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the history of the Xeno franchise

Triforce King

Pathfinder for life
Joined
Jul 10, 2011
The Xeno series is a metaseries of science fiction Japanese role-playing video games. The series is the brainchild of Tetsuya Takahashi and has been published by several companies, including Square, Namco, and Nintendo.
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Xenogears

Release dates
JP February 11, 1998
NA October 20, 1998
platforms
PlayStation, PlayStation Network

Xenogears is the first entry in the series, and the only one developed for the PlayStation video game console and published by Square. The origins of the game actually started as a potential script for Final Fantasy 7 written by Tetsuya Takahashi and Soraya Saga. While the script was deemed "too dark and complicated" for the vision for Final Fantasy, Square did allow them to start the project as a new property instead. Composer Yasunori Mitsuda, upon completing music for Chrono Trigger, would also jump aboard the project to provide music. While developed by the staff that would later consist of Monolith Soft, at this point in time the team only existed as a sub-team within Square. Despite the name merely being labeled Xenogears, the game's end credits, and respective Perfect Works guide publication, state that the game was in fact "Episode 5 of 6". While rumors of a Xenogears 2 project starting at Square arose after the game's release, ultimately Square decided that it wanted to focus more its flagship Final Fantasy series, leading Takahashi to choose to leave the company, along with much of the Xenogears staff, to form what would be Monolith Soft. Because of this departure, and the legal rights of the game belonged to Square, later games in the series would not be the direct prequels or sequels suggested by the game's ending and Perfect Works guide, but rather more of a reboot that share thematic similarities.


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Xenosaga Episode I
Release dates
JP February 28, 2002
NA February 25, 2003
platforms
PlayStation 2

After breaking apart from Square and formally forming Monolith Soft, the company would form a partnership with Namco as their owning and publishing company. The team's original plan would be to start a new six-part series, called Xenosaga, which wouldn't be exactly the same games alluded to with Xenogears and it's Perfect Works guide, but rather be more like spiritual sequels with thematic similarities. (The initial plan was six games, although it would actually eventually be wrapped up in three parts instead, with Episode III.) Many key staff from Xenogears returned in prominent roles, including Takahashi and Saga as writers, Mitsuda as music composer, and around 20 staff members from Xenogears returning to be part of the larger 70 person staff of Xenosaga.


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Xenosaga Episode II
Release dates
JP June 24, 2004
NA February 15, 2005
PAL October 28, 2005
platforms
PlayStation 2

Xenosaga II brought a number of changes to the series. Mitsuda did not return to provide music for the game, and Soraya Saga part way through the game's development, left the team. The game's focus on characters in the story shifted as well, with it focusing more on Jr. than Shion this time around. Several aspects of the game was changed due to feedback from Episode 1; complaints of tedium and slow pace led to Episode II have faster paced gameplay and battles and shorter length cutscenes.


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Xenosaga Episode III
Release dates

JP July 6, 2006
NA August 29, 2006
platforms
PlayStation 2

Although originally intended to be a six-part series, Xenosaga III ended up being the third and final entry in the Xenosaga sub-series, and the final Xeno game with Monolith Soft working under Namco. The series was cut short due to lack of sales of the prior released titles.


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Xenoblade Chronicles
Release dates Wii
JP June 10, 2010
NA April 6, 2012
EU August 19, 2011
AUS September 1, 2011
Release dates New Nintendo 3DS

JP April 2, 2015
NA April 10, 2015
PAL April 2, 2015
Release dates Wii U

EU August 5, 2015
Xenoblade (Xenoblade Chronicles in English speaking regions) would be the first Xeno game developed after being bought by Nintendo. Originally titled Monado: Beginning of the World, the game was retitled Xenoblade in January 2010 to honor Tetsuya Takahashi, and tie it into the rest of the Xeno series. The game follows Shulk and his band of friends as they search for answers about the mysterious "Monado" sword and defend their homeland from the violent robotic "Mechon" race of creatures. While still a story-based role-playing video game, the game's design shifted away from an emphasis on extended-length cutscenes, and more towards open world exploration.


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Xenoblade Chronicles X
Release dates
JP April 29, 2015
PAL / NA December 4, 2015
AUS December 5, 2015
platforms

Nintendo Wii U

Xenoblade Chronicles X, known in Japan as Xenoblade X, pronounced as "Xenoblade Cross", is an action role-playing video game by developer Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game is part of the Xeno series of video games, serving as a spiritual successor to Xenoblade Chronicles on the Wii and New Nintendo 3DS. The game centers on a customizable player avatar, who works to coexist with the indigenous creatures on a hostile alien planet while striving to protect humanity. Similar to its predecessor, the game features a open world design that strongly emphasizes exploration.


















 
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