Xenosaga Ep. II reviews are up.

[Sepho]

I've been reading reviews for a few days, and the majority of them point out flaws in the game that are disheartening.

It saddens me greatly considering I've been looking forward to this game more than any other game for a couple hears (moreso than any FF game, Metroid Prime 2, or any number of others). The only game I might be more excited for at this point is the new GameCube Zelda.

A good number of the reviews I've read have summarized that the gameplay overall has been altered into a less enjoyable system dealing with enemy weaknesses, and more importantly, is dumbed down greatly, taking away much of the depth that was found in Episode 1. Reviewers make it sound, comparatively speaking, incredibly simplified. This will bother me more than anything.

In addition, I hear the plot, while good, actually asks more questions than it answers. I was really hoping for the majority of the holes to be filled by the end of Episode II, because with the current part of the story arch ending with the next episode, I'm skepticle as to whether they can pull it off in the length of one more game.

Finally, I hear it's short. Like, half the length of the first one. I personally like long games, and the short length of Episode II only leaves less opportunity for the story to develop further.

Nevertheless, I'm sure I'll enjoy it. A few reviews generally aren't upsetting to me, but the flaws I've mentioned are common in every one that I've read so far, and they're in relation to the aspect of the first game that I favored the most. A bad battle system is what I'm worried about above all else. But I'll buy it and have fun with it, regardless.