My thoughts on Grandia 2 - just finished it

[Azerate]

I played loads of JRPGs in my life (especially the older ones, these days I'm playing the remakes of the 90s games mostly). It was my first time with Grandia 2, which I bought cause I saw it on steam and a friend recommended it to me.

There are things I loved about Grandia 2, mainly the story and the interesting combat system, unfortunately there were also aspects which I felt the game was lacking in, which doesn't automatically make it a bad game of course, but probably rules it out from my favorite jrpg games.

Firstly, the game felt a bit too short. First ever playthrough took me about 40 hours, and that includes a couple hours of grinding (don't judge, I just love doing this in jrpgs). This isn't what I expected, I played many titles in the past, from the FF series but also other classics from SNES etc. and 40 hours total gameplay is just not enough. This is probably partly because there are no optional challenges (except that one location with devils) and there is nothing much to do in the game except playing the main story.

Secondly - most of the places cannot be revisited (and those that can, are completely different than when you previously visited them). This is something that is a really big turn-off for me. Even the most old school jrpgs had this point in the plot, where you could just tour the whole world in some kind of aircraft, revisit places, do optional stuff, hunt rare items whatever. In Grandia 2 we are pretty much forced never to turn back, the plot tells us where to go, and quite often once you go to the next area, you can't even go back to the previous one.

Lastly, something that probably stems from the issue of the game being short. It's possible to reach level 99 (as I heard, didn't do it myself) but the game can be finished at like 45-50 level. As I mentioned earlier, I did grind a bit because I like doing that, I leveled all the books/eggs to the max. I probably did about 5-6 hours of additional grinding throughout my playthrough. I ended up finishing the game at 58 party level - if I wanted to get to 99 it would take ages, seeing that it already did take long to level from 57 to 58 on the available fights. Also, there is no point to level above 60 probably at all. Imo, this is wasted potential - setting the final boss at level 50 in a game with 99 level cap. There could be so much more in this game, shame we have to say goodbye to it so fast.

Overall, it's probably a great game, but targeted at people who expect something different than I do. Sometimes it felt more like those visual novel games with jrpg elements (ok that is hyperbolizing it, but yeah you see my point).

[人妻キラー]

You might like the first game better. It's quite a bit longer, and has more optional areas. Also lots of grind potential if you're into that sort of thing. One of the end game spells requires that you max wind and water magic. You don't need the spell of course, but it could be an interesting goal to go for.

[terry309]

Originally posted by Azerate:

I played loads of JRPGs in my life (especially the older ones, these days I'm playing the remakes of the 90s games mostly). It was my first time with Grandia 2, which I bought cause I saw it on steam and a friend recommended it to me.

There are things I loved about Grandia 2, mainly the story and the interesting combat system, unfortunately there were also aspects which I felt the game was lacking in, which doesn't automatically make it a bad game of course, but probably rules it out from my favorite jrpg games.

Firstly, the game felt a bit too short. First ever playthrough took me about 40 hours, and that includes a couple hours of grinding (don't judge, I just love doing this in jrpgs). This isn't what I expected, I played many titles in the past, from the FF series but also other classics from SNES etc. and 40 hours total gameplay is just not enough. This is probably partly because there are no optional challenges (except that one location with devils) and there is nothing much to do in the game except playing the main story.

Secondly - most of the places cannot be revisited (and those that can, are completely different than when you previously visited them). This is something that is a really big turn-off for me. Even the most old school jrpgs had this point in the plot, where you could just tour the whole world in some kind of aircraft, revisit places, do optional stuff, hunt rare items whatever. In Grandia 2 we are pretty much forced never to turn back, the plot tells us where to go, and quite often once you go to the next area, you can't even go back to the previous one.

Lastly, something that probably stems from the issue of the game being short. It's possible to reach level 99 (as I heard, didn't do it myself) but the game can be finished at like 45-50 level. As I mentioned earlier, I did grind a bit because I like doing that, I leveled all the books/eggs to the max. I probably did about 5-6 hours of additional grinding throughout my playthrough. I ended up finishing the game at 58 party level - if I wanted to get to 99 it would take ages, seeing that it already did take long to level from 57 to 58 on the available fights. Also, there is no point to level above 60 probably at all. Imo, this is wasted potential - setting the final boss at level 50 in a game with 99 level cap. There could be so much more in this game, shame we have to say goodbye to it so fast.

Overall, it's probably a great game, but targeted at people who expect something different than I do. Sometimes it felt more like those visual novel games with jrpg elements (ok that is hyperbolizing it, but yeah you see my point).

Well Grandia 2 isn't without it's flaws. At least you enjoyed it though and you can see why pthers love it so much.

[GungHo America]

Taking off my official GungHo hat for a moment, I can definitely see where you are coming from. The game is fun and you just want more of it (and to explore it more freely).

I played the hell out of this game when I was 14 and revisiting it 15 years later (prepping for the stream/general Anniversary Edition community), I have had a blast with it. There is so much I just completely forgot about. Really, I just remembered the innovative combat system and colorful cast of interesting characters. But back then, I had a small handful of games and I MASTERED them. I think this stopped around the 6-7th gaming generation.

Now, gaming as a busy adult with a 300 game large Steam backlog of unfinished (untouched) games and an enormous pile of sealed JRPGs from the last 10 years, I find it really difficult to plow through 100+ hour RPGs and master them like I used to. Of course, I still like them, but my backlog grows every time I attempt to tackle one. More often than not, when the end goal is in sight, I start to dash toward it with reckless abandon. Achievement-hunting is tough to justify, especially when a game requires you to replay it 3-4 times and max out... everything >_<

Just my thoughts and how my tastes/priorities have changed over the years. Even with my giant backlog, I think I might just find time to sink 30+ hours or so into seeing this classic to the end again.

[Jojo]

About not being able to revisit places in the game; I have not yet played Grandia 2 but I did play through the original Grandia on PSX back in the day(one of my fav RPGS of all time!) and that title did not have back travel either. In fact, you didn't return to your home town of Parm until the very end of the game. To me, this makes the world feel larger and more vast, it felt like an actual adventure and not an excercise in "quick travel". It just doesn't seem like an epic journey if the characters can blink across the world map and take a nap in their own bed and say hi to Mom between adventures. In Grandia, you really got that sense of being very very far from home in a very big world, relying on nothing but your skills and your friends to survive.

[old Charlie]

Suikoden 1+2 anyone?
.
.
...Chrono Trigger?

Time is not an indicator for the quality of a game. Not at all.

[Polly]

In what world is 40 hours not enough for an RPG to get in, do its thing, and be done? Christ on a crutch.

[Azerate]

Originally posted by Bowerick Wowbagger:

Suikoden 1+2 anyone?
.
.
...Chrono Trigger?

Time is not an indicator for the quality of a game. Not at all.

Chrono Trigger had ng+, lots of different endings (something like 20+), you could always select ng+ from the same slot and end the game in whichever ending point you wished. It had a massive replay value, and it made sense to level up to the max, hell it even made sense to max out some of your stats by farming the +1 items ;) Chrono Trigger is one of my all time favorites, and if you're providing CT as an example of a game which is good despite being short, I'm starting to wonder if we are referring to the same Chrono Trigger. I probably spent like 300 hours in Chrono Trigger, and that's only in my original save file, which I lost and then replayed the game a couple more times after that.

Originally posted by Polly:

In what world is 40 hours not enough for an RPG to get in, do its thing, and be done? Christ on a crutch.

In a world of people who enjoy good old school jrpgs ;) I totally understand a different view. There are many people who prefer different types of games and I totally understand that, there's nothing wrong about it. However, the mainstream idea of gaming is not the only one and you also need to understand that.

I'm not sure what's the percentage of players who enjoy long rpgs (and long time with 1 game in general) but I don't think I'm sole person with this approach ;)

[rbubbaray]

Did you check with a game guide ? these jrpg games are so massive and have many hidden bonuses , that even if i am a pro with game , I always check a guide to see if any secrets i may over look . this really isnt a open world format because as you mentioned areas become locked again or unlocked .. I love open world games , and one of the best for this is wildarms 3 have tons of open world goodies and side stuff .

[Thundercracker]

till about 2008, i used to playthough grandia 2 once a year. it's a great story, and revisiting it feels like reading a beloved old book.

[mypony89]

Kinda sucks to read this. I've loved jrpgs for years and never got a chance to play this one. I've played a few hours of it so far and found it enjoyable which made me look forward to optional bosses, optional dungeons, the grind, crafting etc.

Oh well, guess I'll enjoy the game then move on.

[Warrior of Right]

They could have added once you make it to the end of the game you could go back to previous areas with the Granasaber and once you beat the game you could save then load your file to before you make it to the point of no return and level up past 50-60 actually.
But instead squenix splitting up their games into pieces and making FF13 6 times all while forcing their decent games to handheld so they can put all the money into the crap on "console".

Welcome to the new age the games that deserve attention don't get it, we lucky we even got this anniversary edition the way things are going and Gung Ho actually cared enough to fix it after launch unlike most devs nowdays.

[ajt312]

Originally posted by EthanAlvaree:

I have to agree. I was sad that, at the end of the game, you aren't permitted to revisit the cities & other areas you unlocked earlier in the game.

Ummm? You may have missed a major 'After the Credits" bit. Wait them out. Afterwards you get control of one of the Player Characters and get to re-visit everywhere and talk to every NPC to see how the world changed. It's rather charming.

[ajt312]

Originally posted by mypony89:

Kinda sucks to read this. I've loved jrpgs for years and never got a chance to play this one. I've played a few hours of it so far and found it enjoyable which made me look forward to optional bosses, optional dungeons, the grind, crafting etc.

Oh well, guess I'll enjoy the game then move on.

Sadly no. It's not a FF game, which is of course the gold standard.

Pro's; It is a delightful if fairly by the numbers JRPG with all anime type tropes and stock characters extremely well executed. It is fun. It is charming. If you are fans of the genre it is a great game and a nice piece of gaming history. It was one of the two Great JRPG's on the Dreamcast (The other being Skies of Arcadia)

Con's; It's an early example of the more streamlined linear gameplay that is more dedicated to the story. In Final Fantasy terms it is much closer to FF XIII than FFIV if you get my drift. It's not an open world game.

It's still a well executed and extremely fun game. The combat is one of the better turn based systems ever put in a game (so much so that Squenix more or less borrowed it for some later offerings). It's a fun play through. I am loving it, but I will confess much of that is probably nostalgia for how much I loved it back on my Dreamcast.

This is actually a superb "entrly level" JRPG. It is a good way to introduce a friend or family member to the genre, and get them accustomed to many of its tropes, concepts and grinds, without it being too overwelming. It is a good entertaining JRPG that they can finish. That they won't abandon in frustration after 50 hours of grinding giant spiders and such. The story will suck them along and keep them interested enough that they want to see the end, and it isn't really that long. Maybe 40 hours.

[Tower Dove]

I have been underwhelmed by the game. Every aspect of the game is a downgrade from the 1(from combat system to even artwork) to me. Story is as dull as it can be, except at few decent twists.

It's just a personnal opinion, but to me this game did not age well and is atm at a subpar spot jrpg wise. (it won't age well either :) )

[Odd Socks]

Originally posted by Tower Dove:

I have been underwhelmed by the game. Every aspect of the game is a downgrade from the 1(from combat system to even artwork) to me. Story is as dull as it can be, except at few decent twists.

It's just a personnal opinion, but to me this game did not age well and is atm at a subpar spot jrpg wise. (it won't age well either :) )

I still think G1 was the better game of the two, but you can't possibly look past the first game's abysmal localization effort. That's one thing G2 has over G1; good translation and voiceover.