The true hot takes here!
I recall former GameSpot reviews edition Pete Brown reviewing the game as a 7 on GameSpot (the expected fanaticism reaction followed).
I've finished the main game within a year of it's release. Try as I might, I think this game is worse than I will admit to myself. I've bought all the Xenoblade releases and expansions since then, but only managed to finish Future Connected. I think playing XB2 with a somewhat completionist mind set burnt me out from the series.