Xenosaga Episode II

[Femto]

Well, I'm on the second disc now, and I'm sad to say that I now understand why some people have called this game the biggest disapointment of 2004 (it came out in Japan last summer I think). I'm sure everyone has heard about the battle system, about the zones and such, and that is awesome. It's not just the typical RPG thing of slash, potion, rinse and repeat, you actually have to plan your moves ahead of time, and build stocks and boost gauge so you can land a massive combo on the enemy. Without mastering this, some bosses would be impossible, and it's a lot of fun.

But that's it. The rest of the game falls flat on it's face. I won't comment on the story because I haven't finished it, and because I don't want to spoil anything. The music is complete garbage save for maybe 3 themes (why did you leave Mitsuda, why?). The graphics are actually a little bit of a step back, except for the character designs, and there is no customization between characters at all, everyone can learn everything.

Don't let this disencourage you, if you had high hopes for this game then still buy it and see for yourself. Just try to lower your expectations a bit and you'll be fine. If anyone else has this game already, post your comments and impressions here, I'd love to hear some other opinions on this.

[Malvado]

*Lets out his evil laugh* Well I'm still picking it up because it's a series thing....like that crappy .Hack.

You didn't give much info about the improved battle system that I've never heard much of. From what you said it sounds like it does before which for me to hear, well isn't very good.

[Eldo]

Don't let this disencourage you, if you had high hopes for this game then still buy it and see for yourself. Just try to lower your expectations a bit and you'll be fine.

I feel discouraged already...

But I don't have a PS2. Oh.

Well, I heard it's more movies than gameplay.

[Femto]

Well, the battle system works this way. Every enemy has three zones A, B and C. By hitting the zones that a specific enemy is suceptible to you can cause a break, after which you can cause 1.5x the damage I think. So if an enemy is susceptible to zones BC, you have to hit Square+Triangle and you can cause a break in the enemy. After you cause a break though, you can do an Air or Down on the enemy after which you can do 2.0x times the damage more or less. The thing, is that most characters in you party can only attack twice, which means that you will most likely cause a break (most normal enemies have two zones), but you won't be able to do extra damage because you'll have no more attacks. This is where stocks come in. You can skip a turn to get a stock, which will give you can extra attack. If you manage to send an enemy in the Air and have all three stocks, you might get an extra attack or two after that. Even better though, if you can use boost, you can have the next character come in, while the enemy is still in the air to land even more damage.

It's very basic in principle, but the real fun is with bosses that have 14000+ HP and 4 zones. considering that normal attacks do around 100-200 damage, it is essential that you build stocks and boost so you can break and then air the boss so you can multiply the damage you do.

That's more or less how it works, and, as I said, it's a lot more fun than the typical attack-attack-cure-repeat of other RPGs. I had my doubts about this system when I first saw it in action, but it really is great. Hands-down the best new addition to the game, maybe the only good new addition to it.

[Eldo]

Stock sounds like the deathblow system in Xenogears. I didn't know how that worked either.

As for repetitive systems...I thought Legend of Dragoon's battle system was a unique twist to the originals. Until I had to pull the move again and again. I hated that game after that.

[Malvado]

I could cause breaks in Valkyrie Profile. Thank god for mult-hit weapons or the dragon slayer wouldn't abuse so much like all the rest of the slayers.

So you're basicly saying you more so or so have to hit oppenants in their weakest? So my boring battles will stretch out more! Ah the agony and painful clicking.

[Femto]

I'm sure there are games out there that try to move away from the standard RPG battle system, but Xenosaga Ep II is the first one that really makes it interesting.

And I played Valkyrie Profile but I don't remember a thing about breaks. It was more of a "hit the buttons in the correct sequence so that the different attacks can combo and then do a special move." That was a while ago though and I don't really remember the battle system that well.

And the battles do get longer, and you do have to sustain damage while you build the neccesary conditions to beat the crap out of the enemy, but it's really fun when you manage to land a 4000+ combo hit on a boss. Did I mention that a certain has a Break Guard? It was really fun trying to get around that. I wish this game had a combo counter like Disgaea though, so I could see exactly how much damage I deal.

[Starnum]

Well, I bought this game the other day, and I haven’t started it yet. I’ve already heard about the disappointments, but I’m not too worried. Sure it sucks, and I wish it could be better, but I’m just in it for the story anyway.

[Arresty]

Thats how FFVIII was for me. But if you look at it this way, going into a game thinking it sucks is better then going into it thinking its good and then finding out it sucks. Make it almost decent thinking it sucks first.

[Starnum]

Yeah, that's how I look at it too.

[Malvado]

Ok last question from me, i suppose. Is the Realian boy that uses the purple A.w.g.s. cool? If not does that mean wilhelm(white haired vector boy) or albedo will still be my favorite characters?

[Starnum]

Who are you talking about? What's his name? Asher maybe...

[Femto]

I think he's talking about Canaan. And no, Albedo will definately be your favorite character from now on. In fact, I was expecting Jin to be an awesome new character, especially considering how great Citan was, but he just gets thrown to the side. The focus is solely on Jr. and Albedo in this episode.

I've finished the game now (missed a couple of classes because of it), and I still have mixed feelings about it. Just so you know, I finished it in 23 hours, so yes, it is pretty short compared to the first one. There is a lot more gameplay than cutscenes though. I'll post moer stuff in a while, I'm still digesting some of the story.

[Starnum]

Canaan, yeah, that’s what I meant. I’ve barely played the game so far. Heh, I think I confused the guy with the name of the unit. I’m still in the flashback at the beginning of the game. I’ve been way to busy with getting a new job and having a daughter, on top of keeping up with my Internet “responsibilities” to play it as much as I want. I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually though.

Geez, Jin gets left by the way side! That is such a disappointment. Argh! Jr. and Albedo were the main focus of the last game! Well, it kind of seemed that way to me. Well, I hope they wrap stuff up with them in this game. I want to learn more about Chaos.

Yeah, I guess this game is half the size of the first game. I wonder why it’s on two DVD’s then. So far, the units do look cooler now. That makes me happy. Wow, more game play than cut-scenes. Heh, that’s another difference I guess.

[Femto]

Well, Episode I was done on a DVD-9, a dual-layer DVD, which means it's really the same as two discs. If I were to really go into it, I'd say the two DVDs for Episode II was just a marketing strategy to make the game seem longer, when it's actually quite shorter than Episode I.

And I agree with you Starnum, the mechs are so much better this time around. I actually kinda prefer the mech battles over the character ones just because, even though the characters ones are deeper, the mechs are just too cool. The battle music is better with mechs also.

And don't worry, even though there is more gameplay this time, you'll still get your share of story elements here. I'm still trying to figure out whether the story is really that good or not. Maybe I couldn't enjoy the story as I would've liked to, because I saw all the trailers a million times, and I spoiled the game to myself. I pretty much knew what was going to happen in every scene. Never again will I do that.

[Starnum]

Ah, I see. I didn't watch any of the trailer. *Taps forehead and winks*

[Femto]

Good, you'll probably enjoy the story more that way. Tell me what you think of it when you're done.

Is anyone else planning on getting this game?

[Grahf]

The Fight system is annoying, though it is a huge improvement from the last one. The same attacks from start to end. The first disc is only 10 hours long? Makes me think I'm rushing through the game which is something I do most of the time. The ES fighting seems to have improved drastically. ummm

The biggest problem I had with the first game was the movie sequences. Not that they were bad but the exact opposite actually. They were too good and it took away from the experience. If I was watching a movie I would have to say that it was a great movie, but it isnt' a movie. Its a videogame and it seems the guys at Monolith should have stayed at Square a bit longer to learn that. The gameplay in both games are subpar (IMO).

Sorry that probably didn't make anysense.

My 2 cents. BTW Albedo is even more annoying now than ever imagine that. XD

[Femto]

But the thing is, I don't think this story would work as a movie. Like Hideo Kojima usually says, this is a story made for a game, a story that couldn't work as a movie. Sadly, the story can't be really taken as seriously because the quality of the cutscenes has decreased dramatically in Ep II. The dialogue is bad compared to Episode I, as is the voice acting (except for Albedo's excellent performance), the music is lacking (it doesn't have the punch Mitsuda's score has), and the general direction of the cutscenes isn't as good. I don't want to go on about it's flaws, but Episode II is a lacking sequel. Here hoping for Episode III.

And don't worry, I finished the first disc in roughly 8 hours.

[Grahf]

Mitsuda is the man ever since Xenogears and ChronoCross.

Yeah I see what your saying maybe as an anime movie maybe? *shruggs* well that is the way I look at the game, a game that wants to be a movie. But I'm into this one lets see if I actually finish this one. I stopped playing the first one in the last dungeon (sp?). I can't spell worth a damn.

[Eldo]

Yeah I see what your saying maybe as an anime movie maybe? *shruggs* well that is the way I look at the game, a game that wants to be a movie. But I'm into this one lets see if I actually finish this one. I stopped playing the first one in the last dungeon (sp?). I can't spell worth a damn.

I don't know, the Xenosaga anime right now is pretty average. There are alot of 'game-only' elements in it, and to me it quite doesn't fit in the anime . But with the amount of cutscenes in the game, it was like watching a movie .

[Starnum]

Hm, haven't continued playing it yet, probably won't for a while actually. So, I can't voice any opinions yet. Albedo is more annoying than the first game? Man, I just didn't like his laugh. Everything else is fine, but when he laughed, his voice acting went from great to shit. Well, that's my opinion anyway. I can agree that the story seems to be fit for a videogame. Man, it's kind of sad that the game is so short though.

*Update*

Well, I’m now in the encephalon dive for Momo, like the second one, when it’s snowing. Anyway, so far I’m really enjoying the game. I wish I could play it more than I get to. Things feel more personal now, and I like that. This new light being shined on the past of Albedo, Jr., and Gaignun is pretty interesting too.

[Grahf]

I've taken a break from playing it recently. I've started playing Star Ocean till the end of time. I think I got back to the foundation and I was doing the whole Good Citizen Campaign thing.

[Femto]

I'm still not sure about how good the story is... I'd have to play it again. Maybe I'm not that excited about it because of how the story was presented in Ep. II, without Mitsuda's awesome music, and with half of the cutscenes having poor characters models and bad direction. The dialogue doesn't seem as good either, maybe because one of the scenario writers left with Ep. II and because of the different director.

I think I've mentioned all of this before.

[Grahf]

I'm still not sure about how good the story is... I'd have to play it again. Maybe I'm not that excited about it because of how the story was presented in Ep. II, without Mitsuda's awesome music, and with half of the cutscenes having poor characters models and bad direction. The dialogue doesn't seem as good either, maybe because one of the scenario writers left with Ep. II and because of the different director.

Yeah the no Misuda definately hurts the game much. I'm assuming you finished it and you aren't fulfilled with the ending you received.

aa well When I finish Star Ocean and return it to my friend hopefully i'll get back onto Xenosaga. But by that time Splinter Cell 3 will be out.