Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the long-awaited sequel to the beloved RPG franchise developed by Monolith Soft. The game was launched on July 29, 2022, and is receiving rave reviews from fans and critics alike.
The Story of Xenoblade Chronicles 3
The third installation in the Xenoblade Chronicles saga ties together the futures of the worlds depicted in the previous two prequels. However, it has its own standalone story connected by an overarching plot. So players who haven’t played the first two installments can still follow the story easily, which basically revolves around two nations trapped in a constant state of war.
Keves focuses on scientific progress to power its military ambitions, whereas Agnus specializes in ether, a mystical counterpart that allows machines to function independently. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will feature new protagonists, and an improved gameplay.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Characters
The main protagonist of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is Noah. While you play with six different characters in the game, you see the enormous world of Monolith Soft’s JRPG through the eyes of Noah, an off-seer from the Keves clan. Accompanying him are his childhood friends, Eunie and Lanz, Mio, an off-seer from Agnus, and Taion and Sena.
As an off-seer, Noah guides the spirits of fallen soldiers to the next realm. Having seen countless men die and perish on the battlefield, Noah wishes to end the bloodshed that has plagued Aionios for years and has ruined the landscape. He desires to see a world where individuals have a choice to live more meaningful lives rather than being born solely to fight and then perish.
With an awe-inspiring cast of characters, an emotionally driven story, and beautiful visuals, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 players are bound to find themselves emotionally vested in its storyline.
An Immersive Gameplay
The appeal of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 stems primarily from the game’s stunning visuals and expansive landscape. The game is massive in scale, and it’s appreciable how Monolith Soft has worked meticulously on it.
The Combat System in Xenoblade Chronicles 3
The combat system in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a unique mix of real-time and turn-based gameplay that is easy to grasp but difficult to master. Moreover, the combat system uses different categories of ARTs (special attacks) and different class and combat roles to base the combat system on strategic depth and player choice.
What’s more intriguing is that you also have the ability to change a character’s class at any given point in the game. The classes in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 didn’t allow for any customization, whereas Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will provide players with much more creative control. There are a total of 25 different classes to choose from, and each one comes with its own unique set of skills. So players must learn to take advantage of their characters’ classes and Arts to perform more efficiently in combat.
Revamped Controls
Controls-wise, the game has been completely revamped and is now much more user-friendly. You can now map Arts to the face buttons instead of the shoulder buttons, making the controls more intuitive. Also, the amount of buttons you have available on the screen has also changed. In Xenoblade Chronicles 2, you had four different buttons to choose from; in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, you now have eight. These enhanced options will give players more control over their characters and actions.
For beginners, however, these revamped controls may be even more confusing. But what’s good about Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is that players can select between three difficulties at the beginning of the game. These can be changed again from the settings menu at a later stage. We recommend that players start with the Easy mode and then choose the more complex modes. Overall, the controls are less complicated than in the previous installment. However, there’s still a lot to understand as the game introduces new items as you progress further.
New Crafting System
The game also features a revamped crafting system that allows players to create new weapons and armor or upgrade existing ones. The crafting system is in-depth, and players will need to gather different materials from all over the game world to enhance their weapons. As you experiment with different forges and gems, you’ll find the ones best suit your and your character’s playstyle.
What’s good about Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is that the gem crafting system is much more straightforward. And because of its simplicity, it makes the game more enjoyable and not grind-hungry and laborious. Previously, we’ve seen how the gem system divided players into two camps, where it was an absolute nightmare for some. For others, it gave purpose to the scenic landscape with its massive scale.
To Sum It Up
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a JRPG game that is set in Aionios, a Sci–fi world with an expansive landscape with scenic visuals. Its gameplay is easy to pick up but difficult to master. However, the game’s immersive experience makes it worth the learning curve.
Moreover, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 also features a unique mix of real-time and turn-based gameplay, as well as a revamped crafting system. The game is also more user-friendly than its predecessor, Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
All in all, without taking anything away from the amazing experiences of the previous installment, the new addition to the series makes many improvements in areas where the XC2 lacked.
