Review: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Nintendo Switch 2)

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 first launched for the Nintendo Switch way back in 2017. Despite the numbering, it technically marks the third entry in the franchise, following the original 2010 Wii title and the 2015 Wii U follow-up, Xenoblade Chronicles X. Each game in the mainline series is now getting the full Switch 2 treatment, with the original two titles already available. Now it’s time for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to shine. And oh boy does it shine.

Xenoblade Chronicles is cementing itself as one of the best JRPG series out there. With a new entry teased for next year, and long campaigns that typically run over 100 hours per game, the Switch 2 editions of this series have been something fans have clamoured for since the system launched. For newcomers who have never played this entry before, the Switch 2 version marks the perfect way to do so.

The plot hasn’t changed, but that’s fine because it was already good. The story follows the adventures of a scavenger named Rex and his animal companion lovingly nicknamed Gramps. They reside in a world of clouds, sailing through the wispy seas on giant living islands known as Titans. Together, the two embark on a journey to find the mythical realm of Elysium. Along the way, Rex and Gramps meet many interesting characters including Nia, Pyra, and Tora – in fact, too many to name here. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Pyra is an entity known as a Blade. These creatures are born from a special Core Crystal. They pair with a warrior to be used as a living weapon. Rex becomes Pyra’s Driver, forming a bond that sees them linked in battle. There are many such pairs throughout the adventure – Nia has Dromarch, Zeke has Pandoria, and so on – but Pyra and Rex are special. This lore is integral to the story. Pyra is something known as an Aegis, a special Blade that has returned after 500 years. Naturally, everyone wants to control her. Rex is having none of that, of course, and he vows to protect her as they set out to bring her home. 

What has changed are the graphics, along with some quality-of-life improvements. Things look sublime on the Switch 2. The framerate is silky smooth, while the 4K backdrops are simply breathtaking. This is one of those games I found myself stopping at times to take it all in, snapping pics like a tourist. The cutscenes are especially impressive, and there are many of them to enjoy between exploring and battling. The entire game plays like an interactive anime. And I love it.

The humor is also intact. Take Zeke’s zany introduction, where he challenges the protagonist to a battle only to use a finishing move that destroys the ground beneath him. He falls far enough away to force a forfeit (for now). Then there are the implications of a robot who not only wears a maid’s outfit, but tries to teach Pyra how to do the same (you really had to be there). There’s so much life in these characters. There’s also plenty of drama to keep you invested in the cast. As you adventure with them over the course of many, many hours, you can’t help but grow to love them. The voice work is equally terrific, with actors sporting Scottish, English, US, and even Australian accents. The characters feel as diverse as this massive world in which they live. 

In terms of extra features, these mostly come in the form of making things easier for the player. For one, load times are greatly improved over the original game. Discovering treasures is also much smoother. You will come across numerous chests and other items to uncover while exploring. Some of these require a specific Blade to access them. Previously, players had to switch between Blades manually to find the right one; that’s now automatic. Similarly, digging for resources is much quicker, with all items popping out at once rather than one by one. Hey, it’s the little things.

But mostly, everything just runs smoothly and looks fantastic. If you’ve been waiting for a chance to jump into this series, I highly recommend doing so with this outing. Hey, you might even finish it before the next Switch 2 edition comes out later this year.