Ep.128 – Gearing Up For Crazy: How Psychology Made Xenogears a Cult Classic
A Trip Down Memory Card Lane · David Kassin and Robert Kassin
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Show Notes
In 1998, Square released Xenogears, a PlayStation RPG that mixed giant robots, religion, and philosophy into one unforgettable story. We explore how Tetsuya Takahashi and Soraya Saga pitched their dark, psychological script for Final Fantasy VII before it became its own standalone project. Our conversation dives into the game’s development challenges, its ambitious themes drawn from Jung and Nietzsche, and how limited time and resources shaped its unfinished second disc. We also discuss its controversial localization, its lasting cult following, and how it inspired future titles from Monolith Soft, including the Xenosaga and Xenoblade Chronicles series. Join us as we pilot our Gears and confront the divine in Xenogears on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.