Nudity and Symbolism in Xenogears

[myaru]

LMN moved to a new server a while ago, which I forgot to announce; in the process TC re-acquired the zenogias.com domain and added it to both Guardian Angels and The Nisan Sanctuary archive - so now you can see them with their original addresses, as well as the Lea Monde location we've all grown to love. This means people who see my old wallpaper

Comments

[myaru]

Well, there's always the Ultimate Graphics version, which I have a link for lying around somewhere...

Probably the most prominent symbol in Xenogears - the one that's in everything, even if you can't see it - is the Tree of Sephirot, which is present in-script and story as the "path to god." A lot of its secondary symbolism is probably present in the game too, but I haven't played it in so long that I can't pinpoint anything for you.

That, though - it's the center of the game. And Xenogears is a game that says a lot of things.

It's weird to think of Xenogears as an adult game when the majority of people who played it, at least that I knew of at the time (~1998/99) were in the age range of 14-21. The script editing wasn't the greatest, which didn't help the impression. However... in pretty much every way, I think you're right. The full impact of the game doesn't hit right for a young crowd.

[myaru]

Ironically, while people everywhere were putting Xenogears down in disgust and watching Evangelion, I plowed through the game because I could only stand half of Evangelion before I was about to die of boredom. Unfortunately, I never reached any of the important parts - i.e. the ones that apparently inspired Xenogears, so I remain a skeptic.

That was a subject of pretty hot debate a while ago. I wonder if it's possible to tell, though. I can spot Takahashi's references right away, as far as religious symbolism and Arthur C. Clarke in particular (Never mind the obvious ones. :P), but have no idea what exactly is in Evangelion past... geez, I don't even remember which episode inspired me to give up.

If that is where Takahashi got the idea, though, I think he made it his own.

All the more reason for me to be disappointed that Xenosaga - after Episode I, at least - said so littleYou know, I ended up being glad that Xenosaga stopped trying to say so much, because the medium had changed to the point where it was becoming really

[reynardfox]

Bawww. I just packed Perfect Works in a box, so I can't go flip through it. (I need to get ahold of you some time. I have a crapload of news. We found a place, among other things. HOORAY PACKING. XD)

Anyway, I suppose I should at least try to make some kind of scholarly comment here. My last several have been off-topic rambling. Unfortunately, you've pretty much hit on every point I was going to mention. :D;

[myaru]

Pffff, despite what we used to think, Xenogears isn't that suited to scholarly replies. XD The fact that I wrote this borders on pretentiousness.

You did mention your new place in your last entry, though, which sounds awesome. I expect pictures. XD

[reynardfox]

We're bringing the rental agreement back up there Sunday afternoon. I'll be bringing my camera. =D

Man. I had something else to say, but - surprise! - I forgot.

[acebullet]

What's that you say? NUDITY in Xenogears?? (warning: nudity, xenogears)

Seriously though, I do think more games should be less afraid to have nudity. Male AND female. And less Dead Or Alive Extreme Beach Volleyball and more Heavy Rain. Or we can just compromise at Mass Effect.

[myaru]

WHY DO YOU CITE GAMES I HAVE NEVER PLAYED?

However, as before, I agree. :D

[acebullet]

Heh, well, don't tell anybody, but I haven't played those games either. But two of them made headlines for their nudity/sexuality (Mass Effect, DoAXBV), and the third, well, I'm assuming there's nudity in Heavy Rain. I guess I could have substituted Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy for Heavy Rain, except that I think I'm the only person in the world who played that game.

[aria_of_dusk]

Sometimes I wonder how the reception to Xenogears would be had it been released today rather than twelve years ago...

[myaru]

That's an interesting question. As-is, my guess is that his ideas and symbolism might get more credit because we have a slightly older gamer base - or, maybe it's better to say that the gamers inclined to play a game like Xenogears are a little more diverse in age and background now - but the execution would draw a bad reaction.

If it were updated to Xenosaga's technological level... I don't know how it would've been received. Putting so much text to audio seems not to work very well. A lot would also depend on the acting, which would have to be spot-on in some of these scenes. If they didn't hit the mark, something like the scene in the Merkava (after the Opiomorph fight) would descend into utter ridiculousness.