Why is Xenoblades Chronicles so expensive?

[SoreWristed]

I'm looking to buy Xenoblades Chronicles.

I've read and heard about it to no extent by the fine people here. So off I go to my local games shop, who were kind in informing me that it is not in stock, in belgium. Yippee.

Off again I set on my epic quest to procure this apparant masterpiece, only to find copies going online for up to 139 euro. Uk prices are near the same, but I can only find used.

Add that to the need to buy a controller to be able to play it as it should be played, get's me in the price range of about 160-170 euro.

I'm intrigued.

Why is it so expensive?
Does it require any form of online support, since my wii mini does not have online connectivity?
Is it still worth it, I've heard someone say they still haven't finished it after 100+ hours of gameplay?
Do I need backstory from Xenogears or other titles?

 

[mad825]

All I can say that it's supply and demand. From what I gather the game is no longer sold in shops that therefore people with the game are selling it at a high price because there is a high demand but the supply is very limited.

It's going on to the New 3DS and the game will be sold at a cheaper price.

 

[Mutant1988]

It's always the same reason for physical games - Low print run.

There's simply not enough copies in existence.

 

[hybridial]

Because it's the worst RPG ever made so it has some historical value..

 

[Mimic]

It's expensive as it had a rather limited run of copies and as the game is rather acclaimed people decided to hike up their prices should anyone want to get a copy. I checked out Amazon (UK) a couple of days ago out of curiosity as i do own the game and there was a copy for £55. Now the cheapest seems to be £73 so it seems to be varying a lot(I like how amazon's trade in value is just £5.09). Probably best to get it on 3DS assuming the versions good.

There's no backstory you need to know for Xenoblade Chronicles and I'm fairly sure it had no online support requirement. I just used the wii remote with my copy and never really had much of an issue although a controller would probably be more comfortable. Gameplay length is likely to be around 60-80 hours it can be a lot more as there are literally hundreds of side quests.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

Why is it so expensive?

As several people already pointed out, Xenoblade Chronicles had a rather limited print run and initially did not sell all that well. And then it became somewhat of a sleeper hit or cult favorite or whatever you want to call it. So now you have a situation where the demand for the game exceeds the number of copies in existence, so the price went up. Simple supply and demand.

Does it require any form of online support, since my wii mini does not have online connectivity?

No, there are no online components to the game you need to worry about.
I would stongly recommend playing it with a Pro controller though.

Is it still worth it, I've heard someone say they still haven't finished it after 100+ hours of gameplay?

I'd say that's a yes. It took about 130 hours of side-quests and trying to beat overleveled monsters before I got tired of that and I decided to tackle the final boss. It is probably my favorite console jrpg of its generation, save for perhaps Valkyria Chronicles, if only because they are so different from each other that it's like comparing apples and oranges.

Do I need backstory from Xenogears or other titles?

None at all. The Xeno games are only very loosely connected through common themes and not through any kind of overarching plot or shared universe.

 

[Scarim Coral]

It's simple, they stop manufacting the disc itself therefore the exisiting and remaining game disc are now consider to be rare.

Also the game is going to be release on the 3DS this month so if you got a 3DS get it on that version instead.

 

[Maximum Bert]

As already said its supply and demand.

I am not sure I would pay over hundred pounds for it even though I do consider it the third best game ever made. I was lucky enough to pick it up on release and it entertained me for about 120 hours I believe whereupon I beat all the bosses (optional and otherwise) and completed every possible side quest that it was possible to do.

If you can get it for a decent price pick it up but I personally wouldnt break the bank over it. Then again some people buy a brand new console for 1 game or get a brand new phone because its the latest model so to those people where money is less of an issue I would say go for it.

 

[SoreWristed]

It's simple, they stop manufacting the disc itself therefore the exisiting and remaining game disc are now consider to be rare.

Also the game is going to be release on the 3DS this month so if you got a 3DS get it on that version instead.

It's not coming out for the 3DS, it's coming out for the New 3DS.

The New 3DS is the mid gen upgrade that has more hardware power, the camera nub and enhanced 3D. It also has it's own exclusive games that can only be run using it's extra hardware power. Xenoblade will be one of them.

If he has a normal ass 3DS or 3DS XL, he can't play Xenoblade on it.

which is my situation exactly. I have a normal ass DS, 2DS and a wii. Besides, looking at let's plays, i feel the game should be played on a big screen. I also much prefer to play these games from the comfort of my couch, not with arm cramps from holding my DS a foot from my face.

Anyway, thanks guys, my order is on it's way. Now for four days of sitting in front of my mailbox...

 

[lechat]

please let us know how you feel about your purchase.
I too feel that xenoblade is one of the best games ever made but depending on how similar X2 on the wiiU will be it might have been worth holding out for that.

 

[Hairless Mammoth]

Yeah, limited production runs for games, because the publisher worries about having excess stock, and then the demand for a game increasing unexpectedly can cause this. The NU 3DS remake might lower the price of used copies, and one might be able to buy a copy, play the game, and resell it very little loss for the next few years. I know the price of used copies of Metroid Prime Trilogy dipped $10-20 when the Wii U eShop got it. Used (North American) copies of that have stabilized around $60.

Nintendo has been especially bad about this in recent years, on pretty much any game that does have Mario and Co. in them. I was lucky to find a local used copy of Pimkin 3 a year after in came out. Xenoblade Chronicles was Nintendo published. That GC controller adapter was so rare because they underestimated the demand Smash players have for playing with the 'cube pad, and its price went to 4-5 times the MSRP. We also got the Amiibo issue, which they have been (finally) listening to fans about and might be fixing now.

Atlus is another publisher that I was warned year ago would have low production runs. I think it isn't as bad as 10 years ago, but you would have to ask an Altus fan how bad it is now.

The original Shantae for Game Boy Color is another good example of an individual game going for extreme prices. Used copies on Amazon (US) are going for $300- to $500, even after it hit the 3DS eShop. That's because it came out after the GBA was already out, and Capcom didn't press many carts, again, for fear of dumping money into carts that would not sell to a crowd that now wants GBA, not GBC, games.

 

[renegade7]

Tends to happen with "cult hit" RPGs. Games like that tend to be preferred by a smaller fanbase, so they don't sell well so there's a shortage of copies to go around. On the other hand, JRPG players tend to be more dedicated than the average gamer, so second-hand retailers know they can get away with charging extra. It's because they're rare to begin with and because there's always going to be a market that is willing to pay top dollar.

 

[Weaver]

I do wish Nintendo would start making more than like 20 of a thing.

 

[LaochEire]

I have a sealed copy. I never opened it. Bought it when the game was being sold off from Amazon UK after it flopped. Was one of their few remaining copies and now it's worth a lot, for a game. Still has Nintendo Seal around it.

I bought a New 3DS XL so I'll buy the new version of it coming out for that device.

Also, welcome to Nintendo. Good luck paying anything but scalper price for their classics.