I asked for this for years and to be able to play it, whether docked on TV or sitting in bed, was the most perfect experience I could have asked for. Despite the frame rate not being as high as the original release, this was the ultimate package for Nintendo's best work. It takes everything I love about video games and consolidates it all into one beautiful remake. The new OST was tremendous. It made battles more engaging depending on the environment and gave each chapter additional charm and wonder that I didn't know the game could provide. Despite having the option to use the original classic soundtrack, the new tracks added a new flare to the experience I did not want to lose out on. Backtracking was never a major issue to me but to be able to jump in and out of key areas with ease was monumental. That on its own is a significant enough QoL change to push this over the original but there was so much to love. All of the new animations were in-character and added so much life to what otherwise were emotionless character segments. To release this at the end of the life cycle has secured the console as my favorite system. I could not be happier with what Intelligent Systems accomplished.

Another Mario masterpiece. It released at a perfect time for me to binge and it was amazing. The combat, soundtrack, dialogue, and enemies blend so well together. It hardly feels like a Super Mario game because of how unique and diverse the areas/encounters can be. Extremely glad that my first genuine exposure to this game was this remake because they did an outstanding job. It glows on my OLED and I couldn’t be happier. Nothing about it feels outdated besides some action-command timing issues but it’s nothing that takes from the experience.

My biggest wish is for this game to exceed sales expectations and hopefully give us another title down the line.

Simply incredible. The gameplay was some of the most fun I’ve had with a Switch title in years. With such an extensive lineup of unique characters, swapping through them each chapter never got repetitive. There’s something extremely rewarding about clearing a chapter and watching closely as your units become more and more powerful. I knew I was untouchable once Merrin was avoiding nearly every attack and hitting a critical almost every turn. That satisfaction continued to be engaging until the final moments. While the story isn’t the greatest written narrative in gaming, its overall messages were clear and captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed watching over Alear and the rest of the cast and look forward to seeing what the DLC adds to this installment.

May 9th: I updated my score. Roughly two months later and the flaws are starting to come back to me. Not that the game is bad, it’s still very good and one I would recommend to any SRPG fan, but the gameplay being the sole carrier of an RPG is not a good look. Hopefully since this was supposed to be more of an anniversary title it was meant to be lighter on everything else, but we need the next game to outshine in every single way.

Reflecting on my experience with Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which I first started in June of 2021, is beyond difficult. Despite everything that's changed in my life since then, Xenoblade has remained one of the few constants, even through periods of inactivity and (sometimes lengthy) breaks.

I think about the first time I witnessed the Kingdom of Uraya in its full glory, swept away by the incredible score, lighting effects, and sheer wonder. I think about the futile attempts at explaining the combat system to family members, and why every piece of the cluttered UI is integral to all of the intricacies at play. I think about the constant attempts at "Tiger! Tiger!", surprised by how much time I could sink into a relatively small mini game, still entertained and eager to earn crystals for Poppi. I think about the late nights in handheld, plugging away at random affinity charts, as I kill yet another Perplexed Stoyan in Leftheria so I can earn a trivial boost in power to Mythra's Specials.

Throughout all of my individual memories, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 constantly left me in awe by its incredibly grand scale, seen in every aspect of the game. Every new Titan was a visual treat, and a gateway to a plethora of new exploration options for me to tackle, all while slowly picking away at an endless amount of microtasks and fighting as many unique monsters as I could find. This loop was only so effective because of the masterful combat system at its center (something that only experience can properly do justice), with the central blade mechanic forcing me to constantly adapt and improve my technique. While the story itself is far from perfect, I grew to feel connected to the cast and the Aegis' journey to Elysium, with the elusive locale propelling the philosophical pondering on what it means to live past your physical presence in such a cruel but realistic world (which truly shines in the very end).

Once I came upon the last few chapters of the game, I quickly scurried to re-explore all of the Titans that needed more of my attention, and began grinding out affinity charts I deemed important. After a certain point though, I came to a scary realization that, even though I didn't quite complete as much as I had hoped, I was contempt with the progress I had made and began to shift my focus entirely on the last few story missions. Rolling credits, it felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders, left with nothing but appreciation for the magical experience that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (which happened to be my 200th game completed, woo-hoo) was for me.