It isn't necessary for Nikol and Glimmer to have grand character arcs as they were primarily plot devices that showed the wise, parental sides of Shulk and Rex. Approaching it from that perspective and realizing them as Shulk's and Pyra's respective children was arguably the better choice for a 20 hour DLC. We also know from the main game that Ouroboros power denies them life in the cycle, leaving them with few options. As characters, they do grow: Nikol learns that fighting and technology are not inherently bad, while Glimmer begins to care for and understand others.
I agree that this approach was probably the best way they could've handled new characters in such a short expansion, and honestly I do still really enjoy them as characters. The Shulk/Nikol and Rex/Glimmer dynamics are super cool and I absolutely loved seeing scenes with them and especially the ending. But in my opinion, these relationships do a better job at making FR's versions of Shulk and Rex even better, rather than making Nikol and Glimmer great characters on their own. Additionally, while I do see what you're saying with Nikol and Glimmer having some character development, I moreso take issue with the fact that they mainly just sit on the sidelines and don't have signs of changing throughout the story. Glimmer just kinda joins your party, despite her initial anger at the flame clock's destruction, and then later there's just a single scene talking with Rex where she says "Yeah I WAS angry but it's okay I'm chill now." Maybe I missed stuff, but there's very few direct inbetween points where she is clearly shown to be warming up to everyone. Additionally, is that really what you think Nikol learnt through the game? I mean he fights quite a bit in his introduction scene already so I don't think that was really the direction they were going with him. And also when did he ever say that he thought technology was bad? He used technology to make his own blade, just to be able to fight for his colony, and he's a massive geek just like Shulk. I suppose there is that one scene with Shulk where he shows that he doesn't really like killing, but that feels like a very minor part of his character in the grand scheme of things. Maybe I missed something or interpreted something a little differently, but still thanks for sharing your own take on them.
@@YoshiyaKJ We seem to agree that Nikol and Glimmer are literary plot devices that help Shulk and Rex stand tall, so I'll let that be. I agree that their development is not linearly reinforced throughout the story, but I do not believe it was flawed. The central struggles the two face are complex, but do not demand much time, as they have mentors who understand Ouroboros and the true nature of Aionios. Nikol's interaction with Shulk reveals that he does not like to fight, evident by his inability to summon a blade, similar to Noah. Both are elite soldiers, despite their desire for peace. When he dismisses Shulk's praise toward his backpack weapon, he does so because war forces him to pervert his passion in the name of violence. From Shulk, he learns that a weapon is a neutral agent: while it can be used meaningless slaughter, it can also protect loved ones, save lives, and fight systemic violence. The issue was resolved and Nikol was also able to fix Shulk's creaking arm. After she was exiled from her colony, Glimmer overcame her existential crisis quickly because she had Matthew, Shulk and Rex to explain that Moebius consuls corrupted soldiers. She made peace with missing her homecoming after learning about the wider world of Aionios, much like Lanz and Eunie. It also helped that Shulk, Panacea, and Rex were never intentionally mean to her, only trying to explain matters. Once she understood the situation, she complied with the group. Glimmer learned to make the best out of a stressful situation and soon learned that it wasn't so bad, as everyone was kind. Together, Nikol and Glimmer express their willingness to fight against Alpha. Offering their lives to a much different cause and proving themselves to their mentors show how long they’ve come from being members of opposing military states. For him, it’s about curbing violence by fighting Alpha, and for her, it’s about rising above selfishness, understanding, and helping others. It’s fair to want more heartfelt examples of their progression, but it is unnecessary to round out their arcs.
I'll be honest i think Xc3 is by far the weakest story in the trilogy, it's villains were pretty mid, the main 6 characters were fine but god i hated some of the side characters, i also thought a lot of the music was fine but not as memorable as Xc1 or Xc2 as i can still remember Mor Ardain's theme very well. I also really hate Shania even after the ghondor side story explained her backstory, imho a lot of the side characters feel poorly written.
@@iviyohane My EQ is fine and i *GET* why she is the way she is but it still doesn't make me dislike her any less. I would also question why such an integral character point was omitted from the main story? If the intention was to get me to understand but disagree with her then the writers failed by putting her entire character backstory behind a side quest. This is another complaint i have actually, why were so many character moments locked behind side content? I did the content because i'm a completionist but if i hadn't done any of that then a lot of the story would feel worse. I think that if they had extended the story to be longer so that these important details could be included then it would feel at smoother imo.
man when a DLC introduces a Protag that I ended up loving so much that I was sad we didn't get a full game with him
Future redeemed really didn't need to redeem anything from Xenoblade but man did they perfect the series
It isn't necessary for Nikol and Glimmer to have grand character arcs as they were primarily plot devices that showed the wise, parental sides of Shulk and Rex. Approaching it from that perspective and realizing them as Shulk's and Pyra's respective children was arguably the better choice for a 20 hour DLC. We also know from the main game that Ouroboros power denies them life in the cycle, leaving them with few options. As characters, they do grow: Nikol learns that fighting and technology are not inherently bad, while Glimmer begins to care for and understand others.
I agree that this approach was probably the best way they could've handled new characters in such a short expansion, and honestly I do still really enjoy them as characters. The Shulk/Nikol and Rex/Glimmer dynamics are super cool and I absolutely loved seeing scenes with them and especially the ending. But in my opinion, these relationships do a better job at making FR's versions of Shulk and Rex even better, rather than making Nikol and Glimmer great characters on their own. Additionally, while I do see what you're saying with Nikol and Glimmer having some character development, I moreso take issue with the fact that they mainly just sit on the sidelines and don't have signs of changing throughout the story. Glimmer just kinda joins your party, despite her initial anger at the flame clock's destruction, and then later there's just a single scene talking with Rex where she says "Yeah I WAS angry but it's okay I'm chill now." Maybe I missed stuff, but there's very few direct inbetween points where she is clearly shown to be warming up to everyone. Additionally, is that really what you think Nikol learnt through the game? I mean he fights quite a bit in his introduction scene already so I don't think that was really the direction they were going with him. And also when did he ever say that he thought technology was bad? He used technology to make his own blade, just to be able to fight for his colony, and he's a massive geek just like Shulk. I suppose there is that one scene with Shulk where he shows that he doesn't really like killing, but that feels like a very minor part of his character in the grand scheme of things. Maybe I missed something or interpreted something a little differently, but still thanks for sharing your own take on them.
@@YoshiyaKJ We seem to agree that Nikol and Glimmer are literary plot devices that help Shulk and Rex stand tall, so I'll let that be. I agree that their development is not linearly reinforced throughout the story, but I do not believe it was flawed. The central struggles the two face are complex, but do not demand much time, as they have mentors who understand Ouroboros and the true nature of Aionios.
Nikol's interaction with Shulk reveals that he does not like to fight, evident by his inability to summon a blade, similar to Noah. Both are elite soldiers, despite their desire for peace. When he dismisses Shulk's praise toward his backpack weapon, he does so because war forces him to pervert his passion in the name of violence. From Shulk, he learns that a weapon is a neutral agent: while it can be used meaningless slaughter, it can also protect loved ones, save lives, and fight systemic violence. The issue was resolved and Nikol was also able to fix Shulk's creaking arm.
After she was exiled from her colony, Glimmer overcame her existential crisis quickly because she had Matthew, Shulk and Rex to explain that Moebius consuls corrupted soldiers. She made peace with missing her homecoming after learning about the wider world of Aionios, much like Lanz and Eunie. It also helped that Shulk, Panacea, and Rex were never intentionally mean to her, only trying to explain matters. Once she understood the situation, she complied with the group. Glimmer learned to make the best out of a stressful situation and soon learned that it wasn't so bad, as everyone was kind.
Together, Nikol and Glimmer express their willingness to fight against Alpha. Offering their lives to a much different cause and proving themselves to their mentors show how long they’ve come from being members of opposing military states. For him, it’s about curbing violence by fighting Alpha, and for her, it’s about rising above selfishness, understanding, and helping others. It’s fair to want more heartfelt examples of their progression, but it is unnecessary to round out their arcs.
0:18 I played it in 2018-19 and felt the same. All I gotta say is, play Xenogears.
I already have! I love it as much as all the other Xenoblade games.
@@YoshiyaKJ ah good! I played it in 2020/21 and its the only thing I've found that matches and surpasses my love of XB. 😄
YO they got shulk in this game?!!?!!
Watching this review, me: "Wait, fast travel exists in the DLC?"
I'll be honest i think Xc3 is by far the weakest story in the trilogy, it's villains were pretty mid, the main 6 characters were fine but god i hated some of the side characters, i also thought a lot of the music was fine but not as memorable as Xc1 or Xc2 as i can still remember Mor Ardain's theme very well. I also really hate Shania even after the ghondor side story explained her backstory, imho a lot of the side characters feel poorly written.
Main 7?
You have to improve your emotional intelligence if you think that about the side characters in XB3, especially Shania.
@@iviyohane My EQ is fine and i *GET* why she is the way she is but it still doesn't make me dislike her any less. I would also question why such an integral character point was omitted from the main story? If the intention was to get me to understand but disagree with her then the writers failed by putting her entire character backstory behind a side quest. This is another complaint i have actually, why were so many character moments locked behind side content? I did the content because i'm a completionist but if i hadn't done any of that then a lot of the story would feel worse. I think that if they had extended the story to be longer so that these important details could be included then it would feel at smoother imo.