Xenosaga

Xenosaga


The Show- Another Space Story


While it is another space story, it’s not just that. This anime is action-packed and full of adventure. The story follows the life of a middle-aged woman named Shion. She is the chief engineer in the KOS-MOS project. It starts out with a combat scene while they are testing a being called KOS-MOS. KOS-MOS has great powers and can defeat almost any enemy, but the researchers and engineers have to study her because two years-prior to the opening scene, KOS-MOS had gotten out of control and many researchers perished. During an attack from the Gnosis, a mysterious enemy that can’t be hurt unless a certain weapon is used against them, KOS-MOS breaks loose from her restraints and rushes to save Shion. Shion’s ship is destroyed by the Gnosis (which remind me of ghost-like sea-creatures in space) and she and her co-worker are forced out into space in an escape pod.


KOS-MOS is also out in space after fighting off the Gnosis. She finds a ship, the Elsa, and demand that they take her on board. They refuse at first but she threatens their lives so they finally agree. While she is boarding, she sees Shion’s escape pod and has the Elsa take it on board as well. KOS-MOS continually acts without orders and this starts to worry Shion.


The plot revolves around a door-like object called a Zohar. The original cannot be found but several emulators have been obtained. It is a very mysterious and dangerous object and I am still unaware of its importance. It is full of plot twists and characters that you can’t tell if they are good or evil.


Presentation and Sound- Well Done


The graphics are what one might expect from a futuristic anime. The clothing is very futuristic and the ships seem like they would fly. Many times I have seen ships in anime’s they should physically never be able to leave the ground, but the ones in this show seem realistic. Everything is well detailed and it has good vibrant colors.


The sound is great. The ships sound like ships and the people sound, well, like people. The only criticism one might hear would be from a physician, claiming that you wouldn’t be able to hear an explosion in space. But there are many explosions and shootings and they sound great! The introduction and ending songs give you glimpses of what the show will be about, and the graphics are just as good as in the show itself.


Extras- Lacking


The only things the extras include are a clean opening and ending, meaning only the animation and now of the words (except the songs, of course.)


Character Development- Slightly Confusing


You are introduced to many characters in this show and it is a little hard to keep them all straight. It’s confusing as to who belongs to which corporation and who is good and who is evil. Otherwise, the main characters are well developed with past histories and future goals.


Overall- Good but Not Amazing


The story-line was interesting and entertaining, and there were a lot of plot twists, but there were too many characters and companies to keep straight.


Overall: 7.0