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Best story I've ever experienced, and probably ever will. ** spoiler free review **

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 19, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Before focusing specifically on Xenosaga Episode 1, I want to make some general comments about the series. Episode 1-3 are all direct sequels off each other and pick up the story right where it left off in the previous episode, so don't plan on starting with episode 2 or 3, or just playing episode 1, if you want the true effect of this series. Think of these games exactly as you would a trilogy of books. Also, it is NOT a sequel of Xenogears, and officially is NOT connected to that game in any way, although there is more than enough that happens throughout the series to create controversy that it is.

This game, and the entire series, is all about the story. While there are plenty of other things that make the games great and fun to play, the engrossing and emotional story is clearly what leaves its mark on people. There is nothing that even comes close to Xenosaga from my experience, and I'm referring to not just video games, but movies and books as well. THE STORY IS THAT GOOD! If that aspect of a game does not hold your interest you may want to pass on this game, and series, however, as there are many cut scenes of length and story elements that could leave someone frustrated if it's not of interest to them.

Graphics (8/10) - Graphics are somewhat dated, and they definitely can't compare with Episode 3's graphics, but for their time they were good. Not something that's a deal breaker by any means, and it's not like you're playing a 16 bit game, but compared to todays standards they are lacking.

Music (10/10) - The muscial score for this game is one of the best I've heard, and in my opinion the best of the series. Amazing music in this game, worthy enough of getting the soundtrack for sure. Some of the tracks are breathtaking.

Battles (9/10) - Complex battle system is refreshing for those that want a challenge and originality, but perhaps could be seen as cumbersome for someone wanting simplicity. Very fun once completely understood, but don't expect to just jump into it without the training option or reading the manual.

Extras (10/10) - Lots of mini games and one in particular of an extreme depth, the Xenocard game. Lots of fun and very intricate. There are also other hidden goodies throughout the game, and more mini games, so plenty to do besides the general game.

Story (10/10) - As stated already, this is definitely the highlight of the game and series. Expect a very mature storyline that touches on everything from philosophy and psychology to the nature of existence and humanity. Many twists and turns through the course of the series, and engrossing and immersive are adjectives that barely do it justice. The story is uplifting and tragic at the same time, and will definitely pull in your emotions. Upon completing episode 1, however, expect a bunch of questions with just a few answers.

Characters (10/10) - I figured this needed a separate category from the story, even though it clearly falls into the story. The characters are so well developed in this series it's amazing, and even the nature of the villains goes beyond simply black and white good and evil. Everyone has a story and a history that plays into their present actions, including the villains. Also, the characters are so endearing that it's almost impossible to not become extremely attached to some of them, especially as one continues to progress through the series. Expect to laugh and cry with them as you go through the journey.

Fun factor (10/10) - Even apart from the story, I found the game very fun. Battles are a bit more complex than your normal rpg, but that was a positive for me. The level design is good and there was a good overall challenge to the game, but not to the point of frustration. Just a fun game, what can I say!

Xenosaga may not be for everyone with it's frequent cut scenes and heavy story elements, but for the niche that it caters to I don't believe anything can even come close to it, including the ever popular Final Fantasy VII. If you are a fan of a solid story and haven't played this yet, you need to do whatever is necessary to get this game in your system as soon as possible!

Xenosaga I

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 05, 2008
Author: Amazon User

A new series to me, plays well, lots of movie sequences, interesting story line so far.

Great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game and the service was very quick.The write up amazon provided is exactly what my brother told me about the game before I bought it.He has been playing this game since it came out. I am very happy with my purchase. Thanks again Amazon

Tired of Final Fantasy? This is your game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: February 03, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Having exhausted myself of Final Fantasy (from the PS1 all the way through the PSX) I decided to walk on the wild side and try this game.

Boy was I pleasently surprised!

If you happened to play Xenogears for the PS1, this game is loosely based on events that occured in that game.

One thing this game has going for it is a story. Many reviews peg the game time at 80 hours but don't worry: A great portion of this is made up of those cinematic events!

I've only completed the first 2 portions of the game but I am well impressed enough to provide ratings for this game:

Graphics: 9/10
The cinema events in this game will simply blow you away. Keep in mind if you've seen the XBox 360 or PS3, you can't compare the graphics of the 2 systems (duh!). But compare this game to other PS2 releases and I assure you the graphics hold up just fine to any other PS2 game, and in many cases far exceed them. In battles, the special effects are impressive, from Shion's Ray attack to KOS-MOS R-Blade. Tecmo defintely had a winner with the graphics from this game.

Sound: 9/10
The music often fits the mood of the situation perfectly. I was definitely on the edge of my seat in the level where you are trying to evade the Gnomis without getting touched! Now, my ONE gripe with this so far is the music doesn't change for bosses as it does with other RPG's. This is slightly annoying but a minor complaint.

Sound effects are right in place and very good.

Presentation: 9/10
So far, the game directs you well in where to go, but allows a lot of freedom on how to get there. There are several paths, for example, you can take on the ship level to get around.

Add in the email system, the ether system and the ability to extract skills from different items you can equip and you've got a very deep experience here.

Lasting Appeal/Overall: 9.5/10
If you are tired of ordinary RPG's and want something different, Xenosaga Episode 1 is definitely for you. It can be had for around 10-15 bucks in most used game stores and is well worth the investment. You'll definitely spend a lot of time exploring the game dynamics, which are very much in-depth both in battles and in strategy.

This game does have some language (hence the "T" for teen) so if you happen to have a kiddie (8-12 or so) I'd be careful about this one.

But if you've got a teenager (or you're a kid at heart) who loves RPG's and strategy, this is the game for you!

Love it, Hate it, It's still Xeno

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 08, 2008
Author: Amazon User

We can only hope Namco(somehow) pick's this franchise up again and give's so many people what they so desperately NEED.

Even as this game may have been a bit long-winded, those that knew Xeno, knew it for It's story and the power it brought you.

Could this game have used work? Yes. However, it is still a great first episode and is STILL better than watching that god-awful graphic overdose bonus cinematic disk that came with the LE version of Episode 2.

different and odd

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 03, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I had the mixed reviews prior to getting this game, and I tend to side with the higher reviewers. It is like an interactive movie, but that's cool. Save points are in wierd places, but still quite frequent. The whole anti-gnosis concept infiltrating into the futuristic androids is a bit amusing. Am intrieged by this game and its humour and will most likely purchase the other 2 as well.

One Epic game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 27, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game has an extremely engrossing story that involves a great amount of biblical and theological references. There is also so much detail in character development, we see why characters are the way they are, what events led them to walk the path they did. The graphics are anime style but are so smooth and look great. This review is short, but if you are very much satisfied by an in depth, well written, epic storyline with excellent character development, xenosaga must be given a chance by you. Although episode 2 does stumble and seems to step back a notch in story, the whole series, Episode 1-3, is of the most unique gaming experiences out there. Highly recommended!!

Der wille zur Macht.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: September 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The fact that this game series did not fair as well as it should have may have something to do with the fact that it's in-depth storyline was above the head of probably 90% of those who played it. I do admit though, that the fact that this is more of an interactive movie may have turned off a lot of people. There are more and longer cutscenes than any other game I have played. This has to do with the fact that the story is the focal point here. The fact that we get to play certain parts of it is only gravy.

The complex storyline is hard to follow without repeated play throughs or trips to fan sites that help explain it. As a matter of fact the game contains a glossary of the many terms that are discussed throughout the game. If it wasn't for this the dialog would be too clunky from exposition to be enjoyable.

So what is the game about? So many things. Politics, religion, mankind's mortality, ethical issues concerning human beings and cloning, and on and on. The game's philosophical tone is highly influenced by the writings of Carl Jung and Nietzche. As a matter of fact each game in the series is named after one of his books. I don't want to go into too much detail as to spoil anything. The Zohar, an monolith artifact has been uncovered and everyone is after it for the power it will bring to them including Vector industries, a powerful military conglomerate, and U-tic, an undergroud organization with ties to Ormus, a fictional religious organization. All of this is built upon more in the later games in the series. This game is all about introducing our characters and the many organizations and terms that this series is about.

Sadly what was to be a 6 game series was cut down to 3 due to problems within Namco and lack of sales. The original creator was given leave after this game so while the other games have better graphics a lot of the magic seems to be lost. At least the series did it's best to close out the story line in a satisfying manner.

The voice acting isn't too bad. It's a lot better than most games, but can be grating at times. This game has the weakest graphics of the series but still is enjoyable. They were about on par with other games at the time, but many years have passed since it's release.

How about the game itself? Story aside, this is one of the better RPGs out there. The only problem being out short it is. Due to the long cutscenes there is really only 7 or so levels or dungeons, in the game. Way too short. Magic, or ether as it's called in this game, isn't as useful as it should be. There are very few attack spells and the way it's set up only one or two people can learn them and you have to use points to transfer them to other players. The support magic is very good though.

Go into this game knowing you will do just as much watching as you will actually playing. Don't be too quick to judge either. My bother hated this game at first and it's now one his favorites.

Skip this one and the second one, and jump right to part III.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: September 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

As screenshots and video clips and other Xenosaga media began to circulate, would-be fans all wiped the drool from their mouths in sync, as if part of the same collective mind. It would be the blockbuster that set new standards, not only in terms of story like its predecessor, but visually as well with luscious anime-esque character models rendered meticulously in real-time. Oh, it would be the second coming for sure...and best of all; it would only be part 1 of 6 scheduled games, ensuring a long-standing euphoria.

But was Xenosaga worth all the media and fan hype? That depends on your expectations. If you're open-minded to the idea of equal parts gameplay and cinema, and can tolerate uninspired and sometimes aggravating play mechanics, all for the sake of experiencing one of the greatest audio-visual presentations in gaming history, then Xenosaga is right up your alley. If graphics, music, and story are prioritized beneath the actual gameplay, then you may want to find a friend like that first type of gamer, and simply watch him or her play it. That way, you reap all the benefits, but suffer none of the annoyances.

Inspired JRPG

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 27, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Positive and negative aspects of this game:

+ Good, epic sci-fi story
+ Great anime art
+ Deep character advancement and combat system

- Really bad lip-synch

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