Xenoblade Chronicles X is 5x Bigger than Xenoblade

A wealth of new details for Xenoblade Chronicles X have poured in, including character creation and a vast overworld.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is said to take on a far more open world approach, compared to its Wii predecessor, featuring eight affiliated unions to join, each with their own objectives. Players will venture out with a four character party, with AI controlling three.

The eight different unions, or factions, for quests are:

• Pathfinder - Installs data probes.
• Interceptor - Exterminates protists.
• Avalanche - Hunts down dangerous life forms.
• Testament - Scavenges for debris from the ship and lost items on the battlefield.
• Corepedian - Investigates areas and collects materials.
• Land Bank - Secure resources and mine for minerals.
• Arms - Develop Dolls (mecha) and their weapons
• Companion - Well rounded union
  

Despite sharing a name with Xenoblade Chronicles, the Wii U sequel will focus on a bigger sense of freedom, with multiple quests, faster pace with differentiation between close and distant attacks. For those who need to recover in the heat of battle, the game won't feature healer characters, but instead will use a different system called "Soul Voice."

Other details covered in Famitsu include the use of the GamePad, which will display a map and allow adventurers to warp to previously visited locations.

Xenoblade Chronicles X will also feature online functionality, which is being described as "loosely connected."

Musically, the game will feature 90 songs, as composed by Hiroyuki Sawano.

One of the highlights of the report included a look at the scale of the game, with the world of Mira said to be 400km² - over five times bigger than the original Xenoblade.

What are your thoughts on the game so far?