Vagrant Story

"An Enchanting, Unconventional Game"

It should be noted that for a long time, I was simply looking for a game that engaged. A game that truly involved the player into the game. A game that was more than one over-produced cinematic sequence. I had played Final Fantasy X, and to be quite frank, I was utterly disappointed, and I was continually looking for some role playing game with a fantastic story that would not leave the player in the role of a mere viewer.

I suppose I was simply tired of the standard RPG battle system, the standard archetypes, and let us not forget the standard, not to mention typical, storyline of saving the world: It's not so much the commonalities that bore me, it's the way in which they're always done.

After much searching, I suppose games just seemed a trite hobby. I had nothing truly fresh to play that had its basis in characters, story, and gameplay. But I remembered a title I had played back in the fall of 2000 by the name of Vagrant Story. All I could remember was that its gameplay was unique, involving, and difficult, having something to do with a sphere and chaining attacks. I went on that hunch to retrieve this title that could provide something different for me. After buying the game for about 17.50, I began my journey.

Let me say that I could not have been more satisfied, more involved, and more interested in the game. My faith in the traditional Japanese role-playing realm was somewhat renewed despite the fact that the title had been released in 2000. Square-Enix should attempt to pump out more unique titles like this instead of pulling out all the stops for mobile games and extending popular franchises.

The Review
The game puts you in the shoes of Ashley Riot, an anti-hero of sorts, thrown into deceit and an apparent struggle for power. The story quickly brings it to the player's attention that you are a Riskbreaker, an agent for the VKP - Valendian Knights of Peace - who is working to end the attempts of cultists to take some mysterious power in the city of Lea Monde.

I really just want to give the reader an essential idea of what the story is and what the player is. Make no mistake, there will be some confusion in the beginning, but the allure of the mystery intrigues the player further into the game. That's part of the genius of Vagrant Story. When Ashley feels like he is being lied to by everyone, and he believes he must find the truth for himself, the player feels that. It is, in a word, involving. And that's what a Role Playing Game should be, a game that puts the player into the role and makes him feel the action, the emotions, and the battles, not from manipulation but from a genuinely intriguing storyline and matching gameplay. Oh, about that gameplay, you ask?

Let's just say that the battle system, absolutely fundamental to the overall gameplay of Vagrant Story due to the amount of battling, is one to remember. It is both unconventional and immediately likeable. Don't even think in terms of choosing actions from a menu; think in terms of real time action. Different equipped weapons give Ashley a larger range, which creates a sphere of certain length. Any enemies inside the sphere can be targeted, and once they are targeted, attacks can be chained by tapping an assigned function on the Circle, Triangle, or Square buttons when the attack lands on the foe. The chains have varying effects, some giving you Magic Points, others Hit Points, and others going to repair your own weapon in use.

That's the other thing about Vagrant Story, the battle system isn't skin deep. There are so many aspects to the equipment and functions that it will in some sense overwhelm you at first. But fear not, as learning what everything does is half the fun and completely manageable with due time. Each weapon will have PP, DP, affinities (Light, Dark, Fire, etc.), attachments for gems, the list just goes on. What's fantastic is you can combine blades, armor, and shields in the various workshops found in the game, making the game truly customizable. Again, this goes back to involving the player in the process. That's what games should be about. I was ecstatic the first time I made a short sword, and it made me love battling even more. I felt I was fighting with my own creation. The sense of accomplishment is incredible.

Magic also plays a large role, and you learn a large library of abilities. One thing I found is that the numerous abilities you learn that give you strength, raise your equipment's stats, etc. are actually worth using. In other games I basically never used magic abilities that I saw as useless, but in this game I felt like the majority of the abilities were highly useful. Every little aspect that you customize has an affect, which is refreshing to know.

The gameplay, story, and characters make this game. You feel at one with Ashley Riot but sympathetic for others. Who you assume will be the villain is an eccentric, attempting to help and hurt the hero at the same time. The story is told in some beautifully scripted sequences with the in-game engine, and it is done just enough to keep you going but also enough to not take over the experience. Make no mistake, the majority of the game is you playing. Also, the only CGI sequence is on the core menu screen when you turn on the game. Its absence is not felt, because the artistic design of the game is so beautiful as is.

The game took me approximately 33 hours to beat my first time through. I'm planning on playing it again as I'm only 68% done with completing the map. There's plenty still to do, and the game sports the much appreciated "New Game +" function similar to Chrono Cross and Chrono Trigger in that you can restart a game with your previous character stats. I honestly can't wait to learn more about parts of the story that I forgot as well as exploring 32% of areas I've never even seen. The amount of replay in this title is incredible.

I really have nothing bad to say about this game. It is challenging, which is very much welcomed, and you will find yourself chaining and missing a great deal, which can on occasion be annoying. Also, the forest maze is a drag. That's really all the negative I have to say about Vagrant Story. It literally left me in awes, and I felt genuinely moved in numerous sequences. I haven't felt that way in a very long time. If you feel tired with RPGS or games in general, or if you just want to play a fantastic, engrossing game, I suggest you give Vagrant Story a try. You won't regret it.

Scores - Overall - 10/10
Sound - 8/10
Story - 10/10
Gameplay - 10/10
Replay Value - 9/10
Graphics - 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/07/05