Despite my excitement, playing through Xenogears proved challenging. I’d forgotten the unique tedium of Playstation 1 RPGs: a story that’s rife with uneven pacing - due in part to production constraints; lots of random enemy encounters; the cadre of frustrating mini games that you needed to beat in order to advance the plot. I became quickly aware of how my short my patience with games had become, and found myself stunned when the timestamp on a save point indicated that only eight minutes had passed since the last time I’d checked my cumulative play time.

The compelling aspects of the game kept me going. The 2D sprites within a 3D world provided a memorable aesthetic that I think aged far better than the purely 3D RPGs from the same era. The music throughout the game is incredible, thanks to an effort by Yasunori Mitsuda that literally cost him his health. And the story legitimately hooked me, right off the bat - featuring a blend of bizarro gnosticism, psychology, and mecha that really only compares to Evangelion. (Xenogears and Evangelion were contemporary productions; I couldn’t find a definitive account, but it would be stunning if there wasn’t some sort of cross-pollination between the projects.)

The early pain ended up feeling like an investment, which steadily paid off as the game progressed. The combat system, initially overwhelming and unclear, developed a compelling dynamism as the characters advanced. Each difficult boss conquered and story point reached felt like an accomplishment; this was a rare, weird game - and working through it felt like a valuable, uncommon expedition.

The story ratchets up at the 11th hour, with a standout “Room of Understanding” that rivals anything I’ve seen in any medium. By trudging through the archaic game design and witnessing the late-game exposition, I felt like I’d earned access to hidden information. Upon finally finishing the game, I excitedly dove into the world of analysis videos and discussions online; I was a newfound convert, ready to partake in the zeal.

Having worked through the lore and oddities in the extended Xenogears universe, I now feel compelled to work through the other great RPGs of the era. In addition to the mainstays (e.g., Final Fantasy 7-9), I’m especially keen to play through the other titles that have been forgotten or underrated, like Chrono Cross and Terranigma.