Archview #21: Xenogears 3: Also sprach Zarathustra.

 It´s not as bad as Xenosaga 2.

 Xenosaga 3 is a very complex game, and it assumes you´ve played XS 1 and 2. Sure, there are multiple text-based memory refreshers, but they don´t really get the job done. You can´t just jump in 3 and expect to understand anything. Heck, even if you played 1 and 2, you won´t understand everything, that´s the kind of JRPG it is, the kind the flexes logic or overexplains it to the point of sensesless to be able to tell it´s story, just don´t overthink it and you´ll be fine. While I never liked most of the characters, everyone but one get closure in this game(The other one didn´t really have open issues), and they also get at least a couple of scenes to themselves, so that´s good.
 What´s no so good, is just how linear this game is, specially in the beginning. The further you get into the game, the more chances you´ll get to revisit dungeons(But only the dungeons, cities are gone forever). There´s also loads, among loads of cutscenes, but if you have been playing the past entries, it should come as no surprise, luckily, all of them can be skipped, assuming you grow tired of them or are in a rush. It should be said that most cutscenes look really good, however, the in-game dialogue is a bit jarring, as there is no mouth movement when they talk, but they do move the rest of their bodies. Another oddity, the full cast never, never appears on the in-game cutscenes... maybe it was too much for the engine? you can notice slowdown every now and then...

 They didn´t mess up the combat either! After the trainwreck that was XS 2, they simplified combat, a lot. Deathblows are gone(Boo! This was the thing that I loved the most about Xenogears), so are the Air and Grounded statuses(Thank god). Since shops are back, and so is equipement, character autoattacks are no longer associated to a type, so you can actually choose your party this time around. Characters have three offensive options: Attack, a simple attack, Ether, Magic spells that consume EP and Tech, mostly physical special attacks that consume EP. Why Ether and Tech don´t share a menu? Who knows?, Xenosaga was pretentious since episode 1.
 So, combat, this time around, enemies and allies have a red bar under their health bar, if you fill it up you "break" said enemy/character, which makes them lose two turns. There´s also a Boost meter(Both for you and the enemy), charged by attacking, that allows you to use the Special Attacks or get extra turns. Finish an enemy or a boss with a special attack and you get extra experience points, Skill points and Money. It´s a fun, simple and engaging system, although you´ll never use Boost for extra turns, you are better of storing it for Special Attacks. Combat is really challenging, and for the right reasons(Unlike XS 2). You are encouraged to use EP while fighting random encounters(Which are not really random, since you can see them while exploring), since there are Savepoints before most bosses, and they restore your HP and EP for free.

 E.S. combat is back, and it´s simpler, and flashier, than on-foot combat. E.Ses can be outfitted with different kind of weapons, and each one has a different fuel cost. On your turn you can chain as much attacks as your fuel allows it(Which gets restored every turn, so no worries). There´s no magic, but you can use some items. Instead of boost, you get the Anima gauge, which allows a special attack and makes attacks cost less fuel.
 The graphics in the game are really good, characters have a lot of detail, and the models look quite good. The dungeons are very inspired, exploring them is very entertaining. The cutscenes also look very good. Music was great, though after hearing it a lot(Areas are large) you´ll start to get tired of it. I did. The voice acting is a mixed bag, some are really good, some are bad, however, to add salt to the injury, the dialogue is really bad.

 Unlike past Xenoagas, there´s not a lot of extra content. There´s two optional bosses, and a couple of simple sidequests, but compared to the amount of post-game content from the other 2, it´s a bit disappointing. Guess they though Hakuox, a puzzly mini-game was enough to compensate, heck, they throw that game into your face at every chance they get(You actually have to play it once to further the story at one point!), but I didn´t find it engaging. Unlike XS 2, puzzles are few in number and rather easy, although I didn´t really mind it, I don´t play RPGs for the puzzles.
 All in all, it was not a bad game. It starts off quite weak, but as it advances, it gets better. Most of the 2nd disc is quite good, you just have to endure the first one. And I´m just talking about the story, the gameplay is engaging, even exploring feels good.
 7 out of 10.