"One Of The Most Beautiful Games Ever"

Grandia II is a splendor to behold. Game Arts went all out with this title and it is sure to please fans of RPG and anime-style games.

Graphics:
This game has little or no competition in this area. The graphics in Grandia II are the most beautiful seen for an RPG on any platform. While the game uses polygonal characters and environments, it is almost impossible to see individual polygons and the result is a seamless, fast loading feast for your eyes.
The game also features a bit, but not too much, of FMV used only in rare cases, usually enivonmental shots of towns or other areas.
I was very suprised that the game was only one disc long considering the extreme care put into the graphics. This game is very representative of the power of next generation video game systems.
In addition, text boxes are illustrated with gorgeous character portraits that change depending on the moods of the character.

Sound:
This game's soundtrack is the best I've heard on the Dreamcast to date and easily compares with Square's masters Nobuo Uematsu and Yasunori Mitsuda. This isn't too surprising with Grandia II's composer being Noriyuki Iwadare (of Lunar fame). The game features incredible orchestral pieces as well as a large number of vocal pieces. The music fits very well with the scenes it is presented in and does well to create a feel of culture in different towns and geographical areas. It is epic, to say the least.
Grandia II also features a large amount of voice-acting, with major plot points being emphasized through very well acted dialogue. The acting is easily on par with the quality seen in Japanese animation.

Story:
Grandia II's script is the most beautifully written in any RPG. For someone like myself who knows Japanese, the game is a pleasure to read. Each character is well-rounded and you will come to care about each one in a different way. The plot is seamless and flows perfectly through the game. Whenever things slow down for a bit, you know it'll pick up soon with a ferver. Character development is executed flawlessly with no out of the blue character changes or other such flaws that hurt the integrity of a game. Anyone who knows Japanese and likes RPGs needs to play this game just to see how well written it is. This is the one point of the game I fear will be destroyed with the American localization.

Gameplay:
The battle system is an upgraded version of Grandia I's. The player is given a great amount of control over each of the characters. Strategy is crucial in fights and the battle system lends itself to quick learning and enjoyability. Menus, etc are easy to read and figure out, as are magic and skill systems. Definitely one of the game's many highpoints.

Note on special packaging:
Grandia II comes in two forms, regular and limited edition. The limited edition is definitely worth picking up. It contains a CD with remixes of the two main vocals in the game as well as some remixed Grandia I music. There is also a small art insert with character designs.

In conclusion, any one who knows Japanese needs to play this game in Japanese and enjoy it in its full splendor. It is more than a video game, it is a work of art.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/17/00, Updated 08/17/00