As the first game that will only run on the New Nintendo 3DS hardware, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D has many eyes on it. Do the game's demands warrant platform exclusivity, blocking out the huge user base who only own traditional 3DS or 2DS units? Is it worth upgrading systems to play?
The title is not out until April 10, but plenty of reviews have already rolled in. Xenoblade Chronicles originally launched for Wii in 2010 in Japan and 2012 in North America, with a spiritual sequel Xenoblade Chronicles X due out this year for Wii U. Here's what critics have to say about this 3DS remake:
Gamespot, 8/10: "Screen size is the primary factor dictating which features do and don't work across handhelds and console-based games. It's this, amid all of its splendid and eventual intrigue that the classic RPG Xenoblade Chronicles 3D has either failed to understand or simply not tackled for fear of altering what made its original incarnation so great. While it remains the remarkable game that it was when it was first released on the Wii in 2011, the reduced screen size Xenoblade Chronicles 3D has been squeezed on to does sour the experience."
Eurogamer, No Score: "The majesty of Monolith Soft's original, and the surprising faithfulness in so much of Monster Games' port, makes Xenoblade Chronicles 3D a worthwhile effort, even if it's never going to be enough to persuade people to upgrade to the New 3DS that's required to play it. It's also a worthwhile reminder of the craft of Takahashi as we approach the release of Xenoblade Chronicles X, the follow-up optimistically pencilled in for western release later this year. Ultimately, it's also a reminder that just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should: this is still a better RPG than most, but it's certainly not the recommended way to enjoy Monolith Soft's epic."
EGM, 8/10: "For those who have already experienced most or everything that Xenoblade Chronicles has to offer, it's hard to recommend a return to it on the New 3DS. Unless you really want to get rid of your Wii but keep the game, there's really nothing new to see or do here, and it might be difficult to make the resolution and presentation jump for a game that was just as much about how it looked as how it played. Far more of you, I think, probably missed out on this one the first time-and while Xenoblade Chronicles 3D itself might not be enough to warrant the purchase of an entirely new 3DS revision, it's absolutely a heck of an incentive to make that jump."
Game Informer, 9/10: "Xenoblade Chronicles reminds me of why I fell in love with RPGs in the first place. From the thrill of stepping into a vast land with endless possibilities to the surge of a hard-fought battle against larger-than-life creatures, Xenoblade holds plenty of excitement. Even now, three years after the original release on Wii, the journey is as fun as I remember. Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is your chance to find out what you missed, or remind yourself why you hold the game in high regard."
