Good show.
I understand not voraciously indulging in all of the pre-release coverage, especially the Japan ramp-up. I recognize that I'm kinda crazy in seeing every bit of pre-release stuff for the game.
With regards to only Japanese media having hands on the game, Gamespot (
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xenoblade-chronicles-x-is-more-xenoblade-in-a-bigg/1100-6426798/) and USgamer (
http://www.usgamer.net/articles/xenoblade-chronicles-x-exploration-preview) have posted hands-on impression from an hour of play of the Japanese build at a recent press event. I think it is safe to assume that other outlets have had staff play the game.
With regards to the music, there is
a sampler of the game's soundtrack available on YouTube. Hiroyuki Sawano's style from anime such as Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Guilty Crown, Kill la Kill, and Attack on Titan is on full force here. You can take a listen and see how much you lament the loss of ACE+. I enjoy Sawano's music so I'm looking forward to the game's soundtrack. If I have one lament it's that Sawano hasn't showed much breadth for a few years now, either by choice or order.
The talk of the game being delayed to 2016 really scares me. With Zelda U most likely slipping in to 2016, I can't fathom the NA/EU/OC release of Xenoblade Chronicles X following suit. More than ever, Nintendo needs Xenoblade to come out of Japan in time for Christmas.