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Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht (2002)

Monolith Soft

PlayStation 2

3.70 from 344 ratings

966 members have it in their collection · 27 playing now · 361 backlogged · 268 wish listed

How long? Main story 40h · with extras 38h · 100% 38h (from 9 logged playthroughs)

Xenosaga: Episode I - Der Wille zur Macht, the first chapter of a trilogy, is a Japanese-style sci-fi role-playing game, sharing many common themes and gameplay elements with Xenogears. The battle system is not unlike the one used in Xenogears (combo attacks, AP and EP gauges, etc.), but random encounters are eliminated. Instead, the enemies are now visible and battles … Read more
Xenosaga: Episode I - Der Wille zur Macht, the first chapter of a trilogy, is a Japanese-style sci-fi role-playing game, sharing many common themes and gameplay elements with Xenogears. The battle system is not unlike the one used in Xenogears (combo attacks, AP and EP gauges, etc.), but random encounters are eliminated. Instead, the enemies are now visible and battles can be avoided. During combat the few upcoming ally and enemy turns are shown onscreen, allowing the player to make strategic decisions based on who will act next. A rolling slot moves with each turn as well, conferring a bonus such as added damage or bonus XP for any action on that turn. If the enemy would be in position to take an advantage then the player can expend a character's "boost" gauge to cut in and act next, although enemies can boost as well, and enemy boosts always over-ride player boosts. Each character has a unique tree of Ether spells they can learn by spending Ether points earned in battle, with lower spells requiring spells above them to be purchased first. After a spell is purchased, so long is it does not require a unique talent of that character, the spell can also be purchased and learned by any other character that can afford double its normal cost. The Anti-Gnosis Weapon Systems can be equipped with different weapons and accessories and can be used in combat provided that a character has enough AP on that turn to board their AGWS. Read less
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Details

Developers
Monolith Soft
Publishers
Namco
Genres
Adventure, Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Themes
Fantasy, Science fiction
Franchises
Xeno
Series
Xenosaga

Release dates

  • Feb 28, 2002 (Full Release) (Japan) PlayStation 2
  • Feb 25, 2003 (Full Release) (North_America) PlayStation 2

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Featured in lists

Playstation 2 by phantasy2004 · 81 games · 0

Rating distribution

5 stars
74
4 stars
141
3 stars
90
2 stars
31
1 star
8
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Community All Reviews Statuses

Kenchiin

Review Kenchiin 4/5 · Jul 8, 2025

Inner space

As a fan of Xenoblade I always wanted to go back to some of the original games these people worked on. I do know they are infamous for long-scenes and decisions tied to low-budget issues – but I really couldn’t stop being curious about these pieces of media.

So, to be truthful, Xenosaga excels at what it excels, and delivers …

Read more

As a fan of Xenoblade I always wanted to go back to some of the original games these people worked on. I do know they are infamous for long-scenes and decisions tied to low-budget issues – but I really couldn’t stop being curious about these pieces of media.

So, to be truthful, Xenosaga excels at what it excels, and delivers poorly in what delivers poorly.

The characters, world-building and music are top-notch. Gameplay wise I found the game quite repetitive, and sometimes kind of an excuse from going to one place or the other.

Overall, it was a beautiful experience, very thought-provoking. However, sometimes it does get confusing in the terminology it uses. The story and lore continue to progressively -and aggressively- expand at a point where it is easy to get lost.

Anyway, I LOVED it. I know the rest of the series is a hit or miss given its production background, but I will give Episode II a try and see how it goes.

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1 Comment
DirtyMidnighter

Review DirtyMidnighter 3/5 · Apr 29, 2020

You Will (Not) Understand

An amalgamation of just about every sci-fi anime trope you can imagine. It feels epic and opaque but kind of fails to make much of an impression beyond that. I never made it to Episode 2.

It's the earnestness - the straight faced delivery of unbridled horny fantasy absurdity. I think playing this type of thing inspired me (and others) …

Read more

An amalgamation of just about every sci-fi anime trope you can imagine. It feels epic and opaque but kind of fails to make much of an impression beyond that. I never made it to Episode 2.

It's the earnestness - the straight faced delivery of unbridled horny fantasy absurdity. I think playing this type of thing inspired me (and others) to attempt creating their own Japanese-style RPG, full of angsty boys, sexy waifus, vengeful space gods, giant robots and the like. This ultimately leads down a dark road of drawing naked girls holding swords, which you have to hide in a folder labelled TOP SECRET.

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1 Comment
strawhat64

Review strawhat64 5/5 · Jan 3, 2015

The game is very good but short. Too short for a game on a DL DVD if you ask me. I guess that is why there are 3 episodes of this story. Anyway, on to episode 2 now...

0 Comment
buffaling

Review buffaling 3/5 · Jan 30, 2013

It's all about the story, which, naturally, doesn't make a lot of sense. Yada, yada, retelling of the story of Christ. Perhaps it was straightened out in the subsequent games? Still enjoyed it though. Yeah.

0 Comment