Xenosaga Episode III

by Namco

Product Features

• Over 8 Hours of Movies Including Voiced Cut Scenes - Pre-rendered cut scenes and real-time cut scenes with dramatically enhanced models, as well as in-game voiced cut scenes with anime-style 2D portraits unveil an epic story
• The Exciting Conclusion to an Epic Trilogy - Building on the deeply philosophical and existential storyline of the first two titles, the concluding chapter in the series brings closure to the remaining mysteries in the highly acclaimed story
• Updated Battle System - Battles are intuitive and fun, combining the best aspects of the first two games' battles, while introducing the new Break system
• Customize Your Characters - A branching skill set promotes character specialization and diversification. Strategic party management is more highly rewarded, adding another level of depth to game strategy
• Money/Shops Are Back - Buy, barter, and sell any items or equipment, allowing you to upgrade your characters and E.S.s frequently

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000G82R20
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches ; 4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: August 29, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,206 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Xenosaga EPISODE III: Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke Zarathustra) - A year has passed since Xenosaga II, Shion has resigned her post at Vector Industries after realizing that the company is deeply connected to the cause of the Gnosis phenomenon. She has thus joined Scientia, an underground organization, in order to unveil Vector's true objectives. The development of KOS-MOS is to be cancelled, and a mysterious android, T-elos appears to be taking KOS-MOS' place. Shadows of suspicion and conspiracy surround T-elos. Uncover the future of mankind in this much-anticipated conclusion to the Xenosaga trilogy. An In-Game Database is Your Veritable Xeno Bible - An easily accessible database of every detail such as important events, people, items, keywords, locations, weapons, back-story, phenomenon, townspeople, associations and companies Challenge Yourself and Friends with new Mini-games - With 60 pre-made levels to complete, the Xenosaga puzzle mini-games add a new type of challenge for the player, and rewards his performance. The mini-game map editor also lets players create, play and share their own custom maps with friends

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant addition (and finish) to the Xenosaga series!, September 3, 2006

By 

James Head (NC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Xenosaga Episode III (Video Game)

Xenosaga: Episode 3 (Also sprach Zarathustra) brings back the magic of Episode 1 and fixes the vast majority of the problems that occurred in Episode 2. The story here, as rich and complex as ever, is brought to an appropriate and moving close as Shion and company battle to uncover a deep-seated conspiracy unlike anything else they've ever encountered. The fabric of the story itself, the voice acting, and the cutscenes are all truly superb - it's remarkable that the makers at Namco/Bandai managed to pull all of the loose ends together to make the story finally make sense. To boot, it's a pleasure to watch and listen to -- who could ask for more?

As for the battle system, it finally regains its fun in Episode 3. I simply wasn't a fan of Episode 2's system, so the return to "basics" was a blessing in my mind. The characters still do battle in their unique ways, as each has his/her own customizable skills to obtain, but long gone are the days of ridiculously long battles against painfully weak enemies. Here, in both ground and E.S. (mech) battles, your ability to strengthen and customize your party shines through and you are always rewarded for your hard work. Replay value is moderate-to-high as well, since your party consists of all the familiar players for most of the game; if you have a habit of using the same three or four people (like me; yay for chaos!), you can always play through again with a different group.

Shops return in this Episode, making buying and selling your merchandise once again possible. The only thing lacking is this game is a little more in the "extras/side quests" department, of which this game only offers a handful. While some of these take longer than others, a few more side quests would have been nice, particularly since this is the last in the series.

I can't rave enough about how impressed I was with this title. It rivals Episode 1 in every way possible, and the trilogy's epic story outstrips other RPG competition without question. If you're looking for fun battles, a fantastic story, and beautiful graphics, then look no further; Xenosaga: Episode 3 is for you.

I can only hope that someone changes their mind and decides to make another one -- after this exceptional closing Episode, it's hard not to wish for another game to come along in the future. Very highly recommended.

Summary:
Story: A+
Cutscenes: A
Graphics/Rendering: A
Battle/Skill System: A
Extras/Side Quests: A-
Replay Value: Moderate-to-High

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Game in the Series, September 10, 2006

By 

citan-uzuki "citan-uzuki" (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Xenosaga Episode III (Video Game)

In my opinion, this is the best game in the Xenosaga series. The first game received a lot of well-deserved praise and recognition. However, I believe this third game is better in just about every aspect.

The battle system is new and introduces the concept of Break. The idea is to place your opponent in that state, and avoiding it for your characters. The turn-based battle system is also very quick. You don't have to wait 30 seconds for your characters to execute their battle moves. The playable characters respond and attack as soon as you choose the type of attack that you want to perform. As in the previous games, you either fight on foot or aboard the giant E.S. humanoid machines.

Item and Equipment shops are back, as well as the ability to customize your characters to a fine level. You won't have as much options to choose as the first game, but the ability is very close.

The best part of this game though is the story. I am forty years old and have read many novels, watched many great movies, and played lots of video games. In my opinion, the story being told in this game surpasses anything that I have ever come across. The plot is that good. The characters are very well-developed and seem to take on life as you play the game and watch the plot unfold. There's action, drama, and revelations in just about every scene. Each of the main plot from the previous episodes are brought to conclusion.

This is truly a masterpiece of story-telling. I can only hope that one day, this very moving, thought-provoking, captivating, and uplifting story will be more accessible to people who don't play video games. A lot of people will find it spiritual and philosophical. Yes, the theme is very serious and dramatic. Unlike the more common whimsical theme of most games. But trust me, you will play for many hours non-stop just to watch the plot unfold. The concepts of destiny, purpose, free will, choices, life, afterlife, beliefs, love, despair, and consequences are constantly present in the story.

The central character is Shion Uzuki, the designer of the amazing android KOS-MOS. Allen and the rest of the supporting cast are back. This time, they are out to uncover a plot by Vector that could put the future of the universe in danger.

The mini-game is there in case you want to take a break from the main story and enjoy a fun game of Hackox. This is actually a fun game, with a lot of depth. Ofcourse, you have The Professor, Jr. and Allen to lighten things up just a bit also.

UPDATE 3/14/2007

There is a rumor circulating around on the various internet message boards dedicated to RPGs that Namco-Bandai is currently developing an action game, based on Xenosaga and KOS-MOS will be the main character.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Addition to a Great Series, August 30, 2006

By 

S. Rhodes - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Xenosaga Episode III (Video Game)

Xenosaga is a great series. Known for it's high cinematic quality, deep storyline and intricate battle system. The first Xenosaga was met with all around praise. Episode II was widely mixed. Episode III, however, is a fine welcome to the series that far surpasses Episode II in places where it counts. The storyline is still brilliant, and the characters return. Xenosaga Episode III is definitely for Xenosaga fans.

The storyline is rather complex. It takes place from where Episode II ends. If you've never played a Xenosaga game before, fear not, there is a database that summarizes the first two episodes for you. It also serves as a handy refresher for those who have played the game. Still, it's much better if you've actually played the first two games in the series. In Episode III, the story goes deeper. It begins with Shion getting involved in a break in to the Vector Corporation Facility. What she discovers will shock her, and will certainly shock Xenosaga fans. Right from the get go, the story grabs your attention.

The storyline is carried out in brilliant cutscenes that look absolutely stunning. This is no surprise to anyone who has played Xenosaga before. The game is full of cutscenes every now and then. Just like the previous two installments the game has long cutscenes, which actually could try even the most patient of gamers. Some cutscenes last for longer than twenty minutes. All in all there are nearly ten hours of cutscenes. For the most part, though, they sound good at least. The voice acting is good and there's true depth and emotion to the characters. There are moments when the voice isn't as strong in some spots as it is others, but thankfully these moments don't populate most of the game. With some cutscenes, though, you'll wonder just when you can start playing the game again, and it's been a problem in Xenosaga ever since the very first version. When you do get to play the game, however, it's pretty interesting.

There are no random encounters in Xenosaga. You can see all your enemies running around. These battles are all contact based. When in battle, the dynamic battle system takes over. In battle your characters will be able to attack and use special magic skills. These attacks fill up a boost gauge which you can use to give your characters extra turns in battle. The battle system is deep, yet very easy to learn and not too complex at all. There's a new addition to the battle system. The "break" meter. This meter fills up as you take damage. When this meter is full your character essentially takes a break for two or three turns. The good news is your enemies also have a break meter so it works both ways. It puts a new twist on battling and calls for a bit more strategy. As with the other Xenosaga games, you can call on giant robots to help you in battle.

The game isn't overly difficult... at first, that is. As you go on in the game the battles begin to get harder, and that's how it should be. For Xenosaga, it begins to get a little hard a little early, though. The game compensates by giving you lots of healing items. So even if you manage to get to the point where your characters are getting low on health rather fast, you can heal them instantly.

Xenosaga also introduces a way of developing your characters. Through this system you can give your characters skill points and abilities. You can choose to give them offensive or defensive skills. Once you start on one path you can also switch and go to the other if you want. Essentially, you could go down one path and start on the other later. It's not really deep, but it does make you think about how to develop your characters.

Xenosaga Episode III also has a few sidequests and extras. There's a mini-game that acts like Lumines and you can even play that with a friend if you wish. You can also go around and collect swimsuits for your characters and complete your database. The game lasts for a long time (about fifty hours or so). There's much to explore, but the heart of the game lies within its storyline. If you were scratching your head at the end of Xenosaga Episode I or II, then Episode III will tie up most lose ends for you.

Xenosaga Episode III manages to be a great game after all. Although, much like the games before it in the series, you've really got to love RPGs and anime to get into the massive cutscenes. It doesn't surpass the first game in the series by any means, but it comes awfully close to reinventing the same magic found within the first game.

The Good
+Fantastic cutscenes
+Good voice acting
+Great battle system
+Engaging and involving storyline
+Beautiful graphics
+The cast of characters returns

The Bad
-The cutsenes are very long, so there are many more moments of watching rather than playing. The storyline is good, but even the most patient of gamers will find themselves waiting for some of these overly long cutscenes to end