Writer Reacts: Xenoblade Chronicles' Juicy Opening Act! (First Time Playing!)

[@Agefonduge]

34:50 No matter what the theories are, it's not frustrating at all. If they're correct it's interesting and mind blowing, and if they're completely off track it's super funny, so it's a win regardless of what you say

[@_sorbetunderscore]

And when his theories are off you can say, well you may be wrong about this game but in this game you’re dead on

[@turtlefalcon5546]

Wow this is the most I’ve been invested in a playthrough in a while. Your reactions and predictions of these things are really fun to watch

[@Trigario]

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement!

[@Zarmac821]

Dude you HAVE to continue playing the game, this has been too good to watch as someone who's played the game and loves it

[@Witherside]

I cannot wait for this man to play 2 and make those connections between the 2 games

[@TaliesinMyrddin]

@Witherside I wanna see that too, a friend I streamed XC3 correctly guessed something about the world right after the first cutscene and I wanna see how Jake does lol

[@kassdeku6238]

I'm so used to see streamers playing this game while just talking whith their chats, seing you taking every details and being so invested in the story is a bless. Thank you for all of that, hope you'll have a good time playing :)

[@thenonexistinghero]

One of the problems is that... he focuses too much on chat an explaining at important scenes. He misses quite a bit of the visual storytelling because he's looking away at the moment. I think it's better to focus on the scenes as they play out and talk about it afterwards rather than pausing every few seconds since that also just straight up takes you out of the scene and kills the immersion.

[@marcotewlow8533]

I desperately need you to keep doing this for the rest of the game. This is fascinating. Utterly captivating.

[@lpfan4491]

This is genuinely so fascinating to watch as someone who knows everything already. Seeing how much is predicted either right or wrong or even sideways from the truth is fascinating(No spoilers to anyone here, obviously). I genuinely hope to see this continue through the entire series at this point, lol.

[@Gameboy2007-Official]

Yeah like some things he predicted I didn't even know were foreshadowed that much this early in

[@evanpereira3555]

@@Gameboy2007-Official him saying Dickson is sus this early with the namedrop is incredible.

[@Trigario]

The “AH! DICKSON!” At the end got me. XD PLEASE do more of this series! This is the most fun I’ve had in a LONG time!

[@liamwhite3522]

31:01 It's as though Shulk is King Arthur, but Dunban is just so actually strong he could lift up the rock with Excalibur on it. They both can wield the Monado, but Dunban does so through sheer force of will while Shulk appears to be chosen.

[@DandDgamer]

Gosh Dunban is so cool

[@cullenlatham2366]

"fiora (and reyn) are gong to die". fiora dies "fiora isnt dead" Whiplash. XD We see the "body" to the extent they can get away with for the age rating; a limp arm hanging out of a mess of metal that was once her weapon of choice, and blood dripping off the special mechon's claws- heck, the flashback after the fact is basically a funeral for her. The game fully treats the moment as fiora's death, but stories are a special place where death is not always the end of a character: it can be, but it doesnt have to be.

[@gavout1511]

I will admit one thing. Killing off Fiora is one of the most ballsy things I’ve seen in a game’s opening 5 hours. And damn it’s quite the effective hook. That being said, the scene of blood on that thing’s claws? That’s spine chilling.

[@evanpereira3555]

When I played the game, I thought Dunban would be the one to die. Well I was wrong, and for the best, because yeah that's quite the effective hook.

[@СофияВихарева-ц2к]

Despite being Xenoblade fan, I genuinely don't think so, it was pretty clear to me that she was a plot device type of character that either will be a typical damsel in distress, or will be killed off. There was just something off about her, don't know what, but she didn't feel as organic as other character.

[@evanpereira3555]

@@СофияВихарева-ц2к tbf half the cast of XC1 aren't really flesh out. I agree about her being a plot device, but as Reyn is the "big guy, big heart" best-friend trope, I thought she would stay as the conscience of the group and love interest.

[@СофияВихарева-ц2к]

@@evanpereira3555 I mean at least other characters had other things about them, or mini arcs of their own. Fiora is just....a nothing burger, she was such a nothing character, that even romance with her didn't feel fulfilling to me, it's like romancing a cardboard cutout. I still remember cutscene where they explained why Fiora went through every horror in the story and it all boiled down to "Because you are close to Shulk" I literally burst out laughing at that moment.

[@WolfieXp]

Nothing will ever beat the feeling of playing a first party Nintendo game on the Wii in 2011 and seeing a main character get killed off in the first 5 hours

[@auresc04]

this is already such a peak playthrough omg

[@Solid_Pixel]

His realization at 36:32 is beautiful. It really goes to show how the story is intertwined with the gameplay, him along with the characters being like "Wait, why isn't this working???" ABSOLUTE CINEMA moment and really drives home a reason why this game is the G.O.A.T. He starts trying to piece together why the Monado isn't working right away and it is beautiful. No spoilers here as to whether he is right or wrong, but I do like where his head is. Analyzing how death scenes are set up and executed was fascinating using the concept of an "emotional peak". Explaining "fridging" as a writing technique was good since idk about actually writing stories, 1:02:07 was a huge moment for him to try to confirm his theories and his reaction is priceless. I do hope he keeps going and still continues going full crazy mode with the story predictions along with figuring out what he got right and what he got wrong in the original predictions video. I AM ALL IN. Even if he gets stuff wrong it is SUPER fun for me trying to substitute his predictions into the game and see how differently the story could have played out. Sidenote: If you are reading this, Mr. Steinberg, PLEASE keep pausing and analyzing. As you said, this is the "correct amount of analyzing". Unfortunately, I am unable to tune in live, but I WILL be looking for any uploads here!

[@undeadMonk]

Jake: "We're going with 'Mechon Face'!" Metal Face: *gasp* "How did you _almost_ know my name?" Jake: "I have approximate knowledge of many things."

[@ShallBePurified]

It's very interesting seeing a writer play the game and know what to anticipate because of the fundamentals of storytelling. I definitely didn't catch on to these things when I first played because I was 18, but now I can tell where a story is headed because I'm more familiar with storytelling techniques.

[@MayroSMM]

I am in DESPERATE need of more videos like this omfg

[@JakeSteinberg]

thanks for watching!!

[@zathanz0]

Heya! Huge Xenoblade Fan here. We aren't as numerous as most other JRPG fanbases, but we for sure are one of the most dedicated. I am bias of course haha. Your prediction popped up in my feed. (along with a lot of other peoples I bet. So congrats on a hit video🎉) As an aspiring / in my free time writer myself, its refreshing to see your expertise and personality interwoven in the gameplay! If I may be forward, I think you have something REALLY special here that I have not seen anywhere else on the platform. I propose that you try doing this with as many other games you play as possible! Fans from the games you play who already know the story will love knowing what you get right and what you get wrong so theyll come to watch. And fans from before will just love your gameplay and the ride it comes with! I for one would love to see that kind of content! Maybe consider giving that a try! Either way you got a new subscriber and new follower on Twitch! Thanks again! And Enjoy Xenoblade!!

[@JakeSteinberg]

Thanks for this ♥️ very kind. Playing games like this is a pretty big time commitment so I'm just trying to find a balance with my other work and responsibilities. So glad you are finding it enjoyable!

[@Bubby021]

This was insane to watch during the stream. Makes me appreciate story writing even more seeing this live analysis.

[@rasengan124]

1:02:35 The music track is actually called “Once We Part Ways”, And yes, it IS a beautiful track, played at some of the most poignant parts of the story, and one of my absolute favorites too. ❤🎶

[@jonathand.4088]

1:02:07 I was looking forward to your reaction to this line and was not disappointed!

[@Queentism-cv3vi]

Yknow it’s a good play through when he actually reminds me of how it felt when I played and get excited again when watching it

[@Queentism-cv3vi]

Also yes pls keep pausing in cutscenes lol

[@matthewbrown4883]

This series needs to continue. Full playthrough.

[@laileleneirose7966]

That ending with Dixon and your reaction to him had me crying.

[@ppowersteef]

22:17 You can see Jake's getting his vision and Dunban decided to break it.

[@DandDgamer]

16:25 this was my reaction coming into the series at 2, I was blown away by the cutscenes

[@Mnementh-ub8md]

About the voice acting: Nintendo of America snubbed the game, Nintendo of Europe did the localization. Therefore the british accents and spellings. Even after the english version existed Nintendo of America didn't really want the game and only made a limited release. Only later with the release of the 3DS version and and XCX on the WiiU the franchise picked up steam in America and had a breakthrough in XC2 on Switch. That lead to the Definitive edition. The voice actors are generally pretty good. Jenna Coleman even made herself a name afterwards as an actress as a Doctor Who companion and in The Sandman.

[@dugtrioramen]

This is the most fun I've had watching a playthrough! You're so good at catching and explaining the storytelling techniques. Makes me want to learn writing too

[@derekchase5462]

I love not being a literary analysis expert and just like letting the game guide me through all its twists and turns, and at the same time I adore watching someone with more critical thinking and analytical skills spell it out beat for beat as it happens

[@raptormouse]

I was curious to see how you would react to the Future Sight reveal!

[@laileleneirose7966]

Don’t apologise for talking and over pausing, the entire reason we’re watching is for your analysis. It’s super interesting to see you get correct and what will surprise you.

[@dig1taltoaster]

So excited if you do more of these your picking up so many details I love it

[@milktoast9140]

A friend recommended me your predictions video and I enjoyed it so much that I had to watch the next stream's highlights! I seriously have to commend you; though not all of your predictions are perfect, you manage to break down scenes and catch details to a degree that puts the average video essay to shame, and on a blind playthrough no less. It's become a bit of a cliché for youtubers to put "*insert profession* reacts" at the front of all of their videos, but this time it really feels earned. You've provided insight that has reminded me how excellent and intentional this game's writing is while also helping me discover new ways to appreciate a story I've experienced dozens upon dozens of times over the last 13 years. Super good stuff, eagerly awaiting whatever comes next

[@_sorbetunderscore]

Dee getting to that point in 3, Jake going through 1, X on the horizon, xenoblade fans have been eating good recently

[@PeachBootyPoppin]

Jesse Auditorium playing through 1 and 2 last year, and starting 3 this year as well. All of these guys I watched well before they played Xenoblade lol.

[@Contrail1003]

Dude it is so cool to see someone who can really dig into the writing of this game! I love seeing people react to this game based on nothing but vibes as well, but seeing a detailed look as a first time player is so fascinating!

[@Cosmic-Comet]

Sick video, as someone who adores Xenoblade I love your analysis of this game and being able to pick up on small details others may miss their first time around. I really hope you go through the rest of the game as I would love to see your thoughts, reactions, and opinions on the story as a whole

[@dragocrafterr8286]

I hope you include on yt the full speculation of the dickson scene shortly after in the stream, was super sick and indepth

[@damdamdamdumdidum]

I hope you'll upload more of this, I love it!

[@stilldamaged3945]

Mostly just commenting for algorithmic engagement, but I hope you enjoy the rest of your time with the game. I always enjoy a new perspective for a game I have enjoyed.

[@lankthedank6931]

Actually, once you finish this story, I recommend you look back on the game’s cutscenes later. There’s actually some foreshadowing that happens in the game that is very noteworthy. Some of it unnoticeable until after you finish the game. I won’t spoil anything, but once you come back here, there’s actually something Shulk says in this video that is extremely noteworthy.

[@jelyse14]

18:51 All of Xenoblade, Xenosaga, and Xenogears is like that. Its very deliberate storytelling. If you love it this much already you've got to play all of them. Xenogears and the Xenosaga series, the games that came before the Xenoblade series, are significantly more complex than Xenoblade as well, so you have a lot to look forward to. Xenoblade takes a ton from Xenogears, so you'll be able to see the evolution of storytelling ideas through the same developers over the decades.

[@notsospecial9012]

Jake I am BEGGING you to keep streaming this game, this is such a fun watch

[@ttaaccooss1]

This is the re-experience of Xenoblade 1 I've been searching a long time for. Can't wait to see how the rest pans out for you!

[@saxophonebuizel2458]

I wanna see how he reacts to the rest of the story Bc his predictions are ACCURATE

[@SuperEljafru]

57:35 is a really incredible analysis that i’ve never heard before. i don’t know how far you are in the story so i’ll keep what i want to say to myself… but it truly is awesome seeing someone dive into this game headfirst critically.

[@MiladyMidori]

Please keep playing through this. I'm excited to see what you think about the rest of the story.

[@Requinix17]

Dickson: I'm not done being a main character!

[@OliBP]

"Ooooooooooh! Dickson!!!!!" Awesome reaction and really fun to hear your throughts!!

[@berenicebenayoun]

Love seeing you analyze the story of my favorite game series - please continue!!! ❤

[@the_only_lamp]

I love love LOVE this. I knew that watching you play this game would be good, but as always you surpass my expectations Jake. Immensely enjoyable, thank you for sharing!

[@TheMeepYAY]

Truthfully, I think the xenoblade series as a whole has THE BEST twists I’ve ever seen in any game. I’m so here to see you ride this LONG rollercoaster

[@nerdshit]

I played XC1 back when it was released for the Wii, and I was still very young. Fiora's death hit me so hard that I couldn't or didn't want to play for several days - but afterward, I dove into this adventure and never regretted it. No matter how often I see the story somewhere, I relive it every time. Thank you so much for showcasing this format - I hope you play through the entire game because I was completely hooked on every single minute! Thank you!

[@cqllel5186]

It's nice watching people actually immerse into the story and not miss obvious details, either

[@Polarcon]

This is awesome. I hope you continue.

[@OldGenGamersNation]

Funny how you'd say that XBC fans need to play KH. Cause the director of XBC was the KH director's mentor.

[@Xenado22]

When I tell you this is exactly what I need right now

[@xxProjectJxx]

I love that the monado lets Shulk glimpse and alter the future, because it ties so well into his motivation. What Shulk really wants is to change the past, Fiora's death, but ultimately, just like us, all he can do is change his future.

[@nero1798]

The thing why the story telling in Xenoblade is so good is because they don't rely on cheap plottwists out of nowhere but instead give all the puzzle pieces for the plottwists so that you could technically figure everything out. This makes the plottwists so much better because they make sense and are not just there to suprise the player. There are some lines from the beginning of the game that foreshadow something that only happens at the end of the story and I think that's great.

[@eulefranz944]

My god. This is immaculate. I love how you delve deep into every scene. Whether you are right and/ or wrong this is so interesting!!

[@__Rasse__]

Please continue playing the game and please continue uploading your playthrough on KZbin. This is super entertaining!

[@TheUltimaOblivion]

Ever since I finished this game for the first time, I always wished to forget literally everything so I can experience all blind once again (and this hasn't changed even after two other 100% playthroughs), but I have to say, your content is as close as possible to having "Xenoblade-specific amnesia", because your enthusiasm and theorycrafting are soooo relatable, on my first playthrough I also was pausing every time to take all in and build theories. I really hope to see more Xenoblade videos from you, because this was so entertaining to watch!

[@thescientition9165]

I’m so in, I’m gonna watch you play this whole series!

[@drifloonsupremacyassociation]

54:20 oh dude you have no idea how much he WILL need it

[@supersonicgamerguru]

Adam Howden is literally the best voice actor I've ever seen in a video game or anywhere.

[@jamesmontgomery7074]

9:20 Checkov's Anti-Air Battery.

[@Violetsparkstorm]

This is amazing! Also, if you like the writing done here… The rest of the series does not disappoint!

[@SolarManOmega]

First played this game 4 years ago (actually had it on the Wii and to my grate shame didn’t really play it until Definitive Edition) and I feel like I’m seeing it for the first time with new eyes. Love this, hope you keep playing!

[@DandDgamer]

Bro must be so smug after this

[@BKaimana]

Really want to see more of this playthrough, loving all your analysis of the game and especially your predictions on what will be happening in the future.

[@ejjs26]

This is the Monados power

[@kson8452]

Hey Jake. Great to see you started playing Xenoblade. Might be in the minority here, but while I do enjoy your analysis from a writer's perspective that you bring to this playthrough, I think pauses should be spaced out a little more, if only because this series has such great music and voice acting/delivery that you might be missing on some of the emotional threads. Looking forward to the next uploads!

[@mythoughtsexactly2145]

This is honestly one of the best let's plays for Xenoblade 1 lmao.

[@stephen92]

The voice acting and music is amazing in this game. The animation wasn't as good in the original version of the game, but in Definitive Edition the visual update is really noticable

[@Dr._Jazz]

32:17 So, I would just like to remind you here that it has already been established that Dickson is helping Shulk with his research on the Monado's properties and how it works. It was SHULK that put forth the hypothesis that the symbol that appears on the Monado may be a clue and that there are likely many more symbols that can appear. i.e., as DIckson replied (paraphrased): "So, what you're saying is... the Monado may hold even more power?" Why would Dickson NOT share this new information with his friend Dunban offscreen? Also, if Dunban was going to be the character to comment on it, who else could he have heard this information from?

[@ze_darku_magician5504]

Please continue playing this. The story only gets crazier the further you go and your take on a playthrough/analysis is incredibly fun to watch as I have played all the games in the series multiple times. I cannot wait for you to get to all the insanity later down the path. Your predictions are for the most parts extremely accurate but I'm sure the game can throw even you a curve-ball that absolutely knocks your socks off.

[@Ludecil]

Your first video certainly hit the Xenoblade YT algorithm and it was interesting seeing you go on about the wildest theories. This was a fantastic tie up to all the loose ends from that first video, as you dissected just how excellently crafted the opener to XC1 was. The voice acting is impeccable especially considering it's all from the Wii era. If you choose to continue this video series, I will be following it closely with great interest.

[@PyraJord]

You have to continue and play the whole series.

[@thenonexistinghero]

Where did Dickson get that info from? Uh... Shulk told Dickson when he came to the lab. Shulk talked about the layered glass and speculated that the Monado had hidden power/abilities. The odd thing in that scene is Shulk's reaction to Dickson knowing something that he told Dickson himself.

[@DetectiveThursday]

41:34 better than the original Japanese name.

[@eseph_agen]

I like when hes wrong. When other people are wrong they are just wrong and dumb. When he's wrong its like, nah not quite, but damn that would still be cool if it did happen like that.

[@PeachBootyPoppin]

😂🤣

[@drifloonsupremacyassociation]

Dude i need you to keep playing this asap

[@oubie6929]

A masterpiece back on the Wii, still a timeless masterpiece in 2025

[@HenrikMyrhaug]

Brother, you are SO GOOD this. You get at least 70% of your predictions correct, and those story points caught me completely off guard!

[@OniLink147]

Are you planning on playing the rest of the game / the series? Because it is some of Nintendo's best storytelling.

[@JakeSteinberg]

I'm definitely playing more! Just streamed some on Twitch today and the next KZbin video goes live tomorrow morning

[@manupm9161]

We need the complete playthrough uploaded to the channel...

[@warailawildrunner5300]

Like others have said, I really want to see more of you streaming this game and voicing your predictions. Your energy and enthusiasm is amazing. Also never ever apologise for pausing. It's preferred while you get your thoughts in order rather than missing scenes

[@mrdactyl2303]

I am loving your theories and commentary! I can't wait to see more!

[@notpearl3590]

I genuinely love this so much; seeing the way your thoughts process leads you to these conclusions is endlessly fascinating

[@MagnaP]

I kind of want to see the whole thing now. The writing is amazing in this game, even more on a second run. EDIT: Not gonna say much to not reveal much, but you're so on point at time, keep it up.

[@EmilAhvenainen]

never stop the pausing. theory crafting and idea throwing is what makes this playthrough so unique and I am loving every second of it

[@_sorbetunderscore]

57:00 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Future Redeemed Spoilers: Do not read if you haven’t played! THAT MEANS YOU JAKE All of this talk about what shulk is to learn through the story and through Dunban makes his character in FR that much more deep. You can already tell that a lot of his mentoring is influenced by who dunban was, this almost soft stoicism. He is logical, and strict, but he cares and he accepts.

[@Drewtendo]

34:50 I LOVE this kind of stuff! Watching people play these games for the first time is already enough of a treat. Getting to hear the player's thought process and theories, though, is icing on the cake!

[@dasheru]

I love this perspective so much! I cannot overstate how much I am here for these videos. such an interesting, fun, and unique way to engage with game texts. really gets to the core of what makes these games so thoughtful and meaningful as intentional pieces of writing.

[@toonlinkssbb515]

Enjoy the sound track this game has

[@AlexNINTENFAN]

This is really a different gameplay from others and I love it, want to watch more!!

[@Dominik-K]

I love you pausing and explaining your thoughts! Honestly, its amazing how your thought process works and gets refined by a game, that actually cares about good storytelling. Especially the analzsis of the two parts, that make Shulk was very interesting

[@Missiletainn]

I love your analysis, it's great to see it from this perspective while it's happening.

[@bytex1933]

This is by far the most fun and invested I have been in all the playthrough's of this series that I've watched, and that's saying a lot, since I've watched at least 20 complete ones at this point. I will tell you this right now, it's not at all annoying listening to you theorize, it's simply fun, because this story is very complex and in time, you will need explanations of things, mainly as you are ending the series, and some niche things that don't get explained in the games. I usually don't subscribe to a channel only for a playthrough but with the two videos you have put out you have earned it. Thank you a lot for doing this, looking forward to seeing more of it

[@airi24]

KEEP GOING!! I’m a fellow writer and this series is my absolute favorite jrpg series of all time, the writing is amazing in every game

[@mariofanboy2336]

Dude plz play more of this. I’ve only watched about half of this video and I already know I want more. Your opinions and takes are awesome to listen to

[@pengie-gw2lu]

Despite losing the use of his dominant hand and having spent a year without training, Dunban is still the same level he was during the Battle of Sword Valley. Badass.

[@q4241]

Bro is gonna flip if he keeps playing this game