This was supposed to be my final video of 2022 but I didn't realize how long it would take to edit a video of this scale. Definitely my biggest project to date so I apologize for the delay in it. I hope you enjoy hearing my full thoughts on this incredible game even if you don't agree with everything. Thanks for all the support! 💚

The only thing I'll really "argue" about is with the reveal of M and Mio switching places. Yes, if we knew about the switch later, it could have had more of a "high" for us, but there's something more dramatic about it happening at the lowest point instead of letting the player move on from the event. Writing is a bit like a roller coaster in a way, so the best way I can explain it, yes, letting us know about Mio later on may have taken us like.....50 feet above the ground so to speak, but, by giving us the time to let her loss sort of sink in, we'd have been starting more or less at ground level. By doing it when they did, yes, we may have only gone say..... 35 feet above the ground this time, but we're also coming from 40 feet underground in SUCH a low. As well as, there's also something sort of...... therapeutic to the player by giving us such a turn around. We've already had to sit through the month long montage of not being able to save her, N is literally on top of the world at this point, so right at his biggest high, having it all ripped from him then and there is sort of a payoff for the player who already just went through all that other stuff. (As a side note, it's also VERY possible that if you DID leave space between, a good number of players would have gotten frustrated/annoyed with the story actually going that direction and not playing past that point). ((Had to edit this cause I messed up my own metaphor, and may have still done a bad job, but my point is, giving time between the low and the high may have had a higher high, but our starting point will also have been closer to zero. By giving us the high right at the lowest point of it all may not have given us the "highest high", but by coming from such a low, it still results in a MUCH larger swing overall) Also as a side thing, I personally DID like the fact we knew who the bad guys were so early on, as...... we've already had 2 games where the villain kept changing, it's been done, so it's nice to not rehash the same story flow in a game again, as one of the fastest ways to make a game series feel bland, is to make their stories formulaic. There's a reason most Zelda fans care about the lore FAR more than we actually do the true in game story, cause most in game stories in those games have been the same flow since A Link to the Past. Technically two arguments I guess, but the second one I feel is more a "me" thing, as there's an equal argument to be made for "series familiarity" as well.

If this is really the end of the Xenoblade games, then this one went out with a huge bang! Good job on this video man it was worth the watch!

Some of my own miscellaneous thoughts... I think it would've been very interesting to allow the player to choose from the start whether Chapter 1 would focus on the Keves gang or Agnus gang. Selecting the Keves gang would've seen things play out exactly like they did in the game, but selecting the Agnus gang would mean you would focus entirely on Mio, Taion, Sena, and Hacht in Colony Gamma and not meet the other characters until Alfeto Valley. Then, when you play through the game again, you could select the other party members to focus on. Of course, I feel like this would also impact some later cutscenes in the game due to how heavily the game focuses on the Keves gang as children. Ultimately, I think the whole "choose your side" idea would be a neat idea as well as unique for both Xenoblade and story driven RPGs as a whole, but would require massive changes to the flow of the game. I also have to say I disagree with your ranking of the three opening chapters. XC1 definitely does have the best opening, but while XC2's might be a bit more exciting than XC3's, I think Rex has the weakest motive to start his adventure. Shulk's is revenge, Noah's is survival, but Rex's is.... because he promised a girl he just met to take her to Elysium. I gotta say that your thoughts on the Consul M and N reveal really hit the nail on the head. I think that having their heads only covered by face masks instead of actual helmets made it far too obvious that they were in some way related to Noah and Mio. Giving them actual helmets and making the big reveal be during the Prison Break would've made for an incredible scene. As for the Side Stories not being required for the main story (aside from Noah and Mio), I think I like the approach they took here. Sure, it results in plot points not being explored more if you only played the main story, but it means there is a huge reward for doing the side content. I also think that forcing the Side Stories would've made an already long campaign even LONGER. Also, regarding that ending cutscene showing adult Ethel, in my first playthru I thought that the ending cutscene would change depending on what heroes you have recruited. So for example, if you missed out on any of the non-story-required heroes, then they just wouldn't appear in that cutscene. So I was surprised when I finished my second playthru, in which I ONLY played the story, and saw that all of the heroes were there despite not having met several in this playthru. Your comments on Moebius X Y and Z perfectly encapsulated how I felt. They get so little presence in the main story despite basically being the big bads. Hell, X and Y don't even get death cutscenes when you defeat them in Origin. Speaking of Origin, I quite like the dungeon overall, but it just feels WAAAY too long. I felt like I was almost at the end but I was only halfway through. It's particularly funny to me after how short the Artifice Hanger was in XC2. As for the ending and the general lack of references to XC1 and XC2 in the story, I found myself enjoying the game more on my second playthrough than I did for the first. The first time round, I like many others was expecting something huge to tie everything together and was left sort of underwhelmed in the end. But in my second playthrough, now knowing what to expect, I was able to enjoy the game for what it IS instead of what it ISN'T or what it COULD'VE BEEN. I definitely don't think the game is perfect, but XC3 has become my favorite of the trilogy.

Eunie! Excellent analysis man, I'm super excited about the DLC, I think that it will explain everything about the Lucky Seven, and probably make the connections to the rest of the lore that we were expecting... at least so far, it's clear that Tora created Origin (and probably even Z, its AI), that Nia created the Ouboros stones, and... given that Melia has the Monado, and that nod between her and Riku, it seems like she was key in the creation of the Sword or Origin, so I hope we get all that explained. Great video again!

I've been waiting a long time for this thank you Aero

Eunie. Very good video! I never have enough Xenoblade videos :D

Eunie Fantastic analysis as always!

Eunie. I really enjoyed Xenoblade 3 even with some issues I have with it. I agree with most of your points you made. It’s gonna be nice playing the DLC showing the connections to 1 and 2. Nicely well made video! I enjoyed listening to your thoughts.

eunie amazing video and xenoblade 3 is one of my favorite games of all time xenoblade in general is my favorite gaming series and i appreciate the criticisms and praise you gave 3 awesome vid man❤❤

Er...Eunie. Nice video. Regarding M&N, I walked away from N's first encounter with a question: How is it that there are two Noahs in the same room? It was more or less established that there could only be one "instance" of any character in any given time, so when it's confirmed that yes, N is an alternate version of Protag-kun Noah, it got me wondering how that was possible. It was only later that I asked myself "Oh shoot what about an alternate Mio" and sure enough. Seeing N & M break the in-game "rules" for a "One Steve Limit" honestly fascinated me. ...At least, that was my takeaway.

I'm really excited to see where the dlc takes us cuz honestly I'm fine with either founders or a continuation

Eunie As amazing as this game is, I also believe there were things they could've done better. You touched on a couple of them. More spotlight for the villains, key plot points being exclusive to side content, and some of the best songs in the game only being played once or twice. But I was one of those that (at least originally) was not a huge fan of the ending. I've warmed up to it a little, but I still believe there was a way for them to safely merge the two worlds. I know the lore says everyone would die, but it is what Origin was for, to bring everyone back. And it could've even given them a whole new world for a new adventure, a new game. It remains to be seen if the DLC will tie up some loose ends.

Eunie, Awesome video! Story wise this is my favorite and that's because the majority of the game is very well paced. 1 was very well paced, but I prefer the character dynamics and twists in 3 a bit more. I also love the world builidng of Aionios a lot more compared to 1, 2 comes close. 2 had a very great plot in hind sight, but ch 1-4 was very oddly paced imo. Also when it comes to the Mio/M reveal, Idk if it could've been done your way since there had to be a way for someone to stop N's sword killing Noah lol. But M could've easily stopped him and been like "let's torture them more" or something haha. I still loved the reveal and the emotional rollercoaster was nuts. I stayed up till like 3am to complete that chapter and it was so worth it. I also wasn't too upset with the "lack" of references since I wanted this to be its own Xenoblade Chronicles game and not a fan service game filled with references. As for the Mechonis Sword, I always assumed Aionios was created from the memories of the souls in Origin. So the Sword would be from the memories of the older Machina and places like Danagh Desert could be memories from Mythra and Azurda. Awesome video overall though, I'm super excited for the DLC later this year!

Eunie. I really enjoyed the game a lot. When it came to the references, I think it was smart not to throw in too many or else it would overwhelm newcomers to the series. The ones we did get though were pretty great.

Eunie. When I was around chapter 5 I started seeing Chad Rex meme going around so I looked at it and I was spoiled but I loved it. Rex got the harem ending and had Baby with each woman. I became super excited to see the ending. I think someone explained that Pyra and Mythra can do the unthinkable like making organs that can give birth and they gave Nia the the organs as well. Remember in Gormott Nia says something like she's an Aegis normal laws don't effect her or something like that. Don't remember for it's been quite awhile since I played Xenoblade Chronicles 2 so my memory is a lot rusty. I did like that the weather Enemies but don't like how you how you have to go through certain area that has Ememies that are level your a dead man.

I beat the game last week. Amazing way to end off an awesome trilogy. Now I’m sad that it’s over

Euine lol great video!

I think the thing is xenoblade 3’s narrative is a more theme and character driven story then one and 2, which I’d argue are more lore and story based. 3 has a fantastic narrative if you look really deep into it, but on the surface level it may seem lacking to some. I personally loved 3, and I think the story is better than 2 but I won’t lie it’s not perfect. I think the more you think about the narrative, the better it becomes. I think this whole story was about moving on into the future (aka 1 and 2). Stuff like the music, world and story structure being different is because of this, and the whole story is about moving on into the future, which I think is fully represented at the end of the game when Noah throws the sword. I think overall it’s an amazing narrative and it’s one that’s going to live in my head rent free for a while.

Euine. I'm the type of person that wants to hear thoughts on something I like good or bad. I've been looking at videos over the past few days about how people feel about XB3 as I beat it the other day. Haven't done post game yet. Thabks for not talking about that. Lol But most yeah, most people I've seen where talking about certain parts of the game or basically spoiler free review. You and someone else actually talked spoiled filled so thank you. At 271 hours, XB3 is the longest game I've played to game end. I'm surprised at myself. I wanted to do everything and I almost did. Even the super bosses. Only things that where left was getting all classes to rank 20 and finishing the soul hack class. But I've done all side quest minus post game. I checked list to make sure. Lol I started this series in 2014 due to a friends smash bros hype and never looked back. 1 is still my favorite but 3 is a close second. Nothing beats that zana and myneth reveal. FC was a nice epoluige to 1. Honestly, I didn't really play DE much. Only because I knew it was 1 but with better graphics. Nothing wrong with that, but I played XB1 on wii 3 times....so yeah. Lol 2 is fine, torna is a bit better, and X is the lowest for me. Everything about X is better than 1 EXCEPT THE STORY! Real let down for me. OST be bumpin' though. But yeah, after all that, I feel like XB3 is the end of the blade series as a whole. I don't know what post game(queens side quest) and DLC will bring, but I can't wait. Thank you monilift for this amazing series. :')

Eunie Well this is pretty much a pretty good video You did mention the entire thing about how you didn't like how Moebius was like the villain for the whole game and tbh I agree. I do think that Xenoblade 3 has quite a lot of not so great story decisions and characters and all (like moebius characterization isn't great on its own, Z honestly sucks compared to zanza and amalthus/malos as final villains) but they do make sense on a thematic level on that its pretty much a status quo/collective resistant to any change. So yea I don't really hate those parts that much but idk they could've done a lot better in this game and keep that same thematic level which was done amazingly well Also another thing: I wish they actually mentioned the word "xenoblade" in the game cutscenes and all (like the xenoblade is a sword or something), very disappointing they didn't smh

Eunie. For me N And M felt like xenosaga shion and her boyfriend kevin. A mad love that would destroy the universe but they always be together even if it's one-sided.

this game will always be special to me

Eunie Just beat the base game, looking forward to playing Future Redeemed

The post credits scene is time resuming in the real Xenoblade 1 world as Z is no longer pausing time

At fisrt i thought *Eunie* was going to bealted to melia in some way but nothing was mentiones throughout the game so idk

Counterpoint to the idea of Lucky 7 not evolving like the Monado or the Aegis... The SWORD doesn't change, but the ARTS it carries sure do. Starting with Noah's basic Talent Art, followed into Infinity Blade after destroying your first Flame Clock, and then Unlimited Sword starting in Chapter 6. Still a similar progression.

On the subject of the reveals of N and M being Noah and Mio, I think that was deliberate, because this is essentially the full completed works of Takahashi, pretty much making a complete version of Xenogears. And it's clear that Noah is Fei/Abel while Mio is Elly, and because those two characters fell in love in Xenogears, the same thing happens with Noah and Mio in Xenoblade Chronicles 3. But like the relationship between Fei and Elly (or rather other versions of them you have to fight), the relationship between Noah and Mio turns toxic where Noah ends up becoming controlling of the relationship just because he doesn't want to lose Mio, thus they become Moebius (yet, as we know, M never wanted that life whereas N was both desperate and greedy). Really, with N and M, I think Takahashi wanted to make it obvious to people, because even if they were to wear helmets, you could still hear their voices, so that would give it away, just like how I figured J was Joran just from hearing his voice, yet it still kind of shocking me, but also getting it. I think what Takahashi wanted people to do was wanted about not so much who N and M are, but how did things get to this point and why they had to happen this way. Overall, I think the reveal for N and M is just fine as it is. Could it be done a bit better? I think that question is really up for debate.

15:15 in the ch6 flashback noah makes reference to naming things. Dont think it gives an answer, but it is alluded to him not being good at naming things

Eunie I'll gladly sub for you to analyze the dlc

Eunie, made it to the end.

I think that the DLC for this game is actually going to be vital to finishing up the main story for xenoblade veterans

My opinion on your video: Chapter 1: this can go to almost to the whole adventure, we needed more of the perspective of Agnus Chapter 2: Damn with Riku he seem to be super important for having lucky seven but... the game doesnt explain a thing. Noah named Lucky Seven as Monado some how jajaja. And yeah... the villains could be improve in so many ways like having tier of power within Moebius nad maybe not showing Z so fast. even at the end of Chapter 1 you see this gold armour soldier (N of course) so you already have a visual difference between villains and was something they (Monolith) didnt take advantage for Chapter 3: Here I would say that once you meet Valdi I ask myself "why are you so... friendly to me? We are to suppose to be enemies. Like I remember the phrase the whole world will hunt you relentlessly" Chapter 4: I know is good to have some fanservice through reference (entering to Urayan Tunnels for the 1st time is... emotional) but the party not doing the same is kind of weird since the should be surprise to see places in a calm way and not looking at them as a battlefield. If you think about the end of Chapter 4... it make you feel like "I will watch a reaction video of the party" Chapter 5: never thought about the reveal of N and M as bad and shania... well everything from her behind Sena Ascension quest was off Chapter 6: We needed more time thinking mio was gone (like in FFVII when you lose Cloud), all the miyabi part was weird for me (almost forced tbh) Chapter 7: everything feels like different from any final chapter until you reach to Melia because Nia, Cris and the last consuls needed MORE development. N was perfect here for me. I love the ending... until I reach to the picture and the final scene (I NEED that story DLC now). The Villains we can say a lot about them compare to other villains of the series (not only Xenoblade but also Gears and Saga) The Party Ascension Quest should mandatory (specially Sena and Eunie I think). To be honest I respect the lack of fanservice (it allows XC3 to be its own thing) but damn I need more fanservice relate to XCDE and XC2 (again, we need the DLC) Note: Eunie

This may not have been perfect in fact no game is without flaws but this was definitely my game of the year and I stand by that statement.

I don't really agree with everyone else when it comes to Z in particular. I actually really like him as a villain and idk maybe it was that he DIDNT interact with the cast at all that made him so menacing to me but the fact that he was always there, always the one to strike down Noah across all his lives and was the literal embodiment of malice and fear given form I really thought he was awesome. His dialogue was super cool and the idea that the world was the way it was not because of moebius but because moebius came from the PEOPLE, and so they were really the ones keeping themselves prisoner, it really hit for me. Also I may be wrong about this but I could swear that earlier in the game it was stated that Origin would repopulate the world after the xeno 1 and 2 worlds collided, not separate them back to the way they were because that doesn't actually solve anything...? They're still drawn to each other and will collide again so it just felt like a huge contradiction to me and that's what I thought made the ending so weird. Praying for that epilogue dlc lmao. Also there may not have been twist villains but I think the moebius sorta filled the same role because most of them just wanted power and to be immortal, Z was the only one with an actually different motive and that wasn't revealed till the very end (plus N and M were very satisfying villains too I felt). So yeah hopefully the DLC can give us answers about some of the questions from the past without being a founders prologue (I despise that idea even tho I'm pretty sure it's gonna be that) while also actually resolving the question of how will we stop the worlds from destroying each other. Or maybe that's a question for Xenoblade 4. Time will tell

I like this game compared to 2 but there are a few problems with it. I do think the ending is kind of vague not conclusive like 1 or 2. N is a cool villian similar to Pokémon. While x and y I didn’t care about them they do serve as purpose for the lore but there are no cutscenes for their deaths which seemed odd to me. For some of the characters shania I didn’t like but the story for her is not even main but a side story to sena which that should be main game. I do think segiri case was sena sidestory but other than that I do think it’s my second favourite xenoblade game. This is a good video tho hopefully more xenoblade content. Keep up the work g

Eunie. Really nice video again Aero, well done. x3 For the story I feel similar as you did. The story overall has not so much turning points as XC1 has it. XC1 really blown my mind away with all the reveals and turning points. XC3 has this one big reveal and climax in Ch 5/6. And because it was so big I think it was hard for the game to keep that pace and tension. Also, the nopon ship filler thing really not helped.. :D Also I feel like the Story is overall just shorter. But all of that is not bad for me, because as you said XC3 has just another approach. It is much more Character focused (sadly some characters get to little attention as X). Also, I loved the point that much things and details about the world and the chars can be found by looking into sidequests or ascension. XC3 has a lot of informations between the lines and that count for the connections as well. I personally don´t need more then Meli and Nia and all the cool eastereggs we find in the world or soundtrack. But i also wouldn´t say no, if the DLC give us more Connection Type Stuff. :D

I always enjoy listening to other people’s views and experiences in games, so this was great to watch. Long comment ahead: While I do agree with a large number of your viewpoints, I do strongly disagree with your views on the M and Mio swap. Simply put, WHY would M and Mio keep up the charade for more than the month the group were stuck in prison? The plan flowed smoothly into the group escaping, ‘cuz they would have been killed otherwise. And storywise, giving us catharsis in bringing Mio back at the lowest point AND knocking that bastard N off his pedestal was the double whammy we needed to pull ourselves up AFTER being stuck for a month in prison when we should have normally broken out otherwise, breaking everyone’s spirits. I’d argue taking Mio away for a time this late into the game would anger the player when she returns more than convince them she’s gone for the shock factor. Gameplay-wise gimping the team this late in the game just feels wrong as a player, and story-wise the player’s shock at Mio being gone would flatline over time if left to think about the situation for the next 5 hours, so having her immediately come back is more of a shock overall. And personally, I don’t think she’d like being near N for more than necessary. She loves Noah too much that staying that month apart was probably killing her. She wouldn’t want to hold out at all.

the word eunie and nothing else

15:40 It seems you missed some subtle information. Noah is just bad at naming things. If i remember he wanted to name lucky seven into "infinity sword".

What I definitely don't understand myself is the M and N "reveal". It's pretty evident from the start who N is even without promo material, especially after M is shown for the first time, so I don't see it being unintentional for us to know from the start who it is - I just don't get the intention behind it. It definitely lower the surprise factor and it makes little to no sense for M an N wearing these more revealing masks than the other members of Moebius.

I actually like the side stories being optional. I dont really have a good argument of why that is, i guess its more like a personal thing. So basicly ive mever really played rpg's other than pokemon. But i gave xenoblade a chance i absoloutley loved the story. So because ive never played anything more story heavy than Botw. So xenoblade was ki da hard to understand. But i managed. I like to play xenoblade games without completing any side quests on my first playthrough, so that i can focus on the story. And when played xenoblade 3 new game+ and did all the hero quests, it actually felt like i was playing a brand new game. And it was awsome. So yeah i like them beong optional for the pure reason that i could experience the game again but with so much more. Also "Eunie"

Eunie..

Eunie❤

Eunnie 👍

Eunie best

Another critique, if the player realized at the same time as the characters it would have been too much. So now you have doppelgangers and now we have the Mio puppet mechanic and they they fucking incarcerate you and they are now mocking you... It would have been sensory overload and would have ruined the eclipse homecoming. As for Shania. Sorry haven't you meet incels? She was a surprising but not out of nowhere villainess.

Eunie i was criticizing you while i was listening

I feel like a lot of the issues you have comes down to wanting it to be more like the previous games. Like sure, the Zanza reveal was cool, but the villains in this game are intentionally very obvious and shallow, and N and M were intentionally designed to be obvious. The villains are very indulgent in this game, taking pride in being cartoonishly evil. Like Jordan revealing himself very early on. You either have villains like D who loves the way the world is and is just indulging himself in the carnage, or villains like J and N who hates how the world is and is just deceiving themselves by convincing them becoming Moebius was a choice they wanted to make, when they were actually gaslighted by Z into doing it. Do I like these villains more than previous games? No, I like the villains of the previous games more. But I don't think revealing the villains the same way as previous games would work with these villains. The story isn't trying to be the same. Eunie

You're completely wrong + ogre + flashback + shield bash + soaring tempest + saber strike Also Eunie

So I disagree with the assertion that the post-K fight cutscene was bad because MonolithSoft is telling a fundamentally different story to both 1 and 2. Whereas 1, and to a lesser extent 2, were very plot-driven with twisty stories, 3 is very much a character-focused drama that allows its relationships and the core party dynamic to drive the story forward. It reveals the Consuls as the big bad early on because it isn't trying for some big gotcha moment, it is more concerned with the relationships between party members and their thoughts on life as a whole. It is for that reason that I do not think the comparison at 17:00 is fair because XC1 and XC2/XC3 are fundamentally different stories with fundamentally different goals. I feel this applies to N and M reveal as well. They aren't trying to make it some big twist, they expect you to have figured it out before then.

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Lmao old video but you made it seem like there was a 15 year gap in between the xeno games Xbc1 -2010 Xbc x 2015 Xbc2 2017 Xbc3-2022

3

I am sorry but i cannot stand Miyabi slander, Mio had a whole month to think about miyabi, why she would be crying about requesting aid to Miyabi at that point? Mio is an emotionally strong and stoic character, your expectation of her makes no sense.

I disagree with your take with "surprise" villains. It cannot work with world that is this dystopic and all-controlling. You as the player want to know as quickly as possible who is responsible for this world and a pseudo antagonist would not make sense, because they would still be Ouroboros in a way. Unlike the other Xenos, Xenoblade 3 is against a whole ideological concept, not a particular group of individuals. This is also why the games doesn't focus too much in Z and the final battle.

I think Z being bland and very apathethic is the main point. The personality of Z represent the conservative mindstate of hating change and reveling in those suffering from the status quo you revel from.

UwU

25:20 Melia and Nia definetly should been more involved in the main story. Including them was just fan service and not plot element. Explaining them being bad as just "robot imposters" was just lazy writing for xeno standards.

the story in 3 is ok but fails to be as epic of a tale like in 2. i felt the contant use of past stuff really limited them

For me, this is the weakest game in the xenoblade series. But the fact it’s still this incredible says a lot! Also I love the Z reference at 2:11 😂

watching just the chapter 5 section of this vid tells me you seem to only care about surprise factor and not actual good thematic story telling. no wonder XB1 is ur fave lol

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