"Enix's latest RPG. Is it really comparable to Square's top sellers?"

Gameplay: Well... like any standard RPG, you'll expect to feel the same controls as you have in games like Xenogears. Analog control is more convenient here because you can run without having to hold buttons with the direction pad like in normal configuration. The vibration fuction is annoying and isn't really helpful in experiencing the game.... In other words switch it off. Difficulty wise... this RPG has put up the best fight of any I've played before. There are well over a hundred levels to get everyone to gain, plus 80 endings, and multiple characters to unlock. The final dungeon is full of challenging foes that can pass as bosses themselves. Excellent challenge. You'll want to gain lots of levels just to assume you're up to par!

Story: There are two main characters two choose between at the start: Rena and Claude. Choosing one determines different characters you meet later and different viewpoints in the story. Rena's game is the beginner's choice... it's easier and has less conversation than Claude's. Claude's story centers around him and his father investigating an unusual power source on an unknown planet. Upon further investigation, Claude stumbles upon an unusual device and checks it out despite what his father says. SUCKER! Claude gets sucked in a teleportaion device and arrives in a lush tropical world he's never seen before. From there he is tested in his leadership skills and his worth in comparison to the myths provided by the people who meet him. Rena's storyline starts off sexist in my opinion due to the circumstances she is in at the start and the way most of the character's you encounter treat her. She's more made out to be innocent and weak because she's a curative spell caster and not a powerhouse fighter like Claude. The story's bad side is that it's sluggish in getting to the point especially at the start. Conversations that have major relevence to the plot take forever to complete and minor stuff is brushed off or disguised to seem unrelevant. All in all the story is moderate with plenty of variations to keep you going for more hours than you may think.

Audio/Video: The graphics in the battles are 2-d in a 3-d setting alloowing for good movement during heated battles. Bad thing about this is that "fighter" characters attack only on the left or right and not in 360 degrees. Of course this isn't really crucial to game play because the enemies attack the same way from left to right with no more advantage than you do. Graphics are colorful and vivid, though some spells are really not too detailed (though they do their job) and some attacks aren't amazingly original like Claude's "Sword Bomber" Killer Move (inferrence to Cloud's "Meteorain"-FF7). FMV's are very rich and detailed especially and compare well with FF7's even though there are relatively few of them. Sounds? Music is alright and fits the mood, but it's not a thrillathon soundtrack.... Sound effects are the key here..... most of them are annoying and repetitive at least 85% of the time. What's positive and moderately interesting is that they reflect how well you play. If you slaughter foes left and right, your characters get cocky-VERY COCKY, if you run a lot they're more in a state of fear and uncertainty.

Replayabilty: The game has 80 endings characters that join you only in certain situations and a lot (maybe too many) levels to gain. Special Skills keep the game going by letting you try to create useful items and other perks strewn on two disks. High replay.

Buy/Rent: A definate buy for someone looking for a challenge from relatively undifficult RPGs (like Quest 64) that focus more on graphical quality over artificial intelligence (AI). Plenty of stuff on these tweo discs that'll keep you playing beyond the 99 hour mark.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99