Xenoblade Chronicles 3D

Relive the classic adventures of Shulk and his band of friends and take them everywhere you go with the outstanding 3DS port that is Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. One of the most breathtaking RPG experiences ever crafted has found new life in Nintendo’s portable console, and the best part? It’s still as epic as it’s ever been.

Though some understandable changes in the presentation had to be done to fit this epic adventure into the portable console, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is still a great way to enjoy one of Nintendo’s most iconic RPGs in years.

Running Free

If you’ve never played the original Xenoblade Chronicles, you’re certainly missing out on a truly unique experience. The game features many of the classic elements of traditional JRPG games, but, at the same time, it also includes a much more dynamic real-time battle system that keeps battles interesting every time.

The overall battle gameplay is very similar to what we saw in Final Fantasy XII: your party attacks automatically as soon as their turn gauge is fully charged. However, to spice things up in combat, players have access to “Arts,” which are the Xenoblade equivalent of Final Fantasy’s special commands and spells.

Each character has a particular set of Arts that makes them more suitable for different playstyles. Only Shulk, the game’s protagonist, is a jack of all trades.

Another area where Xenoblade Chronicles 3D truly shines is in its world design. The game features some impressive open environments that are a joy to explore: the first time you set foot in Gaur Plain might be one of the single most impressive moments in the history of RPGs.

All of this comes with the top-notch storytelling the series is known for. Even the multiple side quests are presented in a way that avoids messing too much with the main plot.

Portable Compromises

The original Xenoblade Chronicles was released on the Nintendo Wii some years before the 3D port. Even though the Wii was never considered a graphics powerhouse, it’s safe to say that the home console sported a much more capable GPU than its portable relative.

Some character models and a few elements of the terrain are noticeably toned down in the portable version of the game – and so is the resolution, especially in 3D mode. Still, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is quite the looker, even if we can’t help but feel like some parts of the UI didn’t make such a swift transition into the portable realm.

Overall performance and framerate are also affected by the less powerful hardware, as is to be expected. Frame drops aren’t all that uncommon during exploration, but they are much more prevalent during intense battles. Some parts of the late game had to be tweaked a bit to run on the 3DS, but they never ruin the original game’s art or presentation in the slightest.

You simply can’t go wrong with a game like Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. The experience is a unique take on the classic RPG formula that will appeal to any kind of player that enjoys a good story, no matter if they played the original Xenoblade game before or not.

Pros

• Amazing plot and well-written characters
• Breathtaking panoramas and dungeon designs
• Engaging battle system that keeps every battle feeling fresh

Cons

• Some performance issues
• Noticeable inferior visuals compared to the home console versions
• The complex battle system might take some new players a bit of time to get used to