Editing Xenogears (section)

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 91% {{small|(21 reviews)}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Xenogears for PlayStation |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199365-xenogears/index.html |website=[[GameRankings]] |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref>
| MC = 84/100 {{small|(15 reviews)}}<ref>{{cite web| title=Xenogears (psx: 1998): Reviews| url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/xenogears/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation| website=[[Metacritic]]| access-date=2008-08-19| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125005822/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation/xenogears| archive-date=2010-11-25}}</ref>
| Allgame = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="allgame"/>
| Edge = 8/10<ref name="Edge review">{{cite magazine |title=Xenogears |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |issue=67 |page=93 |date=January 1999 |url=http://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:Edge_UK_067.pdf&page=93 |access-date=2017-02-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191332/http://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:Edge_UK_067.pdf&page=93 |archive-date=2016-03-04 }}</ref>
| EGM = 35.5/40<ref name="egm">''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', issue 113, December 1998, page 265/267</ref>
| Fam = 31/40<ref name="famitsu">{{cite magazine | date=1998-04-20 | magazine=[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]] | title=New Games Cross Review | publisher=Enterbrain, Inc. |location=Tokyo, Japan |language=ja |page=30 |issue=479}}</ref>
| GI = 9/10<ref name="gameinformer"/>
| GameRev = B+<ref name="gamerev">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/sony/xenogears|title=Xenogears - PS Review|publisher=[[Game Revolution]]|first=Tim|last=Hsu|access-date=2008-08-31|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725023819/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/sony/xenogears|archive-date=2008-07-25}}</ref>
| GSpot = 9/10<ref name="GameSpot"/>
| IGN = 9.5/10<ref name="ign"/>
| NGen = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=49|publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]]|date=January 1999|page=102}}</ref>
| PSM = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name=GR>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199365-xenogears/articles.html|title=Xenogears Reviews and Articles for PlayStation - GameRankings|website=www.gamerankings.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305235447/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199365-xenogears/articles.html|archive-date=2011-03-05}}</ref>
| RPGFan = 98% (PS1)<ref name=rpgfan>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/xenogears/Xenogears.html|title=RPGFan Reviews - Xenogears|website=www.rpgfan.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309155430/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/xenogears/Xenogears.html|archive-date=2011-03-09}}</ref> <br/> 96% (PSN)<ref name=rpgfanpsn>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/xenogears-psn/index.html|title=RPGFan Reviews - Xenogears|website=www.rpgfan.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080817144301/http://rpgfan.com/reviews/xenogears-psn/index.html|archive-date=2008-08-17}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[Games Domain]]
| rev1Score = 10/10<ref>[http://apps.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psx/xenogears Xenogears (psx) reviews at Metacritic.com<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227215059/http://apps.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psx/xenogears |date=February 27, 2011 }}</ref>
| rev2 = ''HonestGamers''
| rev2Score = 10/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.honestgamers.com/reviews/110.html|title=HonestGamers - Xenogears (PlayStation) review by James Gordon|website=www.honestgamers.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919171634/http://www.honestgamers.com/reviews/110.html|archive-date=2012-09-19}}</ref>
| rev3 = Just RPG
| rev3Score = A<ref name=GR/>
| rev4 = ''[[New York Daily News]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Xenogears meshes with fun, games |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/478526689/ |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date=November 22, 1998 |page=924}}</ref>
| rev5 = Video Gamers First
| rev5Score = 10/10<ref name=GR/>
| award1Pub = ''[[Game Informer]]''
| award1 = [[List of Game of the Year awards|Best Role-Playing Game of the Year]]<ref>''Game Informer'', Vol. IX, issue 2, #70 (February 1999), page 22-25</ref>
| award2Pub = ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' (Readers' Choice)
| award2 = RPG of the Year<ref name=egm117-114>{{cite magazine|title=1998 Gamers' Choice Awards|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|date=April 1999|issue=117|pages=107–114}}</ref>
| award3Pub = ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' (Editors' Choice)
| award3 = RPG of the Year (Runner-Up)<ref name=egm117-114/>
| award4Pub = ''[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]]''
| award4 = Best RPG,<br/>Best Story<ref>"1998 OPM Editors' Awards", ''[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]]'', volume 2, issue 5, February 1999, pages 92-99</ref>
| award5Pub = RPGFan
| award5 = Best Import (#3)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/features/awards.html|title=RPGFan Features - RPGFan - 1st Annual RPG Awards - 1998|website=www.rpgfan.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907194937/http://www.rpgfan.com/features/awards.html|archive-date=2015-09-07}}</ref>
}}

''Xenogears'' was a commercial success in both Japan and North America.<ref name="xgtwoquestion"/> It received a "Gold Prize" from Sony in May 1998, indicating sales above 500,000 units in Japan,<ref name=topsales>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000308092853/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_05/18_sony/index.html | url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_05/18_sony/index.html | title=Sony Awards Top PlayStation Games | author=Johnston, Chris | date=May 18, 1998 | work=[[GameSpot]] | archive-date=March 8, 2000 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and proceeded to sell over 890,000 copies domestically by the end of the year.<ref name="EBsales">{{Cite book |title=Famitsū Gēmu Hakusho 1999 |publisher=[[Enterbrain]] |year=1999 |location=Tokyo |language=ja |script-title=ja:ファミ通ゲーム白書1999 |trans-title=Famitsu Game Whitebook 1999 |chapter=1998年ゲームソフト年間売上TOP100 |trans-chapter=1998 Game Software Annual Sales Top 100 |url=http://geimin.net/da/db/1998_ne_fa/index.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807132243/http://geimin.net/da/db/1998_ne_fa/index.php |archive-date=2015-08-07 }}</ref> As of March 31, 2003, the game had shipped 1.19 million copies worldwide, with 910,000 of those copies being shipped in Japan and 280,000 abroad.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.square-enix.com/jp/ir/e/explanatory/download/0404-200402090000-01.pdf#page=27 |title=Titles of game software with worldwide shipments exceeding 1 million copies |date=2004-02-09 |access-date=2020-12-06 |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |page=27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213144948/http://www.square-enix.com/jp/ir/e/explanatory/download/0404-200402090000-01.pdf#page=27 |archive-date=2012-02-13 }}</ref> As a result of these sales, it was re-released as a [[List of Sony Greatest Hits games|Greatest Hits]] title in December 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2003/2114.html|title=Square Enix Sends Many PSOne Titles to Greatest Hits Factory|publisher=RPGFan|first=John|last=McCarroll|date=2003-11-04|access-date=2008-08-31|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524035407/http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2003/2114.html|archive-date=2011-05-24}}</ref> In Japanese gaming magazine ''[[Famitsu]]'', ''Xenogears'' was voted the 16th best video game of all time by its readers in a poll held in 2006.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Edge Staff |date=2006-03-03 |title=Japan Votes on All Time Top 100 |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100 |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |access-date=2008-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723051728/http://www.edge-online.com/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100 |archive-date=July 23, 2008 }}</ref> On a similar poll at [[GameFAQs]], users of the website voted ''Xenogears'' the 32nd "Best Game Ever" in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fall 2005: 10-Year Anniversary Contest - The 10 Best Games Ever |website=[[GameFAQs]] |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/top10 |access-date=2008-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716111618/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/top10 |archive-date=2015-07-16 }}</ref> It was placed in the same position in [[IGN]]'s "Top 100 Games - Readers Choice" feature in 2006,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top100.ign.com/2006/031-040.html|title=Readers' Picks Top 100 Games: 31-40|website=IGN|access-date=2008-08-31|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006223648/http://top100.ign.com/2006/031-040.html|archive-date=2014-10-06}}</ref> and as number 28 in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top100.ign.com/2008/ign_top_game_28.html|title=IGN Top 100 Games 2008|website=IGN|access-date=2009-01-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124165930/http://top100.ign.com/2008/ign_top_game_28.html|archive-date=2009-01-24}}</ref>

===Critical response===
''Xenogears'' was met with critical acclaim. ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' praised the story, characters, gameplay, graphics, and soundtrack.<ref name="egm"/> IGN described it as the "hands-down best RPG" of the year, praising the storyline, gameplay, graphics, presentation, and soundtrack.<ref name="ign"/> [[GameSpot]] described it as one of Squaresoft's best role-playing games, praising the story, gameplay, and audio, but criticized the lack of graphical polish.<ref name="GameSpot"/> [[Allgame]] pointed out in a positive light that the character battles are "unlike most role-playing games from this company".<ref name="allgame">{{cite web| first=Matthew| last=House| title=Xenogears| url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14104| publisher=[[Allgame]]| access-date=2008-08-07| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212135754/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14104| archive-date=2010-02-12}}</ref>

The game's story and characters were well received. ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' said it is "rich in story and character development."<ref name="egm"/> ''[[Game Informer]]'' and ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' agreed that the plot was one of the game's highlights, the former drawing comparisons to ''[[Star Wars]]'', ''[[Star Blazers]]'', the [[Old Testament]], and many other Square games, making it "a game every RPG fanatic must play."<ref name="nextgen">{{cite web | author=Next Generation staff | date=1998-10-20 | title=Rumored to never see the light of US day... | url=http://www.next-generation.com/jsmid/reviews/2230.html |work=[[Next Generation Magazine]]| access-date=2010-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041109152238/http://www.next-generation.com/jsmid/reviews/2230.html |archive-date=2004-11-09}}</ref><ref name="gameinformer">{{cite magazine | author=Game Informer staff | date=November 1998 | title=On the 7th Day, They Created Square | url=http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=psx&path=nov98&doc=xenogear |magazine=[[Game Informer]]| access-date=2010-04-17 | url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990912001402/http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=psx&path=nov98&doc=xenogear |archive-date=1999-09-12}}</ref> IGN said the storyline is intricate, engrossing, "deep, complex, and once in a while even confusing, until more of the real underlying plotline is uncovered."<ref name="ign"/> GameSpot said the story is "excellent" and "thought-provoking" but said it can be "a little preachy at times", but went on to say that the religious and existential themes "enhance the story and [our] understanding of the game's deep characterizations".<ref name="GameSpot">{{cite web|first=Peter |last=Bartholow |date=1998-04-02 |title=Xenogears Review |website=[[GameSpot]] |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/xenogears/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review |access-date=2008-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613013310/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/xenogears/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Breview |archive-date=2007-06-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Game Revolution]] described the storyline as "epic" and "fabulous" with "many twists and turns" and a large cast of characters.<ref name="gamerev"/> RPGFan said "the story is unique and probably the most complex and interesting of any RPG", giving it a 99% rating for the story.<ref name=rpgfan/> Retrospectively, ''Edge'' praised the plot's scope and ambition and the protagonist as the "most complicated Freudian hero" in video games, but said it has a "flawed" script and "muddied" translation, as well as too many cut scenes, especially on the second disc, where the use of the world map is restricted for an extended period and the number of cut scenes increases.<ref name="timeextend">{{cite magazine | author=Edge Staff | date=2007-10-10 | title=Time Extend: Xenogears | url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/time-extend-xenogears |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]| access-date=2008-08-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003023044/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/time-extend-xenogears | archive-date=2010-10-03}}</ref> Years after the game's release, Jeremy Parish of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' called the game's plot "one of the wackiest game plotlines ever", but said that it "actually makes sense" if the player ignores all of the sideplots.<ref name="parish"/> IGN, however, stated that despite having too many cut scenes and a sometimes confusing plot, "immersion is a key factor in ''Xenogears'' and the questions you may have about the storyline are all answered at some point in the game."<ref name="ign"/> Following the PSN release, RPGFan's James Quentin Clark said ''Xenogears'' has "hands down the best single story I have seen in any video game," giving it a 100% rating for the story.<ref name=rpgfanpsn/>

Reviewers largely praised ''Xenogears''' gameplay. ''Next Generation'' praised Square's [[Active Time Battle]] gauge and said that inclusion of the AP meter and combo attacks "is not only refreshing in a turn-based RPG, but gives players a higher level of interaction during battle."<ref name="nextgen"/> IGN claimed that "the most impressive feature in combat is the ability to use massive "Gears" or mechs", noting that Square's attention to programming these battles is made evident by how "visually satisfying" they are.<ref name="ign"/> IGN praised the game's exploration, saying that the ability to jump and climb "adds even more depth to exploration of different environments and distances Xenogears from being too straightforward of a traditional RPG", the only complaint being that the rotating camera is sometimes "clumsy".<ref name="ign"/>

The soundtrack was well received. ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' said the game sounds as "beautiful" as it looks.<ref name=egm/> GameSpot said it "expertly uses audio to push the story along" and noted that many of the games' tracks "include voice or chanting and all are appropriately uppity or low with the game's mood", but said there were many areas with silence or ambience making the "game's soundtrack a tad sparse."<ref name="GameSpot"/> ''Xenogears'' was the first Square game to feature voice overs and anime cut scenes.<ref name="GameSpot"/> ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' said they are "some of the slickest animation cinemas" they have seen.<ref name="egm"/> Game Revolution praised the "absolutely spectacular and stunning" hand-drawn anime cut-scenes, but stated that they were sparse and poorly synched with the voice acting.<ref name="gamerev"/>

Retrospectively, ''Edge'' commented that although it is "considered by some to be a multimillion-yen, convoluted science-fiction vanity project, ''Xenogears'' nevertheless remains one of the most keenly eulogized PlayStation RPGs."<ref name="timeextend"/> The magazine also noted that it was Takahashi's "most challenging and pure work" and that the ''[[Xenosaga]]'' series never quite matched up to ''Xenogears''.<ref name="timeextend"/>

===Legacy===
Shortly after ''Xenogears'' was released, there was speculation of a sequel being released, although this never occurred.<ref name="xgtwoquestion">{{cite web|date=1999-06-25 |title=Square Developing Xenogears 2? |website=[[GameSpot]] |author=GameSpot Staff |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/square-developing-xenogears-2/1100-2451155/ |access-date=2008-08-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111224434/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/square-developing-xenogears-2/1100-2451155/ |archive-date=January 11, 2015 }}</ref> In 1999, Tanaka said that a project related to ''Xenogears'' was being developed. He also revealed that a sequel to ''Xenogears'' was initially planned, but never came to be.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/news/1999/668.html|title=A New Xenogears Game?|publisher=RPGFan|date=1999-10-22|access-date=2015-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905231859/http://www.rpgfan.com/news/1999/668.html |archive-date=2015-09-05|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2000, Sugiura Hirohide, president of [[Monolith Soft]], said that a sequel was being considered before being cancelled due to the company's film investments at the time with ''[[Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.frontlinejp.net/2020/05/28/xenogears-2-didnt-happen-because-of-ff-spirits-within-monolith-soft-president-sugiura/|title = How Xenogears 2 Didn't Happen Because of Spirits within|date = 28 May 2020}}</ref>

While ''Xenogears'' has never had an official sequel or prequel, there was speculation that [[Namco]] and Monolith Soft's ''[[Xenosaga]]'' was a prequel when it was first announced. [[Tetsuya Takahashi]] was the director and writer for both ''Xenogears'' and ''Xenosaga'' and noted that "with our relation between Square, I think it is difficult for us to say it is a direct sequel or prequel". Approximately twenty members of the ''Xenosaga'' development staff had previously worked on ''Xenogears''.<ref name="interview">{{cite web|last=Sato|first=Ike|title=Xenosaga Interview |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xenosaga-interview/1100-2823598/ |website=[[GameSpot]]|date=2001-11-08|access-date=2008-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205032858/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xenosaga-interview/1100-2823598/ |archive-date=2015-12-05|url-status=live}}</ref>

On the connection between ''Xenogears'' and ''Xenosaga'', Takahashi has stated:<blockquote>It's probably more suitable to say that it follows the direction and style of ''Xenogears''. [...] Now that we are under a different company, we figured we should start everything from scratch all over again. Though there are familiar faces that serve as important characters in ''Xenosaga'', others are more like self-parodies, so we don't really want ''Xenogears'' fans to overreact. Like movies, sometimes you have the director of the movie or friend of the leading actor appearing as cameos, so it's similar to that.<ref name="interview"/></blockquote>

''Xenogears'' has occasionally been featured in other [[Square Enix]] properties. On 21 October 2016, it was revealed that Xenogears would be featured in ''[[World of Final Fantasy]]'' as a mirage.<ref>crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2016/10/20-1/world-of-final-fantasy-tosses-in-a-xenogears-mirage</ref> In 2017, gears from the game, along with avatars of Fei and Bart, were included as pre-order cosmetic bonuses in Square Enix's mecha shooting game, ''Figureheads''.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Sato|title=Square Enix's PC Mecha Shooter Figureheads Headed To PS4 With A Xenogears Bonus Set|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/02/07/square-enixs-pc-mecha-shooter-figureheads-headed-ps4-xenogears-bonus-set/|website=Siliconera|date=7 February 2017 |access-date=8 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207141416/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/02/07/square-enixs-pc-mecha-shooter-figureheads-headed-ps4-xenogears-bonus-set/|archive-date=7 February 2017}}</ref> On 11 February 2018, in celebration of ''Xenogears''{{'}} 20th anniversary, Kunihiko Tanaka and Junya Ishigaki collaborated with Square Enix to release Xenogears Bring Arts figures of Fei, Elly and Welltall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dualshockers.com/xenogears-artists-20th-anniversary-figure-artwork/|title = Square Enix and Xenogears' Original Artists Celebrate 20th Anniversary with Figures and Artwork| date=11 February 2018 }}</ref> The cast of ''Xenogears'' were also featured in ''[[Final Fantasy Brave Exvius]]'' for a limited time as part of a collaboration event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/final-fantasy-brave-exvius-and-xenogears-are-hosting-a-collaboration-event/|title = Final Fantasy Brave Exvius and Xenogears are Hosting a Collaboration Event|date = 30 March 2019}}</ref>

Despite the game's popularity, it has never been released in Europe. In 2011, the PlayStation Store Content Manager at the time (responding to a query about the possibility of ''Xenogears'' on the European PlayStation Network Store) explained that the lack of a PAL disc release created "a series of problems" that needed to be addressed, and that they didn't know if such problems could be resolved.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-02-25 |title='Heads-Up' Game Store Update 23rd February 2011 – PlayStation.Blog.Europe |url=http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2011/02/23/heads-up-game-store-update-23rd-february-2011-2/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225140603/http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2011/02/23/heads-up-game-store-update-23rd-february-2011-2/ |archive-date=2011-02-25 }}</ref>