Xenogears

[Allen Walker]

Has anybody played this RPG? I've heard its similar to Xenosaga (hate that series).

[Naunen]

Has anybody played this RPG? I've heard its similar to Xenosaga (hate that series).

----Yeah. Kicked its ass too. Xenosaga was discontinued because it wasn't interesting enough for the fans. There were supposed to be 7 installments but they ended it at 3. So, no Abel, Miang, or Sophia.

[Desi]

Six installments and Xenogears was Part five.

Average to below average game with some very good ideas.

The environments are all in-game rendered with a full 3D camera to enjoy the whole world. Areas are multi-tiered making uses of the jump button in the game as well. Big world with its own background and history spanning thousands of years or so.

The game itself is pretty simple. Limited Character and Gear customization you would expect from a JRPG. Combat is similar to that of "Legend of Legaia" though much more simple. Still unique compared to the basic dribble combat most JRPG players are used too. The fighting system also expands to the mechs in the game called Gears. These Gear battles are the more interested fights in the game because they force my strategy during battles. Gears don't level unlike characters and for half of the game they can't even heal themselves like player characters do. Those handicaps made the Gear battles much more memorable as a whole.

It is a pretty old game so the controls and graphics are very archaic even with the enormous production values. The cutscenes and talking sequences are even more so, not having a speed text or skip option. The story is very up its ass with its serious tone which really hurts it. The writing is horrendous and the anime characters of the world don't help with their purple hair and Voltron mechs. You will feel like the game is trying to insult your intelligence by over-explaining every detail and all around taking corny to a whole new level. If story is important to you I can say the game falls into the abyss during the second disc. There is no positive on that CD other then "At least it is unique". With a ending even more cliche then "Happily ever after".

Go ahead and play it if you wish. Pretty nice title if you don't let the silly narrative hurt your experience. Just don't come here and calling it "Deep, complex, best thing since the resonance".

[Naunen]

Very conflicting game: you either like it or hate it. Funny though how the game on the first disk seems like a play. Then, a series of monologues on the second disk.

[aleksunder]

I happen to think that it is a pretty deep game.
The second disc aside, it was compelling, and to me, felt more like a novel wherein I could pick apart symbolism and development for hours. Quite fun. Simply enjoyable characters, as well.

They lost funding for the Xenogears project, hence why the second disc is crap.
It contains towns that were never playable and half-done cut scenes that had to be hidden away. Pretty sloppy, I'd say. Not the dev team's fault though, eh. The money ran out.

[Alice]

^
Xenogears did seem like it wasn't really complete now that I think about it. Like a bunch of stuff was missing. The ending was very disappointing. After going through the game the first time, I was expecting a much better ending.

Overall, I liked it fairly well. It was pretty easy to follow and quite unique. The battles were enjoyable but at times could get a bit hard. If I had to rate this game, I would rate a 7/10.

[Dark Vincent]

I happen to think that it is a pretty deep game.
The second disc aside, it was compelling, and to me, felt more like a novel wherein I could pick apart symbolism and development for hours. Quite fun. Simply enjoyable characters, as well.

They lost funding for the Xenogears project, hence why the second disc is crap.
It contains towns that were never playable and half-done cut scenes that had to be hidden away. Pretty sloppy, I'd say. Not the dev team's fault though, eh. The money ran out.Yeah, there is a way to access some of the content planned, through debug mode codes using GameShark and stuff.

I loved Xenogears too, the battle system is so entertaining that I used to play random encounters just for fun when I was bored (no wonder my characters were level 91 or something last time I played, 5 years ago) and even though most party members needed more development/attention (most of them joined you, had a series of quests related to them and then had their personality/stories neglected for the rest of the game, following you for little reason) the story as a whole was still awesome!

[Desi]

They lost funding for the Xenogears project, hence why the second disc is crap.
It contains towns that were never playable and half-done cut scenes that had to be hidden away. Pretty sloppy, I'd say. Not the dev team's fault though, eh. The money ran out.That is the dev teams fault. The producer is supposed to make sure he keeps the artist and director in check so they don't deplete the budget.

[Slim__Cognito]

Has anybody played this RPG? I've heard its similar to Xenosaga (hate that series).



"hate", "xenosaga" , SAME SENTENCE!!! *has seizure*

[Allen Walker]

Xenosaga has problems dude......

[Dark Vincent]

Btw Kira answering your question: Xenogears is related to Xenosaga, but the people I know that played both say Xenosaga's style is veery different from Xenogears, so you might enjoy the later more ^^

[Allen Walker]

I didn't like Xenosaga because it had 1 hour cutscenes, and then 15 minute gameplay. Got very annoying :/

[Dark Vincent]

Xenogears is the opposite, almost no CG/anime scenes. There is a lot of talk etc, but a lot of gameplay too (except on disc 2, which is short)

[[teehee]

I think we rented the 3rd one (?) and it wasn't that good. All I remember is an early level which looked a bit like Tidus' Zanarkand from FFX. D:

[aleksunder]

That is the dev teams fault. The producer is supposed to make sure he keeps the artist and director in check so they don't deplete the budget.

I meant the individuals that are coding everything, not the people handling all the money.
I meant to illustrate the fact that the team wasn't unskilled, and the game didn't suck after disc 2 just because they didn't know wtf they were doing. I'm sorry if I was unclear.

That being said, funding was just entirely cut. Being that this was the fifth game in the planned series, we totally missed out. It was found to be costly, and they never pursued it further. Xenosaga meant to better articulate what the original creators had in mind, but it was more like a series of films, and that too got canned somewhat, I have heard. (this is from hearsay, I have never played them.)

[Naunen]

You've never played them? o.o Because of all the unpopularity, I can't find the third Xenosaga game anymore. Not even Pink Godzilla has it. <_< I've been waiting for the Xenosaga series for years too.

[Dark Vincent]

I have never played any of the Xenosagas too, though I would like to. I have watched the anime of the first one though

Btw Naunen I have found copies of Xenosaga 3 today for sale on E-bay XP

[Desi]

Xenosaga meant to better articulate what the original creators had in mind, but it was more like a series of films, and that too got canned somewhat, I have heard. (this is from hearsay, I have never played them.)Yes, Saga was cut as well. It was supposed to be a series of six games with xenogears being the fifth like you said.


tons of stores around me carry Xenosaga 1-3.

[Shana]

I have never played any of the Xenosagas too, though I would like to. I have watched the anime of the first one thoughHow did you manage to watch the entire anime? It was total crap compared to the actual game in my opinion the anime ruined Xenosaga Episode I.

Xenosaga Episode III > Xenosaga Episode I, II & Xenogears imo

[Zen]

Xenogears was an awesome game. The combos were amazeing. You did a ka-ma-ha-me-ha you did some Ki blasts. Maaan DBZ but in RPG form to the greatest,

[Bun]

Sorry I'm gonna bump this thread.

Anyway, I haven't played through all of the Xenosagas, but of what I have, I gotta say Xenogears was significantly better. I love the characters and adore the story, and although it was long as shit it's one of my top five favorites. Really dragged me in with the story mostly, though. It's one of the best I've had the pleasure of playing.

[Ice Prince]

Yes I enjoyed Xenogears when I played it as well. LOVED BILLY! XD

The story was very deep, and it was easy to get lost if you didn't pay attention. Though they only complaint I had was disc 2. I know it had to be rusehd to finish, and that was a shame imo.

[Desi]

The problem here is: lots of words (deep) don't make a good story.