Endgame dragged a little bit imo and the bosses weren't as consistently great as the first game, but I can't lie man this game is so fucking incredible. The characters, world, story, and the MUSIC are all impeccable. Only real reasons why I prefer the first game are due to the charm and less padded (despite being longer). Either way, this game absolutely deserves to be played if you are into RPGs at all.
Um RPG extremamente único, com história e personagens excelentes.
O sistema de batalha é simples, porém ele possui seu charme.
As músicas são todas cativantes e dificilmente enjoam.
Realmente um clássico que deve ser jogado por quem curte JRPGs.
O sistema de batalha é simples, porém ele possui seu charme.
As músicas são todas cativantes e dificilmente enjoam.
Realmente um clássico que deve ser jogado por quem curte JRPGs.
A pretty run of the mill story of defeating an evil god to save the world. The great part is the fantastic characters you spend your time with along the way. Nice happy ending as well.
The story's whatever, but the character-driven episodes, toyetic low-budget art style, endearing writing, 30-hour campaign, and command-based active-battle system make it one of the best JRPGs of its generation.
Again, same game I love and remember except this time it has weird audio glitches. Many areas almost blew my ears out from max volume broken audio loops. Monster death cries, half second music clips, etc.
Grandia II is a good example of how to make a sequel without repeating the original game. The setting, story and characters are quite different from the first Grandia, but the spirit is there, along with the superb battle system.
Grandia II again takes what might be a familiar setting, and takes it in unexpected and creative directions. We have yet another world living in the aftermath of a battle between two gods, their struggle faded to legend. Shockingly, an organization is working to revive one of them and destroy the world.
Against a familiar premise, we get extraordinary characters. The lead character, Ryudo, is such a mercenary and a jerk that I actually did not like him for a good chunk of the game, which is not great if you want to put yourself in their shoes. But the purpose of his characterization becomes clear as the story unfolds and his world view is challenged and his history emerges. There's actual character growth and in the end Ryudo had won me over as the reluctant hero doing what must be done.
And then there's Millenia and Elena, who have a decidedly, um, strange relationship. And once again, we get an initially unlikable character in Millenia who experiences significant character development, and is one of the most compelling antiheroes I've seen in an RPG.
The battle system is as great as the first Grandia, constantly engaging even during easy battles. There's something very satisfying about successfully anticipating enemy attacks and staging responses and counters just in time; watching a strategic plan unfold is constantly rewarding.
I didn't find the overall world as compelling or as inventively weird as the first Grandia. Much of the game felt more conventional and familiar, while Grandia's world was constantly surprising. But the story quite masterfully follows the first games gradual escalation from boots on the ground struggle to world-ending danger, so slowly and smoothly that it's never jarring. The scale of some of the battles and story beats in the third act were breathtaking.
I played on the Switch Grandia I & II HD remaster physical release, and once again I was reminded that this is a low effort remaster with muddy, smeared visuals. Fortunately I'll have the option of playing the original release on the Dreamcast soon. I played this on the hard setting, which addressed my lone major critique of the first game with its easy difficulty. I'll probably miss that with the DC release.
Even with the flawed remaster, I'm glad I got to experience this game, and I'm already looking forward to spending more time with these characters and exploring their world and story again. It's a shame the series did not continue, but we got two highly original, compelling stories from them and a huge cast of memorable characters. It's hard to ask for more from an RPG.
Grandia II again takes what might be a familiar setting, and takes it in unexpected and creative directions. We have yet another world living in the aftermath of a battle between two gods, their struggle faded to legend. Shockingly, an organization is working to revive one of them and destroy the world.
Against a familiar premise, we get extraordinary characters. The lead character, Ryudo, is such a mercenary and a jerk that I actually did not like him for a good chunk of the game, which is not great if you want to put yourself in their shoes. But the purpose of his characterization becomes clear as the story unfolds and his world view is challenged and his history emerges. There's actual character growth and in the end Ryudo had won me over as the reluctant hero doing what must be done.
And then there's Millenia and Elena, who have a decidedly, um, strange relationship. And once again, we get an initially unlikable character in Millenia who experiences significant character development, and is one of the most compelling antiheroes I've seen in an RPG.
The battle system is as great as the first Grandia, constantly engaging even during easy battles. There's something very satisfying about successfully anticipating enemy attacks and staging responses and counters just in time; watching a strategic plan unfold is constantly rewarding.
I didn't find the overall world as compelling or as inventively weird as the first Grandia. Much of the game felt more conventional and familiar, while Grandia's world was constantly surprising. But the story quite masterfully follows the first games gradual escalation from boots on the ground struggle to world-ending danger, so slowly and smoothly that it's never jarring. The scale of some of the battles and story beats in the third act were breathtaking.
I played on the Switch Grandia I & II HD remaster physical release, and once again I was reminded that this is a low effort remaster with muddy, smeared visuals. Fortunately I'll have the option of playing the original release on the Dreamcast soon. I played this on the hard setting, which addressed my lone major critique of the first game with its easy difficulty. I'll probably miss that with the DC release.
Even with the flawed remaster, I'm glad I got to experience this game, and I'm already looking forward to spending more time with these characters and exploring their world and story again. It's a shame the series did not continue, but we got two highly original, compelling stories from them and a huge cast of memorable characters. It's hard to ask for more from an RPG.
Ah, a HD remaster of a sequel to my favourite game on the PS1! Had lots of memories of Grandia and the sequel wasn't quite as good, but still very entertaining and I have always loved the way the magic system works, levelling up with use so you can gain better powers whilst grinding and not just levels. Not to mention, some spells require you to think creatively to hit as many enemies as possible.
The story is about the main character who is what they call a "Geohound" and are often treated like scum because they're often hired mercs who have a bloody and dangerous reputation, but he prefer his life this way as he runs from a dark past. He gets hired to attend to a dangerous matter where young priestesses were to sing as part of an ancient ritual, however, something goes wrong, escapes and releases monsters all over the temple!
This leads you onto a journey where you are tasked with finding a cure for this new team member and have to travel across the world whilst being haunted and chased by dangerous monsters and zealots. Not to mention, every part of the monster Valmar, is awakening and possessing people. Each one seems to represent a different aspect depending on what part of the body it is.
I'm going to try and not spoil it, but the ending had left me on edge and feeling empty, kind of like the first one where you don't get to see all the characters as they are now, older, the way this one ends feels like we're meant to just accept how things are no and there's no happy ending, in the traditional sense, for anyone. It's still a very fun game though.
The story is about the main character who is what they call a "Geohound" and are often treated like scum because they're often hired mercs who have a bloody and dangerous reputation, but he prefer his life this way as he runs from a dark past. He gets hired to attend to a dangerous matter where young priestesses were to sing as part of an ancient ritual, however, something goes wrong, escapes and releases monsters all over the temple!
This leads you onto a journey where you are tasked with finding a cure for this new team member and have to travel across the world whilst being haunted and chased by dangerous monsters and zealots. Not to mention, every part of the monster Valmar, is awakening and possessing people. Each one seems to represent a different aspect depending on what part of the body it is.
I'm going to try and not spoil it, but the ending had left me on edge and feeling empty, kind of like the first one where you don't get to see all the characters as they are now, older, the way this one ends feels like we're meant to just accept how things are no and there's no happy ending, in the traditional sense, for anyone. It's still a very fun game though.