what about pokemon...?

Gee Stacie, why give out spoilers when some might not have played it :D, and to me there's always a moment in the game that keeps the player guessing, maybe because I've played way too much jrpg, but it does and already give you the goal of what's happening. Every moment is a climax, X is slow with the climax. And I know the ending bit, but even I have to say that has moments as well.
(Also the last bit, nah I like every moment in Xenoblade even when you get to the island, that part is still engraved in my head, best moment, if you are not spoiled by it that is)

(I've been loving every moment of Xenoblade X so far. Though I just did a sidequest that made my skin crawl. ;n; )

She stole a quick peek over his shoulder as she started up her own Monster Hunter file. "Oh really? If you don't mind, do you think I could jump in a hunt or two?" The character select screen showed that she had clocked in well over a thousand hours.

You are a silent protag in that game as well, but you're more so fitting into the story, kinda like what you do in the Majora's Mask in Zelda you fit in with your character, and you try to understand what the characters around you are going through. That's the main reason why your a silent protag to begin with, because X wants to focus on your party, not just you.

Sure, shouldn't be an issue. I'm only a couple dozen hours in but I haven't made too much progress.

x is too slow moving to get its own story off the ground, not to mention there essentially is no main character in the story because hes silent.

xenoblade always keeps you playing to find out what happens next where as x just bumbles around in circles for a few hours before dropping one cool piece of info and then leading you around in circles again. X is more for the gameplay, the story is really awkward because of the essentially nonexistent main character. if they wanted to tell a story about how humans adapt to their new world thats fine, but dont try and have a self insert protagonist to drive that story because that doesnt work.

how does having an awkwardly executed silent protagonist trope help me learn about the party members? that doesnt make any sense

*sighs* i dont think alice is coming back

To be honest, I agree with a review here, the main focus on X is not really big on the story, but the characters. There's a reason why every time they let you do affinity missions, that mind you increase the character and world building of the people you work with, so the main protag does not talk, they did this with Xilla 2 as well, and that was done well, only thing was your choice mattered, and it also let you learn what the characters from the first game were doing. I understand world building and character devolpemtn is not for every gamer, but I enjoy knowing the backstory of how earth used to be, or what the humans are going try to do with themselves with the treat that comes on bored, hell Elma I really want to know her deal, since they said something after we meet a certain monster from xenoblade I want to know what was she, so many things yes it's slow and I agree it does make you run around like a headless chicken, but you know I'm all for that if the game keeps me engaged and not just make me feel bored, that's my thought on it, you might not agree with me, but like I will always give my thoughts on games since what I'm doing now is all I do.

How many Jrpgs have you played Stacie?

She nodded at Metal, happy to give a fellow Hunter a hand.

a lot, most of the ones with silent protagonists dont have awkward A or B dialogue choices that result in responses almost entirely unrelated to the choice i made though. most silent protags are strictly silent, but X tries to give you a way to talk to your party members but falls flat because more often than not the responses dont make sense.

*drapes my arms around Stacie from behind* Oh, if you don't like silent protagonists, I guess I should wake up and be chatty, hmm? *I giggle, let out a sleep yawn, and giggle again, smiling expectantly*

I will agree I wish they did the silent route like that Tales of Xilla 2 protag, where your choices did fit the motion of the story, since Tales of Xillia 2 did have an A or B choice, but it mattered to the story plot. See I like these sort of talk, when peopple are not dicking with each other. Maybe it's because I'm more focus on the characters I kinda don't care about my character as much, since I want to see these guys make it, and the A and B dialogue sometimes fit, Key word is sometimes, not all the time. I just want to see where X is going with the story, I don't like it when people compare it to Xenoblade since it's doing it's own thing. And only makes little reference to Xenoblade. As a commentate person and story/ movie watcher I get why you don't like the role your character has, but just give it time, you might ease into it, and if it does not and not your cup of tea, your still enjoying the game anyways :D

*I chuckle a bit as Alice finally wakes up* Well looks like someone finally got up.