Xenosaga Episode II

03/28/05

One has to pity the story writers for games, since it seems they can never win. They get dinged for either focusing too much on a game’s storyline, or for not providing enough. It’s a rare occasion that anyone’s ever happy with a game’s story. In the case of Xenosaga: Episode II, the writers fall into the first camp; being so zealous in developing one of the deepest backstories in gaming history, that they forgot to put a game in the game. That may be exaggerating a bit, but what you’ll find in Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Bose, that the name’s not the only thing that grows a bit long in the tooth as you’re forced to sit through endless cut scenes held together by some decent tactical RPG gameplay. For fans of the “Xeno” franchise, Episode II will be like a brief trip to Heaven, as much of the whole story of the “Xeno” universe is finally explained. For everyone else, well...be glad you can skip the cutscenes. At its core, Xenosaga: Episode II is a tactical RPG, meaning you’ll spend lots of time meeting up with enemies, choosing attack/defense combos, and collecting experience for your inevitable victories. The combo system is pretty deep, and those not used to games of this genre may feel a bit overwhelmed at first. The developers were kind enough, however, to offer plenty of tutorials and tips along the way to keep the game friendly enough to be played by those new to the series, without watering down the combat entirely. There are tons of combos and boost moves, all of which, when properly utilized, are a great way to rack up experience and make your ‘Mech equipped hero more powerful than all get-out. And you’ll need a powerful party of characters, as the enemies may start out simply, but they quickly ramp up in powers and combat skill. Don’t be fooled by how easy the game seems at first, it gets nasty fast. Visually, Episode II presents a respectable, though not inspiring front. It’s got some pretty moments, especially in the city environs, but as a whole, it doesn’t push the PS2 in any way. The CGI sequences are obviously the best visual aspect of the game, with plenty of nice details in the animations and character expressions. Other than that, it’s just about average on the eye-candy scale. The same can be said for the sound, which does the job, and is at its best in the cutscenes. Xenosaga: Episode II -- The Game with the Silly long German Name is a neat experiment in combining a movie with a videogame, but for newcomers to the franchise, it’s going to be a long and boring CGI-skipping experience. Frankly, the game components could’ve been stripped out and this would’ve scored better as an anime DVD, but as a game, it’s going to come off a very tiresome to the average gamer.
Gameplay: 7
Good tactical combos and fighting action
Graphics: 7
Cutscenes = great, in-game engine = ok
Sound: 6.5
Respectable audio in the cutscenes, the rest could be muted without being missed
Replay: 7.5
This is a huge game that will eat dozens of hours, but doesn’t offer any reason to come back once finished
Overall: 7
Good for fans of the series and tactical RPG’s, though there’s so much story, it’s easy to get bored and/or lost
-- Craig Falstaff

Send News to N4G | |

Most Recent Features

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames Review

Blowing stuff up with a buddy rocks, but some gameplay and AI issues can't help but detract from this one.

Metal Gear Hope: Life Lessons from Solid Snake

Who would have thought a guy fighting a nuclear tank would make the world seem like a better place?

How to Hook Up D-BOX to a PlayStation 3

With PS3 owners consuming Blu-ray movies, we look at the next step in Blu-ray entertainment: D-BOX.

Soul Calibur IV Review

The gameplay is really more of the same, but when you're talking about this franchise, that's not all bad.

Who Needs Love When You Have Guitar Hero?

Video games can change people's lives, from getting over heartbreak to enabling new careers - or both.

DailyGame's PlayStation Homepage

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames Review

Blowing stuff up with a buddy rocks, but some gameplay and AI issues can't help but detract from this one.

Metal Gear Hope: Life Lessons from Solid Snake

Who would have thought a guy fighting a nuclear tank would make the world seem like a better place?

Casual Gamers Deserve a Bill Of Rights, Too

Chris wonders why hardcore PC gamers deserve an exclusive Bill of Rights. Casual gamers need one too.

Soul Calibur IV Review

The gameplay is really more of the same, but when you're talking about this franchise, that's not all bad.

Who Needs Love When You Have Guitar Hero?

Video games can change people's lives, from getting over heartbreak to enabling new careers - or both.

DailyGame's Xbox 360 Homepage

Who Needs Love When You Have Guitar Hero?

Video games can change people's lives, from getting over heartbreak to enabling new careers - or both.

Microsoft, Sony Should Follow Nintendo with Xbox 720, PS4

With the uncanny valley, user input and finances to consider, the next consoles won't really innovate.

Space Chimps Review

This short platformer's stars fling poo, and the movie-based game has its own scattering of issues too.

Are Casual Games Social By Nature?

Even as "casual games" gain attention, the industry is still struggling to truly define what they are.

Rock Band Special Edition Review (Wii)

If a game is scaled-down for the Wii and nobody cares about the omissions, does it even matter?

DailyGame's Nintendo Homepage

Transformers Blu-ray Review

Michael Bay's CG powerhouse finally hits Blu-ray, and the A/V aspects prove to be worth the wait.

Married Life Blu-ray Review

A beautiful period piece that looks fantastic in 1080p, but it's undone by a weak ending and poor extras.

Miami Vice Unrated Director's Edition Blu-ray Review

The movie just doesn't have enough depth to keep up with its style, which many fans won't like.

The Fall Blu-ray Review

Unlike anything you've ever seen, this film has amazing video and sound, but the story is disappointing.

Nixon Blu-ray Review

Strong performances by the entire cast are complemented by the Blu-ray's fantastic A/V presentation.

DailyGame's Blu-ray Homepage

How to Hook Up D-BOX to a PlayStation 3

With PS3 owners consuming Blu-ray movies, we look at the next step in Blu-ray entertainment: D-BOX.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End D-BOX Review

Although the motion of the ocean seems like a great candidate for D-BOX, the film itself muddles the experience.

The Mummy D-BOX Review

Brendan Fraser's original mummified outing makes for a rockin' and rollin' good time with D-BOX Motion Code.

Actiontec Mega Plug AV Powerline Gaming Kit Review

Getting a wired connection through your home's electrical wiring couldn't be easier or more secure.

3K RazorBook 400 Mini Notebook PC Review

This could be a blogger's best friend, at least for basic functions.

DailyGame's Home Electronics Homepage