Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna - The Golden Country

  • September 14, 2018
82%
Game Brain Score Based on 17 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna - The Golden Country Game Cover
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna, The Golden Country is a a must-have for fans of the series, and for Switch owners who are RPG fans.

Guide a group of legendary warriors on a journey through the tragic history that doomed a kingdom and drove a hero down a dark path 500 years before the events of the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 game. Defend yourself from Malos and his forces using all the fury of this refined battle system, allowing you to fight as both the artificial lifeforms known as Blades and their masters, the Drivers. - Drive…

  • Nintendo Switch
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews
story7 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Accessible to new players with a fantastic standalone experience.
  • Refined combat system and engaging story with excellent characters.
  • Stunning visuals and a fantastic soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
  • Story pacing suffers due to required sidequests, which can be off-putting.
  • Technical issues persist, particularly in handheld mode with variable resolution.
  • Some design decisions, like unnecessary progression stop gates, detract from the experience.
  • story9 mentions

    The story in Monolith Soft's latest title is praised for its engaging narrative, strong character development, and emotional depth, effectively building upon the main game while addressing previous flaws. While some players noted pacing issues due to sidequests, the overall storytelling is considered a highlight, featuring well-crafted writing, a captivating soundtrack, and a visually impressive world. The DLC, "Torna," is particularly noted for its ability to enhance the lore without relying heavily on fan service.

    • “Monolith Soft’s latest effort wasn’t without its flaws, but effectively surpassed them with a stunning world, engaging combat, and a story that charmed and surprised in equal measure.”
    • “The DLC does still suffer from a few of XC2's flaws, particularly in how it paces its story and handles tone, but Torna is nonetheless a fantastic prequel that helps to fill in the blanks without ever feeling pandering or relying too much on fan service.”
    • “A great story with fewer anime tropes and more gravitas than the base game; all new, well fleshed out mechanics; the fantastic core battle system from Xenoblade 2 has been further iterated upon; great characters; good writing and voice acting (mostly); incredible soundtrack; imaginative worlds; a lengthy new story that is very well paced; a lot of new additions to the base game; and redressals of a lot of Xenoblade 2's flaws.”
    • “The DLC does still suffer from a few of XC2's flaws, particularly in how it paces its story and handles tone.”
    • “The emotional story builds upon the main game really well, but side quests, in general, feel more substantial and help flesh out the world and characters.”
    • “While there are fantastic changes to combat that make it more active and engaging, the story still lacks depth and coherence.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game has been widely praised, with reviewers highlighting a fantastic and emotional soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. New musical tracks stand out and contribute to the game's engaging atmosphere, complementing the refined battle system and well-developed story. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant improvement, adding depth to the gameplay and character interactions.

    • “fantastic soundtrack, revamped battle engine, streamlined obtuse and annoying mechanics, likeable cast of characters and greater insight into the history of Alrest.”
    • “refined battle system, excellent storytelling, great visuals, amazing soundtrack.”
    • “standout new musical tracks, and a generally strong visual design.”
  • gameplay4 mentions

    The gameplay in this DLC expansion is praised for its revamped battle engine and streamlined mechanics, making it more accessible and enjoyable than the main game. Players appreciate the well-developed characters, engaging story, and the incorporation of new features that address previous flaws, all set against a fantastic soundtrack and imaginative worlds. Overall, the gameplay experience is enhanced with thoughtful improvements and a greater depth of narrative.

    • “It's been shortened, streamlined, and depending on your preferences, you might find that this DLC expansion handles a few mechanics better than the main game ever did.”
    • “A great story with fewer anime tropes and more gravitas than the base game; all new, well fleshed out mechanics; the fantastic core battle system from Xenoblade 2 has been further iterated upon; great characters; good writing and voice acting (mostly); incredible soundtrack; imaginative worlds; a lengthy new story that is very well paced; a lot of new additions to the base game; and redressals of a lot of Xenoblade 2's flaws.”
    • “Interesting twists to the mechanics from the base game, some really great new music to explore, and Lora is a great new character.”
    • “The gameplay feels overly simplified, making it less engaging than I had hoped.”
    • “Some mechanics are streamlined to the point of losing their depth, which can be frustrating for players who enjoy complexity.”
    • “While the game has its moments, the overall gameplay experience is marred by repetitive tasks and lackluster mechanics.”
  • graphics2 mentions

    The graphics are praised for their great visuals and improvements in handheld mode, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the refined battle system and excellent storytelling, which complement the visual presentation.

    • “The visuals are stunning, bringing the game world to life with incredible detail and vibrant colors.”
    • “The graphics are beautifully designed, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the environment.”
    • “The improved handheld mode visuals make it a joy to play on the go, showcasing the game's art style perfectly.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players note that the game can be grindy at times, which may detract from the overall experience, and some have reported technical issues. Additionally, there is a mention of fewer Welsh accents, which could impact immersion for some players.

    • “The game can be grindy at times, making progress feel tedious.”
    • “Technical issues still arise, which can hinder the grinding experience.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding can become frustrating.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a compelling story that enhances the main narrative, with substantial sidequests that deepen character development and world-building. Players also appreciate the engaging combat changes, standout musical tracks, and strong visual design, all contributing to a rich emotional experience.

    • “An emotional story that builds upon the main game really well.”
    • “Side quests, in general, feel more substantial and help flesh out the world and characters.”
    • “Standout new musical tracks and a generally strong visual design.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its intentionally ineffective tutorials, in-game map, and UI, which often lead to comedic situations. While the lip-syncing and voice acting may occasionally miss the mark, the overall comedic tone remains a highlight, especially in handheld mode where performance quirks can add to the humor.

    • “The lip syncing and voice acting can still be off, but the humor shines through in the hilariously ineffective tutorials, in-game map, and UI.”
    • “Even when the performance in handheld mode is better, the game's humor remains a highlight, making the experience enjoyable despite some technical hiccups.”
    • “The comedic elements are so well integrated that even the flaws in the system become a source of laughter.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with issues such as inconsistent lip-syncing and voice acting, performance challenges in handheld mode, and ineffective tutorials and UI elements noted by users. While there are improvements, the overall experience can still be taxing on the system.

    • “Lip syncing and voice acting can still be off; performance in handheld mode, while better, can be taxing on the system; tutorials, the in-game map, and UI can still be hilariously ineffective.”
    • “The game struggles with optimization, leading to frequent frame drops and long loading times that disrupt the overall experience.”
    • “Despite some improvements, the optimization issues remain a significant barrier, making it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game has received criticism for being hindered by a lackluster endgame experience and a character design that some find unappealing. Additionally, the shorter length and standalone nature of the game detract from the overall depth and charm of character arcs.

    • “The character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “Mythra's character design is ridiculous and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The shorter length and standalone nature of the game take away some of the charm, leaving characters feeling underdeveloped.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

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