Vagrant Story

"A must have for Ivalice fans"

Of all the projects made by Square, this game is possibly one of the most outstanding. Unlike other Japanese role-playing games, it's more closely connected to the classic computer RPGs in its implementation. Of course, the game is done in anime style(though this style is not quite traditional), but it is made so serious that the closest definition that we are able to pick is “dark fantasy RPG”. You won't find any lovely kawaii characters, naive young heroes and heroines here, you don't have even a party of characters - you manage a single person. Moreover, there is no love story, which is so typical of Final Fantasy series makers!

Let us start with the differences. First, the game is made in full 3D, with very good graphics as for PSOne engine. The camera can be freely rotated around the character and the approximate distance. Secondly, there are no big locations such as cities or underground maps, where you can run without loading times. The whole area is divided into small "rooms" - otherwise the console simply would not have coped with the polygons, and besides, when moving from one room to another, the loading time is very short, so it does not affect gameplay. And thirdly, throughout the game you won't find a single shop, (the concept of "money" here does not exist, I must say). Where to get new weapons and armor? The answer is simple - you create everything by yourself!

Next goes the battle system. The fighting occurs in real time and there is no ATB system (Active Time Battle) at all. While the battle is in pseudo-real time, a character makes his move as soon as it reaches the action scale. The battle goes as follows: when you press "circle", the time stops and a stylish transparent green sphere unfolds around your character. That is where you choose possible attacks. The body of every enemy is divided into many parts, such as head, arms, legs, torso. Generally, such a division is different for different types of enemies, for example, you can hit the dragon on the tail, but you can make only a general strike on the bat - because of its small size.

In Vagrant Story there are no levels of characters; there is only HP, MP, and several stats like strength and mobility. The weight of equipped armor and portable weapons affects the speed of character and his ability to use magic.

The plot of Vagrant Story is very interesting (no spoilers, of course): a young man named Ashley Riot is a mercenary of a special unit called VKP (Valendine Knights of Peace). He gets a very serious mission - during the siege of the Duke's mansion, he must find and take captive someone named Sidney, the leader of a religious cult. During the chase Ashley finds himself in the forgotten city of magic Lea Monde, and faces hordes of enemies (dragons, undead and the merits of the outside world) to reach outstanding heights in the art of battle.

I'll give you some numbers: there will be four schools of magic, dozens of kinds of equipment that you can create on the basis of 7 materials, several groups of fighting styles, 10 types of weapons, many items and precious stones and a lot of fun playing days.

All enemies in the game are divided into different classes (for example, people, dragons, undead, demons, etc). Each weapon has its own effect on different creatures, which will affect the damage inflicted. There is a stacking scale, which increases when you kill the monster of a particular type; something like a weapon earns its own experience. Nevertheless, you can't upgrade a single weapon by killing all kinds of enemies - there are contrasting types, which are mutually exclusive. Each weapon has its own strength and durability. That is, when you hit someone, it eventually wears out, (you can fix the weapons only in smithery shops).

The system of magic is excellently implemented in this game. There is a large number of spells and colorful visual effects that will probably satisfy your RPG taste. It's also exciting to look at fighting techniques and unlocked combos.

The replayability (a very important factor) is interestingly realized in Vagrant Story. Beating the game once won't let visit every place in the game and certainly won't give you the best equipment - the materials from one playthrough are simply not enough. To unlock all the secrets of the game you must beat it at least three times. One playthrough lasts for 25-30 hours.

Everyone knows that Square likes various experiments, sometimes good, sometimes not. Vagrant Story, of course, is a good experiment, it differs from the usual RPG concept, which is only for its benefit. You too should not be afraid to experiment - put the disc in your PSOne and dive in this wonderful world which will surely leave you moved and impressed. I am giving this game a solid 9 out of 10. It's a nearly perfect RPG.

Final Score: 9 out of 10
Reviewer: Damage_dealer

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/05/09

Game Release: Vagrant Story (US, 05/15/00)