It's not the first time I read the resolution is low in handheld mode, but my experience with Xenoblade X on the Wii U Gamepad tells it can't be that bad at all. 

Finally, some super sharp direct footage, that eases one of the doubts I had about the game because it looked very blurry in some of the early videos (livestreams, etc.)

Glad that reviewers are liking the game.
Aside from handheld mode being really poor there doesn't seem to be any major complaints anyone has with the game. Some do agree that the game has a slow start but picks up after some hours, which is kind of expected in some RPGs.
I used to fear that battles look slow and boring compared to Xenoblade 1 (didn't play Xenoblade X), but those fears are gone after the recent videos released by Nintendo and these previews, most are praising it and find it very satisfying, which is awesome to hear.

Still not fond of what has been shown of the story, too anime cliche for my taste and too much focus on the love part between Rex and Pyra; but I'm hoping the game has a darker tone as the story progresses and a plot twist the series in known for.

See, I've been following this closely and it doesn't seem to be that bad.  Main issue I have heard is that there's a few framerate hiccups and a resolution hit.  Most seem to say it is perfectly functional, just not ideal.  Which isn't too shocking.

As for story tone, there seems to be a tight embargo on what can be said, but I've heard several say that the seriousness is there, even though the game has levity to offset it.  I'm not too worried, given the scenes shown in the latest trailer in the direct and the Japanese commercials, which indicate there's some properly dark moments and aspects at the core of the narrative.

1) That is most likely be the case, either way it doesn't really affect me since I don't really plan to play it handheld often, if at all.

2) Aside from Rex dying (which is kind of a boomer they spoiled that) the latest story trailer from the direct showed a very...lets call it...generic dark tone, very familiar in mainstream anime. There's nothing wrong with it, I just don't really enjoy that 'shonen' style (got a 'bad habit' on liking more dark and gore stuff from reading too many 'Seinen' manga).

That doesn't mean XC1 didn't have those moments (there's one part in particular of the story in XC1 which I absolutely hate on how cliche it is), but overall it had a very dark tone from the very beginning that I loved. I might be completely wrong on this, but I'm jumping into the game with low expectations in terms of story.

Still not grabbing me at all, imo XCX was much better, aside from a host of other reasons, the art style just.. really isnt that interesting, and a huge step back from XCX

Bumping the thread, since IGN just released their preview!

http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/21/xenoblade-chronicles-2-looks-set-to-continue-nintendos-hot-streak

If someone else finds other previews, please help me and post it here!

The problem with XBX's story was the fact it was more of a really good introduction to a bigger story. The plot twists at the end showed a lot of promise for sequels. But as a standalone, it definitely left us wanting way more than it should have. Way too many unanswered questions.

New preview in!

http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2017/11/20/is-xenoblade-chronicles-2-the-last-great-nintendo-switch-game-of-the-year/

I'm hoping the plot will be as good as the one in Baten Kaitos Origins. The setting is already pretty similar and I remember really enjoying that game's characters. I just finished playing X for the first time and thought it was ok. Gameplay was pretty great at first but, believe it or not, I found myself enjoying it far less once i got a skell. The story was also dissapoint in several regards, but seeing how Xenoblade 2 will have a bigger focus on plot and chracters has made me optmistic.