When released for Saturn in Japan, many believed it to be the pinnacle of traditional role-playing for, the small company responsible for the likes of the Lunar series. With its colorful, massive world and irrepressible personality, the game never saw the light of US day with the death of Saturn. But now, the situation has changed. With a jump to PlayStation and Sony at the translation helm, US gamers have the chance to try their hand at what is considered to be one of the best RPGs to hit home in the past five years.

1. Grandia Ps3

A detailed review of Grandia. If you're interested how the game holds up over a decade later, look here. This is the PlayStation version of Grandia. Grandia is a role-playing video game, developed by Game Arts and published by ESP Software for the Sega Saturn console as the first game in their Grandia series. Released in Japan in 1997, the game was ported to the PlayStation in 1999, with an English version of the game appearing on the platform in North America in the following September by Sony Computer Entertainment, and in Europe in 2000. Great review! I've been thinking of trying out Grandia for awhile. How does it compare with the Lunar series? The two Lunar games are some of.

And what an adventure the game has turned out to be. Spread across two discs and featuring some of the biggest and most detailed environments ever seen in a role-playing title, never fails to amaze, both visually and content-wise. But it's not without its flaws. Story With a seemingly unassuming and simplistic beginning premise, the game opens on a bustling metropolis filled with townspeople and merchants going about their daily routines. As the camera closes in, we're introduced to a pair of childhood friends, Jessie and Sue. Mischievous and full of wonder, Jessie is the son of a great adventurer who dreams of one day following in his father's footsteps.

Sue, his next door neighbor, never leaves Jessie's side and together, the two have big plans for seeing the world at all costs. And the first half of the game follows much in the same stead, with simplistic overtures within the story to really build up a connection between the player and the characters. There's no huge life-changing event, no heartbreaking tragedy -- instead, you're given well-rounded characterizations of both Jessie and Sue, as well as the numerous characters they interact with.

Grandia Ps3

And as the game goes on, the pair's adventure grows bigger and bigger, spreading across multiple continents and delving deeper into darker subject matters, without ever feeling as overwrought with melodrama as games like Suikoden II or Final Fantasy VIII. Treads the line between being an epic adventure and a lighthearted romp through rather well-worn role-playing cliches. But thanks to ' memorable characters and the game's seemingly boundless charm, the story never feels trite or shallow. Just like its graphics, Grandia manages to be incredibly detailed and deep, while remaining cheerful and pleasant. Definitely a very difficult task to carry off well. Graphics One of the first of its kind, visually, when it released for Saturn, Grandia still carries its impressive weight well in graphics.

Populated by highly detailed sprite characters roaming a 3D polygonal landscape, resulting in a look that resembles games like Breath of Fire III or Xenogears. But the biggest difference between Grandia and the aforementioned titles is the degree of detail. From the rattling 'coffee pots' that litter Sue's bedroom to the rubble that tumbles down across dungeon walls, every environment in Grandia really springs to life -- giving you a true sense of immersion within the game's universe. The characters themselves are delightfully expressive, with only occasional moments of pixelation. And everything is sharp, colorful, and massive in scope, with towns and cities literally sprawling across multiple screens. There are only a few blots on Grandia's otherwise spotless visual record, and it's something that most gamers will have experienced before -- inconsistent framerate.

With such a high level of detail in Grandia's towns and dungeons, you'll find the game slowing to a crawl in the particularly 'graphics intense' areas. In addition, it should be noted that some of the dungeon designs in Grandia feel somewhat uninspired; particularly the more 'organic' mazes as opposed to the futuristic ones. With bland textures and some mighty boring layouts -- you'll find yourself clawing your way out of the dungeons just to escape the utter malaise they bring on. But every once in awhile, you'll find that some of the mazes are particularly cool (like the Ghost Ship or the Gaia area) and clever. Gameplay Much like Game Arts' Lunar titles, Grandia is also a very traditional RPG. But the most telling features of the game are its battle engine and magic system, which provide a few tweaks to the standards set in game before. With visible enemies and items on dungeon maps, Grandia does away with the usual random battles.