It's almost time to dive into the world of Aionios. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 launches this Friday, and reviews for Monolith Soft's massive JRPG dropped yesterday. And it sounds like fans are in for a treat.
Many of you will be dodging spoilers following the game leaking online last weekend, but if there's one thing we need to know, it's just how good Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is. We've rounded up what the critics think, and impressions are overwhelmingly positive.
For our money, this third (main) entry is more than worth it. In our 10/10 review of the game, we said: "Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a genuine masterpiece and the highlight of Monolith Soft's superb series thus far."
- Further reading - REVIEW Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - An Epic, Emotionally-Charged Masterpiece
But it's not just us saying that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is absolutely brilliant. RPG Site also scored the game a monolithic 10/10. The word "masterpiece" was also used there, too. Here's what they had to say about the game:
"Very few JRPGs these days have astounded me with a core cast as well-written as this one; Xenoblade Chronicles 3 often opts for a “show, don’t tell” mentality in important moments of characterization. Throughout my 143 hour playthrough, I never thought that the game dragged its feet or was tiring itself out."
Another pretty positive review — but slightly less so — is GameSpot's 8/10 one, where they say:
"Xenoblade Chronicles 3 may stumble from time to time, particularly in its dialogue, but its ambitious premise pays off with a heartfelt conclusion."
Destructoid, on the other hand, were glowing about Xenoblade Chronicles 3, awarding the game 9.5/10, praising the game's accessibility and just how quickly the game hooked them:
"Xenoblade Chronicles 3 didn’t need to do a whole lot to keep me invested, as I was all-in very early on. The cast, the weight of the story, and the freedom of party composition are the power trio that won me over."
Eurogamer felt similarly about the game's accessibility, heartily recommending this lengthy JRPG:
"Perhaps more than any game before it in the series this gets the balance between systems and story down perfectly - even better, it manages to entwine the two in an adventure that infuses each of your footsteps with a sense of purpose."
And, lastly, TheGamer awarded Xenoblade Chronicles 3 a rather lovely 5/5, believing the game to be "something special":
"Monolith Soft has crafted a JRPG that is so colossal yet also intricately focused. It delivers an experience that iterates upon everything its predecessors managed to achieve, resulting in a masterpiece that I am utterly enraptured by."
So, pretty good then, isn't it? Don't forget the Expansion Pass is also dropping this Friday, 29th July, and the first update will be dropping on launch day. But it sounds like we have a long, emotional, eventful journey ahead of us in Aionios.
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How do you feel about the reviews for Xenoblade Chronicles 3? Are you getting the game on Friday? Let us know in the comments!
Comments 62
I guess this is the Monado's power.
I'm not really feeling it with this one.
Never have played a single Xenoblade game before… actually never completed a single jrpg. This game looks really good though if I can muster the 100hrs plus it seems to require. I wish there was a demo along the likes of the DQXI demo. Either way glad to see Switch exclusives getting such good reviews. Awesome work Monolith!!
I'm totally feeling it with this one.
"But it's just us saying that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is absolutely brilliant" - I think there is a pretty important "not" missing from that sentence!
What a bunch of jokers.
This is a game you are not going to want to skip. Xenoblade Chronicles stands right beside Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest when it comes to JRPG greatness.
I do wish Nintendo released Torna on NSO expansion, it's kind-of the best entry to the series being a relatively shorter and focused experience for those hesitant to jump into a massive JRPG series.
I can feel it coming in the air tonight
Only 2 more days until release.
Every fibre in my body tells me this is going to be one of my all-time favourite games.
@AlanaHagues It's just NL saying it's brilliant? I think you missed a 'not' in there.
No?
Anyone?
@Ultrasmiles OH Looooord
@gcunit @Ooccoo_Jr No indeed, it's many people! Thanks for spotting. All fixed.
Congrats to the high metacritic score of 89. I am sure it is well deserved. I will wait at least a few weeks before I buy, because I need as much info on the internet as I can get, since this is such a grand jrpg. Everyone else, I hope you have a great time in Aionios.
My question is...does the plot turn into absolute nonsense in the 3rd act like XC2? If not I might play it as I really liked the combat in 2.
@Jey887 I don’t get it lol
This feels like the best RPG on the Switch, I do hope it is. I will be picking it up friday.
@Ultrasmiles Oh, Lord!
@dil_power It's a quote from the first Xenoblade Chronicles that's repeated about a million times throughout the game.
@PrinsPaddestoel ohhh lol thanks for the explanation I gotta get caught up with this seemingly awesome series
Removed - flaming/arguing
@dil_power If you've never completed a JRPG, I'd be very surprised if this would be the first you saw even half the way through. I love JRPGs and I sold Xenoblade Chronicles 2 long before I'd finished the story. They're very dense and slow-paced games with a spiders web of different combat systems and it can be a lot to wrap your head around. Like a lot.
Not my type of game. The combat look pretty convoluted and I just can't get behind the writing style.
But very happy for everyone who loves it! Seems to be a great game.
It really looks like a JRPG that came out 20 years ago given an HD makeover. Still I love Xenoblade 1 and I have Xenoblade 2 though haven't actually gotten round to playing it yet. I will buy this.
But I'm sorry, Nopon are awful!
Will I need to play the first two to understand this one?
I really don't like the combat systems in all xenoblade series, so I don't buy it😬
@moodycat You can be "calm and objective" and still praise a new game for being excellent.
@solarwolf07 No. Aside from some light references, the game should stand on its own. XC2 was the same way.
I read a different review which said 25 hours in the reviewer still had no clue how the combat system worked. The fact they were still successfully getting through the game and mostly enjoying it is kind of impressive, but the combat system definitely makes me very hesitant about the game even though it otherwise looks amazing.
The above review which said they played for 143 hours is also a bit intimidating; I personally prefer short-ish rpgs, although I realize most popular jrpgs just like to be behemoths.
There ya have it. I'll fire it up Friday and can't wait!
On boot up: I’m really feeling it!
200 hours later: Steel yourself! The fight has only just begun!
Good job for people in to these games.
Not for me though, the battle system looks like a visual migraine with way too many options which I would get so confused with.
To think that Eurogamer praised a non PS game without any caveats...
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was the first game I pre-ordered in a long time so I am ready to go first thing Friday. I almost wish that I had taken a day off to play it as I will have to wait until after work to really get started.
Wasn’t going to get this; trying to take a break from buying more games…
:::enters checkout on vendor website:::
Oh I want it so bad. The salivation levels are real with this game. Totally feeling this one.
@solarwolf07 From everything I have read, you don’t need to play the other entries to understand this game; it’s a standalone title. There might be references to previous games, but it’s not significant for what’s happening in the story.
@FishyS actually,.the mechanics are explained quite detailed in XC1 and 2, bit it's a written tutorial. The playable tutorial just covers the basics, the details are written in some kind of in-game handbook. Not sure about XC3.
it also sounds like the reviewer didn't play the previous entries, otherwise should be easy!
for the playing time: the games are BIG! the first 2 entries really made it entertaining to actually complete side quests. so 100+ is a normal time...
@moodycat
What are you even getting at? NL does this with every major release. They make an article with a summary of scores it received, even if they didn’t give it a very high score themselves.
XC fans know what we’re getting with this game. That’s why we’re excited for it.
so far this game is getting solid 9s and 10s across the board accept ign and gamespot whos reviews are a hit and miss and quite bias at times too.
@Maximumbeans that is a very fair point lolll I should probably start with a smaller jrpg I just thought this looked like it would hold my attention more because of the universe and characters. I just wished there was a demo to try at least a bit of the gameplay. The DQXI 10 hrs demo got me to buy the game but that’s another one that is gonna pile up on the backlog I fear… I need a crash course on better time management if I am gonna continue gaming as a hobby lol
@moodycat that's the boat I'm in. I thought XC1 was fantastic, but XC2 held no interest for me on multiple levels. Is there any review that's like "if you loved XC1 but didn't care for XC2, you'll be right at home"?
Also every single big RPG should have a 2-3 hour demo. I will die on this hill
I hate, actively hate, the fact I can't get on with this franchise's gameplay. I enjoy a wide selection of RPG gameplay and for some reason, the Xenoblade gameplay just bothers me.
@RiasGremory IGN was too focused on the graphics to give it anything higher than an 8. Yes the Switch is aging tech, but a good game will always remain exactly that, a good game.
I will never understand the desire of people who come into an article of a game they don't like only to sh** all over it and then report people who call them out. Thanks for doing such a bang up job, mods. Great work. 😒
@dil_power eh, 1 was pretty okay to learn. If the world really strikes you then you could try this. They say it's more tightly paced so that could help. The combat could get really deep.... I never go deep and managed perfectly with the first one, guessing this won't v be THAT different!
Tips for rpgs you can more easily finish:
Chrono trigger: shorter, really tightly paced and around just very great at everything.
Final fantasy x (10)
Greatest story in gaming, fenomenal soundtrack. Absolutely no need to grind to finish the game. It's shorter for a FF game too!
Tales of... Anyone actually. I really enjoyed the cell shaded graphics, characters and music of Symphonia. It doesn't play turn based, you just bash someone's head in. But everything else is your standard rpg. A lot easier to keep going because of Zelda like puzzles, and a more hands on combat system.
Speaking of which: Mario and Luigi, superstar saga, or paper mario on the n64 (and NSO.) Both games nail the Mario charm, and are amazing rpgs to get into the groove of things.
Good luck finishing an rpg, I know how you feel! 😂😁
Sorry Kirby, XC3 may be Nintendo’s GOTY.
@Ralizah cool, thanks!
@BlackMayge thanks!
@garfreek thanks for the generous recommendations!! I have always been curious about final fantasy and didn’t know where to start. I thought the FF7 remake looked good but I wasn’t sure the store was complete and I kept reading the latest entries weren’t that good (XIII and XV) so I’ll grab X when it goes on sale . Chrono trigger is like legendary status but I scare away from older games because I find them harder lol. Maybe I should keep an eye out for that too especially if it’s not too long. I gotta give it those Mario RPGs a shot too although they seem very different from your typical jrpg. Which tales game do you feel is best? I could probably grab the latest entries on a steam deck.
I know they’re just opinions but it seems a bit odd seeing some score it no better than 8 while others are rewarding it with perfect 10s acclaiming it as a masterpiece..sounds like this one will be debated for some time.
Ok xenoblade fans… I haven’t played any games from the franchise. Do you think I can just dive in here at number 3?
I need a good RPG hit while we wait for Zelda….
This really is good news. My copy has been shipped and I should get it tomorrow.
I can see the future... playing XB3 in two days!
@Zanzox
I've been complaining the last 6 years about the complexity of those and that this is what limits the series to be for everyone.
Even Final Fantasy is an action RPG nowadays. Change must happen to growth the series!
@abe_hikura The only thing I disliked about Xenoblade Chronicles 2's battle system were blade combos. I did get the hang of them but they were just made unnecessarily complicated, oh and the Gacha system that was implemented for obtaining Blades I didn't like that either. Apart from this I enjoyed the game a lot.
I’m hyped, I’ll play it and then I’ll see for myself how much I like it. I got high hopes though. Not reading any reviews because I’m very spoiler sensitive.
@dil_power chrono trigger isn't that hard!
I did forget that final fantasy x has the sphere grid. It looks super intricate (And it can be if you want it.) But everyone has a set path you can follow and that's just fine! 😂😁
I've played tales of Phantasia (The first one. It's hard but it's cool! )
Tales of Symphonia is the one I finished. And it was basically the ff7 of the franchise. The one everyone plays. I loved every minute!
Tales of the Abyss is the one everyone says is the best. I'm on 2/3 and stopped because it still didn't hook me. They use a lot of terms and lore and that was a bit too much for me! 😂
@garfreek and everyone says the newer tales games are really good, but I haven't played them yet!
@naxuu Agreed! Big rpgs need demos! I probably would never have played games like Octopath or Live a Live if I didn't have demos to try before buying. If anything is 30+ hours and expensive, it's just too much risk to buy cold when you might hate a 100 hour game 1 hour in. The only exception is something like Pokemon where you pretty much know both the plot (mostly non existent) and gameplay going in. If there is a short and cheap rpg I'll risk it without a demo, but something huge and complicated like Xenoblade I'll probably never play unless I get a demo to try or if it is 80% off someday and I impulse buy it.
As someone who has never player a xenoblade game; part 3 looks a lot like part 1and 2 with less fan-service. More clutter on the screen.
I eh. Reviews calling out it’s story and dialogue being a little hokey are just looking for negatives in my opinion. That’s part of the charm.
@FishyS Not to be a negative Nelly, but if I did something for 25 hours and still didn't understand what I was doing I might not be the brightest crayon in the box, you know? Xenoblade games have a lot of systems, but they aren't brain surgery by any stretch.
Eh I could never get into this series since I feel the combat is too much of a cluster of flashy moves and characters repeatedly shouting.
I'm happy though that it's successful, it gives a lot of value to the Switch.
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