Like to take a trip back to the ole PS titles once in awhile?Then make sure it's a good one.Vagrant Story.One of a kind.
Bold statement. Bold game. To true gamers everywhere, this one has it all, and then some. You owe it to yourself to pick this one up and add it to your collection. If you think you can handle it. This one doesn't pamper you, it'll smack you up side the head, and then egg you on.
Visually, Vagrant Story is stunning. Although some don't find the graphics to their taste, it must be said that they must at least appreciate the hand drawn quality of the "moving" textures and effects that this has on the characters. And in the way it adds to the reality of their portrayal. In that they seem to have that lifelike quality to them of seeming to move even at a stop, and not just the characters, but everything seems alive. The details only benefit from this as everything competes for your attention and many times you will find yourself stopped and just spinning the camera, checking out all the little things, from all the angles.
And there is plenty to look at even aside from the inner/outer sets. The enemies in Vagrant Story are a sight, there are some awesome designs and great animations to the varied and distinct menagerie of evil/dark creations you will be battling. From Wyverns and Dragons to Lich Lords and possessed suits of armor, and bats and hell-hounds to ogres and, even humans ! All have a magical quality to them as even the air in your surrounding city of Lea Monde fairly crackles with a dark power begging to be taken advantage of.
You will be in awe from the get-go of the stunning portrayal of dark mystery throughout your entire experience.
A truly great job of showing how much could be pulled out of the ps's innards.
Audio.
A visual presentation such as I have painted for your enjoyment would hardly be fit to view with out the same attention to quality and detail in the audio department.
Lea Monde fairly bursts with life everywhere you don't look, all the dark magic and the souls thereof seem to carry on a conversation that spins all around your head, but never seems to include you. It never intrudes on the picture at hand, and what you are presently dealing with. Which, of itself, is voiced perfectly if human. There is a general high quality feel to every voice in this game, not one cheap ripoff or b-movie copy can be heard throughout and every non-human utterance is just as accurately described as well.
As for action, every animation sounds as good as it looks, power swings of a sword can be differentiated by sound as well as picture, so you need not see that you have cut down your foe, or missed completely, as you will have heard exactly what you just did.
Nothing is re-used, over-played, even death animations are distinct as the dark reclaims all it's offerings.
The story of the character you are currently living vicariously through is a dark and twisted plot of betrayal and back stabbings that thoroughly grasp your attention for the duration, and even leave you hanging just enough to make you think that what you have just experienced is not necessarily over.
To start, you are witness to murder, conspiracy, plotting, famicide, and black magic. You are then thrown into the fray as the only answer to the current madness, and have explained to you all that has transpired up to the point where your character now stands. Inexplicable disappearances and whisperings of monstrous creatures are the last things you are told about as you venture forward. Oh, that and some bottles of wine. No story can be complete without humor now can it ?!
Gameplay.
The meat of the meal, and the reason that lesser gamers pack this title up and declare it "crap". It is, to say the least, difficult. It is to say the most, challenging. You actually not only have to learn how to play the game, you have to keep learning more and more as you play it. Most find what they are learning fun. Others find learning anything at all frustrating and drop the game in the garbage beside the dictionary and grade 2 English. Your typical review of the game, and any other with a learning curve, "it sucks" is sure to follow.
For those of you who enjoy something new, the rest of the game will be a steady dose of magic and mayhem, investigating and fighting, discovery and manufacturing. All roled up in the guise of an action/rpg.
You will battle all the forces of evil incarnate, and it's minions come in the guise of everything you can imagine. The battle system works in such a way as to give you ample opportunity to outfit yourself with not only the proper weapons, but the proper offensive/defensive spells. You then hit the action button to bring up a targeting sphere. Any part of your foe(s) in this area may be subject to any one of several choices you have at your disposal each turn. A physical attack by weapon, which may have magical attributes applied, or any number of offensive spells that may damage directly, or lower defensive capabilities so you may increase the damage done in the subsequent attacks you unleash.
From all battles you not only gain experience directly to your person, but your weapons and armor as well. The points/attributes systems will be explained in the game manual, not here. Too much, lol.
The other feature of this marvel of a game, is the manufacturing of your own custom weapons/armor. Every item you get can conceivably be combined with something else, to make, something else ! Or to just advance the current state of the item, like a leather helmet to an iron helmet. You can learn how to fashion hundreds/thousands of different pieces and even the complete set of ultimate weapons and armor. This of course being the draw that a lot of people find irresistable, and others, the straw that broke the cd's back, so to speak. A lot of people don't want to get involved so heavily in something like this, which is fine too. Not everyone likes everything the same. There is an auto feature that simply makes a "best possible" combination/solution and lets you get right back into the action proper.
Overview.
Now that you know a little more about the game, and trust me, it's very little, I put it to you that if any of you have the time and desire to tackle a game like this, to do so as it will be one of the most rewarding gaming experiences you will ever have.
As one of four titles to ever be rated a perfect 10/10 in Japan, you deserve it. You owe it to yourself to play any game that is this good. As long as you don't expect a quick in/quick out type of game.
This one has it all. You will find it a very difficult challenge getting through this as it pulls no punches. You will die, a lot. You have to practice, learn, and be ready to tackle bosses that will be almost indestructible as you do little or no damage to them. But those that persevere will be rewarded as those little attacks for one or three points suddenly add up to enough to put that sucker down for good. And that, let me tell you is a great feeling. Challenges like this game are few and far between, and so are those that can play it out. It takes a patient, stubborn person to complete this title. Give it a try. You'll love it.
Replay.
Ha. You only get 80% completion the first time through. Then the rest of the dungeons open up. Lucky for you you can keep your weapons and stuff. You'll need them. You can also keep going in the workshops trying to make your ultimate items. There is far too much to grasp in a single play. I've beaten it four times, with each time being better then the last. I finally crafted an ultimate sword, and what a feeling that gives you. Obviously, I can't say enough about this game.
My all-time favorite game.
By:
Intirawolf359 Rating 10/10 Do Not Copy.