Though it continues to struggle sales wise, you can't deny that the Wii U has its fair share of desirable exclusives. In 2015, the console has been graced by Super Mario Maker and Splatoon, two critical darlings that strengthen the system's reputation for fun and unique gameplay experiences.
This week, it looks to end the year strong with Monolith Soft's Xenoblade Chronicles X, the much anticipated follow up to the cult classic RPG from the original Wii.
Based on critical feedback, it looks like the game is a hit, scoring a solid 85 over 100 from Metacritic.
Gamespot's Peter Brown gave the game an 8 out of 10, praising the game's sprawling open world and endless stream of quests and missions. However, he found the game's narrative and characters to be bland.
"You will roll your eyes at characters, and bemoan the unnecessary story padding, but these frustrations are quickly forgotten when you head into the wilderness in search of unexplored territory and unforeseen challenges." He writes.
For Game Informer's Matt Miller, navigating through a game scope and size proved a tiring affair; saying that the end game provides little pay-off.
"I began Xenoblade Chronicles X filled with enthusiasm for its intriguing world and gorgeous visuals," he writes. "But like the hackneyed songs that play ad nauseum throughout, the gameplay doesn't have enough depth or entertainment to sustain such a prolonged experience."
He scored the game a 73/100.
Nintendo Enthusiast had nothing but praise for the title, awarding it a 95/100. Reviewer Jonathan Harrington says that the story issues, and weak soundtrack, do little to detract from the sheer wonder of exploring the planet of Mira.
" The story and characters are a bit dull, but I still played the game over five hours a day. The music may not have fit very well, but I still was in love with exploring everything I could. There are almost no moments of serenity, but I still stopped to stare at the view." He writes.
