I've been playing Xenoblade Chronicles, the first one, for a little while, as I am already up to the Fallen Hand, and am about to embark up to Mechonis.
Xenoblade Chronicles on the Wii U gamepad is the best play experience available on this game for the three available methods, at least until it's inevitable Switch release. The 3DS version is the most feature complete version, but the smaller and lower resolution screen doesn't do the game any favours. Especially considering how big and detailed some areas of the game are.
While this game has the more strategic battle system, after playing Xenoblade Chronicles X, I find I miss the ability to switch between melee and ranged. Also, XCX targeting is easier, so it took me a bit of getting used to with the old system, particularly in battles with ~20-30 monsters. I actually like the more strategic approach the first game over the second. Targeting is no longer an issue once you get the character of Melia.
Melia begins off a little weak and flimsy, but it's worth it to play her even back in Makna Forest and Aryth Sea, as she takes a little getting used to, and is very fun to play after. She is a little unique, she is allowed to charge up to three spells, each working as a buff. So for example, she can charge a lightning, a fire, and an ice spell: that gives her three buffs, lighting gives her ether power, fire gives her strength, and ice gives her ether defence. Then if she uses the cast command, she will cast the latest charge (1st ice, then fire, and lightning would be the third). But because lightning was the first spell she charged, casting ice and fire will each have an ether buff attached to it, and will be more powerful as a result. Another benefit to casting Ice and fire is they will both burn and chill the target enemy, which means continuous damage for 10 seconds each.
Melina's best strategy is to charge two lightning spells (one of her skills is copy, which copies the last spell she used) giving her two stacking Ether buffs, and then keep charging and casting spells as they become available. Earth, Fire, and Ice spells all have status effects which deplete enemy HP, so casting all three + the buffs from two lightning spells means the enemy HP will deplete quickly.
But the most fun thing about Melia is you don't need to worry about positioning your character, since as a magic user she is ranged. But she does have a couple of good Melee attacks, spear break and her kick, when used back to back on a nearby enemy, she will topple them. So even though her melee attacks are weak, toppling enemies are a great way to cancel their aggro on you and put them at a disadvantage so your party members can beat on them. I like to use Riki as a healer - since he is FAR more durable than Sharla, and his big heal spell is pretty much all you need. For my third character, I like to use Seven, she is tanky, and with aggro junctions on her, she will draw all enemy fire while Riki heals, and Melia freely deals out obscene amounts of damage. Melia is also excellent at dispatching groups, since the majority of her spells target a field of multiple enemies.
In short:
Melina - main
Riki - healer
Seven - tank
-Insert Inspiring Quote-
“I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong." 
