07/04/01

Man, I really cant see why more people are not motivated to buy a Dreamcast. And before all you PS2 fan boys out there start screaming lack of third party support, I'm gonna shut you up by sticking this proverbial fatty in your face. That's right I'm talking about the mind numbingly great THIRD PARTY masterpiece, Grandia 2.

If you happened to be a Playstation owner that didn't blow your video game budget on what T.V. and Game Pro told you to, then you probably have played the original (or at least the Playstation port) Grandia. If you have, then you know why I am so worked up over the sequel. Grandia had the best graphics around at the time, and was more readable (despite the awful translation) than any of the other "Beyond The Beyond " crap out for the Playstation at the time ( certainly less confusing than Final Fantasy VII). If you haven't played it, stop paying attention to my ramblings and go......NOW.

Still here? Good, you're the audience meant to read this review... you know, the ones who play RPG's without summons. Enough of the bashing of the crap, its time to get to the game.

Let's start with the story, the heart of any good RPG. In that field Grandia 2 is top tier. The game moves very fast, and the writing is so good, if you don't either love or hate Ryudo (I hated. He was a real dick!) by the time you beat the first boss, you're probably blood related to Data from Star Trek. I know the whole " I don't like women or church, just give me the ****ing money" bad ass attitude, is really played out (and trust me, Grandia 2 REALLY plays it out) but it really works better for Ryudo than squall. All the other characters are very convincing as well. The only problem I had with it, was that it was very anti-Christian ( basically you play the role of the anti-Christ, but god is Valmar). STORY: 8

The graphics are great for a Dreamcast game. The textures are as good as any I have seen on the PS2, and the character models are very detailed and well animated. The background detail kind of suffers at the end of the game, but its a minor complaint. GRAPHICS 10

Music is more or less Working Designs quality, and the game comes with a soundtrack. (a Working Designs trademark now) MUSIC:9

In the end, Grandia 2 gets the highest possible recommendation from me, unless you would take offense to some of the religious content (like me). This game is a reason all its own to buy a Dreamcast (as if there weren't enough). So overall, here is how it stacks up:

Better than the original Grandia, not as good as Lunar, just as good as any of the Final Fantasies but not as good as Xenogears, and just a hair under Skies of Arcadia. OVERALL SCORE:............9!

                                         
-Matt C

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