So Xenoblade X has an 84 on metacritix because there is too much to do and the world is too big?

[FunFan]

Well, like I wrote in another thread, the criticism this game is receiving is similar to many other games I love. Most MMOs, of course, but especially the Souls series.

* Lot's of grinding? Check.

* Lot's of repetition? Check.

* Doesn't explains it's mechanics "properly"? Check.

* Have to be played the "correct" way? Check.

* Have to be approached with the right mindset? Check.

* Might overwhelm the "casuals"? Check.

* Player's will need patience? Check.

* You have to deal with a lot of annoyance (and frustration) in other to have fun? Check.

* Questionable storytelling? Check. (Lore doesn't equal story. That's the most used argument among the skeptics of the souls games, I think.)

* Sub-par Netcode? Check. (Haven't read much on XCX online, but since it's on Nintendo's Network I'm gonna bet is weak.)

* Optimization (frame-rate) problems? Check.

I bet there's a few things I have missed, but I think I made my point. As to why this game isn't rating as high as the Souls series while sharing similar problems? I think we should take a closer look at XCX to see if the reason is that XCX strengths can't make up for it's weakness. I haven't played the game, so I don't know. But given that even the most hated entry in the Soul series somehow have a 91 metascore (DS2), I'm gonna guess that current industry trends and biases have a lot more to do with the scores.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a game that wasn't made by the current favorite developer on the current favorite console. So, it's weakness aren't as forgiven.