Topic: Xenoblade Chronicles Wii / 3DS / Definitive Edition

[Ceric]

I believe the region lock on the Wii is at the system level, so it may not be possible to do a region-free disc like the 360 or PS3 would have.

Actually, there is a region-free flag for Wii software.

has it ever been used?

[Stogi]

So have their even been any reviews for this game? For all you know, it could suck.

[Ceric]

Theirs an impression.
Would be neat to get the Japanese crew to do a full proper review on each of these games.  I mean they are coming everywhere but North America.

[SixthAngel]

What is your go to site to import games?

With a NA release unlikely the game will still be available in English for about $10 more for anyone who wants to play it.  I know a lot of people never import things and it can be a bit scary when you read about compatiblilty but nowadays it is very easy, especially with the Wii.

We can all keep bitching about it not coming to North America later, but right now realize that you can still get this game in English if you are really looking forward to it.  Modding your US Wii is trivially easy, all you need is an SD card.  There are people on this very forum who can help you if you pm them.  If you really do want to play this game don't be scared and import it.

edit:  I can't believe I forgot to put in where I import stuff from.  I've ordered quite a few things through Amazon but its my understanding that everywhere can't do that.  I'd like to help people who are interested in importing so if you import put down the site or the store.

[Killer_Man_Jaro]

I don't wish to rub salt into wounds. However, the first review of Xenoblade Chronicles arrived today in the UK Official Nintendo Magazine. They awarded it with a 92% score and had many nice things to say, going so far as, to quote the closing line, calling it "a genre-reviving blaze of wonder, immense scale and smart design."

Now I ought to throw out the caveat that this magazine has been known to be quite generous in the past for certain reviews, but in this case, it may be justified. To give a brief overview...

* Reviewer says that in this generation of console JRPGs being on the decline, Xenoblade is one of the best to come out of Japan in the last decade
* Playtime is mentioned: roughly 60 hours from start to finish
* Reviewer enjoys the story of war between two lands and the cast of characters involved
* Game world is apparently huge, gorgeous to look at with amazing draw distances, easy to travel through thanks to quick travel system, worth exploring as you are rewarded with XP and full of optional quests
* Graphical disparity - while the world looks great, character models do not, especially in cut-scenes
* Music is given high praise, and apparently is reminiscent of Chrono Trigger (unsurprising, given the composer)
* Battle system gets high praise too, as although all the stats and icons on-screen seems intimidating, the system is accessible and tactical
* Only drawback is that, presumably because of how the game is structured, the reviewer felt he was sometimes underpowered compared to the enemies when he entered a new area
* Conclusion: in the words of the guy who wrote it, "the result is a game that is far more than the sum of its parts, and whose parts are golden"

I think I'll probably get this. Good luck, America.

[noname2200]

edit:  I can't believe I forgot to put in where I import stuff from.  I've ordered quite a few things through Amazon but its my understanding that everywhere can't do that.  I'd like to help people who are interested in importing so if you import put down the site or the store.

Does Amazon UK ship to the US? I'm looking at their Delivery Destinations page, and games aren't included in that section, but is there some workaround that you know of? If not, can you (or anyone) suggest a viable alternative?

[Oblivion]

I have the same question. Plus...uh...do I have to pay in pounds? I just need someone to explain the importing process from beginning to end.

[TJ Spyke]

I have the same question. Plus...uh...do I have to pay in pounds? I just need someone to explain the importing process from beginning to end.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=help_search__1-2?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200224510&qid=1312239029&sr=1-2

Basically if you use a Visa or MasterCard it will tell you on much your order is in your local currency when you get to the checkout, but before you place the order.

[Oblivion]

Thanks TJ. And the sure-fire way to play with a US Wii is use Gecko OS on the homebrew channel? I want to make sure before I preorder the game. My Wii is already hacked so I don't need too much direction.

[Mop it up]

Thanks TJ. And the sure-fire way to play with a US Wii is use Gecko OS on the homebrew channel? I want to make sure before I preorder the game. My Wii is already hacked so I don't need too much direction.

Yep that's right. After that, the only other thing you need to do is make sure that your system is connected via component cables and set to run in 480p mode, otherwise the image will not display properly.

[Oblivion]

What? ****. I have go buy component cables? And how do I get it to "480p mode"?

Hell, a better question is why I have do that in the first place. What's wrong with the display with normal cables?

[Oblivion]

You know what? Screw Xenoblade. I'm not paying $15-$30 for a cable for a view mode my tv may not even support, for a Wii game that I'll pay over $60. Too much risk involved. I was really looking forward to the game. Oh well... :\

[Mop it up]

Europe uses the PAL standard of televisions, and the resolution of standard definition is different between PAL and what America uses, NTSC. However, 480p is the same in both standards, so that's why it will display without issue. Otherwise, the image could have borders, it could "bounce", it could be in black and white, or it may not show up at all. It seems to be different per game.

If your television has a component input (red, blue, green) then it should support 480p. Go into the Wii settings and select Screen Resolution to change it, though if you don't have component cables then the option will not be selectable.

[Oblivion]

Like I said, it's too much work. I would completely enjoy the game, but it isn't worth it.

[Luigi Dude]

Like I said, it's too much work. I would completely enjoy the game, but it isn't worth it.

Don't worry.  In a decade from now when the Wii U's successor has Wii games as part of it's Virtual Console, Xenoblade will finally reach North America and probably cost between 10-15 dollars which will be an amazing deal for a game of this size and quality.  So we'll all eventually be able to play this game, it's just that us North American fans will have to wait a few more years for it to happen.

Yes that's how badly NOA has broken me down.  I'm waiting for the Virtual Console release for a system that won't come out until about 2018.

 

[BlackNMild2k1]

What? ****. I have go buy component cables? And how do I get it to "480p mode"?

Hell, a better question is why I have do that in the first place. What's wrong with the display with normal cables?

if you do feel the need to buy some component cables, go to monoprice.com
No where else is likely to have them cheaper, and the shipping is pretty dam quick.

[Adrock]

@Oblivion - I'm amazed that the component cables were the deal breaker and not the actual importing of the game. If it will help you reconsider, Wii games look noticeably better with component cables so if you ever plan on owning a television capable of 480P (and you will eventually by default when you buy a new television), I'd recommend getting the cables anyway. I bought Nintendo's official component cables almost 4 years ago (I think) and I haven't looked back since. They were $30 but I'm sure any brand will do.

Without getting into the whole I-shouldn't-have-to-import-Xenoblade thing, if you really want to play the game and were willing to import anyway, don't let the component cables stop you. Unless you plan on getting rid of your Wii in the future, the cables are a worthwhile investment.

[Oblivion]

Hm...I'll think about it. The reason it's a deal breaker is that I barely enough to buy the game itself. The importing isn't a big deal. But I had to lie to my mom and say the Wii is region free. Or else she wouldn't have allowed it. XD

 The cheapest cables I found were $15 and had pretty shitty reviews. I could technically buy the official Nintendo ones at Gamestop since I have $123 in store credit. But I don't know how rare they are.

Anyone know if you can use store credit on their website?
 
EDIT: Woah. I made this post before checking out BnM's post about Monoprice. $2.24 for a $30 cable and it can ship the same day? That's like a dream come true. I defintely going that route.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I own 2 of them, works perfectly.

I buy all of my cables there. If you by your cables in the store, you've been suckered into a fools purchase. There are 600+% mark ups on most of the cables you would find in a store like Best Buy, but that is where they make alot of their profit, so I ain't mad at them, but www.monoprice.com has the same quality cables for so cheap you'd be stupid to not consider them first.

[Oblivion]

Thanks for the recommendation.
 
Also, I heard Gecko OS doesn't work with all games. I know the game isn't our in Europe yet, but is it even compatible with Gecko?
 
I apologize for the annoying amount of questions but I want to make sure this all works before I pay for a game that I'd be stuck with.

[TJ Spyke]

If it will help you reconsider, Wii games look noticeably better with component cables so if you ever plan on owning a television capable of 480P (and you will eventually by default when you buy a new television),

Maybe I had shitty cables, but when I had component cables for my Wii they did not help at all. If anything, the picture looked a little worse than it had with the composite cables Nintendo included wiht it.

[Stogi]

I agree with BnM. Monoprice is where I got my 30 ft HDMI cable and 30 ft Optical cable for dirt cheap. This is the first time I'm hearing them have Nintendo products in stock though. That's legit.

[Caterkiller]

Man I am the biggest dope in the world. I paid for component cables very soon after the Wii was released. I hooked them up and noticed absolutely no difference. After reading this thread I understand now I was supposed to go into Wii settings and change it to the 480p thing. Just changed it right now, looked at some games but can't really see any difference. I think only Smash Bros and Zelda are the only things I can notice differences in, since I played both for so long. I'll try it later.

[Retro Deckades]

Hey thanks for the info on monoprice. I now have a Wii component cable on the way, and all I paid was $8.60!

[NWR_insanolord]

Monoprice is awesome, but I tend to buy HDMI cables on Amazon as you can get them almost as cheap there and I get free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime. Actually, when I was buying a 20 foot cable Amazon had one cheaper than Monoprice.