Xenoblade 2's Darkest Hour

[@IntoThePlot]

Technically still uploaded in September

[@danielpratt3794]

Nice video, yeah. 2 is definitely a very special game like it isn't my favourite in the trilogy, but it has aspects that surpass the others and do things i haven't seen other games do. Like I have my problems with it, which is why it isn't my favourite, but it definitely is amazing and stands near the top of JRPGS Also, yes, characters aren't people that is so true, like they're ways to explore specific ideas about life with specific intentions decided by an author, they are not real people

[@MaxM210]

I really like this analysis and enjoyed your perspective and the comparison with Xc3. I would counter that the idea posed here of Rex going on his own to rescue Pyra, wouldn't really work in this context, because Rex giving up completely is meant to be the core of what makes this a "darkest hour" at all. The reason Rex is being lectured is specifically because he's given up entirely, which stands at odds with his entire characterization up until this point, by design. Rex until then, had even in the most dire of situations refused to give up, no matter how little impact he could have made in a given situation, such as when Mor Ardain and Uraya were about to start attacking each other in Temperantia. Despite how impossible it realistically could have been to stop an actual war, Rex was still sure he could do something. Where as following his defeat to Jin, Rex has not simply simply convinced himself there is nothing he can do, he's convinced himself giving up is what he should have done from the start. Which is why I would argue it works, that he doesn't argue back, because he's convinced himself fighting back on anything has been his entire problem. He's come to assume he was wrong to ever try and fight for what he believed in. So in turn, he doesn't argue back when Nia, Brighid and Poppi scold him. The scene only is a darkest hour because Rex believes there is no hope of success. If the scene had played out with Rex trying to go alone, I feel it wouldn't hit as a darkest hour scene, and thus Rex wouldn't have his moment to genuinely reconsider his whole world view. But most importantly, Rex giving up in this scene also exists to parallel Klaus. Because if you remember Klaus also gave up completely following Malos's reign of destruction. Klaus stood by and let Amalthus take Logos and stood by when Malos began to attack, because as he says, "My atonement was doomed from the start". That, to me, is the large purpose of the scene. Klaus and Rex both viewed not just themselves as failures, but their every action as failures. They essentially succumb to defeatism, and decide it was wrong to ever try and act on their hopes. And this may be reaching on my part, but I've always read Rex as someone motivated strongly by survivors guilt, and that he's always viewed his parent's deaths as his fault, so he views that as his "sin", much like how Klaus ending the world is his sin. Which is the main reason why Rex fights so hard to save everyone. Vandham's death is to him, a repeat of his parents death, people dying to save him. And why Pyra getting taken by Jin breaks him so much. because It's the final nail in the coffin for his idea that his very existence puts people in jeopardy and that he only ever loses the people who try to help him. Azurda gets shot down at the start of the game, but narrowly survives. Then Nia is captured and tells him to run, hens why Rex goes so far to rescue her later.Then Fan dies and Rex is unable to do anything about it, hens "i'm just as weak as I've always been" and then finally, Pyra gets taken by JIn, essentially cementing to Rex that he's always been doomed to fail, and the more he tries to save people the more he's doomed to lose them. Which feeds back into his final loss, when Pyra/Mythra sacrifice themselves and Rex has to accept not just their decision, but also in a sense, the death of his parents and everyone else who died through out the game. He has to respect the agency of those who elected to save him, and also accept himself as someone worthy of being saved, (which also parallels Pyra and Mythra''s story of leaning to accept they deserve to live) And it's that final action that finally gives Rex the true aptitude to reawaken the core crystal at the very end. Gee can you tell I like this game a lot? I hope this all flows rationally. I just really love this game and relish any opportunity to gush.

[@IntoThePlot]

All great points! I think I might have worded my suggestion of "Rex goes after her alone" a bit poorly. What I meant was that a similar scene to the actual darkest hour might have been more efficient after Rex tried fixing his mistake, but in a way where it only reinforced and proved his character flaw, thus better illustrating to Rex where the problem lies in his recklessness. A similar "Rex gives up" scene would follow my altered version of the darkest hour, not entirely replace it. As for your other arguments, I really like the nuance in your analysis! The parallels between Rex and the Architect isn't something I had considered. While I do still stand by my point that there could have been more attack/defense in the scene, or at least more build-up to Rex changing his views through fighting back against other characters' "attacks," I do agree that it seems like Rex definitely knew that leaving would end up being a mistake. Thanks for the in-depth feedback! It's always nice discussing this fantastic game.

[@SomewhatlikeIsaac]

I like an expression from future redeemed where a character goes "age saps away at my courage" I like to think that's what happens in this moment most of all. Whenever Rex wins a fight, he doesn't win anything monumental. But when Rex loses, people die. I think XC2 is ultimately a game about hope. And in this moment, Rex has no more hope to expend. So he decides to leave. It is stupid that he just goes "the mass murderers will treat her nicely I'm sure" but I'd argue that more a "I don't want to think about it" response. Still, nice video.

[@JustJulyo]

Xenoblade has so many peaks they might as well be called Mountain Chronicles

[@yyobananaboyy2514]

Loved the P5R reference, Maruki is honestly one of the best antagonists in anything I've played

[@xenocrossrubedo4950]

I think there’s a double meaning to Jin’s line about Rex not having noticed Pyra’s wounds. I think he meant just as much her emotional wounds. She has been wounded so deeply by her past, that she was ready and willing to kill herself there and then. It is even emphasized by how Pyra is controlling Mythra’s siren, with Akhos explaining she’s achieving such a feat through sheer will power. This also connects to the reason why Brighid opened her eyes, as she was the only one (besides Jin) who understood and realized Pyra’s true intentions for going to Elysium and the depth of her guilt, following her overhearing of Pyra and Corinne’s conversation, which she confronts Pyra about shortly after in Indol. And of course that’s what she explains angrily to Rex in the aftermath (there’s even a flashback to that scene with Pyra and Corinne). And indeed, up to that point Rex has been oblivious to the extent of her guilt and trauma, and blindly trusted her and went along with his promise because he had his own reason to go to Elysium, and was so eager to get there. Jin says that “your blade has been wounded so deeply, and all you can think of is yourself”, and indeed both on the moment, as he is crawling and gasping that he has to get to Elysium, while Pyra is barely hanging on, and also throughout the whole game up to that point. Rex is grateful and feels indebted to Pyra, but going to Elysium has also always been his dream as well, and due to his blind trust and inability to fully engage with her on an emotional level, he had never even thought to consider or ask Pyra why she wants to go there. He is indeed selfish, not out of malice, but because he doesn’t have the emotional intelligence yet to fully consider other’s emotions. He wouldn’t understand why Pyra would see herself as a weapon, how could he? He who is so against salvaging for military supplies and sees them as a bad thing, and who sees her as “the power to protect”. He just wasn’t on the same wavelength at all, he “walked in the shadow of the Aegis’ light, blindly walking his own path, while she walked alone”, he didn’t understand her feelings and was so eager to reach Elysium. Like Zeke’s phantasm points out, “In your hurry to get here, you never stopped to consider all the things you left lying in your wake”. And this is why the spirit crucible is a trial, as that whole escapade shows through Nia and her struggle, what he should have been doing with Pyra from the start. And with his newfound wisdom, he can redeem himself and attempt to finally heal Pyra’s emotional wounds (as he symbolically gains a healer blade in Nia). Which mirrors how she initially healed his physical wounds.

[@Ontos99]

I believe XC2's darkest hour is noticably weaker than XC3 but Jin's words to Rex, how he only thinks of himself is alluding more to Jin's biases moreso than Rex's nature. Jin detests the architect's rules for people being the masters and blades the slaves. When he sees Pyra hurt and physically injured to a point she collapses, he immediately blames her driver for being reckless and selfish which is already something Rex was aware of doing in Chp 3. That sense of "the more I resist, the more people suffer" idea is believed in the darkest hour and now that they dont have the elysium motivation due to Pyra being lost, I understand Rex's despair. It is a good scene but as you've rightly pointed out the mood swings and resolutions are missing while Brighid continues the punching game. If this part was written a bit more carefully, it would be a much stronger section

[@DandDgamer]

Good breakdown as ever. I do think it goes to show just how much taste plays into everything. I do agree to some extent with "characters arent people", but as to be fair you also noted, this is the first time things go wrong in a big way and Rex's invincibility bubble is popped. It felt natural to me for him to despair, and rather than robbing tension I actually liked that the adults in the room let things play out because the scene was more about character drama and "how" than "what" because like obviously they dont abandon Pyra. I do think your rewrite is quite interesting. I would have loved to see the party genuinely wonder if Pyra can even be saved and wonder if they can still achieve their goal or want to without her. Might have given the grown ups something to do - I like everything already there in the scene but that adds layers

[@hyliastone286]

15:10 I disagree here. Morag was watching intently. She wasn't intervening, but she was paying close attention. She knew it would be best to let Rex and the others come to their own conclusions, but I don't believe she would have simply done nothing if Rex hadn't. It's similar to how Riku (and Manana I believe she was DEFINITELY in on it) handled the guidance of the party of Xenoblade 3. They never gave them the answers directly, but they were waiting in the wings ready and willing to give subtle prods in the right direction - to get them asking the right questions. That was how Morag and Zeke handled things here. There is never a certainty, but you have to let the next generation walk their own path

[@hyliastone286]

I do think your ideas for revisions are very good ones, though

[@IntoThePlot]

Those are good points, thanks for the feedback!

[@apieceoftapeva2558]

You pointing out that Rex is technically a teenager made me look something up Apparently, Rex is *three years* older than Dipper from Gravity Falls

[@lukestarford7608]

Good analysis though I do disagree with your points here and I don't think bring up either Xenoblade games benefit your point here since they are all trying to do different things. In XC2 cases, while the "Darkest Hours" is brought about by the Party defeat and the Aegis Sisters capture. Jin dialogue against Rex and Rex giving up in Chapter 7 has been building since the start of the game through how the game explores Rex and the Aegis Sister character and their relationship both with each other and to themselves. Rex and the Aegis Sister relationship is initially a negative relationship for the first 6 chapter of the game, yes they get along with each other, love and care for each other. But there is also an active conflict through the lack of communication and Self-Denial that prevent good and healthy relationship. To cut an Uni essay short about me writing about their relationship: TAS despite their love for him, is using Rex to get to Elysium to commit suicide due to fearing their existence. Meanwhile, Rex equally lack self-worth, miscommunicates and damages his relationship with TAS. Both character fears being a burden on each other lives, they actively sacrifice the relationship due to their own destructive behaviour in an attempt to care for the other’s needs over their own. Jin quote in Ch6 and Rex giving up in Chapter 7 is the culmination of everything we seen so far and is the game pushing Rex flaws to the extreme. It Rex sacrificing the relationship, ignorantly believing that the Aegis Sisters would be safe with Torna despite everything we seen prior in attempt to not confront his own flaws that he knows well about and not hurt the Aegis Sisters any further. It why he never defends himself against Nia, Brighid or Poppi because understand that he is in the wrong here. (Note: TAS = The Aegis Sisters.) However, the thing with XC2 "Darkest Hour" is that it is purposely short because it pivots into how Rex is going to "solve" the situation. Chapter seven can be split into two defined halves with a structure that takes from Vogler’s [12, p.14-17] stages of the hero journey, specifically the ‘Inmost Cave’, ‘the Ordeal’ and ‘the Reward’. The first half is of Rex and his Allies confronting the ‘Spirit Crucible Elpys’, the equivalent of the Inmost Cave. The Ordeal is represented in the ‘Phantasms of Addam’. While the reward at first is advertised to be the 3rd Aegis Sword by the King of Tantal. The Reward ended up being Rex learning how to have a positive relationship with himself and how to improve his relationship with TAS. It Rex learning from Nia, Addam and the Party. The second half of chapter seven follows the same structure as before; the Inmost Cave is represented in ‘Cliff of Morytha’, the Ordeal is represented in the conflict with Torna, while rescuing TAS from them is the Reward at first glance. With the Actual reward being the 3rd Aegis sword in the unlocking of Pnuema and Master Driver Rex through Rex and TAS growing as people and as a relationship. (Sorry if I badly explained it here.)

[@Nekro_Knight]

So... what's the #1 favourite game?

[@IntoThePlot]

Fire Emblem: Three Houses