Xenosaga Episode II

"Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Bose isn't wholly on par with the original, but it retains a rich narrative and a lot of soul."

"The sci-fi RPG juggernaut returns with a new look, more depth, and another long name."

"It's a quality game and a solid production. It's still shinier, bolder, and more polished than the vast majority of the PS2 RPG library, despite its flaws. But that doesn't change the fact that Xenosaga II is a disappointing sequel that can't reach the heights of its original, and in that way, it stumbles."

"...playing through the 25 or so hours needed to beat this second installment (yep, it's that short) still feels pretty rewarding. The reason for such is because while the game itself isn't that great, it still has plenty of moments that are. So while you may find yourself mad at something you don't necessarily want to be, a cool or surprising event will happen, and all of a sudden everything is forgiven. It may not every time or last very long, but it happens nonetheless."