If you ask me what game I think is criminally underrated, this will be my answer in perpetuity. Coming right at the end of the PS1 era, Vagrant Story is perhaps the most technically impressive game on the console. The art style is gorgeous, the magic effects are astounding, and the whole experience is just a feast for the eyes and ears. The gameplay might be the thing that kept some folks away from it, but if you can give it some time, I think it's a refreshingly different experience from a Square RPG! Crafting weapons takes some time and experimentation, but if you do it right and go into fights with the ideal equipment, you'll lay waste to your foes. And the rhythm element is easy enough to get. And then there's the story, full of intrigue and mystery as you explore the dead city of Leá Monde, attempting to stop corrupt forces from seizing an ancient and powerful magic. And as I highlight in a lot of my reviews, the music is another strong point, with Hitoshi Sakimoto providing one of the all-time great OSTs, pre-empting his equally phenomenal work for FF12 (which also takes place in the same world of Ivalice). I can't say enough good things about this game.

Reviewed on Jan 16, 2024


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