The JRPG genre is known for containing some of the most complex, emotional stories in all of gaming. For many players, the JRPG genre is synonymous with series such as Final Fantasy, Personaand Dragon Questand each of these franchises has a history of fantastic world-building and storytelling. But that one Xenoblade Chronicles series has quietly risen to the top of the genre's most iconic franchise in recent years, and this success is largely due to the emotional weight of the first game's biggest plot twist.
While developers like Square Enix and Atlus are considered the juggernauts of the JRPG genre, Nintendo's Monolith Soft has shown it can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Final Fantasy and Persona. Xenoblade Chronicles' Real-time action-based combat system and character building opportunities helped engage players who enjoy deep combat mechanics, but its story is the game's real selling point. Despite its dated Wii graphics, Xenoblade Chronicles shines as an example of gripping storytelling, addictive combat, and a vibrant world worth exploring every inch of, and its story hasn't been topped to this day.
The following contains MASSIVE spoilers for Xenoblade Chronicles.
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Xenoblade Chronicles set the standard for JRPG Narrative Twists 16 years ago
The story of Xenoblade Chronicles takes place on the bodies of two Titans, Bionis and Mechonis, who were frozen in eons of battle before life developed on them. Bioni's organic lifeforms have been under siege from the Mechons of Mechonis in a war that has plagued the two titans for centuries. Players take control of Shulk, a young engineer from the Colony 9 village, along with allies such as his close friends Reyn and Fiora, along with Fiora's older brother and war hero, Dunban.
The central plot revolves around Shulk's use of the mystical sword known as the Monado, which gives him glimpses of the future when he is in danger. After a Mechon attack on Colony 9, Shulk and his allies embark on a quest to reach the source of Mechon on Mechonis, which ultimately leads to some intriguing revelations about the world they live in. The biggest twist in the game, however, is much more grounded and personal, leaving an emotional scar on everyone who experiences it.
The emotional stakes are set for Xenoblade Chronicles' story early on
Xenoblade ChroniclesEarly beats are fairly uneventful as Shulk goes about his daily life in Colony 9, exploring nearby caves with Reyn and sharing a relaxing moment with Fiora. This peaceful life is interrupted by the inciting event of the game, where Colony 9 is attacked by a swarm of Mechons, including a never-before-seen Mechon with a face known as Metal Face. The climax of this chapter occurs when Metal Face uses his massive metal claws to impale Fiora, killing her and sending Shulk into a rage that sets off his quest for revenge.
JRPG franchise like Final Fantasy and Persona is no stranger to killing off key characters to raise the stakes of his plans. But Xenoblade ChroniclesThe choice to kill Fiora in the first chapter of the game is a choice that creates an emotionally charged quest and an earth-shattering reveal later in the game that few of its peers have ever been able to pull off, let alone beat. Even when the action slows down later in the game, the overarching quest to avenge Fiora keeps players hooked until this twist picks up.
Xenoblade Chronicles' Major Plot Twist turns these emotional stakes on their head
On their journey towards Mechonis, Shulk and his friends stop to cross Prison Island, where they find Zanza, a giant from Bionis, imprisoned. During their encounter with this character, who teaches Shulk how to unlock the true power of the Monado, Metal Face returns with a silver-faced Mechon and attacks the party. After this battle, Silver Face's outer plating is broken, revealing Fiora to be inside piloting the Mechon.
This twist completely changes both the player's and Shulk's perspective on this world, where what were thought to be machines are actually controlled by humans. Not only that, but Fiora is still alive, and Shulk is washed over by a wave of emotional relief that has weighed on the party since the beginning of the game. After smashing the Mechon Factory at Galahad Fortress and defeating Metal Face for good, Fiora is rescued and returns to the party, albeit with a mechanical body.
Most Xenoblade Chronicles players would assume that this is the finale of the game, as the thrust of the plot thus far has been resolved. However, this only marks the midpoint of the game, and a new, bigger threat emerges after Shulk and Fiora reunite.
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Xenoblade Chronicles almost wasn't released in North America
While the story of Xenoblade Chronicles and its impressive emotional twist is now firmly etched in JRPG history, the game almost skipped a North American release entirely. Xenoblade Chronicles originally launched in Japan in 2010 and Europe in 2011, but wouldn't make it to North America until 2012 after the fan movement known as Operation Rainfall successfully petitioned Nintendo to release it alongside the games Pandora's Tower and The Last Story in the region. Without Operation Rainfall, that is unlikely Xenoblade Chronicles would be as famous as it has become, and a large part of its target audience would have missed out on one of the best stories in JRPG history.
Originally, Xenoblade Chronicles was sold exclusively at GameStop, making it a rare find even after its North American release.
The Xenoblade Chronicles series has exploded thanks to the success of the original game
- Xenoblade Chronicles – Wii, 2010
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3D – 3DS, 2015
- Xenoblade Chronicles X – Wii U, 2015
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Switch, 2017
- Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – 2020
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – 2022
- Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – 2025
Since the original was released in 2010, Xenoblade Chronicles has seen several sequels, spin-offs and re-releases. This first entry has been released on 3DS as Xenoblade Chronicles 3Dand on Switch as Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Editionwhich includes the Future Connected epilogue that was not available in the original release. These games are all indebted to the original Wii version of Xenoblade Chronicles that captivated players with its beautiful world and captivating story that still reigns as the pinnacle of JRPG storytelling 16 years after its release.
- Released
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May 29, 2020
- ESRB
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T for teens due to blood, mild language, partial nudity, use of alcohol and tobacco, violence
- Publisher
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Nintendo
