Overview

This game is called uninteresting by some and boring by others still due to graphical standards at the time. This game is undoubtedly one of SquareSoft's best, a hit, and despite scattered criticism is considered a momentous achievement.

Body

Graphics - I wanted to get these out of the way, as although they are not integral in the making of an excellent game you can't ignore the fact that they are there. Xenogears' background can be rotated from eight different views, and the characters can be viewed from eight different angles. New players should keep in mind that these were the standards of 1998, and they haven't aged very well, but at the time (which is what I'm rating them by) they were quite good for an RPG. Characters resemble sprites, and when fighting large enemies or in the "gears" they are three dimensional. The graphics usually suffer from large pixelation because the environment isn't pre-rendered (such as in Final Fantasy VII) and can be rotated. The graphics take NOTHING from this incredible experience. However, the anime cut scenes are simply excellent and the characters are extremely well drawn, making this game higher in the graphical bar. Overall, the graphics are enjoyable, but at this time if you are a new player that is simply crazy about graphics purely, beware. (9/10)

Gameplay - The gameplay is very detailed and extensive both in battle and outside, however it varies from disc to disc.

On Both Discs: You will be able to either fight with a character themselves, or a gear. The characters can extend their attacks into special combinations that end in "X," and not only do they look awesome, but they eventually deal a large amount of damage. This is an excellent addition that adds a twist to battle. They can also use items, escape, a sort of magic called 'Ether' etc. On the field, one can be in their gears in certain large areas, but they will have to be out of them to access certain areas, so this adds another twist. Gears can be piloted in battle, and any non-event battle, however one must remember that experience is less when the enemy is defeated outside of a gear, and only a small enemy. Gears can charge fuel, which they consume. A strong attack consumes 30 units, a medium attack 20, and a weak attack 10. They can also boost to speed up and use fuel. They are capable of using deathblows and combos on level 1-3, depending on how long you attack normally. This gives a trade-off and many effective strategies, especially with an ATB gauge The gameplay is intricate, often times high in options, and gives one the ability to access a dimension of exploration that not as many other RPG's give.

On Disc One: Gameplay is large and open, but there are many cut scenes. While they aren't often TERRIBLY long, they can get a bit lengthy. However the story is so gripping, interesting, and entertaining that one is sure to drink up every bit of it. One plays much of this long portion of the game.

On Disc Two: VERY often spoken of because of the large base on story rather than actually playing. This is actually a smaller portion of the game. Someone who doesn't enjoy listening might not enjoy this, because you only actually play at set intervals, but before the last fights you have access to the standard airship and can go most anywhere in that world. (10/10)

Sound - The sound is very realistic; the sound of feet on metal, flesh hitting flesh, and weird noises from strange creatures encountered every now and then. The height of this game's excellence in the sound department is in the MUSIC! The soundtrack is simply excellent, conveying every set of emotions, even to a point of being happy and sad at the same time. Yasunori Mitsuda truly pulled out all of the stops, because this is a sure hit. The tunes illustrate the emotions of each character, and even aid you in feeling the creepy feelings they wish to convey. This is definitely a plus in the overall experience of the game. (10/10)

Replay Value - Surprisingly high! The story is so phenomenal that you will notice multiple things you didn't notice at first. It's long, but it doesn't seem as long the second time. The second time around you'll notice things that you didn't even remember. Value is a must, and this game has it in spades. Two times through is more than enough to occupy, and this game should be in the collection of any RPG player. Furthermore, at 20 dollars it's practically a steal. (9/10)

Story - The strongest (and I mean strongest) aspect of the game is its stress on story. This story is so complex, intricate, pulling, twisting, and enjoyable that I'm having a hard time revealing any of it without messing something up (and running out of adjectives to praise the story). You start out as the 18-year-old Fei Fong Wong in the tranquil village of Lahan, and are violently separated from it due to a life-taking fiery incident that later becomes more and more mysterious. The incident was involving gears, the mechs, and later with doctor Citan Uzuki you leave to find answers to Fei's lost memory, violent past, and the truth about what's going on in the world. Warring nations Aveh and Kislev are fighting on the Ignas continent, but Aveh is aided by the city in the sky, Solaris, that appear to have something ulterior planned for the whole world. (10/10)

Summary

The story is phenomenal, as the characters are all gripping due to their personalities. The value and enjoyment are high, and set the level of human comprehension. SquareSoft truly prove themselves.

Percentage Overall Score: 99%