*facedesk* (Xenosaga)

[Vanas]

So, I picked up a PS2 and Xenosaga epII yesterday. (And a few other games. My intention is to get all the good PS2 ones. Only 3 to go XD)

Anywho, I'm aware of the series' love of the cutscene. I also like the touch that, as epI never came out over here, they've put all the cutscenes from the first onto a DVD so you can get the gist of it.

On the other hand, this means I've got 7 HOURS (give or take) of DVD to watch before I have enough plot to actually start the game, allegedly. So, is this a good idea, or do you think they should have kinda condensed it into... say, a few pages in the front of the manual?

[General Zod]

No reason you couldn't simply google search and check out places like GameFAQs for a summary. . .though I do admit things like that are annoying.

[White Haven]

While that is true, on the flip side, Xenosaga's cutscenes ROCK in all respects, both episodes, so it's worth watching through them nonetheless. I wish I had that disk. I'd go back and watch 'em again.

Additionally, Xenosaga's storyline can be pretty hard to grasp if you're not paying close attention, much less if you just read someone else's crib notes.

[Nephtys]

There's a Xenosaga 1 FMV disc?! Where do you get it? I'm not finishing that game from frustration at it's insanity at the end, so I might as well see it all this way...

[Pick]

And then there's me who likes the idea of just watching some RPGs and doesn't give a shit about the gameplay aspect

[Vendetta]

So, is this a good idea, or do you think they should have kinda condensed it into... say, a few pages in the front of the manual?

I'd have preferred them to release the first fucking game.

I'm not buying Xenosaga unless they release the first one here.

[Molyneux]

I kinda-enjoyed Xenosaga part 1, though it was WAY too slow for my tastes; it would have done much better as a miniseries or a series of movies.

One thing that really bugged me from the beginning of Part II:

Why the HECK did that mecha have high heels?!

[White Haven]

Hey, heels are hot.

>.>
<.<

Okay, I'll give you that one. Only thing I don't like about XS2 is the whole GS thing for all the side-quests. It annoyed me, and hence I ignored it, but a lot of the best items are from that.

[Vanas]

There's a Xenosaga 1 FMV disc?! Where do you get it? I'm not finishing that game from frustration at it's insanity at the end, so I might as well see it all this way...

The Euro edition of the game, as I may have metioned.

I'd have preferred them to release the first fucking game.

I'm not buying Xenosaga unless they release the first one here.

Hmm, I somewhat doubt they would, now they've given us pretty much 70% of the game already. XD

[Datana]

The video disc was also given as a preorder bonus to some people in the U.S. (IIRC, for those who preordered at ebgames.com). Of course, if you're "in the know," you could simply create one yourself by ripping the datafiles from the XS1 game disc (they're already in M2V DVD format, unlike Episode II, which was in Dreamcast SFD).

Here's hoping that Episode III will be a bit faster-paced than the first two, though.

EDIT: Killed a stupid typo.

[Joe]

I've had Xenosaga II for almost a year and I still haven't finished it. I'm somewhat annoyed by the fact that none of the subplots from the first one are getting wrapped up and I'll probably be in my thirties before all the stuff from Episode I finally makes sense with the glacial pace at which these games are coming out.

[Datana]

I've had Xenosaga II for almost a year and I still haven't finished it. I'm somewhat annoyed by the fact that none of the subplots from the first one are getting wrapped up and I'll probably be in my thirties before all the stuff from Episode I finally makes sense with the glacial pace at which these games are coming out.

I'm not quite sure it'll all be worth it. The original director was replaced halfway through Episode II, and the scriptwriter fired. The writer put up a big hissy fit on her webpage about cut things (both in Japanese and English) back when the game first came out in Japan, but it's vanished from there since then (as in, not even archived on Google). Some of it actually looks like it would have explained a few things. Here's what I'd saved (partial transcript, shrunken for spoilers):

Soraya decided to give answers to most frequently questions. The following are the summary of answers.

• Leaving was not Soraya's decision. Soraya was told goodbye same as in the case of other Episode I artists including Mr. Yasunori Mitsuda, Mr. Kunihiko Tanaka, and the Mr. you-know-who. (Please do not ask Soraya who he is.)
• Soraya is a freelance artist.
• There was no particular reason behind the displacement of old artists. The new director of Xenosaga II/III just wants the saga all new.
• The official advertisement says the new saga will have new sounds, new designs (as seen in Epsode II) and more easier story to read (as seen in the disc 2 of the Episode II).
• Soraya and Tetsuya Takahashi were marginally involved in the Episode II by contributing the first version of the script. (It was not a plot outline but a complete script including actual characters' lines.)
• Soraya's last contribution to the saga was the first version of the script for the Episode II and rewrites of The Pied Piper. (The game for Vodafone sold in Japan 2004)
• The shortened/adapted script of the Episode II is by Monolithsoft.
• You can see Soraya's mark she left to the Episode II in:
  • The conversation between Juli and Ziggy
  • Momo Encephalon (In first version, It was not Juli's idea of destroying Momo's memory, but a subcommitteeman's. Juli hesitated.)
  • The story about U.R.T.V. (with the exception of the chapters after Momo Encephalon and young Albedo's verbal abuse/violent acts against Sakura. They were added by Monolithsoft.)
  • Albedo's short speech about the higher dimension. (His last words "You look like you lost your sweetheart ... anyway I hate you both" were added by Monolithsoft.)
• Soraya doesn't know what the story of the Episode III will be like. The new writer of the Episode III will write a new story in his style. (The chapters after Momo Encephalon and Disc 2 are his style.)
• The new team has the right to change or ignore Takahashi's plot outline.
• Soraya and Takahashi have been willing to help the new team if requested.
• Soraya can not comment on Takahashi's current status.
• Soraya wrote approximately half of of the script for the Episode I. She is responsible for:
  • Ziggy and his family, Voyager, Momo, Mizrahis, Godwins, Yuriev, U.R.T.V.s, and the part of Shion during her stay in Durandal and the Kookai Foundation
• Soraya is not an expensive artist.
• Soraya has created no delay.
• The parent company is not responsible to the changeover.
• The Episode II had the same amount of budget as the Episode I.
• The first version of the script by Soraya and Takahashi was not religiously or politically sensitive. It had just harmless chapters like:
  • Ziggy's past history (as seen in The Pied Piper)
  • U.R.T.V.'s past history (as seen in the Episode II)
  • Shion's past history with Febronia (removed)
  • Jr's rapid growing (removed)
  • Both juvenile and grown-up Jr. switching available in the battle (removed)
  • The ghost of the old Miltia (removed)
  • The death of Sakura (removed)
  • Brief reunion with grown-up Citrine (removed)
  • Gaignun vs Zohar emulators (removed)
  • Jr.'s transformation/overdrive (removed)
  • Jr. & Albedo vs U-DO vs KOS-MOS 3rd armament (removed)
  • Shion's spiritual seeking/witnessing/awakening (removed)
  • The truth about KOS-MOS (removed)
  • Conversation between chaos and the red cloak man (removed)
  • Conversation between Nephilim and the boy with the blocks (removed)
  • An antimatter annihilation of Albedo (removed)
• Removed chapter/events were rejected/deleted subjects. It's highly unlikely to be shown in the future Episode.
• Soraya has no intention of playing for attention. No one has to pay attention to this.
• Soraya has no option to come back. And she knows well the saga no longer needs Saga.

[/size]

[Vanas]

Hmm, got through the first 3 hours last night, we're up to chapter 3 now, I think. Initial reactions:

"Hey, she's kinda cute"
"That guy looks sinister, wonder if he'll be a main."
"Hey, those FF movie things!"
"Whoops, sinister guy got pwned."
"WTF?!"
"WTF?!"
"WTF?!"
"WTF?!"
(^Repeat for about 2 hours)
"Hey, finally a ship that looks worthy of the name Durandal!"
"MACROSS ATTACK!"

We wait with bated breath for the thrilling non-conclusion.

[Joe]

Well, if they're dropping Takahashi's story, fuck it. That's why I was onboard.

Xenogears was far from a perfect game but the plot was pretty ballsy with its scale. It was a weird, eclectic mix. Unfortunately, it was simply too big to fit in a single game and ended up feeling hypercompressed with the zillion different subplots going on - the second disc easily had enough plot for another full-length game. I had hoped Xenosaga would give Takahashi the opportunity to really reimagine Xenogears and tell a long saga spanning centuries, but it looks like that won't happen now.