Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Namco
  • Release Date: Feb 26, 2003
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 148 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 116 out of 148
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 148
  3. Negative: 11 out of 148
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. EasyGamerBoi
    Aug 17, 2023
    6
    Xenoblade unexpectedly became my favorite game series of all time rather quickly, so it’s only natural for me to search up every little detail about the series’ history. Finding out it had a “sister series” from the PS2 era isn’t what I expected to discover, although it’s upsetting there’s no modern way to play these games on consoles aside from shotty emulation, playing on a regular PS2Xenoblade unexpectedly became my favorite game series of all time rather quickly, so it’s only natural for me to search up every little detail about the series’ history. Finding out it had a “sister series” from the PS2 era isn’t what I expected to discover, although it’s upsetting there’s no modern way to play these games on consoles aside from shotty emulation, playing on a regular PS2 with an HDMI upscaler works too! Jumping into Xenosaga blind was expensive to do (mostly because the PS2 from my childhood unexpectedly shorted itself out sometime in the last few years, plus Retro gaming is pricy) and risky to do. Would I like these games as much as the Xenoblade trilogy? The short answer is no, I didn’t. But Xenosaga is still worth remembering and experiencing. Episode I is controversially my least favorite of the trilogy for a variety of reasons & I can’t say I wasn’t very underwhelmed when I finished this game, knowing the pure PEAK of what Takahashi is known for nowadays (maybe a bit unfair since these games are 20 years old & his experience wasn’t nearly what it is today).
    Positives first, the cutscene direction is all around great. I can’t believe reviewers complained about them being too long & frequent, they never felt like that for me & I love being told a story. The graphics aren’t all that but I think they hold up for the most part. The soundtrack is more lowkey compared to Mitsuda’s other works, but he always does a fantastic job ESPECIALLY the two vocal tracks for the game courtesy of Joanne Hogg.
    I unfortunately have a lot of negatives though.. For one, it may have been a conscious decision to not have dungeon music until the last 2 dungeons but WOW does it make the game feel so lifeless. I’m glad the sequels fixed this problem because listening to loud footsteps for 20 hours was really not good at all. I know when this game came out it was part 1 of 6 as the developers didn’t know they would only get 3 games, but the story is just so.. inert. There are some great moments don’t get me wrong, but the entire game is basically an introduction to this universe that leaves almost everything up to interpretation or leaves things to be answered in another game. WAY TOO MANY cryptic sentences that don’t go anywhere until Episode 3 at times. Characters will almost always exclaim a term or noun like it’s a big deal, when the audience usually has absolutely zero context for what’s supposed to be this big deal. The writing in this game is quite literally like holding a treat in front of a dog’s nose while making it run after the treat on a treadmill for 25 hours. Like I said, I understand why it was made like this but that doesn’t make it any less irritating until you get context from later material. If I had played this game back in the day before Xenoblade was around it would have for sure deterred me from playing its sequels, that’s how miserable it can get at times. With added context from the sequels it holds up better but I still couldn’t see myself playing this game ever again, largely due in part to the snoozefest gameplay that drags this game down even further for me. This is part of the reason this trilogy needs some HD re-release, a speed up option would be a GODSENT. These battles & attack animations are so painfully slow & repetitive that I lost almost all interest before the halfway point of the game. Enemies respawn every time you leave a room, so if you need to backtrack (Spoiler: it happens a lot as there’s NO MAP feature in any of these games, seriously wtf?) Sooo get ready to do the same exact battles with the same exact 30 second attack animations until the end of time, bogged down by the slowest walking speed ever. If I ever hear the battle theme again I’ll probably tear my eardrums out. Oh yeah, they only gave us TWO BATTLE THEMES FOR THE ENTIRE 25+ HOUR JRPG. THE SECOND THEME IS ONLY FOR THE FINAL BOSS. All of the battle mechanics & customization options were poorly explained, I found them irritating to tool around in with the clunky menus. The AWGS system also feels like such an afterthought. I want to be forgiving because the devs were rushed but there’s just too much going against Xenosaga I. I’m glad the majority of these issues got fixed in sequels but I genuinely can never see myself replaying this game, which is something I can’t say for 2 & 3. I consider this game the only miss in Takahashi’s catalogue.    … Expand
  2. DarkwingSchmuck
    Jul 28, 2023
    7
    Several years after the release of Xenogears, we were finally given a follow up in the form of Xenosaga. This being a Namco game and not a Squaresoft game, Xenosaga is a spiritual successor, though it borrows ideas and concepts from its predecessor. Unfortunately, Xenosaga didn't fully live up to expectations.

    Xenosaga can feel like more movie than game, similar to its contemporary in    Several years after the release of Xenogears, we were finally given a follow up in the form of Xenosaga. This being a Namco game and not a Squaresoft game, Xenosaga is a spiritual successor, though it borrows ideas and concepts from its predecessor. Unfortunately, Xenosaga didn't fully live up to expectations.

    Xenosaga can feel like more movie than game, similar to its contemporary in Final Fantasy X, though it's even more egregious here. The game is extremely linear -- with long, drawn-out cutscenes. Thankfully, the battle system is still strong, the music (once again composed by Yasunori Mitsuda) is still excellent, and its story is still a major highlight -- though it does suffer from a hint of pretentiousness, which prevents it from reaching the heights of Xenogears.

    Xenosaga was also the first part of pre-planned 6 episode series, which would eventually be cut down to 3 games due to poor sales. If they had just focused their attention one game, instead of outlining an entire franchise before they even knew if it'd be successful or not, maybe Xenosaga would have been the successor that Xenogears deserved. As it stands, it's just all right.    … Expand
  3. CutNickel
    Jun 6, 2023
    9
    Un RPG de corte clasico en comparacion a la saga FF. El hecho que cada turno tenga una bonificacion especial como mayor golpes criticos o mas exp le da una vuelta muy interesante al combate. Para el 2023 los graficos y sinematicas se ven regulares pero en su epoca fue un juego revolucionario tanto en su jugabilidad como historia que sin lugar te atrapa y olvidas el paso del tiempo. MuyUn RPG de corte clasico en comparacion a la saga FF. El hecho que cada turno tenga una bonificacion especial como mayor golpes criticos o mas exp le da una vuelta muy interesante al combate. Para el 2023 los graficos y sinematicas se ven regulares pero en su epoca fue un juego revolucionario tanto en su jugabilidad como historia que sin lugar te atrapa y olvidas el paso del tiempo. Muy recomendado tanto de forma original en tu Ps2 y una television CRT para poder tener la experiencia mas pura o puedes emularlo.… Expand
  4. ThorCarmine
    Apr 10, 2023
    10
    An amazing original story that kicked off not only Monolith Soft as a company but the Xeno series as a whole.
  5. Ghonf
    Apr 7, 2023
    10
    With Xenogears the best Story I have seen, the characters are great I love Ziggy, Chaos, Shion, Kos-Mos and even side characters like Andrew Cherenkov or Virgil are awesome
  6. Avey123Avey
    Mar 19, 2023
    3
    very mediocre JRPG. The game tries to do many different things with it's combat system which does help it stand out however for the most part it feels very unfocused. The combat is occasionally satisfying but is held back largely by the dated JRPG approach to encounter design which will have you doing the same set of long drawn out animated moves over and over again on the same set ofvery mediocre JRPG. The game tries to do many different things with it's combat system which does help it stand out however for the most part it feels very unfocused. The combat is occasionally satisfying but is held back largely by the dated JRPG approach to encounter design which will have you doing the same set of long drawn out animated moves over and over again on the same set of trivial non encounters. The story is a little interesting but it is unforgivable how little actually happens in the span of a giant JRPG. It feels blatantly drawn out for a sequel. Lastly the presentation here is pretty good but is shockingly undercut by the lack of any environmental music. This is a baffling terrible decision that ends up contributing to a dull play experience.… Expand
  7. pcss83
    Jan 22, 2023
    8
    Good history, good system battle, good set of characters, great graphics for 2002.
  8. wesker3407
    Aug 29, 2022
    10
    A humble beginning to a franchise that would lead to the creation of Xenoblade and yes both games were created by Monolith Soft.
  9. Spiky_20
    Aug 25, 2021
    0
    none of the chinese cartoons got naked to have sex, a very bad game I do not recommend it -1/10
  10. Sormon
    Jul 4, 2021
    5
    While Xenosaga Episode I's cutscenes and voice acting is well ahead if its time the gameplay leaves a lot to be desired. Battles encouraging you to just max out on specific attacks and spam them rather than work out the enemy's weaknesses make them boring. None of the minigames real stuck with me since I play JRPG's for the main game not the side content. Also music in gameplay sections isWhile Xenosaga Episode I's cutscenes and voice acting is well ahead if its time the gameplay leaves a lot to be desired. Battles encouraging you to just max out on specific attacks and spam them rather than work out the enemy's weaknesses make them boring. None of the minigames real stuck with me since I play JRPG's for the main game not the side content. Also music in gameplay sections is extremely bland and super repetitive (you need more than 1 battle theme). While I can praise the cutscenes and voice acting at the end of the day Xenosaga is meant to be a game and here i am quite disappointed.… Expand
  11. edwardnintendo8
    Mar 13, 2021
    0
    Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
  12. edwardnintendo
    Mar 13, 2021
    0
    Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
  13. iKen
    Apr 12, 2020
    8
    Played on PlayStation 2.
    Gameplay: GOOD.
    Story: GREAT.
    Graphic: GOOD.
    Music/Sound: GREAT.
    Voice Acting: GOOD.
  14. Daweeed
    Oct 1, 2018
    10
    My Fav RPG.
    Badass turn base j-rpg.. unique story and happaning.. anime vibe, philosophy etc... one of the greatest game was ever made
  15. artificeprime
    Jul 15, 2017
    7
    Xenosaga has an excellent story that is truly unique, unfortunately, as a game it is mediocre. I think that any fan of imaginative storytelling should experience Xenosaga but I think you would probably be better off watching the game instead of playing it. The gameplay is not only mediocre it doesn't really fit with the story as a whole.

    If you like turn based RPGs you will probably    Xenosaga has an excellent story that is truly unique, unfortunately, as a game it is mediocre. I think that any fan of imaginative storytelling should experience Xenosaga but I think you would probably be better off watching the game instead of playing it. The gameplay is not only mediocre it doesn't really fit with the story as a whole.

    If you like turn based RPGs you will probably enjoy the combat well enough, it isn't bad but it is far from the best in the genre. Outside of combat gameplay is mostly limited to running down hallways and exploring confined spaces. There isn't a lot to interact with. There are a few stealth sections and little mini-games but overall I found the gameplay below average. My biggest problem with the gameplay though is that the abilities of the characters don't at all reflect their abilities in the story. For example, Shion is supposed to be a scientist with limited combat abilities yet somehow you can make her more skilled than Kos-mos, a super powered android that commonly wipes out entire fleets in cut-scenes. It is incredibly stupid and was a terrible creative decision that makes no sense.

    The story is clearly where the game shines. It is a very strange story but it is deep and thought provoking while also being entertaining to watch. It manages to blend so many elements that normally wouldn't fit together. It deals with religion, alien life, cloning, and genetic engineering. It also deals with more character driven elements such as artificially created beings trying to understand their identity and purpose. The story is one of a kind and even though it is a bit convoluted at times most of it is very well written. It does suffer from some anime tropes but never to the point that I found it unbearable. The story is very complex with many characters from different backgrounds with different motives. This is not a simple tale of good vs evil, it is a layered space drama that raises far more interesting questions than most movies or TV series.

    The characters are also unique and well thought out. Shion is far from a generic protagonist, she has an interesting backstory and evolves substantially as the story progresses. Nearly every character has depth and there is a very wide range. One character is a man who was a clone built for war yet his body does not age so he is trapped in the body of a child. Another character is a cyborg who wants to be turned into a robot so that he can forget his humanity. Each of the playable characters is explored in depth and each has an interesting backstory. The villains are just as good and there are several all with interesting and complex motives.

    The visual style is decent but nothing special. There are some really cool designs. Kos-mos is an iconic character and some of the spaceships are very unique looking. Environments are mostly uninspired though and aside from a few exceptions the characters are pretty standard anime designs.

    The sound design is pretty good. The voice acting was quite good for its time although some of the characters do sound a bit unnatural. The music is also appealing and almost always fits quite well within the story. It is a great blend of classic almost religious sounds and more futuristic sounding styles. It isn't the type of soundtrack that I would listen to much outside of the game but it adds a lot to the experience.

    I would recommend Xenosaga to anyone who is a fan of deep RPGs that focus mostly on story telling. For me it was a great experience but I didn't bother playing either of the two sequels, I just watched the cutscenes and honestly I think I enjoyed that as much or more than playing the game.

    Xenosaga is a great experience but a mediocre game.

    I give it 75%    … Expand
  16. KuKuruYo
    Jul 18, 2016
    10
    Xenosaga is the best game saga i've ever played by a long shot. No other game falls even close to it. The story is complex and doesn't treat the player like an idiot, which happens too often nowadays. The gameplay is good, the characters and great and you'll empathize a lot with them. It also have some very dark themes, which unfortunately have been censored in the western version. I can'tXenosaga is the best game saga i've ever played by a long shot. No other game falls even close to it. The story is complex and doesn't treat the player like an idiot, which happens too often nowadays. The gameplay is good, the characters and great and you'll empathize a lot with them. It also have some very dark themes, which unfortunately have been censored in the western version. I can't think of anything i don't like about this saga besides being censored.… Expand
  17. Joe_E_Dee
    Mar 29, 2016
    10
    The story is presented very well, with excellent voice acting. I found myself anticipating the next cut scene to see what would happen next. That said, the story is the strong point of the game, and there is a lot of it.
    Not a game to turn to if your looking for action. This one you wanna sit back and relax.
    When I started this game I kinda felt like it was one of those games I'd    The story is presented very well, with excellent voice acting. I found myself anticipating the next cut scene to see what would happen next. That said, the story is the strong point of the game, and there is a lot of it.
    Not a game to turn to if your looking for action. This one you wanna sit back and relax.
    When I started this game I kinda felt like it was one of those games I'd drop...Turned out to be 1 of the best games I ever played.    … Expand
  18. Serenityinaz12
    May 28, 2015
    10
    This and Xenogears have the most deep and intricate plot lines I have every experienced in a video game, and I have played pretty much every game that is known for having a good story. Couldn't recommend more.
  19. yukiyoung
    Mar 22, 2015
    10
    Xenosaga is personally my favorite game series, it has a lot of things going for it including some of the best music I have ever heard from in a game and also one of the most enjoyable battle styles.
  20. IJL711
    Mar 16, 2015
    9
    This is easily one of my favorite games of all time. It's a JRPG, so there is a LOT of cinematics and story; in fact, it's almost a really long movie. However, that being said, the customization of the characters attacks is quite in depth in that you can switch out both characters and skills quite frequently.
    The graphics are, well, they're the graphics of a PS2 game. Even so, the    This is easily one of my favorite games of all time. It's a JRPG, so there is a LOT of cinematics and story; in fact, it's almost a really long movie. However, that being said, the customization of the characters attacks is quite in depth in that you can switch out both characters and skills quite frequently.
    The graphics are, well, they're the graphics of a PS2 game. Even so, the graphics are still great, especialy during some of the more in-depth cinematics as well as some of the battles.
    The story itself is deep with an enormous lore that would take hours to go into. You may find yourself frequently sitting back to watch yet another cinematic, but you'll rarely find yourself not wanting watch the next one. The story starts relatively simple and quickly becomes complex and engrossing.
    There are some aspects that are could use some work. Even with character ability customization, sometimes the battles can feel tedious and repetitive. Some people also would also prefer background music as most games often have (I am not one of them, however).
    Currently I have a PS4 sitting not 20 feet away from me, but I frequently find myself returning to this game and the series as whole because I enjoy the games and the story that much. I'll grant that this review is a bit late, but I would strongly suggest this game to people that enjoy RPGs    … Expand
  21. Infielozo
    Oct 29, 2013
    8
    It is a story-based RPG with great game play and an innovative system. If you are looking for a rewarding game, you've found it, sometimes the scenes go on for a while, but that is what most RPG fans dig. This game isn't for the impatient and those who lack imagination, this is truly a gem and it's easy to find a copy.
  22. mcikes
    Jul 25, 2012
    8
    Some of the cutscenes can be long, but its not like other games dont have long cutscenes as well. This is a great game to start what is a fantastic trilogy of games. The story is good, battle system unique, just a solid game from top to bottom. In my opinion nothing like Xenogears if any of you think this is a sequel, I hated Xenogears but loved this game and the 2 that followed.
  23. RecoveryRx
    Jan 20, 2012
    10
    One of the most mature storylines every crafted for a video game - wonderful gaming experience. I will say that some battles can last a bit longer than enjoyable necessary, but still, small distraction from a great game. Just don't play if you hate cut scenes.
  24. f_type
    Aug 18, 2011
    7
    I was excited for this game, seeing as how many of the people involved with Xenogears were behind this. But this game ends up a bit too convoluted. I didn't mind the long cutscenes but the story is a nonstop series of inconsistent tidbits, characters and details which do not make any sense until the final few hours of the game- and even then, you'll constantly find yourself referring toI was excited for this game, seeing as how many of the people involved with Xenogears were behind this. But this game ends up a bit too convoluted. I didn't mind the long cutscenes but the story is a nonstop series of inconsistent tidbits, characters and details which do not make any sense until the final few hours of the game- and even then, you'll constantly find yourself referring to the database to figure out what's what. The characters, even the lead, never develop beyond their initial personalities. Visually, the game is very good (especially the FMVs) and the music is great, though not Mitsuda's best. The gameplay is fairly tradition with towns to explore, secrets to find, dungeons to conquer, and bosses to beat. The battle system and character development systems are very complicated and contains so many different aspects that you will spend a vast majority of your time in trail in error to find what characters and attacks work against what enemies. The game is also incredibly inconsistent in terms of difficulty. Above all, the entire game just feels slow and tedious: the long and boring dungeons, the overly simplistic but tiresome puzzles and nearly every single battle just seems to drag on. Ultimately though, if you do make it to the end, you will see that it's only the beginning of a huge saga and it will pique your interest.… Expand
  25. ArkonBlade
    Dec 30, 2010
    8
    i loved xenogears it is still my favorite RPG of all time . so when i heard it was getting a prequel i couldnt wait to get my hands on it . much like xenogears this game is heavily story driven and there is alot of cut sceanes which i love if its got a story that grabs me and intresting charicters . i loved KOS-MOS a kick ass female android who could bust **** up . but kinda like FF8 iti loved xenogears it is still my favorite RPG of all time . so when i heard it was getting a prequel i couldnt wait to get my hands on it . much like xenogears this game is heavily story driven and there is alot of cut sceanes which i love if its got a story that grabs me and intresting charicters . i loved KOS-MOS a kick ass female android who could bust **** up . but kinda like FF8 it has the same problems the combat system just isnt as fun mainly because the mech combat just plain sucks . the game is also very challanging and not that i mind that but it gets to the point where its very frustrating . the final boss is one of the hardest boss fights ive ever fought ina RPG i fought that basterd for almost a hout and still couldnt beat him. but some of the voice acting is some of the best ive seen. crispen freemen who does albedo really stands out . i mean wow he made that guy look like a freekin insane madman that i believed 100%. its not exactly the awsome sequel i was hoping this to be but it didnt dissapoint in the story area one freekin bit. and thats the most important part to me for any RPG.… Expand
  26. Tubie
    Oct 3, 2010
    6
    I was a Xenogears fan and I was eagerly awaiting this game but it inevitably was doomed to let me down. It is not a Xenogears game only but for a few references.
  27. AndrewC.
    Feb 8, 2007
    9
    This game is great. The gameplay is challenging and well thought-out, and you're rewarded for getting past all the tough bosses and everything with a lengthy cutscene or three. The game has a sweeping and confusing plot that really makes you think, and is thoroughly enjoyable through and through. Those who enjoy Metal Gear Solid's cinematics should love this game, but those who This game is great. The gameplay is challenging and well thought-out, and you're rewarded for getting past all the tough bosses and everything with a lengthy cutscene or three. The game has a sweeping and confusing plot that really makes you think, and is thoroughly enjoyable through and through. Those who enjoy Metal Gear Solid's cinematics should love this game, but those who are put off by this kind of thing...well, you won't like this.… Expand
  28. ShionU.
    May 18, 2006
    10
    The best game series I have ever played! I have played all of the final fantasy games( including FF7). If your looking for a RPG game to play,hands down,get this one.
  29. DragonKnight
    Apr 27, 2006
    7
    Now, this game is for a very very specific auidence. If you're expecting great, fast-paced, gameplay. Stop reading, and go play something else. The battle system for this game is seeping with mediocrity, but if you're interested in this game. Gameplay is not the reason you're considering getting this game. The main focus, no, excuse me, the only focus on this game, is the Now, this game is for a very very specific auidence. If you're expecting great, fast-paced, gameplay. Stop reading, and go play something else. The battle system for this game is seeping with mediocrity, but if you're interested in this game. Gameplay is not the reason you're considering getting this game. The main focus, no, excuse me, the only focus on this game, is the storyline, Which is incredibly deep and intriguing and if you're looking for a good story, this is your game, or Interactive DVD. The graphics aren't pushing the PS2 to it's limits but it doesn't look bad either. The voice-acting sadly, isn't impressive, it sounds pretty bad at times. Which is pretty annoying, since you're going to spend 99% of this game listening to people talk. Also, I lol'd everytime I got an e-mail from Namco trying to advertise their games to me. Remember; this is for a very specific audience, be careful when you buy this and be 100% positive you're looking for a game that'll give you a great story and a great story is all you want. Everyone else, will hate this, and should keep away. I enjoyed this personally, but I'm part of that specific audience.… Expand
  30. BenL.
    Mar 10, 2006
    9
    This game has iffy gmaeplay, but while playing it through, I realised that I could really care less. Now, while that's not the case in most games, this game's cinematic story flows out so well that I could survive the boring battle system just to get to the next gorgeously rendered cutscene. While I realise this is more of a movie then a game, I have to say it is one extremely This game has iffy gmaeplay, but while playing it through, I realised that I could really care less. Now, while that's not the case in most games, this game's cinematic story flows out so well that I could survive the boring battle system just to get to the next gorgeously rendered cutscene. While I realise this is more of a movie then a game, I have to say it is one extremely good movie.… Expand
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best PS2 Game of 2003
21
#21 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
14
#14 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. NTSC-uk
    70
    The narrative of Xenosaga dwarfs all of its other elements, which are under-developed in comparison.
    Read full review
  2. Gaming Age
    100
    Xenosaga has that extra special something that has been missing from RPGs for the last couple of years, an enthralling, profound story that leaves you truly wanting more.
    Read full review
  3. Adrenaline Vault
    80
    The brilliant story is enhanced by a beautiful score from Mitsuda and cinematic sequences which are stunning, to say the least.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »