Flaws aside, this is still a true sequel to an underrated series.
User Rating: 8 | Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Bose PS2
I just finished a review for XS Ep. III, and said that I never played Ep. II due to bad reviews. Well I have decided to give this one a shot and it is also paying off. But before you read any further, Namco made one BIG mistake: they took out the shops to buy and sell weapons and items, making the game complicated. The only way obtain items are through battles, many battles. Besides that gripe, the rest of the game is great. I'm comparing this to Ep. III because I played that before this, and they are pretty good, complete with facial expressions and all. The battles are fun also. Using the square, triangle, and circle buttons, you are able to make up combos, and finishing moves with two characters (considering you have enough stock to do so). And the story picks up right were the first left off, so that helps keep things moving. The cutscenes are a bit lengthy, but nowhere near as long as Ep. I. All in all, this game is good, if you have the patience for it. The shops that have been taken away make the experience a bit more tedious than it sometimes needs to be, but that should not stop you from playing this great story-driven game.
