Xenogears (????? ,Zenogiasu?) is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for Sony's PlayStation. It was released on February 11, 1998 in Japan and on October 21, 1998 in North America. The game was never released in PAL territories. The game was re-released by Square Enix for the Japanese PlayStation Network on June 25, 2008.
Xenogears follows main character Fei Fong Wong and several others as they struggle to survive in a world torn apart by war between the nations of Aveh and Kislev. The principles and philosophies of Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and Jacques Lacan, as well as various religious themes greatly influence the overall plot and world of Xenogears. A major theme of the game is the nature of human memory: from the start of the game, Fei suffers from memory loss, which color his interactions with other characters. In addition to the concept of memory, the struggle between man and machine is also central to the game's plot. Each of the playable characters can ride in giant mechs known as Gears and can use them in battle.
Overall, the game was well-received by critics, with a 91% ratio on Game Rankings and a score of 83 out of 100 at Metacritic. It was voted the 16th best video game of all time by readers of Famitsu in 2006. A commercial success, Xenogears has sold 1.19 million copies worldwide as of March 31, 2003. Due to these high sales, the game was re-released as a Greatest Hits title in December 2003.