“Xenoblade Chronicles” is the arguable slump buster — a massive adventure that ar- rives with significant fanfare and, instead of using that hype as a crutch, cashes it in to teach a tired genre some overdue new tricks. It liber- ally adopts concepts that have propelled Western RPGs for- ward, but merges them with a flavor and storytelling ap- proach that leaves no doubt where its lineage lies.

Crucially, “Chronicles” lays most of it — a monstrous open world, versatile side quests, customizable armor and weaponry run wild — almost immediately at your feet fol- lowing an opening sequence that’s similarly generous with its combat system.

When it doesn’t get in its own way, that combat is stel- lar. Like an early Bioware RPG (or, for JRPG fans, “Final Fantasy XII”), “Chronicles” combines real-time battlefield awareness and turn-based strategy. You have continuous, direct control over your char- acter’s position, and because the action doesn’t break for turns, he or she will default to a basic attack against the nearest available enemy un- less you dictate otherwise.

And you will, because de- fault attacks get you nowhere. Thriving in battle means managing an array of skills, monitoring allies’ statuses and health, and keeping party morale high enough to exe- cute special chain attacks and (if necessary) revive fallen comrades.