And let it be this title that had the ambition to bring the hardcore fans and the mainstream public together for one big RPG feast by softening de in-depth RPG gameplay apart from some other concessions.

For example; in Xenosaga II there are no unique skills anymore and every character can learn every skill (in contrary to your characters in Xenosaga I). The only difference between your characters now are the original stats and the tech-attacks. A dreadful menu interface, horrible beyond words, allows you to learn the skills, juggle with your ether and have an overview of your attack options.

Apart from that, there were also quite some changes in the battle system. The most important term here is ‘the zone’. Your enemies are divided into different zones and while each one of them will give you hitpoints in a successful attack, there is always a weak zone. Or more than one. These weak zones will not only give you more hitpoints but will also allow you to quickly take down your enemies if you manage to see through the attack combination of your adversary and perform successful counterattacks. If in break, you will be able to pile up the hitpoints, make combo’s and do some cool moves on your enemies. Do not underestimate them though; the A.I. is pretty good in this game.

Sounds like fun, and it actually would be if you weren’t staring at a loading screen before each battle after which you will see your enemies magically load onto the battlefield one by one before you can get to work. And it’s not just the loading times which will have you sit in front of the television with your controller useless in your hands. If you want to follow the storyline you will have to so through hours and hours of cutscenes, some of them so boring you’ll end up in a coma.

The voice-overs are also really doing their best to bring the story as uninteresting as possible; which is a bit of a pity because apart from some serious plot holes and a lot of redundancy, the story itself is quite interesting. Which is more than you can say about the boring gameplay. Walk to an enemy, evade the enemy or go to battle – loading screen, fight the enemy, - loading screen, walk a bit more, cutscene - loading screen, boss fight – loading screen,… Well, you get the picture.

The graphics of the game are pretty decent for PS2 standards and that’s all you can say about them. They’re not bad but they’re not the best either. Too bad the environments look quite uninspired and the interaction is very limited and strict. The background music and other sound suffers from mediocricititis too. They’re ok but boring.