I just picked this up last friday and I'm really enjoying it. The combat system got even better (though somewhat more complicated) and the character's wardrobe got a much needed facelift (Jr.'s now sporting a stylish red trenchcoat). The story is geeting sooo good. I'm starting to remember why I fell in love with the first game. Story, combat system, and, uh...story/combat system.

Before, you could use your 'boost' guage to get extra turns and do that much more damage. Now, you can use your 'boost' guage and a new feature called your 'stock' guage and whip out incredible combos and spectacular double attacks. Comboing your character's attacks lets you deal massive amounts of damage to enemies.

With this new installment, you learn more about the back story of the world. You learn more about what happened at the mitian conflict, and who the U-TIC organization really is. There's also the entrance of the Immagrant Fleet. A force that used to be the caretakers of the Zohar before the cataclysm on Old Miltia.

Anyway, I don't wanna give away too much for those of you who plan on playing this wonderful game. I definately recomend this game for any RPG fan.

note: Sorry God, I think it might make you motion sick... :( but you should play it anyway ;)

Before I pick this up I'll have to finish the first one. Proto-Dora's a pain...

Also by the end of ep.2 I want to hear something about the Eldridge or something that'll tie in with Xenogears.

Proto-Dora...is that the one that splits into two when you meet him?

Yes, finish the first one. You will be happy to have clear data for the second. n_n ,V,,, (Hint: Swimsuit)

And you beat me to posting about it, Cornfed. =P

Awesome game which I have completed (still have a few side-quests left though) and I am really looking forward to the next one.

The "stock" option rather reminded me of 'gears, as I think it or something like it used to be in that too, though I'm not sure if it was quite the same.

Proto Dora is near the end of the game I think, I'd probably just use Erde Kaiser if possible. So cheesy, yet so nice. n_n

So, Raguna, how long did it take you to get the scond disk? I got to it in 10 hours and thought to myself, "No way. That can't be right! I must have missed something." I'm thinking I missed a bunch of segments and GS missions, since I had opened only 2 segment doors and completed only 2 GS missions. In fact, I know I missed a bunch of stuff. But I still can't believe that they only put 10 hours of actual story on the first disk.

Proto-Dora is the first boss in Proto Merkaba. Its got 2 lackies and it heals itself when it's health gets low. I'd Erde Kaiser it, but Shion lacks the maxMP to pull it off -_-

I just used MOMO against it. With her ultimate weapon, she can dish out hella damage without having to spend so much ether on the Erde Kaiser. MOMO is a Gnosis killing machine. Really sucks against B and M type enemies, though.

Isn't Proto Dora an M type though? It's been so long that I don't really remember. n.n lol I hardly ever used MOMO (or Ziggy) in Episode I, I muchly preferred my team of KOS-MOS, Shion and chaos (or Jr).

By the way I did reply to this sooner, but my post was eaten and I didn't feel like retyping it at the time.

Cornfed, it probably took me around the same amount of time, but I'm not entirely sure. But was quite surprised at how quickly the first disc went. It did take me longer after going back because I missed completing some things though. Glad I did too, or I might not have had Psycho Pocket (which does come in handy), among other things.

I'd say try and level up like mad so you do have enough EP for Erde Kaiser. And I can't remember if it's in Episode I or not, but in Episode II there's something that will cut how much EP you use for the various ethers, which if something akin to it is in the first, there's that option I suppose.

Is it an M type? I don't know. All I know is that I got through it without dying to bosses. Died to some of the non-boss monsters though. Still wondering how I managed that...

As for XenoSaga II, I'm currently really bored with it. Problems with running around doing side quests to get more stuff. Runnin around sucks. I want to move the plot foward, but then I'll miss a lot of this stuff. Lousy game making me look around and explore. I want colored blocks that fall and make music!!

I've no idea, as I said. It has been some time since I played it. Might play it again sometime though (this time cheating like mad, make it go quicker and all. maybe this time I can afford the really expensive A.W.G.S.).

What you could do is do like a friend of mine, he goes through games once without doing any of the side quests and then plays again later if he wants to get that stuff done.

I do wonder how much more difficult it would be though, in some cases. Oh well. n_n;;;;

I can't go back through games like this. I get really bored. Just like, "I know what happens and walking around sucks." So the first time I go through a game, I try to find everything I can. If I could walkaround and do something other than talk to people and blow up boxes that have nothing in them, then I might get a little less bored. But to be honest, the story in rpgs is almost the entire reason I play them. So if I already know the story, there's nothing left for the game to offer me. Or rather, usually watching the story again get's outweighed by having to walk around and get annoyed from battles.

I miss my Mitsuda ;_;