About this game
Released in 1998, Xenogears is one of the most narratively ambitious games Square ever produced. Weaving philosophy, psychology, religion, and giant robot combat across a massive 80-hour experience, it pushed the PlayStation to its storytelling limits. Yasunori Mitsuda's score — widely considered among the finest in JRPG history — elevated every scene. Its second disc, delivered largely as text narration due to budget constraints, became one of gaming's most discussed creative compromises.
Key Features
Turn-based combat with a deathblow chain system, giant mech (Gear) battles that run in parallel with the human-scale combat, a sprawling narrative spanning thousands of years, and fully voiced cutscenes for key scenes. The game is renowned for its depth and density.
The Story Behind
Xenogears was originally pitched as a scenario for Final Fantasy VII, but was rejected for being too dark and complex. It was then developed as a standalone project — and its ambition nearly broke Square's production pipeline. The resulting game, incomplete as it felt in disc 2, remains a landmark of RPG storytelling.
Tricks & Tales
The game's scenario was written by Tetsuya Takahashi, who later founded Monolith Soft and directed the Xenosaga and Xenoblade series. Director Takahashi has confirmed that Xenogears was intended as episode 5 of a six-episode saga, and that the larger story was never realized.
Collector's Guide
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
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