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Awesome RPG that should be played by all RPG fans

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 40 / 42
Date: April 18, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Xenogears is definitely one of the top RPG's made by Square. This game is filled with interesting characters, awesome battles and beautiful anime cutscenes. The soundtrack is one of my favorites as well. The game really shines when it comes to story-telling and fans of great science fiction stories will love it. However, the story is very complex and can get very confusing. Playing this game twice through may be necessary to understand it, but that wasn't a problem for me, I loved it just as much the second time through! The game's soundtrack is one of the best I've ever heard, unfortunately the game doesn't do the soundtrack justice. You may feel that you're hearing the same song over and over again. The only downsides of this game are the Gear battles and the dubbing of the anime scenes. The Gear battles are very cool, but they are used too heavily in the last 2/3 of the game. It would have been nice to fight as the characters more often. The dubbing of the cutscenes is pretty off, but not enough to ruin them. Overall, this is a great RPG for gamers who like very deep and though-provoking sci-fi/fantasy stories. Potential players must enjoy reading game text because there is PLENTY of it in Xenogears, especially on Disc 2. The amount of difficulty is very high, FF7 is a cakewalk compared to Xenogears. I found myself barely surviving boss battles near the end of the game. I "died" at least 10 times while playing Xenogears, that's more deaths than all my other RPG experiences combined and I have played many RPG's. This is an excellent RPG for any gamer, but RPG first-timers may be a bit overwhelmed. This is the kind of game that shows people that video games are not just for kids, because this one certainly is not. A good age range for this game would be anyone over 16 mostly due to the complexity of the storyline. Of course, there are younger gamers who can handle Xenogears, but this game is more adult-friendly than others in the genre. The game contains very few curse words and a small amount of sexual innuendo, but nothing really bad. Xenogears is a must-buy for all RPG fans, young and old, especially. If you don't already own this game, pick it up right away!

The Best Battle System in an RPG

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 18
Date: February 11, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is a very long video game. For me, it took about 90 hours to finish. But let me emphasize that those 90 hours were some of the most engrossing that I have ever experienced with a video game. I highly recommend this game to anyone who does not mind the somewhat below-average graphics. The game's soundtrack more than compensates for any graphical shortcomings.

The battles are random, and perhaps too numerous in quantity for this gamer's preference. However, most can be quite entertaining. Some battles are fought while the characters are controlling giant machines called "Gears". Most battles are fought in hand-to-hand combat, with each character having the option to unleash powerful attack combinations.

If there is a shortcoming to this game, it has to be the fact that the story was too complicated and too deep to communicate in the manner that they chose. By the second disk, some of the main characters had to basically sit in a chair and narrate the story to get it moving in the right direction. Perhaps the older Playstation console just did not have the power for the inclusion of cutscenes.

Buy this game immediately.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: December 20, 1999
Author: Amazon User

To put it simply, Xenogears is the single best Playstation RPG. Don't talk to me about Final Fantasy 7 or 8, because those games just don't even come close. The only game that compares is Final Fantasy 3 (or 6), but that's only because the length is more reasonable. Few games in my lifetime have provided me with the immemse pleasure that Xenogears did. Xenogears is just the total package: graphics, gameplay, story, and music all come together to form a devastating combo. The battle system (especially the Gears!) will knock your socks off. The story is by far the best I've ever seen in any video game. The music is beautiful, easily crushing the hopeless Playstation Final Fantasies (only FF6's music is this good). There's just one problem: the length. This game took me about 85 hours to beat. However, you should not let that stop you from purchasing this game as soon as possible. This is my personal favorite game of all time, and I'm sure it will rank high on your list, too.

The Best RPG ever created for playstation and before

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: November 21, 2000
Author: Amazon User

First of all I have to say that this is probably the best RGG ever created(yes people I even think better than Chrono Trigger) although both were great. This game, tops them all in so many ways, for example, the story is fanaminal, unlike most other RPG's which go by a story more based around the fighting and graphics, this one the writers had a blast in the story for the most part. And even better, where other games put emphasis on, Xenogears still doesnt lack. Its battle system was greatly developed with a system of battle I have only seen simalarities arise in the new, Chrono Cross, which is still quite different. IN Xeno Gears, the battle system goes by points for attacking. Each button on the paddle is designated to a specific strength of attack and a number of points to fit according. The more points the more buttons you can hit, the more damage possible. After a while certian button combonations can be done that will result in a 'deathblow' or combo that will do an increasing amount of damage, and a really cool looking attack. Another special feature to Xeno Gears which I have not seen in any of the other multi character RPG's, (any of the FF's, Chrono's, or even Star Ocean, the second story, just for some examples) your character has a new plane of interaction with its enviroment by allowing the character to jump in dungones and all other places, except the world map. Back to the battling, all characters have spells, which are obtained through the old but good method of, earn a level, earn a spell. Each character also has there own unique set of spells. Although the characters are sprite based, and 2D, although not bad, the game again went to another level, with adding 3D battleing when in 'gears' or as would be compared to in other known, games shows/movies, as mobile suites, gundams, mechs, basically giant humanoid robots piolted by the characters. Although this game does seem to have a pretty straight path of the story, only one ending, some battles you are meant to loose, no matter how strong you are you will loose, So I recomend you play every battle like you can win, and if you die on a boss, let the game over sequience come up, you may be surprised, it may not be over! Dont get me wrong though, I know I said this game isn't based around the intriquite and great battleing system, but more emphasis is in the story, the only reason I dont describe it as much as the battling, is beacuse the battleing can be described, where as the story speaks for its own great ness, and to describe it would give away the plot. Although, the story does have some deep religious tones(not toward any religion in general, but the basic belife in a god), and some sexual innuendo, it just adds to the story, and makes it that much better if not taken in offence. All in all this is a must have game for any RPG'er or gamer alike. ....

The best RPG I've played...EVER!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 20, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This VERY innovative game was, for a while, under controversy for American release. The plot of the game centers around the true meaning of a 'god' and the origin of humanity. In fact it was part five of a series of books about the progression of time and the inevitability of fate. The game play is fluid and the graphics, while sprites, are more than decent. The soundtrack by composer Yasunori Mitsuda and is quite a bit better than most RPG fare. The 2d anime cut scenes have probably the best animation I have ever seen. (and I am a HUGE anime fan) The only downside to the gripping story, fantastic characters and terrific animation...is the dubbing of the cutscenes. It is truly worse than Godzilla and takes a lot away from animation. But if your in the market for a challenge of the mind and of the faith, BUY XENOGEARS.

Xenogears: Scriptured's Thoughts

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 12, 2002
Author: Amazon User

While in most hearts, Final Fantasy VII may have been one of, if not Squaresofts best game. To me, Xenogears easily takes that category. With a brilliant mixture of love, religion, human and beast preservation, global war, and the conflict of finding ones own place in the world, compounded into one story line, Xenogears is by far one of the most spectacular games I have ever had the privilege of playing. The battle sequences, as well as the music heard during boss fights, is in a league that no game, including any one of the Final Fantasy games could match. Except for one aspect, the camera angle remains in one position. It may zoom in from time to time, but even that is extremely boring. The cinematic scenes, with their anime qualities, were indeed a marvelous touch to the game.

The game follows a pattern, that most, if not all the Square's RPGs contain, a portion of the game when the main character becomes inoperable. For instance, in FF7 when Cloud is poisoned and left in Mideel to be tended to or Chrono Trigger when Crono suffers a tragic defeat(not going to spoil it for those yet to play). Of course this portion lead to quite a bit of trouble for me, my first time through. Elly(the one in control after Fei's absence) was rarely used up to that part of the game, thus her status was extremely low.

Despite all of the games wonderfully orchestrated aspects, there was one thing i disliked, the attack combos. I loved to see them in action, the strength of the attacks, and the time it allowed the battles be finished in. However, I did not like the effort it took to learn them. Through out endless efforts I was unable to acquire Fei's last two attack combos. Even after progressing beyond level 60, I was unable to acquire them. The only time I was able to experience those two attacks, was in the playable demo that came with Parasite Eve.

Theres not much for me to say in the con area of my review. I am full of praise for those who took the time to create such a marvelous game. My favorite aspect of the game, would have to be the religious based environments in some regions of the world and even the multiple flashback sequences of past lives that Fei and Elly had lived through.

Xenogears is by far my favorite game. Unfortunately, my discs, have undergone quite a bit of harm, thus ruining my play through it. The cinematic scenes skip and freeze, and the game tends to take quite a bit of time to load from scene to scene. So I am in the process of finding a new one, however my search has met utter failure. But, to all who seek a marvelous game, one with a deep, emotional story line, I suggest buying Xenogears.

Xenogears

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: March 11, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I must say that Xenogears is by far the best RPG to date. Sure, the final fantasy series comes close, but no cigar. In xenogears, you can follow the story without falling asleep or being bored to tears. In both final fantasy VII and VIII, a certain point was reached where I had to stop playing them for a couple months because i became truly bored with them. This did not happen in xenogears because the story was so involving it almost bugged me to have to get up and change discs. It always left you wondering what was going to happen next. I had to play through the game twice to get it completely figured out. I loved the game because it had everything you could want. It has a confusing plot points that keep you thinking well after that particular plot point is over. The later parts of the game onfold events that blow your mind but still make actual sense. All of the characters have logical and justifiable reasons for joining your cause which all are tossed out the window when it is realized that not only pride or vengeance was on the line but a fight for their own existence was at hand. Someone once told me that music makes up almost half of the RPG experience. This holds true for xenogears as well. When engaged in a boss battle, the music changed and reflected that fact. The same holds true with the music that accompanied the dreams and flashbacks the various characters experienced. On a scale of 1 to 100, I give this game a 95. It loses five to my only complaint about the game. That would be the terrible job done with the dubbing on the animated cutscenes. It was a little dissappointing to see one of the high points of the game marred when you notice that after the animated characters become silent, you will notice their lips keep moving for sometimes an obvious 3 or 4 additional seconds. As far as I am concerned, that is the only downside to an absolutely terrific game that no role-playing gamer should be without. To give this game 4 stars would be an injustice to this game, so i give it 5 stars. If tou like RPG's, then YOU MUST GET THIS GAME!

BEST GAME EVER

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: August 02, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Xenogears is the best RPG to have ever been made. The flawless combination of love, military deceit, genetics, extraterrestialist thinking, flashbacks and religion make the story the driving factor in this game. This is the best story I have ever read or experienced. The story is better than EVERY BOOK AND MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN BY FAR.If you like things like the X-Files and end of times thrillers, you will EAT THIS UP. I wouldn't recommend getting this for 10 year old, the story is too complex for little children and I wouldn't want them seeing all the Anti-Christian beliefs in this game. I don't recommend the game to those who are deeply Christian or in the clergy but if you enjoy science fiction and Final Fantasy you will love this. Final Fantasy VII and VIII were just save the world from evil with love element thrown in, although those two games were enticing, neither one still matches Xenogears.

The music was done by Yasunori Mitsuda off the Chrono Trigger music team and it is the best music I have ever heard in a video game. The music even beats Final Fantasy Tactics. The music does get repitive but you really don't even notice it because you are so involved in the story.

Both gear and player battle systems were great, but there should have been some way to revive downed gears in this game. The game takes 70+ hours to beat anyway and reviving gears could have easily shortened the game by 5 hours. That's 5 hours you would have spent backtracking through the game due to that one gear that died. The AP combos are a nice addition from the deathblows of the previous final fantasies.

If you like science fiction and religious stories, you will love this. This is good for people who are even mildly interested in who we are and where we came from. This game will give you some sort of an explanation and will leave you thinking about it for a long time to come after you finish it. peace out †

An Underrated Masterpiece

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 07, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Xenogears is the first game that comes to my mind when I think of an involved RPG.

Battle System: The battle system is pure joy. Though not "Active" (the enemies wait for you to choose your attack before attacking), it allows you to every turn use your given BP to choose what to do. You can always use an item, ether (or whatever the characters magic abilities are called; they vary by character), or defend, etc. take all of your current BP. Your BP increases with level. Your starting BP is 3 at the beginning. Your Triangle attack always takes 1 BP, Square attack takes 2 BP, and X attack takes 3 BP. You can combine the BP in any way, but you cannot use over your total BP. You aquire Skills by using the BP in ways that relate to or are a Skill combo (Ex. You want to learn a Skill thats combo is Square, Square. To learn it, you need to use Square, Square in battle, or for a greater effect, something that is close but not exact like Triangle, Triangle, Square). As you work towards the Skill, a bar appears in the Menu under Character, Choose a Character, and then enter Skills. The bar tells the percent completed (learned) it is. If you don't have bars for some skills, don't worry because bars only show up when the percent reaches at least 50. If the bar reaches 100% and you don't have the Skill, you are not at the required level yet, but don't worry, it just means that you're ahead. If you only use 1 BP and press Circle to back off, you gain AP, which is basically stored BP. You gain the amount of BP that was not used in AP. AP can only be used to perform Combo attacks(in this review I call them Big attacks just because its a habit). Big attacks are where you have enough AP to use two or more of your Skills. You enter the Combo menu and choose two or more Skills to use. Then just select them, sit back, and watch your Skill attacks be used in a lightning fast and more powerful manner (hence Big attacks). Battles can be tough and the Gear (mech battles) are interesting, though somewhat easier. In Gears, you use Fuel for everything. Instead of using BP, you use fuel. Items, magic type attacks/support, escaping, etc. does not use Fuel. The main difference in battle with Gears is that you only use one of the 3 attack buttons per turn. Triangle attacks take 10 fuel, Square attacks take 20 fuel, and X attacks take 30 fuel. The more fuel, the more powerful. Every time you attack, you gain a type of level. If you are at level 1, you can press Triangle and then follow it up with another button (like a Skill) providing you have the corresponding Skill for the person outside of the Gear. If you have 2 levels, you can perform a Square skill, etc. As you can see, battle is glorious.

Story: Wow, this ones a mindblow. It is very confusing, but rewarding. The anime cutscenes aren't my style though. The story is somewhat controvercial, since it revolves around people using Gears to try and destroy God. The protaganist (Fei) uses a mech that was prophesized as the Destroyer of God. As usual in RPG's, the main character has a dark past, and he suffered from amnesia which comes straight from RPG 101. The plot is very good and consumes much of the incredibley long game time. I must warn you though, the slow-witted need not apply.

Graphics: Good for it's time. Your friends will probably think that you're crazy if you are impressed versus next-gen games, but hey, it's Squaresoft's only completely 3D game (it is the sole game from Squaresoft with a moveable camera which swings left and right with the R1 and L1 buttons, even if it can be wonky and some angles are downright terrible in certain areas).

Sound: This is one of the rare games with a likeable soundtrack. I embarrassingly found myself humming a tune from it before. The use of instruments is great and the composer is right up there with the Final Fantasy composer (I'm not even going to try to spell their names). I could do without the vocals in some songs though, but thats OK. The battle music is awesome; it makes you WANT to fight battles. Wow.

Length: What? I spent over 3 days on this game? Whoa. 80 hours is what I call length. Need I say more?

Control: It fits and it fits well. Besides the wonky and inprecise camera swivel, it works for me.

Overall: Buy immediately! Rent it, borrow it, whatever it takes. I suppose if you were offended by the story concept or aren't into 80 hour games it might be a no-no, but otherwise, just buy it.

One Of The Greatest RPG's Of ALLTIME!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: February 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I remember playing the demo to this game when I bought Parasite Eve, and I was floored. I couldn't believe I was that excited about a game after playing Final Fantasy VII. The first few hours of Xenogears are some of the most alluring first hours of gaming. "Nothing is faster than the first hour of a good new RPG" right! Okay, enough of that, lets just get down to it.

Xenogears is a timeless classic that every RPGer is obligated to play. It is a downright masterpiece, even though the second disc is basically storyline and the ending. The game wasn't finished but what game is. If you add all the bad/good things about this game, the scales would bust a hole in the ground for good.

Each and every character has much personality, and you can easily get attached to all of them. There are two battle systems, out of and inside gears. A great mix and it grounds you in the scale of things.

The music, at times joyous while at other times, heart breaking. If you plan on getting this game, pick up the OST as well. Sound effects are amazing, which many people fail to mention.

The storyline is massive and hard to follow if you're not a seasoned RPGer. You might need a follow along summary just to make sure your lost. This game should be a complete novel, the storyline is amazing. If you're religious though, you might want to stray away from Xenogears.

Difficult, and that's putting it mildly. If this is your first RPG.....you'll level up to about LVL7 in "RPG skills" right off the bat. This game is very hard at times, it's the hardest RPG I've ever played! Some puzzles in this game will stump you for weeks, if not longer. While it is difficult, I STRONGLY ADVISE not to get the strategy guide until after you beat it. Playing a game along with a strategy guide ruins the experience, and takes away from the way the game was meant to be played. It's supposed to be hard!

If you're on the fence about getting this game, you shouldn't be. Go ahead and get Xenogears, see how you like it. If you don't like it, give it to me "LOL". If you want to buy something newer, play the offspin -Xenosaga Series- which span three epic RPGs. If you think this game is outdated and not worth your time then, you need to step back and understand what gaming is. Its all about the experience, and if you don't do it now, you may miss one of the best RPGs of all time!

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