I watched in utter joy and disbelief at the game that I had wanted to play ever since Xenosaga I came out.
One bad part out this third installment is that it makes the other two parts feel short, unfinished, and unsatisfying in comparison. Furthermore, in order to finalize the story and wrap-up the loose ends, many story elements, characters, and events needed to be properly investigated and fleshed-out all in this third game, given that the first two games had a very narrow focus on either certain characters or story elements of the vast, vast Xenosaga universe. Xenosaga III takes a respectable (and perfect) J-RPG time of 40 to 50 hours to complete, and despite most of those hours being crammed with either excellent strategic combat or mind-bending and tear-jerking story, there wasn't enough time for the creators of the game to properly present their art in one final, magnum opus.
That's why the "Xeno Bible" was included in the game, and it is one giant and extremely succulent reference guide for every story element, characters, lingo, or what-have-you in the Xenosaga universe. After a few hours of playing, a good 65% of that bible is available for perusal, and although it was a daunting task to read all of it for me (a good 1.5h investment), being able to sort all this information in my head made the game a hundred times more enjoyable. The lore of Xenosaga is excessively deep and varied, and being to understand the disparity between Ormus and U-TIC, or an A.M.W.S versus an E.S., or just what the U.M.N really is made me far more invested in everyone of the following conversations, because I finally understood the universe where these characters (whom I adore) were living much better.
Plus, there are excellent summaries of both Xenosaga I & II, and at the end of the game you are able to view *every single* cut-scene or story scene from the game. I want that feature in every game I play, period. So much love went into this game. The game drags a little in the first five hours or so, much like the entirety of the first two games did, but after that point, the pacing and rhythm between dungeons/combat and story elements is nearly perfect. Playing Xenosaga II, I remember a point in which I watched the story unfold with zero interaction for over three hours. Not in this game. They perfectly nailed the formula here. Plus, the combat system and leveling system are both great. For the first time in a Xenogears or Xenosaga game, I didn't feel like the combat was there just because it had to be, and that many items/attacks/systems were put in place 'just because'. Xenosaga III is a fun RPG to play. Plus, you get a story the scope of which you have never experienced before...unless of course you've gotten here because of Xenogears. Furthermore, after a disappointing overall music score in Xenosaga II (and in Xenosaga I as well, sorry Mitsuda-san) the music here is mostly very good, with a handful of songs that even stopped me cold in order to fully listen to the entire track. I don't buy as many game OSTs as I used to these days, but on many occasions I felt like I had to buy this soundtrack in order to fully show my adoration for this game and the excellent music therein.
I've found my new Xenogears, and to me this means a lot. I expected, quite reasonably I think, back in 2003, that Xenosaga would be my new Xenogears. I wrote a long review stating that it was to be the foundation to the pinnacle of storytelling. After Episode I, I was still skeptical despite my blind belief. After Episode II, well...it did take me a year and a half to purchase Episode III. But now that I've completed the game, that I have cried my heart out on so many occasions during this 43 hour-long romp of goodness, I can finally say that the Xenosaga series is a masterpiece of our time, as Xenogears was wayyy back in 1998.
If you love RPGs, or monumental stories in general, and you've been suffocated by Xenosaga I initially, or if you haven't played any of these three games at all, stop playing whatever you're playing and go buy all three games on ebay for a pittance. Overall, it's about a 100 hours of gaming that you have in front of you. But between that and 100 hours of shooting prostitutes and stealing cars while drunk to run over prostitutes...hmm, one is time well spent and the other not so much. Thank you for Xenosaga III, Namco Bandai.