Grandia 2: 25 years later, it is impossible to forget this RPG – news masterpiece

When it was released in August 2000 in Japan (then in December in the United States -we will have to wait until February 2001 for a European version -), Tall 2 presented itself as a spiritual sequence more than a direct extension of the first grandia, which had conquered the players Saturn and PlayStation. Moreover, Game Arts. Consequently, known at the time for its J-RPG franchise Lunarhad taken advantage of the power of the Dreamcast to build an integral 3D game, granting its characters an animation of an incomparable fluidity and bathed in a very colorful artistic direction, without ever falling into the technological swarming.

Where Final Fantasy X (released a year later) wanted to shake the Japanese RPG by breaking its codes. Furthermore, showing the muscles of the PS2, Tall 2 proposed an adventure that one could no longer grandia 2: 25 years later, consider as the faithful son of the inheritance of the more linear J- RPG. Furthermore, Undoubtedly more “old school”. Additionally, Furthermore, but carried by a neat staging and unforgettable dubbing (especially in its American version), it delivered a real lesson in terms of rhythm mastery. Meanwhile, We played Ryudo. Similarly, cynical and jaded mercenary, accompanied by an eagle endowed with speech (take it Peacemaker), in a quest for classic appearance but quickly caught up in religious dilemmas, tragic revelations, and a gallery of strangely endearing characters.

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Which did -. Consequently, still does – the strength and identity of Tall 2it was obviously his combat system. For example, Unique mixture between turn -by. Nevertheless, dynamic time management, the game was based on a “timeline” where each action (magic, special blow, etc.) grandia 2: 25 years later, took a while to load. In addition, Unlike the Active Time Battle of Final Fantasy (from which he was clearly inspired). Furthermore, here we could thus anticipate, slow down or interrupt opposing actions, which gave confrontations a unique tactical dimension. Furthermore, The clashes were more nervous strategic ballets than in Final Fantasyless crazy than Tales ofand infinitely deeper than what. Consequently, its cartoon aesthetic could suggest.

To this was added a clear progression. Moreover, well punctuated dungeons to the crazy atmospheres (the place of birth of the gods, the Moon of Valmar), memorable bosses (melte, the clone of Tio, the avatars of Valmar …), and an almost perfect balancing … resulting in one of the best combat systems in the history of the Japanese RPG. Just that. And it is not uncommon to meet. on veterans forums or in analysis videos, independent developers who cite today Tall 2 as a grandia 2: 25 years later, direct reference for the game design of their fights.

Grandia 2: 25 years later,

Grandia’s Eleven

Who says Japanese RPG, says heterogeneous character casting. And Tall 2 shown an accuracy of writing and a humor-pinc-sans-rire which made its protagonists memorable. Ryudo. the hero, is the best example: sarcastic, disillusioned bonus hunter, quick to send the noble causes to stroll, he contrasts with the smooth paladins of other JRPGs of the time. A character that is both cynical and touching, whose flaws were gradually turned out to be. By her side. Elena, the naive priestess, embodied the moral dichotomy of the story more than literally, since she shared her body with Millennia, being a luscious demonic with the sharp verve. Two female entities. one embodying the weight of a so-called moral duty, the other being the full expression of desire and an assumed libido, whose dynamic came to criticize the religious grandia 2: 25 years later, shackles as rarely in the games of the time.

The rest of the team completed this painting with a certain malice: Roan. a young prince hiding his identity; Mareg, a philosopher-bead, more erudite than barbaric; Or TIO, an empty look, a melancholic echo of the myth of the figure of artificial intelligence in search of humanity. Without revolutionizing the CODS of the RPG. Tall 2 had been able to inject into his characters a tangible personality, chiseled dialogues, and a sense of group cohesion which made them evolve without heaviness. A real digital theater troupe, endearing even in his silences, sublimated by the design work of the artist Yushi Kanoe.

And Tall 2 Continue to seduce today. it is also for the strange melancholy that he gave off. The Dreamcast aesthetics. with its between smooth but a little grandia 2: 25 years later, blurred textures, its angular models and its somewhat naive light effects, gave the game a particular, almost dreamlike patina. Although we are miles from any notion of photorealism, here, everything was tangible, coherent, alive. Rarely we had not been able to browse such an organic world. which seemed to have its own existence outside of any intervention of the player.

And how not to mention the immense trailer of the title. Noriyuki Iwadare delivered a varied, sometimes epic, often contemplative soundtrack, with almost jazzy or New Wave accents at times. The main theme. combat music (which the author of these lines continues to have in mind regularly), calm moments in cities or forests … Everything contributed to creating this atmosphere of waking dreams. as if we already felt that this era, that of the artisanal J-RPG, on a human scale, before the systemization of the AAA compressor roller, was extinguishing. grandia 2: 25 years later, Among the most beautiful moments of sound glory in the game. let us quote (without any particular order): The Garden of Dreams ~ The Mysterious Girl, Memory of the Gods, The Ones Hidden Within the Darkness, Despair and Hope, FIGHT!! Ver. 4 ~ The Final Battle.

Despite porting on PS2. PC in 2002, Tall 2 has never reached the status of immense popular success. His direct suite, Tall 3was a semi-failure. The saga remained dormant, despite some remasters on PC, Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. And yet, the game continues to live in the collective memory of players. Not like a monument. an icon (he had neither the means of a Final Fantasynor the aura of a Dragon Quest) But as a precious memory, a moment suspended in grandia 2: 25 years later, time, before the J-RPG comes into industrial production mode.

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