but we all know it’s what’s on the inside that counts!
Fighting to live... and living to fight
A vast world awaits in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the next game in the acclaimed RPG series from developer MONOLITHSOFT. Players will step into the roles of protagonists Noah and Mio amid turmoil between the hostile nations of Keves and Agnus. Six characters hailing from those nations will take part in a grand tale with "life" as its central theme. Explore a new world that will connect the futures of both Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
Like in previous Xenoblade Chronicles games, battles start by facing enemies directly in the overworld. With six characters in your party, you'll need to use each soldier's strengths to your advantage, taking into account their position relative to the enemy. Characters you befriend on your adventure can also join you in battle, further increasing your strategic capabilities.
As you progress through Aionios, customise your party by changing characters' classes to better suit the situation at hand. If certain conditions are met during battle, each of the tag-team pairs, Noah and Mio, Lanz and Sena, Eunie and Taion can combine into a giant form called Ouroboros. Each Ouroboros has its own powerful moveset, and deciding when to transform can be the key to winning a battle!
Features:
- Exploring a Vast World: Aionios features breathtaking natural splendour that stands in contrast to the grim conflict waged between the two nations. Traversing Aionios, the locations players visit are saved as landmarks that can quickly be selected and travelled to, making traversing this giant world more manageable. It's possible to wander freely, or follow a trail to the next destination by enabling a navigation feature. When exploring, players will encounter a range of surreal landmarks and diverse wildlife. And just like the lands they inhabit, the lifeforms here range from docile to dangerous. Some creatures, like the Demonic Krenolur, make no secret of their ferocious tendencies.
- Learning the Arts of Battle: When the party is ready to enter a fight, they can harness powerful abilities, called Arts, to strive for victory. Some Arts can throw opponents off balance, some inflict more damage based on where the attack comes from and some even heal allies. Linking multiple Arts with stunning Chain Attacks unleashes havoc on enemies. Becoming more experienced in battle, party members will be able to learn powerful Master Arts and Fusion Arts for even more devastating attacks.
- Rest and Quests at Colonies: Exploring Aionios, players can scale cliffs, ascend sandy slopes, zipline across ropes and sail the seas. While the stakes may be high, it's possible to enjoy the world at their own pace, and discover colonies where they'll shop, dine, get to know residents and take up quests. It's easy to catch a glimpse of the lives of Noah and his friends at these colonies and rest spots. Using collected materials to cook or craft gems can strengthen different abilities. It's also nice to relax and unwind before taking in the next slice of awe-inspiring scenery or felling the next outlandish foe.
- Master Character Classes: Each character in the party has a Class that influences how they battle. The Swordfighter leads the fight as a well-balanced attacker, but there are many other classes that specialize in healing, defence and powerful strikes, among other abilities. Players can freely swap the character they're controlling in battle, and their Class can also be changed to match that of their allies. Spending time learning multiple Classes can add to a well-rounded team.
- Recruiting Heroes to the Party: The journey through Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will feature a party of six main characters, but brave residents of Aionios called Heroes can lend their arms and aptitude to the team as a seventh party member. Only one Hero at a time can assist on the battlefield, but players can swap them out as they see fit. And they bring their own special Classes to your team, like Guardian Commander, Incursor and War Medic. Party members can even take on any of the Hero Classes as they become allies. By recruiting more Heroes, players will grow the combination of Classes and Arts in their party, widening the breadth of their strategic options.
- Fusing Into Ouroboros: By joining together in battle through Interlinking, two characters in the party can fuse into a fiercely powerful form known as an Ouroboros. Earning points in battle makes the already-mighty Ouroboros even stronger. Ouroboros can also join Chain Attacks with the rest of the party.
- Using Any amiibo: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is compatible with amiibo accessories. Tapping any compatible amiibo, it's possible to acquire helpful in-game items for the adventure in Aionios. Tapping the Shulk amiibo, a character's sword will appear as the Monado, the iconic weapon from the original Xenoblade Chronicles, when using Noah's Swordfighter class.