I Played Xenosaga For The First Time (2/3)

[@TheKisekiNut]

Part 1 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXK6pYqhm69-mMk Part 3 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZm5n6KVZqp7ibM

[@stavros3676]

Really enjoyed my time with both of these. Awesome work

[@jetpackindustry]

I gave up on Xenosaga 2 back in 2005 because of the slow combat during random enemy encounters. Well, last year, I decided I was going to complete the trilogy. I replayed episode 1 and got to episode 2 and started hating it again until i found out you don't have to go through the whole dance during random enemy encounters. You can overcome them quicker with just regular attacks. I finished it and episode 3 after all these years. Great nostalgic video, TKN.

[@twinklefeet]

While I have my issues with Xenosaga 2, that Space Motorbike scene is forever etched into my brain, is a personal favourite and highlight for the whole series.

[@stevenanderson7620]

So fun fact: had the games proceeded along its relative original course, the series would have been like seven or more games. There were supposed to be three duologies, so episode 3 was originally to be episode 2. I say that bc ya know the episode 2 we got was split off from episode 1. If you watch original trailers for episode 1, you see some stuff that appears in the second game but in the first game’s engine. This also explains some of the dungeons that to me kinda feel like filler (I have a theory Ormus Stronghold was added towards the end of the dev cycle). Anyways, Hot take: you don’t even really need to stock up that much for normal battles unless it’s a tough one-on-one non boss enemy. Maybe once or twice 90% of the time. You just have to switch in characters that can hit enemy weaknesses, and then learn the break code. Maybe even analyze just to see what it is, bc that will tell you break zones. The game will actually grant you a stock if you hit weaknesses/zones to knock something down, then you can boost other characters in to continue hitting things. Some battles are undoubtedly slow but idk…. Even in endgame normal battles rarely ever took more than three minutes. I’m being so serious when I say using the analyze ether spell is so underrated when it comes to Xenosaga players, it really helps a ton. If you think of playing the game a bit more like Final Fantasy X, I feel it helps me formulate strategies a lot better bc it’s like during the main game of FFX, how every character is so deeply specialized with different stats and attributes. Shion is generally great vs. mechanical enemies, MOMO and Jr. and Ziggy are generally best against Biological enemies, etc. Sorry for the long winded post but I felt the need to share.

[@GupGW740]

Nice breakdown of episode 2. Can’t wait for your video of episode 3, it’s one of my personal favourites and satisfying finale to Xenosaga series.

[@redbirdtribe]

I will defend a second milsha's Christmas music with my life

[@Rex_Cosmos]

This game is up there with Meet Joe Black as the most effective sleep aid. I’ve never made it past the opening cutscene.

[@charliebee5154]

You! You.... you... you.... you.... From aaaaall the way across the internet, you've defined my absolute favorite movie...as a sleep aid?!?! Yeah, that actually checks out.😁

[@Rex_Cosmos]

@@charliebee5154LOL I mean I enjoy that movie too but eventually it feels like just a slide show of Brad Pitt would be just as enthralling.

[@ZegZegZegZeg]

I think the voice acting changes are a clear issue (for Shion and KOS-MOS especially) but I think the real offender is the voice DIRECTION even returning VA’s like Jr’s and Allen’s sometimes just have very awkwardly paced sentences and flat delivery despite being great in episode 1 and furthermore the new VA’s in this game like Jin’s and MOMO’s who have downright terrible dry delivery at points came back in episode 3 and absolutely killed their roles (like especially Jin’s va) so it seems to me it was more of a directorial issue than an actual talent issue

[@pagesagely]

That seems likely. Some of the replacement voices that did badly have had some incredible roles. Shion's replacement was Ty Lee in Avatar, KOSMOS' was Jazz Fenton in Danny Phantom. When most of the actors struggled in one game, it seems more a pattern than a strike against the individual actors.

[@SacrificAbominat]

If they were to remaster this trilogy episode 2 would need the most work to be less of a slog to get through. Definitely reducing the normal enemy HP to the point that they can be one cycled without stocking instead of having to do all the setup to beat them would make the battles way more tolerable. I would keep the bosses pretty much the same though as they are a pretty good challenge, especially the post game bosses if you want to take them on. I also like that this game introduced Break, Topple, and Launch which became staples of Xenboalde's combat system. I would also like them to rerecord some of the lines, bring back KOS-MOS and Shion's original voice actors to reprise their lines and have MOMO's new voice actor redo her lines as she was much better directed in the 3rd game. As for the music I'd mostly redo the area themes so their a bit more in line with Kajiura's work, but I do think the battle themes are actually pretty good as they are. They definitely need to redo the character models. I don't think the outfits are bad, but the realistic proportions are really jarring. Lastly they need to improve the side content a lot as it's easily the worst part of the game, and other than the optional dungeon in the sewers of Second Miltia and the post game dungeons I never really did any of it. Also a lot of fairly useful skills aren't available to the player if they aren't interested in doing the side content. I don't think they could include shops in the game, but they need to have the drop rate of common healing items increase as the grind for those was kind of annoying. I'd also like them to increase the healing rate of items and spells as it's way too low for how much damage normal enemies and bosses do in this game. Also the decision to focus on Jr for this game was more or less the decision of the new team that was working on this game than what Takahashi and his wife wanted, and the technically more Canonical version of this episode, the DS version, is more focused on Shion and KOS-MOS. The DS version apparently really fleshes out episode 2's story as well, but unfortunately there is no fan translation for that version of this game. If they do remaster this trilogy I would like them to include Xenosaga DS, Pied Piper, and A Missing Year as they are in the remaster since the latter two are actually somewhat important to the plot and the DS version is more or less a director's cut of the first two games.

[@DarkwraithAbyssal]

Man, after watching these videos, I have the urge to play through this series. It feels like I’m missing something important by not having played them yet. Hopefully I can get them with ease via emulation.

[@eliotwildermann]

Ooo the 2nd episode is here lets go😊

[@eliotwildermann]

Yeah the artsyle change was shocking 😅😊😊

[@LightMageMike]

As ever, a great way to start the weekend. Thanks for the video!

[@MakoTenseii]

My unpopular opinion is that this is 10x better than the first game

[@jamesrule1338]

The mech stuff in this game reminds me of Xenoblade Chronicles X. Another game that I wish would be ported to Switch.

[@TheKisekiNut]

X doesn't deserve to be left behind. That would be an instant success if it got a port.

[@platzohar]

All that's left is Xenosaga 3.... it's gonna be a treat

[@eliotwildermann]

While I enjoyed the series for what it gave us man what could've been with the 6 part series would've been incredible and one of a kind 😊

[@victorapontejr.8244]

22:41 Okay seriously, what's the song that plays here? I swear so many different JRPG KZbinrs use it in their videos & i can't for the life of me find it anywhere.

[@twinklefeet]

It's "Don't be Defeated by a Friend!" from the Trails of Cold Steel 1 soundtrack

[@redbirdtribe]

So about enemies taking forever you can actually get abilitys that increases the chances significantly when you break an enemy to get a stock out of it it speeds up combat alot and keeps you on the attack.

[@Nikita_Akashya]

Oh yes, time for more swimsuits in space! I actually got used to the artstyle during the course of the video. It is not that bad after you look at it for a while. I do think Rubedo is pretty ok. Obviously I never played the game myself, but having a shift in perspective is always nice if done well. I did hear that the battle system was pretty hit or miss in this game. And of course, more swimsuits! Why is this game in particular so adamant at making you put all your characters in swimsuits? But I now really want to see that sequence with KOS-MOS and her pod mech motorcycle. Time to watch good Aulds Xenosaga lets play series. When I get to it. He also played Suikoden 3, which I also still need to watch. I still hope you had at least some fun with this game. All these space adventures are really grandios and now I want to play my farm RPG and try to get to the part where you go to space. There are way too many fanatasy games where you go to space. Although I don't think they are actually that common. I wish I could give my Farming Hero in space a swimsuit. Btw, I finished the NISA version of Trails from Zero this morning. I stayed up the whole night playing through the final dungeon. It was lots of fun and Tio melted everything with Avalon Gate. I wonder what the swimsuits in Xenosaga 3 look like. You will show them to us, right?

[@TheKisekiNut]

Spoilers, no swimsuits for Episode 3... well I guess there is. But not in combat. You'll see when it comes out!

[@lipsontajgordongrunk4328]

What’s the OST that plays at 4:10 when the combat explanation is given?

[@lipsontajgordongrunk4328]

Figured it out - it’s character battle from the Xenosaga II ost.

[@hundun5604]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't have any issues with episode 2 character design. It's an improvement I think.

[@wheresatari668]

This series is so awesome. I loved the battle system here, even though I am in the minority. Even though the normal fights were a slog, at least it made it feel like everyone was a threat...ish... I wish I had the entire scope of the original six episodes planned, but I'm not crying. My favorite game of all time as a whole since it IS one story, right alongside Final Fantasy IX. Runner up being Shadow Hearts and Covenant. The worst part of this game is, sadly, the sliding puzzle at Jin's house😒

[@ak47dragunov]

For what it's worth, the delivery and overall voice performance in all 3 entries is far better if you play with the Japanese dub

[@thedailylifeofthings]

Hey Kiseki - I just bought a Switch in the Black Friday Sales; could you do a video on the best JRPGs to get for a newbie to Switch - If not, more than happy to take suggestions from the community :D

[@stevenanderson7620]

Hey! My suggestions: Super Mario RPG, Trials of Mana, Dragon Quest XI, Final Fantasy X, Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, SMT Nocturne and/or V, Eiyuden Chronicle Rising, perhaps even Final Fantasy IV, VI, VII, and IX. I hear that Megaman Battle Network is good as well for beginners, but I’ve only played it for a few minutes as opposed to at least a large handful of hours if I haven’t beaten the aforementioned games.

[@thedailylifeofthings]

@@stevenanderson7620 Thanks! I've played DQ11, P5R, FFs on PS4 - so definitely give the others a look at; genuinely, thanks for the reply :D

[@aislingcat5554]

Definitely depends on what jrpgs are on sale in your region. Keep an eye out for the Trails games (Zero & Azure duology, Reverie, and upcoming Daybreak), the combo pack for FF7 & 8, combo pack for Personas 3 & 4, Baten Kaitos duology (remaster from Gamecube). Xenoblade 1-3, Octopath Traveller 1 & 2, Astral Chain, The World Ends With You 1 & Neo, various Atelier games.... Switch has a lot of great jrpgs to choose from.

[@thedailylifeofthings]

@@aislingcat5554 It really does, bit of a minefield coming into it afresh - tempted with Zero & Azure having played the Cold Steel and Reverie games on PS4; and glad you mentioned Astral Chain as that looks darn good!

[@TheKisekiNut]

While I don't think I'd get around to doing a list, there are plenty around from other channels! What I will say is that you made a good purchase, the Switch is JRPG central.

[@tjcihlar1]

I got through the first 2 games, but this one finally ended me. The series had a problem with long battles, and also too many battles.

[@christianlopez707]

I'm kinda mixed on this one. Because although I can kinda see why some say it's the weakest of the trilogy, in some ways I liked it more then the first one. More specifically in the sense that it felt faster to play through.

[@TheKisekiNut]

I thought it had a few areas where it got a one-up on the first, but my goodness it had some low points too.

[@redbirdtribe]

Somebody also made in translated a fan manga of pied Piper if people want to read that

[@eliotwildermann]

Yeah the combat took way to damn long especially coming off playing dynasty warriors where everything is about speed 😅😊

[@chrisv.4279]

Ha, it's interesting that someone who didn't like the style of the first game would also consider the second's to be much worse. I still can barely believe I finished Episode II after disliking nearly everything they did with it. The combat is so awful, and random battles taking like seven minutes in the last dungeon would definitely cause me to abandon a game today. The story kept me hooked, I'm sure. After the whole series is complete, Episode II probably suffers the most from the shift from six games to only three. Even though there are obvious budget issues and they had to cram a lot of info dumps into Episode III, at least they knew what they had to do and mostly succeeded despite the odds. Episode II just ends up feeling like a weird outlier with its focus on Jr.

[@jadennava1571]

Its worse. The current Xenosaga story was supposed to be 2 games. The next two would be a reimagining of Xenogears, with 2 game to take place after that.

[@canisblack]

I didn't remember much about Episode 2 other than I found it incredibly tedious.

[@Ironfungus]

14:30 I hate KZbin -_-

[@princeroan]

Till this day, i dont understand the hate of xenosaga 2 hate. the combat was great, the story was great, and the music was just amazing. i do agree, the voice acting was the only thing i could take bad on.

[@rezonxthepiggert9647]

Loved the combat in this xenosaga. Too bad the 3rd made it boring and somewhat lazy.

[@leadintea]

I actually refused to play XS3 for a couple of years after my brother got it because I was bummed by the changes to the battle system. While I get all the grievances people had with 2's battle system, it was still easily the best and most interesting in the trilogy and I would've loved for Monolith Soft to have improved it for 3 instead of just throwing it away.