I’m a little sad now that the whole Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy has come to an end. This feature-length DLC for XC3 might be the last time we see the worlds created for the series, as although it did manage to forge some links with Xenoblade Chronicles X, I understand that’s not really related and the “links” are really little more than Easter eggs. Sad.
But the good things! Future Redeemed is set about 500 years before Xenoblade Chronicles 3, in an area of the same world that is somewhat missing from the main game for reasons which are clear in that game. You play as Matthew, a very familiar looking human who is from The City (no, not the same one as the main game) rather than Agnus or Keves. Agnus and Keves are about, nearer the start of their never-ending campaign to wipe each other out. Matthew, a mysterious woman called A, two “rescued” soldiers from the war, and – what? – both Shulk and Rex from XC1 and XC2 make up your party.
Gameplay is much the same as the main story, although there’s no Ouroborosing here (instead you have team-up attacks that effectively serve the same purpose). A few minor mechanic changes, like clearing out waves of baddies, change things a bit, but really what you’re here for is the plot and the further exposition of how Aionios came to be, how the hell grownup Rex and Shulk are here, and why Matthew looks like, well, spoiler. That, and a very familiar location from XC1 makes a major reappearance.
For a series that I wasn’t too sure I’d get into at the start, I have certainly spent one hell of a lot of time on it these last couple of years!
