Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra

[Eusis]

I've been wondering how this game turned out after the first two that polarized several, myself included, so I went to look for reviews on the import to see if they managed to end the series well. Sounds like they did. While the bit about likening the dungeons to those of SH:C isn't favorable for me, the fact battles are dramatically shorter makes me happy, and it's good to see that it sounds like they didn't just totally destroy the story in the attempt to finish it up. There were some others at GameFaqs that I only glanced at that seemed to be positive overall.

[Cauton]

I've been hearing good things about Ep 3 from a lot of different soruces, and this makes me happy. Even if that review did sound a little fanboy-ish (was there any port of the game he didn't consider "one of the best ever"?), it does indicate that, perhaps, Monolith and Namco didn't mess this one up.

Know which part of the review makes me the happiest? Shorter load-times. I always really hated that about the previous games, how it would take ages to load battles and new areas.

[Testament]

I have no faith left in the gameplay since they are going back to the Episode I formula, but it good to hear the the story is enjoyable.

[Eusis]

I actually enjoyed Episode 1's gameplay, so unless my tastes somehow changed enough without me knowing to the point that I'd hate it, I'll be happy with that - the only change I can see is tolerance for length, and if this review's any indicator, that problem won't be there.

Looked at other reviews on the site too - Definitely going to wait on .hack//G.U., and most likely will just read a synopsis. And it sounds like BKO may have a glimmer of hope, but I'll wait until I hear what others say - it's still suffering from one of the biggest problems I had it seems.

[Spoony Mage]

As long as this game provides some real closure to the many threads left dangling from the previous two games, I'll be happy.  Okay, so I don't expect EVERY little thing to be resolved (even with one-shot RPGs), but an effort to get stuff resolved would go a long way to making this worth it.

Judging by videos that I've seen of the battles, it looks like at least the battles will be fun again.  Multihit madness FTW!

[CluelessWonder]

Holy crap, it comes out this month?  I was wondering why people were talking about it then I saw the poll at gamefaqs.  I guess I should pre-order this for the free art book.

[Akanbe-]

Looked at other reviews on the site too - Definitely going to wait on .hack//G.U., and most likely will just read a synopsis. And it sounds like BKO may have a glimmer of hope, but I'll wait until I hear what others say - it's still suffering from one of the biggest problems I had it seems.

Wow.. after reading what you said I went over and read the review.

I was fairly excited about the new .hack.  I thought it would be decent.  It's kind of comical to see that not only did they not improve on the first games, but they made them worse (gameplay wise, at least).  GG.

Maybe i'll pick up Xenosaga 3 instead.

[Ryos]

While the bit about likening the dungeons to those of SH:C isn't favorable for me

Ew, SH:C dungeon designs.  On the other hand, being fairly accustomed to Bebpo's reviews, a high mark from him is a very good sign since he really didn't care for the second game (just like me :P).

With that in mind, I'm probably going to preorder it now for the artbook too since I like the new designs for some unfathomable reason.

[Sketch]

This comes out the same day as Disgaea 2? Hm, that's news to me, but welcomed news, nonetheless.

I can't wait for this title either. Though I'm sad that the game is on the short side (30 hours isn't short by any means, but I'd expected more from a game that was expected to last two more episodes), I'm glad to see that they were able to wrap the series up nicely storywise. I'm just hoping the reviewer isn't the fanboy that Cauton mentioned :P

[Mana Knight]

I'm a huge Xenosaga fanboy (I absolutely love Episode I and still liked Episode II).  I'll be all over this game on release.

[James8BitStar]

Waitaminute!

How can this game conclude everything?  Doesn't there have to be another game (since the original Xenogears was "Episode V")?

[Eusis]

Waitaminute!

How can this game conclude everything?  Doesn't there have to be another game (since the original Xenogears was "Episode V")?

1. This is continuing with the assumption that Xenosaga would inevitably lead to Xenogears.

2. We pretty much know what happens after the crash and to the present day of XG, it likely concludes everything that XS itself has left hanging open, and possibly leads up to the crash. If anything, it's the details of Episode VI that are the greatest mystery, and will likely remain as such.

[demifiend]

It's a shame that the series will end prematurely- just thought I'd add my voice to that perpetual chorus- but maybe we'll get lucky and Tetsuya Takahashi will write the last part as a manga, novel, or anime series or something of the sort.

[Eusis]

The bitterest irony to me is that, for me, it was pretty much fucked from XSII regardless - if that did great, the series would continue with that style, and more importantly that battle system, and I wouldn't touch it at all. Thus, to make the series good again for me, it had to fail to the point they'd make this game to close it off. My best hope is that this does so well in all areas that they make a new Xeno* series to deal with the other parts. As is, doesn't sound like that's happening in Japan, and I don't see it having much success over here.

Though they might do that anyway in a cheap way to regain interest. Hey look, it's a new series! Sorta. I guess it works for Megaman anyway.

[James8BitStar]

No big loss personally.  For me, the series began and ended with Xenogears, and I never even touched the Xenosaga games.  It's just I can't believe they would start the series with Episode V, then go back and make first three episodes, and then decide there's never going to be an Episode IV.