A chapter by chapter look into Xenoblade 3's characters, universe, how it all fits with the rest of the franchise, and most importantly, why it all matters! My twitter has memes If you're so inclined: / intphilosphy
One of the "sevens" you may not be as aware of is games given what the end represents. Gears + 3 Saga games + 3 Blade games = 7 games dedicated to the Perfect Works and their statement to move beyond that after this game can be seen even in that detail.
So I'm well aware of perfect works, but I honestly never thought of it in this context!!! Like I legitimately just exclaimed out loud 😂 that's an amazing point you make
If you wanna go even deeper you can compare those numbers to the arts pallet. 3 Keves arts (3 Saga games) 3 Agnus arts (3 blade games) then the talent art that defines the build (gears)
I think you undervalued Noah's Side Story, just a bit. IMO, it's one of the best parts in the story. Crys is basically the devil's advocate in this quest, trying his best to explain Moebius's reasoning behind the Endless Now. Even if he himself doesn't believe in it. And I think it does a good job. Especially when he brings up the possibility that the queen could be mistaken and Origin doesn't work as intended, resulting in the total annihilation of both worlds. Rendering everything the party fought for pointless, were it to happen. This is a pitfall that everyone, even in real life, constantly falls into and what prevents us from making the right choices most of the time: The fear of failure! Only accepting guaranteed outcomes! It's a very prevalent pitfall, that is everywhere in our life. And something we're constantly told to accept. It's why the Endless Now is so enticing to people. It's guaranteed safe space, with seemingly no downsides. But the party realized that sometimes doing the right thing is hard and very risky, with no guaranteed positive outcome. However, they don't let the fear of failure chain them. They take the gamble, hold onto their convictions and keep moving forward. Which ultimately paid off.
Oh I totally agree with all that, I just felt like the execution during the chapter couldve been better, but tbh, I really really feel like the dlc just recontexualized this part of the game and everything you're talking about for the better, and it's something I plan to point out in my next vid!
It’s also one of the best parts in the story because after having fully explored Keves Castle, completed Ashera’s hero quest and taken down Infiltrator Garnach you can _finally_ visit Fort O’Virbus
I think one reason why I think people are too hard on the ending- is because it does a great job of showing us just how powerful the themes of the game are- how they rise above cliche. When I first saw the whole "Moebius is inside of everyone" plot point- I really didn't like it at first. I didn't want to see another plot point like that, it felt like the game was crashing the landing. When Moebius turned out to be more of a metaphysical concept, I was really bothered- until the characters were being shown ripped apart from each other. I then felt EXACTLY everything Moebius was trying to achieve- The need and desire to keep things together forever, because them drifting apart would be so painful of a thought. I wanted to come up with every justification that the world wasn't so bad in this state- they could just keep it on- but those thoughts ARE Moebius. The desire for an endless present, which in the end, would devoid their friendships of any real meaning. I then understood then and there what Moebius exactly was, and threw away all of my problems with the third act of the game. Once again, while although not as explicitly stated as the previous portions of the game, it really drove the point in home of exactly what the story was trying to tell us, and I think at a very crucial time for everyone, in these rather depressing times. So I think with all that being said, even if a vast majority of the player base take issue with the third act and ending, imagining anything else for the characters feels... like it's missing the point of the story.
Unfortunate, then, that the entire history of the story is erased in the end and everyone loses 99% of their memories, so the message ultimately is meaningless because the entire thing was removed from existence.
@@xana3961 But thats the beauty of the fact that it's a game- its themes aren't lost at all with the experience of the viewer. And isn't that more telling of the game's themes as a whole? The characters would rather have that reset, that march into nothing, then live in a world where everything was stagnant and pre-determined. And I also disagree that everything was forgotten. The ending clearly shows that Noah retained at least a fraction of something from Aionios, hearing Mio's off-seeing melody.
@@xana3961 Even if the brain forgets, the heart remembers. It sounds cheesy, but its true. We cannot remember everything that's ever happened in our lives, but even the stuff we don't remember still effects us in every aspect of our minds. The same goes for Xenoblade 3. The world may not remember what happened and what they went through, but deep down, it still happened and it will impact their future. This is shown in the ending with Noah remembering the Offseer's tune and seemingly rejoining with Mio. Hell, its all over the game even before that point. Eunie with her fear of death, Noah wanting to keep Mio close no matter what, Ethel and Cammuravi having an unspeakable connection, even as essentially newborns, etc etc.
@@xana3961 Is it? The universe rebooted and everyone has thousands of years of latent memories. Even if the surface memories are gone, the latent memories are still there. That's the point of Ashera and a lot of the Moebius characters, even blade characters from 2 share this theme. So I am really confused at how people came to that conclusion. Even if Aionios is gone, it still happened and that is also made clear by the ending where Noah recognizes the flute memory and disappears.
The prison scene is even more masterful when you realize that the same happened in XC2, you were thrown in jail but managed to escape without much struggle You kind of wait for the same thing to happen in XC3, something will happen eventually, I'll gain control, we'll find a solution and save Mio right? But as soon as the game strips you of that control after basically everyone in the cast says that they give up, that there's nothing you can do, that's when the realization starts to come in hard, as you see the party struggling to find a way out and failing at every moment, as we see Mio asking for Noah to give up, as we hear her saying that, as M, seeing the Noah that she loved still exists is heart breaking All that is what makes that scene so crushing and it just continues in the scenes that follow, while there is a certain triumph in getting out of an impossible situation the tragedy switches from us the player, to the main antagonist until now, we see N's world falling apart and it's hard not to feel bad for him, while yes, he was the one that put himself in that situation, nobody deserves that sort of pain, that's the whole reason our party is doing what they're doing and, in the end, that's what makes us human, empathizing with someone that we never thought we would be able to empathize with, as soon as we see our reflexion in someone else, we can put ourselves in what they are feeling and that's exactly, at least for me, what monolith managed to do with N This game is something special, from the writing to the ost, xenoblade will always be, to me, one of those one in a life time experiences and I'm so glad I'm able to experience it as it's being created
Thats how i think when i arrived at the jail scene. I thought they would open up hidden power or something. Not to be hit with soo much feels that it makes not just me but most of the player cried.
yeah. this scene crushed me, even after 4 times of seeing it I cried every time. the slow realization and utter feeling in your chest, the shock and confusion and desperate-ness all combined made your heart pound and your eyes widen as you see that, mio is going to die. and there's nothing you can do about it but watch. until we figure out it was m and then we all like WATTTT MIO IS ALIVE 😮
I never cried so much with fiction, it might be my 5th favourite game but my favourite game narrative now. As an adult mind you, something cracked that slot.
I just want to stop at the 12:00 time stamp to say something. There are so many moments in this story. So many situations that feel readily and happily misunderstood about its story. And Shania is undoubtably one of them I think. Her struggle is one I can honestly say I understand and empathize with. It’s not easy to live for where you excel when the world you know tells you it’s wrong. Sometimes people don’t know how to encourage you in the right way either. And shania’s envy at having unlimited chances, unlimited opportunities with the cradle system is understandable especially to someone who realizes they can’t just, go back and do it all over. Then there is the irony that rather than getting to join the cycle she so admired, she was instead reborn as moebius. Can you imagine being stuck with one life, one chance, embracing death in the hopes of getting to do it all over, only to find that you instead get stuck with one life that’s now permanent. Stuck with your mistakes, for an eternity instead. The fact that this happens after chapter 6 on top of that only compounds that as well. Can you really say you wouldn’t do the same if you were given the choice? This game is a hard lesson in empathy to me. And the fact that so many people struggle to see that is evidence in itself that we absolutely needed it.
Having all six of the ouroborous in your party at all times was such a smart idea because a) it means you can always switch to someone capable of doing something, which is huge in a series that could sometimes get bogged down with cooldown wait b) it really sells the idea that the six of them have been through all this stuff together and establishes subtly and powerfully just how close the six of them are
I'm also going to add to your first point, switching characters mid combat was only possible in Xenoblade 3, partly probably why they made it so you had six people to control at once.
What a fantastic video - gonna share this with all my xeno-loving friends. I really liked how you didn't just praise the game but also criticised it. It is a very flawed game at points, especially at ch6/7, but I agree that overall it succeeds in delivering the story that it set out to tell.
Amazing narrative of the story and philosophies behind XC3! In a way, all that happened in the chapters is like an answer to Noah's question in chapter 1, "those who die, are they content at the end". This game is really amazing because it discusses the different facets of human nature, like what you said about Shania and N, and Z and Aionios (wherein the journey of the game is like tearing down the hell of that world). Amazing analysis as well, because I never really understood N in such a way as how you explain how he is regret embodiment and how he monologues himself during his rematch. Hoping for more xc3 analysis from you!
And done! Really amazing video mate! I think Xenoblade 3 being a culmination is also a way of Takahashi saying goodbye to the structure they've used in each of the xenoblade games (and as far back as Perfect Works). Your analysis into the connections between the 3 games went beyond the surface level and was super interesting! I can't wait to see more of Monolithsoft's work and am optimistic for the DLC story :D Thank you for the video :)
I totally agree. I saw another video with this take, and it makes so much sense. They've been reusing perfect works ideas for years and years. Monolithsoft has been living in their own endless now, I'm excited to see how (or if) they change things up moving forward.
@@lloganm1234 Wow, i didn't even really think about it in that way. Takahashi and team finally gets to close a chapter in his life he's been trying to tell since Xenogears But, as we've seen, sometimes life makes things... a little complicated. I truly believe when noah threw his sword into the ocean and started talking to mio, it was also a thank you to all the xeno fans. Whatever they have planned for after the klaus saga, or even xenoblade as a whole, i cannot wait!
Concerning N and Noah, it’s amazing the character progression from N and early Noah of being selfish to learning what love truly is, being willing to live for others. It’s even crazier when you realize how N and Noah are the same person finally learning all of this over countless lives and deaths. N dies and comes back as Noah over and over again, and it’s not until the final time that he finally learns how to love
getting attached to fictional characters is kinda like getting to know the wills of the people they’re based on. or at least their imprints on other people.
What I would have liked to see with Z's final battle is him explaining what exactly he is, and that he came into existence out of the fear or two separate worlds. He is the embodiment of hesitation in the future, and the subconscious desire of many to maintain the now, rather than proceed to uncertainty. He doesn't necessarily have to be an evil entity, but an entity that simply was the greatest force opposing the cast. I honestly felt that he would have been perfect as a sort of being like Alvis from XC1. In the same idea that Alvis was an omnipresent entity designed to explain things when needed, and enable individuals for making their own choices for the future, Z would be an entity that designed with the sole purpose of preserving a looping timeline, and that he was do defend that way of life. If he was ultimately struck down, it meant that the worlds finally developed a greater desire to let the future unfold, and he was no longer needed. "I exist to curate the now, now and forever. I was the answer to the infinite voices of your two worlds, crying out at one in fear of the unknown. That is why I am here. If you wish for this to stop-if you desire for this world to move on, facing whatever future may come, then show me. Show me that your will is stronger than that which I represent. If it is time for this way of life to end, then may you strike me down."
That sounds pretty cool, yea I feel Z had a lot of untapped potential. Conceptually there's a ton to explore, but the execution wasn't all it could've been
The problem with Z is that he was a bit too high concept without giving much explanation for those who aren't willing to deep dive into an analysis of his character. I think hes the most interesting Xenoblade antagonist conceptually but the worst as a video game boss
Yeah I feel like Z and Moebius were under utilized as villains. I would have much more prefer if the characters discovered who they were from interacting with them rather than through just an exposition dump. It made the last set of confrontations feel weird. X and Y didn't even have death sequences.
Sometimes the best way for a director to show respect to the players is by having high concept villains like this that are more about the thematic structure than the character appeal. It really requires the player to contemplate further and engross themselves in the themes of this game which what Takahashi desired.
I love Xenoblade 3 it's one of my favorite games of all time. The entire series is just super high quality. It's great to see my favorite story in fiction getting so popular.
I do think the story is really good but it does have some unanswered questions that I wished were addressed. I do hope that the upcoming DLC story will answer those unanswered questions we had in our minds. But even then, I love the themes surrounding it and how it works throughout the whole story. And of course, the ending telling us to walk on is a beautiful message. XC3 truly is a work of art in many ways.
I just randomly found this channel and I need to say, you've exceeded all expectations in this video. This definitely feels like a KingK video, and I hope its a compliment. I really love the philosophical outlook and differing ideas and questions that you point out that I missed out on in my first playthrough. I can't wait to watch the rest of the xenoblade videos!
i rarely ever comment on videos but i really have to praise you for your eloquence and connection to your insights. i adored this game and i’m glad to see how thoughtful your retrospective is at tackling the niche, fundamental, themes in not just xc3- but the entire series. fantastic work friend, i look forward to other vids u make
What an amazing video, really good points throughout. I agree with your criticisms of the last two chapters. I feel that despite how weirdly the pacing of Chapter 7 was, I think the game ended on a perfect note. I can't wait for what Monolith has in store for the DLC story and beyond 😁😁
It’s weird how xc2 and 3 have almost opposite highs and lows for their final acts, at least for me. In 2, the whole part with wlysium and klaus was my favorite part of the story, up until the actual ending where pyra and mythra come back for seemingly no reason (I think this is stupid not just because it comes out of nowhere but also because it weakens a lot of the themes surrounding blades and their rebirth imo). Then in 3, the last chapter or so with origin felt kinda shaky and rushed imho but I really loved the actual conclusion with the worlds separating.
Another nod to spirituality and Christianity that I noticed was the process of becoming Ouroboros being similar to Adam and Eve eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In both cases, the people involved had their eyes opened such that they could recognize aspects of the world they didn’t notice before. For example, the cutscene where Noah noticed that the Ardun’s grow old and the obvious sexual discovery that came in the City.
Youre forgetting the most obvious example of all where noah lanz and eunie all shower together and see each other totally naked then after ouroborus theyre shy about changing together
Ah yes Ethel's and Kamaravi's robot battle sex. In any other reality they would have been lovers, yet in this world, unable to understand what love is, they could only find intimacy that they craved instinctively through battle. Its beautiful and tragic
Absolutely incredible video. You’ve managed to articulate things I’ve felt, yet been unable to put in to words. Honestly ashamed of myself it took me so long to find this. Incredible work 👌
I don't think you need to " hold out hope" that the worlds get to reunite since the post credit scene metaphocally implies that they do, in fact, reunite
I have a few standard reasons why Xeno games are my favorite ever, like the story, artstyle, music, STORY, gameplay, voices, STORY, GAMEPLAY. But there are some other reasons these games are my favorite. One of them is twitch. Skye Deva St. John Bennett livestreamed Xenoblade 2, which was a blast, and Harry McEntire is actively streaming Xenoblade 3. Their livestreams are amazing, and I recommend watching them. It's awesome to hear them say random things in their characters voices, react to things they weren't aware of, and also they are just really cool people. The other special reason is Chuggaconroy. Xenoblade 2 is his longest series ever, and I love hearing his take on the game. His Xenoblade 3 series will be amazing, and I can't wait to experience the game again, learn new things, and view the game in a different light because Emile is so much better at putting his feelings of the games into words than me. I know people hate the ending, and I did as well, but the reason I don't anymore is because I don't view it as a cliffhanger. I do believe they will find each other again, despite how impossible it seems. And who knows, the DLC could be a sequel and then I will truly have no issues with the end! Xenoblade 3 is my game of the year for sure! Great video! It was edited amazingly and I learned a few new things and enjoyed someone elses take on things I already knew.
Also, while watching the video, I had a funny thought. Nia was the one who escaped the Aionios Cycle (for some reason, it's never explained why her and Melia got to fight), so because Nia escaped, if Pyra and Mythra were in the world, they were probably just standard soldiers. That's crazy to think about! They were gods in one world and soldiers who probably made it to their homecoming. Hopefully we actually get to see them in the DLC campaign, I miss them! ;(
I think the most painful part of that homecoming scene was listening Noah shouts "it's good to keep a record" when saving the file.... dammit, that hurt a lot with all that was going on, no kidding
Anyone ever notice at the start of chapter 2 I think, they all get nervous when changing in front of each other when we see in chapter 1 that the Keves showers are co-ed. It's much like after gaining the power of ourouburs it was much like Adam and Eve eating from the tree of knowledge
I don't know if i'm correct or not, but there is also a thing that M said in the jail. She said that she never said the name Noah because "her heart would break if she did". And at the end, Mio said to N that M wanted him to call her to the name Mio. Isn't that true also for N? He couldn't call her by her name because of the guilt that he felt by killing the city people?
Subbed, love stuff like this with a capital P passion, but also Where do you get OFF ending the video like that, the audacity- Jokes aside, Characters, or the World of a series itself will always be the most important part to me, at least if you break them into World, Characters and Story. I can absolutely love a world and not think anything of the characters, and absolutely love the characters of a "Generic" world, as long as one of those things can grab my heart, I'm sold, I didn't feel too strong of a connection to any of the characters at the start, but Lanz is the one who kept me invested enough before Taion and the rest really started to shine for me, I'm wanting to do a replay once the DLC comes out given besides X, I've only really given the games one run through and spectated other friends going through them, but man does stuff like this and being able to see stuff from another persons perspective make me giddy, thanks for uploading this.
I'm glad you liked it! And yea I get those preferences, I'm also thinking of doing replay stuff leading up to the dlc, although for me I gotta make time for it during the day 😅
Played through 1-3 on the Switch last year for the first time. I adore just about everything in X3, cleared Normal, cleared Hard on a fresh save, 500 hours total into it. Went back to 2 last week and the more i play the more I appreciate how intricate each area is, especially the verticality, the Titan's heads in motion towering above you like the Bionis and the Mechonis in 1. I just feel that despite the Urayan mountain range 3 loses that vertical sense of scale 1 and 2 have with how open and flat the areas are. And the atmospheric effects aren't as striking as they are in the previous games, most of X3 at night is fairy uneventful visually, bar the aurora in Cadensia and at the base of the great sword. On the flip side, some of the story cutscenes look soo much better at night, especially the cutscene before fighting Issurd.
This video really makes me think about how deep we can go in analysing Xenoblade 3 and it's themes. There's a lot of themes that go way further down in the pit of what makes the human experience. I look forward to more ideas coming from this game and I think your discussion has struck the beginning of a gold mine. When I was playing (and thoroughly enjoying) Xenoblade 3 I had that feeling that this has got some real depth to it, and strikes at one of the very core pillars of humanity. Particularly, in the christian themes the game's narrative partially made use of (maybe intentionally? Maybe unintentionally?) to bring forward it's point about the necessity of moving forward in life. I think it is very much akin to 'choosing to walk the path of the divine' or (put another way) 'walking with God'. I think parallels between this games themes and the bibles themes could be further explored. And the fact that the game has it's climax at a literal depth I think is reflective of the fact that you'll find the answer you seek the most through the darkest abyss in your soul. As Z is a manifestation of everyone's shadow self (but within a context of the unwillingness to move forward and content with the future). I also think that the motif of Lucky Seven representing the divine word of truth (it cuts through anything and is made from reality itself, Origin) speaks to the audience about the way in which you must conduct yourself in order to 'walk with God'. And it is through the adoption of the truth. (However this theme is very trivial in video games and was even in the first Xenoblade game.) What I am attempting to point out here is that Xenoblade 3 draws a lot of parallels with the Christian bible not just in it's character designs (Z, as you pointed out), but in core themes as well. And the mere fact that it shares themes with the biggest foundation of the modern world suggests that there could be (and I think is) way more to the narrative themes of this game than people may realise.
The concepts not coming into full fruition would fit the endless now theme, concidering the stagnant growth! The 0 mention of Klaus are clearly to make the games work standalone, the final dlc is proabably what was advertized as the end of the Klaus saga. Mira could be tied to the endless now, but it somehow got broken by the end! The part about all having moebius inside them, could be tied to Shulks line of everyone getting to decide the future.(or elma somehow were able to reboot the origin to start another endless now)..
As far as theory of seven goes, Noah's sword was also named Lucky Seven. I think you're onto something! I never thought of the other occurrences of seven.
I couldnt get into the previous games, but my god, xbc3 was beautiful and meaningful... I still need to play xenogears though, because I know that story is even deeper, xbc3 is basically xenogears in most of the themes, but slightly less brutal.
I loved the video, great analysis. But please if you can fix your audio, it's not your mic but how the music is overlaying your voice and it gets distracting.
It took me a while to truly grasp why Ethel and Cammuravi acted the way they did. When I realized that that was their desperate attempt at expressing some kind of freedom to choose within the confines of aionios, they're deaths feel even more sadder. Even if thats what they wanted, the fact the world gave them no ability choose how their lives could turn out, in turn finding freedom in combat in which their admiration for each other stems, was so gut wrenching for me. If they werent of this world and and instead met each other under peaceful circumstances without moebius, they would have had millions of ways in which they could bond with each other, but moebius stripped them of that choice.
Yea, trying to imagine what those two, along with so many others would be like, and what kind of attachments they may have in a peaceful world is one of the fascinating parts of xc3's world
I believe that Xenoblade 3, upon deeper analysis, conveys a profound message about the end of existence and the meaning of life, especially in relation to death. While I acknowledge the game's imperfections, I think it connects more deeply with the trilogy's themes. It seems the fandom does not appreciate it as much, but the themes it addresses, such as the fear of the unknown future and the significance of living, resonate strongly with me. Despite the Moebius characters being unpopular among the community, I believe they serve their purpose well. Z, for instance, symbolizes people's fear of worlds colliding and the potential end of tomorrow. As the game progresses, it consistently emphasizes the uncertainty of the future, highlighted by N, a Noah initially determined to witness a tomorrow but later rejecting it due to the fear of losing the sole purpose of existence represented by M. Another significant point is the exploration of what it means to live, exemplified in the powerful scene of a baby's birth. The game suggests that aiming for a present without a future means missing out on the potential for failure inherent in living, alongside losing the valuable aspects of life. In my opinion, the ending of Xenoblade 3 is the most impactful in the trilogy. It serves as the culmination of these themes, with Noah confronting the proposition from N about the possibility of him and Mio being together, acknowledging that a life without an end lacks purpose.The conclusion is bittersweet, adding depth to the narrative as Noah and the group accept their end but with the hope of a future. It ends on a somber note, with Noah and Mio existing in a future where the known group and experiences no longer exist, emphasizing the significance of lived experiences in shaping one's identity. Sorry for the long text but I wanted to share my point of view
Good points, yea i agree, xc3 definitely builds on pre existing themes in the series in a way that refines them, and also adds a unique flavor to things too. After all this time I honestly feel 3 is my favorite story out of all of them, despite some of the admited faults!
You were wrong about the zohar not being present. Every council has one in the middle of there chest but it seems to be a negative or anti zohar. Now knowing that alvus is gonna be in the dlc season 4, I'm guessing there gonna explain why, like maybe it was alvus who was behind of corrupting origin
A cool thing about shania is how much she is loved by the city in general, no spoilers but her decisions really mess people up, at least in passing dialogue.
Some updates about this interpretation of the story, after the DLC and after the Art book lore reveals (Spoilers for the DLC and Artbook lore drops) So, in the artbook, it's revealed that of the trinity, Malos/Logos is the representation of Jesus, Mythra/Pyra/Pneuma is the representation of the Holy Spirit, and Alvis/A/Ontos is the representation of God the father. If your analysis of Xenoblade 1 2 and 3 is correct, where 1 is heaven, 2 is Purgatory, and 3 is Hell. Then that would mean Malos/Logos, since we know his essence/core survived 2, and is in the world of Aionios as the Sword of the End, then here's another interpretation of his story: Logos, died and was buried (disappeared) he descended into Hell (3, as sword of the end, caught in there for however long, which I now have a theory about how long Aionios existed, because of this) on the third day he rose again from the dead, and was seated at the right hand of God the Father.... (Xenoblade 4, especially after we found out that Logos' story is not done, thanks to the artbook, not confirming or denying the idea that we could see Malos/Logos return in the future. And because of the "3rd day he rose" part, I like to believe that Aionios existed for 3,000 years, and maybe outside of Aionios, it was only truly gone for the length of 3 days. Because of how we know that Aionios was stuck in a singular moment in time.) I'm not going to try and claim that this is the correct way to look at it, but this would be a VERY cool coincidence/way to look at it, if it is the case, even remotely. Fantastic video though! You've earned a subscriber!!
I think Z represents the pitfall of logic. He is only able to see through a logical lens. This is a world that orgin created where gods theoretically could exist, or couldn't at all like our own. (Of course, you could look at Alpha from the DLC as either a god or an avatar for origin. Yes, shulk also talks directly about Zanza, too. However, that was in Shulks' world, same story with rex.) One of the most logical answers to if gods exist or not is, "It doesn't matter, you should enjoy your time while you're here." (Feel free to debate me.) Along those lines, at least, wouldn't you want to make a world where everyone could enjoy that time forever? (This is exactly what happened with N.) But eventually, everything is going to get boring. You enjoyed all you can, all you want, so what, then? Your moral compass starts shrinking and shrinking (it was probably low already if you became mobeius) until you start to value human life like a grain of sand. You start going crazy, finding ways to toy with lives just to get enjoyment. (Clearly, Triton regained some altruism and morals for us to see him like he is.) Your party is obviously the opposite of that. Through their journey, they believe in a greater cause because of what they've seen from their world, that someone running on near pure logic couldn't. They find death sad and perform off-seeing rituals. They see greatness in everyone and everything. "But Z is calm and largely collected, not crazy like a lot of other mobieus." Being angry, or really emotions in general have no logic to them, unless you're using it for manipulation. Now, The Taion in my basement didn't tell me this, but it's mostly an idea of mine I gathered. Great video! I'm pretty good with philosophy, and I wasn't able to see a lot of this.
I absolutely agree that Z is that. So much is said about how Z is a concept born from the fears, doubts, and regrets of humanity, to paraphrase things. And as a person who’s in tune with the struggle of anxiety, I’ve learned that sometimes logic does not help. When you doubt something, you use logic to determine if it’s safe. But if approaching the thing you doubt is inevitable (like the worlds colliding) or your logic does not help you come up with any other options, you have to yield your logic to a different controlling factor. An emotion that tells you to go forward even when you don’t know what’s gonna happen, because while you can’t predict the future you can at least trust that it’s PROBABLY gonna turn out ok. And Z…is literally incapable of that. He’s trapped in a cycle of trying to find answers that can’t be predicted, and trying to stall an event that is inevitable. Which is relatable to having anxiety. I think it’s most fitting that the final thing he does is ask the party “who will be there to save you in times where you can’t succeed?” (Again, paraphrased). This question is asked a few times in XC3, like with Shania, and I feel like it never really gets an answer besides the hope of building a world where people won’t be subjected to such impossible fates. There’s possibly no answer, but the party moves forward anyway because they know they can’t let themselves be mired in indecisiveness. But Z can’t cope with that. The entire world he fabricated to stall for time has turned against him, and all he has left is to demand answers that don’t exist, before breaking down entirely. XC3 really is just one giant therapy session
I can respect xenoblade commiting to the themes it has but I'm still not sure why holding onto feelings is seen as such a bad and big thing. That wanting the "endless now" is so bad? that the sheer emotion of not letting go created that entire world? like i get its personified in moebius but instead of actually staying in the literal endless now they hold on to the selfish idea of immortality, i don't mean that i mean relationships. Who wouldn't have these feelings? so why is it casted in something you have to get over?
I think its precisely because the endless now is desirable to anyone that the game focuses on how that could lead to one failing to move on. Like it's such a natural thing that isn't inhernetly based in malice, but it can still hold you back in a way you don't recognize, and I think thats explored in N and M's arc. But that's just my interpretation, it's fine to have others and even have a counterargument to the games thesis 🙂
I loved this game so much, hands down on of the best game on switch. It's world building and narrative depth it's the most ambitious in the series and could have been the best Xenoblade but it has some errors and lacks of constancy. there are some dialogues like the final one with J that in the first half is repetitive and full of obvious things and the second half is amazing. The plot has may more higths than downs, but they could definitely have done better some chapters, maybe focusing more on the characters in the first half. But the errors are way more impacting: first of all Nia and Melia shouldn't be alive, I've even heard some people talking about Nia being Mio's mother... if that's really what the author was thinking than all the base structure of the game is wrong, than there's that photo with rex and the others at the end, again nobody says that is rex's child... but it's at the limit of being disrespectful of xc2 story and characters. M powers are also not explained but personally I don't mind that, however M and N killing Z doesn't make very sense, all the final battle is a bit off schemes but again it's not very bad. BUT God, Z and the moebius seeing their biggest enemies destroying colonies killing moebius and become stronger... still decide to do nothing serious about them, despite all the power they have. Z and co are to much powerful and have enough knowledge to DON'T underestimate uroboros, just a simple plan could have killed them in a instant. They know the exact position of the team, and could every time send like 3 Moebius... and than they adopt a pokemon team rocket strategy and send the weakest moebius in oder of power 1 at the time. So Z must be very secure of his power right? first minute into Z boss fight: "I can't believe you become so much strong", and gets beaten. They could also create an army of moebius with the origin sword, since it's just a part of the iron used in the Origin. Despite all of that, XC3 is one of my favorite games oat, but at some things it's not better than xc2. The most flaw I can talk about this game is it's lightness.
Over a decade ago, I modded my Wii so I could play an imported Xenoblade Chronicles. To this day, it is the only game I've ever imported. I'm thankful I paid the extra to get it, because it introduced me to now my favorite game series of all time. I hope XBC continues, but if it doesn't, the trilogy has given me more than enough.
Re: the game's repeated use of 7... There are 7 musical notes. The game revolves heavily around music as the flute is central to the role of an off-seer. There are 7 colors in the visible spectrum & a rainbow. The image of a rainbow is central to the story of the biblical Noah, and we all know Xeno games love to use imagery and symbolism from western religious and mystical traditions. If you look at the key art for each of the characters, they are each highlighted with a subtle gradient of one color each, which I think subtly implies the rainbow symbolism. I genuinely think the theme of 7 and the name Noah are intentionally used together to reference the story of Noah in the bible, which also has some similar themes to the game itself. In western esoteric tradition generally 7 is a key number, again because of things naturally coming in goupings of 7, like musical notes and visible colors, so it's just an all-around handy number to use if you, like the Xeno games, really love referencing mystical symbolism.
I did not cry at the end of 3 because we know origin still exist and reincarnation is a thing so they are destine to meet again but in 2 we did no have something like that so I cry until I reach the end
I LOVED xc3's story, but was pretty disappointed by its plot construction, particularly towards the end. I feel like Takahashi did a literal perfect job at merging story and plot with Xenogears, and hasn't really been able to achieve that level of harmony since. I still love the blade games (and do believe they are better "products") but I can't help but feel they fall a bit short in the story department. Worse of all is that this feeling for me is retroactive since I beat Xenogears for the first time only like a month ago; basically it was so good that it lowered my opinion of the balde games lmao. Great video dude, kinda wanna replay xc3 now xd
I honestly much preferred the early chapters to the later ones. I also just have a disproportionate amount of hatred for Joran as a character and i've never been able to explain it. I think i honestly just hate it when games have a character that matters to the characters in game but they either kill them off or disappear them for half of the game (not including flashbacks) and then when they do bring that character back from the dead they expect you to give a shit and not hate them immediately when they're suddenly a huge dick.
What broke me in this game was one of the sidequests you do to that one flag holding girl, i don't remember what her name was but it was at that moment i realized that the villians were actually quite pathetic in a really sad way, even though they are immortal
@@philosophyofanintrovert3935 i almost wished there was a way to somehow save the consuls after that.... i mean its possible since one of the charracters you can get is a consul, so why not irma too? Though i guess she was just too insane
If Noah and company weren't there to caution me against "forever", I'd be in a much darker place by now. Even discounting what it represents to the Xeno metaseries across all three iterations or just its significance to the overall narrative of Klaus's experiment, Xenoblade 3 represents something that is much more philosophically practical than the last two games and has equipped me to brave some of the most bitter losses adulthood had in store looming over me, and thus equipped me to care for everyone around me suffering the same grief. I am willing to open myself to a future beyond the obvious enticements of what outcomes I would intuitively reach for, just as I am willing to let myself feel sorrow as I am routinely reminded that they are no longer mine to share the present with. And my world is beautiful for that.
Honestly I feel the same and completely relate to this, like I went into Xenoblade 3 completely blind, literally knowing nothing about what themes or ideas would be focused on, and it was crazy how so much of its philosophy applies to my life, especially with learning how to let go and move on. Future Redeemed was also similar in its commentary on similar stuff and legacy. Like yea these games really inspire you to live life better and appreciate the world ya know?
The most sad part of the whole series is watching N’s son (Ghondor) watch his 2 parents die in front of his eyes. And it’s even more sad after you know that Ghondor sacrificed his own life for his family and stuck to what N’s “Final” words were.
I for one felt that the game shouldnt end and it should end. The ending left me in tears. When i cried with that ending i know it should end this way and hoped for future game to have a small relation to both noah and mio.
With Future redeemed now out, and considering how much Xenosaga,gears and blade are seeped in Gnosticism and Christianity. The reoccurring usage of 7 could be in the religious sense. Considering the radio scene and the Bandi Namco credit linking Xenosaga to Xenoblade. The 7 could be representing that the events of XC3 is the genesis of the reforming of the earth as one planet, and in becoming Lost Jerusalem. Especially as lucky 7 being made up of Pneuma and Logos. (The Soul and Mind). Forming the Sword of Origin (or Genesis). The MC is called Noah, and the whole existence of Origin is to be an Ark to survive.
@Philosophy of an Introvert It's as you said towards to the end of the video, the whole series is beforehand is allegorical. Shulk in XC1 is very much a christ figure with his connection to zanza. Rex with his name is more on the nose in XC2, being Arthur. (Makes more sense in Japanese as the name for the trinity processor is the Heavenly Holy Grail). Noah is well noah People also forget or choose not to translate the names of the trinity processor cores. Pneuma, Logos and Ontos. Pneuma being Spirit. Ontos being Being or Body. And most importantly Logos, Mind or Word. It's why Logos going on to make up the sword of the end/lucky 7/sword of Origin is so important. "In the beginning there was the word" John1:1. Honestly main reason I have thought about this so much is seing all the people trying to link the radio scene to Xenoblade X, where Xenosaga makes so much more sense. And also all the people trying to say the earth wasn't restored at the end of FR. Considering the whole story is themed around the beginning. (Z being a Satan standin makes more sense as well as Lucifer falls due to God's creation of the earth).
26:30 ya there was no way she was dead shes a blade eater with the most powerful healing there was no fucking way and i wasnt buying it maby some people didnt play 2 befor 3 but like idk if hiting nia in her heart would have even killed her
If you count the Xenosaga games, XC3 could be the 7th game. Xenosaga 1, 2 and 3 Xenoblade Chronicles Xenoblade Chronicles X Xenoblade Chronicles 2 And Xenoblade Chronicles 3 If you want to not count X, you could always count Torna there but then we would need to take Future Connected. Anyway, just a thought about the reason why 7 repeats that much.
Z isn't supposed to be "evil" as I understand it. Just a manifestation of everyone's fear of the unknown, so, more like a different part of humanity gone out of control whereas so many RPGs would have the BBEG be a manifestation of humanity's evil.
If I could add my two cents here, I would say that, in a sentence, Xenoblade 3 is all about moving forward towards who you are and should be in courage rather than fear and that the only way to do that is by selflessly letting go and learning to live for others
The answer to narcissistic fear is to truly love others, and then move on “towards your chosen horizon.” Ironically, it’s choosing to live for others, to do what’s best for them and count their needs more important than our own, that allows us to follow our dreams without fear and with ambition and drive.
Honestly I've seen this happen with other channels so many times I'm not surprised 😂 I'm just focused on getting better at making vids at the end of the day
Just got around to watching this and I am so grateful for this video. Not only did it increase the love I have for this game, but it showed me many things that go deeper, which explains why XC3 hit me a lot harder than the past games. While many consider this game to be the weakest Xenoblade, I consider it to be the strongest, and the most Xeno game of the 4 blade games. Thank you truly for this video, you have no idea how much it means to see and listen to this kind of stuff.
I'm not, I'm actually just into philosophy in a pretty informal sense honestly lol although I took a few classes back in college along with some other thought disciplines but across the years ive mostly tried to learn and think of stuff on my own, while also talking to people about it irl of course
I just wish the lore wasn’t the undertone. I just don’t get why they’d market to newcomers. Newcomers should play 2 & 1 first. The order for those 2 doesn’t matter, and I’d even recommend playing 2 before 1 to understand everything beforehand. But 3? It was marketed as a future of the worlds, but they did that in the most underwhelming way thousands of years in the future. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very good game that made me cry much more than the other 2 games & had the most fun gameplay, but it had the weakest story since the lore wasn’t the forefront.
I would argue the lack of emphasis on lore is what makes 3 stand out as more of its own thing. You certainly CAN play 3 without any prior history of the series. Just like people played Xenogears in 1998 completely oblivious to the fact that it was part 5 of a planned 6 part narrative. I wouldn't recommend playing 3 first because you miss out on some added context, iconography, music, and other references that won't hit you like they do long-time fans. But as a stand-alone story, it has its own beginning, middle, and end. Knowing lore helps for context but is largely unnecessary to appreciate the story being told.
I really loved this game. Just like the first game, it hits you in the balls over and over again with excellent payoffs. 2nd one wasn't AS emotional but still really good. It would be sad if this was the end of Xeno... Hope not.
I love your passion for this game, I wish I could share it, I know it’s good, very good, but its the only game in the series I didn’t connect all the way with, I don’t even know what it is, I can’t place the source of the issue I have, but it just doesn’t feel as special to me. I had the same ‘playing at 12am’ thing when it released, my hype was beyond anything and at an all time high, but even at the start everything felt off, it felt like all of the characters were introduced way too quickly and not given enough time in their own spaces to show you who they are, what drives them, what their purpose in the world is.
And don’t get me wrong, its not that I don’t understand the philosophical nuances of the game and what they represent, I love that aspect of other games such as NieR: Automata for example, I just for some reason don’t find myself caring as much about this story nor its characters as much as the previous three games
That's really interesting, I do think the cast of the previous games come together at a different pace when compared to the xc3 cast, so maybe its just a preference thing, but that's fine too 👍
You mentioned being confused about the signifigance of the number 7. That's a bible thing. 7 is a number that is usually related to christian god. And 6 is usually related to evil things like Satan being 616. Etc
