Grandia III

[Chief H]

mm, that's true, though so far I've found that simply fighting every enemy you see will give you a large advantage in any fight anyway. The battles are also very forgiving, in that there is only a minute cost in MP for healing magic, and it has a fairly quick act time too

[sj33]

It's a lot easier to gain an inititive too (or suprise an enemy, as it refers to it in this game), though I reckon this one is much harsher when you are surrounded than previous Grandia games were.

Anyway, one think I want to point out in this game is the camera - I love how they implemented it.
Unlike other games, which attempt to have a 'dynamic' camera, which ultimately results in the camera being too intellegent for it's own good and becoming stuck in awkward angles etc, this game leaves it pretty much down to the player to control it using the right analogue stick, bar some basic swooping and focusing on where your going to go. This is so much more user friendly as you no longer feel like your battling with the game as to where the camera should point.

[Team Andromeda]

****ing Customs , Just been slaped with a ?10 customs charge, I know Brown likes to stealth tax, but this is taking the piss for a single ?30 DVD

All of which means can't play the game till monday, When I have to pick it up.
Ah the joys of living in Britian. The sooner this usless Labour goverment is booted out the better

[Chief H]

Mm, I'll second that sentiment, Jake. It's by no means the best way to implement a camera - I don't think anyone will find a perfect setup for a looong time yet - but it is a thoroughly functional solution. It's nice to see htem make a bold decision and say 'look, we can't get a camera to behave right, so we'll leave it all to the user'. My only compleint with this is that in GIII the camera isa little sluggish - given that all control is by the user, there are times when you wish it could just move a little bit faster. Part of the camera's success is also to do with the more open, les ambitious environment designs - there is simply less for the camera to trip up on, but the look is still consistent with the world. Top job.

I'm about 9 hours in now and onto the large continent. OMG the last section I just played in the town of Mendi. Simply awesome.

->Open Spoiler<-

So far the one thing that has really driven me in this game, the one main interest has been the whole Yuki-Miranda relationship. Miranda is a great character in general but the relationship between these two has just been so teasingly enjoyable to watch. You feel both of them sidestepping things early in the game with a lot of front and stiff upper lip but when the whole separation issue really kicks off in Mendi, it really pulls on the heartstrings. it really is excellently done and the voice acting really does a good job here too.

I don't think any RPG has really captured or even tried to tackle the whole mother-son bond in a convincing manner up to now. usually it's like Hero wakes up late on the first day of the game, gets told off by mother and she packs his lunchbox before he sets off on an adventure. It's cool to see that theme be recongised by GIII when she cooks Yuki his leaving dinner, but it's otherwise a completely different approach by having her play a more conventional older sister role, yet it doesn't use this as an easy way out - both characters still have to face up to this mother-son situation before they part ways. I just wish we got to see more of Yuki's feelings as this sequence does focus on Miranda, whilst Yuki is still a giddy pup at meeting Schmidt and his wonderful planes.

What really got me was Alonso though, when he says "let's walk together [to see Schmidt]. Let's go as slowly as possible", and then that awesome, solemn music kicks in as you make your way over. I kept stopping everywhere as I didn't want it to end either. A really emotional sequence and a solid highlight of the game so far.

Everything isn't quite so overstated and plain, either. It's not explicitly mentioned what Miranda wants to do next, though the strong hints of her and Alonso are well apparent (especially if you visit the flower shop with them in your party). Yuki's obliviousness to it all is a nice touch - I hope that gets revisited again later but I doubt it. Overally, I'm just sad to see Yuki and Miranda go their separate ways, if only because the relationship between the two has been so brilliantly enjoyable to watch and learn about

[sj33]

I'm about 20 hours in now, though I'm not playing this at a particularly fast pace either (I like to look around the towns and speak to everyone). I was originally gonna play this just to get it done so I can move onto playing more SotC, but this really has captured me.

->Open Spoiler<-

I agree about the Miranda/Alonso stuff too. Wasn't too sure at first when the hints first started, but it soon started to make sense and 'worked'. Well implemented.
Miranda's relationship with Yuki is definately a newish, original approach, for the reasons you state. Much more interesting, and heck, it's great to actually see the mother character to have a more prominent role. You just KNOW you wanted to see more Lily in Grandia 1!

Oh and just a heads-up, seems the official Grandia III Brady games guide is getting a UK release.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0744007011/qid%3D1140913271/026-2864270-2741251

Possible hint at a UK release after all? Not that it effects us, but it would be nice. I'd buy it again if it came in a nice LE like SotC, too, though I can't see Squeenix Europe doing that.

[GordonJ]

I'm a bit worried now though, hit the 20 hour mark and I'm already onto the second disk.

Don't end so soon

[Chief H]

Actually I think the pacing of the story is a bit off. It feels as if it's built upon Grandia Xtreme more than Grandia II in how it provides long stretches of encounters and exploration before a very dense bit of town/storytelling. In that sense the game feels (once again) like Skies of Arcadia too.

I would have played more of this but I've been thoroughly distracted by the wonderful Amped 3

[sj33]

Reached disc 2 finally. Certainly it feels like I'm there too soon, but just over 20 hours works out about right assuming the second disc is a similar length.

Still enjoying this to bits. Grandia is really showing where it excels here. Grandia was never really that good at narrative or telling a story, that sort of thing was always best handled by Square (and more specifically, FF).
That's not to say the plot is a hinderence though, it's enough to keep the player entertained and develop a bond with the characters.
Grandia was all about the battle system

For this reason, I have my doubts about the forthcoming Grandia Online. If you take the battle system away from Grandia, then there's not a huge amount left.

That said, Xtreme proved the battle system alone could not guarentee a quality title.
Really enjoying this though, far more than Grandia II.

[Team Andromeda]

This is beautiful.
Just a couple of hrs in, and its amazing pure GameArts magic all the way .
Graphic wise its some of the best I've seen PS2 and on any current gen RPG for that matter. , all running at high res at what seems to be 60 fps. All with some of the most beautiful environments you could wish to see .
Clear to see GameArts loved Skies of Arcadia , because there are parts straight out on that game (well to me they were). Iwadare works his magic again on the music and the battle system is the best in the business . Add in typically delightful cast of GameArts characters and storylines and you have a top RPG.

Great to see GameArts back on form

[danholo]

I've beat the game and must say it was an awesome 40h. The story wasn't great, the music wasn't anything to brag about but the battle system was just very addictive... I find myself quitting an RPG at the last dungeon because I feel I have so much leveling up to do and just feel it's too daunting... Then I continue a couple of weeks afterwards. But this doesn't have any side-quests nor does it need massive amounts of leveling up. I had a ton of fun with the battles and customizing my characters. (Berserker->The Gambler->Flash FTW!)

A fun game worth its money. Too bad there isn't much replay value on this one. Too linear and no side-quests.

[sj33]

I think some of the music is rather good. Not quite up to the fantastic stuff in Grandia II (best part of the game), but there are notable tracks. The disc 1 battle music is catchy (if not as good as the Xtreme one, imo), the desert area music was fitting etc.

Definately Skies of Arcadia influence here - no bad thing, Skies was the better game in the old Grandia II Vs. SoA debate, and this is coming from a long time Grandia fan, so it's influence is welcome.

When you see this running, you wonder why the PS2 Grandia II port chugged along so badly.

[Team Andromeda]

I think some of the music is rather good. Not quite up to the fantastic stuff in Grandia II (best part of the game), but there are notable tracks.

Oh could agree more, its is rather good but nothing on Grandia II, which was the best part of the game .

And its very clear GameArts liked Skies of Arcadia

[gossi the dog]

I'm 15 hours in and have hit a wall. I can't be arsed to continue. The past few hours have been so tedious. I hope it's just a blip and things will pick up but I'm really struggling to force myself to play it.

[sj33]

Just completed the game! Slower than most of you I'm sure, have little spare time =/
Really enjoyed this game Bottom line with this game - it won't win new fans. If you loved previous Grandia games, you'll love this. If you didn't, you won't.

->Open Spoiler<-

What about the ending though?!
Not bad, and I love how they showed Yuki and Alfina together in the future, with their kid wanting to carry on the tradition....
But what happened to Hect?
Did Schmit die in that crash?
What happened to Miranda and Alfonso?
All these little bits and more are left unanswered..... you just defeat Xorn, and they leave it at that really. Annoying!

They really up the difficulty ante in the final area! Especially that last room... I'm sure you remember.... hardest room in the game.
Also seems to break the Grandia tradition of having an easy last boss, this one was pretty nails (though I still beat it first time).
Wierd how you get the games most powerful arracks (Galactic Bang, Astraea Zap etc) though I suppose most people wouldn't jump into the 3/4/5 Mana Egg fusion straight away!

Anywaym it's got me back in the old RPG mood, gonna check out DW8!

[gossi the dog]

Well I've thrown in the towel. It started so promising but the past few hours have bored me - it's feeling far too much like a dungeon crawl. I think it's missing a tinkering element eg the materia system in FF7, to give you an incentive to continue with battle after battle after battle. It's not bad but there are better games to spend your time on.