u/zso7

Hi, I've been seeing this series mentioned every now and then on the JRPG sub lately, presumably because of the release of Remastered Collection. That made me look into the games a little, but I can't get an idea of what they're really like. All I have is a vague understanding of it being "charming". "It's a coming of age story", "lovable characters", "it's classic JRPG gameplay".

Not to come across as argumentative but is there anything that makes these games "stand out"? Not asking what's the best aspect of the games, but what sets them apart. It can be any aspect really, a unique setting, gameplay ideas, story presentation, maybe just the sheer quality of the story or characters.

For example I'm playing Shadow Hearts right now, it has a unique timing based combat system, horror/gothic atmosphere, and an alternate-history story that takes you to many real world locations in early 1900s. It's like a 6 on the fun scale, but feels worth it for the unique experience, so I keep playing.

Out of any other JRPG, Lunar gives me vibes closest to Grandia 1, which is a game that also stands mostly on its "charm". Personally though, I don't think I would have stuck to the end of Grandia 1 if not for the unique battle system, or the fact that I had played and loved Grandia 2 and wanted to experience the series' origin.

Essentially what I'm getting at is, would there be anything for me in Lunar other than just "charm"?

So, I've been having a discussion with another redditor on the existence of a "multiverse" within the Xenosaga universe.

We differ in our interpretation of the Perfect Guide lore when it comes to how the structure of the universe works.

His interpretation is that "the lower domain" consists of multiple domains, each also referred to as "lower domains". So the real number domain, the imaginary number domain, and an unknown number of other lower domains make up "the lower domain", also referred to in the Perfect Guide as "the Dimensional Universe". Each lower domain represents a different "aspect" of "the Dimensional Universe" similar to RND/IND.

My interpretation is that "the lower domain" in Perfect Guide refers to (in most instances) specifically the lower domain where Xenosaga's events take place, which is made up by the RND and IND. But other lower domains exist "separately", presumably containing their own RND and IND, which would make them closer to traditional "parallel universes".

In short, my version is:

"The Dimensional Universe" = "RND+IND" = The specific lower domain where Xenosaga takes place. Other X number of lower domains are separate "parallel-worlds".

His version:

"The Dimensional Universe" = "RND+IND+X number of other lower domains" = "The lower domain" = One half of the universe. There are no parallel worlds.

To support his side, he quotes excerpts from Perfect Guide that refer to "the lower domain" and "the upper domain" as making up a single universe.

>The upper and lower domains are each but one of the elements that make up the universe

>The given names "Upper" and "Lower" for the domains are nothing more than relative names. It is like how the third dimension is to the second, or how the fourth dimension is to the third. Each possess an individual time axis and space axis, but as a whole, they are elements that form one universe.

>although the existing role and function differ in each due to their difference in structure, the lower domain is indispensable for the upper, and the upper domain is necessary for the lower. This is because they form a single universe with both parts included.

While I don't deny these quotes, I personally don't see these statements as contradictory to "separate lower domains" being equivalent to "parallel universes" in a traditional understanding of the term "universe".

Even though Perfect Guide uses the term "universe" to refer to "upper domain+all lower domains contained within", it also differentiates between "the entire universe" and "the Dimensional Universe", where the existence of multiple "dimensional universes" would still constitute a "multiverse" in my opinion. And, well, I already explained how we differ in our interpretation of "dimensional universe".

Also like I said, Perfect Guide flip flops a lot on its usage of "the lower domain", sometimes referring to the concept of lower domain(s) in contrast the upper domain, and at other times referring to just the RND+IND / "Xenosaga's Dimensional Universe".

To support my side, I bring up other quotes from Perfect Guide that signify distinctions between different lower domains.

For example, the Power of Anima is referred to as "the function that completely deletes the Dimensional Universe".

>The power of Anima is the power that "safely" eliminates only the lower domain -- the Dimensional Universe -- in order to avoid the worst-case situation where the entire universe would end up being allowed to collapse. In a manner of speaking, it is the function that completely deletes the Dimensional Universe.

At the same time, it is stated specifically that Anima destroying the "Dimensional Universe" will spare "other lower domains".

Not only that, but the first section of this quote even refers to these "other lower domains" as "parallel-world type" lower domains.

>The upper domain contains many lower domains. It is easy to understand when thought in this way: that parallel-world type lower domains exist. The collapse caused by the dispersal of the Collective Unconscious, due to its destructive damage, swallows up the upper domain as well. But the Failsafe by the power of Anima keeps damage such as that from occurring by eliminating only the one lower domain where the abnormality originated. Because of this, the upper domain will survive, and so also will other lower domains.

So what do you guys think? Are different lower domains different "dimensional universes"? Are they just different aspects of the same "dimensional universe" like RND and IND? Or are they something else entirely that we do not know?

IMO it makes the most sense that they would also have their own RND+IND, considering the "dual layered structure" is apparently mirrored in the upper domain. The vibe that I get is the lower domains are "downstream" from the upper domain, so it would be natural for other lower domains to also mirror it, not just one.