Xenosaga Episode II Rockets Into Stores
Why are you reading this? Go get it!
Published: February 15, 2005
One of the most interestingly maligned yet loved RPGs in quite a while, the first Xenosaga episode tried desperately to be an engrossing story-driven epic that some felt never really got going thanks to some marathon non-interactive movie sections. It was also the first PS2 game to ship on a dual-layer disc here in the U.S., creating a host of problems for older PlayStation 2s that simply wouldn't play the game.
Despite the complaints (and they were both many and quite vocal), the game sold rather well, and those that could get past the game's meandering plotline and copious amounts of dialogue-driven cinema found a deep storyline that only touched on the promised six-part tale that would (hopefully) tie these games in with the PlayStation's cult classic Xenosaga (though no real insinuation to that effect has ever been made by the game's creators).
Episode II isn't without improvements, most of them direct reactions to fan criticisms; the cinemas are no longer massive blocks of diatribe/action with a 30 second bit of interactivity between them (at least, not on the same level as the first game), the character designs have been given a more realistic-looking overhaul, the battle system has deepened with two-character attacks and an extensive skill system, and the blah blah blah-- you shouldn't even be reading this, you should be buying the game. What? You want to read more? Very well, then.
"Xenosaga EPISODE II is certain to captivate franchise fans and newcomers alike," grinned Yoshi Niki, Namco Hometek's Business Unit Director (and no, we don't know what that title means either). "The Xenosaga series truly embodies the role-playing genre, and we are proud to deliver gamers with a title that boasts both a sophisticated, compelling storyline and exceptional game play."
We'll have a full review in just a few day, so keep them peepers peeped.
Despite the complaints (and they were both many and quite vocal), the game sold rather well, and those that could get past the game's meandering plotline and copious amounts of dialogue-driven cinema found a deep storyline that only touched on the promised six-part tale that would (hopefully) tie these games in with the PlayStation's cult classic Xenosaga (though no real insinuation to that effect has ever been made by the game's creators).
Episode II isn't without improvements, most of them direct reactions to fan criticisms; the cinemas are no longer massive blocks of diatribe/action with a 30 second bit of interactivity between them (at least, not on the same level as the first game), the character designs have been given a more realistic-looking overhaul, the battle system has deepened with two-character attacks and an extensive skill system, and the blah blah blah-- you shouldn't even be reading this, you should be buying the game. What? You want to read more? Very well, then.
"Xenosaga EPISODE II is certain to captivate franchise fans and newcomers alike," grinned Yoshi Niki, Namco Hometek's Business Unit Director (and no, we don't know what that title means either). "The Xenosaga series truly embodies the role-playing genre, and we are proud to deliver gamers with a title that boasts both a sophisticated, compelling storyline and exceptional game play."
We'll have a full review in just a few day, so keep them peepers peeped.