Despite its many issues, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 stands out with a deep combat system, compelling storyline, and an endearing cast of characters. Just try not to get overwhelmed and give up in those first hours.

In the latest entry of the Xenoblade Chronicles series, a new hero seeks out Elysium on an immense journey through a brand-new world.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 goes back to its roots and builds on the 2011 Wii original. It may not be perfect but it's a great game that will see you through Christmas, the New Year and well into 2018.

Massive game; ‎Deep RPG system; Lovely anime style to main characters; Incredible musical score

Some terrible voice acting; Might be initially off putting to some; Undocked mode takes quite a hit

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a rough diamond that is both demanding and delightful, but one that raises the bar for portable RPGs higher than ever before

2017 was an amazing year for games, but for Nintendo, it had been a smashing year. One they were surely hoping for after what happened with the Wii U and its poor acceptance in the market (the Switch has already hit 10 million sales at 9 months, only 5 million short of Wii U total sales).

The true sequel to the best-loved contemporary JRPG is unrestrained in its ambition, and the result is a chaotic kind of brilliance.

Gorgeous world; deceptively complex battle and character development systems; subtly immersive story

Overly long cutscenes; patchy voice work; excessive tutorials

Different kinds of RPGs cater to different sorts of gamers. If you like getting lost in a long, complex narrative, you can do that. If you like to obsessively micro-manage, you can do that too. If you watch a lot of anime, there is somehow a thriving subgenre that caters to your tastes.

Deep; involved combat system; Engaging; powerful story; Characters you care about

Too many combat systems to count; Lot of menu management to wade through; Voice-acting is a bit uneven

is a standout RPG that manages to keep its story, combat, and exploration interesting over the course of at least 70 hours of adventure through an impressively varied and rich world.

When Xenoblade Chronicles appeared on the Wii, I was blown away by a massive, intricate JRPG involving massive titans and people with swords and shields fighting against a machine threat armed with missiles and energy shields.

Exploration is fun; Learning new systems; Intricate combat; Amazing soundtrack

Voice acting, Fanservice; Chill a bit, okay, No bestiary