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Xenogears (ゼノギアス, Zenogiasu^?) is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square Co., Ltd. (now known as Square Enix Co., Ltd.) for the Sony PlayStation video game console. It was released on February 11, 1998 in Japan and on October 20, 1998 in North America. Xenogears never saw a PAL release. The game is both hailed and criticized for its heavy philosophical and religious allusions. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This is the cover art for a video or computer game. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... Square Co. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the country in East Asia. ... Square Co. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... Square Electronic Arts L.L.C., also known as Square EA, was a joint venture between console video game developers Square Co. ... A game designer is a person who designs games. ... Tetsuya Takahashi (高橋 哲哉 Takahashi Tetsuya) (born November 18, 1966 in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan) is currently the head of game software company Monolith Soft, Inc. ... Hiromichi Tanaka ) (January 1, 1962 – ) is a Japanese video game developer working at Square Enix. ... Masato Kato (b. ... Yasunori Mitsuda (光田 康典 Mitsuda Yasunori, born January 21, 1972) is a Japanese composer, sound programmer and musician best known for his work in video game music, specifically Xenogears, Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht, Mario Party and Chrono Trigger. ... Kunihiko Tanaka is a Japanese artist and character designer. ... Yasuyuki Honne is an artist who worked for Square Co. ... This article is about the country in East Asia. ... February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 1998 in games 1997 in video gaming 1999 in video gaming Notable events of 1998 in video gaming. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 1998 in games 1997 in video gaming 1999 in video gaming Notable events of 1998 in video gaming. ... Video games are generally categorized into genres. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Role-playing game (video games). ... In computer games and video games, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. ... Entertainment Software Rating Board logo The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles for computer and video games and other entertainment software in the United States and Canada (officially adopted by individual provinces 2004-2005). ... The Sony PlayStation ) is a video game console of the 32/64-bit era, first produced by Sony Computer Entertainment in the mid-1990s. ... The CD-ROM (an abbreviation for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (ROM)) is a non-volatile optical data storage medium using the same physical format as audio compact discs, readable by a computer with a CD-ROM drive. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Role-playing game (video games). ... Square Co. ... Square Enix Company, Limited ) TYO: 9684 is a video game company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series (known as Dragon Warrior in North America from 1989 until 2005), and the Kingdom Hearts series. ... Sony Corporation ) is a Japanese multinational corporation and one of the worlds largest media conglomerates with revenue of $68. ... The Sony PlayStation ) is a video game console of the 32/64-bit era, first produced by Sony Computer Entertainment in the mid-1990s. ... Four different video game consoles from different generations. ... February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 1998 in games 1997 in video gaming 1999 in video gaming Notable events of 1998 in video gaming. ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 1998 in games 1997 in video gaming 1999 in video gaming Notable events of 1998 in video gaming. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... The PAL region is a video game publication territory which covers Australasia and the majority of Eurasia. ... Philosophy (from the Greek words philos and sophia meaning love of wisdom) is understood in different ways historically and by different philosophers. ...

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.

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. Chrono Trigger ) is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square Co. ...

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. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Esotericism refers to knowledge suitable only for the advanced, privileged, or initiated, as opposed to exoteric knowledge, which is public. ...

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 'infinity 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.

Plot

Setting

The map of the Xenogears world.

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. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

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. For the avid Xenogears fans, an important aspect of the book is the explanation of the six episodes that make up the Xenogears saga. According to the Perfect Works schematic, Xenogears is only the fifth episode in a series of six, with the first four providing the backstory for the events that took place in Xenogears. Perfect Works is a series of videogame-related books published by Digicube. ... DigiCube Co. ...

Characters

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Main articles: Main characters of Xenogears and Supporting characters of Xenogears

The following are the list of playable characters from Xenogears. The three main antagonists — Krelian, Kahran Ramsus, and Miang — have separate articles. Image File history File links Circle-question. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... This article refers to literary antagonists. ... Spoiler warning: Krelian is the main antagonist of the 1998 Square Co. ... Spoiler warning: Kahran Ramsus (also known as 0808191 Ramses, Kahr, or Ramsus) is an antagonist in the 1998 Square Co. ... Miang Hawwa, as she appears in Xenogears Miang is an antagonist in the 1998 Squaresoft Co. ...

Xenogears' characters were designed to allude to many psychological concepts, notably 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. Sigmund Freud (born Sigismund Schlomo Freud) May 6, 1856 – September 23, 1939; (IPA: ) was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who co-founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology. ... Carl Jungs partially autobiographical work Memories , Dreams, Reflections, Fontana edition “Karl Jung” redirects here. ... Jacques Lacan Jacques-Marie-Émile Lacan (April 13, 1901 – September 9, 1981) was a French psychoanalyst, psychiatrist, and doctor. ... The ego, superego, and id are the tripartite divisions of the psyche in psychoanalytic theory compartmentalizing the sphere of mental activity into three energetic components: the ego being the organized conscious mediator between the internal person and the external identity. ... In Jungian psychology, the shadow or shadow aspect is a part of the unconscious mind which is mysterious and often disagreeable to the conscious mind, but which is also relatively close to the conscious mind. ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ...

Although not distinctly psychological, allusions to the theories of the German philosopher, 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. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15, 1844 – August 25, 1900) (IPA: ) was a German philosopher. ... Eternal return or sometimes eternal recurrence is a concept originating from ancient Egypt and developed in the teachings of Pythagoras. ...

Story

The game starts in 9999.^[1] The game begins in the small town of Lahan, which is near the border of Aveh. We are introduced to Fei Fong Wong, an eighteen-year-old male who was mysteriously brought to Lahan by a "Masked Man" three years prior. Because of the events surrounding his arrival at the village, Fei has no clear memories before arriving in the village. Despite this, Fei has a pleasant life, and is awaiting the marriage of his two best friends, Alice and Timothy. The following is a list of locations in the PlayStation game Xenogears. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

One night, while visiting the local doctor, Citan Uzuki in his home on top of a nearby mountain, Fei is shocked to find a group of Gears flying towards Lahan. By the time Fei makes it back, the entire town is burning as the Gears storm their way through the village. Fei finds an unmanned gear nearby, and, despite Citan's protests, gets aboard; Fei has some success fending off the attackers. However, when he sees his friend Timothy shot, a new personality awakens in Fei, causing the Gear to go berserk - the entire village is destroyed, killing many of the attackers, as well as Alice, in the process. A distraught Fei is forced to become a village outcast and decides to leave the ominous black gear behind. Upon entering the Black Moon Forest, Fei encounters a strange female soldier named Elly, whom he feels a strange connection towards. From this point onward, Fei and his allies will learn of the truth behind his planet, and a past involving extensive manipulation and a being known as "Deus". To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Development

Graphically, Xenogears combines 2D sprite characters with 3D environments. The environments and Gears are principally all created within the 3D engine, but the characters are created using low resolution 2D sprites. In addition to these things, Xenogears also utilizes both traditional Japanese cel-animated scenes and pre-rendered CGI movie clips during emotive or important plot points by Production I.G. — a trait that was common in Squaresoft RPGs during this era. Another commonly-lauded aspect of Xenogears is the dramatic and powerful soundtrack^{[citation needed]} that was arranged and composed by Yasunori Mitsuda and featured Joanne Hogg on vocals for two songs with lyrics by event planner Masato Kato for the ending theme and Tetsuya Takahashi for the epilogue. Aside from the official soundtrack, there is also Creid, an arrange album produced by Mitsuda and Millennial Fair. Image resolution describes the detail an image holds. ... Production I.G, Inc. ... // In film formats, the sound track is the physical area of the film which records the synchronized sound. ... Yasunori Mitsuda (光田 康典 Mitsuda Yasunori, born January 21, 1972) is a Japanese composer, sound programmer and musician best known for his work in video game music, specifically Xenogears, Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht, Mario Party and Chrono Trigger. ... Joanne Hogg is a British singer and songwriter with the band Iona. ... Masato Kato (b. ... Tetsuya Takahashi (高橋 哲哉 Takahashi Tetsuya) (born November 18, 1966 in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan) is currently the head of game software company Monolith Soft, Inc. ...

In a press release by Square announcing the release of Xenogears in Japan, it was stated that the game's treatment of religion in general and Christianity in particular might prevent it from being released outside of Japan.^{[citation needed]} However, Xenogears was released quietly into the United States, amidst minimal controversy, with some place and character names changed.^{[citation needed]}

"Project Noah is - apparently - what Squaresoft had intended to call Xenogears when they first started production of the game and released information to the press. Later, the name was changed to 'Xenogears'."^[2]

Audio

Reception and legacy

Xenogears maintains a 90% ratio on Game Rankings, and within the top 15 best reviewed games on the Playstation. However, it remains a critically divisive title with some, even years after its initial release. Many praise the game's storyline, with its discussions of philosophy, psychology, and religion.^{[citation needed]} Also popular is the multitude of references to religious terms and well known science fiction films such Star Wars and Soylent Green, as well as praise for its innovative combat system. Some of the noted flaws from critics include the overabundance of cutscenes, an excessively high frequency of random battles, and linear gameplay. A notable criticism is the style of the second disc, where the use of the world map is restricted and the amount of cut scenes increases.^{[citation needed]} Game Rankings is a website which keeps track of video game reviews from other sites, and combines them to present an average rating for each game. ... The Sony PlayStation ) is a video game console of the 32/64-bit era, first produced by Sony Computer Entertainment in the mid-1990s. ... The philosopher Socrates about to take poison hemlock as ordered by the court. ... Psychology (from Greek: ψυχή, psukhē, spirit, soul; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is an academic/ applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Soylent Green is a 1973 science fiction movie starring Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, Leigh Taylor-Young, Joseph Cotten and Chuck Connors. ... Linear gameplay refers to the way a video games story is ordered. ...

While Xenogears has never had an official sequel or prequel, some mistake a game developed by Monolith Soft and released by Namco called Xenosaga on the PlayStation 2, to be a prequel. Tetsuya Takahashi was the director and writer for both Xenogears and Xenosaga, and notes that Xenosaga is not a prequel to Xenogears because Square Enix owns the rights to Xenogears.^{[citation needed]} Monolith Soft or MLSI is an entertainment company (not to be confused with Monolith Productions) in Japan, specializing in creating video games for various consoles like the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS and cellphones. ... Namco Ltd ) is a amusement company based in Japan, best known overseas for video games development. ... Xenosaga ) is primarily a series of video games developed by Monolith Soft and published by Namco. ... The PlayStation 2 , abbreviated PS2) is Sonys second video game console, the successor to the PlayStation and the predecessor to the PlayStation 3. ... Tetsuya Takahashi (高橋 哲哉 Takahashi Tetsuya) (born November 18, 1966 in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan) is currently the head of game software company Monolith Soft, Inc. ...

There is considerable debate within the Xenogears fanbase about how accurately the Xenogears time line in Perfect Works is followed by Xenosaga, which contains similar elements, such as the Zohar, as well as several allusions of characters and terms present in Xenogears. Xenosaga ) is primarily a series of video games developed by Monolith Soft and published by Namco. ... This article or section contains a plot summary that is overly long. ...

Official interviews are somewhat vague on the matter, though Tetsuya Takahashi has stated that "It's probably more suitable to say that it follows the direction and style of Xenogears.", as well as "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."^[3] By the closing of Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra, the allusions to Xenogears and a possible connection become even more noticeable. However, there are many differing aspects of the Xenosaga series, and with Episode III marking a premature ending to the original forecast of six episodes, the connection between the two series remains unknown.

References

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Xenogears

• Xenogears Official Website on Square Enix
• Yasunori Mitsuda's Homepage
• Xenogears at MobyGames
• Xenogears Database — detailed plot, location, and character database originally on Wikipedia