i have left this mortal plane

Xenogears is one of the PSX rpg darlings, and for good reason. Square put out all kinds of incredible games before the turn of the millennium, but the Xeno franchise has persisted despite endless challenges and even arguably uncompelling gameplay (depending on the player). So let's inquire a little.

Xenogears is the brainchild of Tetsuya Takehashi and Soraya Saga. In some other future it would've been a multi-part franchise (in the Gears continuity), an anime, a multimedia experience. It's one of the girthiest pieces of fiction I've ever had to parse, and thankfully Resonant Arc did their podcast on the thing, because it's probably the only format that allows for the excavation the game demands.

Unfortunately the game ended up on my schedule, so now my coverage is your problem. I believe I left a swear or two in. Everybody gets one. Or two.

Hey! Here's my latest on Nioh!    • The Nioh Duology in Critique  

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0:00 Xenogears
2:41 in the beginning
9:03 za warudo
16:44 dial-a-combo
26:48 the party
34:12 development troubles
38:40 the story - recap and reflection

#kbash #xenogears #retrospective