I heared the buzz about Xenosaga II's shortcomings, but I'm still keeping an optimistic outlook. Most of the complaints were that the story focuses a lot on the URTV incident and doesn't answer a lot of the questions raised in episode 1. I don't think that's a bad thing. I mean this is only EP II out of 6, so what if it concentrates on a back story? Think of it this way, with the entire game focusing on that, the story's gonna be MUCH more fleshed out, beefier and just...um..fuller.

The new character desighns don't bother me either. I got used to them. They still look anime-ish to me (which is fine in my book) only more mature anime. If i was to compare, EP 1 looks like Escaflowne or Fushigi Yuugi while EP II's character desighns remind me more of Akira or Perfect Blue.

As for the mysteries not being answered, it's only freaking EP II outta six! There's still plenty of games left to take care of that.

The only thing that I'm worried about is the actual gameplay. I heared that there are some radical changes in the game like no existance of currency. Therefore the only way to get items is by enemies dropping them or chests. And maybe sidequests. However if the story's good enough I won't mind.

P.S.

Namco almost like punished people for buying the delux japanese EP II box set. It came with the most hideous KOS-MOS figure. See for yourself http://moccosep2.hp.infoseek.co.jp/moc00.html

P.S.S.

GameInformer had an article about EP II and they too were praising it. They also said the American version will include 3 extra, optional bosses that are kinda the equivelant of the ultimate weapons in VII.