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PS2 | RPG | Grandia II

Boxart for Grandia II
Grandia II 12 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 4.0
  • SOUND: 3.5
  • CONTROL: 4.0
  • FUN FACTOR 4.0
  • AVG USER SCORE 4.0
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 3.8

Review: Grandia II

Review by Wes Nihei | 01/23/2002 | 16:27:18 PM PST

Grandia II emerges unscathed in its transition from Dreamcast to PlayStation 2 RPG.

Grandia II was an eye-opener as an RPG for the Dreamcast. It still holds its own as a solidly constructed but direct port in the more crowded PlayStation 2 fantasy camp in which everything is overshadowed by Final Fantasy X.

Combat in Grandia Style
A compelling story is one of Grandia II?s strengths. This epic tale of good versus evil centers on Ryudo, a wandering sword-for-hire, who?s current job is to escort a young priestess on a quest to free herself from possession by an evil power. As the tale unfolds, Ryudo discovers that his own fate is tied to his traveling companion?s. There?s an intriguing mix of fantasy and science fiction in this epic tale that draws you into the adventure and makes you want to learn what?s going to happen next.

Grandia tells its story with a fine audio/visual show. Sharp-looking character models take on a brightly colored, anime style. Between action levels, the story also unfolds in cinemas and still cut-scenes that are simply gorgeous. The monsters and creatures look bizarre and even disturbing. There are some impressive, imaginative fantasy environments, too. The spells explode on the screen in dramatic fashion, but after a while, some scenes are a little too long.

The sounds, however, are a little more uneven. The voice-acting is noteworthy, but there are some just rudimentary audio effects and the music is sometimes dramatic, sometimes just unexciting.

Grandia II?s smart combat system, on the other hand, is challenging and fun. The crisp controls open up a creative combination of real-time and turn-based combat with a premium on strategy and tactics. The unique sliding scale Initiative Point gauge sort of previews the action to help you plan attacks or defenses for your four-person party. You can also position your party during battles to a limited degree. There?s also a creative magic system that enables you to build up spells and transfer them among the different characters, too.

An Adventure Worth Exploring
This game holds up well as good, basic RPG fare, and mastering it will be a satisfying addition to your PS2 trophy case. If you?re looking for a well-made, challenging adventure, consider having a Grandia time.