Kotaku: Xenoblade Chronicles Import Preview -- 'in one word, it would be “boredom.'

[SubiyaCryolite]

Mnementh said:

Yes, there are existing reactions from japanese gamers and you try very very hard to cherry-pick one point of view from these reactions. I here state, that XCX will not end in desaster like The Order did, I predict XCX will do at least an 80 meta. What do you get from the japanese reaction, what do you predict for meta based on the impressions you picked from the japanese release? I'm interested, if the game is 2 weeks released in the west we can compare our predictions to the real meta, so say what you think. You claim the game will be divisive, so it will have good and bad reviews. How does it average out in your opinion? Below 70? Below 60?

Between 80 and 83. My point was that Japanese gamers in general seem to be rating it lower than its predecessor (Amazon must be relevant if Nintendo is releasing a game (Devils 3rd) as an exclusive). I dont understand how Im trying "very hard" to cherry pick, the reason I chose Amazon is because the other site seemed obscure. Over 430 user reviews for Xenoblade Chronicles X on Amazon.co.jp, are you trying to tell me the majority of those are just trolls using Google Translate? Thats quite a stretch imo.

In import threads, very few individuals (none I can remember) rank it higher than its predecessor(91). Sure that can be dismissed as subjective but Im willing to bet thats a fairly accurate statement. Add in "gen 8" tax and I expect lower scores in general. This will probably carry over to the West and other RPGs on the market will also have an impact on gamers perceptions and expectations.

Basically I'm saying the game will be seen as a safe sequel (evolutionary not revolutionary), it may have made some strides in certain areas but its also gone backwards in others (most obvious is story which everyone admits to be being weaker than the 1st, music will be a hit or miss depending on the individual). The Kotaku preview reads like a 7/10 (boring!=bad), admittedly on the lower end of the spectrum but I don't see the game getting tons of 9 or 10s at release either. Goodnightmoon posted a highly favourable (9.5) import review, GameKult posted a less enthusiastic but still good (8.0) import review. Thats' what I mean by divisive. I see 7s, 8s and 9s at release, not a single 10.

It would be nice if we had some kind of Metacritic Japan to use for reference.