Xenoblade Chronicles X will play similar to its predecessor, Xenoblade Chronicles and will be an action Japanese role-playing game, with an emphasis on exploring a large, open fantasy world.
Dolls
One of the major changes found in Xenoblade Chronicles X is the addition of mechas, which are called 'Dolls' in the game. These Dolls are massive humanoid robots, roughly four times the size of a typical character in the game, and can be controlled by the player and put to various uses.
Dolls can be used to explore the huge open world more easily thanks to their ability to transform into various different forms, which allows them to be used to fly, traverse water, or move along the ground. They do, however, have fuel gauges, so fuel consumption will be something the player needs to monitor carefully.
Combat
Combat in Xenoblade Chronicles X is expected to be similar to that in Xenoblade Chronicles and will consist of a real-time combat system. The ability bar has been seen in screenshots, showing that it returns. The player can map the abilities they learn onto this bar and can then use them, after which they need a certain amount of time (it varies) to recharge before using them again.
Dolls also play an important role in the game's combat. Xenoblade Chronicles X introduces more varied combat, including aerial battles, which Dolls can take part in.
Exploration
Exploration played a large role in Xenoblade Chronicles and this will continue in Xenoblade Chronicles X.
Director Tetsuya Takahashi has stated that the development team's goal is to create the largest game world possible on the Wii U. The addition of Dolls allows for an even bigger game world, with more varied locations, thanks to the Dolls' ability to quickly transport the player across large distances.
The increased power of the Wii U compared to the Wii will enable the exploration of this open world to be 'seamless', and also allows for a full day/night cycle as well as dynamic real-time weather effects.
Online Play
Xenoblade Chronicles X is expected to feature some form of online multiplayer; in the debut trailer for the game three additional players and a chat window can be seen, suggesting that online cooperative play is included.
