Ok, this is my first actual "review" since I just finished this recently.
Pros:
-Zeke.
-The soundtrack is fucking incredible
-How is ties in with the first Xenoblade is really clever and doesn't come off like fanservice.
-The antagonists I actually find slightly more compelling than the first game's villains.
-The environments, like the first, are gorgeous to look at and explore.
-Performing Blade combos is really satisfying.

Cons:
-While the story is excellent, it does take a while to get started.
-Grinding in this felt very tedious, especially with the skill tree.
-While the gacha system doesn't rob you of your money, it still feels tedious to get the actually good blades.
-Like the story, Rex does get better as the game progresses. But Rex is still an inferior protagonist than Shulk. Both in terms of writing and voice acting.

While I slightly prefer the first game, this is still a game that's worth your time. I cannot wait for the third game that's coming out.