Xenoblade Chronicles was a pleasant discovery, for many and many years I hadn't played such a well-made jrpg, one of those games that can stand up to the masterpieces of the genre.
I knew Shulk through Smash Bros and was afraid he was the usual happy-go-lucky blonde swordsman protagonist, I actually found him a good three-dimensional protagonist with his inner dramas.
The thing I liked the most about the first Xenoblade is the melancholy atmosphere that envelops the characters and the places they visit, in some ways their desperate mission reminded me of FFX.
Dunban is probably one of the best characters based on the trope of the veteran master, his motivations and this actions are realistic and not simply aimed at the story or the build of the protagonist.
I loved everything about this game, and while Xenoblade 2 is a great game too, I personally prefer the first Xenoblade.