspiring, with each area offering unique visual and thematic elements from a graphical perspective that serve to elevate and communicate lore in a very seamless way. From the greenish fields of Gormott to the rough and mechanical landscapes of Mor Ardain, the world-building is carefully crafted. The lore of Alrest even hides deeper implications, why do the Titans exist? what about the mysterious Cloud Sea? why is there a giant tree in the middle of nowhere? Almost every question one can ask itself at the start of the game is answered regarding the game world.

The soundtrack of Xenoblade Chronicles in general has no rival. But I believe 2's shines a bit brighter than the rest. Composed by Yasunori Mitsuda and ACE, the music enhances literally every aspect of the game perfectly, but also creates iconic and masterful songs like "The Tomorrow With You". It manages, again, to mix serene themes for exploring cities or titans, and the incredibly orchestral and amazing battle themes. Each combat track feels like they're giving their all as if its the last song of the game. The soundtrack also plays with the concept of leitmotifs perfectly, playing with the concepts and relating them to plot elements carefully and masterfully.

The narrative of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is both epic and deeply personal. It follows the journey of Rex and Pyra, a mysterious Blade with a hidden past, as they seek Elysium, a paradise where there's enough land for everyone to live. The story is filled with twists and great villains, balancing grand fights and actions with more seamless and small character relevant moments. It handles themes of acceptance, growth , human-kind nature and also mature topics like suicide or the possible existence of God, creating a narrative that while starting slow and setting the ground with great foreshadowing , it keeps the player engaged and ends up reaching some of the best climaxes in any game.

In the end, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 thrives on its imperfections and complexities, delivering an experience that's both engaging and immensely rewarding. The game's world-building, music, story, and characters come together to create an adventure that feels truly alive and brimming with soul. It’s not a perfect game by any means, but it’s these very flaws and intricate details that give it a unique charm and lasting appeal. And if you manage to ignore them , or to overcome them, by investing the time and effort necessary, I believe for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to be an unforgettable journey that'll have made everything worth it by the end. Standing out as incredibly unique in the genre.