The Subtle, Misunderstood Brilliance of Xenoblade 2 ► Nara

[@Santoryu90]

Honestly I don’t think Rex‘s voice acting was actually that bad. Really my problem was he just couldn’t scream well but that’s about it.

[@MichaelAronson]

The entire voice cast was horrible, compared to the Japanese voice cast and compared to the Xenoblade 1 voice cast. There was not a single good voice actor among them.

[@Santoryu90]

@@MichaelAronson To each their own buddy.

[@deadmetalbr]

@@MichaelAronson Demonstrably false. Voice _direction_ was nearly non-existent, but the VAs did the best they could in its absence.

[@MichaelAronson]

@@deadmetalbr They obviously didn't.

[@deadmetalbr]

@@MichaelAronson Skye Bennett. 🎤↷

[@thorbsirm725]

I really like that scene with Mikhail at the end. In the Aegis War he hated Mythra for destroying Torna and Milton in the name of defeating Malos. But in his final moments I think he finally understood her, using his own giant laser mech to defeat Amalthus, at the cost of Indol and the innocents on it.

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

That's an interesting way to put it. It's like Mikhail, over the course of his encounters with Rex and the party, gradually gains insight into the kind of choice-- or lack thereof-- Mythra had to make at the end of the Aegis war, and that he himself played as much a part of how the world ended up as anyone else.

[@muuhnkin4611]

Well as we know now: Rex did indeed love all of them xD

[@TheFearsomeRat]

He showed them a thing or three.

[@prankovalero]

1:58:13 the reason why Pyra and Mythra retained their memory is possibly because of the core crystal on Rex's chest acting as their back up drive. Remember, their experiences are linked.

[@perrydunetz882]

It’s actually specifically because they’re pneuma, literally all blade data gets sent to their core crystal including their own so they wouldn’t lose their memory no matter how many times they return to their core

[@lpfan4491]

@@perrydunetz882 That doesn't make too much sense in context tho. Core crystals all actually retain their data, even tho they send copies of it to the master blades. Therefore, the memory loss should be a seperate function of some kind.

[@Direk091]

It most likely is, since Malos stole their memories to become whole again in chapter 7. But since they still had half their core with Rex, they still remembered.

[@bianks3916]

The quality of the game is insane, I love XC2 so much I could talk about it for hours, but I don't want to annoy anyone, I'am just so glad I've played it bc it's one of those things that make it worth living. Appreciate beauty and emotions gave power to life and this game really made me feel alive.

[@Cool-Vest]

As for the part where Pyra transforms into Pneuma and regains her memories, I think it is because she had them backed up on Rex's Crystal. This is another one of those things they were trying to be subtle about, but I think they went too hard into it because most people never caught it. It probably should have been explained later.

[@Cool-Vest]

I guess them explaining it is the camera zooms in to Rex's half of the crystal, which is where their conversation is supposed to take place. It's either that or her memories were backed up in the orbital station, as all regular Blades transmit their memories to the Architect. Maybe her finally getting ready to use her Pneuma form opened this link to the beanstalk, evidenced by Aion in the background.

[@novaspacewitch9963]

Just a note: the cutscene toward the end of the game where Pyra and Mythra's "personalities are flipped." That's not really it at all. They're just finally being completely open. Pyra is teasing a little bit like she's been shown to do, and dropping the reserved facade that keeps her from interjecting. Meanwhile Mythra is unafraid to come out of her abrasive shell and actually show the affection she felt all along. For the first time in the game, Rex is the one who's hiding his feelings. The others are finally being true to themselves without the pressure to keep up appearances.

[@Angelina-wx9px]

Found the video on Reddit and I’m shocked at how under appreciated it it. just finished watching the whole thing in one sitting and wow, amazing just incredible. Thank you so much for making this as I always feel so happy when I see my favorite game of all time treasured by others like I treasure it.

[@madgizmo2212]

I personally found that the male party members fit with different kinds of teenagers. Tora is the pervy nerd who built his own robot girlfriend but has a wholesome relationship with her, Rex is a naive idealist who has a coming of age journey helping a girl(s) get home, and Zeke is the rebel who is trying too hard to be edgy and distant from his family yet ultimately cares about his home.

[@ryanspencer9602]

The game is ultimately a coming of age story at heart.

[@potatofarmergyro1720]

I gotta say for all the shit that Rex's English dub gets I personally love it for the whole cheeky kid feel that it portrays. and I think the scene where rex is mourning for the death of vandham is perfectly voiced atleast for me like damn it got me in the feels and also the final battle with malos where rex gives his speech is also something that I think is done perfectly. man I really wish they could redo the dub in the future with better voice direction and also with all if not most of the same voice actors(rip bana's va).

[@alvarostockle]

In the ending of the game, when he tells Poppi "common! She's right there!", thats top of the level acting. Man sadly can't scream and people will remember that forever for how good Shulk's VA was screaming.

[@yugimonmaster1018]

"It hurts to get friend zone" Me after XC3: oh no...she didn't get friend zoned, rex said what he meant to say.

[@SuperConroy99]

"I'm cute as hell, so who cares?" has to be one of my new favorite Mythra lines I wanna mention that I first got XC2 at the start of the pandemic in 2020, and I played nothing BUT it from when I first got it to when I beat it. And I loved every minute of it, so I can easily mark it as one of if not my absolute favorite game of all time. It alone got me through the first year of the pandemic, so that's gotta account for something, right?

[@famillesabot5719]

I didn't know she says that ! No wonder why she is a great character. I started XC2 in 2020 as well (christmas 2019) that's why this game get a bigg impact on me. I was in a depression because of the lockdown due to covid.

[@Fade2GrayOG]

It's interesting to hear how many people were impacted by this game during lockdown. I played it on release but I was going through a pretty rough and isolating part of my own life. I always thought the negativity surrounding the game was weird because of how incredible the game was to me during everything I was going through. It's great to hear the game was able to go on to fill the same role in other people's lives

[@kurisu3000]

She never says that in the original Japanese script. This is why localization by twitter users needs to stop.

[@miletilblight2181]

I got Xenoblade 2 right around when it came out One of the KZbinrs I watched regularly at the time swore on the Xenoblade franchise and id never played any others. ...I did not really get into xenoblade 2 back then kinda regretted the purchase at rhe time. Then a pandemic hit and I was board so I figured "Fuck it ill give it another shot" A few weeks later and I was buying all the dlc and torna...still haven't gotten Xenoblade 1 or 3

[@gamesthatmatter9374]

@@miletilblight2181 3 is a huge step down from 2 in regard to story...

[@madgizmo2212]

A fun thing about Torna is that they are basically a Final Fantasy party (makes sense since Nomura designed them). They would be the protagonists of a different game.

[@icewingthefox9423]

The ending of Xenoblade 3 really puts "I love you and all you guys." into a different context lol.

[@WiiSage]

3:332:40 Finally someone mentions/notices the line with Zeke was with him talking about his own experience, ive seen so many not getting that scene even though it had Pandoria's reaction to add to it.

[@pietrom.4846]

Xenoblade 2 combat system is the best of the trilogy imho

[@ToonLink1672]

I watched most of this video leading up to 3’s release and didn’t have time to finish it by then. After finishing 3, and now finishing this video, it undoubtedly has strengthened my appreciation for the entire Xenoblade series. Seeing someone put so much time and energy into sharing everything that’s great about this game truly makes me happy. These kinds of games aren’t for everyone but man I wish they were. They are truly, truly special, unlike any other video games I’ve played. Thank you, so so much for making this video. I enjoyed every single second of it.

[@tatltails3923]

God, the ending still makes me cry...

[@tsunderemerc2963]

XC2 is definitely my favorite JRPG ever, in my top 3 for favorite games in general. I started with it and fell in love with its story and themes, and with how the Xeno universe works, it gave me a tether to enjoy XC1 with and enjoy it nearly as much, even if I have a nostalgia bias (objectively I can't say one is better than the other, I think they're complimentary works, not ones that oppose each other). It's the only JRPG I've played more than once, and it gets me really hyped for 3. The only bad thing is when I attempted to learn some of the core themes in Xenogears and Xenosaga since they occasionally have parallels or direct ties because of how complex their own lore is (like how the Conduit is Xenosaga's Zohar, whether it be literally or just an homage). I never really had a problem with the 'fanservice' of the game, and I think it shares a trait with the Yakuza series where it knows when to be serious, and when it can tell a joke, especially as the plot progresses. It's not like they're flashing Pyra's pouch items while someone is dying or during an emotional moment, most of that stuff is frontloaded, which kind of ties into the same way Xenoblade 1 sets up expectations and then (even if it's a buzzword) subverts them and flips it all over in a genius way. I can still appreciate weaker moments in the game, and couldn't say they serve no purpose at all (like Chapter 4, i believe, with Tora. Yeah, others are better but it still has a reason to be there). And I honestly like the ending being ambiguous, I can easily entertain both possibilities with Pyra and Mythra, and I think either ending is still good in their own way. PS: yeah this is a pre-watch comment, I like to share my own experiences for whoever to see, and then learn what opinions I have do or don't line up! PSS: Okay I watched it all, great video!

[@nazurin5982]

Personally I strongly believe they retain their memories, and their last words are "I love you", it fits with the timing and the context of the ending song: it goes "I want to tell you......" Then a moment after, the zoom on their lips "I love you"

[@InTheMindOfDavid]

Personally I think Xenoblade 2 is the better game in the series, and from what I’ve played of Xenoblade 3 it’s a better game than the original as well. Granted it is a decade old game but I even think the sequels plots and stories are even better.

[@countzero5150]

As much as I think 1 is a masterpiece, the storytelling in 2 felt more personal. More emphasis on interactions between the characters and their emotions towards each other and the overall plot.

[@ilavain]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for reminding me of every little part of this fantastic experience, your analysis of the ending was fantastic, I never thought about Mythra's sacrifice as being the logical conclusion of Vandham's philosophy. I am currently writing this in tears and I'm so so happy that there are people willing to analyse such heavy games that are hard to get into and very hard to openly enjoy. I have cried at least 20 times throughout the whole video, thanks to your analysis AND just the story. I first experienced this game in the year it came out through a let's play by JohneAwesome. I didn't know anything about it and I left feeling like it was just a failed sequel, like a lot of them are. I have not been able to shut up about how amazing the world of Alrest is to my friends thanks to Chuggaa's let's play on it. My biggest regret is being too poor to afford to play it by myself, but I'm hoping to be able to play 3 when it comes out. Again, thank you for this video, now I have a newfound appreciation of the story!

[@XenoPon2]

Xenoblade chronicles 2 is since it's release and to this day my favorite single-player game, Although it isn't perfect (obviously, nothing is) this video does a good job covering both it's story and gameplay content 👌 Good job!

[@XenoPon2]

Also this comment was written only 30 minutes into the video, everything after that point idk

[@pineappless2701]

Oh yeah, another Xeno vid to enjoy before diving into 3, always a pleasure my guy

[@buttons551]

Like one part of me agrees with the party that Rex shouldn't be giving up but then the other part is like he's just a damn kid. Do you expect him to have this unbreakable will after getting trounced on so badly? If someone like Poppi hadn't been there to help Rex I feel like he might have walked away for sure due to Nia and Brighid.

[@ARDIZsq]

It's INCREDIBLY saddening to me that a lot of people wrote off Xenoblade 2 because it was "too anime" or "had too much fanservice." While I can understand people who only know the series from XC1 and Shulk (and the more "realistic" art style) and not being used to/liking the switch to an anime art style, or people not being a fan of Pyra's incredible small shorts and large assets, I don't think that should have been a reason to write off the game entirely. Yes, on a surface level they can put someone off, but the art style for a game should never be THE determining factor for if you do or don't buy a game. Hell, look at Undertale for example. That game, quite frankly, looks awful. Everything outside of the battle sprites looks like a child made them in MS Paint, and yet people were attracted to the game because of the characters, the story, the world. There were tons of people who I saw call the game ugly yet they praised the hell out of it otherwise. This game has one of my favorite stories in all of fiction. It has one of my favorite worlds in all of fiction. The cast of characters is incredible. This game is filled with so many emotional moments and amazingly impactful scenes that it's one of the few pieces of media that has made me cry. (That ending man...) I'll admit, I'm a newcomer to the Xeno series as a whole. I saw XC2 during the Treehouse Live at E3 and thought "Ah, well it looks nice, but the battle system looks confusing, and it's a JRPG, so it'll be super slow to play." God do I hate my past self for not giving it a chance. Xenoblade 2 is probably one of my favorite games of all time. In the past month or so I finally got my own copy, as well as Xenoblade Definitive Edition. I can't wait for the release of 3 in a few days. (And maybe after that I'll dust off my Wii U and play X for more than 30 minutes.)

[@Zenthils]

The writting of Xeno 2 is also subpar to 1 and 3. Seems to be a real problem with weebs to accept and they just excuse it because it has "waifus" in it.

[@daikaichis6229]

@@Zenthils i might need a explanation for " subpar" but that line about " weeb" is just wrong ( and what About people who are into "husbando" ? ) I can go as far has to say xeno 3 also has waifus and husbando but that change nothing .

[@IISuzakuII]

@@Zenthils XC2 is to show people aren't as intelligent as they let on.

[@Byakurenfan]

For me it was how the majority of the female blades when awakened there was focus on their boobs (the camera hung on them as they bounced) showed off the chracter. Also the whole gotcha is a turn off. Merc missions add nothing to the game. Chapter 4 should have been expanded or cut.

[@daikaichis6229]

@@Byakurenfan i mean every blade have the camera a this place when they are awakened

[@uroy8371]

I love this game much than any other in years. Maybe cause I love, all the characters, gameplay, the music and all the feelings that made me experience. I never pay attention at any other video with 3 plus hrs length but if is xeno especially xeno 2 I'm on board. You really did an amazing Job here, thanks ❤ And personally I almost prey for a sad ending or one when the "bad" guys could win like in (death note), but in xeno 2 I cry even more when I had Pyra and Mythra once again by my side, cause they were why the adventure began in the first place. I loved torna but the end just destroyed me.

[@queazy03]

I thought Nia pushing Rex towards Pyra/Mythra was because she knew Rex was in love with them, and didn't want to hold him back with her own feelings for him

[@daridon2483]

Eyes are a window to the soul. The way Nia looked at Rex tells exactly what you said. She gave him the pass to go and be with them, despite that meaning no longer being close to Rex herself. She knew his heart was somewhere else and her own feelings were chaining him from reaching it, and thus in an act of true love she lets him go so he can be happy, a parallel to how Rex lets Pyra/Mythra go a few moments ago. Nia didn't realize how much of a gigachad Rex was though.

[@omegawario7479]

Thank you for making this video. I don’t have time to replay Xenoblade 2 but watching this allowed me to pretty much experience it all over again.

[@teafordaniel809]

Long form Xenoblade anaylsis videos are my favorite type of content, but it isn't too common. Thank you for this!!!

[@ccarbone3561]

Very well done. Especially appreciated the obvious jokes and your carefully worded references without slowing down or letting the audience know...unless they played the game.

[@solarammy2255]

This is the only xenoblade 2 review I've watched that actually changed a few of my opinions. The depth some of your takes have took me by suprise, especially the finale

[@madgizmo2212]

The english dub is amazing considering just how little context the VAs had for their lines, and as much flak as Rex gets I only found that outside of contextual issues, the only delivery issue was basically whenever he screams.

[@Hymn_]

i haven't played or watch a lot of xc, but i must admit i enjoy listening the eng dub when i watch some xc2 content that youtube gave me.

[@Cool-Vest]

The biggest problem most people have are the awkward pauses in sentences. Morag, Gramps, and Zeke struggle the most with this. I assume it's because the scenes already existed and were scarcely edited to fit the English dub, meaning they were required to stretch sentences longer than what was natural.

[@okamaman7324]

@@Cool-Vest Yes and no. On the Japanese original a LOT of Morags dialog is oversimplified Merefu talks in a very specific curt and paused manner. She also uses a lot of imperatives. (Kinda like Kyriu form Yakuza) As for Zeke, while the dialog is decent the dude speaks very theatrically with a lot of intonation so it is really hard to work with this in English

[@SuperSavajin]

This is one of my favorite videos for XB2 now

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

Am I the only person who unironically loves the Mythra sleepwalking scene?

[@madgizmo2212]

You aren't. Admittedly the reason I love it is probably because I am reading too much into it and am seeing it as Mythra subconsciously craving connection/intimacy to stave off her loneliness....its also a good comedy scene that shows that there's more to Mythra than we saw in her first couple appearances.

[@quippy958]

yes... why? it's stupid and unnecessary

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

@@quippy958 To _you._ A lot of us just saw it as cute slapstick. Standard anime type moment, which there is nothing inherently wrong with. If it isn't your taste, then that's fine, but people act like it's wrong if other people like it for what it is. Like, what makes _you_ any sort of authority? On what grounds can you tell _me_ or anyone else what is or isn't "necessary?"

[@quippy958]

​@@2yoyoyo1Unplugged Nobody said it's wrong to like it, but I absolutely do have a right to share my opinion if you share yours. when I say unnecessary, I mean I don't feel as if it develops the characters in any way (which it doesn't) and undeniably exists for sex appeal more than anything else. There are much better and more mature ways to pull off "cute slapstick". In context, it doesn't help that she is so scantily clad in the game either. It's one part of a pool of reasons that this game undermines so many of its characters in order to sexualize them

[@Nintendofan184]

You made the story even more impactful for me, well done

[@Arda-dq4rt]

Well, after realizing XC2 has more intricate and complex lore than XC1 (I didnt realize it while playing), my respect for it has increased. Just take a look at wikia of XC2's characters, locations and terms...WOW this game is packed. Although I already loved this game and considered it to be the best Switch exclusive by far. This game has many moving parts. And it actually went over my head while playing since the game moves SO FAST after certain story plot twist reveals. I think this was the most 'linear' feeling Xenoblade story. It definitely helped the pacing but I'm not sure it emphasized certain materials and its rich lore. I'm sure this was a side effect of having a low budget and man power Monolith had for this game. Apart from small feeling titans, seperated worlds and the slow start of the story, there is nothing but praise I can give to this game :D

[@Sirnight282]

Damn man, this is one of the best vid-docs on Xenoblade 2 I've seen. The presentation of it was superb, it's nice seeing someone who will just kind of poke fun at the famed fanservice-related flaws, rather than have a full section exist to outright dismiss it. This is the only game that ever manages to get me emotional and it truly gets me every time I play, or watch it, poppi's promise is always absolutely heart-shattering and when one last you starts playing it's soul-crushing, even knowing what comes after. But seeing Poppi run for Pyra and Mythra at the end just yanks more tears out of me without fail, and seeing that chapter title screen after just hits. Hopefully, XBC3 manages to live up to it, but I'm not entirely convinced that I wont still love 2 the most.

[@kennethhernandez9243]

This was an absolute gem of a video man. What a great job. I’ve beaten the game 3+ times and I never noticed the poppi voice thing. This game has aged like fine wine and every play through it seems better. With 3 now behind us, the trilogy as a whole is just a fascinating existential journey- about embracing the future, not getting stuck in past, or being afraid to move forward in the present. I’d love to see this level of care out into a xenoblade 3 analysis someday. But again, can’t thank you enough. This was a fantastic video.

[@nhodgie]

23mins in, and i've already had 2 'a-ha' moments where you've highlighted some game design aspects that I hadn't consciously noticed/considered in this game despite having fully beaten it and most of the way through a 100% completion run in preparation for XC3. Nicely done as Nia would say.

[@rowanatkinson3594]

I've recently come back to this game (I dropped it right before you get chain attacks, turns out) and after a few tutorial vids on youtube to help me figure out what I was missing with the combat I legitimately love this game as much as 1 and 3 now. The systems I dislike I still dislike (field skills, mostly) but I'm having a whale of a time! Turns out putting dessert items in your pouch makes the game like, fifty times more fun.

[@nickrispoli2532]

Hell of a video dude!! You did XC2 shining Justice and really capture me what makes this a fantastic game!

[@LukaCola]

This video was a masterpiece, thank you so much for making it, it put into words a lot of things I felt about the game but couldnt describe. I'm looking forward to your future content and anything you might cover of xb3!

[@Edgedancer]

I love these sort of long form reviews. This is one of my favourite games and while 3 is great, 2 is always going to hold a special place in my heart.

[@FuIIDiveVR]

X2 was the real fans game that the fans didn't understand.

[@weberman173]

1:46:00 i actually LOVED this fight.. i didnt realize i was meant to destroy multiple at once, or use chain attacks before someone started to multiply, so i powerd trough all 20 phantoms and it FELT like a test, it felt like i was being tested whatever i was worthy of what was hidden here. it felt amazing to me

[@shiningskies47]

Normally video reviews of this game come from people who liked it, but didn't absolutely adore it like me, it's refreshing watching this one lol

[@guillermoantonanzas9400]

Thank you for making me revive the whole game one more time, one of my favourite games ever ♥️

[@akiraraiku]

Excellent video, it touched the mark on many aspects i liked a lot about the game. The land of morythra is one of my favorite zone, must be my nostalgia for lost civilisation kink.

[@Jax_Two]

I didn't realize until watching this video just how much Jin's character interacts with the themes of XC3.

[@thebisonx]

This is fantastic! You clearly put a ton of effort into this video and I wholeheartedly thank you for that. Xenoblade 2 is one of my all-time favourite games and your thorough retrospective brings back so many great memories of a good time in my life. Thanks again and best wishes to you!

[@TiduLimar]

1:58:10 i imagined its because of rex having part of them - that part wasnt cleansed by malos. And it may or may not have fragments of all their memories, but he should have them

[@MTH062K.O]

I'm glad for making this video.I have played this game as well and at first I misunderstood some characters,especially how each of them are,but now that you explained it to me, I want to say Thank you 🙏 for making to understand even more ☺️

[@PoPo-qp8zq]

They more I play, the more I'm in love with Xenoblade 2.

[@fearlessleader889]

Probably my favorite voice line Rex: "when did it get so late?" Mythra: "don't worry, I'll protect you from the scary dark."

[@keilensmith5257]

Incredible video, and a wonderful trip down memory lane. Xenoblade 2 is special to me like no other game, as much for the time it came into my life as for the actual quality. Your reasoning and theory for them losing their memory at the end was interesting, though I'll always be in the preserved memory camp ;). While I'd seen the other interpretation before, I'd never heard it argued so well. On a side note, I have a different theory for why they are split at the end: It's both stated and implied that core crystals contain data, including for the blade itself. Assumedly this what blades regenerate from, and it forms the basis for their bodies. When Pyra gives Rex part of the core crystal, they become linked, and when one takes damage the other does as well. The two halves of the core crystal are staying in sync, and when one detects change the other updates as well. At least, that's how I interpreted it. Prior to Pneuma's awakening, Rex treats Pyra and Mythra as completely separate people. However, during the adventure in Elpys and the subsequent revelations, he comes to understand them as one being. Critically, during this time he STILL HAS HALF HER CORE CRYSTAL, and her own is drained. When the two reunite, her crystal recuperates its data from the other half--Rex's. Now for the conspiracy theory: what if Rex's perception of the Aegis actually affected her crystal's data? Due to him now understanding them as a single being, and an incredibly powerful one at that, she regenerates into her true form accordingly. The old data was gone, leaving only what he had: a vision of one being with incredible power and potential. And carrying on from that, what if something similar occurs during their final regeneration? It might seem like Rex retroactively regressing, but in truth he is actually forced more than ever to acknowledge them as individuals after Pneuma appears. He even picks the name he uses from then on out, the name he calls out during their sacrifice. One, not both. At the end of the game, he once more sees them as two different people, albeit very much the same. And so, when the data regenerates them, it once again conforms to what he perceives. And if you need more proof of him seeing them as individuals, well... the one he picks is the one we see speak. His simple choice of a name is simultaneously insignificant and monumental, not for the result but for what it represents. With Rex's help, the two have come to terms with their nature. Mythra is no longer shackled by her past and overshadowed by her "better" half who is everything she isn't, and Pyra is no longer burdened with a fault and responsibility her old self was too weak to bear. Free of each other yet still united, they can flourish in true freedom.

[@RedZ1900]

Sat through the whole thing. Very well done.

[@characterchampion830]

this is really well made and i agree with everysingle thing that u said such an overhated game :)

[@MrGnuh]

picture this scene: some clueless little shit just got handed the most epic, awesome giga waifu blade sword. he's pumped. totally in to teach someone a lesson. so he lets it all out. the thing is, the sword didn't instantly turn him into an experienced, mature hero. he's still a clueless little shit. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE imho the voice actor 100% nailed what's going on in that scene! 😁 he's being cringe because he's still a boy. he's got all the growing ahead of him and rapidly develops into such a good boi. gotta love him!

[@jzblue345]

Zeke is literally my favorite character in the whole game. Taura is pretty hilarious but comes in second to Zeke.

[@allanbrogim1074]

Amazing review! Loved to live this adventure again on this video!

[@Frysbear]

Yeah, the ending to this game. The way everything comes together is my favorite. The tone shifts, the setting shifts. It pulls out the rug on the worldbuilding but makes you go OH CRAP that makes sense. And it also works on it's own, as well as ties into 1. The progression from falling to the acient human civilization below the sea, to climbing the high tech tower, to coming out at the top of the tree as a space station, Will forever be one of my favorite moments in a game.

[@joshualawrence4301]

What a great video. I feel like the way you interpret the story’s various hard-hitting scenes is familiar to a lot of players, but you put it into words much more eloquently than many could. And in such an easy to understand way. “Bravo” as the xb3 chain attacks say xP Hope you love xb3 and do content for it as well.

[@manaphy1007]

The best part of the heart to heart for brighid and morag is if she has an ether cannon blade equipped she pulls out a massive gun (like the rocket launcher from halo) to shoot the fish

[@KingPlague15th]

I've grinded 100+ hours on this game and I love the game I also love how after a specific scene in Mor Ardane you just suspect Nia of her secret, I suspected it after seeing her struggle greatly in the crypt

[@ricardomendez9179]

I beat the game a couple weeks ago. Yes, it have some rough edges but I cant stop thinking in other thing that arent some themes of this game touch. This game have heart and soul.

[@ensislucis2395]

1:41:30 HOLY SHIT THAT IS AMAZING I DIDN’T EVEN REALIZE THAT IT’S JUST LIKE KOS-MOS OMG

[@SoulbreakerNB]

Yep. When it comes to the english dub, I didn't survive the first few chapters and I preferred playing with the JP dub instead. I have no qualms with other people preferring the english dub tho, so you can enjoy it as much I enjoy the JP dub.

[@JasonDemonTempest007]

Weres The banter Between Roc and Tora When Tora is Like Tora's Stomach is Rumbley fried Chicken Any One and Roc Says You insensitive Little Say that again and Your on the Menu

[@ChaosSonic15]

I loved this video! Not even concerning the hype for Xenoblade 3, this was an awesome retrospective and analysis on Xenoblade 2. Even having played the game multiple times you did such a great job of explaining nuances and depicting new hidden details I never even noticed before. It’s really evident that you put a lot of time and passion into this and it was fun listening to an analysis going through each beat of the story. Thank you for this!

[@TheGreystroke]

the Pyra clothes debate can be put to bed with go to a club on Saturday night and your see the girls wearing more revealing outfits but don't let RL get in the way of internet outrage

[@Nara64]

► Xenoblade 3: The Masterpiece Life Needed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqvJqoWad6x1fcU ► Xenoblade Spoiler-Free Retrospective: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5axiXqem9t_pJY ► 15 Tips for Xenoblade 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4OmoYBqmbx2fNU ► More Xenoblade videos: kzbin.info/aero/PL5Y7qKJaS9aClAIzgoTleuwfWjEkKdzQx Apologies; my narration and editing could have been a lot better, but I really wanted to get this out before Xenoblade 3. I feel like I aged 8 years as a result lmao. Though, to be fair, you could say this is perfectly befitting of Xenoblade 2 ;) I am proud of the results, regardless! I'm trying to avoid Xenoblade 3 spoilers as much as possible (since it got leaked), so I have prepared an FAQs of questions that might get asked: 1. How come there are no chapters? - Assuming they're still not there, blame KZbin, I tried my best. 2. Why did you choose Xenoblade 2 over 1 and X? - 2 is currently my favorite; I've always wanted to do a spoiler discussion or analysis on it. Really, I'm just doing my part in spreading the love that it deserves. 3. Will you do a video about Xenoblade 3? - I plan to! Likely multiple. Although, they will be much much MUCH shorter. 4. Will you ever do another hour(s)-long essay? - Unless I make a living from doing this, it is extremely unlikely. 5. Didn’t you once say on twitch.tv/apieceofthenara that you didn’t like essays that were hours long? - I was specifically referring to trivial subject matter with primarily negative opinions. Basically, I could never imagine myself spending this much time and effort on a video game I *didn’t* love... I could barely pull it off for one that I do lol. 6. How long have you been working on this video? - I’ve had a small portion of the draft written for over a year. When Xenoblade 3 was revealed in February, I gained the motivation to see it through. I wanted to work on it at a gentle pace... but in April: Nintendo changed the release date from September to July, so I had to pick up the slack 😅 It's been nonstop since June, ESPECIALLY THIS PAST WEEK. My stress levels have been immeasurable. 7. How old is your footage? - It is mainly from a playthrough back in December 2020. It amazes me how much I’ve learned about the game since then, both in combat and narrative! 8. How many times have you beaten Xenoblade 2? - 4, only one of which was NG+. 9. How many hours have you played? - 350+. - HOWEVER, that time does not equate to skill; I still struggle to beat some of the challenges & unique monsters. So don’t think my gameplay clips or opinions are from an expert’s POV; I made sure to include a lot of my deaths to convey that. 10. Who are your favorite characters? - Mythra is my obvious fav, but maybe I’ll give you a better answer in an upcoming tier list :^)

[@joshualawrence4301]

Your narration was perfectly fine to me tbh

[@SamAdamsDesigns]

Playing 3 now, I have to say I really miss the visual style and the Scottish voices of 2 lol.

[@housequay]

With Future Redeemed as far as we know completely ending all content we'll have with these characters from the Klaus saga, I am just going mad watching hours on hours of different channels either reacting to playing it themselves, like SarahKey and Etika, or having in depth appreciation videos like this one. It just feels so good to listen to so many people love this series as much as I do, like it's validating. There is no true reason I need to watch these other than that. I just feel so good having something I love so heavily validated in this way.

[@dropshock284]

So good to a video diving into the many nuances of this game and its brilliantly layered storytelling. I especially appreciate how closely you follow the development of arcs throughout the game (the bit with Poppi and the end is one of my favorites) because you even noted things I haven’t realized like the particular significance of Zeke’s last line Xenoblade 2 is my favorite game (X being a very close second). It does a great job showing how powerful it is when someone reaches out in kindness to another suffering from trauma and the weight of fear. Like with one of my other favorite stories Fruits Basket, it makes me want to be a better person for the people I love. That this game can evoke those feelings in me and also be an incredible gameplay experience is awesome

[@Sam-ry7ln]

Great video! Stumbled upon your channel last night and I'm shocked you don't have more subscribers yet. The quality of your videos is top notch. Keep up the good content man

[@StarlightNkyra]

Dude gave xenoblade 2 tutorial the game needed

[@infern209x]

have to disagree on them losing their memories, to add to the klaus gift argument, klaus was interested in their bond and how it made the impossible possible, why would he then make her return to a core crystal and lose her memories and die then when he saw everything, even how jin turned out, and wouldn't want pyra or mythra to have to worry about losing their memories or going through what jin did or have to worry about remaking the bond from scratch all over again. not to mention what about when malos tried to steal their memories. that'd be like malos winning in the end. so no, most likely they still remember, no matter how much you all want it to be bittersweet and made fake claims with no proof of some datamine them losing their memories that literally does not exist and has been searched for everywhere. monolithsoft themselves even said in interviews they meant to make xenoblade 2 a happy ending to be different from xenoblade x's ending. a bittersweet thing like that would defeat the purpose of a happy ending. I seriously don't get why you all twist that silence thing as them introducing themselves when its too few words in the lip sync to be that, even in japanese, they're literally telling rex they love him in english and in japanese they say tadaima which translates to I'm home. even actual people that know japanese on forums have translated and even figured out what words line up with the lip sync and even they say that and not the whole forgetting memories thing.

[@nazurin5982]

Big agree, it simply -IS- like that, they say "I love you" at the end, simply because of how the song's timing works, it ends with "I want to tell you..." then cuts to the zoom on their lips "I love you"

[@famillesabot5719]

Yeah but it's fit with the song one last you lyrics. Can I ask you god Despite all of this Could the sandglass Somehow take back the time I wouldn't care where it should be However maybe it's a better ending because it's sad it's not an ending I would like. I cry with happienest at the end and I don't want to cry with sadness

[@Nachtflut]

The whole thing with the Aegises being data processing units and having data for every living thing on earth while also not adhering to the normal Blade rule of returning to the core even after their Driver dies also already shows how they aren't like usual Blades. It would honestly feel kinda weird if they just forget like usual Blade.

[@NuiYabuko]

The thing is, if they lost their memories, wouldn't it be weird to just let themselves be hugged by Poppi like that? She'd be a complete stranger to them. Also saying Tadaima when you can't even remember belonging or leaving would be weird too. XC3 Ending Spoilers But Monolith Soft basically retconned Nia being friendzoned, so I guess they could do anything.

[@infern209x]

@@Nachtflut I think what people fail to realize also is not all of pyra and mythra's powers come from the conduit/zohar, just the pneuma powers. all mythra's powers as an aegis are still hers and hers alone. their base aegis powers are not tied to the conduit, what's tied to the conduit is the reality warping powers and everything that makes up the pneuma power. pneuma power is basically same power as true monado, just not as limitless because the world doesn't work with ether the way xenoblade 1's world does. otherwise if pneuma was in the xenoblade 1 world would be as strong as true monado shulk. also remember the conduit/zohar was not in shulk's universe but they still were able to use the full aegis power through alvis because of how the universe worked with its ether. in other words pyra/mythra would be able to use their pneuma powers again or something like it if they were sent to the xenoblade 1 world. the conduit disappearing doesn't suddenly make her no longer an aegis and lose the data processing and other abilities, thats people making up utter nonsense. also its no longer up for debate, monolithsoft proved I was right and they still have their memories. find out in xenoblade 3. also I better not hear any whines about spoilers, I didn't spoil anything, them being referenced should be a given, xenoblade 3 is full of references to both games, its public knowledge. all I referenced is a reference to xenoblade 2 that you'll have to play the game to find out what it is.

[@ensislucis2395]

Haven’t finished watching yet but holy shit this is such an underrated video

[@daniellobo8813]

Seeing this after finishing xenoblade 3, it hits different.

[@goreman7160]

I liked this game except for 1 thing. Leveling up specific blade skills for random checks

[@Crazy41769]

Mindblowing Video. Thank you for this perfect Summary. It was also very funny 😄

[@DragonEdge10]

While I'm not here to argue that Pyra is just as fleshed out from a character perspective as Mythra (of course she isn't, she has about 20 hours less of screentime), I do want to push back on the sentiment that it's not nearly as night and day as a lot of people try to say it is. Yes, Pyra's development isn't quite as eventful or even overt, but she has it nonetheless, showing her uncertainty and depression under the warm and kind exterior. This, contextualised with the events of Torna, allow us to understand the depth of her feelings and resolve to sacrifice herself to protect the ones she loves and not lose herself in the face of unbeatable odds, something she wasn't able to do as Mythra. Not to mention, while not direct, Mythra's development IS Pyra's development and vice versa. So while it's not to the same level, Pyra is in her own right a very well developed character. Also, on the topic of Pneuma's sacrifice, I want to add on to the idea that with the conduit's absence, Pyra and Mythra are now reverted to how they were before awakening to their true powers, simply extremely strong blades a class of their own. This is not only significant due to the implications of their potentially lost memories, but also due to how Rex became a driver in the first place. Rex's first blade was Pyra, a special case where she had retained her form from Addam's resonance and simply chosen by Pyra. It isn't until Rex resonates with the wind knuckle blade that he's seen to have the ability to awaken core crystals, and this could be the influence of Pyra sharing her core crystal with him providing him the aptitude necessary to resonate. Now, at the very end, we get to see for the first time Rex awakening a core crystal by and as himself and only himself, and the blade in question is not only the strongest blade in existence, but the girl(s) he loves. My interpretation is that through the course of the story, Rex has become the hero that he, his friends, and Addam eons ago desired to be, someone truly worthy of being the driver of the Aegis, and someone who wants to see the ones dearest to him again and share the view of the dream they both strived for, and thus has gained the aptitude to truly resonate with a blade for the first time with his own strength and resolve.

[@alvarostockle]

1:41:20 what??? I never noticed that!!! That's so cool!

[@sageoffire3964]

I'm pretty sure this is officially the second longest Xenoblade Chronicles video anyone has ever made.

[@hallonkatt]

First of all; excellent video! I needed to pause and go do other things on occasion because... *long*. But really great! And I did get to the end eventually. I found it interesting that you complained about how Specials cause orbs to appear immediately in Torna. I always saw that as a gameplay way to show how Amalthus has corrupted Blades' individual power over time. In Torna, without Amalthus messing with their core crystals, Blades are more OP than they are in the main game, where he has eroded them over the course of centuries and it takes an entire team of Blades to create a single orb. Eh, but maybe I've been overthinking it? Either way I'm not complaining, because I do prefer Torna's gameplay. 😅 Will also say, I never really minded Rex's voice acting that much. I understand why people complain about it, but the story and characters are compelling enough that I never truly noticed until I started seeing short clips taken out of context on KZbin. Maybe because English isn't my first language? Or maybe because it's really only notable when he's shouting? I also understand why people complain about the physical appearance of nearly every female in this game. I concur with those criticisms. It does still to this day regularly take me out of the story. It does make it more difficult to take anything they say and do seriously. But not to the point where I hate on the game for it, or can't relate to those characters. It just takes more work on my part to get there. Would I respect Pyra more if she had been designed to look like an actual person instead of a teen boy's fantasy? Not really. But I would have appreciated it. And it certainly would have been more respectful toward her character by the developers. The H2H with Brighid and Pyra asking Tora about his view on women loses any credibility considering the design of those two characters in particular. I'm also one of those not being a fan of the ending, and you didn't convince me, unfortunately. I don't hate it or anything, I can objectively admit that it's cute and I'm not a monster - of course I'm glad Pyra and Mythra are alive. I'm just disappointed, in light of other happenings in the other two games. At least they did it right with Lora? She really made an impact. 😭

[@HandthatRockstWorld]

The XC3 cameo is so damned perfect considering that "I love all you guys" scene. Damn. So freaking epic. The pure are naughtier than people think.

[@ScootsLounge]

*YOU GET IT* Mythra is such a deep character, and while I liked her even before Torna, Torna made her one of my absolute favorite characters of all time. Her trauma, her inner conflict, it makes her so compelling, and even though she's brought to her lowest in TTGC, it brings out the best in her. I just... I love Mythra so much, and it's refreshing seeing people appreciate her over Pyra. And don't get me wrong, Pyra deserves her own accolade for being a phenomenal character herself, but Mythra *heavily* carries Pyra imo, and while neither could be themselves without the other, it's definitely more evident with Pyra after the conclusion of TTGC.

[@ScootsLounge]

I also just want to appreciate how you actually gave Tora the time of day. Tora is my favorite Driver in this game and my favorite Nopon in the series. His pervy antics aren't nearly as bad or as common as people say they are, and more than that, he's just a dreamer. His grandfather, his father, and himself all wanted to be Drivers. But it's extremely rare to see Nopon Drivers, so they did the next best thing. Make a God killing machine, lol. In all seriousness, the Poppi designs are all based on the generations that came together to make this a reality. Poppi Alpha uses Grampypon's original schematics for an Artificial Blade, while Poppi QT uses the Ether Furnace that his Dadapon used along with taking inspiration from Lila's design. QTpi is Tora's own original design, taking inspiration from the Aegis who is the Blade of Tora's first friend, Rex. I feel like people really undermine Tora's actual achievements and connections by focusing on the parts of his personality that they hate. And I didn't even know Tora was apparently a very appreciated Noponic Poet, I love that about him now.

[@mrspaceman2764]

What's true for this game is also true for all Monolith Soft games, the story is worth it regardless of the battle system which is usually great as long as you can understand the tutorials. Thankfully, XBC3's tutorials are great and continue dolling out new mechanics 50hrs in. Regardless of the game mechanics, the stories are up there with the best in the business! See Xenosaga (PCSX2), you'll thank me if you're new to Monolith Soft!

[@novaspacewitch9963]

The thought that Pyra and Mythra forget everything and it's BETTER that way sends a nasty message that their suicide was justified because it lets them forget their trauma. That death is a valid option for moving on from bad memories. That the only way for them to move forward was to die. That's deeply, DEEPLY upsetting to me as someone who struggles with that thought CONSTANTLY. Like one of my favorite games of all time is telling me that the appropriate way to move forward is to fucking end my own life. And it hurts because it feels true.

[@novaspacewitch9963]

I don't expect everyone to agree with me on this or even fully understand where I'm coming from but if i don't refuse the idea that sacrificing my own life for the betterment of others is the way forward, I'm not left with much else.

[@IchHassePasswoerter]

My personal view on this is that they remember. Blades only lose their memories because they send all their data to Logos and Pneuma. Pyra and Mythra's core was meant to receive data, not send it. That's why I believe that they remember. If you've seen the ending of XC3 (which I won't spoil) there's further evidence of this.

[@novaspacewitch9963]

@@IchHassePasswoerter ooh this has me excited. I'm in chapter 5, 115 hours in. There's just so much in this game

[@IchHassePasswoerter]

@@novaspacewitch9963 Chapter 5 was a wild ride. You're in fo a treat. If you're anything like me, you'll want to dive head first into chapter 6 right away. Personally, I prefer XC2 over 3, but 3 is also very good. A final tip you'll need when you get towards the end of the game: Don't start the final boss unless you have 2 or 3 hours of free time. The fight and cutscenes will take that much, even without failing. Also, they forgot to put an epilepsy warning on the box, because the lightshow during the final boss and the cutscene following it is definitely in dangerous territory there. That said, I wish you lots of fun with XC3 :)

[@CarkeysLive]

This comment really stood out to me. I know it's several months later, but I'd like to say that the fact Pyra and Mythra lose their memories is meant to give the opposite message. The fact that they lose the memories they now hold dear and the life they now cherish is exactly why it's a sacrifice. The whole story is meant to tell the message that they are valuable and deserve to exist in this world, just as all people do. Their mistakes and their trauma are not what defines them. The ending is bittersweet, and the two closest to Pyra and Mythra of the group are the one who looks the most down trodden because Pyra and Mythra are gone and can never be replaced. Nia and Rex, however, still accept and love the new Pyra and Mythra precisely because they don't replace them. All life matters. A message that the series continues to say with each and every installment. Also, I hope that if you actually see this message, you're doing well.

[@amphibiousRV]

3:02:48 I think I actually died when I saw this. Editing gold.

[@TainoMoya]

My first jrpg and I love that it was

[@freshprinceof]

Thank you for this video. An incredible watch.

[@CritsVG]

Bruh... In all of my 200+ hours of Xenoblade 2, I can't say I remember hearing basically any of the gameplay dialogue you put into this video? How?? 😨

[@CritsVG]

@AndyWitmyer Nope, I actually never did. Either I somehow didn't notice them or they didn't stick with me for some reason, can't say why.

[@Lovfia]

I really liked this video and funny comments you made along the way haha

[@Fegemo]

Still in the middle but cried several times here 😭

[@rower_1572]

I'll be back when I've finished the entire game, but u got a like

[@freduccini7423]

Xenoblade does the best job of worldbuilding out of the trilogy But maybe thats because the other 2 games have much smaller worlds, and they are much less complex. But maybe I'm just a sucker for fictional politics

[@Fade2GrayOG]

This was incredible and helped me not feel like a mad man for loving this game so much.

[@johnswanson1977]

This is great and probably took a lot of work to do. I’m making another account to give it a thumbs up.