@@KingKlonoa Much obliged that you recognized my constant inquiries. Keep up the fantastic work, expect me to badger you for a XC X and XC2 retrospectives too ha ha. Merry Christmas King!
That sounds nice Too bad i didnt get to experience any of the heart to hearts aside from the maybe 3 i happened to get lucky and have available because the affinity system is terrible. Also just kind of an awful idea to gate all of your meaningful character interaction moments behind such a system Which is one of the reasons why the quiet moments and future connected as a whole is just way better than the base game
@@lovesoderpalm1555 Nah, they're right imo Barely experienced any either, it felt like a grind and as someone that played XC2 first, it was jarring; Future connected took a page out of what they learnt with XC2 and it was much better
@@yourehereforthatarentyou Almost like they were trying to say encourage you to switch up your party makeup so that you can learn more about the characters
I just realized that the debris from the beginning of the game might've been from the last moments of Colony 6 invasion, as when you get there, you can see Colony 9 being fairly straight down. The timeframe also lines up pretty well.
Many moments like this in Xenoblade. Moments of “looking back realizations” The heart to heart near the end of the game with Reyn and Melia in colony 6, it’s revealed that tephra cave, and some other little ruins and machinery, is in fact high entia tech. Puts into perspective the impact of the high entia and Zanza in the timeline of Xenoblade 1. As well as how it was always present and relevant from the very beginning, the first ever dungeon you enter.
On that note about Fiora: Remember that scene right before the final dungeons, where everyone starts talking about their motivations to hype themselves up? "The crimes against my people, for the sake of my family, for those who gave their lives" and all that jazz, and Fiora's only contribution is "Shulk!"
Honestly I feel like Fiora was in need of her own arc. At least they could have made it so, that she isn't comofrtable with her new body and make a story about that. Would have given her a bit more of an arc and more motivation for Shulk to continue to hate Egil. Heck the whole "her body is dying"-thing could have been done when you get her back.
Fiora had her reasons they just arent portrayed the best. She loves Shulk and wants to fight by his side, obviously to save the world they live in that goes for all of them but also to fulfil Mayneth's dream too.
They could have implemented her after Egil but that would probably change the story too much. It would have been interesting to see if Shulk would still chose not to kill Egil if Fiora was to him still dead.
Ok, here we go. The original Xenoblade is a top 10 for me and my only real personal criticism is that sometimes it feels like it has too much stuff at times with the side content (If that makes any sense? Not exactly sure how to put it.). Regardless this game is legendary.
@@Chronoflation Leaning more towards overwhelming but I guess both would be the right descriptor. Didn't really want to say it like that but yeah. There is a bunch of kinda annoying busywork with the side content much like an MMO.
@@DesignDoc One thing that I think is also really bad is how later in the game maps get more and more linear. Like the later parts its just following paths and killing monsters which I thought was a really missed opurtunity!
Yeahh that's pretty much my only problem with the game. Everytime i'm like, i'm gonna 100% this game this time.... I always give up because I get bored of the side quests
One of my fondest memories of this game was when one of the first side quests involved me getting a basket from a granny to deliver to her grandson that's a solider. I didn't know where to find him, so I completely forgot about it until after I already beaten the game and found him training at night😂 Man that basket has been through some shit lemme tell ya.
I'm only in chapter 4 but this side quest is funny, the granny said that she prefers her one grandson because she was not blood-related with the other one.
@@yuseifudo2609 Well ok.. ín fact not a bad game.. ín a modern rpg's Line a outstanding game but after gears and Saga not Enough.. deserv fame... But for me sad fact was need a mainstraim, cliche like story and game how the Xeno serias Will be success franchise... If I had never played w Gears and Saga ( and if not be my fav j-rpg's w FF ) then, maybe Will be a big favorite.. and ok this " bad parody " maybe was too hard, but I feel like this... Or Will be just a " mainstraim, kid version " of them
This game’s affinity system is a work of sheer genius. It causes every nearly mechanic to weave in and out of each other, creating a complex web of systems that fit together in logical ways that ALSO bolster the story. Exploring a town will give you exp as you discover landmarks, and you’ll stumble upon quests that will give you exp, party affinity, and area affinity. The exp directly improves your performance in combat, but the party affinity improves the same in more subtle ways, like being more likely to gain another attack in a chain attack, or create a higher quality gem while gem crafting. Then the area affinity will unlock more quests in the area with better rewards, like unlocking a new skill tree for a character. Having high party affinity will enable you to grant the skills on these new trees to more party members, further improving your experience in combat and exploration.
The only problem is despite how beautifully interwoven the system is, it falls apart since the actual quests themselves are incredibly repetitive and there are literally HUNDREDS of them. Like with colony 6, I'd love to see it grow into an actual thriving town, but you have to do such an unholy amount of grinding that the payoff is simply not worth it. I couldn't see it through because it was just so time-consuming and tedious. Xenoblade's monotonous quest design is a relic of 2010s and that's where it should stay honestly
While you have given me more insight on Fiora’s agency that I hadn’t thought about before, I disagree with keeping her dead because the emotions that came from finding out she’s alive, but doesn’t recognise him and then flies off, effectively showing her but then snatching her away from Shulk, it’s powerful and I really feel for Shulk. It adds a new additional momentum to the plot with the new goal of saving Fiora. And the emotions of finally reuniting with her, but she’s half mechon and her body isn’t stable and she won’t be around much longer, it’s a mini rollercoaster. I think Shulk has every right to be angry at Egil for what’s happened to Fiora even if she is technically still alive, because it’s horrific and would be traumatic for anyone to go through.
Exactly, even tho Fiora is alive it didn't negate all the terrible things that happened to her and the rest of the people's of Bionis. She's alive but not for long, it's still being cut short. Shulk being able to overcome the anger from knowing about all the things Egil had taken from them ,and was still planning on taking from them, is still really powerful and is the turning point for his character arc. And Fiora's story is centered around her love interest just as much as Shulk's is, their stories are very much intertwined but Fiora is also motivated by her connection to Meyneth. Meyneth saved Fiora's life and showed her a better future. She knows her time is short so she is doing what she can to ensure that the people she loves will still have a that future after she is gone. I love Fiora because rather than wallowing in self pity she gets up and tries to do things with the time she has left for the people she cares about, she's an incredibly strong character who is motivated by her relationships as every character is and there's nothing wrong with that.
In continuing of how the plot continues when the team discover Fiora’s body is alive and all that from there, it definitely helped keeping me engaged with the story, especially when Metal Face/ Mumkhar was fading out as Shulk’s prime goal, and then eventually would Egil be introduced to make the team’s goal as the entire Mechonis itself. Sure, they could write it as we continue chasing Mumkhar and eventually defeat him, it’s just that Egil’s introduction wouldn’t be as despairing when he takes Fiora away from us a second time, and as mentioned before, even if Fiora is still alive, the conflict with Egil feels more personal.
I’m glad you mentioned Fiora’s agency in the plot. Basically her whole character is “I love Shulk.” Her last skill tree powers her up for being in the party with Shulk, like, what? Even her whole Meyneth thing only happens because she’s close to Shulk as Vanea explains when she chose her as the vessel.
Its extra hilarious to me when Reyn, Shulk and Fiora are childhood friends and when she comes back she only has extra affection ranks with Shulk and not Reyn. Not even brother Dunban! Just a one track mind.
@@Gooong I think Fiora is jealous of Reyn and Shulk's closeness. She's oddly rude to him for a reason that is neither explained or resolved. You see it most in the beginning of the game where she's a dick to Reyn and doesn't trust him to keep Shulk safe even though the dude just saved Shulk earlier that day. Sadly, this just adds even more to Fiora being Shulk-obsessed.
It does give some depth to Reyn, however. He’s very bothered by this, and you can see him being very relieved when she does trust him at the end of the Colony 9 attack. He worries about the opinion of others (or at least Fiora’s) more than he cares to show. This also returns on the Fallen Arm, when Reyn is already questioning his role in the team, and Fiora praises his newfound reliability. Even if Reyn is a bit bothered about how Fiora frames it, he also gets a confirmation that he’s indeed the person Shulk can rely upon the most.
I really agree with most things in this retrospective, but I do have one thing to mention. You criticize how Fiora's return to the story feels like it robs some of the plot of its weight, and while I can see where this is coming from, I also think it is necessary for Shulk's character arc for her to return. The moment of her return is what initiates the shift in Shulk from being hellbent on revenge and killing the Mechon - the path that Egil chose and walk the path of fate - to the moment when he begins to question his goals and motives. However, that being said, I agree that Fiora is the weakest developed and feels like the least important party member once she does return. I think that she is too defined by her relations to everyone else and not enough by her own self-concerns. Other than that, this was really great. I really appreciated how you're one of the few people to have praised Sharla for her strengths rather than only focus on her short-comings.
I agree. It would perhaps detract if the story was purely about revenge, but the story evolved far beyond that. She needed to return for the story sake.
Sat through this entire video, except having to skip the Future Connected portion since I actually haven't gotten around to playing that yet. "Sometimes it's hard to explain why you love something in an eloquent way." I feel that, so much. But you really did a wonderful job talking about it and why Xenoblade Chronicles 1 is just so great. Really, REALLY good video KingK.
"Sometimes its just hard to explain eloquently why it is that you love something." There it is. The best way of describing the jumbled mess of joy and emotion that xenoblade brings to me on a damn near spiritual level. I ADORE this game, in ways I cant even convey. And thats the hallmark of true art.
I first heard of Xenoblade in 2012 when people were talking about the character of Shulk for a future Smash game. Looked it up and was interested in the setting of two giant titan's bodies. A few months later I saw walkthrough vids and fell in love with the settings again, as well as the music, characters, and storyline. What an amazing game. Thus, Shulk became one of my most wanted newcomers for Smash 4, and was so hyped when he was revealed in 2014. Problem was, his reveal trailer was in a JP only 3DS direct, and I don't remember any newcomer being announced for it, like with Robin's trailer...
Right before going to bionis interior, the whole party has a moment where they all list off reasons to fight zanza, personal to them. I will never forget how everyone has a whole sentence about why they continue to fight. except fiora. After everyone says their piece, fiora turns around and says one word. "Shulk". That moment made me realize how badly the writers messed up with her even though I love her.
I’d say the fact that the characters need to stop and remind the player of why they care about fighting the weird JRPG god final boss is also a failure of the writing.
Thoughts on Xenosaga, since that is sort of the the weird middlestep between Xenogears and Xenoblade but maybe that is for the inevitable Xenoblade 2 video in 2030 lmao.
@@totalwar1793 I don't know, I actually enjoyed the plot and gameplay of Xenoblade 2 more than the first game since it evokes more of those Xenosaga and Xenogears vibes.
@@antimatter3084 For me, XC 2 was the opposite of XC 1. XC 1's best part was the beginning, but kinda lost the magic by post-Mechonis Core stuff. It was still pretty good tho. XC 2's best part was everything after Chapter 5. Like, I'd definitely want to see how they would have paced chapters 1 through 3 better because those were the weakest part of XC 2. If the entire game was paced like post-Chapter 5, it would be an unequivocal masterpiece. Torna also adds to XC 2 in so many ways lmao
@@totalwar1793 I agree that XB2's first chapters could be rough. But I disagree with everything else. Chapter 6's ending onwards reveals a lot of poor plotting. The pacing of spectacle and enemy strength, in the plot, was a total mess, and several events exist independently of plot, themes, or both. The tension was increased in latter chapters, yes, but the writing quality got worse. And the early chapters weren't the best written, anyway.
@@AusSP Because XC2 didn’t focus on the plot… it focused on characters, exactly the opposite of how XC1 handled it. In XC2, pretty much every character except Shulk, Egil, Zanza, (arguably) Mumkhar, and occasionally Melia exists purely to drive the plot forward, and then sit back and cheer on Shulk. It fits the theme- XC1 is about choosing your own future, and so heavy emphasis is placed on Shulk and the plot that shows him changing the future. XC2’s theme is about living together in a flawed world. As such, it focuses primarily on developing its characters beyond caricatures and showing their relationships. Pretty much every scene after Ch 4 in some gives new information about the characters and their relationships with each other.
@@Hey-Its-Dingo I'm aware of a few spoilers going in, but I'm not the kind who's put off by that kind of thing. So long as the journey there is engaging, I'm good.
@@ttrollkoo5278 Only on the Bionis' leg at the moment. Looking up and catching the silhouettes is grand. This must be how our prehistoric ancestors felt, looking out to the horizon after landing on Halo.
I’ll be honest (and this is a very personal opinion), I didn’t mind the Fiora twist. The reveal helps muddy the parties perception of the mechon and their goals, creating more intrigue as they venture forward through both titans. I think that’s my favorite thing about the story, every time the group reach a goal, a new one is introduced to keep them moving forward. Each new revelation blurring the lines of what they and the player know about the game’s world. I mean any good story should innately have this, but something about the way it’s done here feels so fresh.
I feel as if an argument can be made either way. It seems like the water is wet debate is more about how you choose to interpret definitions of language rather than arguing whether something is true or not. Personally I don't consider water wet because it can't be dried, when I consider something to be wet I see it as the state was changed with the addition of water.
@@soapbiter36577 You're absolutely right that it's a matter of interpretation. The thing is, my interpretation is the correct one and everyone else is wrong because this is the internet and opinions that are different from my own aren't allowed.
@@TheBlueWizzrobe Oh really? That's funny because actually my interpretation is the correct one. Say whatever you want but because you think differently from me that makes you objectively wrong.
I bought the original game back during the Operation Rainfall campaign, but I never got around to playing it. My brother is a big fan of the series, however, and with the recent release of Xenoblade 3 last week, I decided it might be finally time to give the series a shot. But rather than dust off my old Wii, I went ahead and bought the new Switch version last night. Time to see what all the fuss is about! Update about 3 weeks later: I beat the main game today, and absolutely loved it. My favorite aspect is actually how the story is delivered. I rarely finish RPGs because their stories often feel like they peter out for a while now and then and I often forget why I'm going to my next destination at any given moment. I never once had that problem with Xenoblade. The story seemed very tightly tuned, enough to keep my attention far longer than almost any other RPG I've ever played. I also loved the characters, and when the credits rolled, I was shocked to learn that my favorite Doctor Who companion voiced Melia, my favorite party member! I just started Future Connected now, and I'm eager to get through that and then onto Xenoblade 2. Can't wait to see what else this series can give me :)
Been waiting for this one for a while, probably gonna end up watching multiple times. I share your love for the game, and i agree its a complete masterpiece. One thing I would disagree on though is Fiora. I agree that the story could of been just as good with Fiora not returning as a party member. However, i disagree with your assessment on Shulk in the situation. Shulks immediate motivation is to of course avenge Fiora. However, when the group finds Fiora alive and piloting a Mechon, everything changes. This is summed up heavily in the final confrontation with Mumkar. They originally start out on a very simple journey, and Shulk even says "Of course i want revenge" but so much has changed since their start. They have found Homs are actually piloting Mechon and attacking Bionis. Their "faceless" enemy as you described, is no longer that. There is far more going on, and Fioras return is what changes Shulk and co from simply aiming for revenge to discovering the full story, and actually breaking that cycle. In that fight with Mumkar, Shulk questions Dunban if Fiora was in one of those Mechon, would he still really just turn around and kill them? Fiora is a physical representation that things arent always as they seem. Thats what i'd say is one of Xenoblade Chronicles strong suites. The bad guys(Mechon) end up not actually being bad, and the Bionis, the home of the Homs, is actually the enemy. Yeah Fiora could have used a bit more development after she joins the party, and it would of been interesting to see her grapple with her mortality. But also feel that Fiora is in a unique situation. In that scene with Melia, she even states thats shes kind of still been dead the whole time, and that Meyneth was really the thing letting her keep going, and that energy is limited. I see the scene as more of an acceptance of her fate, and despite it she still aims to leave the world, but above all else Shulk off in a much better place. But im really happy you finally got around to getting this video out. Maybe more people can see and enjoy the game as i have because of it!
I definitely agree with you on this. I think KingK kinda missed these points in my opinion. With Fiora knowing shes living on borrowed time, why would she worry about herself as much when she knows she might not even live for a week while Shulk and the others can survive for a long time? I get what he meant and I do agree more development could have gone to her but I disagree that she needed to stay dead or that she doesn’t care about herself
I feel like skipping over the scene on Prison Island for Fiora's character kinda took her a little out of context, like it even kinda suits KingK's point about Fiora mostly being a vehicle for Shulk's development but at the same time it's the best justification for her re-inclusion
I'm glad somebody brought this up. When I watched that segment, I thought to myself, "but wasn't Fiora basically on a timer"? Turns out my memory served me right. Her scenes made sense to me, she was simply wishing the best for Shulk because she loves him,and her time is limited
Fiora being alive AND becoming a playable character are two of the biggest plot twists in the game. I agree that Shulk not killing Egil would have had more impact had she been dead. But I haven't cried tears of joy in a videogame more than that scene she and Shulk are reunited on the fallen arm. Those character moments are well worth the slight tradeoff to the main plot for me. But to each his own.
I was playing some Xenosaga when I got a notification for this vid, now I'm finding it a bit weird that you didn't at least briefly cover something from Xenosaga
Hearing someone so passionate speak so thoroughly about a thing they love is incredibly fun to listen to - thank you for giving us such an in depth, balanced, and insightful discussion I’m curious, would you ever do a video on Xenoblade 2? I’d love to hear your take, especially since I know you could contrast the two games thoroughly
I’ve been waiting for this since the one 2018 live stream. Though, you’ve gotta tell me how to get that wallpaper. I have no clue how to go about it, but I WANT it.
When I was taking the ice slide in a recent playthrough, I hit the top at a strange angle and Melia was turning to the right, hooked into the ceiling, and then shot down the tunnel with such momentum that she hit the ground into that SPLAT animation and slid forward into the Nopon Camp right as the landmark music played. Oh man.
I expect he'll talk more about it when he talks about X and 2 since those are more similar to Xenosaga, but yeah, he did talk about Xenogears a surprising amount in this video.
It would bog down a script too much to compare it to multiple series, keeping one game as contrast mind helps, especially since I (as someone who has played neither, and am representative of a similar demographic) am having trouble keeping track with all the names.
I'm so disappointed by 2. It just didn't scratch that same itch. I did just get the Definitive Edition, which I love and just gives me that warm fuzzy feeling. But 2 just wasnt for me, and make me sad. I know a lot of people did love it though. Maybe it's just because I'm older now.
@@SwedePotato314 honestly it kinda just clicked with me after what I felt were way too many hours but I loved it just as much as definitive edition for different reasons. Maybe give it more time, but as someone that usually lacks patience, I know it's hard
Happy to see that title. It's my favorite game and honestly deserves every word of praise that it has received. Never have I seen a game that so realizes it's character and story so well. Happy Holidays to all.
finally! you have mentioned this game so much and you finally made a vid abt it yay I also want that reyn time clock too however... I felt like there was a spoiler section and a non spoiler section, and I was unpleasantly suprised to only find one spoiler out there that... I hadnt encountered before, which was infuriating.
Xenoblade 2 is my favorite game of all time. I have Definitive Edition and I wish I was blind on it so badly but I saw Chuggaaconroy’s let’s play a while ago because I never thought it would be rereleased. Both games are fantastic.
Xenoblade 1 is the superior game in every way shape and form why you ask because of heropon riki the ultimate character as you can see in the sequel the nopon are a terrible race of degenerate pikachu and thats why xenoblade. chronicles 1 is better because chad riki beats virgin tora anyday
Fun fact, a good chunk of the character designers (namely the _main_ character designer) for XBC2 actually _did_ work on mainly hentai before XBC2. The more you know.
@@johnclopez96 Not all. One of them is Tetsuya Nomura for example, who designed all of the characters in Torna (the organization, not the game). He's best known for his work on Final Fantasy.
As did several artists for several other games. For example: Megaman Zero. Your avatar is literally the brainchild of a well know porn (and motorcycle) artist.
@@QuintaFeira12 Yep! But MMZ also doesn't have any barely clothed triple-D-busted anime girls or small military lolis in thongs and a bra. The origin isn't necessarily the problem, it's how the philosophy of the final design conflicts with the established theming; Xeno-games have never been about overwhelming sex appeal, even with KOS-MOS and T-ELOS, but the character designs of XBC2 still carry over the design philosophy of absurdist hentai. To clarify: This isn't a hostile response, just an elaboration. I hope it doesn't come off as aggressive.
I remember playing xenoblade 2 around Christmas of 2019 and was like “damn this game is cool, I like Xenoblade :)” then I played definitive edition like a day after it came out and it fucking *blew me away.* I adore Xenoblade now
in my opinion, xenoblade chronicles definitive edition actually earned its title of "definitive edition", where as so many others have failed and made it the inferior version, often times making the inferior version the ONLY way to play it as well (i'm looking at you gta). xenoblade chronicles may just be one of my favorite games of all time and i had no problems whatsoever in pre-ordering the definitive edition when i heard about it. if you put a gun to my head and demanded i find something to dislike about the game, the only thing i could come up with was the utter lack of jukebox feature so we can listen to all unlocked soundtracks whenever we want. they included it in the 3ds version, and it utterly baffles me that they removed it for the switch version. other than that, i utterly loved this definitive edition, and all the changes it made
Gotta say, you've really perfected the layout of your videos. I'm super impressed by how much quality writing you can package in a 1+ Hour video along with keeping a strong interest in each topic you talk about. Excellent video dude.
@@TheJbrown60don't know why, its not a bad port, its just lower resolution. I started the 3ds version first followed by finishing the wii version on emulator, didn't feel too much a difference.
Xenoblade chronicles is so underrated, especially the definitive edition. I once heard someone on Twitter say that DE wasn’t worth buying because it was a “Lazy port of a 10 year old game nobody cared about.” I had the choice of whether to get DE or Paper Mario, I heard mixed things on paper Mario so I chose DE, MAN I’m so glad that I chose DE
the criticisms brought up about Fiora feel to me like how I feel about the ending of Tales of Berseria, I completely understand WHY people feel the way they do about the character and I don't disagree but for some reason I just really like her. More than Sharla and probably more than Riki and Reyn too, tho I do still love those boys. I can't even really articulate why cause I do agree that she isn't given much, but at the same time I feel like the story would somehow be lesser for her exclusion. The only point I disagree with is Fiora being alive removing Shulk's desire for revenge against Egil; her coming back was certainly a relief for him but it didn't take away the pain he felt at losing her. I Also feel like seeing Fiora as Face Nemesis was the moment that forced Shulk to see the Faced Mechon as people instead of just monsters. It HAD to be someone he recognized or else that realization wouldn't have hit quite so hard, in my opinion
I’m glad this video exists because this game is surely a masterpiece, shulk, fiora, Dunban Melia and Reyn are very relatable characters and very interesting. Xenoblade chronicles 1 is my favourite game in their series and even in the Xeno series in general.
Xenoblade has one of my favorite soundtracks in all of gaming, right up there with the Super Mario Galaxy games and Sonic Colors. I prefer Engage the Enemy, You Will Know Our Names, and the Colony 9 theme in the original, but I prefer One Who Gets in Our Way, Gaur Plains, Mechanical Rhythm, and Zanza the Divine in Definitive Edition.
I've just finished my playthrough of the main game and future connected. It's probably one of of my favourite JRPGS of all time now! I wanna shout out to Riki. I had read that he was sort of disliked by a lot of people. I think Riki is a great character. He has such hidden depth, you think Dunban is the dad of the group but then Riki comes along and shatters my expectations of your typical cute mascot character. His idea of heroism, that meeting, befriending and protecting people is truly special. His friendship with Dunban was a highlight for me.
This was really good to hear, man. It's nice hearing your love for one of your favorite games told the way you wanted to tell it. Thank you for sharing your passion and spirit with us. ^^
Honestly im just glad to hear someone else was as confused with some of the plot of Xenogears as i was, i just thought i was dumb and wasnt paying enough attention lol
Replaying that shiny new Definitive Edition just reinforced to me how much I love this game and the future installments in Monolithsoft's Little Engine That Could. A massive, gorgeous world that feels alive. Combat that can feel like a plan of skills and techniques if you can master art combos. Rich, layered characters struggling in a world that feels much bigger than them, yet they resolve to keep fighting for what they believe in. It's the good shit.
I saw the intro to this video a few months back and decided to give Xenoblade a try. Loved it. Thank you for helping me discover an enjoyable new game series lol
Even as someone who hates dead characters coming back, I think Fiora coming back is important for Shulk. If she hadn't come back I don't think Shulk WOULD have forgiven Egil. Not only that, but I don't think his rage would have subsided enough to spare Mumkar. Which of course, Mumkar ends up dying anyways, but I think the story would have taken a very different turn had Shulk and Dunban murdered Mumkar out of hatred.
I was really surprised by this game. I first played it on the 3DS, reluctantly buying it because I needed a new game, but not knowing much about it. It took a little while to get into it, but once I did, I was hooked. The game was MASSIVE, taking me about 60+ hours just to complete the story. The characters were so well developed, that I couldn't help but like them all. Combat-wise, I actually stuck to a core party. Shulk, Reyn, and Sharla was pretty much it until Melia joined the party. Then it was Shulk, Reyn, and Melia for most battles, until I came across a fight where I really needed good heals or was forced to use another party member. I maintained control of Shulk all the time. I loved the dynamic between Shulk and Reyn. Their friendship felt so real. It was cute how Melia struggled to hide her feelings for Shulk, especially when Fiora came back. Overall, this game was fantastic and I was happy to play it a second time on the Switch.
I adore this game. Your thoughts on this almost perfectly echo my own. Excellent job with this video Odd question, but could I get a link to the Beyond the Sky cover that played at the end? It was an excellent version of the song and I'd like to listen to it on my own time Edit: realized that it was the Future Connected version. I'm dumb
just finished this game and your point about the kill quests giving the wrong impression to a new player is absolutely correct lmao i thought all the quests were like that so i never did them or the colony 6 stuff. looks like i missed out on a lot of decent content
I started playing this game because of this video and wanting to watch it fully without spoilers (still have to play Xenogears, so skipping that part!) and I have to say is thank you. For the life of me, I can't remember a game that touched me like this one has. A pure masterpiece. It has been a long time, probably a decade, since I've felt so connected to a story in a game. It's moments like these that make life worth living.
1:04:30 To be honest, I never thought Shulk "hated" Egil because he "killed" Fiora, I always thought it was about the fact that Egil had no problem killing people to get what he wanted. It did start as revenge, but as Shulk came to understand Egil, it was more of a morals thing (like how Egil contradicts himself by killing people to stop the killing).
I think the issue is that Shulk doesn't get a chance to meet Egil before he learns Fiora is still alive. Had Egil shown up earlier, Shulk would definitely have shown his hatred.
I may only know you parasocially, but hear me out. I feel proud for some reason. I can't express it well, but I'm just proud that you were able to find the words to this. Strange, I know, and I feel even stranger typing the comment out, but that's all I can say. I started being attentive to your content around the time you started the poll for this very video, the same time when I was absorbed in Xenoblade myself. It was bizarre to have that kind of coincidental interest in Xenoblade, but I'm glad I got to see your journey through it all. I know you've mentioned how you don't feel like your content is unique enough. While I admire the self-improvement, I would argue that this video is evidence to the contrary, something that stands to a testament of your unique writing style. You rely on your raw emotions and feelings, more than any other long-form analysis channel I've encountered, and _that_ is what makes your content so captivating and unique for me. Anyway, that's all. Rest well, and carry on!
Finally finished the game today. I started my Xeno journey with XC2 which I didn't care for when it came out at the time. My brother got the game after seeing some of Chuggaconroy's XC1 let's plays. He never finished the game probably getting less than 10hrs in. It's a huge game and definitely overwhelming for him. Not sure what made me try it out but I'm glad I did. It's a brilliant game and the ending always makes me tear up no matter how many times I see it. XC1 was the next step obviously. I got the game on release and beat the game today with 110hrs feeling very satisfied. I don't think either Xeno game is perfect as questing can be quite an annoying challenge definitely in my top 3. Future connected is next on my list and hope to finish it before XC3 comes next month
I absolutely love the comparisons you make to other great pieces of media like Avatar! I think it really puts things into perspective where things can be a little complex and overwhelming in Xenoblade to see it through the lens of something a little more concrete and easily understandable. And on top of all that, this is just an incredible retrospective of one of the greatest games I've ever played
So, I tried this game on the new 3ds when I was living in the UK, I never got around to finishing it, and since I was moving to the US I sold my ds. I never really got too into it, but, last night, I best it on the switch and I am absolutely blown away. I bought X2 and the dlc and I'm super pumped for 3.
Great analysis on one of the best JRPGs of all time. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition one of my favorite games on the Switch and seeing it get more popular makes me proud. Glad to see you did it justice!
Fiora wasn't just "brought back to life" though, her body was mutilated and control of her mind completely stripped away from her, for a time being anyway. The world-building heavily emphasises this. It was not as cheap as you made it out to be in your summary. It's as disingenuous as, for example, dismissing the story as "another JRPG where you kill God" Additionally, a lot of your complaints towards Future Connected (a story for which I have my own set of issues) come from the perspective of just playing as Shulk. Now, Shulk's clairvoyance is a unique skill of the base game, yes, but it isn't his only ability. He can easily set debuffs for other party members to react to (using a Break skill that can allow Reyn/whoever to use a topple art for, etc). Boiling his gameplay down to "just wait until you get a vision of the future" isn't doing him justice. Also, I just have to ask, did you *not* use Melia at all in FC? She plays great there. I rarely had an issue with a mini-boss with her. And finally, "what purpose did Future Connected serve?" well, it lets us know for certain that Melia would do a good job in leading her people. We never really got that in the base game. It's one thing to say "Zanza is destroyed, and Melia, a girl who's never had any leadership experience whatsoever, just happened to be a shining light for her people!", and another to actually show it through resolving conflicts between her race and their once sworn enemies.
From a narrative sense, she was. Fiora dying serves as the catalyst for Shulk’s quest for vengeance. Her being brought back to the story does cheapen that because it completely evaporates Shulk’s need for revenge. He doesn’t so much arrive at his position on vengeance not being the answer than he’s forced into it since he has nothing left to avenge. Even if you mention her body being mutilated she gets her body back at the end no problem. Fiora gets to be both a motivational death and the love interest at the same time.
@@flameheadshero if i learned that the bodies of my own people were being used/altered/possessed to kill even more of my people, idk. That'd probably fuel my desire for revenge even more than them being simply murdered. Besides that, many Homs were killed. Even if they weren't turned into Faces, they were still slaughtered in countless battles. Egil still ordered it all. Still ordered what the Homs see as atrocities. Shulk's desire for revenge is still as valid as it was before he found out Fiora was alive.
@@flameheadshero Fiora getting her body back or even living to see the end wasn’t ever a sure thing, she could’ve died any moment after being separated from Meyneth
I mean Zanza was my least favorite part of the Xenoblade Chronicles story. He’s not well written, and his only redeeming quality is the cutscene at the end of the game, and his appearances outside of this entry. I get it, yada yada he’s the demiurge, something something philosophy deep. The “main characters slay generic JRPG god” complaint is a fair criticism for game specifically. Granted, if we’re talking the franchise as a whole, this isn’t the case.
Interesting note about why alcamoth stays in the air. The answer is discussed explicitly in future connected. A new area directly next to Eryth Sea (the Shoulder) has Hover stone in it and was mined for Alcamoth and also why the shoulder is floating when you go there.
Im glad you covered xenogears as it let me see so many parallels with xenoblade. Xeno 3 and xeno X take both story and gameplay elements from the gears games (mech battles and fuel system. War being pushed on both factions by the same group). Im sure theres more but those really stood out
If you loved Xenoblade I'd highly recommend Xenogears a lot! It helps a lot to understand 1. The second disk has terrible pacing because square screwed the devs. and 2. Certain characters are specialized (Rico is bad on foot but great in the mecha fights while Citan is absurd on foot but really inconsequential in a mech) so it's nice to understand that if a guy feels not that great as a party member it's because they do better in a different field. I can not oversell how great gears is for people who're fans of the original. It's definitely a game worth going back to if you enjoyed this and want to see where the "series" began.
I Love Xenoblade Chronicles! My first time ever playing it was when I got a New Nintendo 3DS XL just for this game and loved it. I would later get it on the Wii U virtual console and also the Definitive Edition. For me there is so much to like, so much I enjoyed. The gameplay, the mechanics, the story is amazing and most importantly, that soundtrack. I love that soundtrack. I really enjoyed this video and was well worth the wait. I love the fact that you put so much care and effort in to your work and always look forward to your next video.
I have been anticipating this for quite a while, one of my favorite games, it’s disappointing that I had to be spoiled for Xenogears to watch your retrospective but I really don’t mind
Well well well, it's about time this retrospective came out
Real king right here, has asked about Xenoblade on practically every video. I'm glad you finally got it.
@@KingKlonoa Much obliged that you recognized my constant inquiries. Keep up the fantastic work, expect me to badger you for a XC X and XC2 retrospectives too ha ha. Merry Christmas King!
How did you make the title screen wallpaper
@@lasagnemandripstoohard9831 You can get it on wallpaper engine, which is available on steam for $5. You can get tons of free high quality wallpapers
I like your attitude
The one Heart-To-Heart where Riki abruptly offers to adopt Shulk immediately after learning he's an orphan legit made me tear up.
That sounds nice
Too bad i didnt get to experience any of the heart to hearts aside from the maybe 3 i happened to get lucky and have available because the affinity system is terrible. Also just kind of an awful idea to gate all of your meaningful character interaction moments behind such a system
Which is one of the reasons why the quiet moments and future connected as a whole is just way better than the base game
@@yourehereforthatarentyou get good
@@lovesoderpalm1555 Nah, they're right imo
Barely experienced any either, it felt like a grind and as someone that played XC2 first, it was jarring; Future connected took a page out of what they learnt with XC2 and it was much better
I just did that one last week. It made me tear up a little and I involuntarily audibly said "why do people hate Riki again?"
@@yourehereforthatarentyou Almost like they were trying to say encourage you to switch up your party makeup so that you can learn more about the characters
I just realized that the debris from the beginning of the game might've been from the last moments of Colony 6 invasion, as when you get there, you can see Colony 9 being fairly straight down. The timeframe also lines up pretty well.
That makes sense
Holy shit you're right!
Oh my God I haven't heard this before
Many moments like this in Xenoblade. Moments of “looking back realizations”
The heart to heart near the end of the game with Reyn and Melia in colony 6, it’s revealed that tephra cave, and some other little ruins and machinery, is in fact high entia tech. Puts into perspective the impact of the high entia and Zanza in the timeline of Xenoblade 1. As well as how it was always present and relevant from the very beginning, the first ever dungeon you enter.
@@theswagatron on kommommoomm
On that note about Fiora:
Remember that scene right before the final dungeons, where everyone starts talking about their motivations to hype themselves up? "The crimes against my people, for the sake of my family, for those who gave their lives" and all that jazz, and Fiora's only contribution is "Shulk!"
Honestly I feel like Fiora was in need of her own arc. At least they could have made it so, that she isn't comofrtable with her new body and make a story about that. Would have given her a bit more of an arc and more motivation for Shulk to continue to hate Egil. Heck the whole "her body is dying"-thing could have been done when you get her back.
@@altermann1991 true but most likely because of time constraints
To be fair if you could help your boyfriend/girlfriend kill God you probably would as well for no other reason then to help out
Fiora had her reasons they just arent portrayed the best. She loves Shulk and wants to fight by his side, obviously to save the world they live in that goes for all of them but also to fulfil Mayneth's dream too.
They could have implemented her after Egil but that would probably change the story too much. It would have been interesting to see if Shulk would still chose not to kill Egil if Fiora was to him still dead.
Ok, here we go. The original Xenoblade is a top 10 for me and my only real personal criticism is that sometimes it feels like it has too much stuff at times with the side content (If that makes any sense? Not exactly sure how to put it.). Regardless this game is legendary.
Yeah a lot of the side content can feel like filler specially the one that involves the no-name NPCs
Like it's overwhelming or maybe filler would be what you're looking for?
@@Chronoflation Leaning more towards overwhelming but I guess both would be the right descriptor. Didn't really want to say it like that but yeah. There is a bunch of kinda annoying busywork with the side content much like an MMO.
@@DesignDoc One thing that I think is also really bad is how later in the game maps get more and more linear. Like the later parts its just following paths and killing monsters which I thought was a really missed opurtunity!
Yeahh that's pretty much my only problem with the game. Everytime i'm like, i'm gonna 100% this game this time.... I always give up because I get bored of the side quests
One of my fondest memories of this game was when one of the first side quests involved me getting a basket from a granny to deliver to her grandson that's a solider. I didn't know where to find him, so I completely forgot about it until after I already beaten the game and found him training at night😂
Man that basket has been through some shit lemme tell ya.
Dumb
Ero Zen
I know I am😓
I think that happened to me but i was in Makna and returned to the colony to do some shit and stuffs
I'm only in chapter 4 but this side quest is funny, the granny said that she prefers her one grandson because she was not blood-related with the other one.
"Xenoblade Chronicles is a masterpiece"
Ah yes the floor is made of floor
I think the Blade trilogy just a bad parody of Xenogears and Xenosaga
@@gulyasdavid6170 ok
@@gulyasdavid6170 ok
@@gulyasdavid6170 I agree in part. Xenoblade is the Shonen adaptation, but still good.
@@yuseifudo2609 Well ok.. ín fact not a bad game.. ín a modern rpg's Line a outstanding game but after gears and Saga not Enough.. deserv fame... But for me sad fact was need a mainstraim, cliche like story and game how the Xeno serias Will be success franchise... If I had never played w Gears and Saga ( and if not be my fav j-rpg's w FF ) then, maybe Will be a big favorite.. and ok this " bad parody " maybe was too hard, but I feel like this... Or Will be just a " mainstraim, kid version " of them
This game’s affinity system is a work of sheer genius. It causes every nearly mechanic to weave in and out of each other, creating a complex web of systems that fit together in logical ways that ALSO bolster the story. Exploring a town will give you exp as you discover landmarks, and you’ll stumble upon quests that will give you exp, party affinity, and area affinity. The exp directly improves your performance in combat, but the party affinity improves the same in more subtle ways, like being more likely to gain another attack in a chain attack, or create a higher quality gem while gem crafting. Then the area affinity will unlock more quests in the area with better rewards, like unlocking a new skill tree for a character. Having high party affinity will enable you to grant the skills on these new trees to more party members, further improving your experience in combat and exploration.
The only problem is despite how beautifully interwoven the system is, it falls apart since the actual quests themselves are incredibly repetitive and there are literally HUNDREDS of them. Like with colony 6, I'd love to see it grow into an actual thriving town, but you have to do such an unholy amount of grinding that the payoff is simply not worth it. I couldn't see it through because it was just so time-consuming and tedious. Xenoblade's monotonous quest design is a relic of 2010s and that's where it should stay honestly
My guy still using comic sans in professional quality content. Love it
Dont show it to diamondbolt he WILL die
Ah, see, but it's OUTLINED COMIC SANS.
Professional quality?
While you have given me more insight on Fiora’s agency that I hadn’t thought about before, I disagree with keeping her dead because the emotions that came from finding out she’s alive, but doesn’t recognise him and then flies off, effectively showing her but then snatching her away from Shulk, it’s powerful and I really feel for Shulk. It adds a new additional momentum to the plot with the new goal of saving Fiora. And the emotions of finally reuniting with her, but she’s half mechon and her body isn’t stable and she won’t be around much longer, it’s a mini rollercoaster. I think Shulk has every right to be angry at Egil for what’s happened to Fiora even if she is technically still alive, because it’s horrific and would be traumatic for anyone to go through.
Exactly, even tho Fiora is alive it didn't negate all the terrible things that happened to her and the rest of the people's of Bionis. She's alive but not for long, it's still being cut short. Shulk being able to overcome the anger from knowing about all the things Egil had taken from them ,and was still planning on taking from them, is still really powerful and is the turning point for his character arc. And Fiora's story is centered around her love interest just as much as Shulk's is, their stories are very much intertwined but Fiora is also motivated by her connection to Meyneth. Meyneth saved Fiora's life and showed her a better future. She knows her time is short so she is doing what she can to ensure that the people she loves will still have a that future after she is gone. I love Fiora because rather than wallowing in self pity she gets up and tries to do things with the time she has left for the people she cares about, she's an incredibly strong character who is motivated by her relationships as every character is and there's nothing wrong with that.
In continuing of how the plot continues when the team discover Fiora’s body is alive and all that from there, it definitely helped keeping me engaged with the story, especially when Metal Face/ Mumkhar was fading out as Shulk’s prime goal, and then eventually would Egil be introduced to make the team’s goal as the entire Mechonis itself. Sure, they could write it as we continue chasing Mumkhar and eventually defeat him, it’s just that Egil’s introduction wouldn’t be as despairing when he takes Fiora away from us a second time, and as mentioned before, even if Fiora is still alive, the conflict with Egil feels more personal.
I’m glad you mentioned Fiora’s agency in the plot. Basically her whole character is “I love Shulk.” Her last skill tree powers her up for being in the party with Shulk, like, what? Even her whole Meyneth thing only happens because she’s close to Shulk as Vanea explains when she chose her as the vessel.
Its extra hilarious to me when Reyn, Shulk and Fiora are childhood friends and when she comes back she only has extra affection ranks with Shulk and not Reyn. Not even brother Dunban! Just a one track mind.
@@Gooong I think she has a blue rank with Shulk and a green one with Dunban.
@@nicoloenricorimoldi7425 I guess I remembered it wrong. But why nothing with Reyn? They grew up together!
@@Gooong I think Fiora is jealous of Reyn and Shulk's closeness. She's oddly rude to him for a reason that is neither explained or resolved. You see it most in the beginning of the game where she's a dick to Reyn and doesn't trust him to keep Shulk safe even though the dude just saved Shulk earlier that day. Sadly, this just adds even more to Fiora being Shulk-obsessed.
It does give some depth to Reyn, however. He’s very bothered by this, and you can see him being very relieved when she does trust him at the end of the Colony 9 attack. He worries about the opinion of others (or at least Fiora’s) more than he cares to show.
This also returns on the Fallen Arm, when Reyn is already questioning his role in the team, and Fiora praises his newfound reliability. Even if Reyn is a bit bothered about how Fiora frames it, he also gets a confirmation that he’s indeed the person Shulk can rely upon the most.
I really agree with most things in this retrospective, but I do have one thing to mention. You criticize how Fiora's return to the story feels like it robs some of the plot of its weight, and while I can see where this is coming from, I also think it is necessary for Shulk's character arc for her to return. The moment of her return is what initiates the shift in Shulk from being hellbent on revenge and killing the Mechon - the path that Egil chose and walk the path of fate - to the moment when he begins to question his goals and motives. However, that being said, I agree that Fiora is the weakest developed and feels like the least important party member once she does return. I think that she is too defined by her relations to everyone else and not enough by her own self-concerns. Other than that, this was really great. I really appreciated how you're one of the few people to have praised Sharla for her strengths rather than only focus on her short-comings.
I agree. It would perhaps detract if the story was purely about revenge, but the story evolved far beyond that. She needed to return for the story sake.
Sat through this entire video, except having to skip the Future Connected portion since I actually haven't gotten around to playing that yet.
"Sometimes it's hard to explain why you love something in an eloquent way." I feel that, so much. But you really did a wonderful job talking about it and why Xenoblade Chronicles 1 is just so great.
Really, REALLY good video KingK.
hello undertale music man
I literally read the quote as he said it in the vid
hello undertale music man
FANCY MEETING YOU HERE, RECOMMENDED BOY
"Sometimes its just hard to explain eloquently why it is that you love something." There it is. The best way of describing the jumbled mess of joy and emotion that xenoblade brings to me on a damn near spiritual level. I ADORE this game, in ways I cant even convey. And thats the hallmark of true art.
Honestly, after how... intricate and nuanced this video is, I'm very much interested in your take on XC2.
I’m sure you’re happy now
It is out
KingK: "At least the new music's unbelievably good."
Everyone: "INDEED!"
I disagree just to be different
I read that like malos
I first heard of Xenoblade in 2012 when people were talking about the character of Shulk for a future Smash game. Looked it up and was interested in the setting of two giant titan's bodies. A few months later I saw walkthrough vids and fell in love with the settings again, as well as the music, characters, and storyline. What an amazing game.
Thus, Shulk became one of my most wanted newcomers for Smash 4, and was so hyped when he was revealed in 2014. Problem was, his reveal trailer was in a JP only 3DS direct, and I don't remember any newcomer being announced for it, like with Robin's trailer...
Right before going to bionis interior, the whole party has a moment where they all list off reasons to fight zanza, personal to them. I will never forget how everyone has a whole sentence about why they continue to fight. except fiora. After everyone says their piece, fiora turns around and says one word. "Shulk". That moment made me realize how badly the writers messed up with her even though I love her.
I’d say the fact that the characters need to stop and remind the player of why they care about fighting the weird JRPG god final boss is also a failure of the writing.
Lol I forgot about that part
The same thing happend in FF X lol
@@alexanderarnold5531 Auron's monologue before the fight vs Yunalesca is very well done though.
@@thedapperdolphin1590 thank you
Thoughts on Xenosaga, since that is sort of the the weird middlestep between Xenogears and Xenoblade but maybe that is for the inevitable Xenoblade 2 video in 2030 lmao.
Xenoblade 2 was not a masterpiece lol. It's a flawed gem that needed one more year to be perfected
@@totalwar1793 I don't know, I actually enjoyed the plot and gameplay of Xenoblade 2 more than the first game since it evokes more of those Xenosaga and Xenogears vibes.
@@antimatter3084 For me, XC 2 was the opposite of XC 1. XC 1's best part was the beginning, but kinda lost the magic by post-Mechonis Core stuff. It was still pretty good tho.
XC 2's best part was everything after Chapter 5. Like, I'd definitely want to see how they would have paced chapters 1 through 3 better because those were the weakest part of XC 2. If the entire game was paced like post-Chapter 5, it would be an unequivocal masterpiece.
Torna also adds to XC 2 in so many ways lmao
@@totalwar1793 I agree that XB2's first chapters could be rough. But I disagree with everything else. Chapter 6's ending onwards reveals a lot of poor plotting. The pacing of spectacle and enemy strength, in the plot, was a total mess, and several events exist independently of plot, themes, or both.
The tension was increased in latter chapters, yes, but the writing quality got worse. And the early chapters weren't the best written, anyway.
@@AusSP Because XC2 didn’t focus on the plot… it focused on characters, exactly the opposite of how XC1 handled it.
In XC2, pretty much every character except Shulk, Egil, Zanza, (arguably) Mumkhar, and occasionally Melia exists purely to drive the plot forward, and then sit back and cheer on Shulk. It fits the theme- XC1 is about choosing your own future, and so heavy emphasis is placed on Shulk and the plot that shows him changing the future.
XC2’s theme is about living together in a flawed world. As such, it focuses primarily on developing its characters beyond caricatures and showing their relationships. Pretty much every scene after Ch 4 in some gives new information about the characters and their relationships with each other.
Yo hey, I just started playing this game the other day.
I'll have to come back here once I'm done.
Glad you had the foresight to hold off on this one. Spoilers abound.
You are in for a ride
@@Hey-Its-Dingo
I'm aware of a few spoilers going in, but I'm not the kind who's put off by that kind of thing.
So long as the journey there is engaging, I'm good.
@@ttrollkoo5278
Only on the Bionis' leg at the moment.
Looking up and catching the silhouettes is grand.
This must be how our prehistoric ancestors felt, looking out to the horizon after landing on Halo.
You will have a great time i promise :)
I’ll be honest (and this is a very personal opinion), I didn’t mind the Fiora twist. The reveal helps muddy the parties perception of the mechon and their goals, creating more intrigue as they venture forward through both titans. I think that’s my favorite thing about the story, every time the group reach a goal, a new one is introduced to keep them moving forward. Each new revelation blurring the lines of what they and the player know about the game’s world. I mean any good story should innately have this, but something about the way it’s done here feels so fresh.
Alternate title: Why water is wet.
@Eser i will physically fight you
@Eser To be wet is to be surrounded by water molecules. A given water molecule is typically surrounded by water molecules. Water is therefore wet.
I feel as if an argument can be made either way. It seems like the water is wet debate is more about how you choose to interpret definitions of language rather than arguing whether something is true or not.
Personally I don't consider water wet because it can't be dried, when I consider something to be wet I see it as the state was changed with the addition of water.
@@soapbiter36577 You're absolutely right that it's a matter of interpretation. The thing is, my interpretation is the correct one and everyone else is wrong because this is the internet and opinions that are different from my own aren't allowed.
@@TheBlueWizzrobe Oh really? That's funny because actually my interpretation is the correct one. Say whatever you want but because you think differently from me that makes you objectively wrong.
I bought the original game back during the Operation Rainfall campaign, but I never got around to playing it. My brother is a big fan of the series, however, and with the recent release of Xenoblade 3 last week, I decided it might be finally time to give the series a shot. But rather than dust off my old Wii, I went ahead and bought the new Switch version last night. Time to see what all the fuss is about!
Update about 3 weeks later: I beat the main game today, and absolutely loved it. My favorite aspect is actually how the story is delivered. I rarely finish RPGs because their stories often feel like they peter out for a while now and then and I often forget why I'm going to my next destination at any given moment. I never once had that problem with Xenoblade. The story seemed very tightly tuned, enough to keep my attention far longer than almost any other RPG I've ever played. I also loved the characters, and when the credits rolled, I was shocked to learn that my favorite Doctor Who companion voiced Melia, my favorite party member! I just started Future Connected now, and I'm eager to get through that and then onto Xenoblade 2. Can't wait to see what else this series can give me :)
Been waiting for this one for a while, probably gonna end up watching multiple times. I share your love for the game, and i agree its a complete masterpiece.
One thing I would disagree on though is Fiora. I agree that the story could of been just as good with Fiora not returning as a party member. However, i disagree with your assessment on Shulk in the situation. Shulks immediate motivation is to of course avenge Fiora. However, when the group finds Fiora alive and piloting a Mechon, everything changes. This is summed up heavily in the final confrontation with Mumkar. They originally start out on a very simple journey, and Shulk even says "Of course i want revenge" but so much has changed since their start. They have found Homs are actually piloting Mechon and attacking Bionis. Their "faceless" enemy as you described, is no longer that. There is far more going on, and Fioras return is what changes Shulk and co from simply aiming for revenge to discovering the full story, and actually breaking that cycle. In that fight with Mumkar, Shulk questions Dunban if Fiora was in one of those Mechon, would he still really just turn around and kill them? Fiora is a physical representation that things arent always as they seem. Thats what i'd say is one of Xenoblade Chronicles strong suites. The bad guys(Mechon) end up not actually being bad, and the Bionis, the home of the Homs, is actually the enemy. Yeah Fiora could have used a bit more development after she joins the party, and it would of been interesting to see her grapple with her mortality. But also feel that Fiora is in a unique situation. In that scene with Melia, she even states thats shes kind of still been dead the whole time, and that Meyneth was really the thing letting her keep going, and that energy is limited. I see the scene as more of an acceptance of her fate, and despite it she still aims to leave the world, but above all else Shulk off in a much better place.
But im really happy you finally got around to getting this video out. Maybe more people can see and enjoy the game as i have because of it!
I agree. You put into words I couldn't.
I definitely agree with you on this. I think KingK kinda missed these points in my opinion. With Fiora knowing shes living on borrowed time, why would she worry about herself as much when she knows she might not even live for a week while Shulk and the others can survive for a long time? I get what he meant and I do agree more development could have gone to her but I disagree that she needed to stay dead or that she doesn’t care about herself
I feel like skipping over the scene on Prison Island for Fiora's character kinda took her a little out of context, like it even kinda suits KingK's point about Fiora mostly being a vehicle for Shulk's development but at the same time it's the best justification for her re-inclusion
I'm glad somebody brought this up. When I watched that segment, I thought to myself, "but wasn't Fiora basically on a timer"? Turns out my memory served me right. Her scenes made sense to me, she was simply wishing the best for Shulk because she loves him,and her time is limited
Fiora being alive AND becoming a playable character are two of the biggest plot twists in the game. I agree that Shulk not killing Egil would have had more impact had she been dead. But I haven't cried tears of joy in a videogame more than that scene she and Shulk are reunited on the fallen arm. Those character moments are well worth the slight tradeoff to the main plot for me. But to each his own.
I was playing some Xenosaga when I got a notification for this vid, now I'm finding it a bit weird that you didn't at least briefly cover something from Xenosaga
Buckle in, we’re about to listen to one and a third hours of things we already know
Yeah, but it's always nice to be reassured
In a good way
@@rarelikerarity9907 exactly
Hearing someone so passionate speak so thoroughly about a thing they love is incredibly fun to listen to - thank you for giving us such an in depth, balanced, and insightful discussion
I’m curious, would you ever do a video on Xenoblade 2? I’d love to hear your take, especially since I know you could contrast the two games thoroughly
I’ve been waiting for this since the one 2018 live stream. Though, you’ve gotta tell me how to get that wallpaper. I have no clue how to go about it, but I WANT it.
wallpaper engine
The instant transition from being about to cry listening to the title theme to going full hype mode when Mechanical Rhythm came in was great
When I was taking the ice slide in a recent playthrough, I hit the top at a strange angle and Melia was turning to the right, hooked into the ceiling, and then shot down the tunnel with such momentum that she hit the ground into that SPLAT animation and slid forward into the Nopon Camp right as the landmark music played. Oh man.
First TheGeekCritique drops a video on an RPG and now KingK posts another on the same day? Today is a fun day!
I know right?! Cant wait for geekcritiques ttyd video
You talked about Xenogears alot but ummmmmmm
Xenosaga: Am I a joke to you!?
I expect he'll talk more about it when he talks about X and 2 since those are more similar to Xenosaga, but yeah, he did talk about Xenogears a surprising amount in this video.
blade nothing after gears and saga...
It would bog down a script too much to compare it to multiple series, keeping one game as contrast mind helps, especially since I (as someone who has played neither, and am representative of a similar demographic) am having trouble keeping track with all the names.
Played xenoblade chronicles 1 and 2 for the first time this year. Easily both are in my top 10 games of all time, incredible games.
Same
I'm so disappointed by 2. It just didn't scratch that same itch. I did just get the Definitive Edition, which I love and just gives me that warm fuzzy feeling. But 2 just wasnt for me, and make me sad. I know a lot of people did love it though. Maybe it's just because I'm older now.
@ThinKwiQ dew it
@@SwedePotato314 honestly it kinda just clicked with me after what I felt were way too many hours but I loved it just as much as definitive edition for different reasons. Maybe give it more time, but as someone that usually lacks patience, I know it's hard
King and Xeno in one place. I’m dead and this is heaven, it looks like.
Thank you, Chuggaaconroy.
100 thank yous to chuggaa
I just finished this game TODAY! The timing of this video is too perfect
Happy to see that title. It's my favorite game and honestly deserves every word of praise that it has received. Never have I seen a game that so realizes it's character and story so well. Happy Holidays to all.
finally! you have mentioned this game so much and you finally made a vid abt it yay
I also want that reyn time clock too
however... I felt like there was a spoiler section and a non spoiler section, and I was unpleasantly suprised to only find one spoiler out there that... I hadnt encountered before, which was infuriating.
I’m so happy you’re covering this. I fell in love with the definitive edition and now I’m playing through 2. Absolutely my favorite game of all time
Xenoblade 2 is my favorite game of all time. I have Definitive Edition and I wish I was blind on it so badly but I saw Chuggaaconroy’s let’s play a while ago because I never thought it would be rereleased. Both games are fantastic.
Not a bad way to experience it; I half did with his LP, and managed to snag a wii copy for the rest of the story. Love chugga
Xenoblade 2 is a masterpiece (with a side of flaws) in my eyes
Xenoblade X too is a great game with some problems, but a great game
Xenoblade 2 is the reason I moved to Japan to chase my career in video games instead of staying in Canada.
So far I don't regret it. :D
Xenoblade 1 is the superior game in every way shape and form why you ask because of heropon riki the ultimate character as you can see in the sequel the nopon are a terrible race of degenerate pikachu and thats why xenoblade. chronicles 1 is better because chad riki beats virgin tora anyday
Fun fact, a good chunk of the character designers (namely the _main_ character designer) for XBC2 actually _did_ work on mainly hentai before XBC2. The more you know.
Did some or all the characters design by hentai artist 🧐
@@johnclopez96
Not all. One of them is Tetsuya Nomura for example, who designed all of the characters in Torna (the organization, not the game). He's best known for his work on Final Fantasy.
As did several artists for several other games. For example: Megaman Zero. Your avatar is literally the brainchild of a well know porn (and motorcycle) artist.
Well, that explains it. It’s actually crazy how many XC2 deniers there are
@@QuintaFeira12
Yep! But MMZ also doesn't have any barely clothed triple-D-busted anime girls or small military lolis in thongs and a bra. The origin isn't necessarily the problem, it's how the philosophy of the final design conflicts with the established theming; Xeno-games have never been about overwhelming sex appeal, even with KOS-MOS and T-ELOS, but the character designs of XBC2 still carry over the design philosophy of absurdist hentai.
To clarify: This isn't a hostile response, just an elaboration. I hope it doesn't come off as aggressive.
A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. Xenoblade is one of my favorite games.
It was teased for two years or so?
@@Thirteen13551355 If it was, I either didn't see or have forgotten. Nonetheless, a surprise. Everyone is happy, no?
@@JanneSala It's surprising that you consider the most anticipated video of many subscribers to be a surprise, that's all.
I remember playing xenoblade 2 around Christmas of 2019 and was like “damn this game is cool, I like Xenoblade :)” then I played definitive edition like a day after it came out and it fucking *blew me away.* I adore Xenoblade now
in my opinion, xenoblade chronicles definitive edition actually earned its title of "definitive edition", where as so many others have failed and made it the inferior version, often times making the inferior version the ONLY way to play it as well (i'm looking at you gta). xenoblade chronicles may just be one of my favorite games of all time and i had no problems whatsoever in pre-ordering the definitive edition when i heard about it. if you put a gun to my head and demanded i find something to dislike about the game, the only thing i could come up with was the utter lack of jukebox feature so we can listen to all unlocked soundtracks whenever we want. they included it in the 3ds version, and it utterly baffles me that they removed it for the switch version. other than that, i utterly loved this definitive edition, and all the changes it made
Gotta say, you've really perfected the layout of your videos. I'm super impressed by how much quality writing you can package in a 1+ Hour video along with keeping a strong interest in each topic you talk about. Excellent video dude.
I played this on 3DS, start to finish, and it's still the best RPG I've ever played.
im sorry
@@TheJbrown60don't know why, its not a bad port, its just lower resolution. I started the 3ds version first followed by finishing the wii version on emulator, didn't feel too much a difference.
Xenoblade chronicles is so underrated, especially the definitive edition. I once heard someone on Twitter say that DE wasn’t worth buying because it was a “Lazy port of a 10 year old game nobody cared about.” I had the choice of whether to get DE or Paper Mario, I heard mixed things on paper Mario so I chose DE, MAN I’m so glad that I chose DE
"lazy port of a 10 year old game nobody cared about"
as reyn would say, "Man, what a bunch of jokers"
the criticisms brought up about Fiora feel to me like how I feel about the ending of Tales of Berseria, I completely understand WHY people feel the way they do about the character and I don't disagree but for some reason I just really like her. More than Sharla and probably more than Riki and Reyn too, tho I do still love those boys. I can't even really articulate why cause I do agree that she isn't given much, but at the same time I feel like the story would somehow be lesser for her exclusion. The only point I disagree with is Fiora being alive removing Shulk's desire for revenge against Egil; her coming back was certainly a relief for him but it didn't take away the pain he felt at losing her. I Also feel like seeing Fiora as Face Nemesis was the moment that forced Shulk to see the Faced Mechon as people instead of just monsters. It HAD to be someone he recognized or else that realization wouldn't have hit quite so hard, in my opinion
That guitarist in the remaster of Mechanical Rhythm went IN on that solo!
I’m glad this video exists because this game is surely a masterpiece, shulk, fiora, Dunban Melia and Reyn are very relatable characters and very interesting.
Xenoblade chronicles 1 is my favourite game in their series and even in the Xeno series in general.
This is hands down the best video that you have made. The amount of effort and passion from this video is astounding. Keep up the great work man!
Xenoblade has one of my favorite soundtracks in all of gaming, right up there with the Super Mario Galaxy games and Sonic Colors. I prefer Engage the Enemy, You Will Know Our Names, and the Colony 9 theme in the original, but I prefer One Who Gets in Our Way, Gaur Plains, Mechanical Rhythm, and Zanza the Divine in Definitive Edition.
I've just finished my playthrough of the main game and future connected. It's probably one of of my favourite JRPGS of all time now!
I wanna shout out to Riki. I had read that he was sort of disliked by a lot of people. I think Riki is a great character. He has such hidden depth, you think Dunban is the dad of the group but then Riki comes along and shatters my expectations of your typical cute mascot character. His idea of heroism, that meeting, befriending and protecting people is truly special. His friendship with Dunban was a highlight for me.
Well there goes my next hour and 20 minutes
This was really good to hear, man. It's nice hearing your love for one of your favorite games told the way you wanted to tell it. Thank you for sharing your passion and spirit with us. ^^
Xenoblade Chronicles is the 8th wonder of the world. It’s truly one of the greatest anything’s ever created by a human
Xenoblade Chronicles is the one game I would want to experience for the first time again. Its plot is just so magical.
1:44 That clock is very special. No matter what time it’s set to, it’s always accurate.
Honestly im just glad to hear someone else was as confused with some of the plot of Xenogears as i was, i just thought i was dumb and wasnt paying enough attention lol
Replaying that shiny new Definitive Edition just reinforced to me how much I love this game and the future installments in Monolithsoft's Little Engine That Could. A massive, gorgeous world that feels alive. Combat that can feel like a plan of skills and techniques if you can master art combos. Rich, layered characters struggling in a world that feels much bigger than them, yet they resolve to keep fighting for what they believe in.
It's the good shit.
I saw the intro to this video a few months back and decided to give Xenoblade a try. Loved it.
Thank you for helping me discover an enjoyable new game series lol
“You can eat bread without knowing how to bake it” is a perfect analogy I think and it’s one I’m carrying with me
Even as someone who hates dead characters coming back, I think Fiora coming back is important for Shulk. If she hadn't come back I don't think Shulk WOULD have forgiven Egil. Not only that, but I don't think his rage would have subsided enough to spare Mumkar. Which of course, Mumkar ends up dying anyways, but I think the story would have taken a very different turn had Shulk and Dunban murdered Mumkar out of hatred.
I am so ready for this video. XC is one of my favorite games of all time and your reviews/retrospectives always do justice and then some.
I was really surprised by this game. I first played it on the 3DS, reluctantly buying it because I needed a new game, but not knowing much about it. It took a little while to get into it, but once I did, I was hooked. The game was MASSIVE, taking me about 60+ hours just to complete the story. The characters were so well developed, that I couldn't help but like them all. Combat-wise, I actually stuck to a core party. Shulk, Reyn, and Sharla was pretty much it until Melia joined the party. Then it was Shulk, Reyn, and Melia for most battles, until I came across a fight where I really needed good heals or was forced to use another party member. I maintained control of Shulk all the time. I loved the dynamic between Shulk and Reyn. Their friendship felt so real. It was cute how Melia struggled to hide her feelings for Shulk, especially when Fiora came back. Overall, this game was fantastic and I was happy to play it a second time on the Switch.
I've slowly started to love the remaster tracks too, took a while but I really appreciate the changes they made
I adore this game. Your thoughts on this almost perfectly echo my own. Excellent job with this video
Odd question, but could I get a link to the Beyond the Sky cover that played at the end? It was an excellent version of the song and I'd like to listen to it on my own time
Edit: realized that it was the Future Connected version. I'm dumb
just finished this game and your point about the kill quests giving the wrong impression to a new player is absolutely correct lmao
i thought all the quests were like that so i never did them or the colony 6 stuff. looks like i missed out on a lot of decent content
i swear, seeing super long video essays about things i love in my sub box is an unparalleled rush of dopamine
24:58 the game’s backstory actually takes place over 10,000 years, pretty much exactly.
An hour and a half of someone gushing about one of my favorite games ever made? Yes, thank you.
First game I ever played upon purchasing a 2nd hand 3DS. 270+ hours later, I finally decided to start my 2nd playthrough last night.
The retrospective that when announced got me to play the rest of the Xenoblade games (I had only played 2 at the time)
It is finally out
I started playing this game because of this video and wanting to watch it fully without spoilers (still have to play Xenogears, so skipping that part!) and I have to say is thank you. For the life of me, I can't remember a game that touched me like this one has. A pure masterpiece. It has been a long time, probably a decade, since I've felt so connected to a story in a game. It's moments like these that make life worth living.
Holy moly!!
I was waiting for this analysis for my favorite rpg serie ever!!
as much as i love X it doesn't even come close to the peaks of 1
...and we don't talk about 2
"Series" is both singular and plural. "Serie" isn't a word.
@@why3994 2 has a...rocky start, but I really enjoy the second half and end/postgame ^^'
@@thekiss2083 oh oops! I just type it really fast without checking.
And series I meant all of the Xeno games from Gears to Blade.
1:04:30 To be honest, I never thought Shulk "hated" Egil because he "killed" Fiora, I always thought it was about the fact that Egil had no problem killing people to get what he wanted. It did start as revenge, but as Shulk came to understand Egil, it was more of a morals thing (like how Egil contradicts himself by killing people to stop the killing).
I think the issue is that Shulk doesn't get a chance to meet Egil before he learns Fiora is still alive. Had Egil shown up earlier, Shulk would definitely have shown his hatred.
The best part of Future Connected is the character stuff for Riki, and he isn’t even there.
I may only know you parasocially, but hear me out. I feel proud for some reason. I can't express it well, but I'm just proud that you were able to find the words to this. Strange, I know, and I feel even stranger typing the comment out, but that's all I can say. I started being attentive to your content around the time you started the poll for this very video, the same time when I was absorbed in Xenoblade myself. It was bizarre to have that kind of coincidental interest in Xenoblade, but I'm glad I got to see your journey through it all.
I know you've mentioned how you don't feel like your content is unique enough. While I admire the self-improvement, I would argue that this video is evidence to the contrary, something that stands to a testament of your unique writing style. You rely on your raw emotions and feelings, more than any other long-form analysis channel I've encountered, and _that_ is what makes your content so captivating and unique for me.
Anyway, that's all. Rest well, and carry on!
Finally finished the game today. I started my Xeno journey with XC2 which I didn't care for when it came out at the time. My brother got the game after seeing some of Chuggaconroy's XC1 let's plays. He never finished the game probably getting less than 10hrs in. It's a huge game and definitely overwhelming for him. Not sure what made me try it out but I'm glad I did. It's a brilliant game and the ending always makes me tear up no matter how many times I see it. XC1 was the next step obviously. I got the game on release and beat the game today with 110hrs feeling very satisfied. I don't think either Xeno game is perfect as questing can be quite an annoying challenge definitely in my top 3. Future connected is next on my list and hope to finish it before XC3 comes next month
I absolutely love the comparisons you make to other great pieces of media like Avatar! I think it really puts things into perspective where things can be a little complex and overwhelming in Xenoblade to see it through the lens of something a little more concrete and easily understandable. And on top of all that, this is just an incredible retrospective of one of the greatest games I've ever played
When i was playing Xenogears i was a student of psychology faculty in Belgium and i feld off my chair when Lacan was referenced in the game !
It’s also just really interesting how Monolith came to be a Nintendo studio
This made my day man, I love the original Xenoblade to death!
Riki was the main reason I beat the final boss
So, I tried this game on the new 3ds when I was living in the UK, I never got around to finishing it, and since I was moving to the US I sold my ds. I never really got too into it, but, last night, I best it on the switch and I am absolutely blown away. I bought X2 and the dlc and I'm super pumped for 3.
You always have the smoothest ad transitions of anyone I watch. I never see them coming.
Great analysis on one of the best JRPGs of all time. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition one of my favorite games on the Switch and seeing it get more popular makes me proud. Glad to see you did it justice!
This game is underated and it’s sad
your content is so chill and I love using it as background for study sessions.
Riki is best Heropon!
Xenoblade Chronicles is one of my favourite games.
Fiora wasn't just "brought back to life" though, her body was mutilated and control of her mind completely stripped away from her, for a time being anyway. The world-building heavily emphasises this. It was not as cheap as you made it out to be in your summary.
It's as disingenuous as, for example, dismissing the story as "another JRPG where you kill God"
Additionally, a lot of your complaints towards Future Connected (a story for which I have my own set of issues) come from the perspective of just playing as Shulk. Now, Shulk's clairvoyance is a unique skill of the base game, yes, but it isn't his only ability. He can easily set debuffs for other party members to react to (using a Break skill that can allow Reyn/whoever to use a topple art for, etc). Boiling his gameplay down to "just wait until you get a vision of the future" isn't doing him justice. Also, I just have to ask, did you *not* use Melia at all in FC? She plays great there. I rarely had an issue with a mini-boss with her.
And finally, "what purpose did Future Connected serve?" well, it lets us know for certain that Melia would do a good job in leading her people. We never really got that in the base game. It's one thing to say "Zanza is destroyed, and Melia, a girl who's never had any leadership experience whatsoever, just happened to be a shining light for her people!", and another to actually show it through resolving conflicts between her race and their once sworn enemies.
From a narrative sense, she was. Fiora dying serves as the catalyst for Shulk’s quest for vengeance. Her being brought back to the story does cheapen that because it completely evaporates Shulk’s need for revenge. He doesn’t so much arrive at his position on vengeance not being the answer than he’s forced into it since he has nothing left to avenge. Even if you mention her body being mutilated she gets her body back at the end no problem. Fiora gets to be both a motivational death and the love interest at the same time.
@@flameheadshero if i learned that the bodies of my own people were being used/altered/possessed to kill even more of my people, idk. That'd probably fuel my desire for revenge even more than them being simply murdered. Besides that, many Homs were killed. Even if they weren't turned into Faces, they were still slaughtered in countless battles. Egil still ordered it all. Still ordered what the Homs see as atrocities. Shulk's desire for revenge is still as valid as it was before he found out Fiora was alive.
@@flameheadshero Fiora getting her body back or even living to see the end wasn’t ever a sure thing, she could’ve died any moment after being separated from Meyneth
I mean Zanza was my least favorite part of the Xenoblade Chronicles story. He’s not well written, and his only redeeming quality is the cutscene at the end of the game, and his appearances outside of this entry. I get it, yada yada he’s the demiurge, something something philosophy deep. The “main characters slay generic JRPG god” complaint is a fair criticism for game specifically. Granted, if we’re talking the franchise as a whole, this isn’t the case.
Well damb I'd pay to see some of those creative writing worlds you created
Interesting note about why alcamoth stays in the air. The answer is discussed explicitly in future connected. A new area directly next to Eryth Sea (the Shoulder) has Hover stone in it and was mined for Alcamoth and also why the shoulder is floating when you go there.
Im glad you covered xenogears as it let me see so many parallels with xenoblade. Xeno 3 and xeno X take both story and gameplay elements from the gears games (mech battles and fuel system. War being pushed on both factions by the same group). Im sure theres more but those really stood out
If you loved Xenoblade I'd highly recommend Xenogears a lot! It helps a lot to understand 1. The second disk has terrible pacing because square screwed the devs. and 2. Certain characters are specialized (Rico is bad on foot but great in the mecha fights while Citan is absurd on foot but really inconsequential in a mech) so it's nice to understand that if a guy feels not that great as a party member it's because they do better in a different field. I can not oversell how great gears is for people who're fans of the original. It's definitely a game worth going back to if you enjoyed this and want to see where the "series" began.
No offense but he straight up said he isn’t doing this
this game is quite an experience. easily one of the best video game ever made.
I Love Xenoblade Chronicles! My first time ever playing it was when I got a New Nintendo 3DS XL just for this game and loved it. I would later get it on the Wii U virtual console and also the Definitive Edition. For me there is so much to like, so much I enjoyed. The gameplay, the mechanics, the story is amazing and most importantly, that soundtrack. I love that soundtrack. I really enjoyed this video and was well worth the wait. I love the fact that you put so much care and effort in to your work and always look forward to your next video.
I have been anticipating this for quite a while, one of my favorite games, it’s disappointing that I had to be spoiled for Xenogears to watch your retrospective but I really don’t mind
Play it then its been out for quite som time its pretty damn good