Xenogears
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section has multiple issues. Please help improve the article or discuss these issues on the talk page.
|
| Xenogears | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Square |
| Publisher(s) | JP Square NA Square Electronic Arts |
| Designer(s) | Tetsuya Takahashi (director, scenario writer) Hiromichi Tanaka (producer) Masato Kato (script writer) Yasunori Mitsuda (composer) Kunihiko Tanaka (character designer) Yasuyuki Honne (art director) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation |
| Release date | JP February 11, 1998 NA October 21, 1998 |
| Genre(s) | Console role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player with limited two-player battle mode |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T (Teen) (13+) |
| Media | 2 CD-ROMs |
| Input methods | PlayStation controller |
Xenogears (ゼノギアス Zenogiasu?) is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the Sony PlayStation video game console. It was released on February 11, 1998 in Japan and on October 21, 1998 in North America.
Contents |
[edit] Gameplay
Xenogears gameplay combines the traditional and the innovative, using two-dimensional sprite overlays on three-dimensional backgrounds, as well as two different battle systems, one of which uses the actual characters in combo-based physical combat, while the latter takes place in turn-based 'Gear' battles. In addition to these things, Xenogears utilizes both traditional anime and pre-rendered CGI movie clips by Production I.G during some emotive or important plot points — the latter being a trait that was common in Squaresoft RPGs during this era.
[edit] Battle system
Battling is a variant of the ATB2 active time battle system found in Chrono Trigger and various Final Fantasy games. Once a battle starts the screen quickly changes to a combat scenario. Characters fight with martial combat and ether attacks along with special Deathblow moves that are learned through combinations of strong, moderate, and weak hits. Attacks use Action points (AP) and cost, 3 points, 2 points, and 1 point, respectively. You begin with 3 AP per turn (which is not enough to execute a deathblow) and as you progress in level you will eventually have 6 AP per turn. At a certain point in the story, an additional AP (7 AP per turn) will be acquired and you will also be able to learn Elemental Deathblows, which can be unlocked quicker at higher levels. AP may be saved and used as Attack Points for combo attacks. A total of 28 AP may be accumulated for combo attacks, powerful sequences using multiple Deathblows to inflict massive damage. However, only Deathblows of 6 AP cost or less may be chained, so by the end of the game, individual Deathblows become superior to combo attacking.
Characters can also use "magical" abilities that either aid the party or damage enemies. These abilities are limited by the number of ether points (EP) that are available. Unlike AP, EP do not replenish between attack rounds. For most characters, these abilities are called 'Ether,' although some characters' abilities have a different name, implying differences in their origins. For example, Fei's magic is called 'Chi,' and Citan's is 'Arcane'. Unlike the main characters of most RPGs who specialize in either physical or magical strength exclusively, the main characters in Xenogears are generally competent in both areas, although few characters have more than one or two direct damage spells. While in Gears (mechanized fighting machines) 'Ether' abilities are amplified, though some change or become unavailable.
[edit] Gears battle
In addition to the small-scale, hand-to-hand combat, the characters sometimes fight from within their respective combat robots, called 'Gears'. These fighting machines are often similar in fighting style and aesthetic resemblance to the characters that pilot them. For these particular battles, the combination style is reduced to a selection of strong, medium, or weak attacks that build up the attack level of the Gear with each turn until it can unleash a special, more powerful attack. While in gears, the limiting factor of AP is replaced with a fuel gauge, with each attack consuming an amount relative to its power. There are three levels of normal special gear attacks (respectively levels 1, 2, and 3) and one additional 'infinite' level of special gear attacks. These moves are acquired in correspondence to a character's learned deathblow skills. Infinite level differs from the other three levels in several ways. When it is reached, the Gear will go into a special mode known as 'hyper mode'.
Infinity mode lasts three turns, and while in this mode, fuel can be recharged in a larger amount or the Gear can use Infinity attacks. Infinity mode cannot be reached until elemental deathblows are learned (with the exception of Maria Balthazar, who has them automatically, and Chu-Chu, who cannot perform special gear attacks whatsoever). To reach infinity mode, a character has to stay at attack level 3 while performing any other action. With each turn, there is a chance that infinity mode will be reached (this ratio is displayed on screen along with the gears status). Infinity level uses special attacks that use very little fuel and are much more powerful. Gears can regain fuel by 'charging'. The amount of fuel gained differs depending on what attack level the character is currently at. Most engines have a base charge level of 30 fuel. Attack levels add 20 fuel per level with infinite level multiplying the charge rate by ten (charge levels are not cumulative). When equipped with certain items, the gain rate of fuel may be increased. The Gears can also activate 'Boosters' which enable them to act faster but consume more fuel. The 'Special Option' command allows for Gear HP restoration abilities (if equipped with the proper parts) and special attacks, at the cost of large amounts of fuel. When a gear has no Fuel left, it can no longer execute attacks, use special options, or use boosters. They can, however, charge (regain fuel) and use ether abilities. The main characters can purchase Gear fuel, parts, and upgrades in shops or from certain individuals.
[edit] Plot
[edit] Setting
Xenogears initially takes place on the largest continent of the Xenogears world, Ignas, where the nations of Aveh and Kislev have been waging war on each other for centuries. An organization known as the Ethos, which is a church-like organization dedicated to preserving the world's culture, has excavated giant fighting robots called Gears. Gears have had a major effect on the war and have almost entirely replaced the need for human infantry. Although Kislev was gaining the upper hand in the war, a mysterious army known as Gebler appeared and started providing assistance to Aveh. With Gebler's help, Aveh not only recovered their losses, but began making their way into Kislev's territory.
Much of Xenogears' plot and backstory is detailed in the Japanese-only book Xenogears Perfect Works. This book, produced by the now defunct DigiCube, details the history of the Xenogears universe from the discovery of the Zohar to the start of the game. According to the Perfect Works schematic (as well as the game’s end credits), Xenogears is the fifth episode in a series of six.
[edit] Characters
|
|
This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (September 2007) |
The characters of Xenogears were designed to allude to many psychological concepts, notably of Freudian and Jungian psychology. There is also an important character bearing the name of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan. The most obvious allusion involves the nature of the game's protagonist, Fei Fong Wong, whose Freudian ego, superego, and id are discussed at length throughout the course of the game. Fei had subconsciously repressed his memories because of his unpleasant childhood. However, his desire to remember elements of his past eventually leads to his discovering the truth about who he is and what his relationship with the character known as 'Id' is. This repression also relates to the Jungian concept of the shadow. Distinctly Adlerian in nature, however, are the actions of certain characters, such as Ramsus, whose actions are driven by an inferiority complex that stems from unconscious 'nodes' that often permeate exterior behaviors of an individual.
Although not distinctly psychological, allusions to the theories of Friedrich Nietzsche are found in game. For example, there is the concept of the eternal return, which, in Xenogears, correlates to the recurrences of the Contact and the Antitype.
Fei Fong Wong (ウォン・フェイフォン Won Fei Fon?) is the game's main character. His name is based on the legendary Wong Fei Hung and in katakana is written exactly the same as that of the Guangdong hero. Fei has lived in the village of Lahan for three years and has no memory before that point in time. After being responsible for the destruction of Lahan, Fei joins with Citan Uzuki and other allies to uncover the web of deception and manipulation surrounding Solaris, and ultimately, Deus. Fei experiences frequent memory loss and is unknowingly Id, a powerful individual who is the product of Fei's pain and anguish at a critically young age. Known as the -Contact-, he is just one of numerous reincarnations of Abel, the sole survivor of the Eldridge crash. A strong fighter, Fei fights with his bare fists in battle.
Elhaym Van Houten (エレハイム・ヴァン・ホーテン Erehaimu Van Hōten?), nicknamed Elly (エリィ Erii?), is a young skilled officer of Gebler who meets Fei in the forest near Lahan Village. Elly was leading an operation to steal a top-secret experiment gear from Kislev, but was forced to crash-land in Lahan, and was partially responsible for the destruction of the village. Her encounter with Fei changes her life forever. Elly is an optimist, and wants to help Fei, despite the fact that he is a land dweller, and she cannot leave the military. She is a competent fighter with her rods, but she has powerful elemental ether, which makes her valuable to the party. Known as the -Antitype-, she has been reincarned numerous times throughout history along with Fei.
Citan Uzuki (ウヅキ・シタン Uzuki Shitan?) is a medical doctor who lives up the mountain path from Lahan village with his wife, Yui, and his daughter, Midori. Despite living on the surface, Citan was actually born in Solaris, and his real name is Hyuga Ricdeau (ヒュウガ・リクドウ Hyuuga Rikudou?). Citan is a Solaris Guardian Angel, and is working under instructions from the Solaris Emperor to observe Fei to see if he will bring relief or destruction to the world. A very smart individual, Citan is responsible for the development of many of the Gears seen in the game. He has a history with number of individuals including Ramsus, Sigurd and Jessie. Citan initially fights with his bear firsts but uses a sword later in the game.
Bartholomew Fatima is the leader of a group of sand pirates who befriends Fei and Citan after shooting down a prison ship that they were on. Bart is the rightful heir to the kingdom of Aveh, his family having been forced out of the country by Solaris agent Shakhan a number of years before. He leads the sand pirates in their giant submarine Yggdrasil. Bart is constantly accompanied by his mentor, Sigurd as well as the well mannered Maison. He uses a whip in battle.
Ricardo Banderas (リカルド・バンデラス Rikarudo Banderasu?), nicknamed Rico (リコ Riko?), is a massive demi-human and champion Gear fighter in Nortune, the imperial capital of Kislev. He has a sturdy reputation, and his size can be frightening. Despite being a prisoner, his lifestyle is superior to that of many nobles and he appears to have a connection with the Kislev ruler. Rico is one of the game's strongest physical characters, but also the slowest.
Billy Lee Black (ビリー・リー・ブラック Birī Rī Burakku?) is introduced as a young, pacific priest of the Ethos religion, and later is revealed as a member of the Etone branch, which job is to "clean" and "purge" the world from the Reapers, or -Wels-. He has a problematic relationship with his father Jessiah (Jessie), who abandoned his family for a number of years after they moved to the surface from Solaris. Having been mentored by the Ethos leader Bishop Stone, Billy dedicated his life to religion and cares for many children including his younger sister Primera at an Ethos orphanage. Billy's sports a trio of guns in battle and also wields a number of useful ether spells.
Once mistaken by Bart as a stuffed animal, Chu-Chu (チュチュ?) was with Marguerite during the teenage girl's imprisonment in Fatima Castle. Her race once lived in the woods, but due to Solaris's activities, they became almost extinct. Some managed to escape to Shevat and live with Wiseman. Chu-Chu can grow to the size of a gear once the physical part of the limiter is removed. She can heal other gears, and doesn't need any fuel to fight. She has romantic interest for Fei but no one really notices and it spooked Fei at first.
Emeralda Kasim (エメラダ Emerada?) is a nanomachine colony built to aid the human race. Kim Kasim (Fei’s second known incarnation) created Emeralda during the Zeboim era by analyzing Elly’s gene pattern, and creating a nanomachine colony. At the time, Miang was manipulating the government, and wanted to reset the human evolutionary cycle by starting a worldwide nuclear war. In the present, Emeralda is revived from an archeological site and is used by Krelian to enhance his nanomachine technology. She is used to guard a Solaris gate, but joins the party afterwards. Emeralda's nanomachine-created body makes her a powerful ally in battle, and she possessed powerful ether spells as well.
Krelian (カレルレン Kareruren?) is the main antagonist of the game. He is the leader of Solaris, the antagonistic nation that controls the affairs of much of the world. Initially a land dweller, Krelian's scientific knowledge enabled him prolong his life and exert power over both the Solaris Emperor, Cain, and Solaris's main governing body, the Gazel Ministry. After the death of his beloved Sophia centuries ago, Krelian became convinced that God did not exist and that he would need to create God with his own hands.
Grahf is a cloaked individual wearing a skull mask that Fei initially encounters in the desert of Aveh. He claims responsibility for the destruction of Lahan in order to bring out Fei's powers and says that he seeks to destroy God. Frequently appearing with a Gear similar in style to Fei's Weltall, Grahf seeks to use Fei for his own purposes and shares a mysterious connection with both Krelian and Miang.
[edit] Story
The story centers on protagonist Fei Fong Wong, an eighteen-year-old male who was mysteriously brought to his current home, Lahan, by a "masked man" three years prior. Because of the events surrounding his arrival at the village, Fei has no conscious memories of his childhood; the rediscovery of past events, both pleasant and traumatic, prevails throughout the game. In the beginning of the game, the player is introduced to a peaceful village, but, in RPG tradition, disaster occurs when the town becomes involved in a larger conflict between Aveh and Kislev. Following the dire events that befall this once peaceful landscape, Fei leaves the only home he knows and begins a quest that leaves him and his friends with the ultimate fate of humanity resting on their shoulders. Along the way, Fei and his allies learn of the truth behind the history of the planet, a past involving extensive manipulation, and a being known as "Deus".
[edit] Development
Originally, Squaresoft had intended to call the game Project Noah. The name was later changed to Xenogears for unknown reasons.[1] It was intended to be the fifth part of a six-part story detailed in Xenogears Perfect Works; at the end of the game’s credits, “Episode V” appears on screen.
[edit] Audio
The music in Xenogears was composed by Yasunori Mitsuda who was made famous by his work on the Super Famicom title, Chrono Trigger. The original soundtrack was released on two disks and published by Digicube in Japan. There are two vocal tracks included on the OST and both are sung by Joanne Hogg. The first vocal track is titled "Stars of Tears" and is similar to the game's principal overworld theme, "Emotions". This track is not played anywhere in the actual game, though it is on the game CD and can only be accessed by unconventional means. The second vocal track is titled "Small Two of Pieces" which bears resemblance to the music box song "Faraway Promise". This song plays at the conclusion of the game during the end credits.
An arranged soundtrack of Xenogears also composed and arranged by Yasunori Mitsuda was released as Creid. The soundtrack contains one CD with ten tracks. Two of the tracks are the Japanese versions of "Stars of Tears" and "Small Two of Pieces". The rest are arrangements of tracks from the OST with heavy Celtic influences.
[edit] Reception
| Reviews | |
|---|---|
| Publication | Score |
| Allgame | 4 out of 5[2] |
| Edge | 8 out of 10[3] |
| Game Revolution | B+[4] |
| GameSpot | 9.0 out of 10 - Editors' Choice[5] |
| IGN | 9.5 out of 10 - [6] |
Xenogears maintains a 91% ratio on Game Rankings, and within the top 15 best-reviewed games on the Playstation. One criticism is the style of the second disc, where the use of the world map is restricted and the amount of cut scenes increases, possibly due to rushed development.[7]
[edit] Legacy
While Xenogears has never had an official sequel or prequel, when Monolith Soft’s Xenosaga was first announced, there was wide speculation that it was a prequel. Tetsuya Takahashi was the director and writer for both Xenogears and Xenosaga, and notes "with our relation between Square, I think it is difficult for us to say it is a direct sequel or prequel."[8]
On the connection between Xenogears and Xenosaga, Tetsuya Takahashi has stated:
It's probably more suitable to say that it follows the direction and style of Xenogears. […] Now that we are under a different company, we figured we should start everything from scratch all over again. Though there are familiar faces that serve as important characters in Xenosaga, others are more like self-parodies, so we don't really want Xenogears fans to overreact. Like movies, sometimes you have the director of the movie or friend of the leading actor appearing as cameos, so it's similar to that.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ Information from xgam.org's encyclopaedia (http://www.xgam.org/xenogears/encyclopaedia/index.php?topic=project_noah)
- ^ allgame ((( Xenogears > Overview )))
- ^ Edge Online: Search Results
- ^ Xenogears review for the PS
- ^ Xenogears for PlayStation Review - PlayStation Xenogears Review
- ^ IGN: Xenogears Review
- ^ Information from xgam.org's "Xenogears UNCUT"[1]
- ^ a b Sato, Ike. "We talk with the director of Xenosaga, Tetsuya Takahashi."[2]
[edit] External links
- Xenogears's official North American website
- Xenogears Database at the Xenosaga Wikia
