Xenoblade 2 succeeds in areas where the first game failed. The environments are gorgeous and diverse. The world building is much better, as is the general pacing of the story. As far as character's go, the cast here fare exceeds that of the original game, with most everyone being notable or important in some way. This game sells you on its world by introducing land conflicts, factions, politics, resource crises, and a central theme of human rights and what being a Blade means to it. Nia, Zeke, and Poppi are among the best written characters in the series. A lot of people see the surplus of anime tropes combined with the style and write it off, but it does what the previous game does so so much more better. Even the anime tropes have importance when you realize what became of Rex in XC3.