Game Room: April Roundup

Japanese role-playing games have had it tough this console generation, but Xenoblade Chronicles avoids most of the worst elements of the genre to deliver a standout experience. The main character, Shulk, wields a gigantic blade called the Monado against an enemy out to destroy the world. The game's open world is home to hundreds of quests, ranging from the standard FedEx fetch to a robust main storyline. There's an astounding amount of gameplay here and, if anything, the game suffers from too much to do and not always enough guidance for mastering the variety of options that it offers. The presentation and voice work is strong for a Wii game, but it's hard not to wish that it appeared on a console with more juice under the hood. JRPG fans, however, will love it.Score: 8 out of 10