Xenoblade Chronicles has been my all-time favorite series for quite some time, with the second game in the series being, in my opinion, the greatest game ever made. There are really no other games like the Xenoblade series, with its commitment to anime-quality cutscenes, bombastic action, heartfelt moments, and grand sci-fi fantasy storytelling being rivaled perhaps only by Final Fantasy, and even then it doesn't come close, in my opinion. Xenoblade Chronicles is a one-of-a-kind series, and that's why I've dedicated so much effort to playing it.

Naturally, I was incredibly excited when Nintendo announced a Definitive Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X, although perhaps not for the same reasons as everyone else. While most players are grateful for the opportunity to try it out now that the Wii U is ostensibly defunct, I have another reason for being perhaps a little too overjoyed at this announcement. For me, it has officially marked the end of a six-year journey that has had its ups and downs, but will always be ed fondly.

I've Bought Xenoblade Chronicles On Every Console

It's Ridiculous How Many Copies I Own

My Xenoblade Chronicles journey, as I imagine for a lot of people, started with the absolutely incredible Xenoblade Chronicles 2, a game that remains my all-time favorite piece of media and easily one of the best Switch games of all time. Upon completing it, after sinking over 100 hours into its beautiful, heartfelt story, I genuinely cried. It was heartbreaking to be done with something so incredible, so painfully somber, but loading back into an earlier save presented me with a world I had beaten, a world with nothing left to excite me. I had one option: turn my Switch off and move on.

Naturally, I ed that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has that all-important "2" in the title and began searching for its predecessor. I had never played Xenoblade Chronicles on of not having a Wii growing up and skipping the 3DS. For many, Xenoblade Chronicles was the best Wii game ever made, offering a rich story, sprawling locations to explore, and impressive visuals. I wanted to experience it in all of its glory, so I picked up a second-hand Wii and Xenoblade Chronicles.

However, something was off. Firstly, there was the lack of a handheld component, as I prefer playing my Switch in handheld mode than docked. Then there was the fact that I rushed into it. After sinking around 15 hours into it, I gave up. Playing it directly after beating Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was a mistake, as they're far too similar in many respects, and, at the time, I felt as if nothing could live up to the sequel, no matter how good it was. So, I waited a long time, until eventually I bought a 3DS to play it there.

Luckily, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition eventually launched for the Switch, a day I don't think I'll ever forget, offering a truly exceptional JRPG experience.

Unfortunately, this was also wrong, as the screen was too small, the visuals too downgraded, and there was no Japanese voice acting. Despite sinking a lot of time into both versions, I was still unsatisfied. Luckily, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition eventually launched for the Switch, a day I don't think I'll ever forget, offering a truly exceptional JRPG experience. It finally marked the end of my nightmare. I owned every copy of Xenoblade Chronicles and could enjoy it at last. However, once again, upon beating it, I set my sights on another Xenoblade game, and the cycle repeated.

I Already Own Xenoblade Chronicles X And I'll Definitely Buy It Again

The Definitive Edition Is Adding So Much

I'll be the first to it that it was a little irresponsible of me to buy a Wii U for both far more than it was worth and at the absolutely wrong time, as it was post the incredible Future Redeemed DLC tying everything together, it felt prudent to play Xenoblade Chronicles X. So, I bought that Wii U to play through all of it.

Of course, perhaps completely unsurprisingly, it didn't feel right. Not only was there no Japanese voice acting - only the dub is available on the NA and EU versions of the game - but the experience is vastly different from the mainline Xenoblade Chronicles games. I was absolutely not prepared for this and promptly gave up trying to play it. However, there was always a part of me that wanted to play it, in large part thanks to the countless hours I've spent watching YouTube videos on how Xenoblade Chronicles X is one of the best Wii U games ever made.

Players could get Japanese voice acting for Xenoblade Chronicles X. However, this required them to both the Japanese and NA/EU versions of the game, which is, naturally, not legal.

I've also had a very confusing relationship with Xenoblade games, as, other than Xenoblade Chronicles 2, I've always hated my first playthrough. It took me playing it on the Wii, 3DS, and then twice on the Switch to enjoy Xenoblade Chronicles. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 took two attempts - one 60-hour playthrough and one 100-hour one - in order to understand why it's potentially the greatest JRPG ever made. I always figured that it might be the same with Xenoblade Chronicles X, and yet I never tried it again on the Wii U.

Xenoblade Chronicles X On The Switch Ends My Decade-Long Journey

I Can Finally Stop Buying The Same Game

Of course, Xenoblade Chronicles X is now coming to the Nintendo Switch with a lot of new features and content under the Definitive Edition label. Just like with Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, this ends yet another nightmare, only this time it truly is for good. Xenoblade Chronicles X being on the Nintendo Switch means that all four games in the series are in one place, each with all of their added and new content, Japanese voice acting, DLC, and enhanced visuals. It's the complete package for a Xenoblade fan like myself and a dream come true.

While Nintendo announced what is arguably one of the few remaining highly-requested Wii U ports with a complete lack of flair or ceremony, I honestly couldn't be happier. Sure, I will have spent far more playing this ridiculously good series than most people, bought four separate consoles, five different copies of the same two games, and spent hundreds of hours replaying the same moments, but it has all been worth it. Naturally, after investing so much time, money, and effort in something you're ionate about, when it finally works, when it all pays off, it feels incredible.

I love the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise, weird maid robots, ridiculous outfits, and annoying Nopon included, and I'm extremely grateful that Xenoblade Chronicles X will finally be finished, giving fans the conclusion they've always wanted. I can't wait to play it for the second time on my Switch, which sounds like it'll take off any second now, and finally get what all those incredibly positive YouTube videos were talking about. Xenoblade Chronicles X being on the Nintendo Switch ends my several-year-long nightmare and I couldn't be happier.

Source: Nintendo UK/YouTube, Nintendo of America/YouTube