On the subject of Xenoblade, I've been playing XBC1 DE again and am 12 hours in. I don't know if I like the combat, to the point that I may just drop it and give XBC2 a try again. It just feels boring and like I'm not doing much as everything auto-battles around me. I just do some commands and make sure to use the Monado ability for normal weapons to hurt Mechon when fighting them, plus chains when able. Am I missing something?
I really just want to play XBC3 TBH but would like to play the older games.
It's mostly just stacking up the combo's and doing the chains. Xenoblade 1 really is about the locales, story and characters and less about the battle system although bosses can be cool to fight.
I enjoy playing as the Magic users more and the game opens up far more when you're not just stuck with Reyn Time and the Medic Sniper.
Once you unlock Melia you should just play as Melia though. (unless you need to wreck some Mechon).
Overall the game rewards you for switching the lead character a couple of times. Certain quests and conversations depend on which character you're playing as.
In a way though the story is self-contained. Xenoblade 1 is pretty much a finished arc. It could've ended with that 1 game actually.
Which really makes me wonder how they 'merged' the worlds in 3 and how that all came to be.
And despite how good XB:DE is, it still has all the limitations of a Wii game.
The roughest bit is probably where you are at now. The game has plenty of events to shake things up but it takes a while to get going and most side quests at that point are short and basic.