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Shaking, and re-shaping the RPG world

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 95 / 109
Date: January 23, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Xenosaga ( the spiritual prequel to Xenogears, which was released by Squaresoft on the PSX ) is an RPG of epic preportions. Like Xenogears before it, Xenosaga comes ready to provide its gaming audience with an incredible storyline, great character development, and stellar graphics. The game is said to be a 50 hour endeavor, and is certain to keep you interested as you trek through its huge tale ( complete with the longest cutscenes ever to grace a game - many exceeding 45 minutes in length ). This game is definately the second coming of the RPG; not since FFX has the gaming community seen a game with such high production values. The game also includes english voices ( which up to this point seem quite good ).

As for the controvery concerning this games content, I will be glad to clarify. One scene ( that takes place fairly late in the game ) that involves the games villian and a main character has been altered to remove a suggested sexual relationship. Regardless of this one alteration ( which is being handeled by the game makers themselves ) the game retains its surprisingly over-the-top violence, language, and controversial religious themes. How namco was able to convince the ESRB to give this game a Teen rating is beyond me.

Have a question? email me. gregs_anime@yahoo.com.

Watch out Final Fantasy.....

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 21 / 21
Date: April 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I'm an avid FF fan, and tend to be pretty biased when it comes to RPG's. Xenosaga is the first RPG that I have ever found to be MORE exciting and intensive than the FF games. I couldn't put it down. I loved the battle system, even though it was complex, I felt I had control of leveling up my characters the way I see fit. The story line is amazing, even the long cut scenes are worth the watch, and I'd even play the game again to watch a few of them. The voice acting is great too, I'm usually not a voice over fan, but I felt the voices fit the characters perfectly! I beat the game in 60 hours, I obtained most of the items, though a few area's were left unplundered. I think my only beef is that the bosses weren't excessivly difficult to beat, but then again, I spend a lot of time boosting levels, so that could contribute to the ease I had beating the game. At any rate, I highly recommend this game to any serious RPGer. Even if you're not a "sci-fi" fan (which I'm not either), you won't be disappointed. I can't wait for the next one!!!!

The saga has begun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 21 / 22
Date: March 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Xenosaga is one of those rare great games that come out once in a blue moon. If you can handle the slow pace, you'll discover one of the best RPGs ever created.

The graphics in Xenosaga are top-notch. They're fully 3D and incredibly smooth. You'll be seeing a lot of cutscenes throughout the game, so it's a good thing the graphics are so good. Along with the graphics, cutscenes will also come with voice acting for the characters. Each has their own distinct voice that fits the character well, and none of them sound as bad and emotionless as Yuna from FFX.

The game itself of course tells a story, or rather, the beginning to a bigger story. The storyline in incredibly deep and complex. All the characters, even the sub-characters, have actual personalities. All their thoughts and feelings and actually believable.

The gameplay itself is very interesting. As you walk along the fields, you can destroy objects to reveal new paths or weaken onscreen enemies. And because you can actually see the enemy on the field before you engage in battle, there's a lot of strategy to be used outside of battle as well. You can sneak pass enemies to avoid battles you don't wish to fight. There's a lot to the battle system too. Unlike most RPGs where you can just hold onto the attack button for every fight, Xenosaga's battles requires much more strategy and thinking. Characters get 4 AP to spend each turn, and you have to decide how to wisely use it. For example, you can use all 4 AP to perform two attacks one turn, or use 2 AP to attack once, have 6 AP to work with next turn. For attacks with guns and cannons, you'll also have to watch your ammo count so you don't run out of attacks. And then, there's the AGWS. You can jump into one of these giant mechs, and there's a whole new fighting style to work with.

The graphics, story, and gameplay should already be enough to draw you in. And to keep you playing, there's also four great minigames, including a TCG-type card game (think Magic or Yugioh) and a 3D fighting game where you control the AGWS. Some even have two-player modes.

Overall, this is one great game you should get your hands on. Don't give up from the slow start, and you'll find yourself playing one of the best RPGs ever created.

Can you really have a review long enough?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 20 / 21
Date: March 14, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I've always loved RPGs. But the first few role playing games that came out for the Playstation 2 console were...so horrible in fact, I drove twenty minutes back to my local videogame store and bribed the owner to erase them from my rental records (Ephemeral Phantasia, anyone?). Final Fantasy X was good, but that was last year. I wanted something fresh...other than those lame AD&D hack n' slash RPGs.

Xenosaga Episode 1: Der Wille Zur Macht, translated to "Will to Power" in German, the first out of a series of six video games, will be an instant classic. It's already IGN's game of the month. But I'm having a problem with the reviews those "professional" critics were writing. Unoriginal? Lame? Too much watching? Critics are always biased. The world is filled with educated and experienced derelicts (a.k.a. idiots). Xenosaga is not just a video game...it's a video game experience like none other. So I've decided I should give you a full, fair review, with both the game's up's and down's.

I gave sound a 4.5 out of 5, not because of the quality of the music, but sometimes, the lack of it. There isn't that many background music during quest mode (explore mode), but when there are music, it's exceptionally good. The background music (when there IS music) was extremely well composed.

"Tell me about the voice acting, man!" Okay, I am not a fan of dubbed work, but Namco pulled it off surprisingly well this time. The voice acting is completely done in English, with English subtitles (for the deaf, I guess), which can't be turned off. I think the voice acting was great, perhaps even better than Final Fantasy X.

The graphics are not up to par with other recent video games, but you can't blame Namco for how long it took for the game to get to the United States. The Cinematic events (cut scenes, FMV's) are done in-game, much like Final Fantasy, and the character designs are great. Because this game is based heavily on anime, all the characters have the anime look to them. Everything is run on a smooth frame rate, and I can't remember any in-game slowdowns. Facial expressions, life-like movements, etc. They're all there. The only thing I had a problem with was how long it takes for the menu to load, but you'll get used to that soon enough. Overall, the graphics are top-notch.

Game play...this will take a while, so go get some chips and a drink. Episode 1 consists of three different play modes: Quest Mode, Battles, and Cinematic Events. In the Quest Mode, you explore your surroundings and talk to NPC's (non-player characters). Some environmental objects (like boxes, crates, etc.) can be destroyed to clear your way. Some of the boxes and crates might have a treasure chest or an item behind it. Reaching certain areas will trigger e-mail events for the main character, with weapon upgrades, news, investment opportunities, and some will trigger a Cinematic event.

Thankfully, the random encounter system used in so many other RPGs was completely left out in this game. Instead, you will battle enemies only when you come into contact with them on the world map (Like Chrono Trigger or Seiken Densetsu). By beating the monsters, you get experiences points, and/or tech points, ether points, and skill points, which you can use to farther customize your characters beyond their usual limits. Be sure to save every chance you get, because some of the stronger monsters come at you when you least expect them to. I had no trouble with the battle system. The Anti Gnosis Weapon Systems are premature Gears, large humanoid mechas piloted by a single human. Unlike Xenogears, the AGWS' play a smaller role, which is good. Most battles could be won simply without the use of AGWS, unless you're a person like me and want to finish useless battles quickly to advance the story.

The cinematic modes are FMV's, and these take up an astounding eight hours of your game experience. Yes, you heard me, folks. Eight hours worth of cut scenes and thirty hours worth of game play (with another thirty hours if you take your time to go through all the side quests and leveling up) packed into one CD. So really, you can't really say anything bad about the graphics. No other games go into so much character development like this one. So game play gets a 4.5 out of 5 on my scale, only because if you are going to play this game, you have to be willing to sit down for a while to watch the long cinematic scenes.

I don't see how this game can get any more original than it already is. I really CAN'T tell you much about the story, because there are so many plot twists and changes, and by trying to explain it to you, I'll be causing more harm than good. You'll be lost in a state of confusion for the rest of your life, so I'll tell you the base plot of the game when you start playing.

Thousands of years into the future (four thousand to be exact), humans have left Earth to colonize other parts of the galaxy. But suddenly, the discovery of the Zohar, a powerful and mysterious artifact reputedly existing since the dawn of time, triggers a series of events that will ultimately lead to the discovery and the war against an alien race, called Gnosis. But why? Shion Uzuki, a scientist of Vector Industries, is shipped on a Federation starship Woglinde with their new experimental anti-Gnosis android, KOS-MOS. The recovery of the Zohar emulator on the Woglinde puts the two into a struggle to unlock the final mystery.

As for story, it gets a 5 out of 5.

Rent or buy? If you are a true RPG fan, you can't miss this opportunity.

A game so brilliant, Only the creators of the best RPG ever

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 14 / 14
Date: March 19, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Xenosaga: episode I is without a doubt a masterpiece of a game. From a Soundtrack by the best of the best to awe inspiring graphics, to the deepest storyline in an RPG since Xenogears. Quite frankly there's not much to say but "Takahashi, you dog. You did it again!" :D

As if it's storyline and graphics weren't enough, Xenosaga: Ep I also delivers a soundtrack by none other than the best music composer out there; Yasunori Mitsuda (internationally known for his awesome work in games like the Chrono series and Xenogears).

Another Giant making a return is the personal favorite; character designer Kunihiko Tanaka, who's awesome way of bringing characters' emotions to life is a style that has always fascinated (and inspired those of us who are artists) fans throughout the globe.

Last but not least is Xenosaga's professional voice acting work. While many (myself included) feared that after the game's localization and translation it's voice acting would end up poor and generic, this was not the case. While more work could have been put on the movement of the lips for more realism, the voice acting work still exceeds that of Final Fantasy X's. So far every character's voice seems natural and right in place.

All in all the game offers nothing but high quality everything, leaving us fans in agony as we await the arrival of the next episode in the saga with great anticipation. What else is there to say other than your favorite review quote "Definitely a must get!"

Xenogoodness

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 13
Date: February 27, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Graphics: For the most part the graphics are excellent. During battles they easily top FFX's battle graphics, as the tons of deathblows and ethers you can do all look gorgeous and have all kinds of cool effects and particles like feathers blowing around them etc. Animation is smooth as is the framerate. Cutscenes are also superbly directed, and definitely help move the story ahead. All in all, an absolutely beautiful looking game.

Sound - The music is great for the most part but there just isn't much of it. If you take out the hollywood type action cut-scene music, you could probally fit the music on to 1 cd, it almost feels like it's only about 1/6 of the amount of tracks that say Xenogears had. Also one thing that bugs alot of people, is the for 80% of the gameplay section (running around and dungeons) there is no music because Mitsuda thought it's more realistic to only hear sound effects, and that it makes the music have more of an 'impact' when you do hear it. But what is there is very nice.

Gameplay - The first five hours of this game is a intro movie, you really get no gameplay during it, and you mainly just watch cutscenes and nothing much happens right away. This isn't bad, it's just the game has a slightly slow beginning so be prepared and know that the game does open up. But remember, the Xeno series is like this. If you've played Xenogears you'll know what I mean. But, once the game really starts moving, the gameplay is very good. The battle system is one of my favorites I've ever played, the character management and development between Deathblows/skills/stats/equipment/AGWS is my #1 favorite character management system in any rpg in the last 10 years, it's very complex and really allows you to make the characters the way you want them. Luckily the game makes a save when you beat it which is only for loading into ep2 next year, so if your characters make it through ep1 alive then you can use the one's you've built up in ep2 probaly. Also the game has several mini-games which are completely seperate from the game itself. At save points you can use an item that just takes you into a different game, and you can't win anything to actually use in the real game. Also the AGWS are in the game. While your characters can Boost (Extremely important), heal (likewise), and attack for major damage starting around 1/2 through, your gears cannot do anything other than attack and guard. Their attacks do around a 1/3 of what any of your characters can do outside of AGWS's, and even there hp is only about 2x your character hp, and none of the bosses require you to use them since only 4 people of the 6 can even use AGWS's, the developers couldn't force you to use AGWS's since your party might not have them. Also there are only around 6 AGWS's (3 playable from the start, 2 buyable, 1 another character in the game uses) in the game, and only 1 really looks like a 'gear' . But this doesn't take away from the gameplay as there more of just an extra for fans. Also there are a good amount of side-quests and hidden scenes spread around the game.

The game's story does not stand on it's own period. Until the last 10% of the game, I thought it was turning into possibly one of the best rpg/anime/movie/novel stories ever. But then you realize at the last 10%, 'oh wait, there just going to end it there aren't they', and they do. Several of the characters in the main party do not even get more than 1 scene of development in the whole game, 1 character doesn't even get a single scene of character development, he's just 'there' for now. But I really loved the bits of story in the game as there are told with style (think Xenogears and the last 2eps of Eva), very artsy at times and cool. But the story has not even started. Expect to see lots of flashbacks and symbolism that makes no sense at this point. There isn't even enough story in the game to make theories yet. But again, this game is the first part of an on going Xenosaga series so expect the story to unfold during the upcoming sequals. The game took me about 47 hours including 4 hours of just non-stop leveling up in the middle which made the rest of the game pretty easy for me. The game does have a higher difficulty than say the FF series, but it's not the hardest rpg I've played. If you do all the side-quest stuff and get all the secrets I'd say the game will take you about 50 hours, plus the time if you want to play the mini-games. All in all, a great game and one of the better RPG's I've ever played and a series that is gearing up for an absolute epic adventure.

"My external appearance is down five percent."

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 14 / 15
Date: April 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Imagine that far in the future a small group of people is driven together by a shared interest in preserving the existence of humanity in space. Strange aliens that can cross from the spirit plane to the real in a moment, who have an abiding hatred for humans and their creations, are the enemy. Their opponents are 'people' range from the apparently human Shion Uzuki, to COS-MOS, Shion's creation and a deadly battle android. In between is every variation of the concept of human imaginable.

This turns into a battle that rambles across known space, with an array of scenarios linked together by an amazing amount of lengthy cut scenes. The battle system, which involves human and mech fighters and a large number of weapons, skills, and spells, is complex and a bit frustrating as well. It is never easy to make basic leveling up and power decisions. Game puzzles abound, but the real focus is the fighting and everything around it.

Did I mention the cut scenes? They are well done and acted, but there are so many that they can be tiresome if one decides to go back and re-fight some key battles. It is hard to criticize an RPG for having too much plot, but Xenosaga may be the one. Especially since the 'real' plot is still a mystery to be resolved in later episodes. For now, what we get is continuity and strange hints about the past and future.

Characters are excellent. Shion, a young woman scientist, is sublimely irritating as a heroic figure. Her supreme interest is COS-MOS, sometimes to the exception of the rest of the human race. COS-MOS, is a beautiful and efficient killing machine who is more concerned about her looks than her body count. I also fell in love with MOMO, another android, this time built as an 11-year-old girl with a charming smile, who cheerfully apologized to dealing enemies crushing blows. The rest of the team is equally interesting, with many secrets and many of the supporting cast are allowed full development as well.

On the whole, the game has two flaws. The first it that it over-delivers. There is simply too much of what it does do well, making it difficult to form an effective development strategy. Since this keeps the game from being simple-minded, it is a good thing. However, novices like me find the possibilities hard to manage until well into the game. In addition, despite the battle complexity and cut scenes it is still essentially a linear story with a small number of side quests that can be done out of order.

The other problem is the player interface. It may be luck of the draw, but Xenosaga uses several controller presses exactly the opposite from the past three games I played. If it did this consistently, I would not mind, but often the reversal is haphazard, causing redundant and nonsensical controller moves. I was still fumbling and cursing well into the game, and this contributed heavily to my problems with the game.

All in all this is a very good game with a couple of minor flaws. I wish every game tried to be as much as Xenosaga does. The interface, which was my worst problem, can be overcome. If Namco maintains this level, there is much to look forward to in future episodes.

Not for everyone, but for those willing, a fantastic ride

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: July 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Xenosaga,prequel of sorts to the almost cult-like game of Xenogears, is made by a different publisher but by the basically the same team as the original Squaresoft game( a good thing to be sure). This game is a sort of quasi-religous star wars-esqe game very much in the spirit of Xenogears. If that description does nothing for you, and especially if you have never played the first Xeno- game, that means that this story takes place in the future. About 2000 years in the future to be precise. The story follows the quest of a few important(realitive to the story, so it seems) individuals as the each participate in various sci-fi escapades that revolve around secret organizations, the giant "Federation" government, another equally large corporation called Vector, and their ensuing actions toward each other(note, BIG ships and bigger explosions) and toward some seemingly average interspatial aliens called the "Gnosis", a word derived from an ancient, spiritual religion. If you have played the first Xeno- game, the bells in your head are already going off with that note. Like the first game, even among all the politics, government schenanigens and incredible sci-fi visuals are the constant plot reference to everything from the bible to Shakespeare, making for a heady, wonderfully deep experience for those willing to spend time taking in everything the game has to offer. That is the one downside to this game. Despite the perfect score I have given the game, not everyone will like this game. In an ironic turn of events, the one thing that will attract and captivate some gamers, ie the story, will turn off, anger and just plain baffle others. The game is not one to be played if you are one of those gamers who play just for the gameplay, skipping or not liking the story and just playing the game will seem rather empty and pointless. The gameplay is good, but not really worth a purchase to do alone. To truly experience the deep, almost too much so, game to it's fullest. You must embrace the story and game.
By the way the gameplay is fun and rather inventive. It drones on at times, but by offering many options,including fighting by and hand and also with giant, cool looking( and I think, useless, but some people really like them) robots. The game is challenging, but not in an overly cheap way, and while rookie RPGers should play this game with the forwarning of challenging times ahead, everyone should enjoy the battles and charcter development system, not to mention the plethorea of great mini-games and sidequests.
I guess in the end I am saying I love this game and have only this word of advice. Be prepared after this game to be immediatly willing to shell out more money for an inevitable sequel. If you are like me, by the end you'll literally be screaming for the game to go on.

A great RPG...but may require some patience at times

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 11 / 11
Date: May 13, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Xenosaga is Namco's prequel to Xenogears, an RPG released on the original PS1 a few years ago. What sets Xenosaga apart from most traditional RPGs is it's futuristic theme and deeply philosophical story. Non-playable cut-scenes are plentiful, though perhaps at times overwhelming in length (some scenes run almost an hour without any breaks). However, story is a vital component in any RPG, so sitting through them isn't much of a chore if one keeps that in mind. Gameplay-wise, Xenosaga borrows some of the best elements of today's classic RPGs. Battles play very similar to how one might expect with standard attacks, magic, ect. Mech-type summons called A.G.W.S.s are an interesting addition as well (although not all that important in the later stages of the game). There is some conflict though...for such a linear game in terms of the path the player is forced to follow, the character and AGWS upgrade methods seem needlessly complex. It's seems there are different types of points to earn for every attribute, so it becomes easy to neglect upgrading certain aspects of your party if you're not careful. Another fault I feel needs to be addressed: Even though I know this was intended to be episode 1 of a long running series, the ending provides few answers to the storyline for the 60-70 hours of gameplay one must put in to finish it. Xenosaga is definitely an ambitious project, but those without much patience or experience regarding games of this type should probably consider a less complex RPG to start with. If complexity and a deep, meaningful storyline are what you're looking for however, by all means this is your game.

Spectacular drama in cosmos

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 11
Date: October 24, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The increased use of drama is what made Final Fantasy 4 a successful formula, well over a decade ago. It encouraged a new type of RPGs never before experienced. I am truly surprised how well Namco was able to reenergize that essence. The events aboard the Woglinde are an amazing mix of storytelling and gameplay unlike any before. No doubt this will earn a lot of envy.

I've read many negative opinions about Xenosaga. None of them are true. RPGs have a long history of requiring patience--that's not a surprise. Some of the greatest RPGs had long intermissions, like Final Fantasy 6 or 7. They emphasized the story elements over anything else, and it worked!

However, I did notice that the second half of Xenosaga had a few too many ordinary battles between story events, which would become a little tiresome and dull, compared to the very energetic first half of Xenosaga.

Voice acting is very good, with voices of all characters well matched. There are a few obvious lip sync errors, but they are easy to overlook, especially since there is a lot of nonstop drama early on for many hours. The subtitles cannot be turned off, but I didn't find them disrupting.

I liked the battle music a lot. It was well matched to the setting of a cosmic RPG. I never tired of it. I expected it to change for the main battles, but that's only because every Final Fantasy game has done so in the past--no big deal. Some battles with main enemies were engaging, requiring all-out preparation and sometimes no-mistake tactics, which reminded me of some tougher battles of FF 4, like the Leviathan battle.

I respect Namco's willingness to write the story before making the series. If Capcom had written their general Resident Evil story more clearly sooner, they wouldn't have gotten themselves into such a deadlock over what to do next. They used up many interesting characters, only to recreate similar ones again, which makes the overall story look uncohesive and repetitive. The same problem goes for Konami's Metal Gear series. These companies need to write the story a few games ahead or risk getting into trouble later on.

The emails were a very nice comic relief. I noticed they were very well timed--a very nice touch. Yes, the spectacular cinemas can be skipped. This is useful, if you find yourself redoing a scene due to a lost battle. Ordinary battles can seem long only because it isn't obvious at first into which skills to invest. There are several ways to go.

The time to complete the game depends on the player. I'm not a big fan of side quests, so I only completed a few of them. Linear gameplay is the thing. It is what makes a great RPG, always has.

I respect Squaresoft a lot, especially for their FF X, but the first part of Xenosaga is actually what makes Xenosaga more spectacular than any Final Fantasy game I have ever played. I think of the first hours of Xenosaga to be much like the first minutes of FF X. Spectacular and involving. Namco will either stay with this successful original formula or steer Xenosaga 2 into a black hole. It all depends on who they listen to. Competition is welcome to have their opinions about Xenosaga too.

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