Xenoblade Chronicles 3, 5 tips to start the new JRPG for Nintendo Switch

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an extraordinary JRPG for Nintendo Switch that fans of the Monolith Soft series cannot miss for the many reasons we have illustrated in our Xenoblade Chronicles 3 review. The significant improvements made to the technical side and gameplay are important, but we are sure that you will also be won over by the story - which as always deals with existential themes that are not at all trivial - and the characters, in particular the six protagonists, involved in the infinite and mysterious between the reign of Keves and that of Agnus.

The world of Aionios is gigantic and to win against every enemy you will have to learn to master an intuitive but layered combat system full of customizations. Below you will find 5 tips to start Xenoblade Chronicles 3 that will help you in your first raids, whether you are totally new to this genre of video games, or if you are already a fan of JRPG.

The approach

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the cinematic direction is truly excellent "The story of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will connect the futures of these titles in the series!", says a slogan on the site Nintendo official. Does this mean that you won't understand the story if you haven't played the previous ones? We remind you that Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 are set in completely different worlds, and yet there is an important link between the two games that is only discovered at the end of the second episode. function ready (fn) {if (document.readyState! = 'loading') {fn ()} else {document.addEventListener ('DOMContentLoaded', fn)}} ready (function () {window.addEventListener ('message', function (event) {let target_origin = 'https://aff.netaddiction.it'; if (event.origin! == target_origin) return; if (typeof event.data == "object" && event.data.hasOwnProperty ( "type") && event.data.type == "embaff") {let embed_id = event.data.embed_id; if (embed_id == '695') {document.querySelector ('#_ aff_embed_695'). setAttribute ('height ', event.data.embed_size);}}}, false);}) Despite this, know that you can easily play the third episode even without having first completed the previous ones, which we still recommend you do because they are just as wonderful JRPGs. The story is written to be clearer to veterans of the series, but still perfectly understandable and autonomous even if this is your first contact with the universe of Tetsuya Takahashi, the director of the series and the memorable Xenogears and XenoSaga.

Having said that, our advice is actually another and we address it above all to fans who have gutted the previous Xenoblades: do not be obsessed with all the references and potential links that you will notice especially in the first hours. We are sure that the particular characteristics of the world of Aionios will raise many questions and doubts, but do not be sidetracked and do not think too much about it. Everything will be cleared up in due course. Enjoy the story for what it wants to be from the beginning: a completely new adventure that takes place in a new and familiar world at the same time. This way you will enjoy much more the twists and the characters, which are really multifaceted and well characterized, and have so much to say.

The exploration

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the world is full of rare enemies to defeat to find treasures and collectibles In our review we have highlighted it, but it will be better to remember: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is not an open world, but almost. The sense is that the maps are really macroscopic, but at some point you will come across borders that connect the different regions through uploads. The open world illusion is conveyed by the choice to characterize the different maps across different biomes, so that each does not simply represent a specific topography. They are very complex regions, which develop horizontally and vertically, both upwards and downwards, and which hide many secrets: rare collectibles, containers full of objects, unique monsters.

Our advice is to explore as much as possible and discover the various points of reference to travel to with the quick trip in time of need. Sometimes you will come across enemies of a much higher level than yours and this tends to mean that you will have to return to that area later, but nothing prevents you from sneaking in at the risk of your life, so the game over does not exist and you return to defeat. always at the closest reference point.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the maps are really huge The 2D minimap is not that great, unfortunately, but it records points of interest and other objectives automatically, in the form of icons, including the areas that you can only reach with movement skills learned by meeting certain requirements: for example, you will unlock Climbing when you recruit Valdi, or Rope Slides when Juniper joins you. If you find yourself in difficulty, you can always activate the navigation system which, like a GPS, will plot the ideal route to follow in real time.

Stroll around, therefore, because you have nothing to lose and only to gain. Collect the collectibles scattered around the map - the ones that shine are the rarest - which you will need to make gems or cook food at the camps; and watch out for enemies: those with a twinkle around the name will drop more rewards; those with the light blue frame around the name are elites who are worth more Experience Points and Class Points, while those with the gold frame are unique enemies, with a specific name, and stronger than normal, which not only will make you earn even more XP and PC, but often also contain containers or precious collectibles.

Gems and cooking

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Riku and Manana are the adorable Nopons who accompany Noah and the other collectibles you find in around Aionios, in containers or outdoors, and the materials you will collect after defeating the enemies, not only serve to complete the cards of the various inhabitants, but also to make gems and cook Manana la Nopon's dishes. Let's start with the gems. At a certain point Riku will explain how to cut gems in camps and how to equip them: each character can carry up to three different gems, which grant specific bonuses. There are gems that increase the attack, others that increase the Ira generated by the defenders, still others that speed up automatic attacks and so on.

You will have to choose the best gems according to class and need, but remember that for each gem there are ten levels of improvement, and you do not have to make them in order. The system is very versatile and, when you change classes, the game chooses the ideal gems or resets the ones you previously selected.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Manana can learn how to cook different delicacies The kitchen works one way a little different: it grants temporary bonuses to XP, CP, earned money, and so on. Always remember to go to the Colony canteens to teach Manana how to prepare the local specialty: from that moment on, you can also prepare it in the camps. You will find that you can consume the materials found by defeating the enemies, or the Nopon Coins. This currency is quite important. It is widespread, and over a hundred you will not be able to carry - excesses will be sold automatically - but it is divided into two categories: silver coins and gold coins. With the former you can cook without consuming the resources you have collected, while with the latter you can make gems even if you do not yet have the necessary materials. We advise you to keep the Gold Nopon Coins because ... we say that you may also need them for other reasons. The silver ones, on the other hand, you can spend a little more peacefully in the classes.

Missions, Heroes and classes

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the class selection screen Keep your eyes peeled . If you see a question mark icon on the map, it means that an event begins at that point, which is usually a secondary mission: these are essentially divided into two categories, Standard and Hero Missions. The former are quite intuitive, and usually serve to earn extra Experience Points - which you can then redeem in the camps - but also money and accessories. Most side missions unlock in colonies and inhabited areas: sometimes you will receive them from NPCs with the corresponding icon in their heads, sometimes you will first have to gather information and then discuss it at the camp or canteen.

Some of these missions are marked Hero. Only a few are mandatory, and most are optional, or you can still complete them later. Hero-type missions unlock ... well, Heroes. These characters fight with the team, but they are not directly playable.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the Hero selection screen .. which are not only these! In addition to offering considerable help in battle, the Heroes give Noah and the others their classes. Initially, only the so-called Class Heir can take the same class as a certain Hero, but by keeping that Hero on the team, or by leveling up the class with his Heir, after some time all other characters will be able to take on that class as well. This is where Nopon Silver Coins come into play, which you can spend to artificially level up unlocked classes.

Our advice is to rotate your classes so you can experiment with new team combinations. Each class, in fact, teaches the so-called Masterful Techniques and Skills, which can also be set by changing class, significantly improving the performance of certain characters in certain roles. Try new strategies and use the Coins only to increase the level of the slower classes to rise - that is when the default role of that character is different from the set class - then remember that you will have to get to the final stages of the adventure to discover the so-called Missions of ascension that unlock levels 11 to 20.

Combos and Group Assaults

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Blast and Smash combos have different functions The combat system of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is really intuitive, but the first hours of the game can be deceiving: as per tradition in the series, over time we learn new dynamics that stratify it exponentially, and the classes we talked about above are some of them. Uroboros, Attack Chains, Fusion Techniques ... There is so much to assimilate and the game distributes these mechanics gradually, without overwhelming the player. We advise you to carefully read the brief tutorials, and to consult the Tutorials section in the system menu to get used to the more complex gameplay systems. We want to focus on two of these dynamics: Combos and Group Assaults.

Combos are nothing new to those who have played previous titles, although they have changed slightly here. Some Techniques, in fact, are characterized by the so-called reactions: Knockdown, Fatigue, Throw, Stun, Crash or Burst. The most important combos end with Slam or Blast. The Slam combo deals a ton of bonus damage. The Blast combo is more unique: not only does it temporarily reset the target's Fury status - it's represented by a flame and means the enemy will use much stronger techniques - but if he defeats him, it causes him to drop many more rewards, so use it to maximize the loot of glittering enemies.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Group Assaults are your secret weapon You can order your squad to use whatever combo you prefer with the appropriate interface shortcut, and you will find that the artificial intelligence almost never misses a shot ... as long as you have set the right Techniques for the various characters.

The other very important dynamic is the Group Assault, a kind of minigame that freezes time and allows you to first choose a "card", which will give a specific bonus to the whole team, and then an attack on the character that will increase a percentage: exceeded 100%, the "card" you chose at the beginning will close q in the Assault phase.

An Assault can last a certain number of turns, or as long as you still have characters to use to reach 100% of the gauge again; also, once you have unlocked the Uroboros forms in the Assaults, you can extend them further. If you play your ... cards right, Group Assault can inflict exorbitant amounts of damage, which will allow you to easily defeat the strongest enemies: our advice, in fact, is to charge the Group Assault and use it above all when the enemy is in a state of Fury, thereby paralyzing them and minimizing the damage they can inflict on the team.

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