Nintendo has launched the Switch this year with just the right amount of exclusives, and has been supported by some great indies and third party support. However, there is one last big title this year from Nintendo, and that is the massive JRPG Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The game is out in a matter of weeks, but Nintendo just released a new Nintendo Direct that gave plenty of information about the game, DLC, and even a cross-promotion with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a quasi-sequel to Xenoblade Chronicles which came out on the Wii and was re-released on the New 3DS. It is not a sequel to Xenoblade Chronicles X, and even though the games do share some similarities, it is more in line with Chronicles than Chronicles X. The game is set mainly in the world of Alrest, which is populated by massive Titans where settlements of people live. The game focuses on characters such as Rex, who is a Driver, and Blades like Pyra. Blades play an important role in the game, where each one has various abilities and equipping different blades give different powers both in and out of combat. An interesting addition is the ability to use Blades that are not being used and sending them off on quests, which can then come back with new items and experience. The combat looks to be similar to the other Xenoblade games, but even more refined, with Blades adding even more depth to it.
Nintendo also announced that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 would have a ton of DLC coming to it, and the Expansion Pass will be available as of today on the eShop or at select retailers, for $29.99 MSRP. Content for the Expansion Pass will be rolling out from launch up until fall 2018, and will initially start with some extra quests and items available for players. Eventually a Challenge Mode will be added, with tough monsters to fight and presumably great gear to earn. There will also be an adventure available for those that purchase the pass, set in Elysium on Alrest, for players to explore and to give an extra bit of story content to players.
One last interesting bit of news is that of a cross-promotion with the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Starting on Thursday November 9, players can update their game on both the Switch and Wii U, and gain access to a new quest. At the end of the quest players will receive Rex’s costume for Link to use in the game. A cool little way to introduce players to Rex and get them interested in Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
So far, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is looking to be another massive JRPG success for Nintendo and Monolithsoft. The worlds look amazing and incredibly expansive, the combat system looks tight and there will more than likely be plenty of bang for the player’s buck. Will you be adding Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to your Switch collection? Are you ready to dive headfirst into Alrest? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Nintendo Direct