REVIEW: ‘Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition’ Brings Fluidity At The Cost Of Clarity

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition brings the iconic JRPG from Monolith Soft to Nintendo’s latest console. It brings some much-requested features to the beloved classic, namely 60fps and higher resolutions, but the implementation is imperfect. It also carries an additional cost, where other Nintendo Switch 2 upgrades offering similar enhancements came without a price tag. While the core game is as excellent as it’s always been, the new upgrade pack is a mixed bag that needs more work before it’s really worth it. 

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition follows the story of a new BLADE operative, waking up from cryosleep on an alien planet called Mira. Earth was royally messed up in a galactic war between aliens, and humanity sent out the White Whale, a massive ship carrying humanity’s last hope. Things go awry, and the ship crash-lands on Mira, where it’s up to the player and the rest of the cast to explore the planet, find other survivors, and learn more about alien factions out to stomp out humanity. 

Gone are the frame rate drops and input lag that the original Switch version suffered from.

We reviewed the game when it came out last year on Nintendo Switch, giving it an 8 out of 10. Praising the newly added quality of life features and new content, it brought the story of Mira forward from its original launch on the Wii U. While the gameplay, specifically the combat and exploration, was top tier, the story was just okay, with much of the lore being delivered in side quests. Mission progression was another issue, as the game requires you to explore chunks of the map before being able to continue on with the main quests.

All of this remains true, as the Nintendo Switch 2 edition doesn’t offer anything new on the content front. The game is as fantastic as it was last year, bringing some features that last year’s remaster lacked. 60fps was one of the biggest asks, offering a smooth gameplay experience. The frame rate on the Switch 2 is rock solid, making combat and traversal way smoother than it was before. Gone are the frame rate drops and input lag that the original Switch suffered from, with gameplay being fluid and responsive, especially during fights.

The newly increased resolution, though, is a mixed bag. It can look sharper than before, but the new upscaling that Monolifth Soft used has caused a lot of shimmering and weird textures. It creates a weird contrast, where the character models look crisp, but the geometry around them can look off. It’s much more noticeable for far-off objects and textures.

Adding a price to the Switch 2 enhancements stings, especially when other titles were upgraded for free.

A lot of these issues are much more prevalent on handheld, though they do exist in docked mode, just to a much lesser degree. As a newcomer to the game, I did notice these issues, but in motion, they didn’t really bother me too much. With the gameplay being as engaging and fast as it is, I wasn’t really stopped in one place for too long, which makes it much more noticeable.

For those less visually inclined or more focused on frame rate, the visual issues can be easy to shrug off in favor of the increased and smoother frame rates. Those who are looking for a visual showcase, though, should definitely hold off for now. Hopefully, these are issues that Monolith Soft can fix, because the 60fps really does make the game run so smoothly.

The bigger issue with this upgrade pack as a whole is its price tag. If this had dropped as a free update, it would be easier to look past the graphical hitches. At $ 4.99 USD/$6.99 CAD, it’s not a massive price tag, but it’s a product that needs work before it’s really worth it. Other Switch 2 games received similar enhancements at no cost, making the cost in and of itself a head scratcher. 

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a decent upgrade that needs some tweaking.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a decent upgrade that needs some tweaking. While the increased frame rate makes the game feel great to play, visually, it can be a much more hit-or-miss experience, especially handheld. For those who have been waiting for a frame rate bump, it’s still worth hopping in, even if the price tag is a confusing inclusion.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is still a fantastic game, especially for new players to jump into who may have been waiting for the Switch 2 version, but the graphical issues stop it from being truly great. 

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is available now on Switch 2.