Is it just me or aren't both games almost the same story? A search for an original mother, either Elly or Jenova. A split of personality by Fei and Cloud. A god-like demon, either Sephiroth or Deus, trying to come back to life. Ancient people that had great knowledge. The themes and languages of both felt to me to have the same spirit.
I actually only played Xenogear recently, and it felt like I was playing FFVII. I must also be an exception, as I feel that the story from FFVII is slightly more complex than Xenogears, at least in trying to figure out where Cloud, Jenova and Sephiroth's 'minds' seperated. Xenogears explained every details of the story, leaving no ambiguity. It also had a much more developped story, yet did not evoque as much emotions. Who can forget Aerith's death? Xenogears lacked intense tragedy. Also, many characters where kind of forgetable, whereas FFVII made an effort to come back to these characters later on. Lastly, Xenogear's second CD was poorly made. You go to all these places, but you have no idea where on the map they are, have no real scence of being involved. In my opinion, they should have ended the story at the end of the first CD, and tied the loose ends in a sequel.
For these reasons, I conclude that FFVII was a little bit better than Xenogears, but both feel so much like the same game.
