Xenoblade Chronicles

About

Xenoblade Chronicles, known in Japan as simply Xenoblade, is an action role-playing game developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo. The game was originally released during the final years of the Nintendo Wii, and has since been re-released on the Nintendo 3DS, and remastered for the Nintendo Switch, titled Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition.

History

Xenoblade Chronicles was first announced during E3 2009 when it was originally called Monado: Beginning of the World (shown below). It was later renamed Xenoblade in January 2010 to honor Tetsuya Takahashi, the director of the game and all prior games in the Xeno series.^[1]

The game was first released on June 10th, 2010, in Japan, and later localized and released on August 19th, 2011, in Europe.

Operation Rainfall

After significant time had passed without any confirmation on a North American release, fans launched a campaign called Operation Rainfall in order to persuade Nintendo of America that there is interest in localizing and releasing Xenoblade in North America (along with The Last Story and Pandora’s Tower). Xenoblade Chronicles was released in North America on April 6th, 2012, and the movement was seen as a success by the fans. Despite the success of Operation Rainfall, Nintendo of America's then-president Reggie Fils-Aime stated that Nintendo was not influenced by the movement to release Xenoblade in North America.^[2]

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D

In a Japan-only Nintendo Direct, it was announced that a port of the game will be made for the new Nintendo 3DS. This was announced in the U.S. and was released on April 10th, 2015. It is nearly identical to the Wii version, except very slight downgrades to textures as well as the new jukebox and model viewer features, allowing the player to listen to the game's music or view a character's or enemy's model, respectively.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

On September 4th, 2019, it was announced at the end of the Nintendo Direct that a remaster of Xenoblade would release on the Nintendo Switch called Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (shown below).

The remaster features improved graphics, redesigned character models and most of the soundtrack remade, including a playable epilogue called "Future Connected." Set after the events of Xenoblade Chronicles, "Future Connected" stars Shulk and Melia as they explore the Bionis’ Shoulder, an area that was cut from the original Wii release.^[3]

Plot

Thousands of years before the events of Xenoblade Chronicles, two titans called the Bionis and Mechonis engaged in a battle that ended in the deaths of both titans. Over time, life began to develop on the titan’s remains. The Homs, Nopon and High Entia make their home on the Bionis, and the Mechon live on the Mechonis.

In the present, a boy named Shulk lives on Colony 9 studying the Monado, a special sword said to have been wielded by the Bionis that can cut through Mechon. His home would later be invaded by the Mechon, who had previously been thought to have been defeated at Sword Valley by Dunban, the previous wielder of the Monado. After Shulk’s childhood friend Fiora is killed by a Mechon with a face called "Metal Face," Shulk swears revenge and leaves his home wielding the Monado in search of the Faced Mechon along with his best friend Reyn.

Gameplay

Players are able to explore large masses of Bionis and Mechonis giving an open-world feel. During combat, characters have their own personalized set of Arts each having different effects. As Shulk, players are able to use the Monado to cut through the Mechon effortlessly. As a result of using the Monado, Shulk gains the power to see visions of the future. As the future is not set, Shulk can use the information he gains from the visions to change the events that are to come.

Related Memes

"I'm Really Feeling It!"

I'm really feeling it is a battle quote said by Shulk. While the quote originates from Xenoblade, the quote grew in popularity after Shulk's Super Smash Bros For 3DS and Wii U reveal trailer after he said it after performing a Backslash on Bowser. Since then, the quote has been referenced in later Xenoblade games such as by the Classic voice option, voiced by Adam Howden, for Cross in Xenoblade Chronicles X, and by Zeke, and later Shulk via DLC, in Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

"Reyn Time"

"Reyn Time" is a battle quote said by Reyn. It is later adopted by Shulk when he was added to Super Smash Bros as one of his three taunts saying it as “Now, it’s Shulk time!”

"Man, what a buncha jokers!"

"Man, what a buncha jokers!" is one of Reyn’s post-battle quotes. Online, the quote is sometimes used by Reyn reacting to the presence of multiple Jokers such as the Joker from DC Comics ^[4] or Joker from Persona 5.

“Born in a world of Strife! Against the odds! We choose to fight! Blossom Dance!”

“Born in a world of Strife! Against the odds! We choose to fight! Blossom Dance!” is a memorable battle quote said by Dunban. It is said as the player uses Dunban’s Talent Art Blossom Dance, and successfully completes challenge prompts.

External References