Stop the video and read the texts I've added at 10:29 and 11:16. It will show not just the limitations of 'relentless desire' Crys talks about but also what Matthew was talking about speaking to Nael in Origin's memory stage. Note to Future Ontos: It is 'Tatania', not 'Tatiana'. Don't be a dumb*ss next time :P Much love - Ontos
9:32 reminded me of this line “For all our rejoice of courage and valor, nothing stains the soul more indelibly than killing. Never have I felt so vile than standing victorious on a battlefield. The thrill of victory fades quickly. What lingers long after… is always ugly.” -Falstaff, The King
@ it’s an awesome f*cking movie. I watched it again just the other day and that line struck me as incredibly profound. So I wrote it down and added it to my collection of quotes. Then when I saw the look on that girl’s face whist everyone was cheering amidst the corpses of their fallen foes, that line came racing back to mind
Love this vid, it’s funny whenever ppl talk about how XB3 didn’t have real “religious themes” like the rest of the xeno series, like cmon guys Christianity isn’t the only religion in the world lol it’s obvious XB3 takes ideas from eastern religions and applies them very well too, “religious themes” doesn’t just automatically equal judeo-Christianity.
People just don't exactly get Religious theory, neither western nor eastern. -People don't get how the Xenoblade 1 gods while being western style creational gods are also based on Shinto gods in how they function(Dying when forgotten by people and wielding seemingly absolute power over their area of godhood while still being limited to what the world itself provides them? Dingdingding!) -People don't get that Uncontrollable conveys the idea of praying to the winds while wondering if there really is a higher being and if there is, why it has seemingly abandoned or even chosen to desasterously punish people(People joke about "Are we trying to fight the Tyrant or are we having a relationship argument?" way too much) -People don't get that Xenoblade 2 does indeed have harsh critisism about how religions(specifically christianity in that case) can be warped to horrendous degrees, but it is at the same time not depicted as an actual bad concept because we can literally see in the game how Indol helps people even under the most sneakily horrendous pope possible. -Xenoblade 3 is less traditionally on the nose about it in the way JRPGs normally do, but it explores many unique themes like the diffrent cultures and rites that can taken shape and are more or less all connected to how faith is conceptualized and perceived by people in general.
The really cool and goosebump inducing thing about Crys is how his wisdom almost seems to transcend beyond the confines of Aionios. Having the battle against Crys right before you enter Origin and discover the truth behind Z and Moebius is very fitting, since at its core, the concept of Moebius is the reflection of inner human desire gone too far. Despite becoming Moebius himself, the encounter with Crys was both a teaser and warning of what truth awaits for humanity in the new world constructed by Origin... the future within Xenoblade 4 and beyond. Hatred and bad people who are dissatisfied with their own lives and existence will continue to persist in the future, and humanity will likely push the boundaries once more. Brilliant video Ontos, this one got me thinking pretty deeply, and it just gets me even more excited for Xenoblade's future and more of your videos too!
The reason I like Crys so much is that he is good at showing the limitations of Ouroborous and the benefits of Moebius if you listen to his 'melody' carefully which I did my best in these 44 mins. As much as 'Ouroboros' is how this world needs to go forward, I hope Noah learned a thing or two from his teacher Crys before sending him off. He helps to make this entire narrative rich and multi-layered which is why I regarded him as so underappreciated and underrated. Next week, I'll pool my energies to get into Amalthus' mind. Excited to hear your thoughts on it!
@Ontos99 Yes, definitely! I still wonder if Crys is related to Shulk and Fiora, he looks so visually similar to them. Looking forward to next week as well 🙂
I feel, people in general doesn't really understand Xenoblade 3's themes, I see a lot of hate and comments on how the game is dissapointing, and how has no epic moments like XB2... they don't really know how Xenoblade 3 is one of the most phylosofical, deep and themathic games out there. Glad I share the same vision with you Ontos.
Well, actually this video is also a counter-argument for those people. Xenoblade 3 is currently the most contemplative and philosophical modern JRPG of our times. How many games have you played that explores the questions in this 44 mins long video I've answered just now? From meaning to purpose, fear of death, suffering, connections, value systems, love, blame, bullying, the importance of free will, equanimity. Like this is a dense experience. It is just that most people don't want to listen if it doesn't include insane 'mindf*cks' like XC2 late game. Xenoblade 3 is a completely different beast compared to 1 and 2. It is the very definition of 'journey not the destination' mindset. Mining this much philosophical ore from an experience is not possible in 1 and 2. Although I have analyzed Jin on the channel, you can see that I always give references to 3 with N because it is such a memorable and rich experience. I'd do it even if it wasn't a comparison focused analysis. I made this video with the intention of showing these people a side of the game they may not be conscious of. That's one of the primary reasons I've analyzed so many people in a single video. Crys' worldview is questioning Noah in a way that makes it apparent how 'freeing Origin' as important as it may be won't fix our fundamental problems. There is a reason why humanity's collective will has chosen Logos, not Pneuma. Moebius in this world, as tyrannical as they may be, is functionally solving a problem for the weak as evident by Shania's monologue to Sena in this video. So, I hope people stop this 'Moebius bad, Ourborous good' black and white perspective just because they read Takahashi san's interview on Moebius. That vile nature of them is correct but that's not ALL of Moebius. The game's dialogues as I've analyzed here paints a more nuanced picture, in fact. Glad you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for next week because it is Amalthus time ;))
I have always found Shania to be a fantastic foil for the narritve and a great character to gage how well a person is taking in the themes of the game. I always want to see how players react to her speech during chapter 5 during the jail break, because she delivers such a compelling argument against the established mind set the game has built for the player. If the player stops and empathizes with her and considers what life must truly be like for a member of the city. How they sit outside the cycle of those in the system of Moebius and often die because of the effects of said system regardless. It really is a believable view point to yearn or envy the people who get to exist and countless lives each with the potential for greatness and connections even if the lives lived are short and full of strife and hardship. It's not like life in the city is, ideal. They live in hiding, even through fighting isn't required, it's certainly gives the vibe that it's expected of a person to at least help in the dangerous realities of life weather it's guard duty or running for supplies. For the at least a fair chunk of city residents their lives are not lived with the comfort of a promised tomorrow, a solider though, they will always have a tomorrow even if it's as another version of themselves. (Unless they make it to homecoming against all odds of course) Anyways her speech and her point of view reached me and had me question the prespective the game wanted me to have. Definitely top 5 characters in the series for me.
@@icecreamorc Have you noticed how Shania's voice subtly cracks when she says "I have to do what I can" when her father approached her during her shooting drills? That voice tells me how much burden she was carrying to please her mother and not waste Tatania's legacy even if it wasnt what she wanted to do in life. And her father saying "I just want to see my baby girl happy doing the thing she loves" and giving her a brush aftrwards was such a moving scene for me which is why I let it run without stopping. I felt really emotional there These are the sort of moments why I love this game. It says so much with so little
@Ontos99 oh yeah, the voice talent and direction on the dub are another reason I enjoy Shania in particular! The way her voice wavers at the end of the line delivery, really sells all the sarrow and frustration she is feeling at that moment. I could tell she was preparing for rejection or to be compared to her sister at that point. It's another great moment that captures how bittersweet life can be and the over all themes of the game. After losing one of his daughters her father just wanted his remaining daughter to find happiness with her own path in life. It's compassion and hope in the shadow of tragedy and loss both with the context of what came before and with the knowledge of what follows. I really hope that what ever comes next for the series, we get to see Shaina again, even if she is just a town npc painting a street mural or something.
@@Ontos99 And what about Miyabi? Do you think she's as important as Crys? They're both dead friends of the protagonists that made them doubt their worldview and change their beliefs, but Crys is more enigmatic, as he also knows about the origin of Aionios and stuff, so there's that.
Great video. I appreciate the comparisons and contrasts you highlighted between Shania and Sena, and the explanation of Shania’s and Joran’s Moebius powers as they relate to their characters (Joran’s in particular I couldn’t quite grasp). I never realized that Joran’s appearance, being small, round, and unassuming, was such a deliberate decision to relate him to an archetype of the outcasts in real life who get treated like him. I do have a few questions that weren’t touched on in the video. If Crys reached a point of understanding that lies between the extremes of Ouroboros and Moebius, what is it about his character that still makes him Moebius? Is it that he is “too” at peace with the way Aionios is to end it, and strive to give people more choices in life, like Noah wishes? Does Crys represent the sort of teacher in real life who allows themselves to be surpassed by their student, believing their own time to grow and change further has passed? And perhaps most importantly, how was it that Crys, out of all Kevesi and Agnians, came to the conclusions he did, in his short life? What made him different from the other Off-Seers? I think many people wrongly accuse Crys of unimportance because they never see his journey or reason into becoming Moebius that they saw in Joran, Shania, N, and M, but also that they only see him from the end of his journey, as an already-enlightened teacher who just “exists” to the audience. Not saying they’re wrong or right, but I am left wondering how Crys came to be in the role he fills.
Crys reached a very admirable and high level of understanding of reality. However, I'd not say he reached the highest level of insight. Just as there are different sects within Buddhism (Mahayana, Theravada, Zen etc) which values different things, Crys had certain shortcomings to his worldview. One of them being taking a passive approach to life. Since he is so enlightened, he no longer experiences craving - the desire to want things to be different than what they actually are. This is the 2nd path attainment in Buddhism. But there are higher paths which I'd argue Crys may not be perfectly conscious of which ultimately explains his current existence as Moebius. Make no mistake, he is beyond the concepts of Moebius and Ouroborous. There is a Z theatre dialogue while 2 Moebius are playing chess (which I analyzed here please watch it to see my interpretation of every phrase and sentence: ruclips.net/video/q4CpaUQLSv0/видео.html&t ). Basically, we can see that Z has 3rd path level of insight attainment but the catch is that he is a zen devil. So he can embody it easier as a non-human. Crys is still the highest level of enlightenment attained by a human in this game. Now, one of the shortcomings of his worldview is that you don't have to take a passive approach towards life. Since there is no self and you are one with it all, Ouroborous line of logic where you fight for everyone's benefit would still be the ultimate conclusion. EVEN if you have no craving at all. Yet, Crys wasn't quite conscious of it as evident by how he enjoyed Noah's 'melody' if you will. Right before he died, he basically realized something which Noah helped him with his playing. As much as craving and suffering is a construct the mind generates as a self, people are still suffering in Aionios and the will of Moebius just makes it harder for everyone to become more conscious, constantly afraid of death each day. Crys basically realized that even without craving, Ouroborous' worldview is still preferable to Moebius. There is a saying in spiritual circles. 'You shouldn't have desires if you want to be enlightened....except for the desire for enlightenment. You drop that the last' ;)) So basically Crys realized this nuanced point. Crys is a spirituality gifted person who had contact with the dead in the afterlife via off-seeing. Bridging that gap between the primordial realms have given him insight. He just asked the right questions. As I described in the first section of the analysis, Crys was not happy with Homecoming. He was sad precisely because he questioned the sadness underneath the smile of the soldiers who were sent off if you will. That sets Crys apart from all the other off seers. Not even Noah, as you can see in the cutscene, is aware of this. Crys was able to penetrate deeper. Finally, the community at large doesn't understand these characters like Joran, Shania, Z and 'especially' Crys for the most part. Hope this was a good and satisfying explanation. Much love
i'll be honest, i don't think pointing out all these other character stories and arcs really added all that much to crys' story outside of him coming up in the story later, this video was really moreso about moebius, but everything you said is absolutely correct and well put! it's great seeing people actually see and understand what this story and these characters are really about
@@fourthstrongest Well, Crys basically has 2 fundamental objections to Noah. 1- Relentless desire and craving leading to ambition and suffering. 2- The weaks of the world (like Joran and Shania) leading even worse lives in Origin's new world due to single lifetime rule. Shania's mother is a case study to understand Ouroborous's weakness. While Joran is a case study to understand Moebius' weakness. An analysis of Crys would be incomplete without Shania, Joran and Lanz analysis (who points out the shortcomings of winning and capitalism from the other side. How dissatisfactory it all is even when you are "strong") But glad you enjoyed it. Im releasing an Amalthus analysis next week. Click the bell to not miss it.
@Ontos99 i think you can analyze crys and his perspective of "being content" just fine without referencing everything else, but it is a very unique perspective that is built up well given understanding the other main driving forces of moebius. he is last before Z for a reason; he holds a very reasonable and uncorrupted perspective that many people likely held going into the game, but ouroboros fights this directly by arguing that inaction is worse than not taking risks. and this works a lot better having seen more "unreasonable" or more clearly "wrong" perspectives. i have seen people say they agree more with crys than ouroboros even! understanding crys definitely works better upon having a solid foundation of moebius, but i just don't agree that it's necessarily required to get the idea across. either way, still a great video!
I just discovered this channel, love this video! Thematically Xenoblade 3 + DLC is probably the best in the trilogy but I will say one thing, I never liked the fact that Mio never actually dies when personally I think her death would serve the themes better (tbh this problem is present in Xenoblade 1 & 2 as well, the main female character is "killed" then brought back, to cheaply play with the players emotions without having the courage to commit to writing the story/characters after the loss, it also goes against the themes of accepting pain & raising above circumanstances that every Xenoblade MC preaches to the villains). Anyway having Mio dead will put both Noah/N on the same ground, both lost a loved one, so that when anyone preach the other it's fair, both to the characters & the player. This is a long comment but your video brought back memories of my time playing Xenoblade games 😁
@@shadowsquid1351 glad you liked the video. Im a Xenoblade analysis channel and I highly recommend my "mythra and malos" analysis along with the Jin Deconstructed episode if you want my thoughts on XC2 in depth. Stay tuned for next week, because I'll analyze XC2's most complex character, Amalthus. Click the bell to not miss the notification. Much love
While they could other reasons, I think the main one about why Mio actually never dies is because it's a video-game, which means the story is confined by the gameplay (here the 6 party members and the duo Ouroboros mechanic, and also maintain some kind of confort/habit for the player). Thus the death of Mio would probably leads to her replacement by M, which then leads to more or less the same problem (more than less because it would really be "his woman" on Noah's arm which is a bit fuckedup). So anyways either the gameplay or the story would have to be different (it could be better or worse), but I think I'll be content with our lot because there is both value on the false loss and survival. But I also understant the contrary.
@evanpereira3555 yes, the gameplay will be affected but they can get around that somehow, there are some great RPGs where a main character & a party member gets killed or dies in the story but the gameplay goes on (I don't want to give examples bc spoilers 😁). I will admit at least Xenoblade 3 made the bait & switch of Mio's death interesting, unlike tge a**pull of Xenoblade 1 & 2. I just hate how writers manipulate the players emotions without commiting to the death of characters, they should either never kill any MC or commit to leaving the dead.. dead 💀
@shadowsquid1351 too often the death are either early (XC1) or at/near the end so it doesn't really affect the game (nor the player, at least for me because I don't care about characters like Fiora first). Personally I really dislike when a real death only happened for "free drama" (especially at the end because I care less) and actually I enjoy more a fake death that resolves immediately (especially if there's still a cost). That is why I like XC2 end because, while Pyra/Mythra have to survive thematically, Pneuma dies and the "ressurection" works because of the Blade system (from the moment she gives her core crystal I knew there will be something. (The weird part is how they got different bodies, but it is also the best way to show that Pneuma can't exist anymore and it's less ambiguous than what I except, ie only seeing the core crystal glowing). And it's the same for Mio's, since M dies instead of her. Personally I would probably be more bugged out if Mio dies and M replaced her (because it would feel like a real replacement, a second Mio create to finish her story, than an actual different character or they would have to account that) while here we lost a previous ally and show the despair of being Moebius (to mirror N). Also massive change would only happen if both Mio and M die (or massive story change, because both dying is a bit stupid). Thematically, I also find it more compelling to see the "older self" sacrifices itself for the "new self", to be surpass (but the scene couldn't really show it, since we follow Noah's pov). But I agree that Vandham's death is "better", because you can't expect it and it affects the gameplay without being a problem. He appears in the middle of the game (futhermore he isn't the first "non-tutorial" new party member, since it's Tora) and even if we can be suspicious with only Roc as a Blade there's still other possibilities (Tora also only have one Blade, so a narrative reason could exist). Also the death happens quickly so less gameplay's problem. I remember one time loosing a character after X0h with him, and I just felt that I loose time and ressources grinding for him instead of being emotional (Utilitarism 100).
@evanpereira3555 you got a point about cheap death that only happens for the "shock factor" or "drama", I don't like it at all. Personally I am fine with anything as long as it makes sense, I just hate a**pulls for the sake of it, whether it's a sad scene or happy.
Every day that passes, I'm honestly more surprised and shocked at how relatively few people had the necessary media literacy and reading comprehension to _really_ get was XC3 was putting down. Xenoblade 3 really is just a strongly misunderstood story in the modern era. You'd think the *Xenoblade Chronicles* fanbase would be better at avoiding this kind of thing, considering the franchise's rocky history and the constant defending it has had to do thus far, but here we are. This is just conjecture, but I think what it comes down to is that XC3 is less in-your-face about everything. Obviously there's the narrative, which goes over a sad amount of people's heads. And if we're gonna go for the low-hanging fruit, I could also slight 2's character design. (which I won't) But one example I can point to that expresses this issue pretty well, is the music. XC3's music got hated on incessantly because it has a distinct lack of what I call "head bangers." That is to say; 'high energy music.' XC2 has Roaming the Wastes and other similar tracks, and that's pretty much what people were after for the most part, largely ignoring the rest of the soundtrack. XC3's OST is more subdued by comparison. Keves Battle and New Battle!!! are awesome. But as far as area music goes, Aurora Shelf from FR is about as close as XC3 gets to "head banger" music, at least off the top of my head. Truth is, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has one of the most deep, narratively driven, and mature soundtracks for a piece of media in human history. XC3's music is drop-dead gorgeous from start to end, but it largely gets ignored because it's not very showy like XC2's. It's really just focusing on being beautiful and provoking pieces of art, both in it's musical merit and narrative merit. It won't match up perfectly, but you can roughly apply this outline/sentiment to other aspects of the game, such as the narrative.
Glad you enjoyed it because I routinely turn on 'A life overflowing' and let the emotions wash over me while writing something or just thinking. It is a very mature OST and I think that extends to the narrative themes as I've explored for 44 mins here. This video is a counterargument to people who say Xenoblade 3 is a bad game. You may not prefer certain things in the game but I think it is pretty clear how you can't even get close to the thematic and philosophical richness of this experience with ANY other modern JRPG of our times. Monolith soft is way ahead of the curve. Sorry Atlus ;))
@@Ontos99 While I have a very limited frame of reference when it comes to other JRPGs, (or RPGs in general) I absolutely agree with the sentiment that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is one of the most thematically rich pieces of media in human history. Interestingly Enough, 5 years ago, I very strongly aligned myself "not an RPG guy." I loved (and still do) Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door when I was growing up, but among other RPGs, even other Mario RPGs, TTYD was the only one I could ever sit down and finish. Today by comparison, I've spent a collective 520 hours with the Xenoblade series thus far, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is now my favorite game of all time. My love of XC3 is not to downplay any of the other games in the series, though. I love the entire franchise. XC1 & 2 are absolutely fantastic games, Torna is incredible as well, and I even think Future Connected is pretty great for what it is. But Xenoblade 3 and Future Redeemed are just something else entirely. While I'm here, here are a few of my personal highlights from the OST. "Life's Fading Flame" "Hope for the Future" "Carrying the Weight of Life" "Keves Battle" (as previously mentioned) "Remorse" "Cent-Omnia Region" (also previously mentioned) "Redeem the Future" (both parts) "Where we Belong" (I can't just not include it.) Also while I'm here, A pair of my favorite tracks from XC2 for good measure. "A Faint Hope" "Parting"
@@jonathanwest8415 Stay tuned for next week as I'll analyze Amalthus in depth. I wanna hear thoughts in the comments like this. I have a feeling you'll REALLY enjoy it
Tbh, one can both understand the game and still find issue in it. Even tho it is a good game and I appreciate a lot of what it comes to the table, I still share a lot of the common critisisms like the ending taking away satisfaction retroactively.
@@lpfan4491 If you are referring to the reason why Bionis and Alrest separate into 2 planets, it is explained in my 'metaphysics of Aionios' episode. It is due the nature of Aionios and Z that it is an impossibility for the '2 conjoined planets' to continue their collision. You can watch that video to understand the logic as I go step by step in explaining it This also explains the final cutscene in the base game and the time related subjects. I don't know if these are the sort of stuff that reduced your satisfaction at the end retroactively but regardless I suggest watching that video since nothing that Takahashi san did at the ending is random or to tug at your heart strings. He knows what he is doing. He is just...not being generous with direct explanations haha. Let me know your thoughts under that video if you ever watch it. Much love,
I am truly baffled by how some can say Crys is boring. I do actually like Miyabi though, i think she really is like Crys to Mio, showing her how wonderful off-seeing really is!
Stop the video and read the texts I've added at 10:29 and 11:16. It will show not just the limitations of 'relentless desire' Crys talks about but also what Matthew was talking about speaking to Nael in Origin's memory stage.
Note to Future Ontos: It is 'Tatania', not 'Tatiana'. Don't be a dumb*ss next time :P
Much love
- Ontos
9:32 reminded me of this line
“For all our rejoice of courage and valor, nothing stains the soul more indelibly than killing.
Never have I felt so vile than standing victorious on a battlefield.
The thrill of victory fades quickly. What lingers long after… is always ugly.”
-Falstaff, The King
That's an awesome line, man. Fits so well with Xenoblade 3's core.
@ it’s an awesome f*cking movie. I watched it again just the other day and that line struck me as incredibly profound.
So I wrote it down and added it to my collection of quotes. Then when I saw the look on that girl’s face whist everyone was cheering amidst the corpses of their fallen foes, that line came racing back to mind
These games went over a lot of people's heads unfortunately. Thanks for making it digestable.
You are welcome, brother! Stay tuned for next week
Love this vid, it’s funny whenever ppl talk about how XB3 didn’t have real “religious themes” like the rest of the xeno series, like cmon guys Christianity isn’t the only religion in the world lol it’s obvious XB3 takes ideas from eastern religions and applies them very well too, “religious themes” doesn’t just automatically equal judeo-Christianity.
Glad you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for next week. I'm not done yet ;))
People just don't exactly get Religious theory, neither western nor eastern.
-People don't get how the Xenoblade 1 gods while being western style creational gods are also based on Shinto gods in how they function(Dying when forgotten by people and wielding seemingly absolute power over their area of godhood while still being limited to what the world itself provides them? Dingdingding!)
-People don't get that Uncontrollable conveys the idea of praying to the winds while wondering if there really is a higher being and if there is, why it has seemingly abandoned or even chosen to desasterously punish people(People joke about "Are we trying to fight the Tyrant or are we having a relationship argument?" way too much)
-People don't get that Xenoblade 2 does indeed have harsh critisism about how religions(specifically christianity in that case) can be warped to horrendous degrees, but it is at the same time not depicted as an actual bad concept because we can literally see in the game how Indol helps people even under the most sneakily horrendous pope possible.
-Xenoblade 3 is less traditionally on the nose about it in the way JRPGs normally do, but it explores many unique themes like the diffrent cultures and rites that can taken shape and are more or less all connected to how faith is conceptualized and perceived by people in general.
The really cool and goosebump inducing thing about Crys is how his wisdom almost seems to transcend beyond the confines of Aionios. Having the battle against Crys right before you enter Origin and discover the truth behind Z and Moebius is very fitting, since at its core, the concept of Moebius is the reflection of inner human desire gone too far. Despite becoming Moebius himself, the encounter with Crys was both a teaser and warning of what truth awaits for humanity in the new world constructed by Origin... the future within Xenoblade 4 and beyond. Hatred and bad people who are dissatisfied with their own lives and existence will continue to persist in the future, and humanity will likely push the boundaries once more. Brilliant video Ontos, this one got me thinking pretty deeply, and it just gets me even more excited for Xenoblade's future and more of your videos too!
The reason I like Crys so much is that he is good at showing the limitations of Ouroborous and the benefits of Moebius if you listen to his 'melody' carefully which I did my best in these 44 mins. As much as 'Ouroboros' is how this world needs to go forward, I hope Noah learned a thing or two from his teacher Crys before sending him off. He helps to make this entire narrative rich and multi-layered which is why I regarded him as so underappreciated and underrated.
Next week, I'll pool my energies to get into Amalthus' mind. Excited to hear your thoughts on it!
@Ontos99 Yes, definitely! I still wonder if Crys is related to Shulk and Fiora, he looks so visually similar to them. Looking forward to next week as well 🙂
I feel, people in general doesn't really understand Xenoblade 3's themes, I see a lot of hate and comments on how the game is dissapointing, and how has no epic moments like XB2... they don't really know how Xenoblade 3 is one of the most phylosofical, deep and themathic games out there.
Glad I share the same vision with you Ontos.
Well, actually this video is also a counter-argument for those people. Xenoblade 3 is currently the most contemplative and philosophical modern JRPG of our times. How many games have you played that explores the questions in this 44 mins long video I've answered just now?
From meaning to purpose, fear of death, suffering, connections, value systems, love, blame, bullying, the importance of free will, equanimity. Like this is a dense experience. It is just that most people don't want to listen if it doesn't include insane 'mindf*cks' like XC2 late game.
Xenoblade 3 is a completely different beast compared to 1 and 2. It is the very definition of 'journey not the destination' mindset. Mining this much philosophical ore from an experience is not possible in 1 and 2. Although I have analyzed Jin on the channel, you can see that I always give references to 3 with N because it is such a memorable and rich experience. I'd do it even if it wasn't a comparison focused analysis.
I made this video with the intention of showing these people a side of the game they may not be conscious of. That's one of the primary reasons I've analyzed so many people in a single video. Crys' worldview is questioning Noah in a way that makes it apparent how 'freeing Origin' as important as it may be won't fix our fundamental problems. There is a reason why humanity's collective will has chosen Logos, not Pneuma. Moebius in this world, as tyrannical as they may be, is functionally solving a problem for the weak as evident by Shania's monologue to Sena in this video.
So, I hope people stop this 'Moebius bad, Ourborous good' black and white perspective just because they read Takahashi san's interview on Moebius. That vile nature of them is correct but that's not ALL of Moebius. The game's dialogues as I've analyzed here paints a more nuanced picture, in fact.
Glad you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for next week because it is Amalthus time ;))
I have always found Shania to be a fantastic foil for the narritve and a great character to gage how well a person is taking in the themes of the game.
I always want to see how players react to her speech during chapter 5 during the jail break, because she delivers such a compelling argument against the established mind set the game has built for the player.
If the player stops and empathizes with her and considers what life must truly be like for a member of the city. How they sit outside the cycle of those in the system of Moebius and often die because of the effects of said system regardless. It really is a believable view point to yearn or envy the people who get to exist and countless lives each with the potential for greatness and connections even if the lives lived are short and full of strife and hardship. It's not like life in the city is, ideal. They live in hiding, even through fighting isn't required, it's certainly gives the vibe that it's expected of a person to at least help in the dangerous realities of life weather it's guard duty or running for supplies. For the at least a fair chunk of city residents their lives are not lived with the comfort of a promised tomorrow, a solider though, they will always have a tomorrow even if it's as another version of themselves. (Unless they make it to homecoming against all odds of course)
Anyways her speech and her point of view reached me and had me question the prespective the game wanted me to have. Definitely top 5 characters in the series for me.
@@icecreamorc Have you noticed how Shania's voice subtly cracks when she says "I have to do what I can" when her father approached her during her shooting drills?
That voice tells me how much burden she was carrying to please her mother and not waste Tatania's legacy even if it wasnt what she wanted to do in life.
And her father saying "I just want to see my baby girl happy doing the thing she loves" and giving her a brush aftrwards was such a moving scene for me which is why I let it run without stopping. I felt really emotional there
These are the sort of moments why I love this game. It says so much with so little
@Ontos99 oh yeah, the voice talent and direction on the dub are another reason I enjoy Shania in particular! The way her voice wavers at the end of the line delivery, really sells all the sarrow and frustration she is feeling at that moment. I could tell she was preparing for rejection or to be compared to her sister at that point. It's another great moment that captures how bittersweet life can be and the over all themes of the game. After losing one of his daughters her father just wanted his remaining daughter to find happiness with her own path in life. It's compassion and hope in the shadow of tragedy and loss both with the context of what came before and with the knowledge of what follows.
I really hope that what ever comes next for the series, we get to see Shaina again, even if she is just a town npc painting a street mural or something.
Yooo! Crys is extremely underrated
@@companion_monke_gaming He sure is.
@@Ontos99 And what about Miyabi? Do you think she's as important as Crys? They're both dead friends of the protagonists that made them doubt their worldview and change their beliefs, but Crys is more enigmatic, as he also knows about the origin of Aionios and stuff, so there's that.
@@companion_monke_gaming I don't really like Miyabi that much. She is a good character but can't compete with Crys ;))
Great video. I appreciate the comparisons and contrasts you highlighted between Shania and Sena, and the explanation of Shania’s and Joran’s Moebius powers as they relate to their characters (Joran’s in particular I couldn’t quite grasp). I never realized that Joran’s appearance, being small, round, and unassuming, was such a deliberate decision to relate him to an archetype of the outcasts in real life who get treated like him.
I do have a few questions that weren’t touched on in the video. If Crys reached a point of understanding that lies between the extremes of Ouroboros and Moebius, what is it about his character that still makes him Moebius? Is it that he is “too” at peace with the way Aionios is to end it, and strive to give people more choices in life, like Noah wishes? Does Crys represent the sort of teacher in real life who allows themselves to be surpassed by their student, believing their own time to grow and change further has passed?
And perhaps most importantly, how was it that Crys, out of all Kevesi and Agnians, came to the conclusions he did, in his short life? What made him different from the other Off-Seers? I think many people wrongly accuse Crys of unimportance because they never see his journey or reason into becoming Moebius that they saw in Joran, Shania, N, and M, but also that they only see him from the end of his journey, as an already-enlightened teacher who just “exists” to the audience. Not saying they’re wrong or right, but I am left wondering how Crys came to be in the role he fills.
Crys reached a very admirable and high level of understanding of reality. However, I'd not say he reached the highest level of insight. Just as there are different sects within Buddhism (Mahayana, Theravada, Zen etc) which values different things, Crys had certain shortcomings to his worldview. One of them being taking a passive approach to life.
Since he is so enlightened, he no longer experiences craving - the desire to want things to be different than what they actually are. This is the 2nd path attainment in Buddhism. But there are higher paths which I'd argue Crys may not be perfectly conscious of which ultimately explains his current existence as Moebius. Make no mistake, he is beyond the concepts of Moebius and Ouroborous.
There is a Z theatre dialogue while 2 Moebius are playing chess (which I analyzed here please watch it to see my interpretation of every phrase and sentence: ruclips.net/video/q4CpaUQLSv0/видео.html&t ). Basically, we can see that Z has 3rd path level of insight attainment but the catch is that he is a zen devil. So he can embody it easier as a non-human.
Crys is still the highest level of enlightenment attained by a human in this game. Now, one of the shortcomings of his worldview is that you don't have to take a passive approach towards life. Since there is no self and you are one with it all, Ouroborous line of logic where you fight for everyone's benefit would still be the ultimate conclusion. EVEN if you have no craving at all.
Yet, Crys wasn't quite conscious of it as evident by how he enjoyed Noah's 'melody' if you will. Right before he died, he basically realized something which Noah helped him with his playing. As much as craving and suffering is a construct the mind generates as a self, people are still suffering in Aionios and the will of Moebius just makes it harder for everyone to become more conscious, constantly afraid of death each day. Crys basically realized that even without craving, Ouroborous' worldview is still preferable to Moebius.
There is a saying in spiritual circles. 'You shouldn't have desires if you want to be enlightened....except for the desire for enlightenment. You drop that the last' ;))
So basically Crys realized this nuanced point.
Crys is a spirituality gifted person who had contact with the dead in the afterlife via off-seeing. Bridging that gap between the primordial realms have given him insight. He just asked the right questions. As I described in the first section of the analysis, Crys was not happy with Homecoming. He was sad precisely because he questioned the sadness underneath the smile of the soldiers who were sent off if you will. That sets Crys apart from all the other off seers. Not even Noah, as you can see in the cutscene, is aware of this.
Crys was able to penetrate deeper.
Finally, the community at large doesn't understand these characters like Joran, Shania, Z and 'especially' Crys for the most part. Hope this was a good and satisfying explanation. Much love
i'll be honest, i don't think pointing out all these other character stories and arcs really added all that much to crys' story outside of him coming up in the story later, this video was really moreso about moebius, but everything you said is absolutely correct and well put! it's great seeing people actually see and understand what this story and these characters are really about
@@fourthstrongest Well, Crys basically has 2 fundamental objections to Noah.
1- Relentless desire and craving leading to ambition and suffering.
2- The weaks of the world (like Joran and Shania) leading even worse lives in Origin's new world due to single lifetime rule.
Shania's mother is a case study to understand Ouroborous's weakness.
While Joran is a case study to understand Moebius' weakness.
An analysis of Crys would be incomplete without Shania, Joran and Lanz analysis (who points out the shortcomings of winning and capitalism from the other side. How dissatisfactory it all is even when you are "strong")
But glad you enjoyed it. Im releasing an Amalthus analysis next week. Click the bell to not miss it.
@Ontos99 i think you can analyze crys and his perspective of "being content" just fine without referencing everything else, but it is a very unique perspective that is built up well given understanding the other main driving forces of moebius. he is last before Z for a reason; he holds a very reasonable and uncorrupted perspective that many people likely held going into the game, but ouroboros fights this directly by arguing that inaction is worse than not taking risks. and this works a lot better having seen more "unreasonable" or more clearly "wrong" perspectives. i have seen people say they agree more with crys than ouroboros even! understanding crys definitely works better upon having a solid foundation of moebius, but i just don't agree that it's necessarily required to get the idea across. either way, still a great video!
I just discovered this channel, love this video!
Thematically Xenoblade 3 + DLC is probably the best in the trilogy but I will say one thing, I never liked the fact that Mio never actually dies when personally I think her death would serve the themes better (tbh this problem is present in Xenoblade 1 & 2 as well, the main female character is "killed" then brought back, to cheaply play with the players emotions without having the courage to commit to writing the story/characters after the loss, it also goes against the themes of accepting pain & raising above circumanstances that every Xenoblade MC preaches to the villains).
Anyway having Mio dead will put both Noah/N on the same ground, both lost a loved one, so that when anyone preach the other it's fair, both to the characters & the player.
This is a long comment but your video brought back memories of my time playing Xenoblade games 😁
@@shadowsquid1351 glad you liked the video. Im a Xenoblade analysis channel and I highly recommend my "mythra and malos" analysis along with the Jin Deconstructed episode if you want my thoughts on XC2 in depth.
Stay tuned for next week, because I'll analyze XC2's most complex character, Amalthus. Click the bell to not miss the notification. Much love
While they could other reasons, I think the main one about why Mio actually never dies is because it's a video-game, which means the story is confined by the gameplay (here the 6 party members and the duo Ouroboros mechanic, and also maintain some kind of confort/habit for the player).
Thus the death of Mio would probably leads to her replacement by M, which then leads to more or less the same problem (more than less because it would really be "his woman" on Noah's arm which is a bit fuckedup).
So anyways either the gameplay or the story would have to be different (it could be better or worse), but I think I'll be content with our lot because there is both value on the false loss and survival. But I also understant the contrary.
@evanpereira3555 yes, the gameplay will be affected but they can get around that somehow, there are some great RPGs where a main character & a party member gets killed or dies in the story but the gameplay goes on (I don't want to give examples bc spoilers 😁).
I will admit at least Xenoblade 3 made the bait & switch of Mio's death interesting, unlike tge a**pull of Xenoblade 1 & 2. I just hate how writers manipulate the players emotions without commiting to the death of characters, they should either never kill any MC or commit to leaving the dead.. dead 💀
@shadowsquid1351 too often the death are either early (XC1) or at/near the end so it doesn't really affect the game (nor the player, at least for me because I don't care about characters like Fiora first).
Personally I really dislike when a real death only happened for "free drama" (especially at the end because I care less) and actually I enjoy more a fake death that resolves immediately (especially if there's still a cost).
That is why I like XC2 end because, while Pyra/Mythra have to survive thematically, Pneuma dies and the "ressurection" works because of the Blade system (from the moment she gives her core crystal I knew there will be something.
(The weird part is how they got different bodies, but it is also the best way to show that Pneuma can't exist anymore and it's less ambiguous than what I except, ie only seeing the core crystal glowing).
And it's the same for Mio's, since M dies instead of her. Personally I would probably be more bugged out if Mio dies and M replaced her (because it would feel like a real replacement, a second Mio create to finish her story, than an actual different character or they would have to account that) while here we lost a previous ally and show the despair of being Moebius (to mirror N). Also massive change would only happen if both Mio and M die (or massive story change, because both dying is a bit stupid).
Thematically, I also find it more compelling to see the "older self" sacrifices itself for the "new self", to be surpass (but the scene couldn't really show it, since we follow Noah's pov).
But I agree that Vandham's death is "better", because you can't expect it and it affects the gameplay without being a problem. He appears in the middle of the game (futhermore he isn't the first "non-tutorial" new party member, since it's Tora) and even if we can be suspicious with only Roc as a Blade there's still other possibilities (Tora also only have one Blade, so a narrative reason could exist).
Also the death happens quickly so less gameplay's problem. I remember one time loosing a character after X0h with him, and I just felt that I loose time and ressources grinding for him instead of being emotional (Utilitarism 100).
@evanpereira3555 you got a point about cheap death that only happens for the "shock factor" or "drama", I don't like it at all.
Personally I am fine with anything as long as it makes sense, I just hate a**pulls for the sake of it, whether it's a sad scene or happy.
Damn, i love this game
Every day that passes, I'm honestly more surprised and shocked at how relatively few people had the necessary media literacy and reading comprehension to _really_ get was XC3 was putting down. Xenoblade 3 really is just a strongly misunderstood story in the modern era. You'd think the *Xenoblade Chronicles* fanbase would be better at avoiding this kind of thing, considering the franchise's rocky history and the constant defending it has had to do thus far, but here we are.
This is just conjecture, but I think what it comes down to is that XC3 is less in-your-face about everything. Obviously there's the narrative, which goes over a sad amount of people's heads. And if we're gonna go for the low-hanging fruit, I could also slight 2's character design. (which I won't) But one example I can point to that expresses this issue pretty well, is the music.
XC3's music got hated on incessantly because it has a distinct lack of what I call "head bangers." That is to say; 'high energy music.' XC2 has Roaming the Wastes and other similar tracks, and that's pretty much what people were after for the most part, largely ignoring the rest of the soundtrack. XC3's OST is more subdued by comparison. Keves Battle and New Battle!!! are awesome. But as far as area music goes, Aurora Shelf from FR is about as close as XC3 gets to "head banger" music, at least off the top of my head.
Truth is, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has one of the most deep, narratively driven, and mature soundtracks for a piece of media in human history. XC3's music is drop-dead gorgeous from start to end, but it largely gets ignored because it's not very showy like XC2's. It's really just focusing on being beautiful and provoking pieces of art, both in it's musical merit and narrative merit.
It won't match up perfectly, but you can roughly apply this outline/sentiment to other aspects of the game, such as the narrative.
Glad you enjoyed it because I routinely turn on 'A life overflowing' and let the emotions wash over me while writing something or just thinking.
It is a very mature OST and I think that extends to the narrative themes as I've explored for 44 mins here.
This video is a counterargument to people who say Xenoblade 3 is a bad game. You may not prefer certain things in the game but I think it is pretty clear how you can't even get close to the thematic and philosophical richness of this experience with ANY other modern JRPG of our times.
Monolith soft is way ahead of the curve. Sorry Atlus ;))
@@Ontos99 While I have a very limited frame of reference when it comes to other JRPGs, (or RPGs in general) I absolutely agree with the sentiment that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is one of the most thematically rich pieces of media in human history. Interestingly Enough, 5 years ago, I very strongly aligned myself "not an RPG guy." I loved (and still do) Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door when I was growing up, but among other RPGs, even other Mario RPGs, TTYD was the only one I could ever sit down and finish. Today by comparison, I've spent a collective 520 hours with the Xenoblade series thus far, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is now my favorite game of all time.
My love of XC3 is not to downplay any of the other games in the series, though. I love the entire franchise. XC1 & 2 are absolutely fantastic games, Torna is incredible as well, and I even think Future Connected is pretty great for what it is. But Xenoblade 3 and Future Redeemed are just something else entirely.
While I'm here, here are a few of my personal highlights from the OST.
"Life's Fading Flame"
"Hope for the Future"
"Carrying the Weight of Life"
"Keves Battle" (as previously mentioned)
"Remorse"
"Cent-Omnia Region" (also previously mentioned)
"Redeem the Future" (both parts)
"Where we Belong" (I can't just not include it.)
Also while I'm here, A pair of my favorite tracks from XC2 for good measure.
"A Faint Hope"
"Parting"
@@jonathanwest8415 Stay tuned for next week as I'll analyze Amalthus in depth. I wanna hear thoughts in the comments like this. I have a feeling you'll REALLY enjoy it
Tbh, one can both understand the game and still find issue in it. Even tho it is a good game and I appreciate a lot of what it comes to the table, I still share a lot of the common critisisms like the ending taking away satisfaction retroactively.
@@lpfan4491 If you are referring to the reason why Bionis and Alrest separate into 2 planets, it is explained in my 'metaphysics of Aionios' episode. It is due the nature of Aionios and Z that it is an impossibility for the '2 conjoined planets' to continue their collision. You can watch that video to understand the logic as I go step by step in explaining it
This also explains the final cutscene in the base game and the time related subjects. I don't know if these are the sort of stuff that reduced your satisfaction at the end retroactively but regardless I suggest watching that video since nothing that Takahashi san did at the ending is random or to tug at your heart strings. He knows what he is doing. He is just...not being generous with direct explanations haha. Let me know your thoughts under that video if you ever watch it. Much love,
27:03 the XC2 music there fits really well
Yeah. I was looking at what sort of music to use and those violins and sadness fits like a glove here. Really emphasizes Lanz' confusion
I am truly baffled by how some can say Crys is boring.
I do actually like Miyabi though, i think she really is like Crys to Mio, showing her how wonderful off-seeing really is!
Thats is a good way to put it. Miyabi really is someone that helped Mio to 'find value in all things' similar to how Crys did for Noah