In the past, we ranked Xenoblade 2 ahead of the original game, and for good reason. The Definitive Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles fixed so many of the “problems” of the original though and catapulted it to being the best Xenoblade of the three entries (four if you count Torna as being its own game). Replaying it again, the story is the best of the three, the in-game interface is now the best of the series, and, everything that was supposedly an “issue” of the original has been fixed. My log time was roughly 83 hours, including almost all the sidequests, and I have to say, it was one hell of an experience. Although playing the original, I can never go back; the definitive edition is simply that much more superior.
There are so many additional features in the definitive edition which make it the quintessential Xenoblade experience. Have trouble finding your destination to your next quest site? If you so choose to (choice is important), you can now set it so that your minimap can now layout a path so you can get there successfully. The same goes for sidequests. Enemies and collectibles are now marked for sidequests, and while some may view this as handholding, it helps immensely as in the original game it was difficult to distinguish between the various enemies. The collectibles, I could do without, but it helps newcomers to the series and makes it more accessible.
The menu has gone through a complete overhaul and is one RPG fans will be more accustomed to. One cool new feature is you can set how your character looks. While it’s cool to have your various outfits, some don’t necessarily match fashion-wise. You can now match your outfits in the menu options which gives a whole new level of customization. The entire menu is sleek and is a vast improvement over the original, which was beyond clunky. Everything is well-organized and surpasses the original at every turn.
Visually the game is better than ever, and that goes without saying. At every turn, Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition surpasses its predecessor and then some. It took one of the best RPGs of this generation and took it to the next level. The HUD is improved, the menu system is vastly improved, the menu system is terrific, and all of these intangibles catapult it beyond Xenoblade Chronicles 2, our previous pick for the best Xenoblade title. The story is better. Shulk is one of the all-time greatest protagonists in RPG history and Xenoblade is everything Xenosaga should have been. In fact, there were also some nice aesthetic changes to Xenoblade regarding Alvis’ jacket and necklace (if you can call it that.)
Alvis’ “necklace” now resembles the Zohar and the cores for both Mythra/Pyra and Malos. His jacket also resembles the Trinity Processor referenced in Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a fantastic game. The thing is, Xenoblade is simply better. I used to like 2 more, but with all of the improvements from a technical standpoint and the improved interface, there really is no contest. Both are great games with fantastic protagonists, but, Xenoblade Chronicles simply has a better story with better characters.