Should I play the original Xenogears, or try a patch?

[No_Life_King]

Just wondering because I've seen multiple hacks, and I know some people here have way more experience than me.

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

I haven't played them personally, but OG was the only game a playthrough crew I was following couldn't finish.

Take that as you will.

 

[shaggi]

From what i saw, those mods doesn't change game much. Alternative text font, no battle flashes, undub. These don't modify how the game is played. I'd say it's a matter of your own preferences.

 

[Anim8rDude Anim8rDude]

The only patch I've played them with are the undub ones & it was still the greatest experience ever.
Didn't need much else beyond that, you're gonna be in for a real treat!

 

[RageBurner]

IMO Perfect Works Build is the way to go.

 

[Graw]

I've only played the original. It was a long time ago but I remember it being pretty good up until near the end. I've seen a couple hacks in the repo but they kind of seem unnecessary. I don't really remember grinding too much or anything or feeling like there were too many encounters.

 

[RetroLuvr]

You should definitely use a patch that increases text speed. Everything else can be left as is

 

[Sorion]

Maybe if you're in just for the story you could increase the exp and money drop rates, mods like that, but other than that, the game is pretty easy, just a little slow at times which is normal among ps1 era RPGs

 

[DAME NINGEN]

Play the original first if you haven't. Then play the Perfect Works version in a year or two, once it's, hopefully, finally done. I've been itching for a replay myself for some time but I'm content waiting for the Perfect Works, since it seems that it might be the definitive way of experiencing the game, whenever it gets completed at least.

 

[Disgaean]

I played the perfect works build and alongside it, I followed along with the state of the arc "game club" podcast series to digest the story of the game as I played it: