Xenosaga Episode III (Update)

[Texcap]

IGN has a hands-on update with Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra and, according to them, the final installment is already looking like a return to much better days in the life of the series (which makes me a happy camper every time I hear it).

Exerpt:

"Tetsuya Takahashi's final chapter in Namco Bandai's operatic space trilogy, Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra is one of our most awaited RPGs of the year on any system. Despite the fact that the last game wasn't as strong as the first, it still managed to tell one hell of a good story and finding out exactly how the legend of KOS-MOS, Shion, and the Invasion of the Gnosis ends is something we've been waiting on for quite some time."

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/703/703523p1.html

New video footage, here:

http://media.ps2.ign.com/media/757/757372/vids_1.html

From the demo footage, trailers, and media I've seen to this point; things are indeed looking [great] and I've got high hopes for the last game in a series that started out the gate rather strong, but stumbled a little in Ep. 2 in at least a few respects. Live and learn, and I'm definitely hoping Ep. 3 is the best of the bunch.

Anyone else here looking forward to this?

Have you had the chance to see any of the media?

The new cinema piece IGN has, for example, is a heart-breaker...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Texcap/Album%201/KOS-MOS_sig3Fb.gif

[Naster]

bleh spoilers: [lawl i always knew kevin wasnt dead..]

[Lacus_Seed]

i didn't really care for Xenosaga 2 but the first one was good.Xenosaga 3 looks like the gameplay will be better

[MightyDustLoop]

Well, Suikoden managed to dig itself in a hole, get a crappy budget, and still pull off an improvement of a game (though the graphics are totally crappy). Xenosaga could still pull something off I'm sure.

Any future intentions of releasing another recap disc of the sort in Japan (so that hopefully we get it here too)? I really don't want to play 2 even if I hear 3 is phenomenal. Eh, I'm getting ahead of myself here. They have to pull this series off the crapper first.

[_jwb388_]

i'm still playing the 2nd xeno, but it sure is pretty obvious that kevin is alive

[Miduki]

Well, it is due out in Japan in almost a month [July 6, 2006], so we shall see how it is recieved.

[Flopsy]

How did they implement battles without loading times in Episode III? :unsure:

[Miduki]

The battle system was changed back to the original system in Xenosaga Episode I, with a few new tech attacks and some other minor differences.

[Texcap]

Additional information thanks to a recent interview at IGN with the publishing team at Namco Bandai:

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/724/724727p1.html

Attached are a few excerpts that I thought were particularly interesting and/or cryptic enough to include as highlights:

.......

Last I read, Xenosaga Episode III was to end "Shion's Arc." Does this mean that Episode III will also start a new Arc, or is this the finale of the series altogether?

Namco Bandai: ... Yes, Episode III does conclude "Shion's Arc."

If Xenosaga Episode III is the last game of the Xenosaga series no matter what, would that change based on fan requests and sales? Is there a chance that Namco Bandai will make more games based on the Xenosaga universe (RPG or not)?

Namco Bandai: Yes, the Xenosaga universe is a grand concept and the number of ways we can think of to expand on this is infinite. We look forward to seeing player's reactions to Xenosaga III, and if reactions are good -- who knows!

.......

Who is directing and composing Xenosaga Episode III, and what involvement will Tesuya Takahashi have?

Namco Bandai: Koh Arai is the director of this game and the composer is Yuki Kajiura. Tetsuya Takahashi is responsible for drafting the scenario as well as acting as the supervisor for the game scenario and data base. He also participated in the coordination of the music.

.......

Is Xenosaga DS coming out in North America?

Namco Bandai: This has not been decided at this time.

.......

And one of my favorite aspects of the Q&A session:

Will KOS-MOS' Episode I voice-over actress return for Episode III?

(Wa-Hoo!)

Namco Bandai: Yes, we are using the same actress for KOS-MOS which used at Episode I.

More in the interview...

[Ryebreadisme]

Well, Suikoden managed to dig itself in a hole, get a crappy budget, and still pull off an improvement of a game (though the graphics are totally crappy). Xenosaga could still pull something off I'm sure.

Any future intentions of releasing another recap disc of the sort in Japan (so that hopefully we get it here too)? I really don't want to play 2 even if I hear 3 is phenomenal. Eh, I'm getting ahead of myself here. They have to pull this series off the crapper first.

I hope you're not talking about Suikoden IV. If you manage to get through the first four hours the game is amazing. I do hope though that Xenosaga III makes a turn for the better. The first one is very good. I haven't played the second one due to the fact that I heard not so great things. I'll pick it up once it is less than twenty dollars. My rant is done, thanks.

[AsukaxSohryux]

Texcap thanks for all the nice info, kudos (Time to preorder it). Looks like it will be grand cant wait.

[Rahxephon91]

Xenosaga 3 is going to be censord.
http://www.gamesradar.com/us/ps2/game/reviews/article.jsp?articleId=200608241219104820 21&sectionId=1000&pageId=20060824122012951027

[MightyDustLoop]

I hope you're not talking about Suikoden IV. If you manage to get through the first four hours the game is amazing. I do hope though that Xenosaga III makes a turn for the better. The first one is very good. I haven't played the second one due to the fact that I heard not so great things. I'll pick it up once it is less than twenty dollars. My rant is done, thanks.

Of course. Suikoden IV dug it deepest into that hole. But Sui V, while I'd argue against it being the best of the series, was at the very least a massive improvement over IV.

As for the second Xenosaga, I still have it gathering dust in my collection. But I managed to get ahold of the game's cutscenes. I don't know if they'll be as thorough a recap as the last game's, but I'll probably buy III when it hits this week so it'll have to do.

[Texcap]

Texcap thanks for all the nice info, kudos...

Glad to. I was heartened to see how many Xenosaga fans were actually at the board, so I just wanted to share some of the info. that I know I was excited to hear.

(Time to preorder it). Looks like it will be grand cant wait.

Same here. From all I've seen & heard Episode III looks to be a massive improvement over the 2nd, which really did have some problems IMHO (not the least of which was the near complete absence of a "fun-factor") outside of the compelling storyline. Several updates, previews and reviews have mentioned the return to so much that worked in the first installment (including a tweaking of the art style for the better), so I suppose the only thing that remains is just to pick it up when it's released this week and enjoy it first hand.

Cannae wait.

Have fun if indeed y'all do end up picking it up.

[_jwb388_]

Just got it and the artbook today, but can't play it untill I beat the final level in xeno 2 but right now I'm addicted to DQ8, played 30+ hours since saturday.

[crow-kun]

...why did they get rid of her glasses? I liked her better with glasses.

[_jwb388_]

Contacts. I got em too.

[crow-kun]

She'd still look better with glasses. :-"

[_jwb388_]

She'd still look better with glasses. :-"

Yeah she does but I guess she found them annoying when trying to save the galaxy.

[Kilala_06]

The battle system looks so cool. graphics look totally killer. i cant wait til the release date. seems to be yet another "upgrade" from Xeno. ep. 2 :)

[_jwb388_]

The battle system looks so cool. graphics look totally killer. i cant wait til the release date. seems to be yet another "upgrade" from Xeno. ep. 2 :)
It's out dude.

[Bezerker]

Woot, got mine. Only problem is that im still not even halfway through part 2...

[Matsu'o Tsurayaba]

Well,i do hope that this Xenosaga can be a fine end to the series.Its a shame it had to end this way.

[Kilala_06]

its not out where i live in minnesota. i believe it comes here next tues.

[_jwb388_]

Woot, got mine. Only problem is that im still not even halfway through part 2...
I hear after beating the first lvl you open a database that explains everything.

[AsukaxSohryux]

The game is bloody awesome, the Battle System is great. Sadly the cutscens arent in 5.1 but what I have played was pure bliss ^_^.

I hear after beating the first lvl you open a database that explains everything.

You can access the previous games summary at the title screen, go to Data and they should be there.

[ZeroRyoko1974]

Yeah she does but I guess she found them annoying when trying to save the galaxy.
If I recall from the last game, they got knocked off and Allan stepped on them. I believe she said she was just wearing them because Kevin had liked them or something. Whats funny is all the flashback sequences in episode II and III all show her without the glasses. With the clear data from II you can unlock Shion's vector uniform :D (still no glasses :()

[_jwb388_]

Thanks for making me remember.

[germanturkey]

apparently it wraps up the story well..

[Texcap]

Just got it and the artbook today, but can't play it untill I beat the final level in xeno 2...

Same predicament here. I should be picking up my pre-order this evening (hadn't had the time until today darnit!) but I won't be able to play it until I beat the final couple of bosses on the last level of XSII. I attempted one of them just the other night, but went into the battle a little unprepared -- apparently -- so I've still got some work to do before I can wrap it up.

And dang do I want to wrap it up as I'm looking forward to a game that appears to be far more reminiscent of Ep. 1, in the final installment! Wa-Hoo!

...but right now I'm addicted to DQ8, played 30+ hours since saturday.

Good man. If you're going to be addicted to a good RPG, along with some select company, DQVIII is one of the best options available to you. I've initially beaten the game, but I'm still working on the additional content that's available therafter, and 100+ hours in, I'm nowhere close to being done. Love this game!

[_jwb388_]

Just beat DQ8 at 50 hours. People at gamefaqs don't belive me. http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/2973/0000514jo2.jpg

and Loto's equipment http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2702/0000513gu1.jpg

[Texcap]

Just beat DQ8 at 50 hours.

No small feat my friend!

Particularly if I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing in the images you uploaded. Well done!

........

As for Xenosaga III, I was indeed able to pick it up last night along with the pre-order bonus, a pretty darn slick artbook. I only flipped through it so as not to be spoiled on anything major, but what I saw was impressive, and the production values are great.

As for the game, I hope to spend at least a couple of hours this weekend on the final level of XSII (along with some leveling up I'd imagine) so that I can get to XSIII as soon as possible! Can't wait.

[_jwb388_]

Well I'm completly done with DQ8.

I left it on alot today so minus about 6 hours of the time.
Time: http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/3029/dqso0.jpg

Yangus: http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/3767/dq1od5.jpg

Angelo: http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/9610/dq3na9.jpg

Loto: http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/6408/dq4vz5.jpg

Jessica: http://img445.imageshack.us/img445/3731/dq2za4.jpg

Party Lvls: http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/4038/dq5zd8.jpg

Just cause: http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1538/dq6av5.jpg


Now I can beat Xeno 2 and then start Xeno 3:cheers:

[germanturkey]

so yeah, while looking for the ending song of xsiii, Maybe Tomorrow, i spoiled myself completely and utterly... and let me say, if you like a certain few characters in the series, you'll be sad.. :crybaby:

but it looks like it'll give closure, which is always a good thing for a video game. i've planned to buy this when it hits GH..

[_jwb388_]

I have a feeling that two characters I like die.

Don't correct me because it's just a guess.

I think Jin and Canaan will bite the dust.

[earsofdoom]

I can't believe im saying this but man Allen was owesome near the end (take that gnosis)

also Jin was owesome.

[_jwb388_]

Just beat Xeno 2!! :) Now I'll start up 3 soon, but first BBQ. Can't wait to see the scene in the NA version where Shion stuffs air into a person. It was great with the blood but I don't know if it give me the goosebumps again.

[earsofdoom]

Just beat Xeno 2!! :) Now I'll start up 3 soon, but first BBQ. Can't wait to see the scene in the NA version where Shion stuffs air into a person.

haven't you heard? air is a new miracale drug :P

[_jwb388_]

Silly me. I guess I didn't hear because I was on some DQ8.

[Texcap]

Just beat Xeno 2!! :)

I beat XSII this weekend as well -- as a "reward" for studying coursework Saturday morning.

Cathedral was actually hard[er] for me to beat than the end boss (not including Albedo) -- I didn't think I was ever going to beat it. Just when I'd widdle its HP down to about 4-5,000, and the finish line would appear in my mind, it'd cast "Assumption of the Virgin" and heal himself as much as 16,000 HP's. That took me out of the match (as far as my patience went) a couple of rounds. Finally, I just ended up stocking as much as possible and unleashing chain effects for a lot of damage at one time, and the final time I fought it, it didn't seem to have an answer for that kind of damage. And once you've figured out the pattern it's "just a matter of time."

It's a huge relief to have finally finished it. I love the characters and the storyline so that made it more than worthwhile, but the gameplay left much to be desired. Having heard/seen how much the 3rd installment was supposed to improve on everything by leaps and bounds (reminiscent of the first episode) I couldn't wait to get to it.

As for XSIII, I'm about 9 hours into it, and I'm VERY impressed -- I'll avoid SPOILERS at all costs for now, but it's a blast in every respect: from the battles to the databases, to the storyline. I've been trying my best to take the time to take everything in, having anticipated the game and it's continuing storyline as much, and because it's fun again -- I'm glad to do it! Like the first Episode, I'm having a hard time putting the controller down.

[_jwb388_]

Yeah I lost to Cathedral alot, but then I figured out if you don't attack him when he has that gears are turning message, he will be beaten easily.

[AsukaxSohryux]

Yeah I lost to Cathedral alot, but then I figured out if you don't attack him when he has that gears are turning message, he will be beaten easily.

Cathedral was cake, you got to learn how to take advantage of his weaknesses. I hated my first battle with Patriarch, little bast##d tossed me into the air and used Proto Omega on me and killed my whole party(He had 12 hp left).

[_jwb388_]

Yeah he was but I fought 2 of the cathedrals and brought one to 12000 and one to 5000 and then my next fight White robe kept popping up because I wasn't attacking him.

2 hours in Xeno3 and I can't wait to play some more tomorrow. For some reason those suits in the begining make Shion and Miyuki's butts look cute. :P

[AsukaxSohryux]

Im 20 hrs into Xeno 3 and loving every minute of it. The battle system is amazing ^_^.

[HitokiriShadow]

I'm currently about 5 hours in (about 1.5 used to look through the encyclopedia and brush up on the stuff from previous games) and I'm enjoying it alot. I'm still prefer the Episode I battle system, but this is an enormous improvement about the Episode II battley system.

I'm disappointed to hear that it was edited though. I thought the only editing the first episode had was the Momo scene, but I guess it was edited a bit more than I thought. Stupid censorship... although I think Albedo ripping his arms off is actually worse than cutting them off (aside from the fact that they likely removed blood as well).

[_jwb388_]

Well I'm 3 hours in and got pretty bored because I just sat through a 1 hour scene with no fighting, but atleast Kos-mos fought.


EDIT: 5 hours in and I'm loving the fast battle system.

[AsukaxSohryux]

26 Hrs in and at the last portion of the game. Boss Battles are getting long and tedious, but their fun.

[_jwb388_]

Telos vs. Kosmos scene= Awseome

[Matsu'o Tsurayaba]

Wait..is Xenosaga III out?

[_jwb388_]

Wait..is Xenosaga III out?

What do you think?

[AsukaxSohryux]

Telos vs. Kosmos scene= Awseome

Yes it was, just wait till you see the scene with the improved KOSMOS vs Voyager(Black Testament).

[_jwb388_]

I can't wait to see that scene.

9 hours in it now. I plan on playing all day because I got school tomorrow.


EDIT: 12 hours in, just saw the red testaments face, like the scene after it. poor Shion.

[HitokiriShadow]

I'm currently 24 hours in (about 2 hours to read through all the encylopeida crap and about 3 for grinding at the end of Labirynthos), and I'm liking it a lot. I thought the stuff with Virgil and Febronia was done quite well, although its a pity they edited that scene as I'm sure there was quite a bit of blood in it originally.

I'm also impressed that I'm still on the first disc (since Episode II's first disc was pretty short).

[_jwb388_]

I'm currently 24 hours in (about 2 hours to read through all the encylopeida crap and about 3 for grinding at the end of Labirynthos), and I'm liking it a lot. I thought the stuff with Virgil and Febronia was done quite well, although its a pity they edited that scene as I'm sure there was quite a bit of blood in it originally.

I'm also impressed that I'm still on the first disc (since Episode II's first disc was pretty short).

I just rewatched the Xenosaga bonus dvd and a lot of stuff is a lot clearer. Like when Virgil dies he sees febronia

[HitokiriShadow]

I do remember him seeing someone now that you mention it. I forgot about that. I need to rebuy Episodes I and II and replay the whole series at some point.

[AsukaxSohryux]

Well I got a little further into the game this week.

Shion and Kevin fight is a joke

[Kilala_06]

How is the Battle system, and graphix? i havent had a paycheck yet, but im hopefully goin out to get it this weekend.

[ZeroRyoko1974]

The battle system is pretty simplified, the graphics really haven't changed. Seems to be a lot of cutscenes. I really like the story.
Kevin was all hot for loli Shion ;)

[MightyDustLoop]

This game rocked. Hard.

[ElDusto]

This game is certainly badass. I like that they actually decided to tie Xenosaga to Xenogears.
You get to see Abel, the first incarnation of Fei.

[MightyDustLoop]

There are plenty of Gears fans who will argue against it. Of course, they have quotes from the original director himself to back their stance, but if I were in his shoes, I too would have said they were different as well. I like pants. I'd prefer not to get them sued straight off of me.

But yeah, having finished all of them myself, one could easily tie Gears into Saga's storyline. Sure, there'd be holes. Differences in the terminology. Differences in the intended timelines for the scenarios. But the Xenoverse is so massive the finished product would never have gone totally in sync with the plan, and there's a plot hole or two in the actual games themselves anyway, so I'm down with it. Compared to some of the relatively short 26 episode anime series we watch with glaring as hell plotholes, a massive epic like Xeno anything melds together relatively well.

Either way, I'm just happy Xenosaga 3 was good. I'd pretty much given up hope on this series doing Xenogears justice. Hell, I gave up on this series even being good after 1 and 2. But 3 was so damn good, it even made the crappy first two games pay off. And while I won't argue its superiority to the Xenogears freaks, it feels like it's at least on the level. And that is awesomeness in itself.

[Vashknives114]

Well I got a little further into the game this week.

Shion and Kevin fight is a joke
It's supposed to be a gimmick battle.
Also, the two "bosses" are the only way to get Shion's extra outfits.

You can steal the research uniform from Shion, and Shion's "white shirt" from Kevin.

[HitokiriShadow]

I finished Episode III last night. Overall a very good game, although the final boss was absurdly easy if you had Erde Kaiser Sigma (it took off about 70% of his health) and I wish there were a few more optional bosses. The ending was good, though a bit more ambiguous and open ended than I would have liked if this is indeed the last game.

Oh, and the removal of all the blood in the game pisses me off to no end. It's just silly seeing people getting repeatedly stabbed, impaled or dismembered, but they can't bleed.

Does anyone else think that Episode III was originally intended to end at Abel's Ark and the last portion was supposed to be part of Episode IV?

[ElDusto]

I finished Episode III last night. Overall a very good game, although the final boss was absurdly easy if you had Erde Kaiser Sigma (it took off about 70% of his health) and I wish there were a few more optional bosses. The ending was good, though a bit more ambiguous and open ended than I would have liked if this is indeed the last game.

Oh, and the removal of all the blood in the game pisses me off to no end. It's just silly seeing people getting repeatedly stabbed, impaled or dismembered, but they can't bleed.

Does anyone else think that Episode III was originally intended to end at Abel's Ark and the last portion was supposed to be part of Episode IV?
Well, they were supposed to have 2 more games after this one, but then decided to mush them all together with the 3rd game. I haven't finished the game yet, but I'm expecting to hear about something like that as people move through the game.
I think the no blood thing is crap, also.

[_jwb388_]

They couldn't afford having it an M rated game because they need every sale they can get so editing out the blood was an alright move.

[HitokiriShadow]

Well, they were supposed to have 2 more games after this one, but then decided to mush them all together with the 3rd game. I haven't finished the game yet, but I'm expecting to hear about something like that as people move through the game.

Yeah, I know. However, it's also possible (and been speculated) that the game was designed to be two trilogies and this was the end of the Shion "arc", which could explain why it wrapped things up so well while still leaving somethings unexplained. However, it seemed to me that the end of Abel's Ark was made for being an ending point. It was perfect for it considering the big boss fights at the end and the events which are similar to other episodes' endings.

I think the no blood thing is crap, also.

They couldn't afford having it an M rated game because they need every sale they can get so editing out the blood was an alright move.

I understand that they wanted as many sales as possible. But editing out every last bit of blood? That's overkill. Some scenes are silly when you see people being stabbed, sliced and impaled with no blood. One particular part of one scene makes no sense until you realize that there is supposed to be a bunch of blood pouring out.

I'm pretty sure the first two episodes had blood in them, so I don't see why they had to completely remove it from this episode.

On a side note, after beating the game, I looked through the character models and I noticed that "white shirt" Shion is missing. Was she removed from the English version or was there no character model for her there in the first place. I'm guessing its the former because the latter doesn't make sense.

Also, several of the KOS-MOS looked identical. I couldn't figure out the difference between 4 and 5 or between 8 and 9.

[_jwb388_]

White shirt shion should be there. I remember the scene with her and Kevin, did you actually get the item? I haven't been able to play Xeno 3 due to school-_-;

[HitokiriShadow]

I got the item, but I didn't see her in the line-up. I'll look again at some point, maybe I just missed her somehow. It shouldn't matter, but I haven't re-loaded my Game Clear date to get any items from that and I didn't use any Episode II Game Clear data. That would be strange if that actually had an effect though. Simply having the item should be enough (and I even equiped it and ran around and fought some battles with it).

[Texcap]

Thanks for chiming in folks!

I finished XSIII this weekend, myself, and I can't tell you how impressed I was with the game, including the massive storyline's "conclusion" (I'm becoming more and more convinced that this isn't necessarily the end, particularly with the apparent success the final game is enjoying). I was blown away with XSI, and after a somewhat dissappointing second episode, I was happily blown away all over again -- for example, I long thought the information surrounding KOS-MOS was going to be cool, but I would never have expected what we got, which was far bett[er] than I could have imagined. It was no different with Shion, Ziggy, Jin and the rest.

*no spoilers here*

I wasn't quite ready for things end when they probably could have, so I spent several hours more than I might have needed enjoying the battles, leveling up, completing side-quests, etc.

(here, have some Erde Kaiser Sigma Xarathustra mech!)

And I'm sure I'll fire it up again not too far down the road, just to enjoy it all over again. As it is, I've still got a few good hours of content to work on, including some database reading, before letting the game have a much deserved rest...

...for a little while that is.

Go get 'em KOS-MOS!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Texcap/Album%201/KOS-MOS_sig3Fb.gif

[Sanada Warrior]

This game rocked. Hard.

I agree, this game is probably my tied for my fav PS2 RPG with Star Ocean 3. It's a shame I didnt like the first two though. >_<