It's games like this that prove that a few novel conventions can have a lasting impact and make a game timeless.
Graphics-9/10: Looking back from this era of HD gaming, the graphics seem pretty crappy. But at their time they were fantastic. The character polygons were more detailed and expressive then the sprites of Final Fantasy VII (which I loved, and still do, don't get me wrong), but, similar to FFVII, the graphics are more impressive in battle. The environments are richly detailed for the most part, and most of the creatures you fight look fairly impressive (though there is some repeating of models, especially among the lesser "peon" creatures [as in practically all other JRPGs]). Most of the bosses are good looking, and, quite frankly, creepy. Like a boss should be.
Characters-10/10: To say that the characters in Legaia are likeable as well as memorable would be like saying that Cloud Strife MAY have had something to do with the Final Fantasy franchise (another FFVII reference, I know, but these games came out in similar time frames and i want to emphasize Legaia's underappreciated value). Some critique the fact that there are only 3 playable characters, but I enjoyed it. It eliminated the need to continuously level grind characters you rarely use anyway (one of the problems I have with the FF franchise, i never ****ing use Yuffie, i shouldnt care that shes only level 39 when everyone else is around 70). It also allowed each player to become emotionally attached to three characters central to the story's plot, rather the one such character and his group of lackeys...read friends. In addition to these characters, there are many memorable NPC's as well, such as Cara, a thief with a Ra-Seru (more on that later) that pops up. As with many characters, she seems cold and distant until her tragic backstory is revealed. Legaia is an E-rated game that is surprisingly deep and emotionally investing.
Story- 10/10: Stop "the Mist". Whooooooo! The story of the game initially seems like your basic "group of random kids saves the planet from certain and utter destruction blah" that serves so many RPGs so well. But Legaia is deeper then that. One of the characters is searching for the purpose to her existence and why her family abandoned her. Another is on a quest of revenge or perhaps repentence towards a former ally, depending on your point of view. The story also introduces Seru and Ra-seru. Seru are basically magical beasts that can do all kinds of things, such as fly or amplify someone's strength. They however, are corruptible by "the Mist" ( a gaming convention that was at the time extremely novel). Ra-seru, similar to seru, amplify a person's normal capabilities and basically act as a parasite/symbiote for each character. It is here that the story within the story comes to light. When fighting a seru with a ra-seru, the ra-seru can sometimes absorb the seru, thereby "purifying" it and making it into an ally. Your character can then summon said seru to aid in battle, acting as magic. However, because seru and ra-seru are also living, sentient beings, they level up like your other characters, becoming stronger and also evolving, if only slightly, in appearance. Seru level up through normal use, while ra-seru level through the revival of genesis trees, plot devices and places of contention that serve to drive away the mist from nearby lands.
Combat 10/10: What is greatest about Legaia is the unique combat system, which features extremely detailed (for its time) graphics and smooth, flashy animations. This is also one of only a handful of RPGs where your equipment (armor, weapons, and accesories) affects your appearance in battle. Equipping ill-suited weapons (for instance, if Vahn the swordsman is equipped with a claw-style weapon) can also affect how many actions your character can take in battle. The arts system is an extremely different take on the whole RPG combat, and consists of a four directional attack command prompt similar to what you may find in a fight game. For example, hitting down down down down will cause you to attack an enemy low four times, while hitting down down up may initiate an art, or special attack that deal extra damage. Or it may cause you to simply strike low twice and then high once (it sounds much more complicated then it is, trust me). What is really striking about the combat, however, is the ra-seru. As stated before, the ra-seru will allow you to absorb the power of seru you defeat in battle, whom you can then summon like magic. The ra-seru itself, however, is a weapon, and becomes more powerful as it levels up. Each ra-seru also "evolves" as it levels up, with Vahn's being the most impressive. Initially starting as what looks like a wristwatch on steroids, Vahn's ra-seru Meta slowly starts to sprout a blade. By the time you've maxed out his level near the end, he has a certified, death-dealing sword raising from his wrist. Whats more, when maxed out, each ra-seru also becomes its own powerful summon creature to compliment your collection of seru.
Overall 10/10: This game is amazing. Period. This is easily one of the most underrated games in history. If you like RPGs and missed out on this one, ou owe it to yourself to check it out. The characters are memorable, the story is good, and the music is still catchy and original, if slightly unimpressive in this newfangled age of hi-tech audio. If you can look past its few flaws ( and i stress few, and they are minor) and its now dated graphics, you'll find in Legaia a beautiful and engaging story, from which conventions are still taken today. Its games like this that prove that a few novel conventions can have a lasting impact and make even a game that flew somewhat under the radar (in the wake of a couple final fantasies) timeless.