To quote Will Smith in Independence Day "Now, THAT'S what I'm talking about!" This is the title that shows exactly what the Dreamcast is capable of when it comes to RPG's. Grandia II is the second in the Grandia series but is not a direct sequel to the first title. It is more along the lines of the way that the Final Fantasy titles are linked to each other.
Grandia II uses the unique battle system that was first debuted in the original Grandia. However, this time around the power of the Dreamcast is behind it. Gamers will be awe struck when they see their four main characters chasing and attacking a half dozen or so expertly rendered enemies. While the system is simple enough to pick up and play, the more experience you have with it, the more technique comes into play. Critical hits can be used to stun enemies, depriving them of a chance to attack. Timing can be the key that decides if you will be dealing out some punishment or taking a hit. Grandia II contains both Magic and what are called "Skills." Magic works in the typical RPG fashion, with MP being replenished only through resting. Skill Points, however, can be replenished in a variety of ways, including attacking enemies and blocking their assaults.
Grandia II's dungeons and towns are very intriguing. They contain multiple small touches that help to make the game seem more "real." Small nooks and crannies can be explored to find hidden items and little touches like lighting torches to mark your path in dungeons are everywhere. The towns have been reduced in size, which makes conversing with townsfolk not quite the chore it was in the first release.
Gamers who were put off by the "youngness" of the characters in the first Grandia will be happy to know that the main characters in Grandia II are older and, probably more importantly, act like adults. The main character, called Ryudo in the Japanese release, is seventeen years old but, despite his age, is employed at a mercenary/bodyguard for hire. The female counterpart that Ryudo is hired to protect is Elena, who is also seventeen. The adventure begins as Ryudo escorts Elena to a local temple to take part in an elaborate ceremony.
The Graphics in Grandia speak for themselves. Anyone fearing that the move to fully polygonal characters would somehow take away from the charm or detail need not worry.
The high-resolution textures and extreme attention to detail make everything look fantastic.
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