I played Final Fantasy VII over Christmas and then went on a massive Suikoden + Suikoden II bender afterwards... so next on my list comes Grandia. Now, I've played, completed and replayed and recompleted this game so I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about with it. So here is my first:
RETRO GAME RETROSPECTIVE
Episode 1: Grandia
This may be the only one mind. Shush.
Fantastic!
So I've only just started playing this game again but already I'm finding what it is I loved about this game. If you've never played this game before, then I can't say that I blame you. Why?
It's a JRPG.
Mmmmmmyes. Yes it is. That may have you turning away in disgust now but seriously, listen to me when I tell you this game IS AMAZING IN MANY WAYS.
Now, if a game's first impressions are anything to go by, you'd expect this game to be quite a twee little adventure story that resembles The Goonies. It's all quite innocent and happy with the main character Justin and his childhood pal Sue running around town finding four pieces of "The Legendary Armour" - a dirty apron, a pot lid, a saucepan and a wooden sword... as you do - and then things take a slightly darker turn. If you've spent the first hour trying to find household items and you're started to dissolve internally because it's all too saccharine for you, don't turn off JUST yet. Things are just about to get good! BE PATIENT.
The battle system is fairly simplistic and yet has some nice quirks. The leveling up system for weapons and magic attacks works because you actually have to USE THEM in order to level them up. That works because who would be able to learn something without actually doing it? Hey, look everyone I have an umbrella! However, I haven't used this umbrella so my skills in umbrella using are still only at level 1.
See? Perfect logic.
I don't actually have an umbrella though so my umbrella using skills are actually not applicable.
So having worked your way through the opening story and battle system, what's left to love? Aside from a raft of impressive voice acting (apart from Rapp. He needs telling to SLOW DOWN. It's not a race, boy...), the wonderful musical score - proper orchestra, people, proper orchestra - and the wonderful follow-up story?
Ah... well... the graphics are a bit bleh. They're not awful, don't get me wrong. But let's just say that they're not exactly next-gen and they weren't exactly next-gen for the PSOne at the time. The 2D-3D thing would probably kinda work on the DS nowadays (and it generally does) but if anything they're the one thing that will probably put most people off, and yes that does include the fact that it's a JRPG.
If you do ever find a copy of it on eBay, buy it. You can do no wrong with it. It's a proper little gem. PLUS the main character isn't a snot-nosed brat you want to slap with a giant hook. He's a fairly bratty nuisance to start with but you don't hate him and then grow to love him. You like him and think he's awesome.
No, seriously.
Oh, but don't buy the sequel. The main character in that is a git and continues to be a git throughout.
Goodbye!
*waves*
No comments:
Post a Comment