Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra
Encyclopedia
is an RPG for the PlayStation 2
, and the third game in the primary Xenosaga
trilogy. Also sprach Zarathustra, literally "Thus spoke Zarathustra", is also the title of Friedrich Nietzsche
's most famous work, which introduced the concept of the Übermensch
. The game was released on PlayStation 2
on July 6, 2006 in Japan and on August 29, 2006 in North America.
has left Vector Industries. After the "Missing Year" fiasco, in which she uncovered information that revealed her former employer's shadowy intentions and her father's involvement with the U-TIC organization, Shion joined the anti-Vector group, Scientia. The CEO of Vector Industries, Wilhelm, is trying to "reset" the universe, going back to the point in time where it all began. Apparently, he has been doing this for millennia, in order to keep the universe from collapsing. While separated from her comrades from previous Xenosaga games, save Canaan and Miyuki, Shion is inexorably drawn back into their intertwined fates when she is contacted by Allen Ridgely. Shion travels to Fifth Jerusalem, where the previous Xenosaga crew is reunited. At the CAT Facility, a mysterious new researcher, Roth Mantel, has unveiled a next-generation model of android named T-elos, who bears a startling resemblance to KOS-MOS. After a series of experimental demonstrations, overseen by such VIPs as Juli Mizrahi, Mantel informs the Vector staff that the KOS-MOS project is being scrapped. Jr. and the others stage an infiltration into the CAT Facility and recover KOS-MOS before rendezvousing with the Durandal.
Censorship
The North American release of the game was briefly censored, the majority of these edits were for scenes of violence and blood that would have elevated the game beyond the "Teen" rating given by the ESRB to the "Mature" level. The storyline however, remains identical in both the original Japanese release and the North American versions.
For example, a noticeable instance of the editing of a scene is when a child reacts to the death of another character by "putting (the blood) back" in the dying individual. In the North American version, the child has nothing in her hands, even though she says and acts like she does.
as Shion
and Bridget Hoffman
as KOS-MOS).
According to Bandai-Namco's 3rd Quarter 2006 results, Episode III sold 343,000 copies in Japan and North America.
, EB Games), a life-size poster of T-elos (Game Crazy) and a limited edition version of the game with special box art (Best Buy
). The special DVD contains a collection of trailers, concept art sketches and merchandise images from all Episodes as well from side projects such as Xenosaga FREAKS.
(Xenosaga Episode II, .hack//SIGN
, Noir
, and Madlax
) became the sole composer in Xenosaga III. A handful of remixes, arrangements and reappearances of tracks from the "Xenosaga Episode II: Movie Scene Soundtrack" appear in the game. The game soundtrack, "Xenosaga Episode III: Original Sound Best Tracks (Yuki Kajiura selection)" was announced for a 2CD release on July 12. It consists of 40 tracks selected by Yuki Kajiura from the game (though it is not a complete release of all the tracks). The ending theme of the game is called "Maybe Tomorrow", sung by Emily Curtis. The soundtrack also contains vocals by Eri Itoh. The soundtrack follows the style of Kajiura's Episode II soundtrack with several key themes from Episode II, chief among them KOS-MOS' theme, appearing throughout the game.
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, and the third game in the primary Xenosaga
Xenosaga
is a series of science fiction video games developed by Monolith Soft and published by Namco Bandai. Xenosaga's main story is in the form of a trilogy of PlayStation 2 video games. There have been three spin-off games and an anime adaptation. The Xenosaga series serves as a spiritual successor to...
trilogy. Also sprach Zarathustra, literally "Thus spoke Zarathustra", is also the title of Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
's most famous work, which introduced the concept of the Übermensch
Übermensch
The Übermensch is a concept in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche posited the Übermensch as a goal for humanity to set for itself in his 1883 book Thus Spoke Zarathustra ....
. The game was released on PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
on July 6, 2006 in Japan and on August 29, 2006 in North America.
Story
It is one year after the events of Episode II and Shion UzukiShion Uzuki
is the female protagonist in the PlayStation 2 trilogy known as the Xenosaga series: Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht, Xenosaga Episode II Jenseits von Gut und Böse, and Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra. In addition, she was in the mobile game Pied Piper, Xenosaga I & II,...
has left Vector Industries. After the "Missing Year" fiasco, in which she uncovered information that revealed her former employer's shadowy intentions and her father's involvement with the U-TIC organization, Shion joined the anti-Vector group, Scientia. The CEO of Vector Industries, Wilhelm, is trying to "reset" the universe, going back to the point in time where it all began. Apparently, he has been doing this for millennia, in order to keep the universe from collapsing. While separated from her comrades from previous Xenosaga games, save Canaan and Miyuki, Shion is inexorably drawn back into their intertwined fates when she is contacted by Allen Ridgely. Shion travels to Fifth Jerusalem, where the previous Xenosaga crew is reunited. At the CAT Facility, a mysterious new researcher, Roth Mantel, has unveiled a next-generation model of android named T-elos, who bears a startling resemblance to KOS-MOS. After a series of experimental demonstrations, overseen by such VIPs as Juli Mizrahi, Mantel informs the Vector staff that the KOS-MOS project is being scrapped. Jr. and the others stage an infiltration into the CAT Facility and recover KOS-MOS before rendezvousing with the Durandal.
Development
In September 2005, it was officially announced that Episode III would mark the premature end to the series, which was originally planned to span six titles. The cast from Episode I and II will return; minor protagonists Allen Ridgeley, Canaan and Miyuki Itsumi are playable characters for the first time in the series, albeit only briefly. The keyword database, is still present just like Episode I and Episode II, it also has enhanced features like images and the ability to view in-game models of characters, enemies and mecha. The database has a new feature called "Memory Code" in which any cut scene can be viewed, provided it has already occurred during gameplay in an existing save file. Episode III takes place one year after Episode II, with E.S. units from Episode II and the Zohar Emulators and "techs" from Episode I making a return.Censorship
The North American release of the game was briefly censored, the majority of these edits were for scenes of violence and blood that would have elevated the game beyond the "Teen" rating given by the ESRB to the "Mature" level. The storyline however, remains identical in both the original Japanese release and the North American versions.
For example, a noticeable instance of the editing of a scene is when a child reacts to the death of another character by "putting (the blood) back" in the dying individual. In the North American version, the child has nothing in her hands, even though she says and acts like she does.
Reception
Episode III received generally good reviews, and the majority of media and fan outlets felt that the game improved upon Episode II, which many considered a disappointing sequel to the first installment. Specifically, many felt that the new battle system, although typical RPG fare, was an improvement over the complicated "zone break" system used in Episode II, and that the voice acting was much improved with the return of several popular voice actors which were inexplicably recast for Episode II (notably Lia SargentLia Sargent
Lia Sargent is an American voice actress. She is known for extensive anime and video game voice work and has also done ADR directing and script writing for Animaze.. iNC...
as Shion
Shion Uzuki
is the female protagonist in the PlayStation 2 trilogy known as the Xenosaga series: Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht, Xenosaga Episode II Jenseits von Gut und Böse, and Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra. In addition, she was in the mobile game Pied Piper, Xenosaga I & II,...
and Bridget Hoffman
Bridget Hoffman
Bridget Hoffman is an American actress best known for her work as an anime voice actress. She also serves as an ADR scriptwriter and ADR director...
as KOS-MOS).
According to Bandai-Namco's 3rd Quarter 2006 results, Episode III sold 343,000 copies in Japan and North America.
- Famitsu review: 32/40
- IGN Review: 8.0/10
- Gamespot Review: 8.0/10
- Gamespy Review: 3.5/5
- GamePro Review: 4/5
- RPG Fan Review: 89/100
- PSM Review: 8/10
- OPM Review: 9/10
- Electronic Gaming MonthlyElectronic Gaming MonthlyElectronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
Review: 7.5/10
Preorder Bonuses
In Japan, anyone who preordered the game received a special DVD with the name Xenosaga Alle spezielle DVD. There were three different North American preorder bonuses available at different stores: an exclusive art book (GameStopGameStop
GameStop Corporation is an American video game and entertainment software retailer. The company, whose headquarters is in Grapevine, Texas, United States, operates 6,500 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New...
, EB Games), a life-size poster of T-elos (Game Crazy) and a limited edition version of the game with special box art (Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
). The special DVD contains a collection of trailers, concept art sketches and merchandise images from all Episodes as well from side projects such as Xenosaga FREAKS.
Music
At the start of Episode IIIs development, Yuki KajiuraYuki Kajiura
, born August 6, 1965 in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese composer and music producer. She has provided the music for several popular anime series, such as one of the Kimagure Orange Road movies, Noir, .hack//SIGN, Aquarian Age, Madlax, My-HiME, My-Otome, .hack//Roots, Pandora Hearts, Puella Magi...
(Xenosaga Episode II, .hack//SIGN
.hack//SIGN
.hack//Sign is an anime television series directed by Kōichi Mashimo and produced by studio Bee Train and Bandai Visual, that makes up one of the four original storylines of the .hack franchise...
, Noir
Noir (anime)
is a 26-episode Japanese anime television series produced in 2001 by the Bee Train animation studio. Kōichi Mashimo directed Noir, it was written by Ryoe Tsukimura, and the soundtrack was composed by Yuki Kajiura...
, and Madlax
MADLAX
is a 26-episode Japanese anime television series produced in 2004 by the Bee Train animation studio. Kōichi Mashimo directed Madlax and the soundtrack was composed by Yuki Kajiura...
) became the sole composer in Xenosaga III. A handful of remixes, arrangements and reappearances of tracks from the "Xenosaga Episode II: Movie Scene Soundtrack" appear in the game. The game soundtrack, "Xenosaga Episode III: Original Sound Best Tracks (Yuki Kajiura selection)" was announced for a 2CD release on July 12. It consists of 40 tracks selected by Yuki Kajiura from the game (though it is not a complete release of all the tracks). The ending theme of the game is called "Maybe Tomorrow", sung by Emily Curtis. The soundtrack also contains vocals by Eri Itoh. The soundtrack follows the style of Kajiura's Episode II soundtrack with several key themes from Episode II, chief among them KOS-MOS' theme, appearing throughout the game.