Grandia II

"Original and Kicks Butt! Has the best storyline I ever seen!"

I must say this game was the first Grandia game I ever played.I never got to play the original I heard that was so great and is 60+ hours on Sega Saturn.I heard it came out for PS but I guess I learned that too late because my brother broke my PS messing with the lens.What a pain he is! I'm wondering how good the original was so I can compare them together to see what has what and which has this and that and what it doesn't have. This game may not be for RPG veterans but I am one and I loved this game and if you're a real RPG veteran , you like playing new styles of RPG like this game instead of playing those boring , old run down style known as FF.Don't get me wrong , I play the FF games too but they get old seeing in every game theres the same battle system and the only thing new are the characters and the storyline.

Its a new taste of RPG style and since I didn't get to put my Review on DC , I got it for PC too and since it only has 2 Reviews right now , I can now write it.Now lets get to business and talk bout the main points of the game.

[-Storyline-]
Maybe one of the greatest storyline I ever seen on a RPG came on a series I never heard of.This game has many twist and turns and theres an expected turn of sides at the end and from someone you wouldn't expect it from.

Past:Once long ago, the world was filled with happiness and light.There was no battles or wars but just joy happiness.People created new inventions and technology became greater and greater, thus known as the Time of Marvels.But there were always people that wanted to destroy or unmake the world.Granas (God of Good/Hope) and Valmar(God of Evil) fought for territory and the world, thus made the '' Battle of Good and Evil '' began.Before the battle ended, Granas used the Granasaber, a weapon made by the people, struck Valmar into pieces and before Valmar flew back to Earth, he killed Granas with his hands.Valmar wasn't dead but Granas was.Valmar was cut into pieces and they landed to Earth.Those pieces were sealed.As the sword of Granas flew back to Earth, it cut a scar into the lands to which to the present made the Grana Cliffs.Its nickname '' Cursed Land .''

Present:The game starts out by Ryudo, a Geohound, hated by almost all , goes on one of his jobs/missions given to him by a person from a town.A Geohound is a person that travels and gets jobs/missions from people and he goes and completes them , comes back after completing it and gets his money or he can get paid in advance which most of this game he does.He receives no respect, love, or even the slightest care.After completing a mission of his with the help of his companion Skye , a bird, he finds a letter on a tree for him.Its a another mission for Ryudo from the Church in Carbo Village.He goes in and hears the Songstress of Granas (God but later revealed dead).The Father of the church tells him that he's on a mission to take Elena, the Songstess, to Garmia Tower, to do a ceremony to seal Valmar away (God of Evil/Destruction). Ryudo brings Elena there and they start the ceremony and told Ryudo not to come inside no matter what! Then hours later Ryudo hears a scream and is made to come inside and see what happens.(This is where you really start fighting)When he reaches the top, he sees Elena growing wings out of her which was a piece of Valmar, the Wings of Valmar.She was captured by it and now the Wings of Valmar are a part of her.Her Father tell hers that she must now cross the cliffs and many territories to the Pope, Zera, at the St.Cathedral. Thus, begins your adventure.

[-Gameplay/Battle System-]
The battle system is very new to me.The only battle system I played were of FF and Legend of Legaia , which also had a very creative way for RPG style for battle systems.Its unique compared to any other.Theres a bar at the bottom right corner of the screen.All characters and enemies are shown there.As the battle begins, theres a line you need to reach before you can press an attack(Combo/Critical/Magic/Skills) and once entered , another goal is to reach the 2nd line before that action is started.If you are hit with a combo but the enemy between the 1st and 2nd line, its called a counter, but if you hit with a critical , its called a cancel, and you have to go back and like almost start over your attack.

Theres also Magic and Skills in this game including Combo and Critical.You should know what Magic and Skills are as they are in every game.Combo is when 2 hits at the enemy.Critical is an attack that when hits the enemy, the position they are at the bar, goes back a little and will delay their attack.Whats also unique is that you can powerup abilities and magic both.I don't wanna get into detail with that.

[-Sounds/Visual-]
Also a very important factor are the sounds and visuals, how it looks.It has a good balance between the two.The backgrounds looks really terrific and its colorful.Some sounds sound really cool like the slashing of swords.Theres nothing much else to say bout the sounds/visuals.

[-Replay-]
I have just started to replay the game and it starts out ok but once you get to the part where Ryudo has to fight Melfice, his own flesh and blood brother, it gets detailed and the action starts to pick up.Finding treasures are always fun in every game but I must say the last dungeon in the game has a limited amount to treasure I must say.

[-Overall-]
Overall, its just a great RPG, better than the other FF series that were last made for the PS and I say better than FF7.The battle system is unique and fun and the skills and magics are awesome.Each with graphic and sounds.I suggest you buy this game even though its short but its fun and thats all I need in a game.Well either case if you rent it or buy it , it will bring alot of drama and suspense you never felt before in any game.The end will surprise you all...

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/02/02, Updated 06/02/02