Best RPG I have ever played!
Vagrant Story is not an exception. On the contrary - it is a representative of Square's RPG concepts and is one of the best. The game's gloom setting is a Medieval town Lea Monde . When a mysterious organization, called the Mullenkamp, kidnaps Duke's son, knights from Crimson Blade and Valendia Knights of the Peace, wich both represent the local establishment of order and trained assassins, called The Riskbreakers (from Valendia Knights of the Peace), start to pursue the leader of Mullenkamp - Sidney Losstarot. The game's main character - Ashley Riot is a Riskbreaker officer and is hunting down Sidney trough his adventures. Occasionally, in the middle of the game, a surprisingly twist of the game's story takes part as Sidney proves to be actually Ashley's ally and the real threat is Cardinal Romeo Guildenstern, a major person in the Crimson Blade.
The game's genre is action - role playing, but when actual fights occur, they happen to be somehow turn - based. Ashley can choose, which part of the enemy's body to hit and also a percentage of success of the hit is displayed. As almost all Square's RPG, the elements, so called affinities, are also included in Vagrant Story. Furthermore, all enemies are divided into classes, for example, Human, Undead, Dragon, Phantom, Evil, Beast and so on. each of these classes has it's strong and weak points. Enemies can be slain by 8 different weapon types: Swords, Daggers, Great Swords, Polearms, Axes and Maces, Great Axes, Crossbows and Great Maces.
Each weapon has 4 unique half - magical attacks, called Break Arts. Ashley also combines his moves, during a combat, in Attack and Defense Combos to increase damage, apply some status changes to the enemy or minimise damage from physical and magical attacks.
The game has a unique Items system, where Ashley can apply accessories, like wear different material armor, gloves, leggings, helms and wear necklaces and rings, wich grant him extra protection from certain enemies or attacks. Ashley can create new weapons and armor in workshops, wich can be found in different locations of the game. To create a weapon, Ashley needs to maintain blade and proper grip to combine them. Also he can add some gems, like Salamander Ruby, Gnome Emerald , etc. to the weapon and shields to strengthen his protection from certain elements, enemies or weapons. There are a couple of materials, from wich all weapons, shields and armor consist: Bronze ( the worst), Iron, Hagane, Silver and Damascus ( the best). Also there is Wood (for shields) and Leather ( for armor).
All attacks can be divided in two large groups: physical and magical. magical attacks (spells) are divided into 7 categories: Physical, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Light, Dark. The game offers not only offense - type spells, but also status - changing and healing spells ( Sorcerer and Enchanter - status - changing, Shaman - healing and Warlock - offensive). Sorcerer spells are connected with Ashley's parameter rising and enemy's - lowering, but Enchanter spells are related to granting protection or additional damage from/to enemies of particular affinity. Offensive spells are divided into 2 categories, depending on the damage type: they can hit one or multiple targets.
Although game can't be described as long, it has gripped my and I think, many others attention by it's innovations and outstanding qualities. Oh, and boss fights are marvellous!