 - The Federation seeks to expand humanity's reach in the universe, but the brutal race called the Gnosis stands in their way. This hostile life form must be dealt with -- by force if necessary
- Enter an epic storyline with captivating visuals and beautiful, interactive environments
- Breathtaking visuals will captivate players as the spell system and attacks practically jump off the screen
- Take a break from the action by playing 4 exciting mini-games
- In-game database helps players track their game information
List Price: $19.99
Lowest Price: $18.99 
Product Description: Xenosaga takes you into the far future of the human race -- a time when humanity is desperately fighting for hope! An exciting new challenge for even the most experienced gamer! Amazon.com: The ambitiously named Xenosaga: Episode 1--Der Wille zer Macht is an epic-sized space opera that opens in the outer reaches of the galaxy. The story follows several space-dwelling citizens as they aim to unlock the secrets of the universe. The specifics of those secrets presumably will be revealed over subsequent editions of the Xenosaga series (after all, this is only Episode 1)--but a vital clue is held in the elusive Zohar, a mysterious artifact that is aggressively sought by evil aliens. Without spoiling the plot's surprising twists, let's just say the game's German subtitle "Der Wille zur Macht" (translated as "The Will to Power") is a less-than-subtle ode to German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who is considered as one of the precursors of existentialism. Like many conventional RPG titles, Xenosaga's gameplay balances between exploration and battle modes. The game designers have thankfully spared players from any ill-conceived random battle sequences. Instead, you can concentrate directly on your quest without the repetitious enemy battles. The designers also did a good job balancing a traditional RPG structure with complex themes. However, the game seems to go out of its way to casually integrate controversial (and frankly creepy) religious imagery into the context of the game. Some may find the game offensive and disturbing; others will likely find it intellectually stimulating. Namco promises about 80 hours of gaming--but a good portion of that is non-interactive full-motion video. While the stretched-out cutscenes do add considerable depth to the characters, they're often poorly paced and too long--one takes an alarming 30 minutes to unfold! The addition of more background music might have helped to pick up the pacing, since the obligatory soundtrack is strangely absent at some critical plot points. With impressive animation and unexpected plot points, Xenosaga: Episode 1--Der Wille zer Macht is easily one of the more enjoyable RPG titles to hit the PS2. While this isn't for the happy-go-lucky gaming crowd (see Kingdom Hearts), adult-minded gamers will likely be consumed by the darkness and devious delights offered within this twisted title. --Brett Atwood Pros: - Complex characters and story themes
- No random battle sequences
- Impressive 3-D animation
Cons: - Long, long, looooooooong cut scenes
Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-05
Xenosaga I
A new series to me, plays well, lots of movie sequences, interesting story line so far. Rating:
Date: 2008-06-29
Great game
This is a great game and the service was very quick.The write up amazon provided is exactly what my brother told me about the game before I bought it.He has been playing this game since it came out. I am very happy with my purchase. Thanks again Amazon Rating:
Date: 2008-02-03
Tired of Final Fantasy? This is your game!
Having exhausted myself of Final Fantasy (from the PS1 all the way through the PSX) I decided to walk on the wild side and try this game.
Boy was I pleasently surprised!
If you happened to play Xenogears for the PS1, this game is loosely based on events that occured in that game.
One thing this game has going for it is a story. Many reviews peg the game time at 80 hours but don't worry: A great portion of this is made up of those cinematic events!
I've only completed the first 2 portions of the game but I am well impressed enough to provide ratings for this game:
Graphics: 9/10
The cinema events in this game will simply blow you away. Keep in mind if you've seen the XBox 360 or PS3, you can't compare the graphics of the 2 systems (duh!). But compare this game to other PS2 releases and I assure you the graphics hold up just fine to any other PS2 game, and in many cases far exceed them. In battles, the special effects are impressive, from Shion's Ray attack to KOS-MOS R-Blade. Tecmo defintely had a winner with the graphics from this game.
Sound: 9/10
The music often fits the mood of the situation perfectly. I was definitely on the edge of my seat in the level where you are trying to evade the Gnomis without getting touched! Now, my ONE gripe with this so far is the music doesn't change for bosses as it does with other RPG's. This is slightly annoying but a minor complaint.
Sound effects are right in place and very good.
Presentation: 9/10
So far, the game directs you well in where to go, but allows a lot of freedom on how to get there. There are several paths, for example, you can take on the ship level to get around.
Add in the email system, the ether system and the ability to extract skills from different items you can equip and you've got a very deep experience here.
Lasting Appeal/Overall: 9.5/10
If you are tired of ordinary RPG's and want something different, Xenosaga Episode 1 is definitely for you. It can be had for around 10-15 bucks in most used game stores and is well worth the investment. You'll definitely spend a lot of time exploring the game dynamics, which are very much in-depth both in battles and in strategy.
This game does have some language (hence the "T" for teen) so if you happen to have a kiddie (8-12 or so) I'd be careful about this one.
But if you've got a teenager (or you're a kid at heart) who loves RPG's and strategy, this is the game for you! Rating:
Date: 2008-01-08
Love it, Hate it, It's still Xeno
We can only hope Namco(somehow) pick's this franchise up again and give's so many people what they so desperately NEED.
Even as this game may have been a bit long-winded, those that knew Xeno, knew it for It's story and the power it brought you.
Could this game have used work? Yes. However, it is still a great first episode and is STILL better than watching that god-awful graphic overdose bonus cinematic disk that came with the LE version of Episode 2. Rating: 
Date: 2008-01-03
different and odd
I had the mixed reviews prior to getting this game, and I tend to side with the higher reviewers. It is like an interactive movie, but that's cool. Save points are in wierd places, but still quite frequent. The whole anti-gnosis concept infiltrating into the futuristic androids is a bit amusing. Am intrieged by this game and its humour and will most likely purchase the other 2 as well. | 
