How is Xenosaga Trilogy?

[kart007k]

I was wondering how is the Xenosaga trilogy, I have heard a lot about the story in the game, which some compare to MGS. What do you think? I like good rpg story, with decent rpg game play.

[whoknows]

The story didn't really make much sense to me. I played the first and third games. Both were good, but I liked the third a lot better.

[JEKKI]

I love it!

first game = cool but straight up drags! a VERY HARD game to sit thru... I had to take like a hella month break halfway thru

2nd = I really dug it a lot but lots of ppl hate it... real short game tho with interesting battle mechanics which seem like nobody but myself understands

3rd = awesome, many ppl think it's the best and it does a great job wrapping up the game.

[bigl523]

The first is decent, the second is plagued by a boring story, terrible battle load times, and the third was what the other two should have been.

[Allnatural]

Personally, the first game is still my favorite. I loved all the minutiae, but I can understand others preferring some brevity to their storytelling.

Great series overall.

[camoor]

The first is the best, but the third is pretty good too. The story is cool if you take the time to research it online. The problem was that they fired all the storytellers after the first one, so it's really the only game in the series that plays out as it was conceptualized. Its a shame to because the first game has alot of exposition, I feel if they'd actually made the second game according to the original plan it would have been snappier and sold alot better.

If you're a nut like me you can play the second one but eh...

[Chacrana]

Loved that shit. First game was great, second game was good (yeah, some people rag on the combat system, but they're weirdos), and the third game was incredible.

[willardhaven]

I tried in 2003 and again this year to get into Episode I and I just can't. The game is decent enough, but the setting puts me to sleep and the plot, while interesting moves at the pace of a handicapped snail.

I recommend giving it a try though, as always opinions should mean nothing to you. Plus, the game is dirt cheap brand new.

[Allnatural]

I tried in 2003 and again this year to get into Episode I and I just can't. The game is decent enough, but the setting puts me to sleep and the plot, while interesting moves at the pace of a handicapped snail.
I felt the same way until the gnosis attack and KOS-MOS's awakening. Once I reached the narrative hook I couldn't put it down.

[Gourd]

Meh. I really tried to love the very first one, but couldn't get into it. Kept the art book however; the game does have some beautiful and interesting character designs.

[Nephlabobo]

It's great. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[drone8888]

I found it all boring as hell :(

[SierraNight]

I truly enjoyed the first and third games. The second one...not as much, but the story was good enough for me to get over the shortcomings of the game.

[Teh Nitwit]

IMHO, 1st A+, 2nd B, 3rd, A-

[Axersia]

The first is decent, the second is plagued by a boring story, terrible battle load times, and the third was what the other two should have been.

Terrible battle load times? Well, it loads all the characters one by one but it only takes a second and really didn't bother me much. Have you ever played Suikoden V and Tales of the Abyss? Because those games had TRULY terrible load times. I actually quit Suikoden V because I just couldn't stand them anymore (that and the game was pretty boring to begin with IMO), and the load times in TotA are what's keeping me from replaying it because it would've been a fine game otherwise.

But aaanyway, back on-topic. I've only played Xenosaga II and Xenosaga III, and I'd say Xenosaga II is absolute trash while Xenosaga III is one of the best games on the system (even with my limited knowledge of the story).

Also, the story is nothing like that of MGS. The only thing they have in common is that both series have ridiculous amounts of cutscenes. Xenosaga III doesn't have as much as the previous 2 games though, and it's for the better IMO.

[camoor]

IMHO, 1st A+, 2nd B, 3rd, A-

Yeah, that nails it IMHO

[heavyd853]

They cut off the story at III though, when it was supposed to be like 7 or something. You can tooooootally tell about halfway into the third one too. Its just so obvious how badly they had to rush the ending.

Although the last couple of minutes are cool.

[eau]

Original planned as a six-part series. Then Namco decided to axe it and cramp everything that needs answering into Episode III.

[ToadallyAwesome]

The series is amazing. It is that much more amazing if you are familiar with the psx game Xenogears.

Keep in mind that you have to like sci-fi and you have to like being a bit confused. I could see how people could say the story was slow but I always had a driving urge to find out more and keep playing. But I am also a huge fan of gears.

The first game was solid and all around pretty good.

I was disappointed with the second game but it wasn't horrible. My biggest complaint was that normal enemies had too much HP and standard battles took forever.

The third game was wonderful. It pretty much got everything right and it is well worth it.




I highly suggest to anyone that they should play Xenogears first (if they haven't). You will enjoy Xenosaga that much more. The only issue is that the game is old (as old as FF7) and by today's standard is pretty ugly. Xenogears could also take about 60-70 hours to finish your first time through but if you will not be disappointed if you are looking for an awesome story.

EDIT: yea there was a ton of drama with this series. It is too bad. It would have been great to see it completely fleshed out.

[I_Am_ProZac]

The whole series is probably one of my favorite rpg series of all time. Great story (even if it's a little slow at spots).

The first game is painful at times if you're not into the story. It can be really slow and tedious, but after a little while it gets really good and I couldn't put the game down.

The second game I had high hopes for and was disappointed. It's the middle game, so the story suffers a little from that, and the battle system is just kinda bad. The idea of knocking down an enemy and then doing extra damage is great... except battles become 1) build boost/charge points so you can attack more, 2) knock down enemy, 3) boost in and kill him, 4) repeat for each enemy.

The third game went back to having a really entertaining battle system and finished up the story (though the ending is kinda out there). I can never decide if I like the first or third game better.

[camoor]

The third game went back to having a really entertaining battle system and finished up the story (though the ending is kinda out there). I can never decide if I like the first or third game better.

I just thought the first was more balanced and had much more variety. The third game you could pretty much play any characters you wanted, but the first game forced you to play certain characters at certain times to get the most out of the game and your fights.

All of the characters have different strengths and weaknesses. The special attacks are interesting and gorgeous. There's also story-specific parts, such as a stealth part with just the military character, or a hell-raising machine smash-em-up with the gunslinger. Add in the comprehensive encyclopdia, tricked-out casino, and optional humorous self-depricating sidequests. Finally the story never feels forced.

For me it's game one all the way.

[bigl523]

Terrible battle load times? Well, it loads all the characters one by one but it only takes a second and really didn't bother me much. Have you ever played Suikoden V and Tales of the Abyss? Because those games had TRULY terrible load times. I actually quit Suikoden V because I just couldn't stand them anymore (that and the game was pretty boring to begin with IMO), and the load times in TotA are what's keeping me from replaying it because it would've been a fine game otherwise.

But aaanyway, back on-topic. I've only played Xenosaga II and Xenosaga III, and I'd say Xenosaga II is absolute trash while Xenosaga III is one of the best games on the system (even with my limited knowledge of the story).

Also, the story is nothing like that of MGS. The only thing they have in common is that both series have ridiculous amounts of cutscenes. Xenosaga III doesn't have as much as the previous 2 games though, and it's for the better IMO.

Going from the load times of 2 to the load times of 3 it was night and day. It didn't help that I didn't enjoy the battle system in 2 either. I have played Abyss and while there is a load time with that stupid screen crash thing it's definitely less than 2. That and the battles are actually fun.

[ctrek3]

All Three of them were good, i think the third was the definitely the best. everyone here is right, most people do rag on the second one alot, the game wasn't that bad, i don't remember having any issues with the combat system, i just remember the whole game being boring compared to the others.

while all of them were good, they don't compare to Xenogears, so if your going into them thinking your getting the same level of quality, you will be very dissappointed.

[Allnatural]

I have played Abyss and while there is a load time with that stupid screen crash thing it's definitely less than 2.
The pre-battle loads are fine, but the post-battle load when on the world map is ridiculous. I'm playing it now and I try to avoid all fights when I'm not in a dungeon.

[heimdal]

Hated the second one.

I was so excited to play it after finishing the first one.

While I've heard good things about the third one, the previous one kinda left a bad taste in my mouth, so much that I'm feeling antsy about diving right in again.

[Oktoberfest]

love the series, I really wish they would continue it

1st was awesome, 2nd is worth playing but is considerably short, 3rd one was awesome

It's also the spiritual successor to Xenogears which makes it that much more awesome

[Salamando3000]

I like to think of the series as a bit of a reverse Oreo - a circular cookie sandwiched between two layers of creme. Sure, some people enjoy the cookie part of an Oreo, but no one buys an Oreo for it. It's all about the creme.

Personally, I enjoyed the second one the least. Since there's no money/store system, you can only acquire items by enemy drops/stealing them. I don't know if it was just my terrible luck or what, but I never had enough items to do what I would want to do.

[rhymetimesfine]

Buy the first one and think about how great the rest of this series could have been if the original vision would have been followed.

[Dead of Knight]

1=Good.
2=Shit and can be skipped, even for the storyline as they explain all that happens in 3 anyway.
3=Great.

In sum, play 1 and 3 and stay the hell away from 2.

[camoor]

All Three of them were good, i think the third was the definitely the best. everyone here is right, most people do rag on the second one alot, the game wasn't that bad, i don't remember having any issues with the combat system, i just remember the whole game being boring compared to the others.

I thought the second one was interesting for the beginning and the end - it was certainly interesting to have a cathedral as a boss

[ctrek3]

I thought the second one was interesting for the beginning and the end - it was certainly interesting to have a cathedral as a boss

i don't even remember that boss. i must have pushed it outta my mind.

[TheMaidenOfSorrow]

My favorite game (at least for the ps2) and quite possibly one of the best storylines ever...

Like the others have said, number 2 is kind of bleh. I know a lot of people disregard this game because of too many cutscenes, but that's what makes the story that much more immersive. I'd rather watch the story unfold through cinematics than read a shitload of text boxes with minimal to no action sequences(e.g people just standing there :|).

They are all really cheap now, so go get them!

[chubbyninja1319]

i hope the series is good. I played Xeno 1 back in the day and didn't finish it. But, I got Xeno 2 for $2.50 at target this summer and a friends just giving me xeno 1 and 3, so I thought about playing the trilogy over the holidays.