Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was already my favorite game on the Switch and this standalone DLC (effectively its own Xenoblade game) improved on it in almost every way. They figured out what was the most fun about the original game and brought those elements to the forefront while getting rid of or improving all the bad stuff. The combat system is maybe the best I've ever seen in an RPG, and while I could see it possibly getting stale in a 100-hour game, the Torna story is short enough and paced well enough to make every new mechanics development -- not that there are many -- feel fresh and timely. (Think the original Portal.) The story was really great and impactful and did a good job showing instead of telling outright, though people who haven't played the base game might be pretty lost. Even though I knew how everything had to end up it was cool to see the characters interact and some crucial points of the Xenoblade lore brought to life. And I was already ready to give this game 5 stars until the last 20 minutes rolled around, which were even more incredible than what had come before. The only downside was getting forced to do sidequests at certain points. That being said, they did a good job of offering you a bunch of different quests to choose from, some easier than others and some you might already have mostly completed from earlier exploration. I usually don't play games much beyond the main story but I didn't find these too bothersome when I actually went out and started talking to people and collecting resources. You owe it to yourself to play the two Xenoblade entries on the Switch. If the base game is an epic poem, this expansion is a page-turning novella. Both are worth every penny.

Storywise, it's a 10/10. It simply builds upon the original and doesn't do anything that ruins or changes the plot- it only adds to it. IT's told very much as a tragedy and it's done perfectly. Interestingly enough it's told in a way that doesn't spoil the biggest plot details in the main game but answers many questions about the past from the main game. Basically certain cutscenes are excluded or shown differently to achieve this. So playing this before XC2 isn't a bad idea at all, especially if you're new to the series. The gameplay is extremely fun when it comes to battle. The music, sound effects, mechanics, animations, moves, etc. all work so well and are, most importantly, FUN to deal with. THis is the most fast-paced Xenoblade game by far. My only gripe with this game is the Community system. 2 times is it forced upon you to use throughout the game, which ruins the whole point of a sidequest, and the second time it easily can waste 1-3 or even more hours, and that's when I SKIPPED the cutscenes from the sidequests, which after a while you realize are padding and don't necessarily add to the overall plot, not to mention when they're forced it ruins any interest you have in them given you're trying to save the world. Besides that it took me a little more than 15 hours to beat, and I didn't rush the game, I spent time exploring the new areas and fighting different super bosses for fun, and I can see myself playing it for several more hours before I start playing the other DLC that is used on the main game. Definitely should be your first Xenoblade game if you're new to the series and want to have a glimpse of it, it's the easiest to get into, fastest, shortest, cheapest, and it doesn't (necessarily) spoil the plots of the other games.

I was originally thinking this was just a small DLC expansion to Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Boy, was I wrong. This is an entire game, and while it's not quite as long as the main game, it's still amazing. Even though it takes place before the events of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, I would recommend playing the main game first. Torna The Golden Country is a pretty great package for 40 dollars. You get a physical cartridge game in an awesome-looking case as well as a download code card for the entire DLC season pass for the main game. Torna takes place in the same world as Xenoblade 2, just set before the events of the game. I was expecting just to be revisiting old locations from the main game. You visit some of the same titans, but everywhere you go is a completely new area. Nothing is really recycled from the main game, which is great. The story is amazing, there's plenty of enemies to fight, places to go, and quests to do, the cutscenes are great, and the characters are really awesome. I would even go to the lengths of saying that the characters in Torna are better than the ones in the main game. Torna really pulls you in from the second you start playing, with its refined combat, great characters, amazing locations, and engaging story. Beating the game after 30 hours left me longing for more, which is a sign of a fantastic game. Definitely check this one out if you've played Xenoblade 2, or are planning on it.

Having played both Xenoblade Chronicles 1 & 2, here are my thoughts on Torna: First off, this is not the game for newcomers to the Xenoblade series to jump into. Even if you've played Xenoblade 1, implications of major story elements from Xenoblade 2 are prevalent in Torna, which will leave you confused about the world of Xenoblade 2. I would only recommend Torna to those who have completed Xenoblade 2, as I found myself saying, "That's endgame information! They left that in?!" many times. The non-battle gameplay in Torna is essentially the same as Xenoblade 2. Vast places to explore, beautiful scenery, and many side quests (you still automatically accept quests when you speak with an NPC, though...). However, one major improvement to Torna is field skills. All the blades you'll ever need are always in the party, so no more rummaging through blades to find specific field skills anymore! This creates much better incentive to complete blade quests, and it contributes to collection items as well; you get a whole lot more out of these as compared to Xenoblade 2. Torna's battle system is the best in the series yet, incorporating the best part of Xenoblade 1's battle system into the best part of Xenoblade 2's battle system...and making it better. For one, drivers don't merely get different weapons from different blades, but are treated as individual characters involved in one tag-teaming party of three, meaning you can finally control your favorite blades directly. You have the ability to swap characters from vanguard to support (the position you directly control and the supporting position in the back, respectively). Each character has a "swap art" that contributes to vanguard combos (previously called "driver combos") when entering the fray, making these combos more common and effective (the AI is also better at coordinating break, topple, launch and smash than in Xenoblade 2). As for blade combos, they feel much easier to execute, and you have to figure out how to end at the desired element on your own rather than being to guided by a blade art tree. In addition to the numerous vanguard and blade arts at your disposal and the typical party guage which can be used for chain attacks, the unique "talent art" from Xenoblade 1 returns. Each character has a special talent art that only they can use. These arts are very powerful given the right circumstances, but they also come with drawbacks or requirements to activate, making for high-risk, high-reward situations (e.g. Addam can sacrifice a portion of health to extend the driver combo timer. This art is OP since he possesses a launch art and Mythra's swap art inflicts smash). The combination of vanguard and blade arts, talent arts, swapping and chain attacks creates an extremely satisfying battle system, as you feel like you're skillfully dancing around enemies rather than bluntly charging head-on and hoping you'll be able to get enough element orbs for a chain attack to kill. Once I got the hang of it, I found myself able to take down enemies 8 or 9 levels above my party for a fun yet difficult challenge (try not to get over-leveled, though. Doing so makes the enemies of the next area way too easy to defeat, ruining much of the experience). It's a lot to take in, and even for Xenoblade 2 veterans, this battle system will feel overwhelming at first but more satisfying than ever once mastered. Though I haven't completed the game, the story and characters are alright so far. It's nothing close to the unforgettable story and characters of Xenoblade 1, but it holds up well enough (the voice acting is better too! No more "aaaaaaAAAAAIIIIIIiiya!" or "Join...mEEeeeeeee!"). Some cutscenes make clever callbacks (or call-forwards?) to Xenoblade 2's story, but some cutscenes contain information I would consider endgame spoilers from Xenoblade 2. It's been a fun ride so far, and I'm looking forward to any plot twists that leave me stunned! Playing Xenoblade 1, I grinded through the gameplay to get to the story. In Xenoblade 2, I bore with the story to get to the gameplay. Torna's story and characters are alright, but its addictive gameplay is what keeps me coming back for more. I'd definitely recommend it to any Xenoblade 2 fan!

A good deal more grim than the base game, Torna serves to elaborate on a good deal of the backstory that set the base game into motion. The story focuses on several key antagonists' backstories, ultimately showing just how tragic of beings they are. Mechanically, the add-on is very similar to the base game, as one would expect of a standalone add-on, but with some key tweaks such as the ability to directly control blades, as well as use drivers in blade combos and the other way around (meaningful statements if you've played XC2). I should also say that, while Torna really doesn't spoil the plot of the base game, and it was released standalone, I don't think it should be played before one has finished the original. There are swaths of background information and lore that could very well confuse the uninitiated. I will have to critique the production values versus the original, however. Particularly in the animation department (there is a far lesser ratio of motion captured event scenes, making the presentation of many story moments of less than necessary importance seem a good deal cheaper). While I can't say for certain without an analysis tool of some kind, the framerate also seems noticeably less stable than the original game, leading me to believe Torna simply didn't get the same kind of optimization love. Ultimately, I heavily enjoyed my time with the game (went completionist and spent over twenty hours with it; not bad a for something which began as mere DLC). The story, particularly in the third-act, captivated me (even if it was at times *aggressively* anime), the combat was fun to experiment with, and it was one heck of a value.

Having play Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles X, I knew I wanted Xenoblade Chronicles 2. I especially liked that this bundle came with the DLC. The first time I played it, I played it for about 4 hours, got to the first "continent" and set it down. I really "wasn't feeling it". Six months later I decided to restart and give it another shot. This time, I changed the difficulty (ie. Lowered only mob health) and had an immensely better time. I completed the playthrough and loved the story. By the time the game gets near the end, the cutscenes, dialogue, and story only improve. Where some games go halfway and let you down, this one remains strong in the opposite way. It starts slow and you don't want it to end. Playing this really did feel like watching a good anime. If you get this, and find yourself disliking the beginning portion, do know it gets better. The story definitely takes an epic turn.

The Xenoblade Chronicles, let alone the Xeno series, have a special place in my heart. The Xenoblade games, however, truly compelled my interest in gaming to return in the utmost glory and with Xenoblade Chronicles 2's rich story and memorable cast, it would be a great disservice for me to not explore the events which took place many centuries before. Moreover, the combat system feels a bit more streamlined compared to the somewhat "clunky" XC2, and the visuals in both world and characters are better noticeably. For anyone who are Xeno fans, JRPG fans, and people who love exploring open world environments, this game is worthy of picking up, especially with the upcoming release of Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

A great addition to a great Switch game. I like physical games and having this is a great way to preserve at least the Torna quests. The DLC comes in a code.