Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a Wii U classic arrives on Switch with improved character models, smoother visuals and more. This one might be the end of an era though, as Xenoblade Chronicles X looks like one of the final Wii U titles to receive a Switch version. It’s a bittersweet moment, but Xenoblade X is a heck of a game to end on, being one of the most visually impressive titles on Wii U and a technical marvel of its day. How does it fare on Switch?
In truth, Xenoblade Chronicles X on Switch is a straightforward affair. There have been tweaks and changes made to the experience, but the most notable improvements come from technical changes. The game ran on 1280×720 on Wii U at a (mostly) stable 30fps, relying on post-process anti-aliasing and other post-process effects, including per-pixel motion blur that holds up today. In fact, this version was almost competitive with open world games on PS4 and Xbox One, though it has some limitations too.
With the leap to Switch, the game using dynamic resolution scaling and tops out at a native 1080p, making it noticeably sharper than the original game, while the portable mode seems to mostly match the resolution of the Switch’s built-in display at up to 720p. Contrary to some of the early trailers, developers Monolith Soft also maintained parity in terms of visual effects and features. Things like motion blur, which is reasonably subtle, are still present and accounted for, and the game looks great in motion.
Comparing the Switch remaster versus the Wii U original, the Switch version boasts significantly more environmental detail, with improvements to shadows, textures and polygonal complexity. Hand in hand with more vibrant lighting, boosts to distant detail and increases to overall image quality, it makes for a noticeable upgrade.