RPG of the Year
Gameplay
This game is just plain fun. It’s a blast to see how the characters interact. The controls and camera angle could be a little better, but otherwise everything is very nice. Menus make sense, and are easy to navigate. My only gripe is that turn-based random-encounter combat was cool 1993, not 2005.
Graphics
Amazing. I didn’t think the PS2 had this kind of power left in it. Textures are a little grainy in spots, but the cel-shading is so well done that I thought more than once I was watching a cartoon. Expressions really make the characters come alive.
Sound
I can’t help but smile with delight at the character voices. These were made exclusively for the US version of the game. The British accents add a nice touch to the characters. I just wish they took the time to create a hero that talks rather than the silent name-your-character. More voice-overs would have been nice. The music fits the scene very well, and further draws you into the experience.
Value
Some people might say that the story is a little too simple. But I feel that it’s better to have a simple, but enjoyable story, than to have one that’s so complex even the devs have no idea what’s going on. The main story should take you about 40+ hours to finish, but there’s a lot more to do, so you can easily put 100 hours into this game.
I mostly enjoy D&D style western RPGs, but this game has captured me like no Square game has since my childhood. I guess that’s because it’s a simple RPG. You wont find the typical stuff you find in eastern RPGs. There’re no giant robots chicks. No rock ‘n roll ninjas with swords twice their size. This is an medieval RPG with an anime graphic style. It’s a blast to play, and easily the best RPG of the year. Maybe even the best RPG Square has made in the last 10 years.