This is probably as good of a place as any to ask this.

I liked the first Xenoblade quite a bit. I didn't love it per se, but I put in around 100 hours to finish it and did many grind sessions just so I could complete it.

I tried Xenoblade X and I didn't like it at all. Basically every part I really did like about the first game, they departed from in the second game, like fixed characters, they upped the MMO feel (which I wasn't too fond of) even further etc.

Xenoblade 2, on the other hand, seemed to go back to much of what the first Xenoblade did that I enjoyed, so I'm much more interested in it than I am in Xenoblade X, so I went ahead and bought it even though I wasn't really planning on playing it anytime soon.

My question is, does Xenoblade X change much from the beginning of the game? Because if it's just more of the same, at least to some extent, I just can't see myself wanting to finish it, especially when it's such a long game. The few hours (maybe 3-4) I spent on it really didn't jive with me even a little. And I know if I start up Xenoblade 2, I definitely won't be going back to Xenoblade X in the future.

So for Xenoblade fans, do you think I should try to power through and finish, or at least get further, in Xenoblade X before I start up 2? I generally do like RPGs, especially JRPGs, and I bought Xenoblade X because I did enjoy Xenoblade enough to buy a sequel (Xenoblade 2 I bought 100% because of my feelings for the original), but I just didn't feel like X had what Xenoblade gave me. Hard to explain.

I think you're me.

Bought the original on Wii but I honestly liked The Last Story more. Never every finished Xenoblade Chronicles. Bought it again on 3DS and got much further but still never saw the end credits.

I bought Xenoblade Chronicles X and, like you, I tried so hard to like it but half the time, I had no idea what the game wanted me to do. I got tired of Googling what to do next and gave up on it.

I'm only a few hours into Xenoblade Chronicles 2 but I'm happy so far. It seems to have fixed my issues. Ask me again in a couple of months.

Awesome to hear. Sounds like I should just give up on X entirely and jump into 2, but I'm open to hearing opinions from more people in this thread if any of you are willing to give them. :)

I just heard it again, so yes.

I'm just 4 hours in and I love it so far. What I don't like is the confusing world map :/. Also, it seems they got rid of the harmony system for sidequests. I love that one in XC and XCX were side quest changed the relationship between townpeople and their story around them also progressed with more quests. Thus, the whole world becomes more alive and side quest more meaningful than just do random stuff for unimportant random person.

Well, let's see how this will turn out in the game.

Oh and...I got a rare blade on my second try. Name is Floren.

It's jaw dropping beautiful. Seriously. I cannot stop smiling.

Xenoblade X is a slow burner. The fun is in the world exploration, customization and growth of your party and your mechs. It's very much a sandbox game and not as much a story driven game in the sense the original and XB2 are.

If you do delve into Xenoblade X it will consume your life. It is complex and doesn't hold your hand, wich on the other hand gives it an incredible depth level. It's not so much a casual friendly game. Getting your skell and your flight module do give a level of freedom and satisfaction that the story driven games don't have. 

My opinion is that they are all worth playing.

I hope the Zelda team take some ideas from Monolith Soft in terms of town design for their next game.

Yeah this is the game's biggest problem so far IMO.

Having to stand still to auto-attack means that while you wait for your arts to charge, combat boils down to just sitting there doing nothing and letting the game play itself. 

I much preferred the approach of the first two game where you could move into position for your next art while still auto-attacking.

I hate how the game does not respect my time.
I cannot buy Core Crystals with real money.
This game sucks!

Bonding takes too long.