Yeah I wasn't a fan of Xenoblade 2's character designs, they felt like they were ripped intact from pretty much any generic anime game made in the past decade. Felt lazy, uninspired, and tacky. Hopefully their next game is an improvement in this regard.

Personally I liked the character designs in 1 and X better, they just suffered more from technical limitations due to their host games devoting most of their rendering resources to massive detailed worlds.

I fewel like Shulk in Smash Bros sums up how a Monolith character should look; uncoupled from the Wii's limitations but not generic tacky low-budget-anime like XBC2.

Speaking of which, we should be getting one final Smash direct soon. It'd make sense for it to happen before the Smash bundle launches, but I'm still feeling mid-late November. I'm interesting in seeing what that unknown mode is gonna be!

Please let it be Subspace

Yeah I'm not expecting it to be Subspace Emissary level ambition, although it will clearly have boss battles. A mode similar to Melee's adventure mode but with bosses would be good enough for me.

Check this video out on animation (opening cutscenes, Subspace, trailers, etc.) in Smash Bros.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb8SYZeJ5HM

If you want to learn more about Smash 4's trailer productions (which later transitioned to Ultimate), skip to 6:30.

Xenoblade is one of the possible series they're now looking at following their work with the Zelda and Fire Emblem series.

https://nintendoeverything.com/warriors-orochi-4-dev-says-nintendo-character-was-considered-xeno-and-ys-warriors-have-potential/?fbclid=IwAR0XtxsVQyAT-_Du2BWz5ZnngvefefX7BA1BRaWZE8YxvFZJR3ramF7PYa4

I was getting so confused with the Smash Bundle launching November 2nd, thought people were just crazy and thought the game was releasing november not december. Then I looked it up and thought, Woah they're releasing the game 1 month early for people who buy the bundle that's crazy!?!? Now I've finally caught up and realised it's a download code that doesn't activate till the 7th.

Very strange practice, but I'm sure it'll work out well for black friday.

I asked this in another thread, but I'll ask it again here. Do you recommend playing either or both Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles X before playing XBC2? I've never played any of them.

I personally haven't played the original XC yet, though I have a copy of the Wii version. Xenoblade Chronicles X is a very different game in terms of gameplay and concept compared to XC2. Xenoblade X mostly focus on the open world aspect while XC and XC2 are a bit more contained, though still provide very big worlds, and focus more on story and characters.

While all three have links between each other with references and all, they are all distinctively standalone games. Thus, you don't have to play either the OG or X to better understand XC2. Though it is recommended due to them being high quality games regardless. But if you don't have a lot of time, otherwise, then just go play XC2.