Grandia Online!

**Hoshino** · 2009-04-23 20:41

For all you Grandia fans out there:

Grandia Online To Be Revealed May 20, Grandia I Comes To Japanese PSN: News from 1UP.com

I'm looking foward to hearing more about this game!

**Kohan** · 2009-04-23 20:49

Considering that GameArts helped develop it, so am I. "Grandia" is an absolutely fantastic series, and I can't wait to hear more. If the music was composed by Iwadare -- as the article implies -- and they have top-quality vocal talent for whenever it's actually needed...

Yeah, I'm there.

If they decide to release the original "Grandia" on the PSN in the United States, though, one could only hope they'd re-dub it. The original version -- with voice acting done by people grabbed around Sony's offices, and not professional actors -- was atrocious, and not in an entertaining way.

**Colenzo** · 2009-04-23 20:54

grandia 3 was a terrible game >.>

**Hoshino** · 2009-04-23 21:00

Originally Posted by Colenzo

grandia 3 was a terrible game >.>

I liked Grandia III. Grandia II was far better for me though.

**Colenzo** · 2009-04-23 21:02

i did everything in the game in 40 hours... :/ i was slightly dissapointed that there wasnt much to any side quest stuff to do

**brisk** · 2009-04-23 21:05

Grandia 3 was awesome till Miranda left. Only thing that made it bearable after that was Dhana slapping Alfina.

**Hoshino** · 2009-04-23 21:06

Originally Posted by Colenzo

i did everything in the game in 40 hours... :/ i was slightly dissapointed that there wasnt much to any side quest stuff to do

Yeah I agree with ya there. What hooked me about the game was the story. Gameplay was great but too easy and short lived.

**Kohan** · 2009-04-23 21:14

The lack of abundant side quests is part of the reason I appreciate the Grandia universe so much. Their RPGs always take several years to make, and focus on developing the characters, storylines, and worlds rather than mini-games and such (which I couldn't care less about). The only unfortunate cash-in the franchise had was the atrocious "Grandia Xtreme" -- its entries have almost unconditionally been trustworthy, entertaining RPG experiences.

I have to honestly say, I don't know why so many people were displeased with "Grandia III," but different strokes for different folks, I suppose. Going beyond the storyline, the area diversity and design was truly fantastic. Many of the outdoor areas were logically put together, making them actually appear to be outdoors instead of just being a bunch of dirt paths leading through trees. That's another reason I appreciate the series in general: fantastic area and (usually) character design.

If they can recreate this in the MMO, I'd be extremely interested in it, regardless of whether it gets a domestic release or not. Considering that GameArts developed it, I doubt it'll be disappointing.

What amuses me about that article, however, are all the people clamoring for Lunar instead. Yeah, Lunar was good, but the series died a long time ago. They seem to not realize that a resurrection was attempted, and the resultant Nintendo DS game was terrible. So, for now and perhaps forever, Lunar is dead. Grandia today is GameArts at their best.

**Fhloston** · 2009-04-23 21:14

Hell yes. Honestly I would be more willing to try this than Aion online, since I really love the Grandia series.

**Koyuki** · 2009-04-23 21:15

Originally Posted by Kohan

If they decide to release the original "Grandia" on the PSN in the United States, though, one could only hope they'd re-dub it. The original version -- with voice acting done by people grabbed around Sony's offices, and not professional actors -- was atrocious, and not in an entertaining way.

The voice acting was so bad that it was good...in a really fucked up way.

**Kohan** · 2009-04-23 21:16

Originally Posted by Koyuki

The voice acting was so bad that it was good...in a really fucked up way.

I have to say, I disagree on that one. It was terrible, but not to the point of being amusing. It was just bad.

Still, if you were able to tolerate it, more power to you. I muted my television, which was an unfortunate necessity, considering that I love Iwadare's work.

**Kiarax** · 2009-04-23 21:18

Looking forward to this, as long as the battle system doesn't play out like every other MMO ever. I only actually ever played Grandia 2, though I keep meaning to try 1 since so many people call it the best of the 3. 2's battle system was so much fun, if they keep a similar sort of system in this I can't see how it won't be fun as hell.

**Kohan** · 2009-04-23 21:20

Originally Posted by Kiarax

Looking forward to this, as long as the battle system doesn't play out like every other MMO ever. I only actually ever played Grandia 2, though I keep meaning to try 1 since so many people call it the best of the 3. 2's battle system was so much fun, if they keep a similar sort of system in this I can't see how it won't be fun as hell.

You truly should play the first one. Compared to II and III, its battle system is naturally archaic, and has a variety of bugs (one of the worst being your characters' tendency to get stuck on enemies, and then tire themselves out, effectively wasting their turn). That doesn't mean it's excruciating to play though, as it isn't. You just have to keep its age in mind, and considering older titles I've known you to play in the past, this shouldn't be a big deal.

**Kiarax** · 2009-04-23 21:24

This thread has got me wanting to play 2 again. Gonna try and play through 1 then see if I can find somewhere to get Grandia 2, though I'm seriously regretting not having my DC anymore.

Might just have to try the PC version out, despite the flaws.

**Kohan** · 2009-04-23 21:27

You should also play the third one. The battle system is even more refined than II's (meaning you won't simply destroy everything by the time you reach the game's end, unlike the disappointingly easy final battles in II), the graphics are truly fantastic, and as aforementioned, the area design is really quite good. I personally find II and III to be on equal footing, really. Neither of them deliver the same sense of exploration and adventure as the first did, but then again, there were areas where the original dragged on for a bit too long, and they don't suffer from that.

So, yes, all worth playing.

**brisk** · 2009-04-23 21:31

And the best part of 3? No "points of no return"! Hated that in 2.

**Colenzo** · 2009-04-23 21:46

the story line sucked as far as 3 goes, it was so bland i wanted to cry

**Kohan** · 2009-04-23 21:58

Originally Posted by brisk

And the best part of 3? No "points of no return"! Hated that in 2.

Yes, that was terrible. Revisiting old places for whatever reasons -- including having dinner and enjoying the chats, even if for the second time around -- is one of the best things about Grandia. Losing access to most of the world sucked.

**Kazen** · 2009-04-23 22:10

Originally Posted by Kohan

Yes, that was terrible. Revisiting old places for whatever reasons -- including having dinner and enjoying the chats, even if for the second time around -- is one of the best things about Grandia. Losing access to most of the world sucked.

YouTube - Grandia - At Dinner

Xavier · 2009-04-23 22:26

I absolutely adored Grandia I. I only had the opportunity to play it on the PlayStation, but it was quite good. I enjoyed Grandia II (played on the Dreamcast), but never got around to III.

I'm weary of MMO in general at this point, but I would love to see Grandia on the NA PSN Store. Too bad that will never happen.

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