I obviously haven't played the game yet, so I can't do anything but speculate and theorize when it comes to how the game was received by some reviewers, but I can definitely see where a lot of people are coming from as it pertains to the issues that XCX apparently has.
I'm not really surprised that it isn't for everyone because, like others have said, it isn't made for everyone. JRPG's have been gradually declining in popularity for a while now, and this is mostly due to the advent of the "pick up and play" nature of many open world western RPGs that value accessibility and simplicity over everything else. The greatest example of this is none other than the king of WRPGs,
The Elder Scrolls, specifically the changes that were made in
Skyrim. This isn't a good or bad thing, but it reflects how the industry has been trending to an easier and less difficult to understand type of game that doesn't need to be played for hours to understand and grasp the basic mechanics of a given game. These types of games have been getting unreal success for that very reason - people want to keep playing a game that constantly rewards them and that they feel like they comprehend right from the start.
XCX doesn't really fit that modern mold too well from what I can tell. It seems to embrace more recent traits of RPGs in general, with cool-down skill times instead of "magic" points, fast-travel markers, character customization, and most of all a heavy focus on a deep and thought-provoking plot. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way, as, unfortunately, it seems like Nintendo has been two steps behind the competition in recent years when it comes to keeping up and trying to match what western developers have been doing for certain genres. The other half of that is that XCX, as it seems to be obvious by now, has a very steep learning curve and presentation that can be very, very intimidating to a lot of people. The game most likely demands a great deal of time and effort to be put into it before the player starts reaping the satisfying rewards of a massive and deep game.
I'm not a fan of video game "journalism", so my opinion might be biased, but that's the exact opposite of what your average video game reviewer wants to see. Reviewers more often than not seem to reflect the qualities of their audience, and since the majority of gamers today find enjoyment in your more accessible and mainstream games, it doesn't really surprise me much at all.
All that being said, it's still some very positive reception. Eagerly awaiting Friday so I can finally dive into this thing.
I was really on the fence for this game. I never played the first one but this one showed promise. These reviews have enlightened me, and showed me what a tedious game this is and for the complaints listed in the reviews I'm going to have to pass on it. Oh well, maybe when zelda u comes out in 2 years I'll finally have something to play on my wuu.
Two years is a little optimistic for Zelda bro, it's probably coming Winter 2018 or Spring 2019. I'd recommend selling your Wii U while it's still worth something, otherwise it's just an expensive dust collector.