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The Xenosaga Series
oddment
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Continuing my recent infatuation with PS2 RPG's which don't get much attention in Europe, I've been looking into purchasing Xenosaga.
However, one thing I noticed is that only number 2 is avaliable in the UK, as the first game was never released. Is there a reason for this? Is it necessary to play the first game to enjoy the second? Also, what is on the bonus DVD that comes with the PAL version of Xenosaga 2?
The main point to this thread though is to get you guys to discuss the series in general... your thoughts and opinions on the games.
However, one thing I noticed is that only number 2 is avaliable in the UK, as the first game was never released. Is there a reason for this? Is it necessary to play the first game to enjoy the second? Also, what is on the bonus DVD that comes with the PAL version of Xenosaga 2?
The main point to this thread though is to get you guys to discuss the series in general... your thoughts and opinions on the games.
PSN Sig Hidden Within!*
*Thanks Thanatos!
*Thanks Thanatos!
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It's a shame, too. Xenosaga I was great.
I'd probably have to import them all anyway I guess, as I really can't see them releasing 3 over here.
*Thanks Thanatos!
1) The first thing I always think of is this guy I saw at a Milwaukee Gamestop. He had dropped out of school to play more Xenosaga, and was surprised that I had not done the same. (Yes, he did resemble the stereotypical guy in his parent's basement. Fat, glasses, unkempt, shirt containing obscure reference.) I mean, I may like Beyond Good and Evil, a lot, but you're never going to catch me like that. And if you do, I want you to shoot me.
2) KOS-MOS. An ass-kicker gone to waste in a pretentious slog. I think Namco would do well to put her in a shorter, more accessible game. Let's see what I can do here...
KOS-MOS
+
Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
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Halo 2
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Soul Calibur (optional, save it for boss fights).
I've played the first Xenosaga, and even midway through that game I realized that while I liked it, I wasn't going to finish the series because I didn't have room in my schedule for another part-time job. I think I came to this realization after spending two hours in the in-game encyclopedia.
There's something to be said for editing.
And this is going to sound absolutely silly, but I also kinda lost interest when I heard they essentially cut the planned series in half, although from what I heard Xenosaga III is still a very satisfying ending to the series. Did they ever list what was planned to happen, or were the original creators not that far along anyway?
Seriously, Xenosaga is a waste of time. Xenogears is brilliant. It probably has the most epic and amazing story of any game yet.
Xenosaga Episode I is good.
Xenosaga Episode II is a disaster but worth playing through once, like going to a dry wedding or having a cystoscopy.
Xenosaga Episode III is on par with Xenogears for storyline, gameplay, and just all around greatness. It's arguably one of the best RPGs released in 2006 and is a definite sleeper.
Xenogears is amazing. If you haven't played this game and remotely consider yourself an RPG fan you need to go do wall sits for an hour.
XBL: Torn Hoodie
@hoodiethirteen
Hmm, I see you have yet to convert to the religion of KOS-MOS my friend. Pray tell, read over our handy information packet, and make the decision to join today!
Seriously though. Go into Xenosaga expecting Xenogears - Disc 2 is like expecting Cloud will eventually get over being Emo. It's UNREALISTIC.
Xenogears did some great things.
Xenosaga did some great things.
The both did some piss poor things.
Facts of life.
Personally, I loved the cinimatic feel of Xenosaga 1, vomited all over 2(With the exception of the dual-techs), and thought 3 was the perfect balance of them both, with an added dash of "WHAT THE FLIPPING FUCK IS GOING ON".
But there is one thing you CANNOT deny.
KOS-MOS in 1 and 3 is badass. A STONE COLD BADASS. Were talking Austin 3:16 levels of badass. Power levels OVER 9000 levels of badass.
Fuck her in 2 though because DAMN, her voice actor was shitty. KOS-MOS is NOT a robot maid. She is more likley to shoot through you then to serve you ice cream goddammit.
I loved all three games, with 3 being my favorite.
I enjoyed two's regular battle difficulty, it was as f every encounter was a miniboss. But I understand some people not liking their standard encounters taking 5 minutes.
Also, chaos is so great, I dumped all my stat boosting items into him everygame. I could usually solo everything with just him by the end of each game.
I'm only about five hours into it, and I personally don't think it's that bad(the battle system is much better IMO and more like Xenogears'), but I can see why the XS1 fans have issues with it.
The character designs were all but destroyed. Shion looks nothing like the Shion from the first game(who looked beyond awesome), and the voice acting sucks.
Fortunately, XSIII improved on one of those issues(Shion still looks trashy): the original VAs from XSI are supposedly back, which sounds good to me.
Except chaos', because supposedly his 'Episode II VA is better', which I disagree with. I liked the first version better.
Anyway, I'll force my way through II, because skipping it to go straight to III seems wrong. And II's story doesn't seem that bad either.
Maybe they didn't take the game for itself, but based it solely on it's series strength.
edit: Episode 2's story was essentially the tale of Rubedo and Albedo.
And since Albedo kicks all kinds of ass, so does the story.
Most casual reviewers probably didn't play through the whole thing, just got a feel for the battle system and a few cinemas. Just my guess at least.
And that's exactly why I'm interested in #2's story. Albedo = awesome.
Good thing he still looks cool in the games, because he looked downright stupid in the anime.
I wasn't expecting Gears in Saga. It was terrible on it's own two feet.
Saga did nothing great in terms of storytelling besides a good cinematic feel. Everything about the plot was utterly pretentious.
Also, KOS-MOS is an awful character.
Facts of life: Xenosaga is a waste of time. Xenogears stands as one of the greatest stories in a video game alongside Planescape: Torment.
This is why I love 2. Albedo's story. And I agree, all the voice actor changes were SHIT, and KOS-MOS looked like a doll instead of the fierce fighting machine she was in 1, but the Gear battles were pretty fun. And I didn't like the newer battle system; the first game's system was awesome, and then you had to relearn it for the second game, which added in a whole ton of things, and then the third game switched it up yet again. And I get why they did it, to keep from being monotonous, but it was still kinda unexpected.
EDIT for the guy above me: KOS-MOS being a horrible character in your eyes validates my thoughts that you are crazy.
XBL: Torn Hoodie
@hoodiethirteen
Fixed that for you, champ.
sketchyblargh / Steam! / Tumblr Prime
So it is possible to experience intense physical pain just through reading a single sentence! I'd always wondered about that.
Read my book. (It has a robot in it.)
I've at least played Xenogears. How I'll ever try Planescape is beyond me, shy of ebay or something.
But I loved Xenosaga Ep. 1. More than Xenogears, even. Mainly because it was a complete game. You don't get to the last 20% of the game and experience it all through textual summaries because the developer fucking ran out of time and money.
And the cutscenes are friggin' great. I didn't mind sitting through them at all--I've spent as much time watching/listening through a Metal Gear Solid game.
I adored Xenogears when it came out; I came back to it a few years later and found my memories had spackled over a staggering number of gaping holes in the game. I also found that what I considered "deep" back then had was drastically than how I felt at that moment.
Although I will love the game forever for the Chuchu on the crucifix scene.
[spoiler:44e044c530]the revelations about the Church being completely crooked and evil and hiding a ton of dark secrets[/spoiler:44e044c530]
especially. That's totally a cliche, but Gears did it so well.
That was my biggest problem with 'Gears. The game was near-perfect until Disc 2, then it got all... not perfect.
Anyway, I loved it nonetheless. XS1 I own, but to this day haven't finished. For some reason, I couldn't get that into it, and once I was 20 hours in or so, something else came along and usurped my attention, and I never went back. I guess I'll have to eventually get back and play the whole way through.
sketchyblargh / Steam! / Tumblr Prime
Major spoilers about game end:
[realspoiler:81a5d20893]In the last Xenosaga III thread someone wrote about how Jin dies without using spoiler tags, so I played through the entire game expecting him to die at every boss fight or Jin-centric cinematic.[/realspoiler:81a5d20893]
Also Xenosaga III has an information database that has a synopsis of the first 2 games, so you could skip either or both and get the main idea of the story (though you'll miss most of the finer points). It also gradually updates throughout the game and will fill you in on the actions of the characters in the previous games as they are re-introduced.
XBL - Foreverender | 3DS FC - 1418 6696 1012 | Steam ID | LoL
The last 20% of the game is the biggest gaming let-down you'll ever experienced. You literally stop playing through the story. It's the equivalent of making it 3/4 of the way through a gripping movie and then having everything on screen cut out and the director and screenwriter just do a voice-over to tell you what happens for a bit, and then suddenly the movie comes back on and you see the final confrontation and then it's over two minutes later.
Captain K, I wouldn't say its the last 20%. Maybe the last 10%.
What he's talking about is the infamous second disc. The first disc is something like 50+ hours of incredible gameplay, twisting and turning plots, and just altogether badassness in the form if Id. When you get to the second disc, you literally have characters sitting in chairs, with still pictures behind them, telling you what happens. This is about 3 or 4 hours worth. You'll play through some key events in what they talk about, but the giants bulk of the plot divulged in these hours is all through this. The developers were told by Square that they were running out of money, and Square wanted to push the game out the door as fast as possible when they learned this. So the developers were told to shorten everything. All in all, the two discs would probably be equal in length, but as it stands 90% of the gameplay is on the first disc.
Don't let this stop you though. Find a copy and play through it. The game has some seriously awesome stuff going on in it.
XBL: Torn Hoodie
@hoodiethirteen
Goddamn I am still pissed off about that.
EDIT: I'm also one of like 3 living humans who actually liked disc2 of Gears.
Xenogears had me, but lost me before the second disc. The story seemed tight and cohesive until JUST after...
[spoiler:0878e6be22]I got stranded at sea. And then, after a few scenes it felt like, I was with Billy in a ship hunting aliens. And then an orphange. That entire part made me go "say wha?". It picked up a little until the second disc began, but after that, it felt like they just started pounded me with the exposition mallet. And seriously, people who claim that the second disc was ALWAYS INTENDED TO BE THAT WAY piss me off. It makes no sense for an entire game to be like; why does that mean only HALF a game (the entire SECOND half, during which the climaxes and endings happen) is so much better?[/spoiler:0878e6be22]
It's not like I'm lacking in the free time department. :?
Do you think they'll ever release all three games in a box set?
The DS game looks interesting but I'd rather have the original games.
Your Current Signature Picture[/SIGPIC]
It's available on Gametap I believe. I don't like Gametap, but it's there.
On topic, I'm only 3 hours into Part 3, but I'm loving it so far.
You mean other than amazon, for like 20 bucks a pop?
Correct, Sorry but IMO Xenogears is mediocre at best, nothing good about it, especially compared to Xenosaga
Xenosaga is a great series of games.
Yes. I love the exciting battle dynamic of CHARGE - CHARGE - CHARGE - CHARGE - CHARGE - CHARGE - CHARGE - CHARGE - CHARGE - ATTACK - BOOST - ATTACK - BOOST - ATTACK - REPEAT. Every single battle, one tactic!