I just started playing Xenosaga Episode 1. Great game. I honestly don't at all mind the long cutscenes. The music (even though there isn't much of it) is also awesome - the battle theme, in particular, is possibly the greatest battle theme ever in an RPG.
For Christmas, I asked for:
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
Yoshi's Island DS
Should I have asked for MGS2: Sons Of Liberty instead of Substance?
How does Yoshi's Island DS compare with the original Yoshi's Island (one of my all-time favorite SNES games)?