Are you new to Xenogears and Xenosaga? Want to get into this world but don't know where to
start? Are Xenogears and Xenosaga even connected or related? What is the difference between
them? Is there an episode missing between Xenogears and Xenosaga? Was Xenosaga cut
in half or did the last episode condense the rest of the series? How many episodes were there supposed
to be? What are things like Xenogears Perfect Works and Xenosaga Pied Piper? In what order
should you play/watch/read these? This is a short, non spoiler guide for the uninitiated.
The first thing you should know is that the history of the Xeno- series tend to be complicated and
confusing, and that is why Study Guide for Tetsuya Takahashi's Xenoverse exists in the
first place: to examine the truth and give you a complete in-depth analysis on the matter.
However, as this analysis contain major spoilers you shouldn't read up on this until after you have
played the games. If you have not played the games and read the source books then you wouldn't
understand any of it anyway. In fact, knowing the number of episodes or what episode Xenogears is
in relation to Xenosaga is more useless than useful. The only thing you really need to know is
the following:
1. The "Xenoverse" consists of 3 major epic story arcs (3 parts) that are divided by thousands of
years.
2. Xenogears is part 2 of "Xenoverse 1.0" and the Xenosaga trilogy is part 1 of "Xenoverse
2.0".
In other words: the Xenosaga series is a re-imagining of the Xenogears series and
therefore does not directly attach, even though they are very much related.
For information on what the other story arcs would've covered, you can read up on what we know on this
site after you have finished the games.
The difference between the two works is mostly different settings, different casts, different plot,
but similar directing and style. Because Xenogears has simpler graphics and uses the in-game
engine for cutscenes with no voice acting it covers as much story and plot as Xenosaga does in the
entire trilogy. The game play is in a different style in every game so you'll have to discover on your
own which you prefer, but remember that story is the number one reason you're playing these games.
With this out of the way, you can now decide if you want to begin with Xenogears first or jump
straight into Xenosaga and save Xenogears for later (or you can play one and not bother
with the other, but if you like one you really should give the other one a chance too). The games are not
connected, so beginning with either is fine, but the experience will be different depending on what you
choose and I actually recommend beginning with Xenogears first because of the easter eggs in the
Xenosaga games that you will not get otherwise. Some of these easter eggs can even spoil story
and plot for Xenogears. When in doubt, always go with the chronological order of release, and that
is the order I will guide you through here.
What about Xenosaga The Animation?
Xenosaga The Animation is a heavily adapted version of Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur
Macht that really doesn't do the Xenosaga series justice. The original authors of the
series were not involved in this adaption and very few Xenosaga fans actually like it. And if
they do it's mostly because it focuses a bit more on a very minor character when compared to the game.
It is not a substitute for playing Episode I and should really be considered more as
"advertisement" for the Xenosaga series. If you saw it and it peaked your interest in
Xenosaga then good. Otherwise just skip it.
Now for the order of the Xeno- series. Reading all of the complementary material and playing the
spin-offs isn't necessary, but if you want the full "Xeno experience" you really should.
Xenogears (PS1/PSN)
The game that started it all. A massive long JRPG that covers a complete story arc of the original
"Xenoverse" in just one game--though some parts will appear a bit rushed after the developers had to
make some compromises to even complete this monster at all. Despite this it remains the most popular
of the Xeno games to date. Directed by Tetsuya Takahashi himself. Officially it is available in
English and Japanese.
Xenogears: Perfect Works~The Real Thing~ (Japanese source book)
Links to several fan translations of this book are available in the Links section on this site.
If you enjoyed and became a fan of Xenogears then you should really check this book out. It
explains what the episodes in the series are, and which episode(s) belong to which of the 3 major parts.
There is even a "teaser" for a prequel and it will give you an idea of how Xenogears and
Xenosaga are related since Xenosaga ends up using a lot of concepts from this prequel
teaser. The book should only be opened after you have completed the game and is in no way a
substitute for playing the game. You will spoil yourself big time. Even what episode the game is (or
even that the game is an episode at all) was originally considered a spoiler, but given how old the
game is it's impossible to keep secret anymore.
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht (PS2)
The first game in the Xenosaga series. Make no mistake, you need to play Episode I-III in order.
Do not start with Episode II or III without having played this one. There are summaries of the first
two episodes and more in Xenosaga Episode III's database, but merely reading those is no fun.
Trust me. This is also the only Xenosaga game that was directed by Tetsuya Takahashi and is
many fans favorite "version" of Xenosaga and how it should be experienced. Officially it is
available in English and Japanese.
Xenosaga: Official Design Materials (Japanese source book)
A link to fan translations of this book is available in the Links section on this site. The
book is not as massive as Xenogears Perfect Works and is a recommended read. It also gives great
insight into the minds of the developers.
Xenosaga Outer File (Japanese Drama CDs)
A link to a fan translated flash movie series adaption of these 3 Drama CDs is available in the
Links section on this site. They take place during events that were skipped in Episode I and
contain flashbacks to earlier events before Episode I starts and focuses mainly on characterization.
These are not necessary for understanding the plot or the story but are still easy and fun to watch.
Xenosaga Freaks (PS2)
This is a Japanese only supplementary game that includes a Xenosaga–themed word–puzzle game
based on Namco's Mojipittan called Xenopittan, a comical adventure game Xenocomi,
the complete dictionary of terminology from Episode I enhanced with audio and video clips, and a
playable demo of Episode II. Skipping this game is fine, though a few terms from Xenocomi will
show up in Episode III's database and you might wonder where they are from.
Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Bose (PS2)
The sequel to Episode I. Begins directly where Episode I left off. Officially it is available in
English and Japanese.
Xenosaga: Pied Piper (Vodaphone)
This is a Japanese only cellphone game in 3 chapters that follows Jan Sauer in his investigation of
a U.M.N. cyberterrorist by the name of Voyager a 100 years before the start of Episode I. This is the
background story of Ziggurat 8, or Ziggy, that was originally meant to be a part of Episode II and was
written by the original authors. A link to a fan translation of this game is available in the
Links section on this site. A must read for any Xenosaga fan, try not to skip this one.
Print out the pages and read them if you don't like reading on the screen.
Xenosaga: A Missing Year (Japanese only Flashmovie series)
Links to fan translations of A Missing Year are available in the Links section on this
site. You can also search for them on Youtube. This connects Episode II to III.
Xenosaga I-II (Nintendo DS)
This is a Japanese only DS remake of Episode I and II. If you know Japanese and have played this, then
it is possible to skip the PS2 episodes, but playing them is still recommended. Tetsuya Takahashi
considered this remake to be the "truer" version of Episode I and II, but while the game concludes with
the message "...to be continued Episode III," the new characters that are exclusively in this remake
does not appear in Episode III's database. Thus this game is not a definite replacement but more like
complementary with many scenes not seen in the PS2 games. Links to an English summary and fan
translations of certain scenes are available in the Links section on this site. Worth checking
out before moving on to Episode III.
Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra (PS2)
Currently the last game in the Xenosaga series. Begins one year after Episode II. Officially it
is available in English and Japanese.
Xenosaga III Complete and Perfect Guides (Japanese source books)
Links to a fan translation of these books are available in the Links section on this site.
Recommended reading for a greater understanding of Xenosaga's world after you have finished the
series.
That's it. Enjoy, and then return here for more in-depth analysis of Xenogears and Xenosaga.