Grandia 3

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  • Release Date: Feb. 15, 2006
  • Price: $50.00
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Developer: Game Arts
  • Platform(s): PS2
  • Genre: RPG

Summary

Game Description

Yuki has idolized the legendary pilot Schmidt since he was a young boy and has been trying to build his own airplane ever since. Loving the freedom of flight, he dreams of one day leaving his small island and reaching the mainland. In the woods not far away, Alfina rides alone on a horse-drawn carriage. She is a Communicator, one of the few who can speak with the Guardians, gods that protect the world. She is hurrying to a temple to take the place of her brother, Emelious. Resentment of his obligated duty as a Communicator has turned Emelious into a cruel and violent being filled with hate. Fate will bring Yuki and Alfina together just as the world is about to fall apart.

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Average User Score

5 stars
(2)
4 stars
(6)
3 stars
(1)
2 stars
(0)
1 stars
(0)

Most Popular User Reviews

Grandia 3 - PS2

Solid game

Not a system seller but definately a solid RPG that sure to keep Square Enix fans satisfied. The best part is definately the combo system included in the battles. This is probably the best I have ever seen it done in a RPG. My only complaint about the game is the Story. It's just a little dry and doesn't have the character appeal that normally draws you in to games of this type.

Grandia 3 - PS2

Short and Almost Sweet.

Grandia III could have been one of the greats, but it falls short in quite a few areas. The graphics are great and the ideas of the game are great, but details seperate the great games from the potentially great games. Ultimately this game turns out to be one of the most unsatisfying games ever played, despite its good qualities. Though the graphics were good, one would think that something as obvious as changing the looks of the weapons would be a no brainer. The world map looks good, and movements of the characters are realistic enough. They don't run in place after you let go of the direction button. The skills ability and the action during a fight are innovative and a neat way to try to bring the fighting as close to real time as possible. However, the number of short comings quickly outweighs the good. Grandia III's story line is interesting. But the whole thing over with more loose ends than any game I've ever play, unless they must be tied up in miniquests. Alonso and Yuki's mother don't resurface in the regular course of the game. Only in the ending does the game give some clue as to what happened to them. All the cool characters die off: Raven and Emelious, leaving the player with the same four he or she aquired in the first half of the second CD. The game on the whole is a minimal experiece. Fly here take care of this and then fly here and take care of that aaaand you're done! Literally. It's like the quest is made up of a couple of drawn out errands that have to be run, and the errands just happen to result in saving the world. The preaching on love is as ineloquent as this here article and suffocates the game, as well as unrealistically changes Emelious's intentions and attitude. The graphics and battle system are good, but the developers must have decided to wrap the game up quickly after the first CD. And I don't want to know where they got the music. Square can do better than this and they know it. But ever since FF VII all they have to do is crap in the form of a CD, box it up and put it on the shelves and poeple eat it up. I would like just one chance to direct the making of a video game, but I'm sure many others think the same. I could show'em how it's done . . . The game is a good rent, but that's it.

Grandia 3 - PS2

A nice RPG diversion

When discussing the game, the mileage I get may be different for you. It depends on your tolerance levels, among other things. The story isn't moving mountains. Miranda and Yuki have a relationship which makes up the best aspect of the storyline... but is she really old enough to be his mother? Alfina fills the magic user role, and is also filled with the sort of cliche, disasterous optimism that perplexingly inhabits most jRPG females. The games j-pop opening may put some users off to the music immediately, and they wouldn't be wrong to be so. It's generally Idaware's weakest work, and it has the sort of static pointlessness that you saw in Suikoden III. Disappointing considering the talent. One, it has arguably the greatest combat system in an RPG. And two, the graphics are just phenomenal for a PS2 game. The addition of Aerial Combos is a fantastic treat, adding layers to the strategic nature of the combat. It's usually very fast paced, with unique skills mixing it up and allowing you to customize your strategy to a very high degree. Mana Eggs are back, and they as well allow for a very nice amount of flexibility. This is the star of the show. It is what helps the game transcend traditional jRPG fare, and become something nearing true greatness. Visually, it's outstanding. From gorgeous character models and shadows to amazingly varied environments (desert vistas, Mendi city, etc) help keep the game looking like you expect from such a high calibre developer. And that's a compliment, because it truly does stand among the best looking RPGs of this generation. This is something that does not let down, and hopefully when Grandia IV comes around on PS3 or 360 or Revolution, we can expect something just as good for its generation. In the end, the startling polarity of the games quality almost makes it like a fight against itself. But it ultimately is a victory, and a good enough one that I can reccomend it to any fan of the genre.

Grandia 3 - PS2

Grand (pardon the pun) game, lacking story: A Review by Christopher Lewis

Grandia III is, for me, a refreshing deviation from the standard role-playing battle system fare. Every fight feels riveting and compelling, with the game's difficulty being amped up from the previous installments, and you'll actually WANT to fight every enemy you encounter. Sadly, the story of G3 is not as successful, rife with substandard plot direction and several holes pertaining to certain events. It eventually journeys into the overdone category (saving the world from an evil being, blah blah blah), and though I didn't mind that very much, those of you who seek originality will want to look elsewhere. Also, various characters will suddenly up-and-leave you with no warning, bestowing the player with a sense of sadness having never really gotten to delve into the psyche of s/he who left the party. All in all, Grandia III is no disappointment in the gameplay department, exemplifying extraordinary addictive battling and even more intense boss battles. While the plot could've used some repairs, that shouldn't turn avid Grandia or RPG fans' heads away from this great game! Final Score for Grandia III (same as above, folks): 4.5 out of 5

Grandia 3 - PS2

Almost an instant classic... still, a solid title.

So, here we have Grandia 3. Years and years of waiting after Grandia 2's release, and pretty much everyone who has played that gem of a game has pretty high expectations. Pity, because on most accounts, Grandia 3 doesn't improve on what Grandia 2 already established. No, Grandia 3 is easily described as a "side-step" for the Grandia series. So yea, everyone is up in a tizzy about the battle system. Truth be told, yes, it really is pretty incredible. Incredible, in the sense that it keeps you a wee bit more alert than say, Final Fantasy X managed to do. This, of course, is a slightly half-handed compliment. While combos are certainly fun, and cancelling is helpful - this game really doesn't feel like it went as far as it could've gone with various elements of the system. Kind of like the battle system in Grandia 3, the music comes across as sort of hum-ho as well. And the same can be said towards the storyline. Grandia 3 feels like merely a half-assed Skies of Arcadia to me. And for all the praise the graphics have been receiving as of late, I really can't say I agree. Oh yes, the graphics are pretty damn nice. Honestly, I was a lot more dumbstruck when I first saw Metal Gear Solid 3. Still am, actually. So, while I think the battle system is fun, I think it could've been deeper. I think the graphics are good, yet overrated. The sounds and story certainly aren't going to make you cringe in pain, but they won't inspire you either. This seems to be the case in regards to everything Grandia 3. Yea, it's good...but it could've, and more importantly...SHOULD'VE, been better. I loved the hell out of Grandia 2, after all. It was something I found to be truly magical at that point in time. Of course, I was much younger then too. Hard to believe it came out on the Dreamcast in 2000, isn't it? Well, the year is 2006 folks, and that crap isn't going to cut it anymore. I've seen the greener pastures. And Grandia 3 just doesn't do much more for me than Grandia 2 did.

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Grandia 3 Recent Articles

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    With an addictive combo battle system, gorgeous graphics, and two DVD's worth of role-playing adventure, Grandia III is the long awaited sequel series fans have been craving.