Xenosaga

[Nique]

Never having been able to play through 'Xenosaga' ep. I, I wondered if anyone else had...

Was it worth it? If so, why? And if so, please explain the game mechanics to me in a way that makes some sense.

The story seemed interesting enough, but I just couldn't wrap my head around the battle system enough to win any major boss fights unless by total accident. I've been raised on FF too long, I know... But as RPGs go, it's really all I know.

Are there any plans for Xenosaga III to come out soon, as II seemed to come without much fuss...?

[greed]

Can't really help you with the question about quality I just never got into them but there is a third and final game coming out for the PS2

Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenosaga_III#Xenosaga_Episode_III:_Also_sprach_Zar athustra) will be the third and (as of now) final game of the primary series. It will be released on PlayStation 2. Also sprach Zarathustra, literally "Thus Spoke Zarathustra", is also the title to Nietzsche's most famous work, which introduced the Übermensch and popularised the phrase "God is dead". Originally the game was to be titled "Die fröhliche Wissenschaft" but the name was deemed too difficult to pronounce in German and the translation "The Gay Science" was deemed potentially provocative.

In September 2005, it was officially announced that Episode III would mark the premature end to the series, which was originally planned to span six titles. Episode III will continue the storyline using the current cast of characters, with the addition of several new antagonists and playable characters (Allen Ridgely, Miyuki, and Canaan). The release date for Episode III has been announced to be July 6th, 2006 for Japan, and Fall 2006 for the US.

The battle system has changed back to the original one in Xenosaga Episode I, complete with some old and new Tech Attacks. Some things were kept from Episode II though, such as MOMO's ether bow weapon so her Tech Attacks are different from her original ones.

In conclusion with Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra seems to lead off from where the Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht left off on Shion and KOS-MOS' story. Following with the strange appearance of T-elos (a blueprint is found in Episode I on the U-TIC battle ship of T-elos) and KOS-MOS' mysterious blue-eyed form. It is rumored that T-elos was the arche-type that was destroyed 3 years prior in the Xenosaga series. Shion seems to see both T-elos and KOS-MOS in the form of a dark long haired brunnette in some rare circumstances.

[Toastburner B]

Xenosaga I is on my "too beat" list of games. In fact, it's probably the one I'm going to tackle once I get down with Digital Devil Saga I.

From the few hours I played it, it was fun. I didn't get all that far, however. In fact, I don't remember much about the plot, so I'll probably restart.

[Mac]

Xenosaga I is on my "too beat" list of games. In fact, it's probably the one I'm going to tackle once I get down with Digital Devil Saga I.

From the few hours I played it, it was fun. I didn't get all that far, however. In fact, I don't remember much about the plot, so I'll probably restart.

how can you not remember the plot. There were like 80 minutes of Movies in the first 90 minutes.

I tried to like Xenosaga. I really truly tried. But the game tested my patience with there half hour long cutscenes. Also, after a long ass cutscene, there were no saves.

[Chipper173]

I like the battle system and the A.W.G.S. units. However, like others said, you're going to spend more time watching this than playing it. Still entertaining, it's just that there's not a whole lot of action.

[Nique]

Isn't KOS-MOS just a kind of rip-off of the chobits robot thing, only less over-sexed? I'm not really into anime that much, so I'm just curious.

I love how in the instruction guide for Xenosaga, all the charecters have the '...with a mysterious past no one knows about, they are an enigma, torutured soul, not-who-they-appear-to-be' tagline.

I still need to figure out the battle system. When to use the robots and when not to isn't exactly clear atm.

[Arlia Janet]

I tried the game, but I got too frustrated trying to run through and find a save point than actually playing it. I can physically play a game for no more than an hour. I must quit and do something else. With 80 minute cinematics and the like, I've given the game the title as "unplayable."

[Toastburner B]

how can you not remember the plot. There were like 80 minutes of Movies in the first 90 minutes.

Well, truth be told, the vast majority of playing time was being stuck on one of the first levels you play on...mostly because I was an idiot and never saw the painfully obvious exit. >_>;; It was also a few months back, so I honestly don't remember very much.

[Bamboozehound]

I got all the way to the final boss and then sold the game. The battle system was tedious, the characters didn't interest me, and I hear the sequel sucked even more. So, I'd say there is no good reason to beat the game.

All the spells and special fighting skills were cool the first time around, but the battle system is set up so that you want to only use the strongest attacks all the time. The novelty wears off pretty fast imo. The battle take too long, too, so I ended up running past a lot of the enemies at the end of the game and my characters weren't strong enough to push the final boss over, which is why I ended up getting rid of the game (I'll burn in hell before I play this game again)

The AWGS robots tended to be boss-only options, since there are relatively few healing items for them and they cannot be revived from being KO'ed. They're also expensive to upgrade and less versatile than the regular characters. I think they're only supposed to balance out the weak characters' (Shion, chaos, Momo) lack of fighting prowess, but maybe I missed something.

However, I did enjoy the card game. I played it so much I lost track of where I was in the actual game for a while. Good music and decent environments were not enough to overcome the boring story and battle system, though.

[Mac]

The game had so much potential. Unfortuantly it also had to live up to the predecessor Xenogears. But to me, the half hour CutScenes + the dull characters + the boring worlds made it a bad game. So much wasted potential.

[Chipper173]

Isn't KOS-MOS just a kind of rip-off of the chobits robot thing, only less over-sexed?
Now that you mention it, yeah, kind of. Only less sex, more chain guns.

balance out the weak characters' (Shion, chaos, Momo)
I don't know what kind of game you were playing, but my chaos kicked ass and took names. Getting a badass robot was just a bonus. While we're on the subject, why doesn't anyone think it's weird that not only is this kid's name chaos, but it's all lowercase? Everyone seems okay with it.

Also, Nique, my advice: Never use MOMO if you don't have to. Her slot is better used by another party member with more kickassery, I.E. everyone else. Also, I feel dirty just having her in my party.

[Kitana Paladine]

I swear, I am the only one here to enjoy this game. I've played it through about 4 or 5 times now, and contemplating starting up a new game. I loved the storyline, since I enjoy save the unverse, religiousy type games.

Granted, the first time I played it, I was a touch annoyed at the length of the cutscenes, but soon realized it was integral to the game. You needed to pay attention to the cutscenes to understand the plot, or you'd be lost. The terminology never bothered me since I have a friend who's read some Nietzschean and Jungian theories and helped me understand what I didn't(yes, there is Jungian theory. Look at Albedo, Rubedo and Nigredo-all Jungian terms, and names of three important charries in the series.)

My only issue with either Xenosaga 1 or 2 is that 2 is sooo boring compared to Xenosaga 1... I have yet to beat Episode 2, and I'm basically at the last part, and have no desire to beat it. I wanted to beat Episode 1, and find out what happens next. Thats why I got Episode 2, to see what happens next, and I was disappointed. Not only did they change the characters appearances, but they changed many of the voice actors, so now my favorite charries(Shion, KOS-MOS, MOMO, chaos) all look wrong and don't sound right. At least Jr. kept the same voice actor, so the change in appearance didn't bother me as much. And playing as Jin, finally, was definately a bonus, and I think the only good part to the game. On top of that, Episode 2's battle system is incredibly hard to figure out. If you thought Episode 1's battle system was tough, stay the hell away from Ep. 2. It took me through the second major battle area to figure out the battle system fully, and I still managed to die a lot. The bosses are rediculously hard, and the double-techs you can use are a pain to pull off.

And that's my rant for the day.

[Lockeownzj00]

I played Xenosaga I to the end. It was...I donno.

I played it for the cut scenes, honestly. The gameplay wasn't up to par and just a means to go between the scenes.

A lot of it pissed me off. They took some great concepts and ruined it with flat characters and some boring dialogue. But I still enjoyed it. The stats system was complex, but ultimately, I was too lazy to delve into it.

Just know that it really doesn't compare to Xenogears at all.

Xenosaga II...forget it. It's supposed to have a simplified battle system, except it just makes no sense. The music is even more abhorrent. The characters are anime-fied. THE MUSIC IS SO GODDAMNED BAD. The fact that they refused to correct the voice actor issue was insulting. How can anyone possibly pretend that Jr.'s VA didn't make your ears bleed?

Oh, and the music is really bad.

Donno. The original, I'd say, is worth a playthrough at some point, but definitely not a top-tier RPG...although I still have fond memories.

[PhoenixFlame]

Huh... I really liked Xenosaga. I enjoyed the technological feel and the gratuitious cutscenes, as it felt like I was actually playing a movie. Personally I liked several of the characters, particularly Shion's relationship with KOS-MOS, and Jr's with his brothers. Admittantly, most of the game is rather deep and difficult to understand without outside help or in-depth education in obscure theroys and topics.

The battle system was clunky at first, but basically includes every character having physical and ether attacks, that are either ranged or melee. Depending on the actions taken, you can activate certain special maneuvers that generally deal more damage. Proper twinking makes the game a breeze. The game itself doesn't really properly explain the use of TP/SP/EP, but they essentially work like this.

1.) Only characters in battle gain TP/EP/SP.

1.) TP are used to raise the characters base stats or improve tech attacks (As a rule, it's generally only useful to improve the end techs towards the end of the game.)

2.) Base stats rise by 1 each level. Stat cap is determined by the maximum stat of your party.

EX: KOS-MOS has the party's highest ether attack, at 36, and Shion has an ether attack of 35. You could raise Shion's to 36, but no farther, and couldn't raise KOS-MOS' at all.

The idea for twinking was "bouncing" skills by leveling two characters so that they'd max out in one ability. I used Shion and KOS-MOS for ether attack.

By making sure each had maximum ether attack, when one would level and gain a +1, I'd immediately knock the second up to the new maximum, so their level up would also raise it.

Essentially, this is how I made my party super-cheap.

3.) EP are used to unlock new ethers tree-style.

4.) SP are used to "set" item-based abilities as passive skills. Each item had a skill rank and cost, and skills were gained in tiers.

For example, you'd unlock skill level 2 item learning once you had a certain number of level 1's mastered.

Also, the combat bar gave little "effects" each round, which is why boosting was a necessary part of the game. By bumping a character into the next battle slot, not only did they act again, but could take advantage of the battle-wheel's enviromental effect (Nothing, Double SP, +Critical, or +Boost). Particularly, you wanted to use boosts so that bosses NEVER got +critical on their turn.

I liked the first game, but for reasons already stated, the second was pants. Argh, KOS-MOS new voice actor. Eyes... Bleed.

[Nique]

Hm. Sounds like a lot of people had the same trouble with it that I did. Maybe I should give Xenogears a try, eh?

[Lockeownzj00]

Go for it. At least it's charming and epic and memorable.

Plus, the sprites look way cool. And, floating cities, man.

[Solid Snake]

For one reason or another, Xenogears -- despite having a very similar cutscenes - to - gameplay ratio with Xenosaga -- really seemed the far superior game IMO.

Xenogears was just...oh man, one of my all-time favorites. Beautiful, beautiful gaming experience. Disc 2 was a little underwhelming, but Disc 1 may be the best single CD of RPGing experience you're ever going to find. Xenosaga was such a disappointment by comparison.

[shiney]

Xenogears had some of the best music in a videogame ever in my opinion. Some of the tunes were just plain good...moody but they always seemed to fit the scene.

Disc 2 sucked, yes, but I loved basically everything else about the game. Xenosaga depressed me when I played it because I had expected it to somewhat resemble Xenogears.

[Mac]

I found Xenosaga dissapointing. I mean, I had so much for a new RPG taht i could sink into without having to put more money into the whore called Square. I was dissapointed.

and please note I have yet to play Xenogears

[Solid Snake]

Xenogears had some of the best music in a videogame ever in my opinion. Some of the tunes were just plain good...moody but they always seemed to fit the scene.


I loved the world map theme when you were flying the airship. So inspiring. And Maria's theme had a similar vibe that just screamed all kinds of hope and optimism in a beautiful, musical package.

Xenogears really rocked. Had Disc 2 not been rushed so that Xenogears could meet production deadlines...'Gears would have likely been everyone's favorite RPG. Unfortunately Disc 2 was so rushed that developers confessed they had to skimp out on a bit of the necessary endgame exposition. The 'Fei narrating from a chair' technique just wasn't powerful at all.

[Lockeownzj00]

But the chair is so powerful, so you see, the legs represent mankind, struggling to support even its own accomplishments and paradoxes, and the mahogany represents earth, from whence Fei came, and so you see, we have Atlas, supporting the Earth, Fei, for all eternity, bringing us to only one logical conclusion: Xenogears is secretly Ayn Randian propaganda subtly trying to brainwash us all into laissez-faire capitalists.

...Okay, I'm bullshitting.