Grandia

While the storyline of Grandia may not be initially gripping (boy seeks adventure on another continent, seeking to uncover the mysteries of an ancient civilization), it is the gameplay mechanics that make this so enjoyable to pick up and play.

While level-building is a real chore in most RPGs (the Final Fantasy series especially), in Grandia the fun real-time combat system combines with a magic & move gaining system that always has a new spell or skill just one or two levels away. Dungeons are full 3D rotatable roaming environments, with monsters plainly visible and avoidable if necessary. It's easy to get lost in them, but there are enough treasures scattered around to keep you motivated. And towns and villages are filled with characters with lots to say, each of them with a unique style and theme.

Top graphics, a great orchestral soundtrack and some OK voice acting make this a must-play RPG.

The story is generally typical. A boy goes on an adventure to a new world, the military is involved in some shady activity...and, of course, what is a cliché without romance? But it's these kinds of stories that have always intrigued me. This particular game is interesting because the main character is so immature. It's good to see a hero that isn't bad-ass or hardassed, like they usually are. He's immature, but he still has that sense of justice that every hero has. He's obviously someone righteous, but not someone you'd be likely to respect. In that sense, it's more a fairy tale than typical fantasy RPG; he's a great hero because he's so innocent.

The game-play is very unique. Characters are never standing in one position in a battle. They're running around on every turn, which is more fun to watch than the same old stay-in-one-place RPG battle.

The game is, in my opinion, one of the greatest RPGs ever created, and I'm disappointed that it didn't get as much recognition as I think it deserved. The game-play is great, the voice-acting is better than most, the characters are amusing...the Soundtrack alone is to die for (I'm listening to a piece from it right now, actually). Definitely worth playing at least once in your life.

Grandia is my favorite game of all time. It's got everything you would want. Comedy, Romance, Action and Drama all in one. The soundtrack is awesome, very colorful characters, great spells and awesome plot the whole family can enjoy it since it's rated E for everybody. The second Grandia is alright but the first one is better I would try it if you liked this one. I rate this one a big 10 out of 10.

i would like to initially say that this is easily the greatest RPG, wait game i have ever played, the characters are lovable, the plot is great and interesting, the development of the love between the two main characters happens in a spectacular and involving way. The battle system of the Grandia series and is quite unique. I have played and completed this game multiple times and must say, even though the story is rather linear i found it just as good every time. The lifespan of the game is incredible, without trying to hard to find too many extras it is around 60 hours of game play. one last thing, although its small i like how the NPC's say funny things rather than a typical RPG's advice of what to do next, it is a nice touch. Although old this game is a must for any RPG veteran, and even anybody whose just looking for a great game.

When I look back on gaming consoles I have to say when it comes to role playing games, it is between the first Playstation and the PS2 as far as the best. The PS2 boasts a very wide range of role playing games that run the gambit from super great looking to simplistic and everything in between, while the Playstation had three of the best FF games and a slew of others. Usually, the ones on the first Playstation would either try for a three dimensional look like the FF games or they would resemble a game on the SNES with a bit better graphics and voice acting. This one would be like the latter and is a pure delight to play. It adds a different twist on the turn based battles, features fun characters and has a great story to boot. There would be three other Grandia games, but as a series it kind of peaked with this one. Sure I never played extreme, but I did play the other two and the problem they both suffer is that there is just a bit too much fighting. Here, there is a better balance between story, exploration and fighting. Though even it gets a bit more battle heavy near the end.

The story has you as Justin, a young man who dreams of becoming a great adventurer. He finally gets his chance when he enters some ruins and meets a strange woman named Liete that beckons him to come to a place called Alent. Soon, he and his lifelong friend Sue are hoping a freighter to the new world, though while on the freighter Justin meets a world famous adventurer named Feena. Soon, the three will be having all sorts of adventures and running afoul with a military force led by a man named General Baal. He is aided by his son Mullen and what turns out to be Feena's sister, Leen. The three will find themselves trying to cross what is thought to be the end of the world where they find the world does not end, but like their adventure is just the beginning!

The game play is fun, the combat a turn based one that lets you position the characters and if you time things right you can also cancel the enemies actions. Of course, your actions can be canceled as well. You level up by gaining experience points, but you can also level up your magic and your weapons by performing actions in combat. Use your weapon, it gains more power too. Use your magic and it powers up and the more powerful both your weapons and magic gets the more special moves you learn or the more powerful your magic gets. It pays to learn the move Gadwin will teach you as quickly as possible as it will make Justin level up his weapon and earth and fire magic very quickly and will turn Justin into a super kill machine!

So this game was a blast. It is a shame they stopped making Grandia games after the third game as it was a nice series. I liked two and three, but they were not as good as this one. Two kind of grew on me after a couple of plays, my main source of disappointment from it was the fact it was set in another world and I was hoping for a direct sequel. The third one was kind of a tease as it started out on fire and I thought it was going to be the best Grandia...it unfortunately, got a bit too dungeon heavy at the end though. This one did to some extent, but there was still plenty of story to be told near the end. It was a fun adventure and one worth revisiting again and again.