Xenoblade Chronicles 3D on the New Nintendo 3DS
In August 2011, an RPG came to the Wii that stretched a grin across the face of those who’d been hankering for a good Wii RPG as far as the eye could see. Well, in Europe at least. Thanks to Operation Rainfall though it finally made its way to North American shores and everyone in the west could dip into a whole new RPG experience called Xenoblade Chronicles. Since then, it’s been announced that a follow up will be coming to the WiiU. That news wouldn’t have been so excitng for those who missed out on the original if it weren’t for the arrival of Xenoblade Chronicles 3D on the New Nintendo 3DS.
We say the New 3DS because the original model, in all of its forms, is incapable of running the game. So while a great many people actually own a 3DS, only those who’ve invested in the most recent iteration of the handheld will be able to indulge in Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. One does have to ask though, is the cost of buying a whole new console worth it when the only game that doesn’t work on older machines is this one? That’s what we’re here to find out.
Alright so before we even start taking a look at Xenoblade Chronicles, it’s time to take on that big ol’ elephant in the room. You know, the one that’s starting you in the face after you’ve taken a look at the screenshot above.
There are some visual issues with the game. Xenoblade Chronicle‘s original outing on the Wii wasn’t exactly a gorgeous experience, but on the 3DS there have been some concessions made to make it fit on the cartridge. Under close scrutiny textures are ugly with a side of mud. There’s no crisp detail so during closeups, even though all of the important details are there if you look hard enough into the New Nintendo 3DS’ little viewport.. Now yes, that sounds like a bad thing. When you take a look at the grand scheme of things in Xenoblade Chronicles though, it sort of pales away into nothing. Poor visual fidelity can be disregarded quite easily when the stark realization of just how sizable and deep the game is.
Something that could only really be compared to witchcraft has been achieved here by the development team. The best things in life aren’t always pretty after all. Xenoblade Chronicles on the 3DS isn’t going to be winning any beauty pageants anytime soon, and yet it’s a gorgeous sight to lay your eyes upon in its own special way.
This isn’t for how it looks, this is for just how much the game offers to you.
Good things most certainly come in small packages. What Xenoblade Chronicles 3D brings to the world is a huge package of good things in a postage stamp-sized piece of plastic. All you have to do is peek around the somewhat janky corner and there’s a host of great features to get your teeth into. First in line it’s the world itself that springs into view. Within the first couple of Xenoblade‘s 60+ hour run-time you’re introduced to the first of many huge environments. They stretch out to the horizon, bustling with herds of interestingly designed fauna just waiting to be cut down in exciting combat.