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-Basic Info.-

Release Date: October 1st, 1998

Developer: Square Co. Inc.

Publisher: Squaresoft Inc.

Number Of Players: One. The way RPG's should be.

System: ::funny high pitched Asian voice:: Playstation.

Genre: Role Playing Game (RPG)

Little known fact: For a long time it was debated wither or not Xenogears should be allowed into America. Why? Because of "religious content".

…

?

…

Yeah. That's what I said.

 

What sort of crazy RPG would have to censored because of "religious content"? Sure, language, I can understand. Violence, I can understand. Maybe even for gory-graphics and the whatnot&emdash;I might understand. But, religious content? Sure, whatever floats your boat, Censor Board.

 

But, back to the game.

 

Xenogears begins in the small village of Lahan. There you assume the role of Fei, a young artisan who was abandoned in the town long ago. Lahan, being the small farm town it is, obviously has to be smack between two long-warring countries. Go figure, right? So, it's no surprise to anyone when two squadrons of giant metal robots land in Town Square and begin to beat each other senseless. Hey&emdash;happens all the time. ::nervously bites lip:: Calm and orderly panic ensues as people run from debris and flame screaming like banshees. (Swweeeet.) But, things begin to get a little weird when Fei jumps in an abandoned "Gear" (as these giant robots are so called) and begins to "play some serious high-tech kick the can" with the enemies. The town gets just a tad freaked out by that… Not to mention the gear begins to speak to Fei:

"Well, now. I'm going to make you shed blood for love... It will be as red, as deep as the sea of Hell..."

To make a long story short: Fei scares the Old People.

And what do mad, frightened old people do?

Duh: Make you an outcast to your town.

So, you and your newfound Gear, Weltall, head out to begin your journey.

And that is only the beginning.

 

You want to know where all this "dangerous religious content" exists? Deep, deep within the storyline. You see, this is what Xenogears became known for. It's intense, thought provoking, deeply written plot line. Suspense and mystery lead this plot. I'll admit, Square goes a bit overboard on the foreshadowing in some places. There are scenes that make no sense at all when you witness them, but are light-years clearer as the game progresses. The downside to this? You have to play the game. As in, everyday for at least an hour. Preferably 2-3. If not? You might forget something. Every detail is important. Everything. The smallest thought could change the plot of Xenogears--- again.

Here. Let me give you a better idea of how many plot twists there are: Imagine this:

Take a new bendy-tie-whatcha-madoo, like the kind you get at the Grocery to tie the bags of fruit. Now, bend it once. To the left. Now, bend the bent part to the right. Bend that bent part to the left. Bend that bent part to the right. Continue these steps until you are out of bendy-tie…. Then get a new one.

Confusing? Yes. Worth it? Even more so.

 

The characters of Xenogears are also amazing. They are as alike and as different as can be. What I mean by this is that a handful of characters are very, very different. And a handful are remotely alike… and then there are those people in the towns who all sound a like and act alike and you just want them to stop being clones? … … You know what I mean. One great character example would be Fei. Main character--- man of few words (God! Don't these "You're the main character, therefore you only get '…' and no real speaking lines" RPG's just make you want to cry?)&emdash;and many many sides. Just when it seems you are sympathetic to his trials and begin to love this main character; Fei does something really really dumb that makes you want to kick him in the head and send him to Kuwait. It's a majestic cycle. Trust me, you'll learn to appreciate it.

Not to mention of the cool characters. There's a--- well…. The plot is so well written I can't even tell you that without spoiling something. Frustration. Let me tell you. I want to talk about… and… and…. ::sighs::

 

Soundtrack. What kind of Band-Geek-Gamer would I be to ignore the soundtrack? It's beautiful. Catchy tunes where they need to be, and even some songs that shock you because they fit so well. Like usual, there's the typical hatred for the World Theme by the time you are halfway through the first disk; but this comes with the territory. The Xenogears soundtrack even comes fully equipped with a lyrical version of the World Theme. But, it makes the song salvageable and not so bad to listen to it with words. English, none the less. The music is quite fitting for the style and story of this RPG.

 

FMV's. Xenogears doesn't really have "FMV's". What it does have are clips of anime. Instead of the typical CG stuff we are used to and expect--- we get full voiced anime. Of course, there aren't nearly enough of these terrific scenes. There are quite a few at the beginning, some at the end… and the middle is lacking. It seems to me like Square got so caught up in creating the game that they forgot some FMV's in the middle. Never the less, these clips might be too short for contentment, but they do an adequate job. If you're thinking about how you'd like to see an FMV during any part of most of the 1st disk--- (That's complicated speak for 'At almost any time, since there are some dull parts…") then you and Xenogears don't really belong together.

 

As long as I'm here, I'll make this brief. Xenogears is not known for it's graphics. 2D Character sprites with full 3D backgrounds--- it's a very rough relationship. I have words two for you: Floating teacups. Imagine a tea party where your characters just sit there while the 3D cups eerily float to their 2D lips and back down to the table… It gave me nightmares, let me tell you.

 

And no review of Xenogears can pass by the opportunity to talk about the battles systems. Yes, I said systems&emdash;with an "S". The first system is your standard battle system. By standard, I mean your main characters fighting as themselves. As a party character you have three kinds of hits to lay out. Light, Medium, and Heavy. Each time your turn arises you have a certain amount of points to use towards these hits: Light-1, Medium-2, Heavy-3. As you gain experience, you gain more points to use per turn, and you can dish out greater damage. To counterpart with this there is a "Deathblow" system. As you repeat constant attacks in battle: ex. Light, Heavy. From this you will learn a deathblow: ex. Raijin; which costs the same as Light, Heavy would&emdash;but causes more damage. It's nice. Not to mention the cool battle effects when a Deathblow is put into action.

 

The other battle system is that of the Gears. When you battle inside your Gears the entire system has changed. First, Gears don't have infinite energy. They run on fuel. Everything you do in battle uses fuel up, so you have to watch your tank. Also, Gears don't gain experience and levels like the party characters do. You must purchase engine, armor, weapons, etc. upgrades. This is the only way to keep your Gear strong. The downside to this, is that you can only make your Gears so strong. Having 4 million battles with them will not result in a billion levels up and infinite strength. No, it only results in pain to your gear. But, other than that, Gears have the same kind of Light, Medium, Heavy point-related attack system as normal party members. They also have some deathblows&emdash;but not a lot. And, like the party deathblows, you have to learn them.

 

…Geeeeeez. I talk a lot. I can't help it tho. Good games need to be shared. Since I know all of you didn't actually take the time to read all that gibberish; here is my synopsis:

-Scores-

Graphics: 7

Two words: Floating Teacups.

Music: 9

Not Uematsu; but still melodic and fitting. (Oooh… pwetty…)

Plot: 10

It doesn't get better than this.

Characters: 8

Nice party characters--- it doesn't delve into all of them; and some bad guys are a lot alike.

Battle System: 10

Creativity and Gears. Dude, you have to **upgrade** your Gears. How great is that?

Replay: 7

Great game. Long. But, you are almost forced to play it again just to really understand it all. You play it once and you are like "…Okay…" at the end. So, you play it again. And as you go; the foreshadowing makes sense and everything falls together. But, you are still practically forced to do it.

Originality: 10

…

Overall: 9 (No decimals here! HaHaHa!!! We round up, tho.)

Great game. Sweet characters. Catchy tunes. Anime clips. Religious Controversy (Hehehe. I never really hit on that. Well, you'll just have to go play the game now, won't you?). Giant Robots. þ isn't that what we are all about? ;)

Xenogears is a great game with a great many quirks. I believe Square got too caught up in the game and almost overloaded with ideas. I'm not complaining mind you--- and the greatness almost equals out the quirks. But let me tell you, if it weren't for those Teacups, Xenogears would be a golden game.

~~ Rei ~~