Xenosaga III, announced to be conclusion

[Andromeda]

I was reading through articles in RPGamer and noticed that Namco and Monolith announced Xenosaga III now. I am not sure is yesterday was the first announcement that the game has a title and everything, but apparently the series that was said to be a 6 part game series, is going to have its conclusion 3 games short. I am not sure why the change of plans, it is definitely going to change their story for the game, the plot arc is huge and the development massive, I am a little worried that cutting the series short is going to give us a very chopped up game with a good system, but bad story because they are forcing 4 game plots into one game. Or they will be cutting out so much from the other games that we will be left with such a confusing state of being that we will have another Evagelion, of fans demanding a better conclusion.

It is annoying that the game is 6 episodes long, it was annoying that Star Wars took 9 years to finish the prequels, but I waited. I will wait for all 6 games to come out. About all I can figure is that sales may not have been going so well and they want to cut their loses, but also end it for the fans. Though I am not sure if Namco or Monolith is that thoughtful about the fans, *shrugs* Wish they were more thoughtful about keeping the same english VA for Episode II. >.>

Anyway, here is the news article, which also says that the first two games are visiting the DS.

http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q3-2005/091405a.html

[Gorath Sodom]

Crap, I can't believe I missed this thread!

Taken from an article on Gamespot

TGS 2005: Xenosaga Episode III unveiled
Monolith Soft is developing the third--and final---installment to its popular sci-fi RPG series.

Besides giving the public its first look at Metal Gear Solid 4, the latest issue of Famitsu magazine has the first details on Xenosaga Episode III. Bearing the Nietzschean title Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra, the game will be the final installment in the Xenosaga trilogy. Like the previous two Xenosagas, Episode III is being developed for the PlayStation 2 by Monolith Soft and will be published by Namco. No release date has been announced at the current time.

Xenosaga Episode III will take place one year after the end of Episode II and will once again focus on the adventures of series heroine Shion Uzuki and her friends. Party members confirmed to be in Episode III include JR, KOS-MOS, and Ziggy. The graphics in Xenosaga Episode III will be in the more-realistic style of Episode II, as opposed to the cutely deformed look of Episode I.

Episode III takes place after Shion resigns from her job as chief engineer of Vector Corporation's R&D Division when she discovers the company is involved in the destructive Gnosis Phenomenon. She now works together with an underground organization called Scientia, which is attempting to expose Vector Corporation's wrongdoings. After her departure from Vector, Shion learns that her old employer has canceled its KOS-MOS project--just as a mysterious android named T-elos, which strikingly resembles KOS-MOS, appears. It's expected that Episode III will reveal many of the mysteries surrounding the series, such as the Vector Corporation's true objective.

Xenosaga Episode III will once again feature two battle modes: character battle, where party members directly fight with enemies, and robot battle, where they duke it out inside giant mechs. Character battles will feature three-member parties as in previous installments. The game has abandoned the complicated zone system from Episode II, and the powerful tech attacks from Episode I have been brought back.

GameSpot will have additional information about Xenosaga Episode III from the 2005 Tokyo Game Show floor.

Screenshots

Surprisingly, at least to me, this game will be released on PS2 rather than PS3 (now I won't have to feel bad on dumping money on the Xbox 360). Now this is a title which looks to push the old console to its limit!

Originally Posted by Andromeda

I am not sure is yesterday was the first announcement that the game has a title and everything, but apparently the series that was said to be a 6 part game series, is going to have its conclusion 3 games short. I am not sure why the change of plans, it is definitely going to change their story for the game, the plot arc is huge and the development massive, I am a little worried that cutting the series short is going to give us a very chopped up game with a good system, but bad story because they are forcing 4 game plots into one game. Or they will be cutting out so much from the other games that we will be left with such a confusing state of being that we will have another Evagelion, of fans demanding a better conclusion.

According to what I've read on several websites, Episode III was to be the last of the current arc while the franchise was to continue onwards with a different cast and rumor was Episode V was to be a remake of PSX classic Xenogears (I'm assuming that's true). Anyhow, we (hopefully) don't have to worry about them chopping it up, we just won't get to see the next arc. Further more, I think this early cancellation has to do with 2 of the 3 project leaders shunning the project for whatever reason.

[Sean]

Well, Episode III is supposed to be the last of "Saga" and IV is where "Gears" was supposed to take place.

Or so I thought? That's what was said years ago, at least. Xenogears was Episode IV of the story.

[LocoColt04]

Oh yeeeeeeeeeah, now that you mention it Sean, I do remember hearing something about that. At the time, I'd dismissed it as nothing more than hearsay, but when you look at it now, it makes sense. Besides, you can never go wrong with a trilogy.

Damn, I still have to get ZSII before I can even consider XSIII.

Well if they are cutting off the story to just end it with a 3rd and i hope thats not it, because i loved the first one.. was extremely disapointed with the sequel, and if they just want to rush in a third to get it over with i dont see how they will redeem themselves.

It would still be cruel that the third one is as good as/or better than the first.. because that would force me to actually finish the second heh

[LocoColt04]

Originally Posted by Sean

Xenogears was Episode IV of the story.

They're stopping with a third because Xenogears already continues the story from there.

You DID read the rest of the thread, right Enkil? The story's already been written, just like the Star Wars stories were. The games just have to catch up in order to continue the Xenogears story.

*Looks down in shame*
Um no i read the first 2... they were long :/

But on that note i did play Xenogears.. remember i lost the first cd and got stuck with the last part of the game *grumble*

[Bryan]

Son of a bitch! I haven't even played the second one yet. I read awhile back about it being six games long, so I thought, "hey, no rush on getting episode II. There'll be pleeennty of time!". Yeah, there's going to be plenty of time...plenty of time for frickin dissapointment! I don't care about the story or Shion really.

Why?

Because KOS-MOS is really what it's all about. Quite possibly the coolest character affiliated with Capcom and now look what's happening.

I hate you Capcom. I hate you. You poop....poopmouth.

so anyway, if you guys are excited about XSIII,

Im excited about XSII, it comes out in the UK in a few weeks time with a 5 hour DVD(which is the XSI story)

Yes they're not releasing XSI, how strange.

Anyways i can't wait. I dont know anything about the story but ive heard nothing but praise for the series so hopefully it will live upto reputation.

[Bunny]

I loved the first one, it was great. Everyone else I know complained about how it felt like a movie because there was so much of them and so little actual gameplay. I loved this though, it was more story driven then almost anything else I've ever played, and that appealed to me. The characters were good as well.

I haven't played the second one yet, I plan on buying it soon. I will also wait for this new release to hit the $20 mark, because as good a game it is, I don't want to spend $50 on a game that I don't SERIOUSLY want. Plus, with Suikoden V and Suikoden Tactics coming out soon, that's going to be too much money to spend.

So yeah, woo.

I don't care if it is six or three games long, I'd still buy them.


Note: I didn't read anything but the first post, and I skimmed through that one.