I was able to finish the first version of Xenosaga for two months.  At first, I was not able to understand what the game is all about, even the gameplay because of the script that comes with the game.  But as I continued to play the game, I get to appreciate the game and find it interesting and exciting.  That is the reason why when Xenosaga Episode II was released last 2005, I got myself my own copy to see what the 2nd version is all about.  Let me start my take about Xenosaga by telling you the story of the game:

Thousands of years into the future, humanity has left the planet Earth and has unlocked the secrets of space travel. They have reached beyond human limits with their advanced weapons and technology. Their biggest mystery is a powerful ancient artifact known as the Zohar. As they search for this relic, aliens called the Gnosis attack them when they are in Zohar-related space. These phantom-like creatures are the threat to the human race specifically because of its ability to travel freely in multiple dimensions, and its ability to crystallize the bodies of its human victims. Thus, humans search more eagerly for the Zohar in order to relieve them from the chaotic war against the Gnosis, and also to solve the relic's mysteries. Your characters: Shion Uzuki, KOS-MOS, Chaos, Jr., MOMO, and Ziggy will be the main people who search intently for the Zohar and battle the invading aliens powerfully. Unfortunately, you don't solve the puzzle here. The saga continues in the next sequel.

In Xenosaga Episode II, players continue the path in unraveling the secrets of the powerful Zohar relic in order to defeat the threat of the invading Gnosis aliens. Unsure whether or not the sequel ends here (since I myself have not finished the game yet), let me share to you still the special features, the battle system and more of what this game offers.

Shion Uzuki, the game's hero and the chief of Vector Industries' Science division, is the type who has a tragic past for you to uncover. Chaos, my favorite character, possesses strange magical powers granted by an unknown source. He showed incredible magic in the first episode by killing a Gnosis, which is why he became the one closest to my heart while playing the game. Ziggurat-8 or nicknamed Ziggy, is a hundred-year old cyborg who battles his past with the help of a cute 100-series prototype robot, MOMO. MOMO's main purpose is to unlock the secrets of the Zohar, but she and Ziggy develops a sweet father and daughter kind of relationship although he is assigned only as her bodyguard. Jr., one of the few humans in this game, will uncover his past with your help along with his past buddies, Gaignun and your present nemesis, Albedo. Finally, KOS-MOS is the ultimate android weapon specially built for battling the Gnosis and to safeguard the Zohar. She (KOS-MOS) is considered to be humanity's only hope for survival. Players will again control these characters, upgrade their skills, and collect items for unlocking a partnership between two characters during battle.

The gameplay of the first and second episode really don't differ that much. There are just hundreds of new skills to upgrade, more classes to learn, and of course more bosses and puzzles to challenge you. The combat system becomes complicated as there are still three different zones of which you can hit your enemies: A, B, C for top, middle, and bottom. Your regular attacks can do a decent amount of damage, but breaking the enemy's guard by hitting the right combination is the real trick. In most boss battles, breaking the boss's guard is the key to victory. Although the combination may exceed the three letters and needs one more hit, you can use the boost system to catch up. Boosting makes the battles more exciting in an RPG game. You don't hit each other and wait for one to die. Instead, you can cut off each other's turns by boosting and this therefore requires some strategy because your enemies can boost too.

Patience and mastery are needed for completing the explorations of this game. Opening a Segment Address door will reward you with armors or items or even a secret item. But in order to open secret doors like this, of you need to find a key. There will be several Segment Address doors for you to open in the second episode (much like the first one), but the rewards of your patience will most probably satisfying as you equip these free hidden armors or shields on your character.

One of the most fascinating thing that I liked in this game is the fact that you can take the initiative in the battles with the use of the traps (like Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter). Hitting or shooting flammable barrels or exploding generators can make your enemy shocked and unable to move. This gives you the chance to run away or to purposely encounter with the enemy for more A.P. (Ability Points). The explosion of the set trap will alter the stats of your opponent even before entering into battle thus making it easier to beat it.

Similar to the first episode, you will again have the E.V.S. (Environmental Simulator). This will enable players to go back to the previous locations they have undertaken. With the handy E.V.S. with you, you will be able get the important items you missed, open the Segment Address doors, and even battle the aliens with high A.P. points for your character's levels.

The graphics of the second episode is similar to the first. I haven't watched all of the cinematics of the second episode so I can't compare the quality of their movies. But I'm sure that Xenosaga fans out there were not disappointed in the eye-catching graphics of Xenosaga Episode I, so I doubt they won't appreciate episode II.

Given the time, I will try to finish Xenosaga II.  That is after I finish my piling school work and of course my other games. 

Happy Gaming to all!

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You can drop me an email at techjam@hotmail.com

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