[PS2] Xenosaga III: Also Sprach Zarathustra

Originally Posted by Cetra

I've been hearing quotes of 30-40 hours the main story from Namco US internal play testers and up to 60 hours of gameplay if you do all of the sidequests(there are a ton) and minigames. I really don't know how valid these claims are though.

My clear file was right at 32 hours. I didn't do any sidequests.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by soulsteelgray

Actually, the soundtrack that was just released is a combination of the cutscene and in-game tracks. For instance, the battle of your soul is one of the songs that play during a boss fight. So is testament.

It's not all of the soundtrack though. There are a lot of songs left out. That's why it's a Best Sound Tracks.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Here's a RAR with 91 songs ripped from the game that aren't on the OST.

http://files.filefront.com/Xeno3unra.../fileinfo.html

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Kensaki

Spoiler:

I still hold my opinion that the three Xenosaga games are infact chapter two as told in perfect works.

Xenosaga is

Spoiler:

a very warped version of Xenogears Episode I. Xenosaga's story is similar to Xenogears Episode I, but there are still a lot of differences. For example:

Spoiler:

the Zohar Emulators are gone. The Original is the only one left. The Anima are gone. Abel never made contact with the Zohar. There is no Deus or Kadomony. That means there can't be a Miang, Emperor Cain, or Gazel Ministry.

I was speaking idiomatically.

No, it's

Spoiler:

Episode I. Xenogears Episode I covered everything from the discovery of the Zohar on Earth in 2001, the creation of Deus in T.C. 4767 to end the Interstellar War, and the Eldridge crash. Xenogears Episode II was about Abel after the Eldridge crash.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

No it isn't.

Spoiler:

Xenogears Episode III is the Zeboim Civilization. Here's the episode list straight from Perfect Works:

============
EPISODE I
============
PERIOD OF THE INTERSTELLAR WAR
15,000 Years ago

Episode I is set against the Earth of 15,000 years ago and it is at this time that mankind has begun its search for a new home. Eventually, man finds a habitable home amidst the M24 Star Cluster of Sagittarius and from thereafter, this planet comes to be known as "Neo Jerusalem." However, even after colonizing this planet, mankind continued to aim for the heart of the universe and after 5,000 years (10,000 years ago), humanity had conquered most of the Milky Way. Eventually, The Interstellar War breaks out and afterward gradually intensifies; Episode I focuses on both the outbreak and intensification of this war. However, while this is going on, other events take place, such as the development of the Deus System.

============
EPISODE II
============
THE ORIGINS OF A NEW ERA
10,000 Years ago

Intellectual life forms have begun to increase on the planet where Fei shall live. Also, Emperor Cain becomes the founder of a new generation of mankind and is venerated as a god. Abel, the sole survivor of the Eldridge crash, is repulsed by this belief and seeks a new way of life. At this point in time, the story progresses to Episode II, with Cain continuing to abide by his mission-the revivification of Deus; Cain never intended to "liberate humanity" as seen in Episode V.

=============
EPISODE III
=============
THE ZEBOIM CIVILIZATION
4,000 Years ago

Episode III takes place at an age where a scientific civilization achieves a level of technological advancement similar to our own. A majority of these people are rendered unable to bear children thanks to a genetic deficiency that began to manifest itself as they achieved the technological zenith. Kim (Abel's first transmigration) attempted to overcome this obstacle with nanotechnology, but fails thanks to Miang's Plans. Emeralda is also born durin this era and nanotechnology is later revived by Taura, one of the Three Sages of Shevat.

============
EPISODE IV
============
THE SOLARIS CAMPAIGN
500 Years ago

The Ignas continent of about 500 years thence is the backdrop of Episode IV. Emperor Cain decides that human evolution has reached its final stage and thus founds Solaris. Emperor Cain makes an attempt at immediate ground-rule, but is met with conflict as the artificial humans of this era have harnessed the use of Ether. This conflict, or war, breaks out between the "Land Dwellers" and the "Solarians," and is generally known as the "great war of 500 years ago." But the war was ended prematurely by "The Day of Collapse."

===========
EPISODE V
===========
XENOGEARS
Present

Fei takes on the role of protagonist in this episode, set in the year 9999, Fei leads his early life in the peaceful village of Lahan. The Deus Restoration Program is also nearing completion at present time. Fei was not born in Lahan Village, however. He was, in fact, carried to Chief Lee's house in Lahan Village, three years ago by a Masked Man. At the time, Fei was so injured, both mentally and physically, that he lost all memory of his life prior to that point. After the attack on Lahan Village, though, he is "reawakened" and once again embarks on the road of fate.

============
EPISODE VI
============
FUTURE

Although not much is known about this episode, it appears as though it is set shortly after Episode V. Information about Episode VI will remain undisclosed until future notice as it is the last point on the Xenogears timeline.

FELIPE NO

It's not void. I was tying to say that Xenosaga is a retelling of Xenogears Episode I and you didn't even know what happened in Xenogears Episode I. I was just trying to get everything straight.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Probably around 150,000-155,000. Episode III is the worst selling game in the series, not counting I&II for DS. It's too bad too. It's the best in the series.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Cetra

The scenes basically went from "blood fountains" to just "blood" in the censored version.

No they didn't. The scenes went from blood to no blood. All the blood in the game is gone.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Inhert

yeah they realy took ALL the blood from the game here's some screenshot that shows the JP and NA version

(some may be spoiler so look at your own risk)

Spoiler:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...llenCensor.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...EndCensor1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...EndCensor2.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...EndCensor3.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...EndCensor4.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...EndCensor5.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...EndCensor6.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ionCensor1.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ionCensor2.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ionCensor3.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ionCensor4.jpg

I was wondering why my Photobucket stats said I already had 5000 hits for the month.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

You got to see plenty of Ziggy's past in Pied Piper.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by SOLDIER

I'd especially like to see how that infamous scene with Albedo was handled.

On that note, I also wondered how that scene was handled in the DS version.

The same way it was in the English version and Xenosaga I: Reloaded, but with DS graphics.

But it's a bit different after that. In Xenosaga I&II, the Song of Nephilim and Proto Merkabah are one dungeon. You get MOMO back and then fight Virgil. Albedo runs off deeper into the dungeon. You find him and fight him. Then, you have to fight E.S. Simeon. You can't win it. It's impossible. It kills with one hit. When your party is dead, Canaan shows up in E.S. Asher and holds E.S. Simeon back while you go fight Sophie Peithos.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Guest

Whoa.. I just saw The Da Vinci Code and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Spoiler:

I bet the developer's really liked Dan Brown's novel. I'm surprised no one mentioned the similarities between Episode III and that movie. Of course, it doesn't come until the end of the game, when we find out about KOS-MOS's origin
.

Spoiler:

Not really. The fact that KOS-MOS is Mary Magdalene was around long before The Da Vinci Code. The Da Vinci Code was published in 2003. Back in 2001 or 2002, whenever Xenosaga was first announced, there was a trailer with keywords from the series in it. The words Mary Magdalene and Rennes-le-Chateau were in it then. It was also said that KOS-MOS was Mary Magdalene in the leaked information before Episode II was released, so the idea that KOS-MOS is Mary Magdalene has been around for a long time.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I believe Monolithsoft said that Episode II had roughly six hours of cutscenes. Fans complained about how many there were in Episode I, so Monolithsoft said for Episode II, they would have less of them.

FELIPE NO

There are a lot of Xenogears cameos in Xenosaga. Xenosaga itself is just a retelling of Xenogears Episode I. If you read Xenogears: Perfect Works, you see a lot of things that are similar.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I meant what I said. Xenosaga is a retelling of Xenogears Episode I. Obviously, they aren't the same. It's a retelling in the way some animes do retellings of stories from previous seasons/series. The very basic story is based off of Xenogears Episode I, but there are a lot of alterations to it that it becomes its own story.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Marina

About Shion and KOSMOS relation

Spoiler:

Nephilim said that Mary was Shion's other half? But the rest said that she is the maiden of Mary...so what does that mean? She is the same person(The part of Mary that died when used sealing power and the will is KOSMOS? ) or ....

From the Xenosaga Episode III: Perfect Guide:

Spoiler:

17. What is the Maiden of Maria?
Shion's previous existence, the Maiden of Maria-- what kind of person was it? In the era of ancient Lost Jerusalem, the Maiden of Maria existed at what kind of position? And what kind of ability did she possess?

{captions}
1) Maria, as the actualized existence of the power of Animus in the real-number domain. She was the partner of the Messiah in the era of ancient Lost Jerusalem. (EPIII)
2,3) The graveyard of Rennes-le-Chateau. In the era of ancient Lost Jerusalem, Maria died when she divided the power of Anima into the Vessels of Anima, and this is where her body was laid to rest. (EPIII)
4,6) From the sealed Lost Jerusalem, only the land in the vicinity of Rennes-le-Chateau appeared in real-number domain space. (EPIII)
5) The hypersphere that surrounded Rennes-le-Chateau. (EPIII)


<<The "Apostles">>
　　　　"Apostle" means a person who devoutly endeavors in holy work. In the era of ancient Lost Jerusalem, there were 12 Apostles for the man who was called the Messiah. Because this number of people was used also in connection with later eras' religious authorities, nowadays after thousands of years have passed, it is difficult to confirm the exact number of people or exact members. There also existed many people around the Messiah who were similar to the Apostles.
　　　　Among the people such as that who encircled the Messiah, was Maria. She was the partner of the Messiah, and her existence, the same as chaos, was someone extremely close to the Messiah.
　　　　And then, in order to use that power of Animus in Maria, there was an existence that was also called Maria's Apostle. That was the Maiden of Maria-- Shion's previous existence.
[Refer to section: 15, 32]

<<Maria's Death>>
　　　　If the Maiden of Maria is necessary in order to use the power of Animus-- Maria's real form-- when the power of Anima was divided, the Maiden of Maria probably used that power.
　　　　The ability of the Maiden of Maria is the ignition that allows the release of the power of Animus, and it is also the released power's control. By that meaning, the manifestation of the power of Animus requires both Maria and the Maiden.
　　　　At that time, the power of Animus scattered throughout the UMN, and Maria's real-number domain existence died. Her body was buried at Rennes-le-Chateau.
　　　　Ages afterward, Maria's consciousness was revived in Kos-mos, and she spoke that long ago she ended up allowing the Maiden to die. Does this indicate that the Maiden of Maria also died along with Maria at that time? Or did Maria die, leaving the Maiden behind, and afterwards, the Maiden fell into a situation that lead to death? Either way, it is perhaps that the death of Maria and the death of the Maiden are not unrelated.
[Refer to section: 15, 25]

<<The Maiden's Death>>
　　　　Before the death of Maria. Shion's previous existence, the Maiden of Maria, met with death. But it is unclear what kind of event it was. However, the consciousness of Maria that had awakened in Kos-mos regretted that she was not able to protect Shion who was once the Maiden. In other words, it is thought that after chaos' power was divided, in the interval until Maria died, Maria lost the power of Animus, and right before her eyes, Shion's previous existence, due to some sort of incident, met with death.
[Refer to section: 25]

<<Apostle and Maiden>>
　　　　The Maiden of Maria constantly accompanied Maria. It was just like how the Messiah's Apostles accompanied him.
　　　　In other words, just as the Apostles were present where the Messiah was present, so too was the Maiden where Maria was present. If an image of those times had been left behind, maybe a figure of the Maiden of Maria could have been confirmed.
[Refer to section: none]

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by MOLD

But... what was the connection between those two? I know they look similar, but how does it connect with the ending?

There is no connection between the two. Xenosaga and Xenogears don't connect. Events in Episode III make it impossible for Xenogears to ever happen.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by wvlfpvp

I finished it and just one question:

Spoiler:

is chaos dispersed throughout the universe, or is he just living on in KOS-MOS?

Spoiler:

chaos lost his physical body during the dimension shift. I assume his conscious still exists in the Unus Mundus. Wilhelm still exists too. He lost his physical body, but his consciousness still exists.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Xenosaga is not Xenogears.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by wvlfpvp

Why don't we just call it retconning?

I believe that they retconned it in Xenosaga I&II too. It's been a while since I played it, but I believe Kevin gave her the pendant before he died in it too.

I liked how they completely redid Episode II in Xenosaga I&II.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Leknaat

I always thought I and II should have been one game, but I can understand why they were split up.

Judging from the old Episode I trailer, they were supposed to be one game. It showed stuff that was near the end of Episode II, such as

Spoiler:

Jin and Margulis's battle at Labyrinthos and Proto Omega.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Leknaat

So, here's two questions for those who have played all 3 games:

Do you think Episodes I and II would have worked better as one game?

I've played both games back to back a couple times. They work much better back to back, so I think it would have been even better as one game. Playing them back to back, the pacing of Episode II is much better.

Of course, what I really want is an English version of Xenosaga I&II. I managed to stumble through the Japanese version. There are a lot of interesting changes in the Episode II part of the game.

Originally Posted by wvlfpvp

we could at least get an introduction to Doctus, among other things. I was all like "WHO THE HELL IS THIS BITCH AND WHY IS SHE ONLY IN THE GAME FOR LIKE, 10 MINUTES?"

Doctus had a few interesting scenes in Missing Year. Here she is kicking KOS-MOS's ass.



What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Winter Storm

LOL! Doctus much be extremely powerful to be able to do that to V4 KOS-MOS.

That's not Ver. 4. That's KOS-MOS Ver. 1.1.

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/2...2scan12wx9.jpg

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Senorita Preved

I don't understand how xenogears ties into all of this shit but whatever ;(

It doesn't. Xenosaga is a reimagining of Xenogears Episode I. They don't directly connect.

If anyone's interested, there's a group translating the Episode I Drama CDs and making a series of Flash movies out of them.

Xenosaga OUTER FILE ~ Home

There's nowhere I can't reach.