Like Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles X before it, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has snuck its way onto the Nintendo Switch 2 via a paid upgrade that repurposes the original Switch version for the new hardware with a gaggle of visual and gameplay upgrades. But unlike those former examples, this isn’t an already-updated “Definitive Edition” game seeing further embellishments – Xenoblade Chronicles 2 started life on the Switch all the way back in 2017, and for that reason alone it’s arguably had the most to gain.
As a first-year Switch title, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 impressed well enough for what it was doing on relatively meagre hardware, but there’s no getting around the fact that its low resolution and 30 FPS framerate don’t hold up all that well now. The Switch 2 Edition’s most substantial upgrade, then, is a boost to both that targets up to 4K (in TV mode) and 60 FPS. This one still struggles a little with some softness and some stuttering/dips, but it’s nowhere near as prone to those as the Switch 2 versions of Chronicles and Chronicles X. Crucially, the game’s world now shines with assets that now appear much higher in quality and make the whole thing come to life more than ever, coupled with performance that isn’t actively working against you – the upgrade is genuinely game-changing.
I won’t spend time re-evaluating the quality of the game itself, as my feelings there haven’t changed much – this is still an excellent entry in Monolith Soft’s series that certainly received some (deserved) derision for some antagonistic design decisions and an out-of-pocket penchant for heaving anime chests. Foibles aside, Rex is an all-timer Xenoblade protagonist and his relentless optimism is a refreshing throughline into a story that uses the symbiosis of human “Drivers” and their non-human but entirely sentient “Blade” companion to talk to empathy, human nature and strength in community. The game also gets huge points for genuinely interesting, well-rounded antagonists that earn some pretty big character moments by the time credits roll.
How about the stuff that’s actually changed, though? Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is more than just a facelift, adding in a sprinkling of new or updated gameplay bits to make the package worthwhile.
Chief among these is a new mode within the Merc Missions sub-game, which still exists in its passive form where players send their spare Blades off to do busywork for spoils, but now also includes the new Merc Assault option. Here, players take direct control of Blades for the first time and actively participate in the missions, and battles are a wave-based spin on the norm where attacking is done manually, Blades can be freely switched between, and orbs can be picked up from slain enemies or chests to boost various stats. It’s a fun enough option, if you’d prefer to be involved in the Merc Missions first-hand, but I found myself eventually reverting back to the original option as repetition began to set in and I was eager to hop back on the main quest train.
In this new edition of the game, you’ll also get access to MOMO – a brand-new Blade (albeit one that Xenosaga fans should recognise) that comes with her own new quest line and some interesting dual-mode combat dynamics. Mercifully, you don’t need to pray to roll MOMO in the game’s gacha-style Blade acquisition format, she’s simply handed to you very early on. I’m not ashamed to admit that a good chunk of Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s deeper mechanics continue to fly right over my head and MOMO represents extra learning on top, so I didn’t spend a lot of time with her, but I’m sure diehards will get a kick out of the new possibilities.
Rounding out the new stuff, you’ve got one new costume each for Mythra and Pyra, some very nice HD Rumble support, Amiibo functionality and a few handy quality-of-life bits. One of the standout tweaks sees Field Skills now apply whether or not the necessary Blade is in your party or simply in your collection, which takes so much frustration out of not being able to interact with/progress an obstacle without diving into clunky menus and shuffling everyone around.
There does remain a shortlist of things I would’ve loved to see similarly smoothed out, though. The minimap, for instance, is still hot garbage. Even on a second playthrough I’m constantly finding myself doing circles and wasting chunks of time because there simply isn’t enough information about where a guiding point is in actual space or which of the many winding paths, climbs and drops actually leads to it. I would’ve gladly paid the $20 upgrade fee for an updated map alone. The game’s menus in general are still fairly unwieldy overall, and although I don’t know how much I can reasonably expect in this regard, some added fluidity and ease of use could’ve elevated things much further.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition’s impact, then, largely hinges on the opportunity to rediscover and re-evaluate one of the more divisive entries in the series. The new stuff is fine enough, but it’s really the visual update that does the heavy lifting and makes this underappreciated RPG banger that much easier to get into.
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2 | Review copy supplied by publisher
Born into the world of video games through SEGA, and in particular Sonic the Hedgehog, Kieron’s gaming tastes now consist of the latest, shiny AAA thing, an indie darling or two, and an embarrassing number of hours of Balatro.