Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Review: An Epic Finale, a Promising Future

Hello, Switch players! This is your old friend, game critic and veteran player, Arun. Today, we're going to talk about a JRPG masterpiece that can be considered a crowning achievement in the late stage of the Switch's lifespan, while also filling us with anticipation for future Nintendo consoles – Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

As a loyal fan of the Xenoblade series, I've been following it since the original Wii version, witnessing its constant evolution in gameplay and story. Can Xenoblade Chronicles 3 continue the brilliance of its predecessors? What innovations does it bring? What kind of leap forward will the series take on the Nintendo Switch 2? Next, I will provide a detailed analysis of this game from various aspects.

1. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Game Introduction: An Epic of War and Life

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a role-playing game developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo, released on July 29, 2022, for the Nintendo Switch. This game is the third mainline installment in the Xenoblade Chronicles series, and its story takes place in the future, connecting the worlds of Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

The game tells the story of Noah and Mio, soldiers from the opposing nations of Keves and Agnus, who come together for a certain reason and embark on an adventure to explore the truth and fight against fate. The game is set in a war-torn world where people only live for 10 years and are expected to sacrifice their lives for war upon reaching adulthood.

2. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Review: A Comprehensive Analysis from Multiple Dimensions

Next, we will conduct an in-depth review of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 from multiple dimensions, including gameplay, graphics, sound effects, story, and controls.

2.1. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Gameplay: Evolution of the Battle System and Depth of the Class System

• Battle System: More Strategic and Diverse

  The battle system of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has been greatly improved compared to previous entries in the series, with a greater emphasis on strategy and teamwork. The six-person party battle system returns, and players can control any member of the party and change their character's combat style by switching classes.

  The "Ouroboros" system is one of the core highlights of the battle. After meeting certain conditions, two characters can fuse into a powerful Ouroboros, possessing powerful skills and attributes to turn the tide of battle.

• Class System: Highly Customizable Characters

  The game offers a wide variety of class choices, and each character can learn and master different classes, creating a unique combat style. Class skills can be freely combined, allowing players to customize their characters according to their preferences and combat needs.

• World Exploration: A Vast and Boundless Open World

  The world map of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is vast and filled with all kinds of scenery and secrets. Players can freely explore the vast map, discovering hidden treasures and side quests.

2.2. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Graphics: Pushing the Limits of the Switch's Capabilities

• Graphics: One of the Best on the Switch

  Despite the limitations of the Switch's capabilities, the graphics of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 are still stunning. The game's art style is unique, the scene design is exquisite, and the lighting effects are also quite good.

  However, in handheld mode, the game's resolution will be further reduced, which may result in some aliasing and blurriness. Considering the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, I am very much looking forward to seeing what kind of visual performance this series can achieve on a more powerful console. Rumors suggest that nintendo switch2 first look will bring amazing graphic upgrades.

• Optimization: Still Room for Improvement

  Despite the good graphics, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 still has some optimization issues. In some complex scenes, the game's frame rate may drop, affecting the gaming experience. I hope Monolith Soft can further optimize the game's performance in future updates.

2.3. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Sound Effects: Yuki Kajiura's Dedicated Performance

• Music: An Epic Soundtrack

  The soundtrack of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is led by Yuki Kajiura, continuing the series' consistently high standards. The game's music is majestic, the melodies are beautiful, and it perfectly complements the game's atmosphere.

• Voice Acting: Japanese and English Options

  The game offers both Japanese and English voice acting options, and players can choose according to their preferences. Both voice acting qualities are high, and the character portrayals are very well done.

2.4. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Story: Profound Themes and Touching Stories

• Story: An Examination of War and Life

  The story of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is profound and touching, exploring themes such as war, life, and freedom. The game's story tells of the encounter and growth of soldiers from two opposing nations, and their fight against fate.

• Characters: Distinct Character Images

  The characters in the game are distinct and have prominent personalities. The protagonists Noah and Mio each have their own backgrounds and goals, and their destinies are intertwined, jointly writing a touching story.

2.5. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Controls: Easy to Pick Up, Difficult to Master

• Controls: Simple and Easy to Understand, but also Deep

  The controls of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 are simple and easy to understand, and even beginners can quickly get started. However, the game's battle system has a high degree of depth, requiring players to constantly learn and practice to master it.

• UI: Clear Information, Convenient Operation

  The game's UI design is clear and concise, and all kinds of information are easy to understand. Players can switch characters, release skills, and make tactical adjustments with simple operations.

3. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Pros and Cons Summary

3.1. Pros:

• Epic Story: Profound themes and touching stories.
• Evolved Battle System: More strategic and diverse.
• Highly Customizable Class System: Create a unique combat style.
• Vast and Boundless Open World: Full of exploration fun.
• Yuki Kajiura's Dedicated Soundtrack: Complements the game's atmosphere.

3.2. Cons:

• Insufficient Graphics Optimization: The frame rate will drop in some scenes.
• Some Plot Pacing is Slow: The early setup takes a long time.

4. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Comparison with Similar Games

Comparing Xenoblade Chronicles 3 with other JRPGs of the same type, such as the Final Fantasy series and the Persona series, we can find that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has unique advantages in the following aspects:

• Battle System: The battle system of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 places greater emphasis on strategy and teamwork, and is more dynamic and stimulating than turn-based combat.
• Open World: The open world design of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is more free, and players can freely explore the vast map and discover all kinds of secrets.
• Story: The story of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is more profound, exploring themes such as war, life, and freedom, which are thought-provoking.

5. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Rating and Reference

Overall, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a very excellent JRPG, and it has reached a very high level in terms of gameplay, graphics, sound effects, and story.

• My Score: 9.0/10

  • Reason: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an epic JRPG that features a deep story, an evolved battle system, a highly customizable class system, and a vast and boundless open world. Although there are some shortcomings in terms of graphics optimization, this does not prevent it from becoming one of the best JRPGs on the Switch.

• Authoritative Rating Reference:

  • IGN: 9/10 ( [IGN Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Review](Link Unavailable)) - IGN calls it one of the best entries in the series, with the story and combat system reaching new heights.
  • Metacritic: 89/100 ( [Metacritic Xenoblade Chronicles 3](Link Unavailable)) - Received widespread acclaim, with critics praising its world-building and character development.

6. Impact of Nintendo Switch 2 on the Xenoblade Series

With the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, we have reason to expect the Xenoblade series to take an even bigger leap forward on the new console.

• More Powerful Graphics: The performance improvement of the Nintendo Switch 2 will allow the Xenoblade series to showcase more exquisite graphics, higher resolution, and smoother frame rates, bringing a more immersive gaming experience.
• Wider Open World: The more powerful hardware performance will allow Monolith Soft to create a wider and more detailed open world, allowing players to explore the game's world more freely.
• More Innovative Gameplay: The new features of the Nintendo Switch 2, such as a more powerful processor and more memory, will provide game developers with more possibilities, allowing them to develop more innovative and interesting gameplay. Considering the nintendo switch2 price , I hope Nintendo can offer different configuration models.

7. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Beginner's Guide

For new players who are new to the Xenoblade series, here are some introductory suggestions:

• Familiarize yourself with the battle system: The battle system of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is relatively complex, so it is recommended that new players first familiarize themselves with the basic operations and skills of the characters, and understand the characteristics of different classes.
• Actively explore the map: The world map of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is vast and filled with all kinds of scenery and secrets. It is recommended that new players actively explore the map, discovering hidden treasures and side quests.
• Make good use of character customization: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 offers a wide variety of class choices, so it is recommended that new players customize their characters according to their preferences and combat needs.

8. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Speedrun Tips and Hidden Element Guide

For players who want to challenge speedruns or dig out the hidden elements of the game, here are some tips and guides:

• Reasonably use the class system: Choosing the right class combination can greatly improve combat efficiency.
• Master the Ouroboros system: The Ouroboros is a powerful combat force, and using it reasonably can quickly defeat enemies.
• Find hidden locations: There are many treasures and secrets hidden in the game, and exploring the map carefully can reveal them.

9. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Best Equipment and Skill Combination Recommendations

• Equipment Recommendations: Choose the right equipment based on the character's class and combat style. For example, offensive characters can choose equipment that increases attack power, while defensive characters can choose equipment that increases defense power.
• Skill Combination: Combining skills reasonably can improve the character's combat efficiency. For example, combine damage skills and control skills for use together.

10. Summary and Outlook

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a very excellent JRPG, and it has reached a very high level in all aspects. Although there are some shortcomings in terms of graphics optimization, this does not prevent it from becoming one of the best JRPGs on the Switch.

I am very much looking forward to the Xenoblade series taking an even bigger leap forward on the Nintendo Switch 2, showcasing more exquisite graphics, a wider open world, and more innovative gameplay. I also hope that nintendo switch2 compatibility will allow players to continue to experience games on the switch platform.

Dear players, what do you think of Xenoblade Chronicles 3? What are your expectations for the Nintendo Switch 2? Feel free to leave a comment in the comment section to share!