Sep 062019
Wednesday’s Nintendo Direct closed with the announcement of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition for the Nintendo Switch.
I admit, I was a little disappointed at first. I love the original Xenoblade Chronicles, but I was hoping they’d announce a Switch port of Xenoblade Chronicles X, which deserves a second chance much like Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is getting.
And I really couldn’t see myself putting in another 100+ hours to replay Xenoblade, even with completely redone graphics. Graphics aren’t a big priority for me, so why would I get it when my Wii copy works just fine?
However, the announcement trailer ends with a glimpse of Shulk and Melia standing in a location that appears to be the Bionis’ Shoulder. (If you’re unfamiliar with the first Xenoblade, it takes place on the bodies of two giants.) Although shown in cutscenes in the original game, the Bionis’ Shoulder was otherwise cut content.
Since the unused map is still present on the game disc, fans discovered that the Shoulder is a massive area with villages, a lake, caves, and a huge walled city, among other unusual feature.
If the Bionis’ Shoulder has been restored for the Definitive Edition, that opens up a whole range of possibilities. Has the gameplay progression changed to have the player visit this area where it was originally intended to appear? Will there be new story content related to it? Or will it just be some sort of post-game area not included in the main story?
Xenoblade Chronicles is still a massive game to replay, but if there’s new content, especially if it ends up being new story content, I’m a whole lot more interested in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition than I was before.
(The Nintendo Direct also dropped a Deadly Premonition 2 sequel announcement on us without warning, and I’m really tempted to get the Switch version of the original Deadly Premonition once they get the reported audio bugs fixed. Aside from the bugs, the reception has been pretty positive.)
What about you? Are you getting Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition on the Switch? Do you think they’ll follow it with Xenoblade Chronicles X? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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That would be a nice surprise if they finished off those bits.
Yes, definitely. Since it was in the trailer, the area should be present it some form, so I hope they give more details soon.
[…] set out in search of the Imperial Capital Alcamoth and crash on the Bionis’ Shoulder. As we discussed when this area was first glimpsed in the initial announcement trailer, the Bionis’ Shoulder […]