Jason Karney plays Xenosaga II, and thinks that it's a noble effort:
"Video game sequels are a hit or miss affair. Xenosaga Episode II is chronologically the Jan Brady of its series: the bright, gangly and well meaning middle child that must live up to its bigger sibling's legacy, which is rarely an easy task. Unfortunately, like Jan Brady, Xenosaga II suffers from the sophomore curse, where the second iteration is lacking when compared to its predecessor. I really enjoyed the first game, which told a fascinating and organic story centered on the android KOS-MOS and her naive but well-meaning creator Shion. Through a mix of grand drama and humor, a balanced battle system and enjoyable sidequests, Xenosaga Episode I took me on a rewarding journey but left me with a lot of unanswered questions."
The rest of the review is available
here.