Xenoblade Start New Game Continuing From Cleared Data

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Playing the Xenoblade Games... where should I start? Does the order matter?

• Thread starter RoninChaos
• Start date Mar 19, 2018

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• #1

Hey everyone. I've been eyeballing Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on the Switch because I wanted to play an RPG on the go but wondered if I really should play Xenoblade or Xenoblade Chronicles X before jumping into XBC2. If I go with XBC2 first, will the other games be harder to go back to? I read a lot about how awful XCX's menus are, but that it plays very differently from the other two games.

Is there a lot of padding in the games? I'm looking for a fun experience that has some legs, but not due to padding.

I'd love to hear some thoughts from people who have played the games.

Thanks!

• #2

order doesnt matter, all the games are not connected.

yea, there's a good bit of padding, but you can rush through the story

and all the menus are pretty bad

• #3

Hey everyone. I've been eyeballing Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on the Switch because I wanted to play an RPG on the go but wondered if I really should play Xenoblade or Xenoblade Chronicles X before jumping into XBC2. If I go with XBC2 first, will the other games be harder to go back to? I read a lot about how awful XCX's menus are, but that it plays very differently from the other two games.

Is there a lot of padding in the games? I'm looking for a fun experience that has some legs, but not due to padding.

I'd love to hear some thoughts from people who have played the games.

Thanks!

The story of 2 is not really connected to the others, kind of like how each numbered Final Fantasy is its own thing. You should be good to jump straight into 2.

• #4

X has no relation to 1 or 2.

Vague and mild 1/2 spoilers:

There are some connections between 1 and 2 but they're structured in such a way that you could play them in either order and get a similar reaction, I think.

• #5

Just play 2, maybe go back and play 1 if you have the option. Skip X.

The main story has little padding outside of an early chapter or two, but for the most part the side quests are pretty bland and bad.

• #6

The order doesn't matter. There's not much obligatory padding, but the main campaigns are pretty long.

I'd play XC and then XC2, with XCX sprinkled somewhere in there whenever you feel like it, but it's not like they're connected in a way that makes XC a must play before either X or 2 (there are cool callbacks in 2 though). It's one of the best JRPGs of all time though, and it's hard to go back after playing 2, so I strongly recommend playing XC first.

• #7

order doesnt matter, all the games are not connected.

There are parts of XC2 which resonate better if you've played the first. I'd say you're better off having played both.

XCX is its own thing, although it's not impossible that it might tie in in the future.

• #9

I played XC2 knowing nothing about the series and it was brilliant and fun

• #10

False. Avoiding spoilers, you should definitely play 1 before 2. XCX is independent of the two and very different gameplay-wise though, so you can play it anytime.

maybe there's something at the very fucking end (I've only just started chapter 10), but I wouldnt call the games connected outside of slight references

• #11

It doesn't really matter. There's some neat little tie ins to Xenoblade Chronicles 1 in the sequel but I wouldn't call them essential.

• #12

Xenoblade 1 and 2 should be played in order of you have the ability. 2 has many callbacks to 1 despite not being a direct continuation of the first game's storyline. 2 also has the better combat system that will make one feel more simplistic if you do it second.

X is basically a completely different sub series with no ties to the other two games other than some shared races and mechanics. It can be played whenever.

• #13

Play X1 then XX

I've not played 2 cos anime

• #14

Xc 1 then Xc 2
Xcx is not related at all

• #16

False. Avoiding spoilers, you should definitely play 1 before 2. XCX is independent of the two and very different gameplay-wise though, so you can play it anytime.

They aren't that related. I had a friend play 2 without playing 1. He enjoyed it.

Regardless 1 is a better place to start than 2.

• #17

I didn't play much of the original and I really enjoyed 2. It's the perfect long RPG to play on the switch; spent over 120 hours on it.

• #18

Order doesn't matter but you'll miss some references in Xenoblade 2 if you didn't play the original. I personally jumped into the series with Xenoblade 2 and loved it. Give it a shot if you're okay missing some send ups.

• #19

It doesn't matter at all, but if you don't like the first one, then the series is not for you.

• #20

Yeah there is. Weird that you've just started 10 and haven't seen it yet.

if you're talking about the opening cutscene, that's what I mean about "slight reference". you'll have an "oh shit" moment, but there's no shocking revelation to be had. regardless of whether the connection is a direct plot reference or Takahashi reusing characters like he has in the past. new players arent gonna miss a major story beat by not playing Xenoblade 1

• #21

Just play 2, maybe go back and play 1 if you have the option. Skip X.

The main story has little padding outside of an early chapter or two, but for the most part the side quests are pretty bland and bad.

I'd recommend this as well - you really don't have to play 1 to enjoy 2, and X is totally irrelevant.

• #23

Xenoblade is a good start, then Xenoblade 2 expands upon that system with the blades partners. I find Xenoblade Chronicles X overwhelming with too many guest characters, divergent quests and faux-MMORPG systems, but if you must I'll play that one last or at least after the more accessible first one.

• #24

As has been said, play them in any order, although remember that 1 and 2 are more story-focused while X is exploration-focused. Playing 2 first may make it harder to go back to the earlier battle systems, in which you need to select the Arts.

Ignore this.

• #25

It doesn't matter at all, but if you don't like the first one, then the series is not for you.

I'd say 2 is different enough from one both mechanically and stylistically that it could easily appeal to a different audience than 1.

• #26

if you're talking about the opening cutscene, that's what I mean about "slight reference". you'll have an "oh shit" moment, but there's no shocking revelation to be had. regardless of whether the connection is a direct plot reference or Takahashi reusing characters like he has in the past. new players arent gonna miss a major story beat by not playing Xenoblade 1

I guess it depends on how invested you are in the franchise but as a huge fan of the first one I watched that cutscene for the first time with my mouth wide open, and rewatched it like 5 times immediately after. It was perfect and without a doubt my Moment of the Year last year, which wouldn't have been possible without me playing XC first. And you haven't finished the chapter so I won't spoil anything, but obviously the existence of that cutscene should clue you in that there might be more callbacks later. Not to mention the god-tier track that plays during it.

• #27

Xenoblade 1, then Xenoblade 2. Then play X if you feel like it.

And if you just own a Switch, and no Wii/WiiU/new 3DS, feel free to just play Xenoblade 2 now. It is 99% self contained anyway with just a little bit tying it to Xenoblade 1 which you'll pick up if you played it, and if not, no big deal, the plot is still all there and perfectly understandable on its own.

• #28

Skip X, it was my first xenoblade game and was a horrible mess of fetch quests with little story/cutscenes in between. Nice open world though for sightseeing. XB2 fixed all the issues I had with X and I'm glad I picked it up.

• #29

Xenoblade 2 end heavily spoils Xenoblade 1. So you don't need to play Xenoblade 1 to play Xenoblade 2, but if you are going to play both, play the first one first.

• #30

I honestly wish I had replayed the first before finishing 2 so that all of the stuff at the end was fresh in my mind. Not really interested in X though.

• #31

You should play the first one and then not play the others.

But if you do decide to play 2, play it after 1.

Also stay away from X at all costs.

• #32

I enjoyed 2 and I only got halfway through 1 partially because I'm better at beating things on handheld. I say go with it, it's a blast

• #33

Play more, I wouldn't call that a "slight reference".

I guess it depends on how invested you are in the franchise but as a huge fan of the first one I watched that cutscene for the first time with my mouth wide open, and rewatched it like 5 times immediately after. It was perfect and without a doubt my Moment of the Year last year, which wouldn't have been possible without me playing XC first. And you haven't finished the chapter so I won't spoil anything, but obviously the existence of that cutscene should clue you in that there might be more callbacks later. Not to mention the god-tier track that plays during it.

maybe there's more further in the chapter, but I'm still not expecting much. especially given how much of the initial game is segregated from Xenoblade 1.

• #34

They're all unconnected, you can comfortably play them in any order without missing anything story-wise except some easter egg references. I'd still recommend playing them in release order though as 1 would be a little difficult to go back to after X.

• #35

If you don't have a Wii/Wii U or 3DS then you can just play Xenoblade 2.

If you do have one of those systems I recommend playing Xenoblade first, although the order you play them in is not really essential.

Xenoblade X probably has the most padding of the three IMO, but they are all great games.

• #36

They don't have any apparent connections however XC2 will eventually throw some info at you that can be somehow connected to XC1 (and even a little bit to xenogears) however they are not in a timeline or anything you can play each of them first and enjoy the main plot line. XCX has nothing to do with the others as far as I know, it's also the weakest of the 3 so you can skip it if you want

• #37

So what's the best way to play 1? 3DS?

• #38

Despite what people in this thread are saying, if you like exploration in your video games, don't skip Xenoblade X. If you like discovering cool stuff in a huge world, as opposed to just going down a (fairly wide) path to follow a linear story, XCX is the game for you. That game is primarily about exploring an alien planet. Sometimes they even gate story progress behind exploring a certain percentage of an area, just to show how much the emphasis is on exploration instead of story.

• #39

So what's the best way to play 1? 3DS?

nah, play the Wii version. It's on Wii U Virtual Console as well.

• #40

I played the first one when it became available in the US. I tried but the combat was very tough for me just cpuldnt figure it out. Tried X also and couldnt get into it. Spent a few hours in each.

Um currently playing 2 and really digging it. The combat us super complex (so much crap on the screen) but I put it on easy and have been enjoying it. I'm about 35 hours in and just mowing through the story.

So give 2 a try and if your curious, go back and play the others

sabalapereplou.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.resetera.com/threads/playing-the-xenoblade-games-where-should-i-start-does-the-order-matter.30533/

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