Square's latest masterpiece, Xenogears, tops all other efforts in the genre and quite possibly may be the best RPG released this year. Originally, there was some doubt about the possibility of a US release due to sensitive religious issues. Square's change of policy is a welcome boon to American RPG fans.

What makes this game an enthralling and immersive experience is the fantastic plot. The game begins with the destruction of a spaceship by a mysterious alien entity, which results in the relocation of the crew to the surface of another world. At first glance, the opening doesn't seem to have anything to do with the game's storyline. However, a flash forward of several thousand years occurs, which finds the world at war between two neighboring kingdoms, Kislev and Aveh. The warring sides are using technology discovered from the ruins of an ancient civilization in the form of giant mechs. A stalemate -- which has gone on for many years -- is suddenly broken by the involvement of an outside group that is supplying one side with better weapons.

Against such a background the player meets Fei, a man without memories of his past, who lives in a village on the border between the warring kingdoms. All seems peaceful until tragedy strikes, forcing Fei to become involved in the war. Along the way, he uncovers the secrets of his past, the past of his world, and the nature of existence and God. (Here are the so-called sensitive religious issues. The goal of the bad guys is to kill God.)

The characters are all very believable in both their actions and personalities. Nothing seems forced and all events seem to unfold naturally in each situation. Many questions are raised about what is going on, but ultimately all of them are answered and the player is never left hanging after finishing the game. This deep and highly intricate plot is what draws the player into the game without adding unnecessarily confusing twists. Square has shown once again that they are master storytellers.

Graphically, Xenogears offers much to be enjoyed. The world is made up of 3D polygon environments, which can be rotated freely. Characters are 2D sprites which, although they can be quite pixelated at times, fit in well with the world they inhabit. One of the most impressive graphical features of the game are the towns. Every time the player goes to a new town, the game gives you an overhead shot of the whole 3D town so that you can see the entire layout and really get a feel of the place. Another added bonus is the sheer variety of environments the game takes place in. Dungeons range from towns, forests, mech bases, and caves just in the first few hours of the game alone. Within each dungeon there can be many facets of exploration, such as walking through tunnels, jumping over ledges, climbing ropes, and swimming. Since many battles and explorations take place in mechs, called Gears, your characters can explore the world on foot, in the mech, or even aboard a bigger vehicle.

Finally, dispersed throughout the game are 20 minutes worth of anime sequences, which are quite a departure from the usual Square CG scenes. These work well with the plot and the player never knows when a new scene is coming. What's really impressive is that some sequences feature anime superimposed over computer-generated backgrounds. Even better is the first use of voice in a Square game. These all come together to generate a further evolution of the Square RPG experience.

Another cool aspect of the game is the sound and music. The music played in the towns is crafted to create a unique environment. Odd chanting and different types of cultural music give the player a feel of being in a foreign and unfamiliar place. This, together with the graphics, bring the world alive like few other RPGs can.

Gameplay-wise, Xenogears again offers countless variety. The foundation of the battle system is the usual attack, magic, or item usage, but the twist in this system are the combo attacks. Each button on the controller translates to a weak, medium, or fierce attack. You can attack fiercely only once or weakly five times depending on the selection of attack you choose. Different repeated combinations of attacks will eventually be learned as a super combo attack, which is different depending on the character. With greater experience, the characters can get stronger combo attacks and even develop different classes of magic. This whole system is only one half of the battle because part of the game is spent using the mech Gears.

When using the Gears in battle, the character sits in their respective robot and can attack much larger enemies, such as other mechs or big monsters, which normally can kill the characters with one shot. The battle in Gears works the same way as the character level, except that the player needs to keep track of fuel consumption. The stronger the attack the more the fuel is used. Fuel can only be recharged with the Charge command which takes a turn to implement. There's also a Boost command that speeds up the attack of your Gears but also wastes more fuel. Again with experience, the Gears can perform more vicious attacks. Like the characters, the Gears can be upgraded in regards to engine, armor, and weapons. The game fuses these two battle modes seamlessly as dictated by the plot.

Ultimately, Xenogears comes together as a wonderful example of what the RPG genre can be at its best: A movie-like experience with memorable characters that will forever hold the imagination of the player unlike any other type of game can. Square, once again, has delivered a winner.