"A breath of fresh air for RPG fans"

Gameplay: The refreshing battle system that drew fans to the first game comes through again. The battle system is fairly easy to manipulate while the only the only thing posing a problem are the different types of arts that you aren't given. But that can be remedied with any FAQ or guide, but finding them on your own can be, in it's own right, fun and enjoyable. Many will find the gameplay more involving than some other RPGs, which I found a nice change. The puzzles are not to difficult as you are basically pointed in the right direction. The camera moves smoothly as your character, for the most part, stays in the middle of the screen.
10/10 - Great

Story: Not to hammer you with RPG cliches, but you may find some similar lines among other RPGs. The main character is a novice vigilante among a group of protectors. But what he lacks in experience he makes up in heart. Before long, the vigilante group is no more and a precious stone that the hero's home town relied on for survival is stolen. Our hero sets out to take it back.
7/10 - Typical RPG

Graphics: Here I was not impressed. The graphics will not take away from the game, but nor is it something to go home to tell mom. The game looks and feels smooth, but at no time did I say ''wow''. I don't want to give anyone the wrong impression. This game is no FFX in the graphics department. And shall I stray from the world of RPGs, it doesn't have the feel of reality that Onimusha 2 had either. However it does compliment the gameplay, the games strength. It doesn't detract in a bad way, not does it impress. If you buy this game, and I hope you do, you'll notice the smoothness that I talk about when you heal, use ARTS or use other means of attack other than arts (I'll let you discover these other means on your own).
8/10 - Smooth, not great, but nice smooth.

Sound: Legaia vets will recognize the tracks from the first game. And I think that new comers will enjoy the sound track as well. But like the graphics, they are not impressive. What is impressive are the voice actors. Used in and out of battle, the voice actors impressed me. I expected the game to be Americanized, but I was strangely surprised. Perhaps that surprise is giving me a biased view, but I stand firm with my opinion. The sounds of battle was something that I didn't mind either. Typically during an RPG, and after many many battles, the sound of battle can grate on you. But this battle music was something that I flow with, something I could enjoy. Of course, I may be biased because of my opinion of the in battle voice acting.
9/10 - A job well done, especially by the voice actors.

Replay ability: Without many choices during the game, the replay ability is low. But the game is not short either. I would consider any RPG that makes you want to play it through 2 or 3 times a success. Where you get choices in this game is the dialog. You can choose how the hero responds. You can be a jerk or a polite nice guy. That may make the hard core gamers play this through 3 times. But I think that the game play alone, possibly along with the changing of your responses and the combat challenges (didn't I mention that, no? you'll just have to get the game), will get the majority of owners to play through this game at least twice. And as I said, for and RPG to make you want to play through the game 2 or 3 times is a success. You won't drool in your sleep about playing it again, but it won't collect dust under the bed or next to SOE (you know you have it).
7/10 - Not a dust collector, but you might play a different game between your first time through and your second.

Buy OR Rent: If you are an RPG fan at all, this game is a BUY. If you buy one RPG a year (and it's always FF something) and never played the first one, rent and see if you like the battle system. However, I think that you'll find it refreshing and enjoyable and end up buying it anyway.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/03/02, Updated 10/03/02