This article contains spoilers.

If you’re a gamer, you have probably heard of Xenoblade and maybe Xenosaga. However, not everyone knows about the original concept that started it all and subsequently became the pillar for the lore and worlds of the other Xeno~ games that followed: Xenogears. Released in 1998, this game set the foundation for an intricate and expansive universe that has captivated players for decades.

A Nostalgic Journey

I was 9 when Xenogears was released. The story, the mechanics, the world — although some parts have not aged well, everything this game offered was top-tier back then. The area where this game excels the most is the story. It’s the reason why I replay it once a year since its release. To be fair, I have finished all Xeno~ games at least twice, even though they are not as good as Xenogears. What makes this game so good? Spoilers ahead, so beware.

If you’ve played Xenosaga or Xenoblade, you know how these games always involve a main antagonist who is either controlling everything from the shadows or is key in the current state of the world. Both games always include robots and space themes, with the first being completely set in space. Religion also plays a role in influencing the world, although it is not as evident in the Xenoblade series. The concept for all this comes from Xenogears.

A Hero's Journey

In Xenogears, you play as Fei Fong Wong, a young man living in a small, peaceful, and remote village. He was brought there in a near-death state by a mysterious man in the past and has no recollection of his life before that event. Countries outside of this village are at war. One day, a robot (called “Gear”) that was fleeing from an enemy troop crash-landed near the village and started fighting in the middle of it.

Fei, whose instinct for battle got the best of him, gets on an empty Gear that was nearby and starts fighting. At one point, his best friend is killed. He loses control and ends up destroying all the enemy units, but also destroys the village in the process.

Turns out that Fei is special (duh). He is the son of a very powerful figure and also has multiple personalities living inside of him (Pretty much multiple personality disorder). One of them — the one that ends up destroying the village— is a very powerful being called “Id”.

Unraveling the Mysteries

Fei sets off with his friend Citan, who, by the way, was ordered by what is effectively “God” to keep an eye on Fei, or rather his other personality, Id. Fei then joins a group of pirates, who are actually royalty playing the role of a third power in the current war. It is through them that Fei starts discovering more about the world, the past, and himself.

One of the many controversial discoveries Fei makes is that religions in Xenogears are fraudulent organizations, put in place to control the masses and use them as slave labor for a hidden country pulling most of the strings. He discovers more shocking truths, such as how another civilization had crash-landed on this planet, giving birth to the first humans. One of the men appearing during the game is pulling all the major strings, using these bioengineered humans to feed a powerful being referred to as “Deus” (or “God”).

Eternal Recurrence

The most shocking revelation is that Fei and his love interest, Elly, have been reincarnating for thousands of years because one of their past lives made contact with something called the Zohar, a mysterious artifact regarded as the source of all existence in the Xeno~ series. Notice how the shape of the Zohar is the same as Pyra/Mythra’s core. The Zohar is also present in the Xenosaga series. It is believed that the Xenosaga series are a prequel to Xenogears, but because the publishers are different, the developers were never able to officially confirm it.

A Lasting Legacy

What makes Xenogears truly exceptional is its depth and complexity. The game tackles themes such as identity, purpose, and the nature of existence. It combines these philosophical musings with engaging gameplay mechanics, including turn-based combat and intricate character development. The narrative structure is also noteworthy, with a second disc that turns into a visual novel to cover the remaining story due to budget constraints. This unique storytelling approach, although criticized, adds a layer of charm and nostalgia for many fans.

Xenogears may not have aged perfectly in every aspect, but its influence is undeniable. The game's ambitious storytelling, combined with its innovative gameplay mechanics, set a high bar for RPGs. Its legacy lives on in the subsequent Xeno~ games, each drawing from the rich lore established in Xenogears.

I could go on, talking all day about what makes Xenogears the best game narrative ever created. I’d probably need hundreds of pages to go over all the details and moments. So, if you like RPGs and enjoy a good story, you should at least play it once in your lifetime. Head over to the Downloads section here on FunctionX to download both an emulator and the game. Enjoy!

Fun Facts About Xenogears

Xenogears was initially conceived as a potential storyline for Final Fantasy VII before being developed as its own title.
The game's music, composed by Yasunori Mitsuda, is highly acclaimed and adds a significant emotional depth to the story.
Xenogears was the first game to use the Anime-style cutscenes, which became a hallmark for many future RPGs.

If you’re ready to dive into a game that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining, Xenogears awaits.

Xenogears Had, and Still Has, the Best Story in a Game to Date