Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht - "The Perfect

[SSJNate]

Well, that's what an article in USA Today said. It has inspired me, and so here enters the rant on the first installment of Tetsuya Takahashi's work of art.

I won't lie and say I didn't love Xenogears. I am a huge, huge, huge, HUGE fan of it. I would say it revolutionized my life forever without a second thought. It makes me want to be a better human being, and at the same time think and feel realistically.

With that said, I also loved Xenosaga, despite some obvious biases I may have had. The storyline is deep, provactive, engaging, SERIOUS, moving, and well-portrayed. Let me make it clear, if you aren't getting Xenosaga for the storyline, DO NOT TOUCH THIS GAME. This is not for the FPS-only fan with an attention span of a gnat.

However, if you're willing to put down the controller and absorb the similiar-to-but-better-than-anime like storyline very often, and then on the side have a blast with the insanely fun and complex battle system, then Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht is the game for you. The music is set up just like a movie...which means during "normal" parts there is no music at all, and high-emotional segments (or humorous ones) are blessed with some of the best workings of Yasunori Mitsuda (MY HERO) yet. Seriously, even if you didn't like Xenogears, Xenosaga, RPGs, or even video games in general I recomend getting the Soundtrack for Xenosaga. Words alone cannot express how beautiful it is.

The game isn't without some minor faults of course. I didn't like the Ether Weight Limit, since it kind of made the Ether Transfer useless as characters were really limited in what spells he/she could use. If you got Erde Kaiser for Shion, that's a guarenteed 9999 damage on all enemies, but the spell takes up ALL of her Ether slots. And even though I think Yasunori Mitsuda is god, I really could have done with a boss theme for battle. The only time the battle music changes is for the Last Battle, and that IS probably the best last battle music to ever grace a game. It should be noted that the ending is just like a Star Wars Episode...closing up the main conflicts of the Episode yet leaving TONS open. I'd put the "closure factor" of Xenosaga Episode I just a shade under Empire Strikes Back. In other words, this game ends in such a way that you will DIE waiting for the next one to come out.

I think that Xenosaga Episode I is probably the best made game of all time. Yes, probably because I'm a Xeno nut and love a deep and serious storyline. Yes, probably because I'm an anime nut who enjoys being told a epic storyline. Yes, probably because I'm the biggest Yasunori Mitsuda fanboy of all time. I think the only reason I like Xenogears more is because, frankly, Xenogears is a finished game, where as Xenosaga has only just begun. By the time its over, I full believe that Xenosaga will be the greatest working of fiction created by man (At least it will be for me. Xenogears currently holds that title for me).

I highly recomend this game. I think it deserves much, much, much more attention, and should be the series to finally dethrone Final Fantasy (which I now pretty much abhor). I think even people who would generally dislike video games should try this one. I would buy a PS2 just to play this game. Seriously.