This review contains spoilers
I'm so sorry Xenoblade 2 fans. I don't mean it outside of pity, but I'm so sorry.
It's fine. I expected far worse from what looked (and is) mostly fanservice DLC but I enjoyed my time with it and didn't feel like I was sleighed.
More of that Xenoblade 3 goodness (unless you don't like 3, then oops). Though with some gameplay additions I'm mixed about. More Class (Now Ouroboros) Arts, Accessories, and Gems have to be upgraded by finding and obtaining respective kits in the world. Similarly, further upgrading your Arts and Skills also require kits. I kind of wish that wasn't the case, since at some points I found myself trying to prep for what's ahead by forcing myself to explore every cranny. I get it, it's an open world game, but it's the difference between reading what you enjoy and reading for an assignment.
That's not to say ALL the exploration incentives turned me off. The new Affinity Goals are great to help keep track of what's in the world. You can now pin items you need for certain things (but not crafting in the world for some reason), a Good Collectopedia is here, and the X-Radar eases the process. Mostly. Its beeping doesn't seem to concern itself with elevation which sucks as some of that can't be done until plot progresses further. Progression overall kind of stinks.
Plot wise. It exists. I'm no Xenosaga or Xenogears chad, not yet anyways, so I might've missed a lot. It's similar to Torna where I think these beats are kind of rushed because it isn't able to do much in it's now expected 20~ hours. I did have to actually turn to the internet to hopefully explain some of the visuals. I'm not the brightest but I tried. Though don't expect anything to answer a lot. I don't know why you would, you're this many games in and should pick up on hints or just massive shrug.
Character wise, Matthew and A are great. Shulk feels like what would happen if you got the Olds following everything. And then there's everyone else I feel weird about. Glimmer and Nikol often feel like they just exist, more often to help show how Rex and Shulk have grown through the years. They're the greatest victims of being in pivotal scenes and having nothing to add. At least Nikol and Shulk have great interactions being massive NEEEEEEEEEER-
And Rex... Oh Rex... I have no clue who you are. For context, I didn't like Rex before. Not because of his outfit or screaming, but it felt like 2 was telling me he was a good, heroic and inspiring guy when I didn't get that at all. But now this feels like someone else who only occasionally speaks of memories and references the real Rex would know. I know he was like 15 and is probably like ??? in current day but I just don't see how these are the same person. This is legally distinct Auron with legally distinct Fei. Though that's more of a fault with the original character not doing much for me in the first place.
I think it's greatest strength is the way references are done. Had the main game done this, I would've been disappointed. But since this is a paid expansion that you can just ignore and if you pitch in you better be emotionally manip- catered to. A lot of nods to series classics: Unique Monsters, NPCs, music. A lot of music reference. Literally just saying them. Damn Origin really does have EVERYTHING, doesn't it? Oh man and Yesterdale, greatest jumpscare in my life but I respected it. Though what's really shocking is the lack of equal treatment to Xenoblade 2. I don't think it's a good game, no, but you'd think with Rex right there you'd be right in the open about it. But all you get is Tantal (which isn't a very distinctive) and talking about Uraya. Compared to Colony 9 (the real one), Raguel Lake, Prison Island... y'all got NOTHING. And to be fair, kind of hard to do anything considering there wasn't a lot to work with in XC2's ending (to the point where base game has a Torna area instead). But man, lol. Lmao, even.
Music is okaaay. Not the best additions, but I guess the lifting was from all the returning tracks. Fogbeast my beloved. New Battle!!! is great (following Time to Fight! and Battle!!, I see you Monolith) but a mighty ear worm. I think the new "generic" area theme is alright when it isn't starting every few minutes and Black Mountains' OST... exists. It and Prison Island's OST are sinister but I expected to go full mile with the arrangements.
Overall it's like. Fine. I expected far worse hamfisted fanservice but this did a good amount of "if you know you know". More often the callbacks felt like characters reminiscing of years gone by rather than the game looking at me and going "LOOK ITS THE THING".
It's fine. I expected far worse from what looked (and is) mostly fanservice DLC but I enjoyed my time with it and didn't feel like I was sleighed.
More of that Xenoblade 3 goodness (unless you don't like 3, then oops). Though with some gameplay additions I'm mixed about. More Class (Now Ouroboros) Arts, Accessories, and Gems have to be upgraded by finding and obtaining respective kits in the world. Similarly, further upgrading your Arts and Skills also require kits. I kind of wish that wasn't the case, since at some points I found myself trying to prep for what's ahead by forcing myself to explore every cranny. I get it, it's an open world game, but it's the difference between reading what you enjoy and reading for an assignment.
That's not to say ALL the exploration incentives turned me off. The new Affinity Goals are great to help keep track of what's in the world. You can now pin items you need for certain things (but not crafting in the world for some reason), a Good Collectopedia is here, and the X-Radar eases the process. Mostly. Its beeping doesn't seem to concern itself with elevation which sucks as some of that can't be done until plot progresses further. Progression overall kind of stinks.
Plot wise. It exists. I'm no Xenosaga or Xenogears chad, not yet anyways, so I might've missed a lot. It's similar to Torna where I think these beats are kind of rushed because it isn't able to do much in it's now expected 20~ hours. I did have to actually turn to the internet to hopefully explain some of the visuals. I'm not the brightest but I tried. Though don't expect anything to answer a lot. I don't know why you would, you're this many games in and should pick up on hints or just massive shrug.
Character wise, Matthew and A are great. Shulk feels like what would happen if you got the Olds following everything. And then there's everyone else I feel weird about. Glimmer and Nikol often feel like they just exist, more often to help show how Rex and Shulk have grown through the years. They're the greatest victims of being in pivotal scenes and having nothing to add. At least Nikol and Shulk have great interactions being massive NEEEEEEEEEER-
And Rex... Oh Rex... I have no clue who you are. For context, I didn't like Rex before. Not because of his outfit or screaming, but it felt like 2 was telling me he was a good, heroic and inspiring guy when I didn't get that at all. But now this feels like someone else who only occasionally speaks of memories and references the real Rex would know. I know he was like 15 and is probably like ??? in current day but I just don't see how these are the same person. This is legally distinct Auron with legally distinct Fei. Though that's more of a fault with the original character not doing much for me in the first place.
I think it's greatest strength is the way references are done. Had the main game done this, I would've been disappointed. But since this is a paid expansion that you can just ignore and if you pitch in you better be emotionally manip- catered to. A lot of nods to series classics: Unique Monsters, NPCs, music. A lot of music reference. Literally just saying them. Damn Origin really does have EVERYTHING, doesn't it? Oh man and Yesterdale, greatest jumpscare in my life but I respected it. Though what's really shocking is the lack of equal treatment to Xenoblade 2. I don't think it's a good game, no, but you'd think with Rex right there you'd be right in the open about it. But all you get is Tantal (which isn't a very distinctive) and talking about Uraya. Compared to Colony 9 (the real one), Raguel Lake, Prison Island... y'all got NOTHING. And to be fair, kind of hard to do anything considering there wasn't a lot to work with in XC2's ending (to the point where base game has a Torna area instead). But man, lol. Lmao, even.
Music is okaaay. Not the best additions, but I guess the lifting was from all the returning tracks. Fogbeast my beloved. New Battle!!! is great (following Time to Fight! and Battle!!, I see you Monolith) but a mighty ear worm. I think the new "generic" area theme is alright when it isn't starting every few minutes and Black Mountains' OST... exists. It and Prison Island's OST are sinister but I expected to go full mile with the arrangements.
Overall it's like. Fine. I expected far worse hamfisted fanservice but this did a good amount of "if you know you know". More often the callbacks felt like characters reminiscing of years gone by rather than the game looking at me and going "LOOK ITS THE THING".