Why Is Xenoblade 2 So Expensive?
Xenoblade Chronicles 2, developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo, is an action role-playing game released for the Nintendo Switch in December 2017. The game received critical acclaim for its expansive open world, engaging story, and complex battle system. However, one aspect of the game that has caused some controversy is its high price point.
There are several reasons why Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is so expensive. One of the main reasons is the game’s development cost. Developing a video game of this scale is a complex and time-consuming process, and it requires a significant investment in terms of resources, talent, and technology. The game’s developer, Monolith Soft, is known for creating high-quality and ambitious games, which often come with a high price tag.
Another reason for the game’s high price point is its production cost. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a physical game, which means that it requires physical manufacturing and distribution. This includes the cost of producing the game cartridges, packaging, and distribution to retail stores. All of these costs are passed on to the consumer in the form of a higher price point.
Additionally, the game also includes several additional features such as downloadable content (DLC) and expansion packs, which also contribute to the high price point. These additional features are often sold separately at a premium price, further increasing the overall cost of the game.
Lastly, the game’s high price point can also be attributed to its popularity and demand. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has a dedicated fan base, and many people are willing to pay a premium price to own a copy of the game. As a result, retailers can charge a higher price for the game, as they know there will be a market for it.
In conclusion, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an expensive game due to its high development cost, production cost, additional features, and high demand. While the high price point may be off-putting to some, it is important to remember that the game is a high-quality and ambitious title that offers players a unique and memorable gaming experience.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does Xenoblade 2 expansion pass include Torna?
Nintendo has announced that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Torna: The Golden Country is available to download. The expansion pass is included with the main game and offers a new story and characters, along with new quests and challenges for players. For those who have yet to purchase Xenoblade Chronicles 2, an Expansion Pass Bundle including the Expansion Pass and the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 game is also available on Nintendo eShop for S$99.
How long is Xenoblade Chronicles 2?
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a massively long game that will take you around 80 hours to beat. The story can be draining at times because it’s so ridiculously long and slow but there are also moments when you see all the hard work pay off. Developer Monolith Soft did a good job of making this game worth it in the end, but knowing how I felt after those 80 hours, I can’t recommend this game to anyone who isn’t a hardcore JRPG fan.
Why is Xenosaga 3 so expensive?
Xenosaga 3 is an old game that was released in Japan in 2012 and it came out for the PS3 to a mixed response. However, the game has been re-released as part of a recently completed trilogy remastering on PlayStation 4.
The game’s asking price? An eye-watering £79.99/$99.99 to be exact! Even the PS3 version is relatively expensive for a JRPG and can cost up to £34.99/$39.99.
So why is Xenosaga so expensive?
Firstly, it’s important to note that Xenosaga was developed by the company Namco Bandai Games and was not Square Enix, which has revived many of the Final Fantasy series.
Secondly, and perhaps the main reason why this game is so expensive is that it was not sold well in Japan – in fact, the PS3 version only sold 22,779 copies. This is a very low number as games in Japan tend to sell thousands of copies (the PS3 exclusive JRPG Ni No Kuni sold over 100,000 copies). It’s unlikely that poor sales are the reason why Xenosaga 3 is so expensive since the game was heavily advertised in Japan.
However, according to legend, the game is expensive because it had a long development period and because it was difficult to translate into English – something which Square Enix has experienced with other titles.
Square Enix president Yoichi Wada has stated “the game gained a lot of attention overseas and although we sold only 22,000 units in Japan, overseas sales have been very impressive.”
Another reason for the game’s price may be due to the amount of content the game has. Xenosaga 3 is part of a trilogy and it’s probably assumed that fans have bought the other two games, which are much more expensive than normal JRPGs. The PSP version is £29.99/$29.99 and the PS2 version is £34.99/$39.99, whilst some retailers are selling them for over £40/$40! (particularly for US customers).
If you look on Amazon.co.uk, you can see the asking price for Xenosaga 3 is even more expensive than PS3 exclusives such as Ni No Kuni (£49.99/$59.99). That’s even though Ni No Kuni has sold hundreds of thousands of copies across both Japan and the West!
The asking price is also far more expensive than Grand Theft Auto V (£24.99/$29.99), which was a massive success.
The high asking price for Xenosaga 3 may also be due to limited stock; it’s possible that the game has gone out of production and therefore may be hard to acquire. It’s also possible that Square Enix has decided to encourage people to buy the other two games, especially since they are so expensive.
Although these are all possible reasons for their asking price, the most likely explanation is that Xenosaga 3 has been released as part of a trilogy because it’s a very expensive game, especially for a JRPG. I think this trilogy is more of an ‘experience’ than a normal JRPG and therefore raises the price amongst fans who want to play through all three games.
Do you think Xenosaga 3 is expensive or is it justifiable? Or are they simply pricing the game so high because they want them to buy the other games? Let us know in the comments below!
Is the DLC/season pass for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 worth it?
Yes, it is worth it.
In Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the game supports DLC and season passes for additional content. The quality of this additional content varies and there are some pros and cons that you should consider before deciding if this is worth your time or money.
PROS:
More content is always rewarding, especially if the developer takes the time to make it good. Monolith Soft took their time to deliver new combat mechanics, story quests, and bosses that are just as epic as the story ones. It is nice to have more of a game that you like rather than nothing at all.
Sometimes additional content can provide insight into characters and story events from a different perspective or viewpoint. In Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the season pass and additional side quests (like the NPCs below) have a focus on characters that are not necessarily main or even secondary in the story.
Some DLC can provide insight on some of the confusing aspects of gameplay that you might find yourself constantly asking “why?” when first playing Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Season pass quests often do this.
CONS:
There is no guarantee that additional content will be good or worth it. The quality of the content can vary greatly. Some of the side quests in The New World are enjoyable, but others are just plain frustrating (like catching enemies). The DLC for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has decent to good combat. There is no guarantee that all of it will be fun or interesting. This is even more so with the season pass since you have to wait for more to be released rather than buying and playing them as they release.
DLC is speculative. You just never know if the developers will deliver more of what you like.
There is a possibility that additional content will not be released promptly (if ever). So, it may be premature to buy DLC or season passes for a game that you are unfamiliar with.
CONCLUSION:
In my opinion, the kind of experience that I had with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was very rewarding. The story and gameplay were each compelling and enjoyable enough to keep me playing for hours on end.
Which is better: Torna or Main Game?
There is a lot of talk about which game you should play first between Torna and the main game. We have made a list of pros, cons, and overall points for each based on what we have experienced with each. Here are our thoughts:
Torna:
Pros: The art style is better visually and the theme is more original. It’s much shorter than the main game which makes it perfect for people who might not like long games. It is more combat based which might be satisfying for some people. There is only one real ending to Torna so if you don’t like it that’s it.
Cons: The plot isn’t as thought provoking and the characters aren’t as well developed as they are in BotW. Also, while the art is more pleasing to the eyes, our team thinks that the character expressions (especially on Zelda’s part) were a little overly exaggerated (but maybe we just didn’t know what emotions to make for our characters). There are only two side quests and many people probably won’t even bother with them. It doesn’t give any backstory to anyone outside of a few characters like Vanea and Link, so while they might stick out in your mind better than the rest, you will probably still have trouble remembering all of the characters names and roles. The music isn’t as good as it is in the main game. The voice acting is worse than it is in the main game (even though there isn’t much dialogue).
BotW:
Pros: The plot is much more thought provoking than the one in the main game. The characters are well developed, especially since you spend nearly twice as much time with them compared to Torna. Vanea’s side quest has a lot of new dialogue and hidden characters which is an interesting way for you to get more backstory about her character. The music is very good and there are many songs that you will remember later on in the main game. Some of the voice acting is really good. There are many side quests, though not as many as in the main game.
Cons: The art style isn’t as appealing to our eyes and the character’s expressions aren’t as good as in Torna. Some of the side quests are a little boring and there really isn’t much to do in BotW after you finish them. You can only keep one horse at a time which might be a little annoying if you have more than one character.
Is Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Torna a separate game?
Yes, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Torna the Golden Country is a standalone game.
Does Xenoblade Chronicles 2 have a physical copy?
Many people have been wondering whether Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has a physical copy or not. The answer is yes. The game can be purchased in both hard and soft copies. This game is available to purchase on Amazon or any other retailer that sells video games.
Does Torna physically contain a cartridge?
Torna, a villain from the 2019 Nintendo game, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” does not physically contain a cartridge.
RP is designed for the Nintendo Switch and using this device’s touch screen or GamePad, players physically open the game to play it.
However, there are cartridges that are sealed with tear tabs that virtually twist around them in order to create an interactive experience by making it possible for players to insert and remove them at will.
