I picked up Grandia III on the weekend and spent a good six or seven hours playing it today (had an extra holiday from '05).
I'm very impressed so far with the smoothness of the gameplay animation, and the richness of the environment textures. I'm a bit disappointed that the character's appearance doesn't change when you equip different clothing, etc., but I suppose you can't have everything. I guess with 2 DVDs, the game is big enough already.
The major appeal for me was the setting and the main character's theme. It's as if Square consulted Hayao Miyazaki when they wrote Grandia III. Many of Miyazaki's films have to do with flight and fantastic aircraft that uses older technology. In fact, there seems to be a tradition in modern japanese fantasy stories: the settings seem to be a collection of anachronisms. They borrow objects and customs and styles from many points in history, and from all over the world. Grandia is similar. There are bi-planes, dragons, modern boats, and horse carriages. No guns (yet), but spears and knives, maces and swords. And magic, of course.
I like the battle system. It's difficult to describe, but it's good. It's turn-based, but timing is very important, so it's almost a hybrid between turn-based and realtime.
It's a typical Square-Enix game, so far as the story and cinematic sequences are concerned. They are long and beautiful. One thing about S-E games I'm not a huge fan of is the lengthy in-game conversations. I understand that writers gotta eat (being one myself), but sometimes, you just wish the fisherman would spill the beans about the missing pearl BEFORE he tells you about his good for nothing apprentice. A new innovation in this conversation dealie, though. You get supper table banter. At certain points in the game, there will be times when you're at the campfire or at the table and you don't control anyone, but every time there's a lull in the conversation, you get to choose who speaks next. It's kind of neat.
All in all, I'm thoroughly enjoying GIII. Is anyone else playing it? Anyone else want to throw in their $0.02?
I'm very impressed so far with the smoothness of the gameplay animation, and the richness of the environment textures. I'm a bit disappointed that the character's appearance doesn't change when you equip different clothing, etc., but I suppose you can't have everything. I guess with 2 DVDs, the game is big enough already.
The major appeal for me was the setting and the main character's theme. It's as if Square consulted Hayao Miyazaki when they wrote Grandia III. Many of Miyazaki's films have to do with flight and fantastic aircraft that uses older technology. In fact, there seems to be a tradition in modern japanese fantasy stories: the settings seem to be a collection of anachronisms. They borrow objects and customs and styles from many points in history, and from all over the world. Grandia is similar. There are bi-planes, dragons, modern boats, and horse carriages. No guns (yet), but spears and knives, maces and swords. And magic, of course.
I like the battle system. It's difficult to describe, but it's good. It's turn-based, but timing is very important, so it's almost a hybrid between turn-based and realtime.
It's a typical Square-Enix game, so far as the story and cinematic sequences are concerned. They are long and beautiful. One thing about S-E games I'm not a huge fan of is the lengthy in-game conversations. I understand that writers gotta eat (being one myself), but sometimes, you just wish the fisherman would spill the beans about the missing pearl BEFORE he tells you about his good for nothing apprentice. A new innovation in this conversation dealie, though. You get supper table banter. At certain points in the game, there will be times when you're at the campfire or at the table and you don't control anyone, but every time there's a lull in the conversation, you get to choose who speaks next. It's kind of neat.
All in all, I'm thoroughly enjoying GIII. Is anyone else playing it? Anyone else want to throw in their $0.02?
