Chibi Import Reviews: Xenoblade

[Chibi.V.29]

Over the next few months i will be doing reviews of games that are currently only available in japan!

My first review will be of one of the arguable best jrpg's the wii has to offer. (Read) In my reviews i will not be talking about the story of each game. As i don't wish to spoil the events of the games i am reviewing. These reviews will be me talking through what i enjoyed and disliked about the gameplay, music and graphics of each game I will however say in the summery weather i enjoyed the story or not. I simple wont go into detail of the events that follow in the game.

Xenoblade

In my short existence on this earth ui have played countless games of all genre's but never have i been confronted with a situation that Xenoblade leaves me with. With almost every game i have ever played i either love it, hate it or don't really care much for it. With Xenoblade i honestly don't know. 

Gameplay - 

The first and for many the most important part of video games. Xenoblade uses a battle system that can be easily compared to many MMO's and even white knight chronicles. Enermys can be seen on screen from a distance and avoiding them is of moderate ease. "but doesnt Final fantasy XIII do the same thing" i here you asking. yes it does but unlike with ff13 the battles are seamless, there is not dramatic 4 second cut scene entrance to the battle just you the enemy in front of you and your over sized sward. It would probably be more reasonable to compare Xenoblade to White knight chronicles both being console jrpg's with a very MMO feel. The biggest and most important thing you will notice when comparing the two games is that unlike WNC, xenoblades gets it right! The battles are fast and always entertain your eyes with well thought out effects that keep true to the game and don't try to be overly elaborate. 

Dont be mistaken however. xenoblade's gameplay is not perfect. the game warns you that the enemy is about to perform a high damage/ knock out attack basically telling you the future and giving you the chance to change the event you have been presented with. This truly gives you the feeling of being able to take your destiny in the game into your own hands, knowing you have avoided death by your own hands. Thats the feeling you will get about the first 50 times it happens. After about 15 hours worth of these forsite events it will start to fell like nothing more than a irritating mini game you have to participate in every so often in an other wise constant stream iof pure jrpg action.

Music - 

For some people gameplay is the most important part of a game. For others its the graphics. For me the music is what makes or breaks a game. No matter how graphicly outstanding a game may be or how well well crafted the gameplay is, if i hate the music i will probably hate the game. Nothing even the most skilled developer can create gameplay that may triumph over the feeling of adrenaline when the your favourite tune in a game starts to play. This is where Xenoblade comes into its own. Final fantasy XIII had some of the greatest music iv ever herd in a game, xenoblade consists of music of sheer beauty triumphing over anything i have ever herd before. I often found myself simply standing in the middle of the vast fields in the game admiring the music. The music in this game truly are some of the most beautiful things i have ever herd.

Graphics - 

Last year Final Fantasy XIII awed me with its visual splender, not because of petty things such as textures or what the resolution was. Simple because the art direction was outstanding. massive structures and huge landscapes that stretched for miles are all you could see thought the game. But the constant feeling of constant folow you, as you knew you would never be able to reach many of the visual spenders of the game, held back by the linearity of the game itself. With Xenoblade those views of unparalleled beauty are not just for scenery. They are yours to explore to reach out for and to enjoy to there fullest. The only complained i ever had with ff13 has been fixed. I am free to venture into the world with nothing but me and my controller holding me back.

Summary - 

If you have read through the whole review you pretty know what my thoughts of this game are already. The game has many ups and downs but the fact of the matter is that to me, a major jrpg gamer this is a close to perfection you will find in a jrpg this gen. Im shore when (if) this game ever gets localised there will be many who disagree with me, but the fact of the matter is its my opinion. To me i couldn't have asked for a better crated game. With a highly engaging story, fast paced battles and music that i will be listening to for months to come THIS is the game all wii owners should own. 

Score -  Gameplay - 9.1        Music - 10.0         Graphics - 9.5         Overall - 9.6

I Hope you enjoyed my first review :)