Xenogears - Retrospective Review and Analysis

[@heavymellow333]

Seriously one of the best games of all time, so under rated and deserving of a remake.

[@popobol10]

And a direct sequence.

[@Hammy900]

Now that the Switch is a very relevant system, I imagine that Xenogears MIGHT get a remake, or at least ported to Switch, especially if Xenoblade DE does very well.

[@hayleyscomet3447]

Eric Gerwatowski I feel like they would ruin it tbh

[@Jayrol3]

I agree

[@Jayrol3]

@@Hammy900 I got a question is xenogears and xenoblade connected somehow?

[@gatotsu2501]

FYI: Just last month at E3, Takahashi finally clarified what happened with Disc 2: his team was struggling to meet the release date, and Sakaguchi/Square execs suggested he end the game with the destruction of Solaris. Takahashi was unwilling to leave the story incomplete, so he proposed the final form of Disc 2 as a compromise and got the go-ahead. So, in the end the problem was not necessarily the budget but an inflexible deadline.

[@PhenomUprising]

More budget allows a more flexible deadline.

[@trueblueclue]

Still a management problem

[@Cassandra_Solidor]

Adding to this, Square Soft had a policy at the time which required all games to be released within a two year timeframe. This is what prompted their suggestion to end Xenogears during the Solaris arc. In retrospect, that may have worked if Xenogears received a sequel but I cannot exactly fault Takahashi for wanting to finish the game how he envisioned it.

[@leeman27534]

tbh it really did look a lot like the game was built around the idea of solaris being the end, then the second disc's content was added on with less budget/time/care, really.

[@kazejah1014]

Thank God they never stopped at that point. It would have been immensely unsatisfying.

[@PariahEdits]

Just finished Xenogears today and I am in awe. Thanks for making these videos because I would have never checked out Xenogears if not for your retrospective video on it. The depth and complexity of the story is just fascinating and I feel like many games I play today don't captivate me the way this 20+ year old game has. I think that's a testament to how well crafted this tale is. Don't get me wrong, some of the dungeon designs and high encounter rates infuriated me, but I could not stop playing. I truly believe this game is a treasure and there's so many special things about. It makes me sad that a remake is unlikely, but we can always hope...

[@Skyvlk]

The scene in Nisan church with two one winged angels and the explanation behind them still resonates with me after so many years. And the cast, especially Elly, that's something I will never forget.

[@layton9660]

This was an incredible, well crafted review. The time you put into this really shows and you made something fantastic that really does the game justice. Now, I think it's time to play Xenogears again.

[@ResonantArc]

Thanks, Layton! I appreciate you taking the time to comment!

[@AaronBowley]

yes i second this, amazingly well done

[@NikiWonoto26]

Xenogears is probably still the deepest, most complex, thoughtful, & philosophical game (or I would even say MASTERPIECE!) that i've ever played. so far NO game has even come close to rival Xenogears. and actually, perhaps contrary to most people, I actually love even more of disc two (despite of all its flaws), because the story just goes even much more deeper, complex, & what's really leaving some very deeply POWERFUL impacts & effects even still until now/today! the music is also one of the best I've ever listened, combining the most epic, 'holiest', & even most touching and tearful music that people will always remember deeply in their mind & hearts. thank you so much for such very detailed as well as heartfelt video/review. very excellent, and subscribed! (from Indonesia)

[@iladhunynugroho2956]

Niki Wonoto njir. org mana lu kok demen xenogears. ane kira d indo tdk ada yg suka xenogears

[@miraj6272]

What about Planescape Torment? Just started playing that game so idk.

[@daoyang6055]

The thing is, this game is beautiful because of how much lore they gave it when the game came out and after it came out. The book "perfect works" is a rare item and I'm trying to get my hands on it. You realize how many libraries don't have this book? All of them.... Lol I've played this game twice. Beat it once only. When I was a kid I made it very far but it never caught me for it's story, it was the varied combat between the button mashing and humans to gears. There were two different combat mechanics and you had to learn both. As I grew older I had a conversation about the Xenoblade and xenosaga games and how well their stories can fit in with the 6 part book that works it's way towards Xenogears premise. It prompted me to go back and play the game again. Used my credit card, bought it on the ps store and sat at home and played for 89+ hours. Then the story hit me. I never knew how deep the game was until I played it. A game that touches upon humanity, spirituality, religion, war, pedophilia, abandonment, and love, it does it really well without completely falling flat on any one topic it throws at you. Disc 1 was a galore of exploration and combat leveling and disc 2 was a virtual novel. It was text after text of exposition and it let you in on the ways of life on an abandoned planet that's torn with war and greed and everything in between (personal stories of love, abandonment, etc). Honestly the sudden change of gameplay worked for me, it's like taking a break from all the drama and fights that were happening in disc 1. The music was beautiful no matter what anyone says. Mitsuda getting Joanne Hogg to sing a thematic epic with her beautiful and angelic voice is genius. Fei Fong Wong saving Elhaym Van Houten in the end and Krelian sacrificing himself to Deus to delay the consumption of "lambs" was the perfect way to end it. Though I think the game could have done without Chu Chu.

[@andrewtyler2605]

Miraj did you end up liking Planescape: Torment? I actually tried playing it for the first time directly after completing Xenogears and I personally wasn't enjoying it at all and gave up. I plan to approach that game and give it another shot in the future but I might need to be in the right state of mind for it.

[@miraj6272]

I took a break from it as well, Im playing all the modern CRPG's first before playing Planescape again. The game can be a little confusing as where to go. However so far the game is damn good(The plot of the Main quest unbelievable.) I recommend you levelling up Wisdom max, then Charisma and Intelligence, because the game is about dialoges and choices, not fighting.

[@Weehawk]

I remember asking a kid in high school to explain what Xenogears was about. He struggled for a second and then said it's basically about killing god. I was blown away that a game would even attempt such a story and I knew I had to play it.

[@samt3412]

Well I guess you didn't play that many JRPGs did you

[@Weehawk]

@@samt3412 The fuck you talking about?

[@samt3412]

@@Weehawk no, it's just that a LOT of JRPGs involve killing God at the end. It's kind of a meme at this point

[@daffty8483]

@@KingNekodom bro BRO B R O

[@TerraOblivion27]

@@samt3412 well in the 90s when this game came out, pretty sure it was the first of it's kind

[@BigDaddyCrag]

I really wish this game could be brought back in its complete form, its game just screams at you to think and ponder the ideas and concepts that no other ever has for me. Still to this day I play through it and I can keep starting from the beginning to end and not get tired.

[@6lu5ky86]

It's amazing how you guys review older games in such a way that they sound like they're new releases.

[@tmh44]

Xenogears and FF7 shaped a lot of my gaming youth...while there is certainly some nostalgia attached to Xenogears, I really enjoyed playing through it and still think the soundtrack is nearly without equal. Great video!

[@ResonantArc]

Just a couple of things I'd like to add: 1. I think the cast in this game is really excellent. All of the characters are likable (maybe excluding Chu Chu), and even characters I didn't think I would like at first ended up being layered and interesting (Billy really surprised me in this regard). A few of the main party are under developed (mostly Rico), which is unfortunate, but the villains... are SO amazing. I love how much screen time they give to villains in this game, and how we're given time to understand their differing and often opposing motivations. It's something you rarely see, and I think it was really well done in Xenogears. I'll talk more about this in my story analysis video later! 2. The lore and plot are really something else in this game. There is tons to dive into outside of the game and it's all incredibly fascinating. I wanted to avoid spoilers as much as I could in the video, but like I said above, I'll cover the story more thoroughly in my story analysis video in the future. Just want to thank everyone again who participated in the discussion video series. I learned a ton from you guys! It really helps me out when you guys take the time to comment and talk about these amazing games with me! You guys are beasts! Now... on to Final Fantasy XI!

[@danholo]

Wait what? :D I started watching the discussion videos yesterday and was going to ask when the Review is coming out. Can't say your reviews aren't well thought out.

[@jus4000kicks]

Ive only played this game to the start of the second disc but I liked what I experienced and wanted to complete this game. I heard a number of times how complex and thought provoking this game is. This review details both the issues and strengths quite well while not spoiling the story and I really appreciate that. It sounds like Xenogears is one of those shining examples of why there are video games worth playing despite the amount of time it takes to go through them. A lot of games are entertainment only and although there might be a few benefits to them there are much more worthy pursuits in real life. This though is one of those games that is worth spending time on because it has the potential to change you and give you an experience that you can get in few other places plus it can carry over into enhancing your life. Im typically not into mech games but this seems to go beyond mechs. Awesome job Dark Pixel!

[@mikeAustinstonecold]

Awesome review as always, good job mike :D

[@LordKaiser003]

Sadly under a politically correct company like Nintendo even in collaboration with SE a remake of a game like this without cut out content will never be a reality. I wished that Monolith Soft had been a freelancer company.

[@ResonantArc]

+LordKaiser003 I don't know man, if Mad World and No More Heroes can be Nintendo exclusives I don't see why Xenogears couldn't work. I really don't think it's that controversial to be honest.

[@sor3999]

So sad about Yasunori. He gave us some of the best music in gaming at the cost of his health. Talk about passion.

[@robertbarber1198]

This soundtrack was one of the best of its time his contribution made him immortal.

[@rogerarteaga2665]

And then he gave us the incredible tracks in Soul Sacrifice

[@UsernameInvalid48]

truly the GOAT!

[@omegamanGXE]

I heard he died of ligma 😢

[@BlueHokage]

ID is still a badass 20 years later

[@marvingomez6016]

20 years???? 😲 this was my first jrpg ever... And I still haven't found another jrpg that make feel... well... the way this game did... an amazing experience

[@GRAG3R]

Xenosaga is also pretty tear-worthy. Beat all of em blind in 2018 and nothing has made me feel like this for a long, long while besides other Xeno titles.

[@ad5232]

BlueHokage Are you strong?

[@deadlift1677]

How odd, I've never seen someone spell Grahf's name like that before.

[@randymorris3417]

The music... while you fought ID was haunting

[@JamesBuschell]

Xenogears and Final Fantasy Tactics are my favorite games of all time

[@armyofninjas9055]

JB TV For real. Why square has no love for them is beyond me...

[@LouciousDark]

Right there with you, bud. Their absolute best.

[@LuminaireLRP]

JB TV SAME. Xenogears takes first but they are both masterpieces in character driven storytelling and human at their core. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

[@partybarge]

I like you

[@standcontractdelta8120]

+1 to Final Fantasy Tactics. I have Xenogears (only just bought it) but still haven't played it yet. Im waiting until I have no distractions so I can enjoy it

[@JCrossJ]

It just fascinates me how much more thought and content you still had for the review that we all didn't cover in the discussions. Also! The way you explained the battle system here was just perfect! If anyone ever has problems understanding it now there is one video on youtube I can link them to. I was blown away by the graphics explaining T1, T2... You balanced so well the issues and the praise; and explained perfectly why it all happened. And again, so much time given to Mitsuda and his work. You're awesome! Best Xenogears review on KZbin! No one can get even close :D PS: so stoked for a story analysis video. That's gonna be crazy!

[@cjarmour7288]

CHRONO TRIGGER, CHRONO CROSS AND XENOGEARS, BEST IN EXISTENCE OF VIDEO GAME HISTORY, ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!!!!!!

[@marciamakesmusic]

Chrono Cross kinda bad tbh Edit: alright I tried playing it again and tbh it fucking slaps

[@Sidtheriser07]

Xenoblade too

[@DarkCode]

I disagre. FF 7, FF12, FF8, FFTactics wail, Dragon quest series, and my favorite Tactics Ogre let us cling together are the best. These are worthy challengers perhaps but nothing beats TOgre and FF DQ combo and the world of Ivalice is the best world ever made

[@TouchPlayEmu]

@@marciamakesmusic bad huh but got 10/10 by GameSpot hmmm

[@internetjesus]

I really appreciate this review. Xenogears is my favorite game of all time because of all the themes you talk about in the video. My god, the story is so layered that I just fell into it. I don't know any other game offhand with a ten thousand year backstory.

[@SuperDuperSonicSpeed]

You are by far the most underrated reviewer on KZbin. Literally everything is constructed so well in your videos. Absolutely top-notch content for sure.

[@christophersuganutz9954]

On Christmas morning this demo was included with my brave fencher musashi and was blown away, the day the game came out I bought it from toys r us and spent the next three days straight in my room to beat the game. I can honestly say this game changed my idea of gaming and is still hands down my favorite game of all time and I always recommend it to anyone who loves RPG’s !

[@blackishpariah]

I remember the demo, played the shit out of it

[@razmeanie4519]

@@blackishpariah Me too!

[@christianprincedebates6740]

Yup, I remember playing the demo to pieces.

[@Shorkshire]

Brave fenced musashi was hard as fuck for 9 year old me. Like god damn

[@FarmersAreCool]

Remember you could pop i nthe demo disc, then switch the the game disc and it would play all the anime cut scenes or something.

[@donaldxavier2056]

Xenogears if my favorite RPG ever. The characters, the soundtrack, the story, the graphics, the combat system, the mechs... everything about this game is incredible. I am a total fanboy. I own 10 copies. I would love if this game were remade so that the entire story was fleshed out properly. It will never happen but the game is unparalleled regardless

[@TheRealEnate]

I fully agree man I have one I play and one unopened and one on my psvita.

[@zaydraco]

I am agreed, probably having the full 6 episodes would have been the greatest thing ever

[@darylrussell7959]

Donald Xavier well... im not sure if i still own my copy i would have to do some searching.. u want to sell me one?

[@blackishpariah]

I would also like to buy one and I. Dead serious.

[@OhneSinnQuiz]

you want to sell me one copy?

[@TheLuNaMaStEr]

It's hard to express the type of emotions I feel after watching one of your videos Mike, but man is it powerful. For the first time this is a title I haven't beaten yet so largely I'm unable to relate to your experiences within the game, and despite all this I'm still just completely in awe of your delivery. If there were some kind of Academy Award for game documentation, you would rival Alan Menken. There is no one on your level.

[@ResonantArc]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate it!

[@lelxrv]

Greatest JRPG story ever told. Most affecting, dramatic, deep and beautiful. Music from this game still sends chills down my spine.

[@stefanoannarumma4804]

I have been in love with Xenogears for almost 15 years now. The themes of these games are just fascinating and the music...I still love it and brings back so many memories. Not just a part of my past and my life but much more...

[@thegreatpretendo]

Even though it's not a perfect game, it had a profound effect on my at a young age. This is why it will always and forever be my favorite game of all time. Great video, I couldn't stop watching. :)

[@sheercold26]

Me too. This game FUCKED ME UPPPPPP in all the best ways

[@carfo]

Woot finally, you have done this game justice as no one has since 1997. Thanks for the amount of research and time you put into not only this review but the discussions as well. XG is my favorite game but that doesn't mean it doesn't have flaws

[@chrischandra5207]

The music, the stories, the gears and everything that came with this game is a masterpiece. There are still so many memories about this game that I still hold dear. Thank you for doing such a good review on this game.

[@RememberTheAGES]

Thank you for this review. The attention you gave Xenogears is beyond amazing. This game means so much to me and your review really covered the excellence of this experience. This is my all time favorite video game review and I am not using that lightly either. Very well done. Thank you.

[@BradHelsing]

It's just so sad that series never got a true redux. Xenosaga was supposed to tell the first 4 episode's stories that led up to Xenogears (5th). The story of the Eldridge crashing into the planet, Miang, and the contact.. Why Deus was being transported and to where. And then the story of Cain and the elders, Abel and so on. Then Lacan and Krelian's time with Sophia's era. So much potential. Xenogears is still my favorite game of all time.

[@brianclarkson5300]

Glad you took your time on this one! It was well worth the wait!

[@aniketsanyal5586]

Just watched this video for the second time. This is quality content and some of the best work I've seen on this channel! The passion you guys have for talking about and understanding games and story telling is infectious. Thanks for the videos guys, keep it up!

[@Rafaelanimes1983]

Loved your review man, not just because this my favorite game of all, but because you treat and caring that it deserves.

[@NationalistAF]

a masterpiece JRPG. i love Xenogears. wish there were a true Xenogears 2. Seriously one of the best games of all time, so under rated and deserving of a remake.

[@arrynroyce72]

This aesthetic ended up ageing so much better than Final Fantasy VII. I love the 2d sprites in 3d environments.

[@Zematus737]

The best Xenogears review I have found to date. It's like people are almost intimidated of making a review of this title, because there is just no way to fit everything this game embodies in a short review. Now, I used to read a lot as a teenager, so when disc 2 came into play, I welcomed it as a respite from all the walking and camera turning, the anxiety of the fuel shortages in gear scenarios and repetition in random encounters on foot. I sat there pressing a single button transfixed by the story, with my imagination taking it much farther than any dev time could have ever done justice to. Whatever flaws have come out or things overlooked, retrospection has done much more for this game over the years as I pondered the meaning of a soul when I remembered Krelian's flesh factories; when I remembered the role of Ramsus and Dominia's love for him. Sometimes the things you leave out become the ones that are more impactful contemplated later on. How the saga series unfolds that ::spoiler:: Elly is a realian and how these machines become the ruling class is just.. mind blowing. That these machines could achieve a human soul is the absolute best ending imaginable, even though most people did not understand Krelian's ascension scene, with the sexless body and the seraph wings, when they took this concept completely to extreme limits of theology. Thank you for the review. I now love FF6 much more, realizing two Xenogears hearts were part of making that experience too. And I'm surprised, after talking about the mess of camera twisting in a complex dungeon, you didn't mention the last dungeon. LOL.. that honeycomb design was such a troll. I literally paused the game for 15 minutes and grabbed my head. My 16 year old mind almost blew up. Made it through my first attempt still, though I was certain I was going to run out of fuel.

[@Spielewelten]

Never played Xenogears but I have it in my PS1 Collection. I think it's time to play this masterpiece

[@Julia-hk9jp]

that's cool you have your collection...mine its now but an ashes/dust including my ps2 and games..

[@Jack_80]

i finally played it because of how amazing everyone kept saying it is and i had some fun with it but it's extremely slow paced and seems to often drag on for hours and hours. there is quite a bit that could have been cut from the story so they wouldnt have been so rushed in the end to finish it. i like a deep story but they overdid it in this game. also the combat is just doing the most powerful combo you have unlocked over and over until you unlock a new one. once you unlock the final one that's pretty much all you do, gets old after the first hundred times you do them. idk i got into the game but don't find it nearly as amazing as most people seem to.

[@bornetocosmos3154]

@@Jack_80 You sir, are right. :) Pretty enjoyable game still tho. :)

[@nicolasdg4660]

have you play ?

[@blountman747]

So what you think of the game did you finish it?

[@TryckSpot]

I appreciate you being able to do what I could not, and actually give aknowledgement to the games shortcomings (other than disc 2, there was no avoiding that one). I totally agree with your review and like you, I was able to forgive it's faults because of it's wanders. It still remains my favorite game of all time because of it's fantastic positives.

[@SteveRudzinski]

To this day Xenogears is my favorite game of all time. Even with the Disc 2 issues it's STILL that good. I had my wife play it last year to experience it and while she didn't love it AS MUCH as me she still thought it was a really great game with a great cast, great story, great NPCs, and a battle system she liked way more than she expected to. It was cool to see her enjoy the game so much even with the Disc 2 issues, seeing her love it with no nostalgia at all.

[@iladhunynugroho2956]

Steve Rudzinski you have dreamed girl as your wife

[@whiteyoh6216]

Steve Rudzinski you sir have a great wife !

[@viivsyn4893]

i remember xenogears, i still hold a spot in my heart for it, it was truely a great game, the music and anime cutscenes was a very nice touch and the really complex story was also really nice.. i'd absolutely love to see the game remade as long as they don't change how the gameplay is or try to turn it episodic

[@Densetsu13]

Thank you for this review. I discovered your channel over the holidays and have been eating up all of your content, including old podcasts! Like I've been telling my friends, these are not just simply reviews, they are well thought out, thought provoking, documentaries on games that I have cherished and loved for years. Kudos! My hat goes to you three and the clear passion that goes into your content. :)

[@ResonantArc]

Thanks! I'm really glad you're enjoying the videos! It means a lot that you are taking the time to reach out. It keeps us motivated to move forward!

[@cronoesify]

Dark Pixel Gaming for real. keep it up, guys. you are onto something big.

[@cavzach]

You've got a new subscriber here after seeing this video. First played Xenogears in 2009 I think and it instantly jumped up there with some of my favorite games of all time and you hit nearly all the major points as to why it's so great. Imagining how awesome it'd have been if it had a bit more time to fully flesh out disc 2 is almost too much to comprehend.

[@fldhcky1828]

During the part where he explains how to cancel you turn during battle to store AP for later it reminded me of Bravely Default and how you can Default and store BP for later turns. I wonder if Xenogears is where the idea came from.

[@shelterfromcold8620]

Your reviews are such a breath of fresh air. The way you analyze and break down a game is captivating!

[@brunoseveriano8250]

what a great work you did on reviewing my favorite RPG! The level of detail and love for gaming in your videos are always so high! Please continue your amazing work!

[@SSangsen]

Two words: Kahran Ramsus. My god (my deus, lol) how I loved that character and his backstory. Also I think disc 2 > disc 1. The story speeds up so much it's insane.

[@ribertfranhanreagen9821]

It should be 2 3 disc game easy

[@RM2011ish]

Xenogears is probably my favorite JRPG of all time. Also the fact that such blood, sweat and tears went into this masterpiece makes me appreciate it even more. It's LONG overdue for a Remaster.

[@MrBlackswordsman]

I must say, I've never heard of your channel before this. I saw this video posted over at /r/Xenogears and was thoroughly and pleasantly surprised. This is one of the best Xenogears reviews I have ever seen and it got me to subscribe! :)

[@michaelmooner]

Xenogears was AMAZING. One of the only games that made me fall in love with RPG's. Final fantasy got nothing on this game.

[@Dacho_Shaki]

Although not a perfect JRPG by any stretch, it is probably my favorite one. Just the scope and the amount of ambition amazes me. I wish that one day Square-Enix goes back to Xenogeears and makes a remake or an extended cut of sort some day. Although it is a wishful thinking. I'd wish they remake Xenogears with better filtered 2D sprites and just finish the second disc properly.

[@nothingtoseehere6142]

Perhaps have Monolith Soft work on it? Nintendo exclusive of course.

[@Dacho_Shaki]

If they do that. I'd be buying Switch immediately.

[@jamesgomez9151]

What they should of done is split it into 2 games the first go around, if they do an in depth remake it'll probably need to be a trilogy .

[@Dacho_Shaki]

***** Xenoblade isn't a bad game, but it didn't hook me as well as Xenogears did.

[@cpncorndogg]

Its really something unique and special. From the story, and the attention to detail in all locations is something we dont find in other games. The music also is seriously one of the best soundtracks that drive the moments.

[@TheDropPodCast]

Just watching this review brought me to tears, this game is such an incredible work of art, I would give the last years of my life to dedicate to it's remake and gift the world of it's perfection. My fear is that the hardwork of the team was like a Deities hammer on a gilded weapon and the mold was simply broken after it was created.

[@s4faction373]

The Drop Pod Cast I'm so happy you feel that way. This game has something I cannot explain. I love FF7, but Xenogears i truly wish had a remake with nothing different but graphics. Best wishes.

[@brunofernandesos]

Remake? Where?

[@davidwu3328]

Yeah A remake with todays graphics n technology will be awesome

[@pmanlicious7117]

@@davidwu3328 i wish they would be remake it with the same style 2D

[@KrazyKoto]

This was beautiful and I'm impressed with the amount of work that you put into this video and its review. It was nice to hear your thoughts and just see someone talk about this game again. The attention you put into it and the nice cohension of your thoughts makes me appreciate what you do. Thank you for giving this game a fair look.

[@chocobros1]

I love these reviews. If I can get some reliable and disposable income I'm definitely going to support this channel on Patreon in hopes of getting videos of this same high quality released at shorter intervals.

[@advendra6078]

Absolutely one of the best RPG game of all time with how deep and how much story with its world they made in to this game. This is probably still top 3 of my most favorite RPG if not of all games. Also, the music soundtracks is really really amazing I still remember them all in my heart.

[@lucbauer]

xenogears is the wine of the games. the older it gets, the more you appreciate it. everytime i hear the main theme, it brings strong emotions to my heart. i just want to live again those scenes. unfortunately a remake will never be made.

[@tanakattack5965]

WE MUST NOT LOSE HOPE. REBELLIONS ARE BUILT ON HO.... wait wrong story.

[@Terracorrupt0]

This was a joy to watch. Fantastic Analysis. Great to see more content on this game, for all it's flaws and idiosyncrasies, it really is a fascinating case study!

[@VyseLegendaire]

Great work here. Thanks for putting all of this one place for people to digest. Its weird seeing 10 years later how people are still discovering a game which you had been a closeted devotee of and seeing what we saw, discussing it on our outdated message boards and fansites in the infancy of the web. I'm still desperate to see Takahashi approach something of this level of complexity again in his newer works, and was disappointed at the focus in Xenoblade X on combat and gameplay over narrative, but on the other hand you def. need to check out Xenosaga… great stuff.

[@haruhisuzumiya6650]

Vyse Legendaire try out xenoblade 2 then.

[@MistaFreeman1]

Excellent review of a timeless classic. To cram the magic of this game in 30 minutes is no easy task. Thumbs up. Can I also note, the non-playable characters were just as deep and complex as the playable protagonists. Notably, Ramsus and his obsession with Fei.

[@Leenia18]

thank you so much! I never heard anyone talking in such amazingly informed way about such little diamonds like Xenogear! I couldnt finish it and stopped playing several years ago might maybe restart completly to not miss out on anything from the story. I cant wait for more review from you about such kind of games!

[@modms11]

Finally something about the most underrated game in ps1. It was hard to know anything about , since it was restricted in so many countries. Thankfully I had a chance to play this game on psp back in 2012. And it was a blast!

[@tylertanner7378]

This video (and by extension the game) changed my literal whole personality. I am irrevocably changed as a human being. Thank you

[@Allvah2]

Absolutely beautiful review of one of the best games ever made. Thank you.

[@camsterdam3896]

In my opinion, Xenogears was the best Squaresoft game ever made... 20+ mins of anime in a gloriously large game, giant robots, fighting your own subconscious, fantastic character arcs, and a music box song that makes me cry like a little bitch...well worth both the time and money.

[@notimeforcreativenamesjust3034]

I respect your opinion but I have a rebuttal... CHRONO TRIGGER

[@lucasrinaldi9909]

@@notimeforcreativenamesjust3034 This is unfair. Chrono Trigger it's a Square Soft + Enix game. In other words, Chrono Trigger = perfection.

[@WhoLoc]

Just played this game for the first time last year, fuckin awesome game , I love the combat. Great video guys

[@CZARCALIFORNIA]

Love your reviews man! You’re always so positive and always dive deep to break down how they’re made not just opinions on graphics/gameplay.

[@stevendolges8372]

The gear transformation scene has joyous music because it is making fun of Sentai tv shows (Power Rangers and their Zords or Voltron)... I thought that was pretty obvious at the time.

[@TryckSpot]

That's exactly what I was thinking when that scene played out. I was basically yelling gogo power rangers!

[@TrentCastanaveras]

omg, I was singing gogo power rangers too!

[@Slop_Dog]

i agree. i assumed that scene was supposed to be comedic because of how silly it was to couple it with that song. iirc they play the standard boss music after that, would have been cool to just continue playing this during the fight.

[@CrystalFist001]

That's fine in and as of itself but the reviewer makes a good point in that they shouldn't have recycled Maria/Siebzehn's theme (which was also used for Chu-chu's transformation) for it. They should have given the 5 elements super robot its own "joyous" theme tune instead of using one already established as central to one of the heroes.

[@MillenniumEarl014]

CrystalFist001 Can't blame em cuz aint Mitsuda almost dead composing for Xenogears? lmao They can't delay the game anymore so they just recycled some music and make disc 2 a visual novel.

[@agroed]

That was the best explanation of deathblows I've ever heard. There were times when I thought my deathblow experience was just bugged, because I knew what my next deathblow sequence was with a certain character having unlocked it with Fei previously, but when I would do the combo I wouldn't get any XP. Really frustrating. I didn't know each specific animation had an XP bar associated with it. That's so needlessly overcomplicated. Welcome to Xenogears I guess LMAO.

[@RetroFrito]

I'll never forget my first time seeing this game on the shelf at EB Games. I asked the clerk if he thought the game was any good. He glanced over and then went back to looking at his magazine, and then asked "What does that say in the bottom corner?" And I said "Squaresoft" and then he asked "And what was your question again?" I bought it that day. Still have my original copy.

[@Jack_80]

Frito ever since that changed to square enix the quality has been going downhill. with ffxv being the worst ff by far imo

[@RetroFrito]

@@Jack_80 I have to say so far my opinion is that FFXIII is the worst FF game. While FFXV was a very disappointing story, I still found it very fun to play and has what I consider to be the best fishing mini game one can find.

[@ahmedkhalil680]

This game made me almost fail out of college back in the day... It also made me want to switch majors.... That music still gives me the chill....

[@captawesome42]

It's always so sad when you review a game I haven't gotten to yet! Glad you enjoyed it! My copy of Xenogears won't save for some reason. Unless I plan to beat the whole game in a sitting I've got to find another copy....=(

[@Jack_80]

cptawesome i bought it on my ps3 in ps1 classics years ago for 5.99. got a pretty nice collection of ps1 games on my ps3 cheap

[@aaamineee]

I love seeing people so dedicated to create content about these niche games practically no one ever heard of but they take hours to meticulously convey all of the information about them. You are one of them, great video!

[@jamesgroccia239]

Xenogears is one of my favorite games just after Final Fantasy 7. I had even more fun playing Xenogears than I did Metal Gear Solid back in 1998.

[@MajorPhilGraves]

This was a seriously impressive video, which was smart enough not assume that viewers were super-fans with intimate knowledge of the game and it's place in Square's catalog. Seriously, I really appreciated the detailed look at the game's development history, which is frequently rushed over on similar retrospective videos for classic and cult favorite games. Subscribed!

[@TaborHill]

I named my daughter after a character in this game.

[@kong.615]

Which female character

[@Terron29]

@@kong.615 i'm gonna guess ellie. :) only a guess though, I really wana know now lol

[@gjstv290]

Emeralda???

[@jimmyclimer594]

Billy?

[@sunzero974]

Chu chu.

[@GamingWithSpoons]

It amazes me how much research you put into this review. Your attention to detail and connecting it all together is nothing short of amazing.

[@bf0189]

It's in my top five games for sure. It's flawed as hell in various aspects like you mentioned but the story and characters are so rich that it can be glossed over. I don't mind the second disc myself because it's basically a visual novel and I am a fan of that genre but I can see how it can turn people off completely. I would probably would have edited some sections in the first disc though to further expand the second disc still. Some of the greatest humanistic achievements are incomplete whether through lost manuscripts or it just wasn't finished for various reasons. Xenogears feels much in the same vein of that. Time will look back greatly on Xenogears for sure when academia takes a serious interest in game studies (it's happening to a certain extent already to be fair it just isn't formalized yet most likely because the medium is relatively new all things considered).

[@Jack_80]

yeah they could have cut a decent amount from the story. they went a bit overboard with it, especially considering they hsd time and budget constraints and should have known they wouldnt have the time to finish it.

[@jasonhernandez9023]

Xenogears was, is, and will always be my favorite game. I'm very much a "Story" type of guy and when playing this game as a kid I always quite enjoyed the 2nd disk. The change in the execution of narrative really impacted me as I suddenly felt like events were far more dire...if that makes any sense. The struggle for them didn't hit me until years later after reading through the Perfect Works. Seeing everything that could have been should have been heartbreaking but you know what? It wasn't. In fact, it made me feel very proud to have been part of the Xenogears experience. To hold this extraordinary masterpiece in a special place within my heart.

[@KraftLawrence1]

God damn that soundtrack. Even hearing bits of Stars of tears or Small of two Pieces can bring on the waterworks.

[@anothergamer3359]

The problem with the platforming segments, or specifically, the longest one of them, isn't as much the platforming itself but the way random battles work with it: when the game triggers a random battle, it disables the jump button during the battle load time, but you can still move freely until the battle actually triggers, meaning that it's easy to suddenly miss a critical jump when the jump button stops working at the worst possible moment.

[@Alvizzei]

great review, btw the mech design itself is also a work of art in my opinion. probably because Sunrise (gundam) involvement in most if not all mech design in Xenogears. I'm a mech big fan, i didnt know that sunrise actually did until sunrise logo appears in the end of the game. But i had my suspicion because the simmiliarities of the mech design mainly in the face and legs

[@AlasVic]

Many people will say that I am ridiculous because you took me to tears, I really miss this type of games where you could feel what the devs wanted you to feel, they transmitted it to you in the games, even though the game was not very polished, It was one of the best experiences of my life, like Final Fantasy Tactics. sorry bout my bad english.

[@ShinryuZensen]

We feel you bro.

[@andrewtyler2605]

Its also worth mentioning that disc 2 makes up only 20% of the game. If it made up 40-50% of the game like I originally expected then I would have had a problem with that. I personally really loved Disc 2 a lot. But I can understsnd the criticism it receives. The thing about Xenogears is that this is a game you need to play for the story. If you're not in it for the story, then you're going to have a bad time. In my experience I cared more about the story than I did about anything else so disc 2 for me felt like the payoff I was waiting for. I consider disc 2 to just be one expansive ending that resolves itself and the story content in disc 2 is amazing. Disc 2 may be looked at as flawed, but xenogears is so long, so dense and expansive that by the time I even got to disc 2 after 60 hours, I felt fatigued from random encounters and just wanted to know what was going to happen next. If youre a lover of deep storytelling in games, then you cannot afford to miss out in disc 2. its one of the greatest stories ever told across any medium. But if you're not a fan of that type of thing then you probably shouldn't bother with xenogears at all.

[@Zematus737]

That's what I said! Disc 2 was pure bliss for me.

[@MillenniumEarl014]

Thank you. It took me more than 50+ hours to finish disc 1 on my first play through.

[@leeman27534]

yeah, but on the other hand, it's also the culmination of all your work, up till then, and it more or less kinda gets shat on, really. disc one was a hell of an epic romp, that dealt with most of the nations on the planet and whatnot. disc 2 was mostly told to you, a few dungeons, and oops, endgame, oh, btw, the entire world's been altered, but you've had little to do with it being stuck in the narration zone. shame, that.

[@SuperDerek]

Howdy, Mike! I just finished my own Xenogears review, so now I finally got to watch yours! The sad thing about making my own reviews is I feel like I shouldn't watch others to avoid accidental plagiarism. Anyways, great work man, I love your style. I hope I can watch some of your other reviews soon. :)

[@biriyadobaka]

awesome, the best and most honest review of xenogears ive ever seen. spot on.

[@angusc1983]

First "Dark Dawn", then "Omen", and finally "Awakening". From prologue, to journey, to "final" battle. The connection between these [master]pieces shows us how Xenogears is more than just a videogame, but a collection of millions shades of light, reflecting the Beginning and the End, holding Tears of the Stars, Hearts of the People, contained in Small Two of Pieces. In the end, although the second disc had to deal with budget constraints, Xenogears remains a true Gem Which Cannot Be Stolen.

[@ClockedIt]

Stunning video guys, I can feel your passion towards this game, truly inspirational. Great job, you have a new sub :)

[@izumolee6714]

Xenogears is my all time favourite JRPG of all time. I played it in my 20s and throughout the game it fascinated me with its tone & symbolism. The music drew me in to the storytelling & my god the story was so good. I consider it Square's best one challenged probably by FF Tactics. I may be in the minority but the shortcomings of the 2nd disc was a welcome cause being bombarded with what was happening in the game the possibility for playing a fully fleshed out 2nd disc may be overwhelming. Seeing the end game and what the story ended up being was an experience i have never forgotten. What i got out of the development story & the theme of the game is humanity is fragile & we break easily for the most part we are incomplete. So intentional or not the game 'mirrors' that sentiment so despite having flaws this game as well as we humans can achieve greatness. And this game is greatness personified.

[@cliftonharcum2528]

They need to do a HD remix of this game. Playing it now on my Vita. This game is a classic. Had it back in the day. One of the best rpgs out there💯

[@brandonscottdurocher8523]

First , Everything you guys said about this review I want to agree. This guy gives the best reviews I’ve ever watched . I normally don’t write anything or comment on anything here on KZbin . I’ve felt compelled to leave praise on how good his reviews are on every review I’ve watched(which is a lot of them )

[@Kenshiro3rd]

13:46 Actually that piece of music is being used as a reference to invoke the feeling of old Super Robot series (speficially the Braves Series) which this mecha is directly inspired by and referencing.

[@ResonantArc]

Do you have a source stating that was the intention or is that your opinion on what the intention was? That music was used first in the scene with Maria, like I mentioned, so either it was written with the intention you're stating in the mech transformation--then reused for the other fight--or was intended for that scene and reused here. Either way, the game reuses music a lot, and I found that in a lot of cases it didn't entirely fit.

[@Kenshiro3rd]

Resonant Arc just a thorough knowledge of Mecha Anime and its related tropes. Im kinda a mecha anime nut. I'm not arguing that the music isn't recycled. I'm simply stating that, contrary to your belief, the piece they recycled wasn't out of place, and was in fact used intentionally for a thematic purpose, a reference. It's basically a lampshade, inversion, and subversion of what that bright hopeful music normally represents. That entire mecha is basically one big shoutout combining super robots and the Braves Series ESP. Have you ever watched a super robot show in your life? Uplifting Heroic transformation music is pretty much ingrained with the genre. It's pretty obvious to anyone who's ever watched them. Go watch GaoGaiGar (part of the braves series), or at least it's final fusion transformation sequence, to see what I mean. This isn't the last time in the Xeno series that Takahashi referenced the Braves series, either. Erde Kaiser, in all it's forms throughout the Xenosaga games, is a references to them, most notably Exkaiser. XD

[@MrThephonypope]

Just thought I'd say that your content is excellent, the amount of thought and physical effort you put in really shows

[@CidsaDragoon]

Not a perfect game by any stretch but one of my favourite games ever made and one of Square's best. Great video.

[@EyeotPhoenix]

@DarkPizelGaming Incredible video. When I first played Xenogears in my teens, it took me roughly 80+ hours to beat it. I've replayed it multiple times and without a doubt it's one of my top three favorite games ever. The story is unrivaled, the characters, soundtrack (which I own on cd), backstory, even the fighting arena near the end of the game, etc. are deeper and richer than any game I've since played. Say what you want about Assassin's Creed but the AC lore and story has depth and I've recently completed all the Zelda games, I've appreciated the breadth of history that series has but Xenogears will forever be my first love as it was the game that showed me a story can be much, much, much more than saving the princess. I wish there was a printed English version of Perfect Works. It would be framed on my wall.

[@mygaffer]

Still my favorite JRPG of all time.

[@The_Humble_Hurricane]

Yo, I can't tell you both how much I appreciate this video, the time put in, and how much this game meant and still means to me as a martial artist and gamer. Huge props to you for making this video and giving this game the love, praise and recognition it deserves. This game goes so deep with me and friends that I put on it. If there's anything you know of as far as websites, page's, Channels etc that are supporting a remake for this game that I can join/support, then I ask that you please let me know asap as I'm definitely all in. Keep up the great work and take care.

[@naheemquattlebaum2267]

As someone who writes with the love of his wife, you always end up creating the greatest pieces of work with the one who knows you the best.

[@leandro3710]

I remember when I was a kid, starting to play xenogears for the first time with a english dictionary on my side. I love this game and it's great history, and I am thankfull for your great job in your retrospect review. Hail from Brazil!

[@dailydoseofcrazyshit8214]

When i was 10 i bought this game from a yard sale for 5$ totally worth it..I managed to defeat Ramsus but then the Disc broke and never passed it.. But then 8 years later i got it on an emulator on my android, took me time to find it since i couldn't remember the name though, and since then I've passed it 3 times. I can't get enough of this game. Im so glad i found it at the yard sale.

[@donb6897]

When you hear how much Takahashi wanted to create his OWN game you understand just how different the ps1 era was. Games feel like they're made by committee now, with a specific focus on how to appeal to the largest audience and then take all of their money. THIS game was a labor of love.

[@amronfaro9728]

It's a crime for calling Xenogears underappreciated and overlooked. And sadly Tetsuya Takahashi left the Sqaure out of frustration because they keep relying on FF series too much. However, Sakaguchi does support his decision to make his initial vision come true. Xenogears is the best sci fi game with compelling storyline, relatable characters, beautiful soundtrack made by Yasunori Mitsuda and the overarching themes. And yet Sqaure don't even realize how great this game was. In the end, this game truly deserve a remaster or a remake.

[@linkzz00]

I liked how you mention disc 2 being so different. I basically decided the game ends at disc 1 in terms of rpg aspects and then disc 2 story time :)