Xenoblade Chronicles

Do you remember the release of Xenoblade Chronicles? If so, you will recall that this was a game that was a shocking revelation. Not only for the Wii platform but JRPGs in general. The franchise entered the market as an entity from scratch - where many expected yet another carbon copy genre game with a different narrative.

Xenoblade Chronicles surprised critics in that it broke the boundaries of traditional JRPG mechanics. It didn't obliterate the concepts completely but maintained the same identifiable traits of the genre. More so, the game was good - excellent, in fact. Perhaps even go as far as to say that this is one of the greatest JRPGs of all time. Why would we divulge that idea when games like Final Fantasy VII exist, however?

It All Feels a Bit Familiar...

We all know what the versed features of JRPGs are, having played them for generations. An elaborate backstory, complex narrative, engaging characters, linear progression, and a turn-based combat system tweaked just enough to fend off accusations of skinning another game. Xenoblade Chronicles adopts all those traits - but doesn't at the same time.

The fascinating narrative is set on a dormant robot titan where nature and civilization have spread around its body. The world, character models, art style, and story are simply excellent. Not one moment will you feel like Xenoblade Chronicles is another JRPG grind. Its unconventional open-world, real-time battle system, and exciting plot shake the foundations of the genre.

Throughout the game, you'll adopt the genre's new lease on life by taking Xenoblade Chronicles at your own pace. There is plenty to explore, side missions to accomplish, intriguing dialogue to be had, and dungeons to conquer. All of this is executed by removing the trivial and mundane aspects of JRPGs. Further bolstered by the fact it doesn't go too heavy into the melodrama.

What you'll have is a sublime world to battle through and save your colony from the mecha invaders. It's a basic premise, but it's delivered so flawlessly that its arguable new developments should be using Xenoblade Chronicles as a model for future projects. It reiterates how stale traditional JRPGs have become. Besides the limited graphical potential of the Wii - the game is near perfect.

Xenoblade Revloutions

Every JRPG strives to be the next Final Fantasy game. The magic that Final Fantasy VII delivered set the precedent of what offerings of the genre should be. It created a set of standards that forbade any wiggle room in being different. Xenoblade Chronicles have seemed to listen to what JRPG players have wanted for years, rather than be told that's the way it is.

Pros:

• Shaking up the stale JRPG mechanics to create something revolutionary
• The combat system is well designed and consistently engaging
• The open-world helps shape a fantastic narrative

Cons:

• Graphics are not fantastic because of Wii's limitations