While I’m still chewing through this monster of a game: one thing stood out to me instantly:
the story of Xenoblade 2, to be charitable, is pretty horrendous right now. Or at least, it’s gotten
off to a really bad start plot and pacing wise. So, in perhaps an unfair (yet cathartic) comparison,
I’m gonna compare Xenoblade 2’s opening hours against Xenoblade 1’s! Spoilers ahead, we’ll be
going until the main character gets the signature blade of each game. Without further ado, here we
go!
(Oh and here are some links to videos documenting these openings)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEOr95_ahIY&list=PLpVpBRIlzWuAYEtHYRKU_umVtbs0wu7I4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir_dwZ0nedo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir_dwZ0nedo
So both games open with a sweeping shot and some exposition of the world and the myths behind
it, and right away Xenoblade 1 is making things far more dynamic and interesting. We actually see
the two titans clashing, and we see the myths in action. Xenoblade 2 just has a shot of the clouds,
and then we go straight to Rex’s daily life. It’s just so much less engaging than opening on a shot of
2 massive beings locked in a grand battle, you know? We don’t see any of the world or the
backstory, we’re just told what’s what over what may as well be a blank screen for all it’s making
me care.
the two titans clashing, and we see the myths in action. Xenoblade 2 just has a shot of the clouds,
and then we go straight to Rex’s daily life. It’s just so much less engaging than opening on a shot of
2 massive beings locked in a grand battle, you know? We don’t see any of the world or the
backstory, we’re just told what’s what over what may as well be a blank screen for all it’s making
me care.
These two plots diverge here, as 2 jumps straight into daily life, while 1 quickly zooms in on a grand
battle, where the basic controls are taught to you as you control Dunban using the Monado. This
battle scene is actually really good storytelling. We learn about the Mechon, the fact that there is a
raging battle between the Homs and Mechon, how the Monado is the only blade that can easily
dispatch them, a bit about Dunban and Dickson, a cliffhanger for Mumkhar’s fate… I think you get the
idea. This scene sets a lot up and fleshes out the world, and more importantly, uses the scenario to
engage you with and expand on the world rather than just talking about it.
battle, where the basic controls are taught to you as you control Dunban using the Monado. This
battle scene is actually really good storytelling. We learn about the Mechon, the fact that there is a
raging battle between the Homs and Mechon, how the Monado is the only blade that can easily
dispatch them, a bit about Dunban and Dickson, a cliffhanger for Mumkhar’s fate… I think you get the
idea. This scene sets a lot up and fleshes out the world, and more importantly, uses the scenario to
engage you with and expand on the world rather than just talking about it.
You can definitely see the impact of this when both games start to expand on their quiet, daily life at
first, with Rex and Shulk (one year after the battle). Xenoblade 2 has to kind of awkwardly introduce
new things and exposit a lot, while Xeno 1 is more free to expand on your current knowledge.
There’s a military base, of course because the Mechon are a threat. Shulk is studying the Monado,
obviously, because it’s so powerful. It’s little things like that that make the story flow so much more
efficiently during the more slow, paced parts of it.
first, with Rex and Shulk (one year after the battle). Xenoblade 2 has to kind of awkwardly introduce
new things and exposit a lot, while Xeno 1 is more free to expand on your current knowledge.
There’s a military base, of course because the Mechon are a threat. Shulk is studying the Monado,
obviously, because it’s so powerful. It’s little things like that that make the story flow so much more
efficiently during the more slow, paced parts of it.
Xenoblade 2 is, by comparison, much more rushed and choppy. We never get a sense of the world
around us, as we’re confined to tiny areas like a trading hub or a ship for hours of the game. Rex is
thrust all over and back and forth for the sake of plot and exposition, never feeling like it’s totally
natural. There’s no drive to the plot, no characters are being firmly established.
around us, as we’re confined to tiny areas like a trading hub or a ship for hours of the game. Rex is
thrust all over and back and forth for the sake of plot and exposition, never feeling like it’s totally
natural. There’s no drive to the plot, no characters are being firmly established.
These are where the two stories somewhat diverge. Xenoblade 1 then follows Shulk in a bit more
daily life, then he and his friends go on an errand, and while they’re out the mechon attack Colony 9.
Meanwhile in Xenoblade 2, Rex is offered a job, takes it, and while on the job he’s betrayed and killed.
I’m gonna be looking more generally at them, now.
daily life, then he and his friends go on an errand, and while they’re out the mechon attack Colony 9.
Meanwhile in Xenoblade 2, Rex is offered a job, takes it, and while on the job he’s betrayed and killed.
I’m gonna be looking more generally at them, now.
So to lay out how Xenoblade 1 does it better, well, basically everything? It’s the little details, like the
mechon attack instantly being a huge deal in your head due to the battle from before showing how
deadly they are. It’s in the voice acting, which is snappy and metered, with a good sense of feeling
natural and flowing. It’s in the tension and engagement, which never slows down and makes you
attached to these characters fending for their lives.
mechon attack instantly being a huge deal in your head due to the battle from before showing how
deadly they are. It’s in the voice acting, which is snappy and metered, with a good sense of feeling
natural and flowing. It’s in the tension and engagement, which never slows down and makes you
attached to these characters fending for their lives.
Xenoblade 2 has none of this, and suffers as a result. You’re never given clear direction and focus,
and always kept in the dark. None of the characters get enough development besides maybe Rex a
little. Perhaps this was the point, but it leads to a story with little drive and motivation, giving you
nothing to care about. The world is constrained to tiny ships, not grand and open for you to explore
until after the first chapter.
and always kept in the dark. None of the characters get enough development besides maybe Rex a
little. Perhaps this was the point, but it leads to a story with little drive and motivation, giving you
nothing to care about. The world is constrained to tiny ships, not grand and open for you to explore
until after the first chapter.
Also whoooooooooooo boy the voice acting is some of the worst I’ve ever heard how did this ship
seriously it’s so awful
seriously it’s so awful
Finally, to drive my point home, let’s compare the big climaxes of both prologues: when the
respective protagonists get the signature blade of their games. Xenoblade 1 has a dramatic battle,
where our protagonists attempt to save their town. Shulk mysteriously is able to use the Monado and
see into the future, and then tragically, Fiora is killed, despite their best attempts otherwise. It’s a
scene that builds up character, foreshadowing, and genuine, real emotion and tragedy. Go watch it
for yourself, I can’t do it justice.
respective protagonists get the signature blade of their games. Xenoblade 1 has a dramatic battle,
where our protagonists attempt to save their town. Shulk mysteriously is able to use the Monado and
see into the future, and then tragically, Fiora is killed, despite their best attempts otherwise. It’s a
scene that builds up character, foreshadowing, and genuine, real emotion and tragedy. Go watch it
for yourself, I can’t do it justice.
In Xenoblade 2 Rex is stabbed in the back, brought back to life, and then there’s a big fight.
I just… the problem with Xenoblade 2 is that it tries to be so straightforward, tries to be a fun
anime game, but in doing so it forgets to include good, basic plot engagement and interest. I’m never
given a chance to emotionally engage. I’m never given a good sense of the world. The game tries to
build mystery by leaving me in the dark, but instead it gives the effect of just giving me nothing to care
about. And when you compare it to Xenoblade Chronicles 1, well, it is absolutely no contest.
anime game, but in doing so it forgets to include good, basic plot engagement and interest. I’m never
given a chance to emotionally engage. I’m never given a good sense of the world. The game tries to
build mystery by leaving me in the dark, but instead it gives the effect of just giving me nothing to care
about. And when you compare it to Xenoblade Chronicles 1, well, it is absolutely no contest.
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